Tag: ellijay

All About Enamel

March 31, 2018

Tooth enamel, that is. Tooth enamel is the hard outer surface layer of your teeth that serves as the protection against tooth decay. Tooth enamel is considered the hardest mineral substance in the human body, even stronger than bone. However, everyday acids from certain foods and drinks put your enamel at risk every time you consume them. Plaque bacteria produces acids that can weaken and destroy it, and once the enamel is gone, it’s gone for good.

What’s in a Tooth? Parts of a tooth gallery

Have you ever wondered what’s in your teeth, exactly? Your teeth are composed of four dental tissues – enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp. Here’s a breakdown of the other tooth elements:

  • Dentin – Dentin is the hard tissue located beneath the enamel and cementum. It contains microscopic tubes or canals. When dentin loses its the protection of enamel, the canals allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to infiltrate the nerves and cells inside the tooth, causing sensitivity.
  • Cementum – Cementum is hard connective tissue covering the tooth roots, giving attachment to the periodontal ligament.
  • Pulp – The center of the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue.

Because enamel contains no living cells, it cannot repair damage from decay or from wear. Only your dentist in Ellijay, GA can correct these issues.

How to Protect Against Enamel Loss

Combined with making regular visits to see your dentist, basic daily oral care like brushing twice a day and flossing between teeth daily to remove plaque is the easiest way to protect your teeth’s enamel. Preventing irreversible enamel loss will help keep your smile healthy and beautiful, a small portion of keeping you healthy overall.

If you’re concerned about the loss of your teeth’s enamel, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Sugars End Dental so Dr. Coakley and Dr. Fowler can address your concerns and the dental procedures used to treat them.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

10 Fascinating Facts About the Labor Day Holiday

August 28, 2017

1908 Labor Day

The first Monday in September is celebrated nationally as Labor Day. So how did we get the holiday and why is no one quite sure who created it? The Labor Day holiday grew out of the late 19th century organized labor movement, and it quickly became a national holiday as the labor movement assumed a prominent role in American society. Here’s how it all started, with the facts, as we know them, supplied by the Labor Department, the Library Of Congress and other sources.

1. The idea first became public in 1882. In September 1882, the unions of New York City decided to have a parade to celebrate their members being in unions, and to show support for all unions. At least 20,000 people were at the parade, and the workers had to give up a day’s pay to attend. There was also a lot of beer involved in the event.

2. The New York parade inspired other unions. Other regions started having their own parades, and by 1887, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Colorado made Labor Day a state holiday.

3. How did the Haymarket Affair influence Labor Day? On May 4, 1886, a bomb exploded at a union rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, which led to violence that killed seven police officers and four others. The incident also led to May 1 being celebrated in most nations as Workers Day. The U.S. government chose Labor Day instead to avoid a celebration on May 1 and New York’s unions had already picked the first Monday in September for their holiday.

4. Two people with similar names are credited with that first New York City event. Matthew Maguire, a machinist, and Peter McGuire, a carpenter, have been linked to the 1882 parade. The men were from rival unions; in 2011, Linda Stinson, a former U.S. Department of Labor’s historian, said she didn’t know which man should be credited – partially because people over the years confused them because of their similar-sounding names.

5. Grover Cleveland helped make Labor Day a national holiday. After violence related to the Pullman railroad strike, President Cleveland and lawmakers in Washington wanted a federal holiday to celebrate labor – and not a holiday celebrated on May 1! Cleveland signed an act in 1894 establishing the federal holiday; most states had already passed laws establishing a Labor Day holiday by that point. Sen. James Henderson Kyle of South Dakota introduced S. 730 to make Labor Day a federal legal holiday on the first Monday of September. It was approved on June 28, 1894.

6. The holiday has evolved over the years. In the late 19th century, celebrations focused on huge parades in urban areas. Now the holiday is a wider celebration that honors organized labor with fewer parades, and more activities. It also marks the perceived end of the summer season.

