Happy Healthy Aging Month!

Did you know that Sep­tem­ber is Healthy Aging® Month? This is an annual health obser­vance designed to focus national atten­tion on the pos­i­tive aspects of grow­ing older.  To get you started on embracing your age and making the most of this month and the years to come here are some ideas from the edi­tors of Healthy Aging®Mag­a­zine. We especially like #6. Maybe these ideas will help you think out­side the box:

10 Tips for Rein­vent­ing Your­self dur­ing Sep­tem­ber - Healthy Aging®Month:

1. Do not act your age or at least what you think your cur­rent age should act like. What was your best year so far? 28? 40? Now? Pic­ture your­self at that age and be it. Some peo­ple may say this is denial, but we say it’s pos­i­tive think­ing and goes a long way toward feel­ing bet­ter about your­self. (Tip:  Don’t keep look­ing in the mir­ror, just FEEL IT!)
2. Be pos­i­tive in your con­ver­sa­tions and your actions every day. When you catch your­self com­plain­ing, check your­self right there and change the con­ver­sa­tion to some­thing pos­i­tive. (Tip: Stop watch­ing the police reports on the local news.)
3. Ditch the downer friends. Have neg­a­tive friends who com­plain all of the time and con­stantly talk about how awful every­thing is? Drop them. As cruel as that may sound, dis­tance your­self from peo­ple who do not have a pos­i­tive out­look on life. They will only depress you and stop you from mov­ing for­ward. Sur­round your­self with ener­getic, happy, pos­i­tive peo­ple of all ages and you will be hap­pier too. (Tip: Smile often. It’s con­ta­gious and wards off naysayers.)
4. Walk like a vibrant, healthy per­son. Come on. You can prob­a­bly do it. Ana­lyze your gait. Do you walk slowly because you have just become lazy or, per­haps, have a fear of falling? (Tip: Make a con­scious effort to take big strides, walk with your heel first, and wear com­fort­able shoes.)
5. Stand up straight! You can knock off the appear­ance of a few extra years with this trick your mother kept try­ing to tell you. Look at your­self in the mir­ror. Are you hold­ing your stom­ach in, have your shoul­ders back, chin up? Check out how much bet­ter your neck looks! Fix your stance and prac­tice it every day, all day until it is nat­ural. You will look great and feel bet­ter. (Tip: Your waist­line will look trim­mer if you fol­low this advice.)
6. How’s your smile? Research shows peo­ple who smile more often are hap­pier. Your teeth are just as impor­tant to your good health as the rest of
   
   your body. Not only is it the first thing peo­ple notice, but good oral health is a gate­way to your over­all well-being. (Tip: Go to the den­tist reg­u­larly and look into teeth whiten­ing. Noth­ing says old more than yel­low­ing teeth!)
7. Lonely? Stop brood­ing and com­plain­ing about hav­ing no friends or fam­ily. Do some­thing about it now. Right this minute. Pick up the phone, land­line, or cell and make a call to do one or more of the fol­low­ing: Vol­un­teer your time, take a class,  invite some­one to meet for lunch, brunch, din­ner, or cof­fee. (Tip: Vol­un­teer at the local pub­lic school to stay in touch with younger peo­ple and to keep cur­rent on trends, take a com­puter class or a tuto­r­ial ses­sion at your cell phone store to keep up with tech­nol­ogy, choose a new per­son every week for your din­ing out.)
8. Start walk­ing not only for your health but to see the neigh­bors. Have a dog? You’ll be amazed how the dog can be a con­ver­sa­tion starter. (Tip: If you don’t have time for a dog, go to your local ani­mal shel­ter and vol­un­teer. You will be thrilled by the puppy love!)
9. Get a phys­i­cal. Make this month the time to set up your annual phys­i­cal and other health screen­ings. Go to the appoint­ments and then, hope­fully, you can stop wor­ry­ing about ail­ments for a while. 
10. Find your inner artist. Who says tak­ing music lessons is for young school chil­dren? You may have an artist lurk­ing inside you just wait­ing to be tapped.  Have you always wanted to play the piano, vio­lin, or tuba? Have you ever won­dered if you could paint a por­trait or scenic in oil? What about work­ing in wood? (Tip: Sign up now for fall art or music classes and dis­cover your inner artist!)

As a reminder for all of our patients, remember to schedule dental exams for preventive care and don’t put off additional visits to our office if you experience any changes to your oral health.

Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS, Dan Gustavson, DDS & Your Fountains Dental Excellence Team

Back to School is the Perfect Time for Your Teen to Begin Invisalign

Let’s face it. With school, sports, and hanging out with friends, getting metal braces is not at the top of your teen's list of favorite things to do. Teenagers are going through a time where physical appearance is often a priority, so wearing braces can be awkward. For a child that is particularly self-conscious, braces may prove to be an especially difficult time for them and for you as a parent.

