Almost everyone has had to wrestle with a pesky, hard-to-break habit like fingernail biting or foot tapping! When it comes to your teeth, you may be unaware of some bad habits that are just as important to curb if you don’t want your smile to suffer the consequences!
Marietta Family Dental Care has compiled a list of the WORST dental habits and why you should try to break them:
Brushing too hard – Some of us take brushing a little too far, using the force of a sandblaster. Dr. Mansouri says your teeth may get a good scrub, but you’ll also put yourself at a higher risk of gum recession. Take it easy, use a soft bristled brush, start at the gumline, keep your brush at an angle and brush upward with circular strokes.
Chewing Ice Cubes – The sudden cold can spell DISASTER for your teeth. It can make existing fillings and other restorations expand and contract rapidly. It can also heavily affect your enamel.
Ultimately, you may end up with a cracked tooth or filling.
Toothpicks – They can be great for removing food stuck in between your teeth, but you will often end up poking sensitive gums or forcing debris farther in, instead out.
Dr. Mansouri recommends using dental floss instead.
Sucking Lemon – Although it’s an excellent way to top off iced tea or a Gin and Tonic, the citric acid in lemons can erode the surface of your teeth.
Over time your teeth will soften or develop tiny grooves that invite chipping and in the long run cause costly treatment needs.
We would like to thank ALL of our volunteers for the OVERWHELMING response to provide services to the community on Saturday, November 19th 2011 during our1st Annual Day of Free Dentistry Event.
Our event was a huge success thanks to your help. We were astounded with the number of patients needing to be seen. The line for treatment on a “first come-first served basis” started at 9 Am Friday November 18th. By 3:30Am Saturday, there were more than 400 prospective patients in line. Initially we expected to be able to treat 150 patients, but with a total volunteer turnout of 12 Doctors and other dental staff totaling 70, we were able to exceed our expectations and accommodate a total of 217 patients. The first treatment began at 4:00Am and by 4:00Pm, there were 155 Extractions performed, 91 Fillings were completed, and 42 patients received Cleanings. Together, we provided a total of $122,978.00 in FREE Dental Services and completed 288 total treatments not including x-rays and exams.
Without the support from our Sponsors, this event would have never been possible. We would like to take this opportunity to also thank: KeyWorth Bank, Willeford Group, United Concordia Dental, Pure Life, 3M ESPE, MICROCOPY, Premier Dental, Oral B, Henry Schein, Peacock Partnership, Discus Dental, Switzer Medical and all of our local vendors (Chick-Fil-A Johnson Ferry, McDonald’s Lower Roswell Road, Dunkin Donuts, Longhorn Lower Roswell Road, Papa John’s Lower Roswell Road, Suburban Rental Lower Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and the residents who provided the patients waiting over night with multiple warm food donations … WHAT A GREAT EAST COBB COMMUNTY!) and the many other local businesses who contributed to the success of this event.
Here’s some of the links to all of the media coverage:
Ages 18 and older can get free dental care Nov. 19 at Marietta Family Dental Care, 4720 Lower Roswell Road.
Drs. Michael and Azita Mansouri, with help from volunteer hygienists, dental assistants and other professionals, will provide extractions, fillings and cleanings to the first 100 patients on a first-come, first-served basis.
Care will be provided from 6:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The effort, the first for the Mansouri practice, is part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Dentistry From the Heart, a non-profit organization that has been providing free dental work to the needy since 2001.
Those who are not in the dentist’s chair will have to wait outside because the office isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone at once. While the dentists won’t likely be able to treat everyone who show up Saturday, Drs. Mansouri and staff will treat as many people as possible.
Over the past four years, we have participated in similar events sponsored by other Organizations, Friends and Colleagues supporting these efforts. The Grand Opening of our Facility in May of this year has provided us with the opportunity to help people in our surrounding area. Other events have attracted hundreds of people, many camping out the night before the event to ensure a spot in the dentist’s chair.
The cost of living today is forcing many, unfortunately, to cut back on expenses and, for many, this means trips to the dentist get delayed inevitably.
Thankfully, there’s an organization meeting the needs of people who can’t afford these services.
If you know someone who would benefit from their services, read on.
Dentistry From The Heart (DFTH) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing free dental care to those who need it. Every year, individual dentists and practices across the country donate their time and resources to host their own DFTH events.
How can I receive treatment at a Dentistry From The Heart event?
All that is required for treatment at a Dentistry From The Heart event is being 18 years old. Arriving early for a Dentistry From The Heart event is recommended.
At 4 am November 19th we are going to begin taking blood pressure and completing medical history for all patients that will receive treatment at this event. Dr. Mansouri REQUIRES that patients who need to premedicate for any health condition or are in need of blood pressure medications, take them (As directed by your physician) prior to when treatment starts at 6 am. It is imperative you have taken appropriate medications, such as elevated blood pressure or pre medication, before treatment. Lack of medicating WILL NOT allow us an opportunity to treat you.
Can my children receive free dental care from Dentistry From The Heart?
Dentistry From The Heart members provide free dental care services for adults 18+. Give Kids a Smile, another national dental nonprofit, provides children 18 and under with free dental care during the month of February. Please visit their website at http://www.gkas.org.
What dental care is provided at a Dentistry From The Heart Event?
Dentistry From The Heart event provides only free extractions, fillings and cleanings. Given the influx of what can be hundreds of individuals on a given day, only these three procedures are possible.
What if I need additional dental care?
Dentistry From The Heart events are not able to provide for all manner of dental care services. However, we recommend that patients requiring additional treatment explore contact with regional free clinics in their area. You can usually get a list of these from your county offices. Another course of action is to contact dental schools in your state. To see a listing of dental schools by state, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dental_schools_in_the_United_States.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth to restore or improve person’s smile.
Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:
To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede
To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
Teeth that are worn down
Teeth that are chipped or broken
Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)
Guess what's 1 of the 17 worst habits for your heart? Valentine's Day is near,your heart and smile can love you more! http://t.co/q8NgcNlk...4 weeks ago
Whatever your Resloutions,we're wishing you the very best in 2012!
=)'s are a good start to a healthier life style! http://t.co/Rm66ZK0x...1 month ago
Brushing too hard – Some of us take brushing a little too far, using the force of a sandblaster. Dr. Mansouri says your teeth may get a good scrub, but you’ll also put yourself at a higher risk of gum recession. Take it easy, use a soft bristled brush, start at the gumline, keep your brush at an angle and brush upward with circular strokes.
Sucking Lemon – Although it’s an excellent way to top off iced tea or a Gin and Tonic, the citric acid in lemons can erode the surface of your teeth.
