general dentistry Archives - Page 2 of 3

Vitamins and Minerals That Will Help Your Smile

May 27, 2014

nutrition You already know how important vitamins and minerals are for your health, but if we asked you which vitamins and minerals specifically benefit your smile, would you be able to name any?

In today’s blog post, we want to help you identify those vitamins and minerals that can help you enjoy both oral and overall wellbeing.

A short list of vitamins and minerals that are good for your smile would look like this:

Calcium
Iron
Vitamin B2, B3, and B12
Vitamin D

You can, of course, get all of these some a simple multivitamin, but it’s just as important that you get them through a balanced, nutritious diet.

Dairy items like milk, cheese, and yogurt all contain calcium, which can help you build strong teeth and protect your smile from gum disease. These same foods are also high in vitamin B12, which can make you less vulnerable to developing mouth sores. Meanwhile, foods like sweet potatoes, raw red peppers, and citrus fruits are an excellent source for vitamin C. This vitamin helps provides patients with excellent protection for their gums.

Now that you’re away of which vitamins and minerals are good for your smile, how can you make sure that you’re getting what your body needs? By sticking to a diet high in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein. We also recommend following a good brushing and flossing routine, and coming to Robison Dental Group at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

Do you have questions about how vitamins and minerals can help your smile? Call our Canton dental office for an appointment. We serve patients from Michigan, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

Are You Brushing Correctly?

May 12, 2014

general dentistry Of all the things you do everyday, brushing and flossing are two of the most important. Through regular oral care, you can protect your smile from common oral health problems by removing bacteria and plaque from around the teeth and gums. And because medical studies have linked a common problem like gum disease to other kinds of health problems, brushing and flossing will also help you support your overall wellbeing.

Now that you know how important brushing and flossing are, it’s time to ask yourself: Are you doing both correctly?

For optimal oral health, we recommend brushing for about 120 seconds, or two minutes, making sure that you spend equal amounts of time on your upper and lower teeth, and on both the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth. Brushing is also more effective when you hold the brush at a 45 degree angle and apply firm but gentle pressure as you scrub. Brushing the surface of your tongue will help you prevent bad breath by cleaning bacteria off of it.

How often should you brush? We tell patients to brush at least twice a day, but preferably after any time you eat. You should also floss at least once a day to remove leftover pieces of food. For extra protection, end your routine with an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash. Following these steps will help you enjoy good oral health in between visits.

Do you have other questions about brushing and flossing? Don’t hesitate to call Robison Dental Group in Canton. We would be happy to answer your questions or schedule an appointment for you. We serve patients from Canton, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

An Office that can Help Your Whole Family

January 17, 2014

general dentistry When picking a dental office, choosing one that can help you and your entire family is important. For one thing, you want your little one to see a dentist you already know and trust. But convenience is also important. Being able to schedule back-to-back appointments for yourself and your child will make it easier to make regular care a priority.

At Robison Dental Group, we’re happy to help adults and children alike with their important dental health needs. To do that we offer our Canton-area patients general dentistry (including orthodontics), cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry.

How often should you and your child see Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison? We recommend coming in every six months instead of just when you have a symptom you want us to check out. Common issues like tooth decay and gum disease do have symptoms, of course, but sometimes a serious issue can develop without any symptoms at all. With regular care, Drs. John and J.D. Robison can help your entire family enjoy better overall health and wellbeing, and provide early treatment for common issues if needed.

To deliver excellent care, we use several revolutionary technologies. One of those, DIAGNOdent, helps our Canton team detect decay very early on, before a visual exam would even catch it. Another early-detection tool, VELscope, helps us identify oral cancer. As with so many other oral health issues, treating oral cancer early is important. These high-tech tools are making care more comfortable but also more thorough. We will assess the current health of you and your child and come up with a treatment plan to help.

Don’t put off important dental care. Call Robison Dental Group today to schedule your next appointment with a dentist. We serve patients from Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

Use Your Dental Benefits Before the Year Is Over

November 6, 2013

There’s only so much time left in the year now. Do you still have dental benefits you can take advantage of? If you do, we invite you to call Robison Dental Group today to schedule one more appointment before 2013 comes to a close.

