Our First Cavity-Free Pizza Party

Whoo hoo! Ladies and gentlemen, please mark April 25th down on your calendars as Redwood Dental's first Cavity-Free Pizza Party! As part of an ongoing effort to celebrate our patients being cavity-free, we have been placing their gorgeous pictures on our Cavity-Free Wall. Every 3-4 months, we will randomly select a winner from our pool of awesome patients who are cavity-free. Our first winner is Anastasia! She's 5 years old and really takes good care of her teeth!

Here's a picture of Anastasia (on right) and her friend. Beautiful smiles!

These little ladies really know how to work the camera. It was adorable that after each picture, they would run up to my camera and insist on taking a look. We all enjoyed some good ol' pizza, low-sugar drinks, and low-sugar cookies! After playing a little charades with Play-Doh, watching monkeys on the TV, and sharing a few "secrets", we said our goodbyes and all these girls received a gift bag filled with goodies including berry xylitol, of course! Here are a few pictures from our party...

                      

Can't wait 'til the next one,

Dr. Lynda Tran

Text2Quit Helps Smokers Quit

Having a father who is in the process of quitting smoking, I know how difficult it is to even think about quitting. But imagine the benefits for those who quit smoking: decrease risk of heart conditions/cancers/etc., increased life expectancy, less harm caused by secondhand smoking to your loved ones, less money spent on buying cigarrettes (and could be put to better purchases), improvement in your oral health, and the list goes on!

With the increase presence of technology in our lives, there is now another way to get help to quit. Text2Quit from Voxiva. This technology uses your mobile device to help smokers kick the habit using guidelines set by the Surgeon General. According to their site, "studies have shown that text-based interventions are 2 times more likely to help smokers quit"! How amazing is that? If you or a loved one is ready quit, check out Text2Quit. Click here to view their video.

Best,

Dr. Lynda Tran

Cup O' Joe Decreases Stroke Risk

With the time change, we're all finding it a bit more difficult to get up in the morning. Even though our brains might not be awake when consuming that first cup of coffee, we're actully doing our brains some good! It was found in 2011 study that consumption of 1-6 cups of coffee a day cut stroke risk by 17%¹! Coffee has antioxidants that reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol and reduce inflammation markers.

For the women readers, drinking 2-3 cups of coffee has also shown a 15% decrease risk of depression. And if you drink 4 or more cups, a 20% decrease risk was seen²! So, go ahead and pour yourself another cup o' joe!

Of course, just make sure you limit the frequency of your drinking to reduce the amount of coffee that your teeth come in touch with. In other words, it's better if you drink a cup of coffee in one sitting than to sip a little bit at a time over a longer period of time. Coffee contains acids and sugars that is harmful to to your enamel, leading to a higher cavity risk. Although coffee has its health benefits, we want to make sure you take advantage of those benefits while being cavity free!

Here's to another cup,
Dr. Lynda Tran

¹ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/752712

² http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/750420

Secondhand Smoking Linked to Gum Disease

We've known for years that smoking increases an individual's risk of getting gum disease but a recent study finds that secondhand smoking can also increase one's risk. At the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, researchers found that "exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke for a few hours each day can double a person's risk of severe periodontal disease".

For the full article, please visit this site.

Please think before lighting up,
Dr. Lynda Tran

Times Are Tough...Even for the Tooth Fairy

Even the untouchable Tooth Fairy is feeling the pinch. According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll (sponsored by Delta Dental Plans Association), the average gift from the Tooth Fairy dropped to $2.10 last year. This is down 42 cents from $2.52 in 2010. “But the good news,” their PR folks hasten to add, “is she’s still visiting nearly 90 percent of homes throughout the United States.”

Some other data points:

• The most common amount left under the pillow by the Tooth Fairy is $1.
• Most children find more money under the pillow for their first lost baby tooth.
• Thirty-five percent of those surveyed allow their children three to four sugary drinks a day. Dentists say that’s too many.

For the original WSJ article, click here. If you want to see the what teeth are going for around the world, check this out.

Sweet dreams,
Dr. Lynda Tran

Dark Beer - It Does a Body Good

It's happy hour...time to take your medicine!

I came across a short article in "Shape" magazine about the awesome benefits of dark beer. It reports that switching from light ale to a heartier stout could help prevent clots and heart attacks. According to a recent analysis published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, dark beers contain significantly more iron - 121 parts per billion (ppb), comared with 92 ppb for pale brews and 63 ppb for nonalcoholic beers. Iron, of course, is an important building block for red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. As always, drink responsibly!

Here's to the dark side,
Dr. Lynda Tran

Oral Hygiene for Fido

Got Floss? Harlan showing off his pearly whites.

I apologize for the small hiatus, but I'm back! First is a topic that is dear to my heart, PETS! As you may recall, I have a big hunk-of-love named Harlan (he'll be turning 4 in January). I was inspired to write this article when Harlan came up and blind sighted me with kisses! While I welcome them most of the time, this time his breath was not so hot. Down right putrid! Yuck.

It is important to perform regular cleanings for our pets. A few of minutes of brushing a few days a week can help eliminate bad breath and give pets a longer, healthier life. According to our vet (Napa Valley Small Animal Hospital), most dogs and cats develop dental disease by 3 years of age. The sooner the disease is treated, the easier it is for you and your pet. Bad breath isn't the only sign of dental disease however. Check out the other signs/symptoms that you should keep an eye out for:

• Bad Breath
• Sensitivity Around the Mouth
• Loss of Appetite or Difficulty Chewing
• Yellow/Brown Deposits on Teeth
• Bleeding, Inflamed Gums
• Loose or Missing Teeth
• Pawing at the Mouth or Face

And just like us, prevention is key! Here are a few ways to keep your pet's oral health in tip top shape:

• Bring your pet in for regular check-ups
• Brush your pet's teeth a few times a week (your vet can show you!)
• Choose a pet food formulated to remove tartar and plaque 
• Use plaque-reducing treats and toys

Here's another picture of Harlan showing off his tartar-free choppers...

Here's to the ruff life,
Dr. Lynda Tran