If you’ve heard one Christmas song this year, you’ve heard them all, right? You can probably guess that one of our favorites around the office is “All I want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth.” It’s always a joy to see little ones come in sounding like the woodchuck from Lady and the Tramp, whistling every time they speak with no front teeth. Missing two front teeth is incredibly common among kids, they’re usually the first teeth to go.

According to Parents.com, most children start to loose their baby teeth when they are between the ages of 5 and 6. However, the normal time span can vary by several years. Some children start to lose teeth as early as age 4, while it may not happen for others until they reach 8 years old.

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A chipped tooth is nothing to laugh about if it’s one of those “money making” teeth. You know, those pearly whites that stand for either a great first impression, or a detriment to your latest job interview. But, no matter what we do, it’s always this time of the year that chipped teeth seem to happen more frequently. Whether it’s the family football game in the backyard, or a friendly wrestle around the living room between brothers, this is definitely the time of year when we see more and more chipped teeth. A chipped tooth is not a time to worry about chipped tooth repair costs or fear of the dentist, it’s a time to call your cosmetic dentist immediately. 

The most common ways that people tend to chip a tooth during the holidays range from minute to extreme. Simply chewing on an ice cube or perhaps a popcorn kernel can easily chip a tooth. I know, those popcorn kernels, the ones with just a tiny bit of popcorn attached are the best to crunch on, but they are the worst for your teeth.

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When it comes to our teeth and keeping our mouth clean and happy, we tend to focus on brushing, flossing, maybe an occasional swig of mouthwash, and our eating or drinking habits. The last thing that many of us think about when visiting the dentist or oral surgeon is hormones. But, according to WebMD, hormones might be causing many women to have oral problems, and they might not even realize it.

Hormones can affect the blood supply to gum tissue and can influence the body’s responses to toxins that can result from plaque buildup. Because women experience hormonal changes throughout their lives, they are more susceptible to developing gum disease at “certain stages of their lives.”

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Holiday treats are a dime a dozen this time of year. You can’t go to a holiday party or simply visit a neighbor without eating something sugary and sweet; those holiday treats are always calling your name. And, unfortunately, those same holiday treats are calling your dentist and Gilbert oral surgeon’s name as well, when you call to make that appointment a few weeks from now with chronic pain in your mouth.

Last week we talked about some different ideas for stocking stuffers. Instead of using the ‘never-fails-last-second-candy-treats’ in your child’s stocking, how about some oral health products. I know, it doesn’t sound very cherry or joyous to include some floss, toothpaste or a toothbrush in the stockings, but it’s a simple idea to help promote healthy oral habits and avoid stockings stuffed with candy.

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At the offices of Wayne G Thorpe, we do our best to not only bring you expert oral surgeons and technicians; we also strive to make a difference in our communities. This holiday season Wayne G Thorpe’s offices are participating in the Florence Food Drive, brought to you by the Florence Baptist Church. Our oral surgery offices in Gilbert and Queen Creek are proudly accepting food donations from every patient to help make a difference for families in need during this holiday season.

The Florence Baptist Church has been running this incredibly important food bank since 1999, feeding over 50 families a month in the Florence and Coolidge areas. The economy has really taken its toll on valley families this year, and with Christmas just a few weeks away it’s our responsibility to do our part to help out families in need.

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With Christmas just around the corner, picking out those last second stocking stuffers can be the toughest part of the job. Those stocking stuffers are always the last on the list, and the last on your mind. So, this Christmas why not consider some dental care products for your stocking stuffers?

I know, I know, a toothbrush or toothpaste is definitely not high on your kid’s Christmas list. It’s probably not on the list at all. However, there are some wonderful dental products out there that make great stocking stuffers.

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Gum disease is a dentist and patient’s worst nightmare. Gum disease is painful, detrimental to oral health, and can lead to so many complications in other areas of the body. Studies has shown that gum disease can lead to heart conditions, among other chronic ailments.

As Gilbert oral surgeons, we can’t stress enough the importance of avoiding gum disease. Brushing, flossing and using mouth wash are crucial to good oral health. Satin the right foods can also help.

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Tooth whitening, or tooth bleaching, is all the rage these days. Not too long ago we really didn’t care about getting our teeth white enough to shine; we didn’t care about our ‘grills,’ having a gem framed tooth or gold chompers. Nope, all we cared about was brushing twice a day, doing a little flossing, and maybe some mouth wash as well. Today, however, dental bleaching, tooth whitening, or whatever else you want to call it is almost as important as a haircut.

Somewhere along the way our teeth have become a prediction of wealth. If you have a shiny ‘grill’ then you have money, if you have shiny white teeth then you are doing well for yourself, and if you have stained or yellow teeth then you’re probably not bringing in the cash. It’s an interesting dynamic that we live in where the color of our teeth can tell a person so much.

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