PatientFYI: Recent research has shown that most Americans are not doing a simple activity that will keep their smiles looking beautiful, reduce cavities, prevent tooth loss and as many dentist and physicians now believe – significantly reduce the chance of heart disease and strokes.

Even though most of our patients swear they do this activity, according to the American Dental Association, more than 90% of Americans don’t!  That simple activity?  You guessed it – it’s flossing your teeth.  And a quick and strenuous attempt to floss right before your dental visit doesn’t fool us!  But please read on, because there is hope for everyone!!

Flossing is the best way to clean bacteria and debris from the spaces in between your teeth and underneath your gums.  Left in place, that harmful film can cause cavities and gum disease, eating away at the bone that actually holds your teeth in place and causing your teeth to loosen and eventually be lost.  Scarier yet – recent research has linked gum disease to heart disease and strokes.   So don’t throw in the towel (or floss!) yet.

Any activity requires practice.  You couldn’t drive without lessons and a few thousand miles on the road.  You couldn’t type the first time you sat down at a keyboard.  And though flossing is much easier than either of those activities, many people try it a few times and then frustratingly proclaim “I can’t floss!”  Well with a little patience and practice you can!  And some of the better flosses on the market (such as “Glide”) make it much easier than it was in the past.

At Shwedel Family and Cosmetic Dentistry we really want you to keep your teeth the rest of your life and be as healthy as you possibly can.  That definitely involves flossing every single day – and we know you can do it!  Feel free to give us a call at 313-292-5590 and we will arrange for one of our fantastic hygienists, Gaye, Cheryl or Marissa, to give you a free flossing lesson.  Or just ask during your regular cleaning appointments.  No one is a “natural born flosser,” it takes practice.  So there is nothing to be embarrassed about, and your beautiful smile will last a lifetime!

Tags: dental, Dental Health, Diabetes, Gum Disease, heart disease, Improve Your Smile, Patient Reviews

Dr. David Grayson: Periodontal (gum) disease is prevalent throughout the adult population in the United States and elsewhere. Untreated, it can lead to pain, swelling, abscesses and eventually tooth loss, and the loss of the supporting bone in the jaws.

More people above the age of 35 lose a tooth from gum disease than they do from cavities or decay. Periodontal disease is the number-one cause of tooth loss. According to the 1996 American Dental Association/Colgate survey, U.S. dentists say gum disease is a more pressing oral health concern than tooth decay by a 2-to-1 margin It is not curable, and should the jawbone deteriorate there is little that can be done to reverse it. It is however, very treatable, both surgically and non surgically.

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Tags: cancer, Diabetes, Gum Disease, heart disease, periododntal disease

Visiting the dentist for routine cleanings &  exams can protect much more than just your oral health.

Recent research found that roughly 90 percent of people who suffer from gum disease are at high risk for diabetes, according to New York University. Experts now say that dentists should offer screenings for the condition in their offices.

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Tags: Dentist Reviews, Diabetes, Find a Dentist, Preventive Exams