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OCT/NOV/DEC 2023
1115 Mt. Aetna Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 • www.hagerstownsmiles.com • 240-329-4725 PEDIATRIC DENTAL EMERGENCIES AND PROTECTING YOUR CHILD’S SMILE GAME ON:
HANDLE THE TOOTH CAREFULLY: If a tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown and avoid touching the root. Rinse it gently with milk or a saline solution if it’s dirty, but avoid scrubbing it. ATTEMPT TOOTH RE-INSERTION: If possible, try to reinsert the knocked-out tooth root into its socket. Reinserting it quickly is always best, but if it cannot be reinserted, place it in a container of milk to keep the tooth moist.
Did you know that 50% of children ages 6–18 play a sport, and according to the National Institute of Health, roughly 90% of dental injuries occur before age 19? Last month, Dr. Brandy and Dr. Brandon attended a continuing education course that discussed children's sports and the dental implications and injuries that may follow. They gained some insight and a few nuggets of information we’d like to share.
As a parent, you want to ensure your child stays active and enjoys sports and physical activities. However, with these activities come the risk of dental emergencies, such as knocked-out teeth, cracked teeth or enamel, or injuries to the mouth and jaw. At Hagerstown Smiles, we understand the importance of quick and expert dental care in these situations. Let’s explore how we can help children facing dental emergencies and what to do if such a situation arises! IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO DENTAL EMERGENCIES
CONTROL BLEEDING: Use a clean cloth or gauze to apply gentle pressure if there is bleeding.
At Hagerstown Smiles, we specialize in providing prompt and expert care for dental emergencies in children. We prioritize dental emergencies and offer same-day or next-day appointments to address these needs promptly. Our experienced dentists will assess the extent of the injury and provide the necessary treatment, whether it’s reattaching a knocked-out tooth, repairing fractures, or addressing soft tissue injuries. We also take pride in
making custom sports guards for our pediatric patients free of charge! As with most things, prevention is key! Give us a call today if this is something that your child would be interested in. P.S. Don’t forget about our 2023 Veterans Day Event! On Friday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m.–4 p.m., we will be helping veterans in our community by hosting an exciting and successful day of donations and offering free cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures, partial dentures, and other necessary dental services to those who served our country. Space is limited and filling quickly. Veterans in need are encouraged to call the office at 240-329-4725 to schedule an appointment, especially if they have been putting off important treatment due to financial concerns! All treatment on the 10th will be scheduled and pre-screened, so if the veteran is not a current patient, they will need to make a screening appointment with our office beforehand.
Dental emergencies can happen suddenly and without warning. Whether it’s a collision on the soccer field, a fall during gymnastics, or another sports-related incident, it’s crucial to act quickly and take the following steps. (Pro Tip: ToothSOS is an excellent app to download for quick guidance on what to do in a dental emergency!)
CALL 911: For serious injuries, it’s essential to first determine whether you should call 911 right away.
CONTACT OUR OFFICE: If the injury is manageable and does not require the attention of emergency paramedics, give us a call to inform us of the situation and provide as much detail as possible. If the injury occurred after hours, providing photos taken with your phone is very helpful! We will provide guidance and decide the next steps together.
Call Now! 240-329-4725 • 1
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Surprising Habits Hurting Your Brain Health
Your smile is a valuable asset, and its health extends beyond the appearance of your teeth. Healthy gums are essential for maintaining strong teeth and well-being. Recognizing the signs of periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is essential to preserve your smile. At Hagerstown Dental, we are committed to helping you prevent gum disease and maintain optimal oral health. 6 Signs of Periodontal Disease to Look Out For PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Everything we think, feel, and do involves our brains, so keeping them healthy is worth our time. But doing so might require more from us than a nutritional diet, exercise, and occasional sudoku. Everyday habits can profoundly affect our neurological health, and some will likely surprise you.
CHECKING OUR PHONES AFTER WAKING UP
Many people have their phones in hand before they even get out of bed, but this morning routine could be doing significant damage. Immediately inputting so much sensory information causes our brains to miss crucial stages in the natural waking process. The dopamine we get from checking messages and
SIGNS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Bleeding Gums One of the earliest signs of gum disease is bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing. Even when you brush vigorously (which we never recommend), your gums should not bleed! Persistent Bad Breath Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, can indicate underlying gum disease. Bacteria in the mouth that may be present due to periodontal disease produce foul-smelling gases. Swollen or Red Gums Healthy gums should be pink and firm. Swollen or red gums may indicate inflammation, a common symptom of gum disease. Receding Gums As gum disease progresses, you may notice your gums pulling away from your teeth, creating pockets. This can lead to tooth sensitivity and an increased risk of infection. Loose Teeth Gum disease can weaken the supporting structures of your teeth, causing them to become loose or shift in your mouth. Oral Pain or Discomfort Periodontal disease can cause discomfort, including pain when chewing or a persistent ache in your gums. To prevent periodontal disease, regular visits to our office are essential. Our skilled dental professionals can detect the early signs and provide preventive measures to keep your gums and teeth healthy. If you have any concerns or would like to schedule your regular cleaning or a check- up, give us a call today!
