Keep your teeth safe this summer: Avoid dental injuries when playing sports

Summer is the time for enjoying the great outdoors. However, some popular summer sports – such as swimming and softball – can expose your teeth to danger. Here are several seasonal activities that could lead to dental injuries and ways to keep your smile safe:

Swimming

Frequent swimmers may be at risk for developing yellowish-brown or dark brown stains on their teeth.

Those who swim more than six hours a week continually expose their teeth to chemically treated water. Pool water contains chemical additives, which give the water a higher pH than saliva. As a result, salivary proteins break down quickly and form organic deposits on teeth. These hard, brown deposits, known as “swimmers’ calculus,” appear most frequently on the front teeth.

Swimmers’ calculus can normally be removed by a professional dental cleaning.

Diving

Scuba diving, a sport enjoyed by more than 4 million people in the U.S., can lead to jaw joint pain, gum tissue problems or “tooth squeeze” – pain in the center of the tooth.

All of these symptoms add up to what’s called “diver’s mouth syndrome” (also called barodontalgia), a condition caused by the air pressure change involved in scuba diving and by divers biting too hard on their scuba air regulators. Tooth squeeze is caused by the change in air pressure, particularly if a diver has a big cavity, a temporary filling, gum disease, periodontal abscess or incomplete root canal therapy.

The best way to avoid these problems is to visit your dentist before scuba diving and make sure your dental health is tip-top. Ask your dentist’s advice about fitting the mouthpiece of an air regulator. Sometimes dentures can be inadvertently swallowed during a dive, so denture-wearers should consult with dentists before diving to discuss any potential problems.

Contact sports(soccer, softball, basketball, etc.)

According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), soccer players are more likely than football players to sustain a dental-related injury – and these statistics do not include people playing pick-up games with friends.

Soccer is a sport where mouthguards and face masks are not mandatory, upping the odds for mouth and face injuries. Softball, basketball and pick-up games of touch football involve similar risks. In addition to causing injuries during contact, these sports also may be costly for people who have had extensive dental work, especially people who wear braces.

When participating in such sports, a mouthguard is your best ally.

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The Real Secret to a Cavity Free Mouth

The Real Secret to a Cavity Free Mouth

Over the past 10 years I have seen thousands and thousands of patients and I can tell you that everyone’s mouth and oral chemistry is different.  That being said I will give you some basic background information and let you know how you and your children can lower your risk of cavities by developing the right habits and using the appropriate supplements.

The Basics:

Oral Hygiene: Brushing a minimum of 2 times a day and flossing a minimum of 4 times a week.

Nutrition and eating habits: First off you should know that every time you eat or drink your mouth will produce acidic enzymes for 20 minutes, and it is during this time that your mouth is most vulnerable to forming a cavity.  So, the best advice I can give you is to avoid sipping or snacking throughout the day.

Fluoride (natural cavity fighting mineral):  this mineral is found naturally and it helps prevent cavities by strengthening teeth.  In most counties Fluoride has been added to the city water and for the past 65 years it has reduced the national cavity rate drastically by strengthening the teeth systemically.

Low, Medium, and High Risk: For the most part everyone falls into one of these categories.
Children from age 14-22 tend to be in the High Risk category, and a stronger toothpaste is advised such as PreviDent 5000. You can get this toothpaste from your Dentist or have him/her write you a prescription to get from your pharmacy.

Age 0-12:

For children in this age range I would advise using filtered tap water or bottled water that has fluoride added to it.  Also for children that tend to eat the toothpaste and have not perfected swish and spit routine, to use a non-Fluoridated toothpaste or just use a very small amount of Fluoridated toothpaste. As they get older you can go back to the regular Fluoridated toothpaste that you like and also you can start using a Fluoridated mouthwash like ACT for children.

Orthodontic treatment:

For children in braces I would recommend using a Water Pik water flosser and also using a high concentration Fluoride toothpaste like PreviDent 5000.

The Water Pik will help with dislodging the food and debris from between and around the brackets, and the extra strength toothpaste will help reduce your child’s chances of getting a cavity or developing the little white spots on his/her teeth after the braces come off.

I hope you found this to be helpful if you have any questions feel free to leave us a comment or send us a message through Facebook.

Marietta Family Dental Care, P.C. – Google

Lawrenceville Family Dental Care, P.C. – Google

Bad Oral Health Habits for Your New Year’s Resolution List

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.

1st Annual Day of Free Dentistry was a HUGE Success!

We Spread Free Smiles Across East Cobb!

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 our 1st 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:

Dr.Azita Mansouri on 11Alive news

11 Alive News

East Cobb Patch

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Marietta Daily Journal

We are looking forward to sharing this wonderful cause again with all of you during our

2nd Annual Day of Free Dentistry Event in November 2012. 

FREE Smiles Registration begins at 4A.M. 11/19/11. MUST SHOW UP AS EARLY AS MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE TO BE AMONG THE FIRST 100 PATIENTS GUARANTEED TREATMENT!

Marietta Family Dental Care is hosting their First Annual Free Dentistry Day for our East Cobb Community! 

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.

For more information visit www.naturalsmile.biz or call

770-973-8222.

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.