Dr. Dunn wants to know: What are you thinking?

Week after week, Dr. Jerry Dunn and team discuss important topics pertinent to dental care. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about dentistry? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Let us know! Dr. Dunn would love to hear from you!

Five helpful tips to avoid plaque, from Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas

Dr. Jerry Dunn knows nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Let’s start with not brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is not flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, avoiding a trip to visit Dr. Dunn is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your dentist at least twice a year, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables.

Finally, before you pick that candy up, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, please give us a call!

At Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas, a pursuit of excellence

At Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas, we make every effort to provide you with the best dental treatment. For Dr. Jerry Dunn and our team that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Dr. Dunn do that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven dental technologies available
2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant
3. Training our entire team on new dental techniques
4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about cosmetic dental treatment, please give us a call. The team at Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas look forward to seeing you.

Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas, supporting National Children’s Dental Health Month

You already know it's American Heart Month, but did you know also know it's National Children’s Dental Health Month? Today, Dr. Jerry Dunn is here to tell you about the need for preventative oral care in kids. For 60 Februaries, the American Dental Association, or ADA, has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. National Children's Dental Health Month began as a one-day event in 1941 in a Cleveland clinic. In 1981, however, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Each February, Dr. Dunn and thousands of dental professionals focus on the preventive oral care of America's children. Dr. Dunn and our staff want you to remember developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Has your child visited Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Did you know February is Heart Month?

Right now is a great time to take notice of the health of your heart, says Dr. Dunn. Cardiovascular disease remains American's No.1 killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our office regularly can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. And because people with dental insurance are more likely to visit their dentist when they should, a healthy mouth begins with a visit to Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas. In observance of Heart Month, Dr. Dunn says it’s also important to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25). If you have any questions about heart health, or about your treatment at Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas, please give us a call today.

Dairy and gum disease, from Dr. Jerry Dunn

Is dairy a major part of your diet? If not, it should be! A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about keeping your teeth healthy, please give us a call or schedule an appointment.

Access your account—all the time—at Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Dr. Dunn's patients have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Just see what some of our patients are saying about this service:

"Can see charges and payment history. Can check on appointment schedules." ~ Erin M.

"Suprisingly different. To share a diagnosis on line is amazing." ~ Jerelene A.

"This is how most working adults communicate. It is just so much faster and easier than phone calls." ~ Jan B.

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at Advanced Dental Care of Las Colinas if you have any questions!