As the holidays approach, our stress levels inevitably begin to rise, and concerns about our health are pushed to the side.  While your time may be spent shopping for gifts, decorating, entertaining and spending time with loved ones, it’s important to keep the health of your teeth and mouth in mind during the holidays. Fortunately, there are several simple tips that can help you avoid an extra trip to the dentists.

Like any other time of the year, stress can affect your health.  The high stress associated with the holidays often forces you to leave your normal schedule behind. But losing sleep, skipping meals and avoiding exercise will only increase your stress and lead to negative long-term consequences.  Many people use stress-coping mechanisms that negatively affect your teeth.

Many people find themselves indulging in sweets to celebrate the holidays.  These high-sugar foods can eventually lead to tooth decay, mineral loss and cavities.

Brushing and flossing after eating any sweets can prevent a buildup of plaque while also keeping your moth fresh and healthy.  If brushing is not possible, rinsing with water can also help.

As many as 65 million American adults are affected by teeth grinding and clenching, a condition known as bruxism. Bruxism most often occurs while sleeping and can wear down enamel and cause soreness.  This can be prevented by wearing a protector at night.

Finally, despite your busy schedule, it is important to continue to see your dentist for regular cleanings and to learn more ways to keep your teeth healthy.

For most children, Halloween is synonymous with loading up on sugary sweets after a fun night of trick-or-treating.  While this is an exciting time for young ones, it can be worrying for parents and dentists alike because of the excessive amount of sugar consumed during this time.  As we all know, too much sugar can lead to serious tooth damage and should only be consumed sporadically.  Fortunately, there are several options to help avoid the dangers of too much candy while still enjoying the Halloween holiday.

The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation is taking initiative to transform Halloween from a dental nightmare into an opportunity to raise awareness for pediatric dental disease.  Through their Trick-or-Treat for America’s Toothfairy program, this non-profit organization encourages children to collect change from the houses they visit on Halloween, instead of or in addition to their favorite types of treats.  Children are also encourage to dress up as a toothfairy or dentist if they choose.

After collecting change, families can send their contributions, as well as any personal or business donations, to the organization.  100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser are donated to fighting this condition, which is the most common childhood chronic illness.  Contributors are also encouraged to share stories and photos from their trick-or-treating activities.

In addition to raising awareness and collecting donations, children and their parents can also enjoy a healthy Halloween by following a few basic guidelines.   Setting limits on the amount of candy to be eaten each day, and promoting brushing and flossing after candy consumption can help reduce the risk of damage.

Happy trick-or-treating!

Last Friday, Dr. Ravin was one of many professionals to participate in the annual Stand Down program, a day-long event that provides assistance to homeless or needy veterans in order to restore their health and help them regain their independence.  Along with state-of-the-art dental care, veterans can also receive health screenings, housing referrals, social service assistance and legal aid.

This program is administered by the State Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, Linda S. Schwartz, who appears in the photos below with Dr. Ravin and Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell.

Bette Affleck was unhappy with the overall appearance of her smile, which included crooked, discolored and poorly restored teeth from years of improper treatment.  Dr. Ravin performed a full mouth restoration to improve the appearance and health of Bette’s smile so she could regain her self-confidence and reduce her risk of decay and other serious conditions.

Before:

After:

Dr. Ravin’s June Case of the Month, Claudine Hall, sought treatment to improve her smile for her upcoming wedding, and was so pleased with the results that she wanted to share a photo from her wedding day with Dr. Ravin.  Claudine’s beautiful new smile helped showcase how happy she was on this memorable day!

Claudine Hall came to Dr. Ravin seeking to improve the appearance of her smile quickly and conveniently before her wedding coming up this July. Dr. Ravin produced stunning results with plenty of time to spare so to ensure that Claudine looks her best on her special day!

Before


After

Michael Asaro had a damaged front tooth that he sought treatment for from other dentists no success. Frustrated with his appearance and the inability to achieve the results he desired, Michael finally came to see Dr. Ravin a few years ago. Dr. Ravin was able to successfully correct Michael’s tooth and provide him with a smile that he is proud to show off!

Due to their sensitive nature and prominent location, the teeth may be susceptible to damage caused by a fall, accident, sports injury, fight or other type of traumatic event. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, you may experience a chip, crack or fracture in the tooth, tissue injury or a tooth that is knocked out or misaligned for more severe injuries.

If you are experiencing bleeding, swelling, severe pain within the mouth area, or have any missing or loose teeth, there is a chance you are experiencing a dental emergency and should seek immediate care. Seeing a dental professional right away could be the difference between saving or losing a tooth.

In addition to tooth injuries, many people often experience cuts, scratches or tears in the gums, lips, cheek or tongue, which should be treated by your dentist as well in order to reduce the risk of infection and ensure proper healing. This tissue damage can affect the health of your teeth and overall mouth if not treated properly.

Emergency dental care often includes reattaching a tooth that was knocked out, placing a crown, bridge or implants, perform a root canal or other methods to stop bleeding, relieve pain and reduce the risk of long-term damage. It is important to keep any teeth that fall out, if possible, so that they can be reattached without the need for prosthetic replacements. Individual treatment will vary depending on each patient’s specific case, but dentists like Dr. Ravin are highly experienced in handling these sensitive injuries with highly effective results.

The best defense against dental emergencies is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. This can be done by taking special precautions to protect the teeth, especially when participating in high-risk activities. Athletes who play contact sports such as football or hockey should always wear a mouth guard to protect the teeth. Certain activities, such as chewing on ice or eating hard foods can also lead to tooth injury and should be avoided. Seeing your dentist on a regular basis ensures that the teeth are strong and healthy enough to sustain mild injuries.

Tatiana Grabowy is a 33-year-old wife and mother of two who was unhappy with the appearance of her front teeth, especially after having repeated fillings performed over the course of several years. Tatiana often felt embarrassed by the appearance of her teeth and did not like to smile in front of others. She needed a permanent solution from a dentist she could trust.

After a thorough evaluation of her whole mouth, as well as a discussion of her goals for treatment, Dr. Ravin developed a treatment plan for Tatiana. He performed gum surgery and front aesthetics to give Tatiana the smile of her dreams. Now, Tatiana shows off her smile as often as she can and could not be happier with the results of her cosmetic treatment provided by Dr. Ravin.

Tatiana is just one of the many patients to receive the smile of her dreams under the delicate care of Dr. Ravin. The pictures below demonstrate the stunning results of her treatment.

Dr. Ravin was recently featured on Better Connecticut to highlight his commendable volunteer dental services that he provides to poor nations across the world.

Over the past few years, Dr. Ravin and his wife have made annual trips to Haiti to provide dental services to hundreds of people who cannot afford to properly care for their teeth. As one of the most impoverished nations in the world, even before the recent tragedy, many of these people have such a multitude of problems that they cannot make dental care a priority. Regardless of financial status, Dr. Ravin believes that all people deserve quality dental care to keep their teeth as healthy as possible.

During a weeklong mission, Dr. Ravin and his volunteer staff saw an average of 160 patients each day, performing procedures in a parking lot to patients of all ages. In addition to his annual trips to Haiti, Dr. Ravin is also planning trips to Cambodia and other countries in need.