So, how can you prevent your breath from stinking? The number-one way, [...]]]> Are you ever talking with someone and your heartbeat starts to pick up because you suddenly are concerned with your breath? You aren’t alone. Americans spend over $500 million dollars EVERY YEAR trying to combat Halitosis (another name for bad breath).

So, how can you prevent your breath from stinking? The number-one way, is good oral hygiene! Since October is Oral Hygiene Month, we here at Ft. Collins, CO Positive Dental & Vision want to share some information with you.

Ft. Collins Dentistry: What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath is caused by one or more of the following:

1. Poor dental hygiene

2. Diet (garlic, onions, curry, and other strong flavors)

3. Acid Reflux

4. GERD (a form of acid reflux in the lower esophagus)

5. Poorly controlled Diabetes

6. Periodontal (gum) Disease

7. Smoking

8. Dieting (especially low carb diets)

9. Alcohol

10. Prescription Drugs that cause dry mouth

How Do I Get Rid of Bad Breath?

Your best combat or treatment is regular trips to your Dentist with your biannual hygiene appointments and exams. Also, brush your teeth after every meal and floss.  And one sure-fire secret to make your breathe smell good… brush your tongue! Just a couple of brushes will decrease the sulfur-producing bacteria that can cause bad breath.

We’re committed to your total whole-body health.  And that’s why we continue to share the fact that your overall health can be impacted by poor oral hygiene!

Dr. Dave Robinson says,

Your next job interview or date might go better because of your fresh breath. Do you think it might be worth investing in yourself and maintaining good oral hygiene practices? We’d love to hear your success stories, because you adopted great health practices with regular dental checkups and consistently brush and floss after eating. (Remember if you can’t brush, then chew Spry gum or mints with Xylitol.)

Have a bad breath story to share? We’d love to hear about it on Facebook!

Actually, a fair amount.  It shows if you are a compliant [...]]]> Have you ever wondered why some of the questions are on health forms? Like, do you always wear your seatbelt when in a car?  Do you wear a bike helmet?  What does that have to do with the health of your teeth and eyes?

Actually, a fair amount.  It shows if you are a compliant person.  Which is good!

Chances are; you go to your Eye Doctor once a year for your annual exams, AND you get your teeth cleaned twice a year, if you answered yes to the questions about seat belts and bike helmets. Just like the governing health institutions AOA and ADA recommend.

Be sure to check out both of these sites—American Optometric Association and American Dental Association  to learn more about what you can do for your vision and dental health.

Do you know how else you can take responsibility for your health?  Eat well, you know the drill; dark leafy green veggies, organic when available, grass feed beef, hormone-free meat, plenty of filtered water, limit artificial flavors and colors.

Everything in moderation. This includes working long hours, all the time, which is not good for your health.  Get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly.

Ft. Collins is a Great Place for Healthy Living

Living in NoCo (Northern Colorado) makes it easy to do the above-mentioned things.  Isn’t that one of the reasons you live in beautiful Ft. Collins? You love the opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors and healthy lifestyle of NoCo.

So, when one of our Positive Dental & Vision Doctors or clinicians make a recommendation, like wear your sunglasses every time you’re outside, or encourage you to improve your flossing, please do it.

Be responsible for your health.  It’s not only healthier to exercise prevention, it’s cheaper in the long run, EVERY TIME!!!

Today we are going to look at vision.  We are born with two wonderful eyes that just seem to work.  So it’s easy to overlook the importance [...]]]> In part 1 of this two part series on children’s health, we talked about the importance of dental health to your children’s success.

Today we are going to look at vision.  We are born with two wonderful eyes that just seem to work.  So it’s easy to overlook the importance of vision care to your child’s health and future success.

Many parents are not aware of the close tie between vision and learning. The ability to learn is dependent on great vision.

So vision health is vital to your child’s lifelong health and happiness.

Vision Care for Babies

Yes it’s true, the best time to ensure that your child’s vision is on track is when they are a baby. Here are two important actions you can take to ensure healthy vision:

• Watch for signs of eye and vision problems. Seek  professional eye care starting with the first comprehensive vision assessment at about 6 months of age.
• Help your baby develop his or her vision by engaging in age-appropriate activities.

