Campi Dental Blog

For 85 years we have been caring for our patients and our community, but for the first time, we can truly call ourselves a multi-disciplinary practice. What exactly does that mean, you ask? We now offer multiple specialty dental services, all under one roof. In addition to providing exceptional general dental care, we can now offer our patients complete orthodontic services, periodontal services, and any oral surgery services our patients need. In this blog post we’re going to take a deeper dive into each specialty service, as well as get to know the team of doctors that make All in the Family Dental Care the advanced practice that it is.

Our Specialty Service Areas:

• General Dentistry
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Periodontics
• Oral Surgery

General Dentistry

General dentistry is the most common form of dental care. By definition, we diagnose, treat, and manage overall oral healthcare needs including cleanings and exams, gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventative education. It’s recommended that our patients receive a routine exam at least twice per year for oral care maintenance. This includes the general cleaning and examination where they evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums. Dr. Jack Campi and Dr. Joe Campi specialize in general dentistry and are the dentists that you will see for your routine exams.

Cosmetic Dentistry

If your teeth are stained, discolored, worn, chipped, misaligned, misshapen, or have gaps, cosmetic dentistry can give you a better smile.  A “smile makeover” improves the appearance of your smile through Veneers, Whitening, Bonding, Crowns, and Implants. Cosmetic treatments are not always required for oral health, but often are desired by patients to improve their smile and overall facial appearance. Depending on the procedure being performed, you may see any of our top doctors including Dr. Jack Campi, Dr. Joe Campi, Dr. Paul Galante or Dr. Jeff Milone.

Orthodontics

The Orthodontic Wellness Center specializes in non-extraction and non-retraction orthodontics promoting facial balance, beauty, and airway health for a healthier you.  All in the Family Dental Care offers all orthodontic treatment options including Damon Braces, Invisalign, SureSmile Orthotropics, ALF, Crozat, Oral Myofacial Therapy (OMT),  GoPex and others. We also offer Sleep Apnea Screening to evaluate your airway health. Dr. Greg Campi is our orthodontist on staff and will take amazing care of all your orthodontic needs.

Periodontics

Our Periodontal services treat all forms of gum disease that can lead to bone loss and gum recession around the teeth. We are experts in tooth removal, bone grafting, gum grafting and dental implant placement. Periodontology is the study of the hard and soft tissues that support your teeth and maintain their position in the jaw. The periodontium has some very important functions: it securely attaches the teeth to the jaws; it acts as a shock absorber during biting and chewing and therefore helps to prevent damage to the teeth from excessive forces. Dr. Jeff Milone is our staff Periodontist and will be the one to treat and of your needs.

Oral Surgery

Oral surgery refers to any surgical procedure performed in or around your mouth and jaw, usually by a an oral surgeon. Many times your dentist will have to send you to one, but we’re proud to offer oral surgery procedures within our office. Common oral surgery procedure include wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, and bone grafting. Dr. Paul Galante is our in-house oral surgeon and has over 25 years of experience in many aspects of oral surgery, but his true passion is changing patient’s lives with dental implants. Dr. Galante strives to provide his patients with the ultimate dental experience and care.

 

Meet Our Team of Doctors

Our suite of doctors have all been practicing for 20+ years and are known for their vast knowledge and experience as well as their personal, calm, and kind demeanors.  They are leaders in the technology space offering the most advanced dental procedures and equipment out there.

Being a family dental practice for over 85 years, we fully understand the importance of a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums. We continuously educate our patients on how to care for their teeth, and how to prevent future issues. Our patients often feel that as great as it is to have a healthy smile, it sometimes isn’t enough, they want a perfect smile with beautiful straight teeth in order to feel confident and proud of their smile.

As a multi disciplinary dental practice, we not only prevent and treat our patients through traditional dental services, but we are also a Preferred Partner with Invisalign and recently added Dr. Greg Campi to our practice who offers traditional orthodontic and Invisalign services.