During your appointment, Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison will assess your oral health and talk to you about whether you might benefit from extra care. If you do, your insurance may be able to help you pay for it.

Every insurance plan comes with a deductible and a yearly maximum. The deductible is what you have to pay before your insurance company will start covering the cost of care. Your yearly maximum is how much they’re willing to pay over a 12 month period.

If you’ve paid your deductible for the year but still have some of your yearly maximum left over, now is the time to take advantage of that.

Call Robison Dental Group in Canton today to schedule your appointment. Every patient should come in for regular care twice a year to ensure that they enjoy good oral health. If we have anything to recommend, we’re happy to explain how it will all work.

Time is running out! Contact us today for your appointment. Dr. John Robison and Dr. J.D. Robison serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

What Causes Tooth Decay and How Is It Treated?

September 27, 2013

In our last post, we talked about the powerful effect stomach acid can have on teeth. Most cases of decay aren’t caused by stomach acid, though. Instead, when most patients experience tooth decay, it’s the result of bacteria and plaque. Bacteria reacts to many foods—especially foods high in sugar—by producing acid, which leads to more bacteria and more acid, resulting in an environment harmful to teeth.

What’s more, the buildup of bacteria, plaque, and acid also contributes to gum disease. As one of the most common oral health conditions a patient can face, gum disease can have a dramatic effect on one’s oral health (it’s the most common cause of tooth loss in adults)

Thankfully, Dr. John R. Robison and Dr. J.D. Robison offer care for both tooth decay and gum disease. With services like composite fillings and porcelain crowns, plus periodontal therapy, our Canton dental team can provide effective care against both.

We also recommend coming to Robison Dental Group twice a year for checkups and cleanings. Though we offer these great general and restorative services, regular checkups and cleanings are designed to prevent the most common oral health conditions from forming in the first place.

During your visit we can also offer home care tips that will help you protect your smile in between visits to our Canton dental office. We recommend brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once. You may also benefit from an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash.

Has it been more than six months since your last checkup? Call Robison Dental Group for an appointment. We serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

Acid Reflux and Your Oral Health

September 13, 2013

At some point, everyone experiences a touch of heartburn. For some, though, it’s not uncommon to have heartburn two, three, or more times a week. Cases like this are a good indication of acid reflux disease. Other common symptoms of an acid reflux condition include:

Bloating or burping
Regurgitation
Hiccups
Nausea
Narrowing of the esophagus
Weight loss
Bloody/black stools or bloody vomiting
Sore throat, hoarseness, wheezing, or dry cough

These uncomfortable or unpleasant symptoms can all have an impact on your overall wellbeing, but did you know your oral health can also be affected?

A patient who experiences acid reflux several times a week is at risk of decay and possibly worse. That’s because when acid from the stomach comes into contact with the teeth, it has a damaging effect on their protective layer of enamel. Then, as the sensitive layer of dentin underneath is exposed, this becomes a bigger and bigger problem.

Symptoms of teeth damaged by acid include:

Sensitivity, in particular to foods that are cold, hot, or sweet
Teeth that have thinned or become shorter
Pain or irritation
Teeth with sharp edges

Have you experienced any of these symptoms? Call Robison Dental Group for help. We offer effective general, cosmetic, and restorative services for patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

The Benefit of Antioxidants

July 31, 2013

For today’s post, we’d like to talk about something that is only tangentially related to oral health, but is related nonetheless—antioxidants.

You may have heard that antioxidants are good for your health, but do you understand why? Our guess is that most people don’t. Here’s why they’re important.

First, you have to understand that within the molecules that make up your body, there are atoms, each containing two positive protons and two neutral electrons. However, because of stress, poor eating, or environmental factors like pollution, it’s possible for an individual atom to lose an electron, causing it to become unstable. When that happens, the destabilized atom, known as a “free radical,” will try to steal an electron from a nearby atom, causing a chain reaction. This is what’s happening when we talk about the oxidation process.