 Vision Care for Children

Every child needs to have the following vision skills for effective reading and learning:

• Visual Acuity — the ability to see clearly in the distance for viewing the chalkboard, at an intermediate distance for the computer, and up close for reading a book.
• Eye Focusing — the ability to quickly and accurately maintain clear vision as the distance from objects change, such as when looking from the chalkboard to a paper on the desk and back. Eye focusing allows the child to easily maintain clear vision over time like when reading a book or writing a report.
• Eye Tracking — the ability to keep the eyes on target when looking from one object to another, moving the eyes along a printed page, or following a moving object like a thrown ball.
• Eye Teaming — the ability to coordinate and use both eyes together when moving the eyes along a printed page, and to be able to judge distances and see depth for class work and sports.
• Eye-Hand Coordination — the ability to use visual information to monitor and direct the hands when drawing a picture or trying to hit a ball.
• Visual Perception — the ability to organize images on a printed page into letters, words and ideas and to understand and remember what is read.

Can your child afford to miss any learning experience?  It’s key to detect and correct any changes to your child’s vision early.  Many issues can be corrected and will not impact your child’s overall health and future.

Healthy Eyes for Kids and Sunglasses

It’s also important for all children to protect their eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation from the beautiful sunlight. We all know about the power of the Colorado sun, so this is especially important for families living in the Ft. Collins area.

Sunglasses are needed to protect your child’s eyes outdoors and  some sport-specific designs may even help improve sports performance.  For more on this topic check out our blog post, Sunglasses: Necessity or Accessory.

Healthy Vision and Dental Habits for Kids…
are Key to Life Long Health

Give your children a life gift of healthy vision and dental habits.  They may not thank-you now, but they are sure to thank-you later!

Be sure to read Part One on Children’s Dental Health.

Was this helpful? Do you now feel you have more information to help your children? We’d love to hear how you ensure that your children have their annual/biannual exams.

“If you don’t know where you are going, it doesn’t matter how you get there.”

Health matters, just ask someone that doesn’t have it. Let’s go on a journey to insure that your children have optimum health. In Part One of this two part [...]]]> There is a famous quote from Alice in Wonderland.

“If you don’t know where you are going, it doesn’t matter how you get there.”

Health matters, just ask someone that doesn’t have it. Let’s go on a journey to insure that your children have optimum health. In Part One of this two part series, we’re sharing our thoughts on ways to establish healthy dental habits for children and teenagers. In Part Two we will talk about healthy vision habits.

Dental Exams For Babies and Children

• As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to schedule a dental visit. The American Dental Association (ADA)  recommends that the first dental visit take place within six months after the first tooth appears, but no later than a child’s first birthday. (This is complimentary for our patients’ children)
• Don’t wait for them to start school or until there’s an emergency. Get your child comfortable today with good mouth healthy habits. Although the first visit is mainly for the dentist to examine your child’s mouth and check growth and development, it’s also about your child being comfortable.
• To make the visit Positive: Consider making a morning appointment when children tend to be rested and cooperative. Keep any anxiety or concerns you have to yourself. Children can pick up on your emotions, so emphasize the positive.
• Never use a dental visit as a punishment or threat. Never bribe your child. Talk with your child about visiting the dentist.

Dental Exams for Teens

• The bottom line for smiles that are healthy on the inside and out: Always brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. Floss between your teeth daily.
• Avoid sugary and starchy snacks.
• Wear a mouth-guard when you’re active.
• Don’t smoke.
• Don’t pierce your lips or any part of your mouth. See your dentist. Regular dental visits will help set you up to be Mouth Healthy for Life.

As you can see, regular checkups matter. You don’t want to be Alison Wonderland, not knowing how to help your children have Positive Dental health. Remember, eating healthy needs to be included also. In the Part Two of our series on children’s health, we share thoughts on how to establish healthy vision habits for your kids.

Was this helpful? Do you now feel you have more information to help your children?

We’d love to hear how you ensure that your children have their  annual/biannual exams.

]]> http://positivedentalvision.com/dental-and-vision-care-for-your-children/feed/ 0 http://positivedentalvision.com/vision-and-dental-exams-vs-mcdonalds/ http://positivedentalvision.com/vision-and-dental-exams-vs-mcdonalds/#comments Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:26:58 +0000 admin http://positivedentalvision.com/?p=3153 Recently, Ft. Collins Positive Dental & Vision Doctors, Dr. Dave Robinson and Dr. Mike Cozzetta were in deep discussion about the state of healthcare and the idea of “cheap” vision exams and dental exams.

They realize the economy is affecting how people view eye exams and dental exams, and are looking for deals. The idea [...]]]> Recently, Ft. Collins Positive Dental & Vision Doctors, Dr. Dave Robinson and Dr. Mike Cozzetta were in deep discussion about the state of healthcare and the idea of “cheap” vision exams and dental exams.

They realize the economy is affecting how people view eye exams and dental exams, and are looking for deals. The idea of making a buying decision based on what or who is cheaper has become ingrained in people’s spending habits.