Invisalign often comes with many questions. A lot of patients often think it’s too expensive, or they may not qualify, before even learning about it. We’re here today to answer your questions and hopefully encourage you or someone you know to take the leap and schedule a free Invisalign initial consultation.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment in the form of transparent, plastic, dental braces used to adjust and straighten teeth. Invisalign uses clear aligners that are made through a combination of 3-d computer imaging technology along with a certified dentists expertise. You typically wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final desired position to resolve whatever issue it was that initially called for Invisalign treatment.

How long does Invisalign Take To Work?

The Invisalign treatment plan is different for everyone, but usually takes between 9-15 months to complete. This average is also based on the patient sticking to the recommended guidelines of wearing the aligners at least 20-22 hours every single day, throughout the entirety of treatment. Any deviation from this can add time to the process. Depending on the severity of your prior dental needs, it may take longer to complete. During this time, you’ll see your dentist every 6 weeks to monitor progress and to ensure you’re on track for a perfect smile. Skipping appointments or not changing aligners when you’re scheduled to can undo progress.

How much does Invisalign Cost?

Invisalign costs vary for every patient depending on their necessary treatment plan. Complete costs range from $3,000-$6,000. All in the Family Dental Care offers an option to pay for Invisalign in monthly installments rather than paying the entire cost up front.

Who qualifies for Invisalign?

Invisalign consultations are available at no cost for any patient that is looking to straighten their teeth and improve their smile. Other symptoms that may encourage Dr. Jack or Dr. Joe to recommend Invisalign would be: crowded teeth, over bite, underbite, crossbite, gaps in teeth, and open bites. Invisalign is well known and highly recommended to treat all of these dental issues.

Does Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Some insurance companies cover a portion of the Invisalign treatment, but every company and every case is different. Some cases have been known to have anywhere from $0 – $3,000 covered, with many cases having $1,000 – $1,500 covered. The best thing to do if you’re seriously considering Invisalign is to come in for a free consultation, learn about the product and what a treatment plan would look like for you. We can also work with you and your insurance company to see what your cost would be.

Is Invisalign Painful?

Anytime teeth need to be shifted or moved, there’s a possibility for discomfort. Most patients experience discomfort during the first few days of wearing the Invisalign aligners. When asked to describe the pain, patients have reported that the sensations are more relatable to pressure or tenderness rather than pain. Because Invisalign works with a series of different aligner trays, anytime you begin a new aligner, the discomfort may be present for the first 24-72 hours.

Does Invisalign Work As Well As Traditional Braces?

When comparing traditional braces and Invisalign, it’s really a tight race. Adults and teens who tend to be self-conscious might find the discrete look of Invisalign incredibly appealing, and its removability is also a big draw. However, it’s important to remember that the success of Invisalign depends almost entirely on the patient. If you don’t wear them as directed, they just won’t work. Whereas metal braces don’t give you the option of taking them on and off, which may allow for a more efficient result. The two main benefits of Invisalign are that the aligners are almost completely invisible, and that they are removable. They also tend to be more comfortable than traditional metal braces, since the aligners are made of a smooth plastic that won’t irritate the gums or cheeks the way some brackets and wires might. In conclusion, Invisalign is a highly efficient method for moving and correcting teeth.

Before and After Example

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to all of our patients as well as the kids in the community for completing another year! Summer is here and we want to reward you for all of your hard work.  Every  week  through  the  end  of  July, we  are  giving  away  TWO  $15  Jenkinsons  Gift  Cards.

All you have to do is take a smiling selfie in our dental office, post it on Facebook or Instagram, tag us and include the hashtag #campismiles. It’s that easy.

Make sure you’re already following us on social media:

Facebook: @All in the Family Dental Care

Instagram: @campidental

If you’re not scheduled for the month of July and would like to book an appointment now, click here. 

We look forward to announcing the winners and helping to make everyone’s Summers a bit more fun!

