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February 14, 2011

Healthy Valentine’s Day Gifts

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Fun Dental Facts,Living It Up — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — dr_pate @ 5:04 pm

Valentine’s Day is often associated with chocolate and sweethearts. Why not shake things up this year and give your sweetheart a healthier gift that won’t land you in the doghouse?  Here are few suggestions:

Breakfast in Bed: You can prepare a love inspired breakfast with heart shaped toast, eggs and/or pancakes, ruby red grapefruit juice, a beautiful red rose, and fruit cut into flower shapes.

Day at the Spa: Instead of hyping your sweetheart up with sugar, soothe the nerves with a relaxing retreat to rejuvenate them.  If you are not sure which treatment your honey will prefer, opt for a gift certificate to a favorite spa. You could also purchase a couple’s massage for a romantic date.

Fruit Bouquet: If you are of the theory, “I don’t want to waste my money on flowers that will die,” consider sending your sweetie a tasty bouquet of fruit. Include oranges, cantaloupes, honeydew, grapes,  and strawberries.  For a touch of sweetness, include some dark chocolate-dipped fruits.

Home Spa: If you would prefer a quiet evening at home, buy a gift basket that includes aroma therapy products, bubble bath, and massage oils.  The scents of love and romance include: gardenia, jasmine, lavender, musk, rain, rose, and vanilla.

Weekend Getaway: If budget and time are of no concern, book a trip to a warm climate and enjoy walking on the beach, snorkeling, and swimming with your soulmate.

If you have any other great ideas for a healthy Valentine’s Day, let us know. Just post comments to this blog. And, of course, if you need a more kissable smile, be sure to book a visit with Dr. Peter Pate of Dentistry in Buckhead!

January 17, 2011

Why Teeth Discolor (And How to Bring Back the Beauty)

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — dr_pate @ 1:05 am

Are your teeth yellow, grayish, brownish, or just plain dingy?

In cosmetic dentistry, we use porcelain to create natural-looking restorations, like crowns and veneers. Porcelain looks and acts a lot like natural tooth enamel. Like porcelain, our teeth are porous. If you’ve ever had a white porcelain kitchen sink, you’ve probably watched it stain over time. The dark pigments in coffee, tea, red wine, and many foods such as berries, soak into the porous porcelain and cause discoloration. Unless you use a cleanser with bleach or a very harsh scrubber, like steel wool, the stains are virtually impossible to remove.

I do not recommend you use bleach or steel wool on your teeth! (more…)

January 7, 2011

Turn a Few Heads with a Healthy, Beautiful Smile

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — dr_pate @ 2:13 pm

It has been said that a person’s smile is the first thing others notice. I am Dr. Peter Pate and, as a dentist in the Atlanta area, I couldn’t agree more.

It has been proven that people tend to base their first impressions on the quality of your smile. In fact, people who have bright, healthy-looking smiles tend to achieve more in almost all aspects of their lives, especially professionally.

Many of my patients are surprised to hear this. It seems like in our modern day and age, people tend to obsess over their weight, hair color/style, skin tone, clothing, and other aspects of their physical appearance. The truth is, when it comes to first impressions, a beautiful smile says it all!

My team at Dentistry in Buckhead is here to help. Obviously, a healthy, beautiful smile can take you far. The mouth is often referred to as the window to the body because oral health has such a large impact on overall health. A healthy mouth that functions properly helps to ensure the overall health of your body.  Let’s face it, healthy people tend to be happier. Speaking of faces, having a well constructed smile affects more than just your mouth. Your whole face will benefit from a beautiful smile — including your eyes, which are the second thing people notice about a new acquaintance.

I offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry options if you feel that is the best way for you to achieve a sparkling smile. I will be happy to sit down with you at a consultation to discuss your dental goals and possible treatment plans.

Make it your new year’s resolution to achieve a healthy, dazzling smile, and you’ll be unstoppable. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact my office at (404) 266-9424.

January 5, 2011

Promises, Promises (New Year’s Resolutions)

Filed under: Living It Up — Tags: , , , , , , — dr_pate @ 10:53 pm

A recent study tells us that most of us make promises to ourselves on New Year’s Day, then promptly break those vows. About 30% of women tend to make and keep their New Year’s resolutions for over 30 days, but most guys ditch their deals in a day or two. I hope we’re all much more diligent with brushing, flossing, checkups, and cleanings!

According to articles from About.com and USA.gov, these are the top resolutions people make in January. See if any of yours made the list!