likes also primes our brains for more, creating further distractions throughout the day. Experts suggest waiting an hour to check your phone, but if you can’t last that long, every minute you delay counts. ENGAGING IN NEGATIVE THINKING Did you know poor mental health impairs our ability to think clearly? The same is true with patterns of negative thinking. Neuroplasticity means the input we give our brains shapes and changes how they function, and negative thinkers have more difficulty reasoning and forming memories. Fortunately, neuroplasticity also means we can choose to change. Mindfulness, stress relief, purposeful positive thinking, and therapy can all help us learn to turn negative thoughts around. It will improve brain health, and we’ll likely feel happier, too. SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ALONE Humans are social creatures. So, while our brains need new challenges and information to stay sharp, they also crave social interaction. Spending time with others improves our mental health and ability to form memories. Socializing also keeps our brains active, which neuroscientists believe might fight dementia. Specifically, older adults can have trouble switching between active and daydream states, but social interaction will help sharpen that skill. Alone time is crucial, but too much of a good thing can be dangerous. Make sure to interact with friends and family often or find ways to meet new people whose company you enjoy.
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Hagerstown Magazine’s Hot List voting is coming to a close on Oct. 15! Don’t forget to visit HagerstownMagazine.com/hotlist to vote for all your local favorites. Don’t forget your favorite dental office, too! VOTE FOR US!
Time Is Running Out!
Be sure to use your dental benefits before they expire on Jan. 1. If you've been putting off your dental work, call us before the end of the year to maximize your benefits.
The Ladies and Gentlemen at Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care
are participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Frederick on Oct. 15! If you feel called to donate, even just $5, scan the QR code to link to our team’s Alzheimer’s Association page!
Call Now! 240-329-4725 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.hagerstownsmiles.com 1115 Mt. Aetna Rd. Hagerstown, MD 21740 Call Now! 240-329-4725
INSIDE How to Navigate Dental Emergencies and Protect Your Child’s Smile page 1 Don’t Ignore the Signs: 6 Symptoms of Gum Disease Are These Bad Habits Hurting Your Brain? page 2 Vote for Us on the Hot List! Don't Let Your Benefits Expire Join Our Walk to End Alzheimer's Thank You, Veterans! page 3 Halloween's Haunting History page 4
Let’s Unmask Halloween: The Origins and Legends Behind Your Favorite Traditions
Here come the scary decorations, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and spooky costumes because Halloween is just around the corner! These traditions are what make Halloween fun and exciting year after year. However, did you know that jack-o’-lanterns come from an Irish legend or that trick-or-treating comes from a historical ritual called “souling”?
However, instead of paying, he placed the “coin” next to a cross in his pocket that prevented the devil from returning to his original form. Once he freed the devil, Stingy Jack continued to trick him. When he died, God turned away Stingy Jack with only coal to light his way, so he placed the coal in a carved-out turnip to create a lantern. From there, people slowly transformed his “lantern” into the modern-day jack-o’-lantern! CANDY CORN WAS ONCE CALLED CHICKEN FEED. Candy corn, which the Wunderlee Candy Company began producing in the late 1880s, is an extremely popular Halloween candy. In fact, today, about 35 million pounds of the candy are sold each year! When the Goelitz Candy Company brought it to the masses at the turn of the century, they called the sweet tricolored candy “Chicken Feed” because so many people worked on farms at the time. Their early ads exclaimed, “Something worth crowing for!”
As we prepare for Oct. 31 activities, here are some fun facts you might not know about Halloween!
HALLOWEEN IS BASED ON A CELTIC FESTIVAL. Samhain, a pagan festival held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, celebrated both the harvest and the “dark” second half of the year. During this celebration, it was believed the barrier separating the spirits from the physical world would come down, allowing demons to enter and the spirits of all who passed away that year to move on to the next life. ‘STINGY JACK’ HELPED EVOLVE JACK-O’-LANTERNS. The Irish myth of a man named “Stingy Jack” goes like this: Stingy Jack invited the devil for a drink, and because he didn’t want to pay, he convinced the devil to turn into a coin so he could buy their drinks.
Now you know! Happy Halloween!
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