As a dental office that treats hundreds of emergency cases per year, it’s easy for us to see the importance of mouthguards in youth sports. Unfortunately many parents, and many sports organizations don’t necessarily see the see the need for them, require them, or even encourage them. Helmets, goggles, and knee pads are a no-brainer when it comes to protecting your kids’ in most sports. We’re taking the initiative to spread the word on the importance of mouthguards in youth sports in hopes to prevent future oral injuries

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), 1/3 of all dental emergencies are sports related, and more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented each year by wearing a mouthguard and over Mouthguards help prevent chipped, broken, and knocked out teeth. They protect your child’s lips, tongue, face, and also help redistribute forces from a blow to the head. While a mouthguard won’t prevent a concussion, it can reduce the severity of the injury.

“My performance mouth piece has taking my training to a whole other level.”

— Val Barnaby of E.S.S.A Sports Training

 

Types of Mouthguards

• Pre-formed mouth protectors can be found at sporting good stores and are generic for all users. They typically cost under $15, but you get what you pay for. It’s difficult for kids to speak, they’re bulky and are not the best form of oral protection in sports.
• Boil and bite mouth protectors can also be purchased at sporting goods stores. They are softened in hot water and then placed in the mouth to shape to the teeth. This is a middle of the road option, a step above generic mouthguards, but not the best case scenario.
• Ideally you’d want to choose a custom-fit mouthguard, they are made unique for each person using special materials in a dental office. These mouthguards are more expensive than the others, but they provide the most comfort and protection. At all in the Family Dental Care, we are an Authorized Provider of the Under Armour, Armourbite Technology Mouthguards which are made personally for each user.

The Under Armour Performance Mouthpiece is designed to give non-contact sports players an advantage on their opponents. Using Under Armour’s patented Power Wedges™ Technology, this mouthpiece reverses the performance-sapping effects of teeth clinching by optimally spacing the teeth and the jaw. The low-profile design delivers superior comfort and has minimal impact on your speech for effective player communication during the game. The UA mouthpiece helps improve strength, endurance and reaction time.

When Should Mouthguards Be Used

Experts recommend that mouthguards be worn by athletes in competitive and recreational sports in which impact, contact and collision are likely to occur. The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouthguards for the following sports: acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling. Some dental experts include baseball and softball infielders on that list. It’s recommended that the mouthguard be worn during both practices and competitions/games.

 

Self-care is a topic we’ve been discussing and promoting quite a bit lately at All in the Family Dental Care. But what does self-care really mean? The true definition is the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being, health, and happiness. We love this definition. It’s a perfect explanation of everything we’ve been focusing on and encouraging our patients to do. Being proactive. Protecting your well-being. Protecting your health. Encouraging happiness. We live in a world that moves faster than most of us can keep up with, with the average person feeling stressed and/or overwhelmed in their day to day life. We need to do something about this.

All in the Family Dental Care recently hosted an event called Nourish You – Mind. Body. Soul. It was a day specifically for women to work on improving their daily lives in hopes to increase energy, positive mental thinking and overall quality of life. We discussed topics such as nutrition, meditation, mindfulness, and had an emotional deep dive that allowed everyone to really connect with their inner selves in order to clear their minds and take a necessary step back from the hustle and bustle of every day life. The event was a huge success with women leaving feeling rejuvenated, and centered with the world. Everything we could have hoped for and more. In the rest of this blog post we hope we can direct you on how to disconnect from the world, focus on your mindfulness, and the importance of your own self-care.

How Stress Affects Your Body

Chronic stress can destroy your health.  Stress weakens our immune systems and inflames the body, making it more likely for us to get colds, have sleeping issues, gain weight, develop stomach ulcers, depression, diabetes and heart disease. These are all serious health issues, yet being “stressed out” isn’t something that many take seriously or work to prevent.

The changes and results that come from stress often go hand in hand with poor choices we make when at the end of our rope. Common reactions are zoning out in front of an electronic screen, bingeing junk food, alcohol, and drugs, all of which contribute negative effects on your body like obesity, poor sleep and ultimately, an unhappy existence.

Rather than giving in to poor decisions and habits in order to manage life’s stressors, we need to focus on treating ourselves with love, respect and kindness — but also discipline. This is where Nourish You advocates for self-care to prevent our patients from getting to this point.

