Dr. McConnell to Appear on ABC’s View From The Bay!

Dr. McConnell will be interviewed LIVE on ABC 7’s The View from the Bay on Thursday, December 17th at 3:00pm! We would like to extend a special invitation to our friends, patients, family and colleagues to be in the studio audience the day that Dr. McConnell will be appearing on the show. We are very excited for this wonderful opportunity!

Tickets for the show must be reserved in advance. Audience doors open at 2:15pm with a cut-off time of 2:30pm, the show is live from 3-4pm.

To reserve your seats please call the ticket request line at (415)-954-7733 or visit www.viewfromthebay.com and click on “be in our audience” and fill out a ticket request form. Or click on the link below to go to the online ticket request form.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/feature?section=view_from_the_bay&id=6337461

Please be sure to note under “comments” that you are requesting tickets for December 17th to support someone scheduled to be on the show.

We wish you a wonderful Holiday Season, and a healthy New Year!
Best in Health,

Steven McConnell, DDS and Staff
www.cosmeticdentistrymarin.com

Optimum Oral Hygiene Tips for Parents

Dr. McConnell insists that good oral hygiene should begin before infants even get their first tooth. Pathogenic, disease-causing bacteria is present in babies’ mouths. Keeping their mouths clean and healthy helps prevent sickness and disease throughout the body. By the time they have all their permanent teeth, the risk of gum disease is even greater.

Here are tips on promoting good oral hygiene from day one:

· Caring for kids starts with caring for yourself, not only because periodontal disease can be contagious but it is always good to lead by example.

· For babies be sure to use dental friendly pacifiers and bottle nipples. The classic is the Nuke design.

· Always avoid putting babies to bed with any bottles as the pooled milk or juice can lead to severe decay.

· On babies, before teeth are present, use single gauze or thin wash cloth to gently displace bacteria-rich film that sticks to gum ridges. As they get teeth, continue to use gauze or wash cloth. Be sure to use dental-friendly pacifiers and bottle nipples. Never put them to bed with a bottle as the pooled milk or juice can lead to severe decay.

· Babies get their first teeth typically by 6 months but it can be even earlier than that. It is difficult to brush a babies teeth so you can use a wash cloth, cotton gauze or special little finger swabs designed for cleaning the mouth. You want to remove the filmy plaque covering the teeth. As they approach toddler years you can start using a brush, you don’t even need to use toothpaste but if you do use the kid-friendly toothpaste they can swallow. As they get older they can graduate to rinsing and spitting.

· Teething is part of being a parent and every baby is different. Be cautious with “herbal” remedies, some contain VERY strong medications, ex Belladona based, while not disapproved by the FDA are actually very strong nerve depressants. A safer alternative is the use of a teething ring, or recommended doses of infant Tylenol or Motrin.

· As baby is comfortable, usually by age one, graduate to a small-head infant-sized brush using water or infant toothpaste. Before they are three, it is safe to use training toothpaste that is not fluoridated.

· When all the teeth are in by ages two to three, use a toothbrush and child toothpaste. When the child is able to spit and doesn’t swallow the toothpaste, use fluoride toothpaste. Don’t allow swallowing of the toothpaste.

· Parents should floss their child’s teeth until the child is able to do so themselves.

· Reinforce good health and good early health habits by bringing your child in for regular dental visits. Their first visit, the happy visit should be about a ride in the chair, counting teeth and just making sure the baby, toddler is comfortable, oftentimes just held in the parent’s arms.

· When bathing your baby you can do your own dental exam. Parents will probably have better luck than most dentists. Simply look for any dark spots on the fronts or backsides of the teeth, if any suspicious areas show, call your dentist.

· Set a good example for your kids by taking great care of your own teeth and gums.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

MI Paste

There are many products available that reduce dental decay and minimize sensitivity. One of our favorites is a product called MI Paste Plus®. MI Paste Plus® is a topical cream with Fluoride and Recaldent® (CPP-ACP), a special milk-derived protein that protects and strengthens enamel. It can be used to remineralize decay and erosion areas, reduce sensitivity, treat white spots and protect your teeth if you experience dry mouth, all while preventing decay.

Learn more about MI Paste Plus or read Testimonials at
www.mi-paste.com.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

Homeopathic Remedies and Sonic Toothbrushes and Dental Ultrasonic Scalers

Recently we have heard patients express concern that ultrasonic scalers and sonic toothbrushes can inactivate homeopathic remedies in the realm of alternative medicine. In our efforts to assist our patients in achieving a higher level of dental and overall health, we have contacted several traditional and alternative healthcare professionals regarding this topic and have found that there is limited research to suggest that instruments that produce sonic or ultrasonic waves decrease the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies.

