August 18, 2014
How Can You Prevent Heart Disease?
A shocking statistic, about 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women. Annually, 720,000 Americans have a heart attack, and 515,000 of those are their first heart attack. It is no secret that heart disease is definitely something that everyone should be extremely conscious of, and taking preventative measures against heart disease is crucial to living a long life of heart health. Thankfully, the American Heart Association has given people in all age ranges tips that they can live by in order to achieve wonderful cardiac health. Dr. Michael Kirk and Dr. Adam Cohlmia want their patients to be as knowledgeable as possible in order to have a healthy heart.
One thing you can do while you are in your 20s is find a doctor whom you trust and have regular wellness exams. This is very important in making sure that everything in your body is running copasetic and working in tandem. It is important that your doctor knows about your diet and lifestyle. Your doctor will be able to perform heart-health screenings, making sure that everything internally is working well. Also, being physically active and avoiding tobacco-based products, even secondhand smoke, is a wonderful way to make sure your heart stays in great condition. In your 30s, it is important to know your family history of heart disease, as knowledge is always very powerful. When you know your family history with heart disease, you can take the proper steps in making sure you avoid heart disease altogether. Taming your stress is another wonderful thing you can do in your 30s in order to avoid heart disease. When you experience stress long-term, that can result in an increased heart rate and heightened blood pressure, giving your arteries the opportunity to damage.
When you are in your 40s, paying attention to your weight and having your blood sugar level checked are important. Your metabolism starts slowing down in your 40s, and adding on extra weight on your body only puts stress on your heart to work harder. You should have a fasting blood glucose test by the time you are 45, and every three years after that. Paying attention to snoring is also important, as one in five adults suffer from sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
In your 50s and 60s, it is important to maintain a healthy diet, focusing on a lot of fruits and vegetables, fish, and having some meals without meat. Being aware of the warning signs of heart disease and stroke are also important, as you can be more aware as to what to look for. Being sure you stay on any sort of treatment plan you may have is another wonderful way to avoid heart disease. Also in your 60s, having an ankle-brachial index test done every two years is important, as it is able to measure the amount of plaque that has been able to build up in the arteries of the leg.
By keeping these tips in mind, you are sure to be more aware of your risk of heart disease, and will have many preventative measures already in place in order to accomplish a full life with a healthy heart!
If you’d like to set up an appointment, call us today at El Reno Family Dentistry. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from El Reno, Yukon, Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
May 29, 2014
Which Toothpastes Are The Best?
Having good oral care is important for the care of the rest of your body. Many people may not know this, but if you have poor oral health, other areas of your body are affected, like your bones, your brain, and your heart. Brushing and flossing your teeth daily are an excellent way in making sure you stay on top of your oral health, but a lot of people may be confused as to which toothpastes are the best for them. The doctors at El Reno Family Dentistry are dedicated to making sure their patients stay as informed as possible, even down to the types of toothpastes they use in order to achieve excellent oral health.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a toothpaste is making sure the toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride is a natural mineral that has been shown to significantly decrease the odds of tooth decay over the past fifty years. The bacteria in your mouth thrive on the leftover sugars and starches that reside in your smile after eating, and fluoride helps fight against the acid released when that happens. Fluoride is a key component is strengthening your tooth enamel, and it can reverse the early stages of damage caused by acid by replenishing minerals your smile.
Another important thing to keep in mind when choosing a toothpaste is to find one that controls tartar. Tartar is hardened plaque, a bacterial layer. If tartar is not removed promptly and properly, it has the potential to lead to gum disease. Also, some tartar control toothpastes contain triclosan, an antibiotic that kills some of the bacteria in your mouth. It is also important to keep in mind finding a toothpaste that’s ADA approved. This way, you know the toothpaste is safe, effective, and contains fluoride!
If you’d like to set up an appointment, call us today at El Reno Family Dentistry. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from El Reno, Yukon, Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
October 23, 2013
Don’t Forget to Use Your Dental Benefits Before the End of the Year in El Reno
It is important to make sure that you’re taking good care of yourself all year long. This is another reason why we have insurance, to make sure that we can afford all the care that we need for our health. As the end of 2013 is approaching, now is the time to make sure you’ve taken full advantage of your dental benefits. We recommend scheduling an appointment with El Reno Family Dentistry sooner rather than later.
All dental insurance plans are different, but frequently there’s a yearly maximum that your plan covers. If you haven’t reached your maximum for the year yet, make an appointment today. Anything leftover will not roll over at the end of the year, so if you don’t use this you will lose it. These dental benefits are
If you need a teeth cleaning, crown, filling or more, now is a great time to schedule your appointment. Some dental benefit plans even offer discounts on these types of services, so check to see what your coverage entails. Make sure you’re taking care of your smile by taking full advantage of your dental insurance benefits. Please call us if you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment.
Interested in learning more about dental insurance or scheduling your next appointment? Call us today at El Reno Family Dentistry. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from El Reno, Yukon, Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
August 14, 2013
The Best and Worst Foods for a Healthy Smile
Healthy eating goes for more than just your body. It’s important to consider your smile when making your food choices. Certain foods can increase your risk of decay, while certain foods can help to protect your smile. At El Reno Family Dentistry, we want to inform our patients of these important food facts.
If you’re going to eat foods that contain a lot of sugar, it is best to eat them with your meal instead of as a snack. At meals, you produce more saliva than at other times, which helps to neutralize the acid and provide your smile a little more protection.