Hitting the Pause Button

We can start by taking a few minutes each day to “hit the pause button”. We all need activities that promote inner peace and calm, that allow us to unwind from stress and get in touch with our own personal needs. Below are suggestions for ways you can hit your own pause button and escape from reality for a few minutes each day. It may take some time to find what works best for you, but once you do, you’ll question why you weren’t doing this all along.

• Take an epsom salt bath
• Practice guided meditation
• Perform even a few yoga poses
• Garden
• Walk barefoot on the beach or in the grass
• Spend time in nature
• Listen to the ocean
• Make an effort to go to sleep early
• Practice gratitude

These stress-relieving practices quiet the mind, balance hormones, including cortisol (the stress hormone), lower blood pressure and improve brain health. For those with busy schedules, you may need to set an alarm or block out time on your calendar to ensure you really get to take this time for yourself.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is an incredible tool to help people understand, tolerate, and deal with their emotions in healthy ways. It helps us to alter our habitual responses by taking pause and choosing how we act. When we are mindful, we experience our life as we live it. We experience the world directly through our five senses. We taste the food we are eating. We recognize the thoughts we are having. In doing so, we learn how our minds work, and we are better able to label the thoughts and feelings we are having, instead of allowing them to overpower us and dictate our behavior. Because mindfulness presents an effective method to get to know oneself, to reduce stress, and to live in the present moment, cultivating mindfulness is a powerful practice. 

Mindfulness has proven to:

• Lowers stress
• Restore emotional balance
• Increase resilience
• Reduce anxiety
• Slow aging
• Reduce physical pain
• Reduce depression
• Strengthen adolescent mental health
• Uncover our own blind spots
• Improve sleep quality, reduce fatigue
• Improve concentration

Mindfulness Practices:

When we practice mindfulness, we’re practicing the art of creating space for ourselves—space to think, space to breathe, space between ourselves and our reactions.

Nutrition

Eating transitions from a mindless practice of filling a void — both physical and emotional — to a pleasurable experience of tasting and enjoying food. Good nutrition is an important stress management tool. When our bodies are poorly fed, stress takes an even greater toll on our health. Nutrition and stress are interlinked and it’s important for us to focus on eating healthy in order to practice self-care. Here are some ways to eat well, reduce stress, and improve overall health.

1. Eat regularly. Your brain needs glucose to work at its best. Eating regularly throughout the day helps keep your blood glucose stable. Studies have shown that more stable blood sugar levels are associated with better performance whether it be at work school, or in daily activities.
2. Get your healthy fats. Omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, avocados, flax seed and fish oil are associated with brain function. Deficiencies of this fatty acid can result in depression and/or anxiety.
3. Eat your veggies. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals like copper, zinc, manganese, and vitamins A, E and C.  These vitamins and minerals work to neutralize harmful molecules produced when your body is under stress.
4. Add high-fiber foods. High fiber intake has been associated with greater alertness and decreased perceived stress. So add fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables to your diet.
5. Trade caffeine for more sleep. Caffeine leads to increased blood pressure and may make you anxious, especially if you are already prone to anxiety. While consuming caffeine may seem to help you concentrate better, some studies show that caffeine only restores what is lost through lack of sleep. Instead of turning to caffeine, try the natural grade booster – sleep when possible.
6. Stock up on healthy snacks. If you know that a stressful or busy time is approaching, prepare by stocking up on quick, healthy snacks. Healthy snacks are high in protein and/or fiber. Some examples are low fat granola, almonds, peanuts, carrots with hummus or yogurt with fresh fruit.

Self-Care is NOT Selfish

It’s time to view self-care differently. After all, it is really just taking care of yourself — which is vital for health and well-being. Whether you are a mom or dad taking care of a family, or an independent person that has an important job that depends on them, people rely on you. You need to be the best version of yourself for YOU, and those around you will reap the benefits as well.

