Smiles of Skokie

This is a Link to an article in a current medical journal which may only be available for a short time.

The US military is using and legitimizing the type of oral, sleep apnea appliances we have been using and recommending for years.

My office has been successfully using the Thornton Adjustable Positioner [TAP] type of device with great success.

If you, a loved one, or acquaintance has sleep apnea, have them talk to their physician or we can have a consult with them and then refer them to an excellent physician for proper diagnosis in our area.

I hear that things are getting better in our country and this is certainly very welcome news after all we have been going through the last few years. Hopefully you are doing well or better now too.

We have had enough political infighting. Let’s hope our political leaders will become more like the statesmen we need to help us move forward in a more stable economic environment. They must leave their bickering behind and do what is truly right and good for our country long term.

I believe we have all had enough of partisan politics and we need our political leaders to work together for the overall good of all of us. The American people are a great, hard working and honest people and we need to demand these same qualities from our politicians.

The influence of big money and big corporations has been drowning out the voice of the people for too long. We need to make ourselves heard. It seems to me we need large corporations and campaign financing held in check much better than they are now. After all, our country is supposed to be of, for and by the people.

In my humble opinion, I feel we need to vote out the political elite, who are now in office, and get fresh blood and fresh, common sense perspectives in our governments to serve us the people for the good of all for the long term. When possible we need to vote out incumbents without a vision for the overall good of all of us.

Dr. Catherine Counard, Director of the Skokie Health Department, sent me the following request:

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Catherine A. Counard, MD, MPH
Director of Health
Village of Skokie
5127 Oakton Street
Skokie, Illinois 60077
Phone:             (847) 933-8252      

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Please help all of us in our community by doing what you feel is most appropriate in regard to this.

This survey is not too long and it is structured well. It should be very beneficial to our community.

At Smiles of Skokie our primary focus is on you and your health. In keeping with this focus my first post is of interest to all of us and, if heeded, will benefit all of us.

Toothpaste abrasion and brushing too hard and long have been known to cause gum recession and wear of teeth and exposed roots. There is now better research and greater awareness of this problem than ever before.

Please refer to these links:

http://www.teethwhiteningreviews.com/artman/publish/whitening-toothpastes-exposed.php

http://www.epinions.com/content_3128664196

http://www.saveyoursmile.com/toothpaste/toothpaste-d.html

I definitely recommend using a toothpaste with a very low abrasiveness which also has fluoride and a tartar control formulation.

The manner in which you brush also has a great impact on whether you will have significant gum recession and tooth surface wear. Gum recession eventually leads to exposure of root surfaces which aren’t protected by enamel so they can be sensitive and will wear much faster than the crowns of teeth.

Please brush your natural teeth with a soft or an extra soft toothbrush. All of us should only brush 5 to 10 circular strokes along the cheek and lip sides of the teeth and the tongue sides of the teeth. The chewing surfaces can be brushed more vigorously. This will help avoid gum recession and root surface wear. Brushing harder does NOT replace flossing. All of us need to floss every 36 hours also to prevent plaque from hardening into tartar.

If teeth are brushed the way I recommend, then teeth won’t necessarily feel as “clean” as most of us want them to. Most of us want our teeth to feel slick and very smooth when we brush them. If teeth are brushed hard and long enough to have them feeling slick and smooth then they are almost certainly being brushed hard and long enough to cause long term gum recession and much worse wear of those teeth.

The reason for this is due to the fact that there is a very adherent coating of protein called a, “dental pellicle” which makes the teeth feel somewhat rough. It can be removed with abrasive force and toothpaste but this results in recession and wear of teeth and gums.

Remember you don’t need to brush AND floss all of your teeth every day, only the teeth you want to keep!