Congratulations to Dr. Osmanski who became the President Elect for the McHenry County Dental Society this evening! The Presidency is one year away. We're all proud of your hard work.

Fact: Flossing Isn't Optional

Flossing breaks up the bacteria colonies that constantly multiply in your mouth, especially in the places where the toothbrush can’t reach. Brushing but not flossing is sort of like washing only the tops of your hands.

At the gumline, curve the floss into a C-shape and slide it against each tooth in up and down motions. If this feels awkward, try pre-threaded floss holders, interdental picks or electric flossers.

Water picks may help if you have gum disease (your dentist can prescribe antibacterial solutions to use in them) or have braces, which hide food. Still, they aren't a substitute for flossing because they don’t remove plaque.

National Lupus Awareness Month

During the month of May you may notice purple ribbons tied on the downtown Crystal Lake trees. This is in support for National Lupus Awareness Month, and purple is the Lupus support color.

Saturday, May 11th (9am – 4pm) Downtown will be hosting its annual Flower Sale Fundraiser from 9am – 4pm. They will be selling all sorts of potted plants, hanging baskets, etc. The flowers are provided by Countryside Flowershop & Nursery. Any sale of a PURPLE flower/plant will generate an extra donation to the Lupus Foundation!  Location: Corner of Williams and Brink 

Individuals raising awareness and funds for Lupus will have a tent setup in front of Benedicts La Strata. They will have multiple prizes, gift baskets, etc. which will be raffled off as a fundraiser for Lupus. Stop by their tent to learn more and support the cause.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Dr. Osmanski who will become the President Elect for the McHenry County Dental Society in 2013/2014! 

The Illinois Sate Dental Society welcomed their current and future dental leaders today at their Dental Leaders Conference in Springfield, IL. (Dr. Osmanski's smiling face can be found in the back row, 3rd from right). 

Congratulations to all the 2013/2014 Dental Leaders for the State of Illinois.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month - Know the warning signs:

Almost 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or throat cancer this year. We'd like to remind everyone that regular dental visits can improve the chances that any suspicious changes in your oral health will be caught early, at a time when cancer can be treated more easily.

In between dental visits, it is important for patients to be aware of the following signs and symptoms, and to see their dentist if they do not disappear after two weeks.

• a sore or irritation that doesn't go away
• red or white patches
• pain, tenderness or numbness in mouth or lips
• a lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
• difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving your jaw or tongue
• a change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth

Your mouth is one of your body's most important early warning systems. Should you discover something suspicious, make an appointment for a prompt examination. Early treatment may well be the key to complete recovery.

It's spring time and refreshing your smile may be just the boost you need to make you look and feel fantastic!

Consider Bonding and/or Whitening your teeth as it can transform your smile and make you look younger, more vibrant and even healthier. Like a mini-facelift, these smile lifts are less invasive than other dental procedures and usually the transformation is complete in just a visit or two. 

Whitening: We create a specialized tray for your teeth to use at home with bleaching gel. 
Bonding: This can hide tooth stains, correct alignment, close minor gaps and repair damage.

What should normal tongues and lips look like?

Tongues should be rosy pink, though some people have harmless "geographic tongue" (red and white geometric patterns). Lips should be pink to deep brown, depending on skin tone.

Tongues should NOT be
BLACK: caused by bacteria (due to diabetes, antibiotic use or poor hygiene). An active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth subsalicylate) can blacken the tongue temporarily, which is harmless.

BRIGHT RED: caused by low levels of folate or B-12 or if it's sore and swollen too it could be glossitis (caused by an infection, allergic reaction, or dehydration)

WHITE PATCHES: white patches on the tongue or on the insides of cheeks can be caused by thrush. Any white patch that has been in your mouth longer than two weeks should be seen by a doctor as it could be a cancerous lesion.

Lips should NOT be pale pink to white. This can be caused by anemia (low on red blood cells). There are many causes from diet to fibroids and heavy periods to even taking too much aspirin or ibuprofen. Check with your doctor to identify the underlying problems before you try to treat the matter yourself.

