Give A Care Indy » dental

Be Your Own Floss Boss!

giveacareindy — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:00:49 +0000

We all know we should be flossing, but how come so many of us don’t? It’s just an extra step in our already time-consuming oral hygiene routine, and for what? Just to clean out last night’s left-over spaghetti squash? Probably not worth it, right? Wrong. According to a survey done by ADA News only sixteen percent of the public floss their teeth every day, while over forty percent admit to exaggerating how much they floss to their dentist. The truth is, not flossing can have serious long-term consequences on your oral health. Just brushing cleans the exposed area of your teeth, however flossing reaches the places that a tooth brush cannot reach. If your gums bleed at the dentist, or the few times you do try to floss, that is a clear indicator that you should be flossing. The professionals at Colgate suggest that bleeding gums means inflammation caused from bacteria existing in plaque surrounding the gum tissue. According to Crest, the buildup of plaque can produce tartar if not taken care of soon enough, which can then result in cavities, gingivitis, and even gum disease. Flossing at least once a day can drastically lower, if not eliminate these possible consequences. In order to remind yourself to floss, try leaving the floss container out by your sink so that it is the last thing you see before you head to bed. After flossing for just a couple of days, you will notice that any bleeding will gradually lessen, and your smile will appear even whiter and brighter!

To make an appointment with HealthNet Dental please call 317-957-2450. To learn more visit www.indyhealthnet.org.

Posted by: Emily Jump, Marketing and Communications Intern

School’s Out For Summer!

giveacareindy — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 19:31:36 +0000

Post by Ebony Jordan, DDS

School’s out for summer!!! Many children are already outdoors playing tag, swimming in the pool or enjoying the delights at the fair. Here are some ways that parents can ensure their kids enjoy summer vacation without neglecting their oral health care!

Swimming Pools
Research has shown that people who spent more than 6 hours a week in swimming pools ended up with discolored front teeth. Bad levels of pH in a pool can break down proteins in saliva and leave a brownish stains on your teeth. If the pool’s pH balance isn’t properly cared for, the water can also soften enamel, leading to an increased risk of decay and damage. Regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and fluoride treatments can combat both of these problems!

Summertime Foods and Beverages…and Your Smile
During the summer, kids are probably going to attend a lot of fairs, cookouts, and sporting events, and with that comes a variety of beverages and snacks. Summertime drinks include soda, sports drinks, and lemonade, all of which are loaded with sugar. But don’t brush your teeth too soon after consuming acidic beverages! These drinks can soften enamel, and brushing while the enamel is soft can do more damage. Wait at least an hour before you brush! If possible, limit the sugar intake by diluting your drink with water to reduce the risk of cavities.

Sports
While the kiddos are getting their teeth tickled ask about getting a customized mouth guard made to protect their teeth while they participate in outdoor sports and recreational activities!

For more information about HealthNet’s Dental services, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org or call 317-957-2450.

Add Your Kid’s Smile to Your Back-to-School Checklist

giveacareindy — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:31:14 +0000

Checking off your list of things to do to get your kids ready to start a new school year? Make sure a dental exam is a part of your back-to-school routine.

We asked Dr. Philip Woller, DDS, why these check-ups are so important. Dr. Woller serves as dental director for HealthNet’s six dental clinics, which care for over 6,500 kids and adults each year. Here’s what he told us about kids and tooth decay:

After the common cold, it’s the most prevalent chronic childhood disease. Tooth decay is an infectious disease and over half of school children, ages 5 through 9, have at least one cavity. And, the problem is increasing dramatically in preschool-age kids.
Dental-related illnesses account for 52 million lost school hours each year. Because serious tooth decay can affect overall health, it can lead to problems with eating, talking, concentrating in class, learning and can eventually lead to school absences.
It’s preventable. You can stop the decay caused by bacteria by making sure your children brush and floss regularly and by taking advantage of affordable dental care in your neighborhood to schedule regular checkups.

A dental exam is just as important as booster shots and should be a regular part of back-to-school preparations, echo the American Dental Association (ADA) and theAmericanAcademyof Pediatrics (AAP).

Back-to-school dental check ups should be easier to schedule during the weeks before students’ calendars fill up with after-school sports and homework. If you don’t already have a dentist, click here to find out which HealthNet dental clinic is closest to you.

Our sixth location opens this month and is just for kids. HealthNet Pediatric & Adolescent Care Center (PACC) is pleased to begin offering dental check-ups and cleanings for established PACC patients ages 0-5 each Thursday, beginning July 12. Learn more!

The Gift of a Great Smile

giveacareindy — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:51:14 +0000

We often take so much for granted in life. Like, for example, the ability to smile. Or laugh out loud, or chew any type of food we like, or grin for photographs without feeling embarrassed about our teeth. It’s hard to flash those pearly whites, though, if your teeth are a mess, or if you’re in pain and don’t have any resources to do something about it.

Janice Bryant has a reason to smile again…

… thanks to the urgent dental care she received at HealthNet’s annual Dental Blitz Day last Saturday, April 14, at People’s Health & Dental Center.

Janice had been living with a painful toothache for more than 10 years, she estimates. Without insurance or the means to afford care, she didn’t have any options. Just by chance, though, she attended the Indy Homeless Connect event held last week at the Indiana Convention Center. There, she got a quick oral health assessment and an appointment at the Dental Blitz Day event.

Although she was a little anxious about seeing a dentist for the first time in years, Janice expressed thanks to the staff from HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program and Dental Services Program for making the event possible.

“Everyone was so kind and caring, and treated me with respect,” she said. “This place is such a blessing!”

By the end of the day, 42 people had their smiles back too — receiving much-needed, free urgent dental care. The day included a record number of extractions— 54 painful teeth pulled! Less urgent cases were scheduled for follow up at the Homeless Initiative Program’s dental clinic, held each Thursday at People’s Health & Dental Center.

We’d like to give our appreciation to everyone who gave up their Saturday to help out so many people – Dr. Philip Woller, DDS, and Dr. William Davee, DDS, from People’s Dental Center and Dr. Tonya Stewart, DDS, from the Marion County Health Department, as well as all the support staff from HIP and the Dental Services team. Thanks for bringing a smile to so many faces!