If the oxidation process isn’t treated in some way, it can contribute to a variety of health problems, including:

Cancer
Gingivitis
Diabetes
Heart attack

Thankfully, that process can be stopped with antioxidants. The reason antioxidants are able is help is because they have an extra electron that they can lend to these unstable “free radicals.” But where can you find antioxidants? In all kinds of places, including coffee and green tea, fruits and veggies, legumes and seeds, and more. To effectively combat oxidation, we recommend having anywhere between five and nine servings of antioxidants a day.

Do you have questions about how antioxidants work, or do you just need to schedule an appointment with our Canton dental office? Call Robison Dental Group today to set up an appointment with Dr. John R. Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison. We serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

Five Reasons to Smile Everyday

July 15, 2013

When you smile, you’re sending a strong signal to others. For instance, a smile can tell someone that you’re friendly and approachable. It can also tell someone else that they’re appreciated, or that you enjoy their company. Smiling isn’t just a way of communicating, though. This simple act has other far-reaching benefits. In today’s post, we’d like to highlight five of the biggest so that you have even more reasons to smile every day.

Reason #1

In medical research, it’s been found that smiling can have a positive effect on your blood pressure by lowering it.

Reason #2

Smiling produces more antibodies and white blood cells, which helps your immune system stay strong in the face of colds and other issues.

Reason #3

According to research conducted by the University of Illinois, people who are happier, and who smile more as a result, live almost 10 years longer.

Reason #4

Smiling releases the feel-good hormones known as endorphins, as well as serotonin, a natural stress-reducer.

Reason #5

DePauw University in Indiana found that people who smile consistently reported having a healthier marriage than those who don’t.

What’s keeping you from smiling? Is it misaligned or stained teeth? Or do you possibly have gaps in your smile that you’re trying to hide? At Robison Dental Group, our team can help. We offer effective general, cosmetic, and restorative services. Call us today to reserve a consultation appointment with Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison. We serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

Your Health and Inflammation

June 4, 2013

In our last post, we talked about the connection between hormone changes and oral health. Today we’d like to talk about another connection between oral and overall health. In this case, it has to do with the impact that stress can have.

Today, more than at any other point, our culture is driven by work and by staying plugged in. Regardless of where your stress comes from, though, it can contribute to inflammation in the body, including in your smile.

Inflammation is one of the body’s immune responses. As a natural response, it can do good work. But too much stress can interfere with the body’s ability to properly regulate inflammation. As a result, inflammation can actually become like a weapon the body uses against itself. That has consequences for your overall health, which includes your oral health. In 2012, the ADG reported that a definite link between stress and dental health exists. In their research, they point to problems with the immune system as a cause.

What this means for our Canton, MI patients is that following a good oral health routine is important. Dr. Robison recommends a regular routine of brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, and rinsing with an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash. You should also visit Robison Dental Group twice a year, or about every six months.

Call us today to schedule an appointment. Our Canton office serves patients from Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

The Relationship between Hormones and Oral Health

May 21, 2013

Do you think of your smile as a separate from your overall health? It’s easy to do, but in reality, what happens in one part of your body can affect what happens in another. That’s even the case with hormone changes. When hormone levels rise and fall, that increases one’s vulnerability to a condition like gum disease.

Women are particularly at risk because of hormonal changes throughout their life. Three of the most obvious cases are puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. During these times, thorough at-home care and regular visits with Robison Dental Group are important.

But these aren’t the only times in life when hormonal changes can impact a woman’s oral health. Women taking birth control medication may find themselves at greater risk, while the menstrual cycle also contributes.

Taken together, this means that our Canton patients need to be especially vigilant about the health of their gums. It’s also important to let us know if you’re pregnant or taking birth control, since those can increase your vulnerability for gum disease.

To keep your smile at its healthiest, brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. We also recommend adding an antibacterial mouthwash to your regimen. Seeing Dr. Robison twice a year is also important, as is keeping to a balanced diet.

Has it been more than six months since your last dental visit? Call Robison Dental Group in Canton, MI to schedule your appointment. We provide general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.