5 SURPRISING HEART HELPERS:

1- Get a Good Night's Sleep:  Studies show that sleeping less than 7 hours per night raises the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart-threatening deep belly fat.  Start by shutting off electronics at last 2 hours before bed as they can interfere with production of sleep-inducing melatonin.

2 - Mind Your Mouth:  A healthy mouth isn't just attractive, it's good for your heart too!  Chronic inflammation of the gums is thought to lead to vascular inflammation.  Brush twice a day, floss at least once daily and book a professional cleaning twice a year.

3 - Pick Up the Pace:  Increase the intensity of your exercise to boost the benefits.  A recent Danish study found that participants who walked fast were half as likely to develop metabolic syndrome (the factors linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes), while a daily stroll had no effect.

4 - Take is Some Sun Safely - Turns out vitamin D might protect your heart as well as your bones.  One recent study among adults found that participants with this highest level of vitamin D had a 60% lower risk of developing heart disease.  Vitamin D might function as an anti-inflammatory or help regulate blood pressure and glucose.  Spend time in the sun safely (use SPF) or talk to your doctor about whether you should begin taking supplements.

5 - Offset Your Commute:  The longer it takes you to get to work the greater your risk of heart disease.  To counteract the effects associated with sitting for so long in the car (including stress), go for a lunch time walk or sneak in a workout.  If you sit at a desk, get up and move for a few minutes every couple of hours and try to take deep breaths or play soothing music during your commute if traffic makes your blood boil.

After I get over a cold or the flu, do I need to buy a new toothbrush so I don't catch the same illness again?

No, you do not need to get a new toothbrush. The majority of the time you can't get the same virus twice since you develop antibodies that protect you the next time, but bacterial infections are different; you can get them more than once. The following are a list of tips and suggestions to make your toothbrush remain cleaner and last longer. 

• Do not cover or store toothbrushes in closed containers. Keeping toothbrushes covered prevents the bristles from drying out completely, which promotes the growth of bacteria, since it flourishes on a wet surface.

• Never share your toothbrush with anyone. Sharing your toothbrush with someone else increases your risk of infection, due to the possible exchange of saliva, blood and microorganisms.

• Carefully rinse your toothbrush with warm water both before and after brushing your teeth. This helps remove any minute dust or debris particles that may have fallen onto the bristles while air-drying, as well as leftover toothpaste and germs from your mouth.

• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Since the bristles become more worn with each use, replacing your toothbrush often will increase their cleaning effectiveness.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May luck be our companion

May friends stand by our side

May history remind us all

Of Ireland's faith and pride.

May God bless us with happiness

May love and faith abide.

~Irish Blessing

All of Us at Osmanski Dental Wish You a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

Are Your Gums Receding?

This shouldn't be taken lightly.  The leading cause is gum disease, but there are many more reasons, listed below.  This can lead to root cavities, eroded tooth structure and ligament destruction leading to tooth loss. Call us if you have concerns so we can prevent further damage and try to treat and repair your gums.

Hormone Fluctuations:  Puberty, pregnancy and menopause can make gums sensitive and more likely to recede.

Over-brushing: Aggressive brushing can wear away enamel and increase risk for gum recession.

Grinding, clenching and an uneven bite: All can put excessive force on the teeth and jaws, causing gums to recede.

Tobacco Use: Smoker are more likely to have plaque and tartar buildup which can cause gum recession.

Mouth Piercings: Jewelry can rub the gum and wear away gum tissue.

You, and Your Mouth, are What You Eat

Your mouth can say a lot about what you're eating and your dentist can be the first person to spot potential nutritional imbalances! 

Nutritional deficiencies result when there is an imbalance between what the body needs and what it is getting. These imbalances are reflected in the mouth where soft tissue renews as quickly as 3-7 days.

Deficiencies in folic acid, zinc and iron show up in gum disease. Nutritional deficiencies limit the body's ability to fight disease, in many cases the mouth is the first line of defense. Healthy gum tissue and saliva are crucial in fending off invading pathogens.