In theory, if someone undergoing homeopathy had to avoid devices that utilize sonic wave frequency, they would also need to steer clear of several electronic devices, such as microwaves, iPhones and Blackberries.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

Prevention for the H1N1 Virus – Optimum Oral Hygiene Can Prevent Flu

According to the California Dental Hygienists’ Association, it is critical that the public see the link between oral health and flu prevention because the H1N1 virus spreads through respiratory system and mouth. The primary infection control goal is to prevent transmission of disease – that begins with the mouth. The link is: http://www.cdha.org/news/releases/H1N1flu-10-06-2009.pdf.

Teaching your kids to wash their hands frequently during flu season is a good idea, but brushing their teeth correctly could do more to prevent their actually coming down with a virus, says Dr. McConnell. “One of the biggest misconceptions is the idea that children and teens can’t get gum disease,” he says. “But, in fact, they can, and just as with adults, gum disease can lead to illness in other parts of the body, including flu, pneumonia, chronic colds, sinusitis and ear infections.”

Dr. McConnell shares his tips for teaching your kids flu-preventing oral hygiene techniques that parents can also use for their own benefit:

· Wash your hands thoroughly before practicing oral hygiene.
· Floss daily.
· Brush twice a day for two minutes focusing on the gum-line. Brush your tongue – it collects bacteria too.
· Use good products. Sonicare toothbrushes and WaterPik dental water jets are excellent, the latter of which is especially good for kids with braces.
· Visit your dentist at least every six months for a cleaning and check-up.
· Air-dry your toothbrush in an upright position after using to allow bacteria to die when exposed to oxygen.
· Replace your toothbrush at least every season. If you’ve been sick, replace it as soon as your illness is on the mend to prevent reinfection.
· Never share your toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash or toothbrush holder.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

Children’s Sonicare® Toothbrush

Sonicare® is offering a new solution to implementing good oral hygiene routines for children. The new Sonicare® For Kids comes with 2 brush heads: one for 4-7 years, and one for 7-10 years. Music plays when it is time to brush the next quadrant and also when time is up. With every use the time increases 1/3 of a second so when they have reached 90 days of use, they will be brushing for 2 minutes.

The Sonicare® For Kids toothbrush remove more plaque than a regular toothbrush, and are clinically proven to help reduce gingivitis, while remaining gentle on gums and braces.

For more information on the Sonicare® family, visit www.sonicare.com.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

The Latest in Athletic Performance Mouthguards

Under Armour now has a new item to offer the world to achieve optimum athletic performance other than their comfortable high performance clothing.

The newest addition to their family of products, Under Armour Performance Mouthwear has been engineered to unlock your power and potential. It’s all in you, but blocked by one of the human body’s instinctive reflex systems – teeth clenching.

When you train and compete, your natural reaction is to clench your jaw. It is part of the “fight or flight” wiring of your brain. Your clenched jaw and teeth compress your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), triggering the release of excess amounts of performance-sapping hormones (like cortisol) that produce stress, fatigue and distraction.

Patented ArmourBite Technology prevents your teeth from clenching and pivots your jaw forward to relieve pressure on the TMJ. Gone are the excess negative hormones and the energy-draining effects, so the body can now unleash its full potential.

For more information on this excellent support in achieving athletic success, or to find an authorized UA Dental provider near you, visit the UnderArmour Website.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

Dental Sealants

Do you or your children have deep grooves on your teeth? Dental sealants are used to fill in deep grooves and pits in order to minimize cavities in these hard to brush and clean areas. Fortunately, this not invasive procedure does not require anesthetic, and may save you time and money in the future by preventing cavities.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

Dental Intraoral Images – “Tooth Tour”

Everyone who has been seen by a Dentist or a Hygienist before has had their mouth examined. But have you even been given the opportunity to see what they see? With modern technology, there is now a digital camera that is so small – the size of a toothbrush – that is used by Dentists and Hygienists to take images of your teeth and gums for you to be able to see! This allows you to play an equal part in deciding what dental treatment that has been diagnosed is best for you.

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. If you would like to find out more about digital imaging, or for more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

Children’s Dental Health

Cavity prevention is not the only concern parents should have when considering their children’s oral health. Recent studies show that periodontal disease continues to plague millions of Americans, including children.

Many parents wonder when their children should begin to see a dentist. Usually around the age of 2, or when your child has all of their primary teeth (approximately 20 teeth), this is a good time to make an appointment for a first visit to your family dentist
The best way to ensure that your child does not get cavities or gingivitis is to instill proper oral habits early. Good oral hygiene routines should be established as early as infancy and continued throughout life.
For more information on children’s oral health, visit www.adha.org/oralhealth/children.htm

We strive to provide an optimum wellness formula for you and your family. For more information on how we can support you in achieving excellent oral health, visit our website: www.CosmeticDentistryMarin.com

Best in Health,

Steven McConnell DDS and Staff

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