Cheap does Not Mean the Same When it Comes to…
Your Vision and Dental Care

Both Drs. Dave and Mike remember what it was like to watch pennies in college and professional school. When looking for buying say, Bose speakers, Dr. Dave checked out specials and who offered the best deal.

A Bose speaker is a Bose speaker, no matter where it’s purchased. It was the brand that was the same; it didn’t matter where it was purchased.

It seems we are willing to pay more for a Lark Burger than we are for a McDonald’s hamburger. If you’ve had a Lark Burger you know the difference; taste, quality of beef, respect for the environment, and that whole “buy local” concept. Yet, it’s still a burger.

Vision and Dental Care is a Service, Not a Widget

The same analogy can be made for dental and vision exams. You can go to a big-box store and get an eye exam. You get your eyes dilated and an exam. Is it the same as an eye exam at Positive Dental & Vision?

Emphatically, NO! At Positive Dental & Vision you are going to get your health history taken, a comprehensive exam which includes refraction, visual acuity, and more.

Is “Cheapest” the Best Choice…
when It Comes to Your Health Care

Here is the reason the discussion between the doctors at Positive Dental & Vision was so significant.

It’s your LIFE, your health; we are talking about. Keep in mind, most insurance companies dictate our customary fees.

Back to the beginning, the economy has taken its toll on most of us. How and where we spend our money matters to us. You may not be choosing your Eye Doctor on whether or not they serve fresh baked cookies. We hope that you will See with a Smile the quality of health care, we provide to you. Your health matters the most to us.

We’d love to know your thoughts on this, is cheapest the best route to take, when it comes to your health?

There are a number of options out there for teeth whitening. Some have validity, others, frankly, [...]]]>

Deanna Robinson

We’re going to take a little different approach to the topic of teeth whitening, today. Deanna, who handles PR for Positive Dental & Vision is going to address this from her perspective, with professional comments from Dentist Dr. Dave.

There are a number of options out there for teeth whitening. Some have validity, others, frankly, don’t. Twenty-one years ago, I (Deanna) decided that I wanted to whiten my teeth.

Dr. Dave took an impression of both top and bottom of my teeth. He then made custom trays, which held the bleaching gel. I would put the gel into the trays, and wear them while I slept. I did this for about two weeks.

I loved the results.

Teeth Whitening with Custom Bleaching Trays

Now, because I did then, and still do, drink both hot and cold tea, along with red wine, I would need to use the trays again. I have found through the twenty some years of bleaching my teeth, I need to use my trays about twice, maybe three times a year.Each time only for a couple of nights.

Here is the thing.

I’m going to share something with you, to make a point. As the PR Director for Positive Dental & Vision, and a Keynote Speaker I’m always meeting new people.  Invariably, the first comment that new acquaintances make when we meet is about my beautiful teeth.

I can thank Dr. Dave for making my teeth whitening trays. I say this not to say look at me, yet that is exactly what I’m saying. Look at my beautiful white teeth. Yes, I occasionally, maybe twice a year, do a touch up. In my home, when I feel like I need it. I do use a toothpaste that helps with sensitivity. That’s it!

Teeth Whitening and First Impressions

We have one chance to make a first impression. Professionally and personally, I can’t imagine not making the choice to whiten my teeth. Yes, I turned to a professional. I don’t ask my grocer how to invest my money. I don’t go to the mall to whiten my teeth.

From personal experience, it’s worth it. I’ve said from when I started this twenty one years ago, next to my parents putting me in braces, this is the next best thing that has ever happened for my teeth.

Dr. Dave also says that everyone’s teeth are unique to them. It’s important to remember that not everyone’s teeth will turn into piano keys. It’s a gradual process.

“In this time of so much virtual connectivity, there is no substitution for, you and eye appeal,”
says Sandra Yancey founder of eWomen Network, the largest women’s business event company in the world.

What does eye appeal have to do with eye exams? [...]]]>

“In this time of so much virtual connectivity, there is no substitution for, you and eye appeal,”
says Sandra Yancey founder of eWomen Network, the largest women’s business event company in the world.

Eye Exams and Eye Appeal

What does eye appeal have to do with eye exams? Let’s take a look.

• You “Like” pictures and posts on Facebook. You “Connect” on LinkedIn.
• You follow on Twitter. You “Pin” on Pinterest. You are well connected.
• You are “Social”. When was the last time you looked someone in the eyes, and really expressed yourself?

Eye Exams are Key to Your Social World

Have you ever considered that to do the above, you need healthy vision? If we have it, we take it for granted. Maybe we get our complete eye exam once a year, or so. We think, I’m good. I’ve done what I’m supposed to.