Minerals Vital to Good Oral Health: Zinc, Magnesium, Fluoride, Phosphorous, Iron, Copper, potassium and Iodine

Vitamins Needed for Oral Health:
Vitamin A - Improved wound healing. A deficiency increases gum tissue pockets around teeth

Vitamin C - Health gums -essential for smokers and patients with diabetes. A deficiency causes loss of gum tissue, gum bleeding, tooth mobility

Vitamin D - Strong teeth and jaw bones. A deficiency causes bone resorption in the jaws, tooth loss

Vitamin E, B2, B6 & B12 - Healthy gums and less redness and bleeding. A deficiency causes bleeding gums and dryness/sores in the corner of lips

Folic Acid - Promotes good oral health

Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body

2 glasses of water @ waking up - helps activate internal organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - helps avoid stroke or heart attack

Water at bed time can also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.

DRY MOUTH

Everyone’s mouth can be dry sometimes, but if you feel like your mouth is always dry, it may be time to seek treatment. Without the cleansing effects of saliva, tooth decay and other oral health problems become more common.

Medications and certain health conditions can lead to dry mouth. Patients using oral inhalers for asthma can develop an oral fungal infection (Thrush), and are encouraged to rinse their mouths with water after using the inhaler. Tell your dentist what medications you are taking and any other information about your health that may help identify the cause of your dry mouth.

Recent findings indicate that the bacteria that causes cavities can now fend off fluoride

Scientists don't know how bacteria is doing this, but when they do we'll offer a new means to create an oral health regimen that is more bacteria-hostile. But wait! Don't abandon fluoride! It's still your best defense against plaque buildup and cavities, along with brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day and getting regular professional cleanings from your dentist.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

“Imagine a bank account that credits you each morning with $86,400.   It carries over no balance from day to day.   Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use.  What would you do?

 Well, each of us has such bank. Its name is TIME.  Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds.   Every night it writes off whatever time you failed to invest to a good purpose.   It carries no balance. It allows no overdraft. The clock is running, so MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY AND EVERY DAY!”

ALL OF US AT DR. OSMANSKI'S DENTAL OFFICE WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  

New Dental Team Member

We'd like to Welcome Kristi Langton to our Dental Team! 

Kristi comes to us with numerous years of dental experience in both the clinical and administrative areas. She lives in Crystal Lake, where she was also born and raised. She's married and has one daughter in her last year of college. Kristi will be that friendly voice you hear when you call our office. She will answer any questions you may have and help you to schedule your appointment at a convenient time.

 

 

Toothpaste works on more than teeth!

Tooth Sensitivity

Every year at this time I here complaints from my patients about tooth sensitivity. As a common oral health problem, tooth sensitivity is caused when the gums recede, exposing tooth roots. When hot or cold stimuli come into contact with these roots, a sensation is passed through the tubules in the roots directly to the nerve of the tooth, creating pain.

But, you might be wondering, what causes the gums to recede in the first place?  Your age can play a role, along with an incorrect brushing technique, teeth grinding, a cracked tooth and gum disease.  

How can you protect your teeth?   First, try using a toothpaste brand that treats sensitivity.  Second, finish your brushing and flossing routine by rinsing with a fluoride rinse.  And lastly, visit your dentist and let them see your smile, other recommendations can be made about how to help.

Your dog's or cat's overall health begins in their mouth.

 

An animal's breath can be a sign of serious dental health issues such as an infection, broken tooth or periodontal disease. Check your pet's teeth weekly. Yellow or brown teeth indicate plaque or tartar buildup. Red, swollen or bleeding gums indicate gingivitis. Just as you brush your teeth, you should also brush your pet's teeth daily. A toothbrush specially for pets or a child's soft-bristle brush will do the job. Introduce brushing to your pet slowly working up to a full brushing over 2 weeks. Your pet should have an annual dental cleaning at your Vet starting at @ 2 yrs of age. Choose dog chew toys carefully. Hard items like bones are common causes of broken teeth. If you can bend a toy with the strength of your hand, it should be OK. Dental "treats" are smart choices. 

For a complete list go to vohc.org/accepted_products.htm

Take Care of Your Toothbrush

Viruses on one toothbrush can contaminate others it touches. Make sure your family's brushes are in a holder that keeps them apart, and let them dry thoroughly. (If you get a bug, you don't need to replace your brush as you already have antibodies against that virus).