7. Can you wear white after Labor Day? This old tradition goes back to the late Victorian era, where it was a fashion faus pax to wear any white clothing after the summer officially ended on Labor Day. The tradition isn’t really followed anymore. EmilyPost.com explains the logic behind the fashion trend – white indicated you were still in vacation mode at your summer cottage.

8. But Labor Day is the unofficial end of Hot Dog season. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says that between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Americans will eat 7 billion hot dogs.

9. How many people are union members today? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 14.6 million union members in the work force in 2014. There were 17.7 million in 1983.

10. What is the biggest union today? The National Education Association has about 3 million members who are members, including inactive and lifetime members.

 

 

Article and photo copyright constitutioncenter.org

Summer’s Here!

June 20, 2017

Summer is finally here! Before you jump into full vacation mode, make sure your dental care is up to date. And if you have kids, take advantage of their summer break by having them catch up on their dental checkups too. After all, the last thing you should have to worry about while on summer vacation is fixing overdue tooth problems!

Remember that we have the facilities to take care of your dental needs, from regular checkups to complete smile makeovers. Also remember that we work with all kinds of insurance plans so if you have a dental plan that provides annual benefits, please note that we’re already halfway through 2017 – make the most of your benefits before the rest of the year slips away!

Whether it’s time for a checkup or you’re looking for a boost to your summer look by whitening your teeth, please  call us today to set up a convenient appointment time.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

The Truth Behind Dental Myths!

May 10, 2017

Dentists Set Straight Common Tooth Myths
Learn the Truth Behind Common Oral Health Habits

When it comes to maintaining optimal oral health, there is plenty
of advice out there, some of which, unfortunately, isn’t correct. The Academy of General
Dentistry (AGD) looks to set the record straight on common dental myths and help patients
determine what is fact and what is fiction.

Myth:  Crushed aspirin on teeth provides pain relief
Suffering from a toothache? Unfortunately, this popular folk remedy won’t help. Crushing an
aspirin on an affected tooth doesn’t provide pain relief—and it even could cause a chemical burn on the soft tissues of the mouth.

“Aspirin works by blocking pain after it is ingested and enters the bloodstream to travel to the
part of the body that is in need of pain relief,” says AGD Spokesperson Carolyn L. Taggart-
Burns, DDS, MAGD. “Crushing an aspirin against your tooth will not allow for a significant
amount of the medicine to enter the bloodstream and help relieve the toothache.”
Instead, visit your dentist so that he or she can conduct a complete oral examination to determine the cause of your tooth pain. Among the common causes of tooth pain are infection, gum disease, and grinding. Once the cause is known, your dentist can help alleviate the pain.

Myth:  Diet soft drinks don’t damage teeth
Are you addicted to soft drinks? You may be shocked to learn that drinking large quantities of
your favorite carbonated beverages—even the diet varieties—can cause irreversible damage to your teeth. Both regular and diet soft drinks contain high levels of citric acid, which can cause tooth erosion.

“The acid wears away tooth enamel—the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth,” Dr.
Taggart-Burns says. “Without the protection of enamel, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked, and discolored.”
Dr. Taggart-Burns recommends that her patients minimize their intake of soft drinks and drink
more water. Additionally, she advises them to either chew sugar-free gum or rinse their mouths
with water after drinking carbonated beverages. “Both tactics increase saliva flow, which
naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal,” she says.

Myth:  Brushing with baking soda is a safe way to whiten teeth
Baking soda is used around the home for many purposes, but can it also whiten teeth? Using
equal parts baking soda and water to brush your teeth will indeed remove surface stains.
However, proceed with caution! With continual use, the abrasiveness of baking soda could wear away tooth enamel, increasing your risk of developing cavities.
“Baking soda may be an inexpensive way to eliminate surface stains, but I recommend you speak with your dentist so that he or she can advise you on what is the most effective and safe teeth whitening method for your mouth,” Dr. Taggart-Burns says.

