Congratulations to our American Idol Contest Winners!

Brittany, Bailey and Tamera each won an iPod Shuffle for answering all questions correctly from our American Idol contest.  We have fun contests like this every six weeks.  So, keep an eye out for our new contests that may be coming up!

Inspiration Road

We are associated with some amazing families! One in particular is the White Family. They are riding on bicycles from Coos Bay, OR to Coney Island, NY to show their support for Shriners Hospital. Follow their story on this link. Their story is amazing.

Surf N Swim

It's that time of year again...Our Surf N Swim party!  We're more than excited for this year's party!  We have some new faces on our team and maybe some new ideas to make the party unforgettable.  Mark your calendars for August 12th!  We'll see you there!

Dental Sealants

Many of the foods you or your child eat, especially those high in sugar and starches, cause the bacteria that normally occurs in your mouth to produce acids. If this acidic plaque isn't removed from your teeth by daily brushing and flossing, tooth decay will occur.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, some teeth, especially the back molars, can be difficult to clean because of their shape. The chewing surface of the molars have tiny grooves, called pits and fissures, that can be so deep and/or narrow that the bristles of your toothbrush can't reach down into them to clean out the plaque. Also, the enamel at the deepest part of the groove is frequently thinner, giving any plaque that does form an easier time of penetrating through.

To protect a tooth that is deeply grooved, your dentist can apply a plastic resin material called a dental sealant. The sealant levels out the grooves in the tooth, making the tooth smoother and more even so it is easier to clean, and seals the surface, protecting it from the acid attacks of plaque.

Since the 1970s, the widespread exposure to fluoride, in water, toothpaste and mouthwash, has lowered the incidence of tooth decay on the smooth surfaces of the teeth. However, fluoride is not as successful at preventing pit and fissure decay on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Since pit and fissure decay is the most common form of tooth decay for children and teens, dental sealants are utilized as a preventive measure to protect a child's teeth during the years in which they are most likely to experience tooth decay.

Dental sealants aren't just for children, however. Adults can benefit from dental sealants, too. Any tooth that has the deep pits and fissures that place it at risk for tooth decay should be sealed. The only requirements for sealing are that a tooth have deep fissures and pits and that the patient be of an age and disposition to cooperate with the dentist during the procedure.

The sealing process itself is very simple. The surface of the tooth to be sealed must be clean for the material to adhere, so first your dentist will scrub the surface. Next, an "etching" gel will be applied on the area that is to be sealed. Once the surface has been prepared so that the sealant will bond well, the tooth is cleaned and dried. Keeping the tooth dry is very important, as it determines the quality of the bond between enamel and sealant. Your dentist then 'paints' the sealant onto the tooth and uses a special light to 'cure' the material.

If the tooth was kept properly dry during the application process, the dental sealant can last from five to ten years, or even longer, keeping your or your child's tooth healthy and protected from decay.

Choosing the Best Toothpaste

Thanks to better care and technological advances, more people than ever before are keeping their teeth throughout their lives. The most important thing you can do to make sure you're one of those who keep their natural teeth is to brush and floss regularly.

Most dental decay is caused by plaque, a sticky, colorless bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. Saliva, food (especially sugar) and fluids combine to produce plaque, which collects on teeth and where teeth and gums meet. Plaque that is not removed by regular brushing and flossing can harden into tartar, a crusty deposit that can only be removed by a dentist. Plaque also leads to gum disease, a potentially serious infection that can erode bone and destroy the tissues surrounding teeth. Flossing removes plaque between teeth, and brushing removes plaque from the large surfaces of the teeth and, if done correctly, from just under the gums.

With brushing being such an important factor in your oral health, you can see why your choice of a toothpaste is important, but with so many brands and types - plaque control, tartar control, whitening, gum care, sensitive teeth, polish, smoker's - from which to choose, picking the right toothpaste can be a daunting task. Your dentist or dental hygienist can help narrow the field by discussing what your special brushing needs are.

If you tend to build up plaque or tartar quickly, you'll want a plaque or tartar-control toothpaste. Anti-plaque/tartar toothpastes will have ingredients such as fluoride and/or antibacterial agents to limit plaque and tartar formation. (Check with your dentist before choosing fluoride toothpaste for your young children. Excessive fluoride ingestion by pre-school age children can lead to discoloration of the permanent teeth. If your child uses fluoride toothpaste, make sure s/he does not swallow toothpaste while brushing.)

If you smoke or drink tea or coffee, a whitening toothpaste may help with stains. However, whitening toothpastes only remove adherent stain. The ingredients necessary to actually bleach your teeth are not chemically stable enough to be included in toothpaste. Use caution with those toothpastes made to remove heavy stains, frequently referred to as "smoker's toothpaste" or "tooth polish". These toothpastes may be excessively abrasive and may cause progressive wearing away of the tooth and supporting tissues. (Also, if you smoke, be sure to see your dentist regularly, as smokers are at increased risk of gum disease, early tooth loss and also soft tissue conditions including oral cancer.)

Temperature sensitive teeth will benefit from a toothpaste made to desensitize your teeth. Your needs may change as you age, so don't be surprised if your hygienist recommends a type of toothpaste you haven't used before.

Once you've determined which type of toothpaste is best, choose the one that tastes and feels best and doesn't cause irritation or sensitivity problems. If you like the flavor and texture of your toothpaste, you'll brush more and longer. And brushing well and regularly means you'll be smiling with your natural teeth well into your mature years.