Our 3rd annual Smiles From The Heart is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, 2012.  Smiles From The Heart is a free day of dental services provided to those in need in our local area. Services such as cleanings,fillings and extractions will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

This year we are excited to offer two locations that will be providing care, in hopes to serve even more community members:

• Smile Grand Haven at 1203 S. Beechtree, Grand Haven
• Drs. Thornley & Bowen’s office at 17000 Robbins Rd, Grand Haven

This day is made possible by the generous support of our community:

• Grand Haven Tribune
• The Kirby House
• Anthony’s Kicked Up Catering
• Desserts By Design
• Eastern Floral
• Fraternal Order of Eagles
• Harbor View Eye Care
• Healthzone Chiropractic
• Great Harvest Bread
• Mackinaw Kite
• Morning Star Cafe
• Pfaff Pharmacy
• Redi Rental
• Allied Waste
• Scholtan Fant
• Ver Duins Printing
• Fat Chix Coffee Cantina
• Staples
• Sullivan Schein Dental
• Harbor Transit
• RC Productions
• WGHN
• Benco Dental
• Community Shores Bank
• Drs. Thornley & Bowen and Team
• Dr. Mark Buyre
• Dr. Brad Massey

Bleeding gums “sometimes” is tricky.  If “sometimes” means you poked your gums with your toothbrush or on a potato chip earlier in the day, then yes, “sometimes” is normal.  But if “sometimes” means a couple times of week or more, then absolutely no!

OK, this isn’t as fun to talk about as sparkly white teeth, but it’s time to sound the alarm on one of the most common diseases around. Its GUM DISEASE and 75% of Americans have some stage of it.

Most people think that it’s normal when gums bleed. Well it’s not! If you washed your hands and they started to bleed, wouldn’t you get a little worried? If your scalp bled when you brushed your hair, would you call your doctor?  Of course you would, yet most people don’t get worried about bleeding gums because no one is telling them it is serious gum disease that could be deadly!!

Did you know that inflammation like you find in gum disease causes a better indicator of future heart attack and stroke than cholesterol?  And there’s more. Did you know that dentists play a role in identifying the 5 million Americans with undiagnosed diabetes? This is because diabetics are more susceptible to gum disease and reversely a patient with diabetes must keep their gum health pristine to increase their chances of survival. Gum disease inflammation has also been linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer ’s disease and for women delivering preterm low-weight babies.

The news about gum disease and its connection to our overall health continues to come up again and again in research and medicine. It’s time to get deadly serious about the disease. It is now standard for physicians to send their stroke and heart risk patients straight to the dentist to get their gum disease under control as their first line of defense.

Are you ready for the good news? Family dentists today now take the time to screen their patients for gum disease annually.  It is quick, painless and free.  Even better? Systems and technology are available to get gum disease under control 98% of the time without specialist surgery.

Got bloody gums?  Talk to your dental team today.

1. If you have an appointment prior to your child, take her along with you.  She will see that you have a friendly and trusting relationship with the hygienist and dentist.  Request that your child take a quick chair ride during your visit.
2. Arrange for a morning appointment whenever possible, as most children are more positive, alert and receptive at this time.  If that is not possible, attempt to make the appointment when your child is not tried or hungry.
3. The words we use make all the difference.  It’s best not to talk about specific procedures or instruments.  These ideas can confuse or upset your child.  If your child has questions about what the dentist/hygienist is going to do, below is a list of helpful word substitutions you can use when talking to her:

•  Silly String (floss)
• Mr. Slurpy (suction)
• Vitamins (fluoride)
• Sleepy Juice (shot)
• Mr. Whistler (drill)
• Wiggle (pull tooth)

These suggestions should help your child have a successful first visit and ease any stress she or you may have.  If you have any special concerns, address them with your family dental team before your appointment. It is your dentist’s goal to create a lifetime of good oral care for you and your family.

Since 1995, we have met with hundreds of students, from preschoolers to third graders at local elementary schools.  We provide age appropriate interactive games, science experiments, questions and answer sessions and bags containing toothbrushes, floss and goodies.

2012 was no different!During February the Smile Grand Haven team met with over 500 children in Spring Lake and Grand Haven.  Just check out our fun:

A new study published in Journal of Aging Research adds to mounting evidence that one of the simplest—and cheapest—secrets of long life is taking care of your teeth, with daily brushing and flossing. Conversely, neglecting your chompers—and skipping dental visits—can actually be fatal.

