Cutting Down on Sugar for your Summer Diet

Summer diets may be about getting swimsuit ready, but there are a few more benefits to cutting down on sugar and eating healthier.  While the post-holiday season is when most people pledge to start a new diet, by spring the New Year’s resolutions are often all but forgotten and the majority are back to eating carbs and sugar.

 The summer months are especially filled with sugary temptations, be they the sweet BBQ glaze at  backyard cookouts, that favorite 4^th of July Apple Pie, or the quart of ice cream stocked in the freezer.

Now you don’t need to forgo all summer treats, but cutting down on sugar could save you from another cavity found during your next teeth cleaning.

Here are a few tips to help you cut sugar from your daily diet:

• Look out for added sugar: It seems like a no brainer, but many foods and beverages that appear healthy and claim to be ”all natural” often contain processed sugars.. Be sure to check the packaging to make sure no sugar has been added to the natural ingredients.
• Drink more water: Not only is it extremely important to stay adequately hydrated through the summer – but rinsing your mouth with water after eating particularly sugary foods is a great way to ensure that plaque doesn’t build up quite as quickly. Additionally, dry mouths are the perfect environments for cavities to form – especially after eating.
• Grill the veggies, too: Evening barbeques are one of the best things about summer. In addition to chicken and burgers, throwing some veggies on the grill with olive oil and herbs is a great alternative to the sweet marinades that you might be putting on your meats
• Make your own popsicles: These nifty kits are cheap, easy to use, and let you know exactly what’s going in to your icy treat. Load them with fresh fruits to get a sweet taste without processed sugars.

Making a few simple changes can cut down on sugar intake and help you achieve that beach ready body, along with a cleaner brighter smile through the summer!

How do I know if I need orthodontia?

One of the first things people will see is your smile, which explains why so many turn to orthodontia. Orthodontia is a very effective treatment to achieve a beautiful smile, but it is not only utilized for its cosmetic benefits. Proper oral alignment will also help improve overall health by guiding correct jaw growth, realigning one's bite, protecting teeth from wear, and preventing jaw pain and problems with one's teeth later on.

Understanding orthodontia benefits may be reason enough to find out if you are a good candidate for treatment. Before making any decisions, however, it's important to first seek guidance from a trained professional in orthodontia to see how orthodontic treatment would help your smile and bite.

The first step is an exam and discussion with your dentist; then the dentist may refer you to an orthodontist. In the case of Artistic Dental, we are trained and certified in orthodontics and able to provide treatments as needed.

For children, it is recommended that they be evaluated for orthodontics by age seven; this is when dentists and orthodontists can start to tell if emerging teeth will be misaligned or there are complications with jaw growth. In some cases, they may find that everything is acceptable and that orthodontia is not necessary. If treatment is recommended, it will usually begin between the ages of 9 and 14.

Although most people who have orthodontia are young, braces aren't just for tweens and teens. In fact, of the more than four million people in the U.S. that wear braces, 25% are adults, proving that it's never too late to get that perfect smile!

Braces have come a long way since the old metal brackets. Now there are a variety of options, including clear, invisible and ceramic. After the course of orthodontic treatment, which can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, patients will usually wear retainers in order to maintain the position of the teeth and the surrounding bone.

If you are thinking about orthodontia for you or your child, contact Artistic Dental for a complimentary consultation. We can answer any questions you may have, tell you if treatment is something worth pursuing, and discuss your options. Give us a call or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

Dr. D – Our Healthcare Hero

A big congratulations to our very own Dr. Dougherty! He was recently selected as a Health Care Hero finalist among 165 nominees for Phoenix Business Journal’s 2015 awards. He is one of three finalists in the dental category.

Phoenix Business Journal along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Abrazo Health Care and Delta Dental will present awards and recognize finalists at a breakfast held on August 20 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The event open to the public, will recognize the outstanding contributions that healthcare professionals make to our community.

Dr. Dougherty’s dedication to providing the best patient care possible begins with his commitment to continued education. He along with Dr. Adhikari and the rest of our staff frequently attend classes to learn the latest treatments, techniques and tools available. His dedication to patient care goes even further with his commitment and investment in new technology. In November of last year Artistic Dental was the first practice in Phoenix to introduce the Solea laser from Convergent Dental. This laser device allows Dr. Dougherty to fill cavities shot and drill-free and has many different capabilities for treating other issues related to oral health.

Dr. Dougherty has been dedicated to the advancement of Arizona dental healthcare since moving to the Valley in 1991. Early on he worked with Onsite Dental, traveling throughout Arizona to provide dental care to underprivileged children and families living on Indian reservations. In addition, he donates his time and services to Arizonans in need through organizations like St. Vincent de Paul and directly to Veterans. His goal as a dentist is to focus on educating patients and providing treatments that will help them achieve optimal overall health by integrating oral care with systemic health.

Dr. Dougherty goes that extra mile and his enthusiasm for dentistry and patient care is contagious. We are a strong team at Artistic Dental and we feed off his passion for patient care.

On Thursday, August 20th at the awards breakfast, we will be cheering for Dr. D when the Phoenix Business Journal presents the finalists their honors. As far as we are concerned, you are already a healthcare hero and we think your patients would agree.