More specifically, self-care means identifying and meeting your needs, something we often struggle with. We tend to put others first – children, spouses, parents, friends, even pets. We feel obligated to be the caretakers. Shifting the balance from everyone-else-care to myself-care is uncharted territory for many of us and we can feel uncomfortable at first.

However, it is important to do so. If you don’t properly care for yourself, your body will let you know. Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things to do in life.

At All in the Family Dental Care, we truly hope you benefit from this blog post and that you’ll begin to put aside a few minutes everyday to focus on YOU. You, and everyone around you will benefit from this change and the positive effects are endless on your mind, body, and soul. If you have any  questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling our office 732-449-2228 or discussing this with Dr. Jack or Dr. Joe at your next appointment.

If you have a woman or mom in your life that could take advantage of hitting the pause button, consider treating her with our Mother’s Day Special.

 

DARK CHOCOLATE HEMP ENERGY BITES

 

Servings: 20

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed pitted dates (medjool is best)
• 2 cups raw walnuts
• 6 Tbsp cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder (plus more for rolling)
• 3 Tbsp hemp seeds (plus more for rolling)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 Tbsp creamy almond butter (or other nut or seed butter)
• 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil (optional // for extra fudgy texture)

Instructions
Add dates to a food processor and pulse/mix until small bites remain or a ball forms. Scoop out and set aside.

Add walnuts to the food processor and pulse into a fine meal. Then add cacao powder, hemp seeds and sea salt. Pulse a few more times to combine. (Don’t overmix or the walnuts will turn into butter.)

Add the dates back in along with the almond butter and melted coconut oil (optional). Mix/pulse to combine. The result should be a moist dough-like mixture. If too wet, add a bit more cacao powder or hemp seeds.

Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Then scoop out rounded Tablespoon amounts (I like this scoop) and carefully form into balls. The dough will be somewhat fragile, so use the warmth of your hands to gently form/roll them into balls. There should be about 20 energy bites total (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).

Roll in extra hemp seeds or cacao powder (optional).

Store leftovers in a well-sealed container in the refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month.

 

CHEF CATHY’S BUDDHA BOWL

Ingredients

Salad Base

• Zucchini Ribbons
• Cucumber Salad
• Corn Salad
• Carrot Salad
• Wild Rice Salad
• Tomato & Basil
• Avocado
• Watermelon Radish

 

Herbed Tahini Dressing

• 1/3 cup tahini
• 1 clove garlc
• 1/3 cup parsley
• 1/3 cup water
• Juice of ½ lemon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

For the salad: Arrange salad ingredients in “sections” in an oversized bowl.

For the herbed tahini dressing: Combine all ingredients in a blender, blend on high until smooth and creamy. Add water as needed to achieve desired consistency.

 

BANANA BREAD

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup gluten free flour (Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Flour)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ¼ cup)
• ¾ cup sugar in the raw
• ½ cup safflower oil
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• ½ cup coconut yogurt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350⁰. Spray a 9×5×3 loaf pan with cooking spray.

Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Whisk the bananas, sugar, yogurt, oil, and vanilla together in another bowl.

Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until the batter comes together.

Transfer to a loaf pan and bake about 60 minutes or until tester comes out clean. (Gluten free breads are better a little over-done than under-done).

1-BOWL CARROT APPLE MUFFINS

Ingredients

• 2 flax eggs (combine 2 tablespoons ground flax seed with 6 tablespoons water, let sit 10 minutes)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup mashed very ripe banana
• 1/4 cup agave nectar or maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (or finely grated apple)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (or sub muscavado)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 heaping cup (packed) grated carrot
• 2/3 cup gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1 heaping cup gluten-free flour blend
• 1/4 cup raw walnuts (chopped // for topping)

Instructions

Prepare flax eggs in a large mixing bowl and preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).

Prepare muffin tin with liners or lightly grease them.

To flax eggs, add mashed banana, agave or maple syrup, olive oil and whisk to combine.

Next add applesauce, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and whisk to combine.

Add almond milk and stir.

Add grated carrot and stir.

Add oats, almond meal, and gluten-free flour blend and stir.

