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.