Do you eat dark leafy green vegetables?  How about keeping your weight within healthy limits, to prevent Diabetes which may lead to vision loss or even Glaucoma?  Do you always wear appropriate protective eye-wear when participating in sports?  I could ask about sunglasses, I won’t because we’ve covered that in another post.

Healthy Vision is Vital to “Seeing” Virtually or Live

Okay, so let’s just say you do all of the above, without exception. What does that have to do with seeing someone or as Sandra Yancey says…you and eye appeal?

As Dr. Michael Cozzetta says, “The eyes are a window to the soul”.

How can you see that, virtually?

Don’t Delay Come in Today for Your Eye Exam

Our doctors at Ft. Collins Positive Vision need you to show up to perform a complete eye exam. You can’t do it virtually. Dr. Marcelo Saldivia has experience, that requires you to be present for an exam.

There are still some things in life, that require you to show up, in person. This is so that you can have healthy vision and truly see, looking someone in the eyes, or virtually connecting with them.

Allow us to have a Positive impact on your vision, in whatever manner you choose to connect. Virtually or in person, it’s your choice.

When Dr. Dave [...]]]> Dr. Dave was recently in a Rocky Mountain Chocolate store at Denver International Airport. He was looking for chocolate, it’s a great place to shop for it. The clerk behind the counter was friendly and  engaged everyone in conversation. He asked “where are you headed or what was happening in your day.”

When Dr. Dave was asked, he replied, “I’m returning from Tucson from a Dave Ramsey Entre Leadership conference for business.

The clerk asked, “What kind of business do you do?” Dr. Dave replied, “I’m a Dentist. I have a practice in Ft. Collins and Pueblo.”

Beautiful Smiles and Sweet Treats:
It’s All About Moderation

So, let’s clear up some misnomers.

Eating sweets; chocolate, candy, pop, and ice cream, are ok. The key is moderation. AND, not all day. Have your sweet craving, then brush your teeth. Or at least, rinse your mouth with water, (this is not the time for pop) or chew a piece of spry gum. You don’t have to eliminate all the fun of sweets.

Rockies baseball, fun, and nostalgia. He doesn’t carry a toothbrush with him. Not even in his car. Here’s the thing, he didn’t sit and eat it for hours. He had some, then was finished. The point is, you can have sweets, just not all day, every day.

Beautiful Smiles and Sweet Treats:
It’s All About Regular Check-Ups

This part won’t surprise you at all. Dr. Dave gets his teeth cleaned every 6 months. Preventative. That’s why it’s called a check up.

The hygienist first scales his teeth, to be sure there is no build up. Then check to be sure there isn’t a new development with his gums. Bi-annual check-ups insure his daily hygiene is adequate and catch any issues before they become big ones.

Dr. Dave grew up hearing his Dad Dr. Harold Robinson say:

So, next time you’re in for your check up, ask Dr. Dave about his favorite candy or chocolate. And be sure to enjoy your favorite, and share what kind you like with him. He’ll love hearing about it, especially if you have a great checkup.

Just remember to brush or rinse after you enjoy your favorite. You may even want to snag a fresh baked cookie when you come by, just saying.

Dr. Dave Robinson says that if you need a dental implant, there are some Positive side benefits.  [...]]]> Have you heard of Dental Implants?  Ever wonder what they are or how they work? We’re often asked this question at Positive Dental and thought we would share some information on our blog.

Dr. Dave Robinson says that if you need a dental implant, there are some Positive side benefits.  The biggest is that your implant will help prevent the loss of more bone and surrounding teeth by lessening the load on your surrounding teeth. This ultimately saves other teeth.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a prosthetic replacement for a missing tooth.   Natural teeth consist of the crown and the root. The crown is the visible section that is covered with white enamel. Supporting the crown is the tooth root, which extends into the jawbone.

The following picture will help you to see how this amazing dental technology and procedure works.

The root is the part of the tooth that is effectively replaced by an implant. The implant is a small sturdy, titanium post that serves the same purpose as your root structure would for a natural tooth. It is placed into your upper or lower jawbone. After the bone has grown around the implant, a crown or bridge is built on the implant to create a new tooth.

Implants are similar to your natural teeth and result in your ability to eat most anything you want, increased confidence and self-esteem. They require the same maintenance as natural teeth; including brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups.

Dental Implants: Am I a good candidate?

Generally speaking, if you have lost teeth you are a candidate for dental implants.  To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant.

Every patient has specific needs. The Doctors at Positive Dental will evaluate your specific dental conditions to determine the treatment approach that provides the best long-term functional and aesthetic results; and discuss the options with you.

And if you are worried about the process consider this.  According to Dr. Dave Robinson dental implant placement is easier for the patient than removing the tooth that the implant replaces; there is virtually no trauma involved.