With Invisalign Teen®, teen's can straighten their teeth without metal wires and brackets getting in the way. Invisalign Teen is a system of orthodontic appliances that uses a series of clear, plastic aligners to straighten teeth. Every two weeks, a new aligner is put in, and with each new aligner the teeth move closer to their optimal position.

The aligners are removable and can be taken out to eat, drink, brush, and floss, meaning there are no dietary restrictions, and oral hygiene, a critical component to orthodontic care, is that much easier.

Each aligner is equipped with a Blue Dot wear indicator, which easily shows if the aligner has been worn enough. It's a system designed exclusively for the teenage lifestyle - virtually invisible, removable, and remarkably easy to use.

Call us today to ask about how to help your teen look great!

Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS & Your Fountains Dental Excellence Team

Back To School: Smart Snacking!

It's Back to School time, which means getting back into a new routine.  Schedules will be busy with school activities, after school sports and clubs, homework and hopefully a bit of downtime to let the kids recharge their batteries.  One important part of your school routine that we recommend putting in place as soon as the first day of school starts is smart snacking.  

Healthy Habits Start at Home:  It is important that you make sure your child is eating healthy foods while at home, especially since you can’t always control what they are eating while at school. One of the best ways that you can get your child into healthy dental habits is to watch and control the types of foods they are eating for breakfast and dinner, and always serve healthier snack options at night. A lot of natural foods also contain lower sugar amounts that are less damaging to the teeth, and this is important to keep the teeth as clean as possible. You should also remember that the first way to get your kid to eat healthy while they are at school is to eat healthy at home, which sets up a pattern and a good foundation for them to jump off of.

Pack a School Lunch with Dairy and Fruits:  With school back in session, children will be eating school lunches or packed lunches, and obviously, you want your kids to eat healthy while out and about at school.  A lot of parents don’t think about how much dental health plays into lunch options for the kids, but remember not practicing healthy dental habits can result in your child getting a lot of cavities, which in turn may result in missing school.  

It is essential that you pack your child more natural products than processed foods, and this means a lot of dairy and fruits. Instead of packing popular snacks that are unhealthy, you need to pack snacks that will be good for dental health, such as carrots or apples. The fruits will help satisfy your child’s craving for sweets, but won’t be as damaging to them as something like a piece of chocolate, sticky snacks or a pudding. The fruits will also give your child essential vitamins and minerals that they need to continue growing strong.  A string cheese or a carton of milk is a great addition to the lunchbox, because it helps keep cravings in check and it also makes the teeth stronger.

Practice the motto - "Don't Rush the Brush!"  As always make sure that your child is brushing 2 minutes, twice a day. By sticking to this schedule early on in the new school year this habit will just remain part of your every day routine.

Best of luck in the New School Year and Happy Brushing,

Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS & Your Fountains Dental Excellence Team

Tooth Decay Isn't Something You Can Outgrow, But It Is Something You Can Prevent

Most Americans don’t make it into adulthood without at least a few cavities. In fact, more than 90% of adults over the age of 40 have had tooth decay in their permanent teeth. What many adults don’t realize is that the risk of tooth decay isn't something you can outgrow.

According to Delta Dental, "Changes associated with aging can make cavities a problem for people of any age." Receding gums are one of the culprits behind adult cavities. Whether due to gum disease or to overly vigorous tooth brushing, gum tissue can become swollen or damaged and expose the sensitive roots of teeth. Unlike the surfaces of teeth that are above the gum line, roots are not protected by hard enamel and are instead covered by a softer material known as "cementum." This makes the root surfaces more susceptible to the effects of plaque buildup, which can eventually lead to decay.

When gums recede and expose the roots of the teeth, it becomes especially important to maintain proper daily oral hygiene. Brush gently at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, giving special attention to the gum line. Gentle

brushing will do the trick and will help preserve the gum tissue while reducing discomfort due to sensitive exposed roots. Daily flossing and visits to the dentist for preventive care are other important tools for preserving oral health.

Existing fillings can also contribute to adult cavities. As a filling weakens over time, it tends to fracture and the seal between the filling material and the tooth loosens. Bacteria can accumulate in the cracks and crevices, causing acid buildup that promotes decay. Maintaining fillings is one way to protect teeth from further decay and to retain the integrity of restored teeth. As part of your routine exam we check existing fillings for wear and determine if a filling needs to be replaced. In some cases failed fillings need to be replaced with crowns or can require endodontic treatment involving a root canal or tooth extraction and replacement with a prosthetic tooth.

Any changes to your oral health, such as increased tooth sensitivity, swollen and painful gums or fillings that are loose, should be examined by our dentist to prevent possible damage or loss of your teeth.  Don't forget to schedule dental exams for preventive care and don’t put off additional visits to our office if you experience any changes to your oral health.

Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS & Your Fountains Dental Excellence Team