Tea is a better beverage choice than carbonated sodas, which contain a lot of sugar than can erode the enamel on your teeth. Both green and black teas contain polyphenols that interact with bacteria in plaque, helping to kill or at least prevent them from producing acid that can harm your teeth.
Fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber are also a great smile choice. Fiber helps to stimulate saliva production as well as help to clean your mouth. Saliva helps to neutralize acids in your mouth and stop them from harming your smile.
Your smile health can be impacted by the foods you’re eating and how they’re eating them. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll see how these simple tips can help to improve your smile. If you have any questions or want to know more, please give us a call.
Interested in learning more about general dentistry or scheduling your next appointment? Call us today at El Reno Family Dentistry. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from El Reno, Yukon, Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
July 18, 2013
Exciting Developments in Root Canal Therapy
Are you suffering from a painful tooth but avoiding visiting the dentist because you don’t want to hear the news that you need root canal therapy? Today, the staff at El Reno Family Dentistry wants to share news about a scientific research study that may be of interest to you. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, currently many scientists are developing a way to use stem cells to regenerate tooth tissue for better dental care.
Root canal therapy is used to restore a tooth that has decay that reached the inner pulp, resulting in an often painful infection. Traditionally this is accomplished by removing the decay, replacing it with a dental filling, and capping the tooth with a crown. The tooth will be restored but is now ‘dead’ inside because you’ve just removed all the living tissue.
What the scientists are working on is a way to get teeth stem cells to regrow dental pulp. This could then be placed inside the infected tooth, allowing it to function like a healthy tooth once again. The pulp tissue helps to detect future infections, so this would provide a even higher-quality dental restoration than the technology that currently exists.
If you have a tooth that is infected, we can help with root canal therapy. Please give us a call to stop the discomfort and allow us to restore your tooth to health. We hope that in the future, this important dental research will be translated into a new way of performing root canal therapy that will result in even healthier teeth.
Interested in learning more about general dentistry or scheduling your next appointment? Call us today at El Reno Family Dentistry. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from El Reno, Yukon, Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
June 14, 2013
Smile Bright This Summer
This summer, Grand Dental El Reno wants to make sure you keep your teeth healthy while enjoying all the fun this season has to offer. With a few simple tips, your smile will be shining brightly all summer long.
It’s important to remember that your teeth were designed to help you cut and tear apart food while eating it. They weren’t meant to be used as bottle openers, ice crushers, hangers, or scissors. Using your teeth for functions they just weren’t meant to perform can cause cracks or fractures that may be costly to repair.
Many times we associate summer with sugary treats such as sodas, ice cream or other treats. While these are all very enjoyable, remember to consume them in moderation. The sugar can prove to be harmful to your tooth enamel. If you must drink sodas, try to use a straw because it reduces the harm to your teeth. Swapping your soda for water is an even better solution.
Finally, don’t forget to come visit us for your regular dental checkup. Our caring staff will clean your teeth and remove any plaque or tartar that might be built up on your teeth. We’ll also check for signs of disease, decay or other damage. We’re here to help you with any questions or concerns you might have about your smile.
Take the time this summer to make a commitment to your dental health. With these small steps you can ensure you’ll have a healthy smile both this summer and all year long.
Interested in learning more about general dentistry or scheduling your next appointment? Call us today at Grand Dental El Reno! Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
January 7, 2013
DIAGNOdent: Laser Cavity Detection
Cavities are one of the most prevalent dental health conditions. No matter how well we brush and floss, they can still occur. The best treatment for cavities is early treatment. At Grand Dental El Reno, we use DIAGNOdent technology to help detect cavities in their infancy.
DIAGNOdent is a small, portable device that lets us detect cavities early, before any other detection method can catch them. This is a tremendous benefit because the earlier a cavity is found, the smaller it is and the easier it is to fill.
Here’s how it works. First, the DIAGNOdent laser will scan your teeth, using laser reflection to find imperfections. If there’s anything there, DIAGNOdent will alert us with an audible signal. Then, it will generate a numerical readout to give us an indication of the size of the cavity.
This tool is a great asset in our ongoing quest to provide our patients with the best dental care possible. We can’t wait to use it on your teeth!
Interested in learning more about DIAGNOdent technology, or wanting your teeth analyzed for cavities? Call us today at Grand Dental El Reno! Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from Minco, Calument, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.
November 9, 2012
Take Advantage of Your Dental Benefits While There’s Still Time
As 2012 comes to a close, so will the remaining dental benefits for many patients. So with the time you have left, why not use them while you have them?
One of the best ways to put your dental benefits to work for you is with a regular checkup and professional cleaning. Our doctors at Grand Dental in El Reno recommend having visits like these twice a year, or about every six months. Why so often? So we can keep an eye out for even small changes in how your smile is doing.
What kinds of changes?
Changes like tooth decay or gum disease. These are two of the most common oral health conditions patients may face, and when treatment is delayed, they can have a very negative impact on your oral and overall health. Regular checkups and professional cleanings are meant to provide you with preventive care and to alert you to conditions that need attention.
Another reason for using your benefits now is that caring for your smile may require multiple visits. To make sure you can fit those visits in between now and the end of the year, we need to see you as soon as possible.
Call our El Reno dental office to schedule your next visit. During your next visit, your doctor can answer your treatment questions, while our office team would be happy to address any insurance-related questions you might have. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from Minco, Calument, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.