“Good oral health should be a priority in any person’s life, because poor oral health and
untreated oral disease can have a significant impact on quality of life,” Dr. Taggart-Burns adds.
“Patients should see their dentist every six months for a checkup, and most importantly, if you
have questions regarding your oral health routine, just be honest with your dentist. We are
always ready to help answer your questions and determine the best oral hygiene practices for
you.”

Sparkling Smile

Dentist Ellijay GA

The Difference Between a Regular and DEEP Dental Cleaning

April 17, 2017

Dentist Ellijay GADepending upon the level of your oral health, our dentist, Dr. Coakley and Dr. Fowler may recommend a deep cleaning instead of a standard regular cleaning.  The main questions that people ask regarding this procedure is why and what is the difference?

A regular dental cleaning is designed for the maintenance of healthy gums.  Healthy gums have a small, shallow space between the teeth and gums.  The procedure involves going into the space and cleaning it thoroughly by removing bacteria and tartar build up.  When a person brushes and flosses daily, and gets their teeth cleaned on a regular basis, the bacteria and tartar build up are minimal.  Healthy gums are pink in color and there is generally little or no bleeding during the cleaning.

A deep cleaning which is often known by the terms scaling or root planing is needed when there is a larger amount of tartar and bacteria under the gums.  This occurs, when there is a deeper space between the teeth and gums, called a “pocket”.  Pockets can develop when a person has not had their teeth professionally cleaned for a long period of time or when the person does not brush and floss on a regular basis.  In addition, other health issues can also put a person at risk for developing pockets.

Pockets that measure at a certain depth are called periodontal or gum disease.  Regardless of the cause, the first step to improve this condition is to have a deep cleaning to clear the pockets of the bacteria and tartar build up.

The dentist will determine what type of cleaning you will need during your initial exam by measuring the depth of the space between your teeth and gums.  When you hear the dentist calling out numbers during gum measurements, you want to hear the lowest numbers. If the numbers are under 4, you will need a regular cleaning.  If the numbers are 4 and above, then you may require a deep cleaning.

The best defense against needing a deep cleaning is to maintain your regular visits to our dental office in Ellijay with regular exams and cleaning.

To contact Sugars End Dental to schedule a dental appointment call 706-635-7453 or use the convenient “Contact Us” feature on our website.

 

Image courtesy of cooldesign / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Pucker Up! Kissing is Good for You!

February 6, 2013

Candy hearts, roses, and cards, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! In honor of this romantic holiday, this week on the Sugars End Dental blog we wanted to feature some facts about k-i-s-s-i-n-g – Yep, kissing!

Did you know that kissing is nature’s natural cleansing process? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, kissing stimulates saliva, which washes out the mouth and helps remove cavity-causing bacteria and food particles that accumulate after eating. Here are some more fascinating facts about kissing:

  • Philematology is the science of kissing. 
  • On average, a human will spend two weeks, or 20,160 minutes, kissing in their lifetime.
  • Ancient Egyptians kissed with their noses. So did the Eskimos and Asian Pacific cultures- hence why rubbing noses is called an Eskimo Kiss.
  • Kissing at the end of a wedding ceremony dates back to ancient Roman tradition and seen as a legal bond that sealed all contracts.
  • Starting in the Middle Ages, people who could not read used an X as a signature. They would kiss this mark as a sign of sincerity. Eventually, the X came to represent the kiss itself.
  • Kissing keeps facial muscles strong – research says that the average person uses 30 muscles while kissing, and it helps keep your cheeks tight.
  • Kissing naturally relaxes you – Scientists report that kissing increases the levels oxytocin, the body’s natural calming chemical and increases endorphins.
  • In Naples, Italy in the 16th Century, kissing was an offense that carried the death penalty! (Yikes!)
  • A kiss can burn 2 to 5 calories a minute. (Ok, so it’s no bike ride, but it’s something!)

If you have big plans this Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to contact us to make your appointment with Dr. Coakley & Dr. Fowler and the rest of his dental team so we can keep your mouth healthy and happy!