How much impact can good oral health have on longevity?

California researchers tracked 5,611 seniors for 17 years, and found that:

• Not brushing at night boosted the risk for death during the study period by 20 to 35 percent, compared to brushing every night.
• Never flossing hiked mortality risk by 30 percent, versus daily flossing.
• Not seeing a dentist in the previous 12 months raised the risk of death by up to 50 percent, compared to getting dental care two or more times a year.

Another startling finding: One major predictor of early death was missing teeth, even after other risk factors were taken into account, the study reported. People who wore dentures had a 30 percent higher mortality risk than those with 20 or more of their natural chompers.

What’s the connection between oral health and long life?

A new review of studies published over the past 20 years links periodontal (gum) disease to a greater threat of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD)—heart attacks and strokes–the leading killer of Americans.

Another scary fact: If you have gum disease—bacterially induced chronic inflammation of the gums, connective tissue, and bone supporting your teeth—your risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke doubles, according to recent research.

Gum disease affects nearly 50 percent of Americans, many of whom don’t know they have it, because in the early stages, it’s painless. One study found that people with higher blood levels of bacteria in the mouth were more likely to have a build-up of plaque in the carotid artery in the neck (a blockage there can lead to stroke).

Inflammation is the leading suspect–it underlies gum disease as well as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and more. Bottom line: if you’ve got periodontal disease, you could be vulnerable to a long list of scary medical problems that could cut your life short.

What are the warning signs of gum disease?

And just as heart disease can creep up on you silently, gum disease is pretty sneaky, too–symptoms may not show up until it is advanced. Still, here are the warning signs:

• Red, swollen or tender gums or other mouth pain.
• Your gums bleed when you brush, floss or eat hard food
• Your gums are pulling away from your teeth (your teeth look longer than they used to)
• Loose or separating teeth
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Sores in your mouth
• Persistent bad breath
• A change in your bite (the way your teeth fit together)

Keeping Your Mouth Healthy

Being more diligent about brushing and flossing—and seeing the dentist–can actually save your life, since research shows that if gum disease is treated, blood vessel health can improve in as little as six months.

Here are some tips that may take you to the next level of oral care:

• Brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and before you go to bed.
• Use fluoride toothpaste
• Make sure you brush the back as well as the front of your teeth.
• Brush your tongue, too–that whitish coating you see in the morning is plaque that can cause bad breath and is a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Get an electric toothbrush–the back and forth action of the brush head works better to remove plaque than a manual toothbrush. Most are timed to signal when you’ve brushed for two minutes; three is better.
• Use an antiseptic mouthwash, or a fluoride or antiplaque mouthwash.
• Floss at least once a day; get between all your teeth and move the floss up and down several times
• Buy some disclosing tablets at the drugstore–you chew them and they highlight any plaque that you missed in brushing.
• See your dentist regularly for checkups and professional teeth cleaning.
• Eat foods that protect against plaque and harmful sugars: cheeses, peanuts, yogurt and milk.
• Avoid sticky sweet foods–prolonged contact can damage teeth. And avoid bedtime snacks unless you want to brush your teeth again.
• If you value your gums and teeth, don’t smoke. Using tobacco multiplies your risk of gum disease by six, makes it harder to treat and raises the risk of tooth loss.

This article was written by Lisa Collier Cool for Yahoo! Health on Feb. 23, 2012.  For a link to the full article go to Surprising Key to a Long Life

Smile Ugly Sweater Contest 2011

Darren, Stacey, Katie, Tawny, Meredith and Lisa

• Get a whiff of citrus.  The smells of oranges, lemons and grapefruits have been shown to be energizing.  So simply add a few slices to your water or introduce citrusy scents into your morning soaps and shampoos.
• Get the giggles.  A good laugh can reduce stress and boost immunity.
• Enjoy your daily cup of joe – or a healthy handful of Hershey’s Kisses.  Just don’t overdo it!
• Exhale.  Again.  Exhale.  Repeat.
• Be nice to a stranger.  Random acts of kindness increase your energy and somebody else’s!
• Embrace the 3 minute meditation.  Think of something beautiful and powerful, like a waterfall.  And breath (see above).
• Stand on your head.  Or lean over and touch your toes.  Any inverted pose gets your blood flowing.
• Ditch the Blackberry.  An hour before bed, please!