Divide evenly among 12 muffin tins, filling them all the way up to the top, and top with crushed walnuts (optional).

Bake for 32-36 minutes, or until deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Gluten free breads are better a little over-done than under-done).

Remove from oven and let set in the pan for 15 minutes. Then flip on their sides still in the pan to let cool completely.

Once cooled, store in a covered container or bag at room temp to keep fresh. Freeze after that to keep fresh.

Oral cancer is something that is always discussed within the walls of our office. We screen, monitor, and take all preventative measures possible to ensure that our patients stay healthy and don’t become affected by something as serious as oral cancer. Although it’s often a topic of conversation at All in the Family Dental Care, that unfortunately doesn’t mean the rest of the world is aware of the horrible disease. We make sure to send out messages to our patients and encourage sharing that information throughout the month of April, which is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Most people don’t know the symptoms and many people consider oral cancer to be a rare disease. That isn’t quite the case.

Oral Cancer or Mouth Cancers will be newly diagnosed in about 132 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. – The Oral Cancer Foundation

Similar to lung cancer, many people think that oral cancer is caused by smoking or other toxic oral habits. Again, that isn’t quite the case. Someone close to our office and family was kind enough to share a few words with our patients and followers about how oral cancer changed her life.

“My mother never smoked a day in her life.

Oral Cancer isn’t only caused by smoking. She was 32 when she was first diagnosed, and after 19 years in remission she had to fight it again. My mother underwent surgery to remove most of her palate, and had multiple reconstructive surgeries to help restore her quality of life. Back then there was little if any treatment for oral cancer, and not much knowledge in prevention.

Now, as a mother of 4, I make sure our Dentist knows our health history. I make a conscious effort to take care of my family’s health through annual screenings. The annual screening is easy, the dentist moves your mouth around and feels around your jaw for any abnormalities. He/she then looks through a special scope that takes about a minute.

Prevention is a state of mind. You have to ask, “How can I help myself and what can I do for my health?” You have to be an advocate for your own health! You can create the healthy life you want through education and choosing healthy lifestyle habits. I did that by becoming a health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Educating my children about nutrition and prevention is part of our families culture.

I am so grateful that I can lead a healthy lifestyle because of education in prevention, oral screenings and the support of my dentist. It gives me peace of mind!”

– Theresa

Sometimes it takes hearing an emotional/personal story to understand the real impact that diseases can have on a family. Sometimes it takes a blog post like this to inform you of the basic information you need to know in order to protect yourself and the ones you love. We’re going to include below the symptoms and warning signs of oral cancer, cover what typical treatment looks like, and finally, how you can take preventative actions in your life against the disease.

Causes

Mouth cancers form when cells on the lips or in the mouth develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The mutations changes tell the cells to continue growing and dividing when healthy cells would die. The accumulating abnormal mouth cancer cells can form a tumor. With time they may spread inside the mouth and on to other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body.

Mouth cancers most commonly begin in the flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line your lips and the inside of your mouth. Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.

It’s not clear what causes the mutations in squamous cells that lead to mouth cancer. But doctors have identified factors that may increase the risk of mouth cancer.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Currently, the most effective way to control oral cancer is to combine an early diagnosis followed by a timely and appropriate treatment. The vast majority of oral cancers will be diagnosed from identifying lesions or sores within the mouth.

Early Signs

• Persistent red and/or white patch non-healing ulcer
• Progressive swelling or enlargement Unusual surface changes
• Sudden tooth mobility without apparent cause
• Unusual oral bleeding or epistaxis Prolonged hoarseness

Late Signs

• Hard surface areas within the mouth
• Airway obstruction
• Nerve damage that causes tingling or a pricking sensation in the tongue, cheeks or lips
• Chronic earaches
• Lockjaw, or limited range in jaw movement/opening
• Pain and swelling in the lymph nodes
• Altered vision

Potential Treatments

Once a diagnosis has been made and the cancer has been staged, treatment will usually begin very quickly after. Oral cancer treatment can be very complex involving the efforts of surgeons, radiation oncologists, chemotherapy oncologists, dental practitioners, nutritionists, and rehabilitation and restorative specialists. The actual treatment is usually made up of surgery and radiation, with chemotherapy added to decrease the possibility of the cancer spreading to new locations.