  • Spend more time with family and friends
  • Get a better education
  • Land a better job
  • Get fit
  • Lose weight
  • Quit smoking
  • Enjoy life more
  • Manage stress
  • Quit drinking
  • Get out of debt
  • Save money
  • Learn something new
  • Take a vacation
  • Help others
  • Reduce, reuse, and recycle
  • Get organized

It sure would be great to see people add “go to the dentist regularly” to this list! Only half of Americans visit the dentist each year, and the most widespread childhood disease is dental caries (cavities). I want to ask you to make a resolution – a promise to yourself – to come in and see me twice this year. The ADA and most dental professionals recommend a minimum of two checkups and cleanings each year. These visits allow us to find problems in the early stage, when treatment is more effective and less invasive. Early treatment of oral cancer, for instance, improves a person’s survival potential by 80%! This is serious stuff, folks.

So instead of making a promise that’s just not practical, make one you can keep. If you live in the Atlanta area, visit Dentistry in Buckhead for six-month checkups and cleanings, and you could keep more than your promise. Ultimately, you could keep your teeth for life!

October 29, 2010

Don’t Neglect Your Tongue!

Filed under: Fun Dental Facts — Tags: , , , , , , , , — dr_pate @ 3:51 pm

What’s the strongest and most flexible muscle in your body?  It’s your tongue!  Your tongue is the only muscle that’s attached only on one end.  It also has a unique print, just like your thumb – and it heals faster than any other body part.  The tongue has 9,000 taste buds and can sense four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.  About 10% of your taste buds, though, are on your cheeks and palette.

Can you curl your tongue in a u-shape? About 15% of people can’t.

Your tongue harbors HALF of the bacteria that live in your mouth.  If you have bad breath, brush your tongue or consider using a tongue scraper to gently remove bacteria and food particles from the surface of the tongue.  It can really help!

And, according to Guinness, this is the most difficult tongue twister:

The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.

National Museum of Dentistry

Filed under: Living It Up — Tags: , , , , , — dr_pate @ 3:37 pm

At the University of Maryland, there’s a museum that everyone can relate to.  It’s the National Museum of Dentistry.  It’s affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

Everyone brushes, right? So, it just makes sense that every human should want to visit this amazing museum!

Actually, the website is pretty awesome, and the interactive exhibits are fun for kids and adults. For instance, one lets you become a forensic investigator. And we’ve always heard about George Washington’s dentures. You can actually see them at the National Museum of Dentistry.  You might also like the Evel Knievel toothbrush or Queen Victoria’s dental instruments. Another cool collection, the world’s largest of its kind, is the museum’s dental advertising poster art.  If you like the future more than the past, you’ll enjoy the Operatory of the Future exhibit.

Visit http://www.dental.umaryland.edu/museum/ for more information, and if you DO go to the museum, send us pictures to post on Facebook!

October 26, 2010

Toothbrush Facts that Make You Say, “REALLY??!”

Filed under: Fun Dental Facts,General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — dr_pate @ 8:53 pm

Get this!  In 2003, Americans chose the toothbrush as the “cannot live without” invention. The toothbrush won over computers, cars, cell phones, and the microwave!

People have always wanted clean teeth. Until the first toothbrush was invented, folks used a frayed stick, feathers, bones, porcupine quills, and just about anything they could come up with to get plaque and food off their teeth.

The first toothbrushes on historical record were created in China around 1498. They were made of hog’s hair in bamboo and worked much like today’s toothbrush.

In 1780, William Addis first mass produced a toothbrush. He came up with the idea and made the prototype while in prison (for causing a riot — those rowdy oral healthcare guys!). The toothbrush was made with a small animal bone and bristles inserted through drilled holes. (What small animals are in a prison? Ugh. Don’t ask.)

In 1857, Mr. H. N. Wadsworth patented a toothbrush in the United States, and mass production came about in 1885. Again, the inventor used a bone handle and boar’s hair in the design.

DuPont introduced nylon bristles in 1938, and they were a much better choice. They did not harbor bacteria, and they dried much faster than boar’s hair.

Broxodent released the first electric toothbrush at the American Dental Association (ADA) convention in 1960. (Yay!)

Now, here are the best toothbrush practices for your family…

  • Get a new toothbrush every six weeks. Opt for a soft or medium brush for adults, and a soft brush for children and elderly, unless Dr. Pate or our hygienist has other advice for you.
  • Kids need appropriately sized toothbrushes and non-fluoridated toothpaste.
  • If you’re ill, microwave your toothbrush for a minute in a glass of water to kill bacteria. If the bristles fall out, get a new toothbrush!
  • Electric toothbrushes are great – just replace the head every six weeks.
  • Be sure to clean your travel toothbrush thoroughly and let it dry before packing it away. You might even consider using the newer version of the travel toothbrush: a disposable toothbrush with water-activated toothpaste powder in the bristles.
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