Prevention

A very common assumption is that oral and mouth cancers are caused by excessive smoking and drinking. While both of those can be major contributing factors, that isn’t always the case. 1 in 4 cases have no risk factors at all. There are many ways that you can be proactive in avoiding oral cancer. All of them involve taking care of yourself and putting your health first. Examples of ways you can prevent oral cancer are:

• See your dentist at least twice a year for general cleanings as well as oral cancer screenings. The screenings are quick and painless.
• Avoid tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and vaping
• Avoid drinking alcohol in excess
• Avoid excess sun exposure to your lips
• Maintain a healthy diet. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is a major part of staying healthy.
• Keep an active lifestyle

As you all know, 2019 has been a new and exciting year for us at All in the Family Dental Care. We are staying committed to providing first class dental care, while also working to educate our patients and the community on overall health and wellness. We will be continuing to post monthly on ways that you and your family can become healthier and improve your everyday lifestyles.

March is National Nutrition Month and we’re taking this as an opportunity to help our readers set goals, work harder to be healthier, and influence healthy change. As we begin to get a taste of the warm weather to come, it’s the perfect time to get active. You don’t need to be a professional runner to take advantage of exercising outside. Going for a light walk, doing yoga outside, walking on the beach are all great ways to improve your health. Below we’re going to list out several ways to focus on your nutrition and ways to easily make small changes in your life that can cause a big impact.

Choose foods and drinks that are good for your health

The first step to a healthy diet is becoming educated and knowledgeable about how to prepare healthy meals and snacks. The second step is figuring out a solution to incorporate those healthy changes into your diet. You can do that by surrounding yourself with good options. Fill the refrigerator and pantry with healthy snacks and plan meals ahead of time so you can avoid ordering take-out or choosing an unhealthy option. The third step is making the right decisions. This most likely will be the hardest step for many people. Training your brain to WANT the healthier options will take time. Being prepared will make all the difference in setting yourself up for great success. Once you start to incorporate small healthy changes into your diet, you will start to feel better. You’ll have more energy. You will soon be making healthy decisions because you want to, and you know it’s the best decision for your body and your life.

Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that’s recommended for you.
One of the major issues in America is portion sizes. The servings that we’re used to from restaurants are very often double or triple the recommended amount, which is a direct cause of obesity in our country. Choosemyplate.gov is a great resource that educates us on healthy serving sizes and how to incorporate the right kinds of foods into each meal. Below is a great resource to show us examples of appropriate serving sizes using every objects.

Incorporate healthy foods from all of the food groups on a regular basis.

As we learned above about proper portion sizes, it’s equally important to focus on eating the RIGHT foods. Creating a balanced diet incorporating all food groups is a major part of your nutritional make-up. Here are a few recommendations on how to bring in all of the food groups.

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Focus on whole fruits
• Vary your veggies
• Make half your grains whole grains
• Move to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt
• Vary your protein routine

Some people may have allergies or reasons why they can’t eat certain foods, those people should work directly with a doctor or nutritionist to make sure they are still getting all of the vitamins and nutrients they need from a well balanced diet.

Keep it simple. Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated.

Many people get easily overwhelmed with the idea of eating healthy. Some may think it’s too hard, or too expensive, or too complicated. We want to help you understand that it doesn’t have to be. Eating right can start by making the simplest, smallest changes. Swap out your soda or iced tea with a water – fun fact, water can also be free so you could potentially save money as well. Choose a side of veggies instead of french fries. When food shopping, fill your cart with fresh foods – fruits, vegetables, and meats. Stay away from processed and pre-packaged foods. There are also many blogs and apps that help you monitor coupons and sales at different grocery stores so you can try to save money while eating healthier. Don’t overwhelm yourself, just start by incorporating one healthy change a day, it’s that simple.

Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.

Being active is just as important as eating and maintaining a healthy diet. Many people easily get discouraged or feel that they can’t “work out”. Some may feel self conscious joining a gym or may not be able to afford it. Being active doesn’t need to cost money, and doesn’t need to be an intense, long, session. Something as simple as going for a walk on the beach, or dancing while you clean the house can burn a great amount of calories. Below are a few other ideas on how to be active during a normal day.

• Park farther away from your destination
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Go for a walk on your lunch break
• Do small bursts of activity – a few jumping jacks or run in place for 2 minutes every hour
• Bike ride to a friends house or the store
• Jump rope
• Take your kids or dog for a walk
• Go on a nature hike
• Get an activity buddy – everything is more fun with a friend

Many young parents know the importance of bringing your children in for routine dental cleanings and exams. Although most parents don’t understand the importance of those check-ups and the role they play in their child’s overall health and life. February is Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month, and we’re doing our best to educate our patients and the community on the importance of oral health from a young age. Our doctors have been connecting with kids in the classrooms, in the community, and in the office to help educate and try to make it exciting for kids to brush, floss, and take the best care of their teeth possible. Keep reading below to learn more about children’s dental health and how to help keep your child healthy. As always, call us or schedule an appointment if you would like to discuss any of this information in greater detail, we are here to help and your child’s overall health and wellness is our priority!

Did you know?

• 11% of children under 3 years have experienced dental decay or cavities
• 47% of school entry aged children have tooth decay
• Dental decay or cavities is the third most common reason for preventable hospital admissions in children under 5 years
• 43% of children aged between two and eight years of age brush their teeth less than twice a day
• Children at risk of being overweight can have a higher chance of getting cavities and having decay than their normal weight peers
• 71% of children aged between one and five years have never head a dental visit

Tooth decay is the most common chronic illness in children and can have a profound impact on a child’s health and quality of life. Like other bacterial infections, tooth decay can worsen if left untreated. Children can be affected by having pain and discomfort, difficulty sleeping, difficulties chewing, affecting growth and development, poor self-esteem and social isolation, speech development problems, higher risk of new decay in other baby teeth, and potential damage to developing permanent teeth.

How Can Parents Help?

 

Do a daily check of the gums and teeth

Conduct a ‘lift the lip’ oral check of your child – In a healthy mouth, teeth are not discolored and the gums are pink, indicating a healthy blood supply

 

Identify Signs of Decay

 

Have your children see the dentist for a routine exam every 6 months

 

 

Things to know: through the ages

0 to 12 months

• Do not put a baby to sleep with a bottle – pooling of milk (containing lactose) around the teeth overnight can lead to decay
• Start cleaning teeth as soon as they appear
• Wipe their gums after every feeding
• Use a small soft toothbrush with water or a fluoride free toothpaste (safe for swallowing)
• From 6 months, introduce drinking from a cup

12 to 18 months

• Brush child’s teeth with water twice a day (no toothpaste)
• After 12 months children should be drinking from a cup
• When your child celebrates their 1st birthday, schedule their 1st dentist visit
• Brush for about 2 minutes

18 months to 5 years

• At 18 months start using a pea sized smear of low fluoride toothpaste
• Assist child brush their teeth twice a day until they are eight years old
• Water is the best drink – avoid sugary juices
• By ages 3-4 all baby teeth should have appeared
• Brush for about 2 minutes

For all children

• Fruit juice and fruit drinks are not recommended
• Give fresh fruit instead of fruit juice – chewing stimulates saliva which protects teeth against decay
• Strongly limit sugary drinks including: soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks, vitamin waters, fruit drinks and energy drinks
• Limit processed foods and foods high in sugar to reduce the risk of tooth decay and obesity
• Use a song, stopwatch, or app to track time and make it fun
• Wear a mouth guard in sports to protect your teeth

 

Brushing Techniques

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Brush all surfaces of each tooth gently back and forth
• Angle the brush along the gumline
• Use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
• It’s always fun to brush the tongue