Dr. James G. Hood, D.D.S, M.A.
We are here to serve your dental health needs. Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S., welcomes patients ages 2 to 102, and we invite you to join in our dental topics blog. Visit our website and shop at our dental home health online store for your health and wellness books and supplies. We also invite you to sign up for your free e-newsletter, and do share this information with your friends.
Moments Unfading
A few years ago my mother passed away. Today is her birthday. Events in my life still trigger that inborn reaction to give her a call. It is amazing to me how that instinct to share life’s moments persists even now long after a family member is gone.
Today, my daughter returns home after being a foreign exchange student for a semester. This is an exciting moment for our family. In fact, the calendar of events in our family is viewed differently than many groups and organizations. It is not merely January, February, March through, which the passage of time is measured. In our family, it is birthdays, holidays, vacations, trips, anniversaries, which are used to ‘calculate’ time. “After Caleb’s birthday, but before the 4th of July” would be an easily understood time period to our family.
You might wonder why I’m at all concerned about the yardstick used to gauge time. Well, time is one of those non-refundable resources that is often “wasted”, “spent”, or “killed”. Moments of time, special periods are what stick in our memories and, since time cannot be retrieved except in memories, special moments need to occur often and with intention. I have no more time with my mother, but I will always have the memories of time which I spent with her.
Think back in your own life of things you vividly remember. Usually, these are comical times or moments spent with family or friends that were maybe not spectacular, but comfortably memorable. Each of us is capable of creating special moments in the lives of those around us. We should be intentional in making these moments. It may be the moment of the day, or moment of the week, month, or year, or it may be the moment to which all other moments are compared to. A simple Thank You recognition or moment which makes one smile on recalling something from 20 years in the past may be memorable and special. Create a special moment with a person(s) today.
…and always keep smiling,
Dr. James G. Hood
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Dental Care Tips
from a guest post writer…
There has been an increase in the number of dental health care problems over the last few years due to the change in lifestyle and dietary habits. Tooth cavities have now become common in every individual who is prone to eating more carbohydrates and sugary diet. Hence it is very essential to undergo regular dental checkups in order to maintain your teeth and gums health. Tooth cavities can occur due to various different reasons such as improper brushing, high intake of sucrose in the diet, and presence of microbes in the oral cavity.
A tooth cavity can start as a minute black spot and progress into a big lesion covering almost the entire tooth. Hence it is very essential to prevent tooth cavities and decay before it progress and cause destruction to the entire tooth. Diet is one of the major factors that need to be considered in order to prevent tooth decay. A proper diet that contains all the essential nutrients with low carbohydrates will aid in maintaining good oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day is very essential to remove the microbes and food debris that is present in the mouth. Proper brushing technique should be followed as advised by the dentist.
It is very essential to visit your dentist every six months to undergo regular dental checkups. Tooth cavities that are seen can be filled with various materials based on the extent and depth of the lesion in the tooth. Composites are tooth coloured materials that are most commonly used to fill the decay in the tooth. Amalgam is yet another material which can be used to fill deep caries present in the tooth. Pain can be a symptom of tooth decay in the later stages and you must immediately consult a dentist when you feel it.
Pain is one of the most common symptoms of tooth decay. Antibiotics such as Amoxicillin and Ibuprofen can be consumed. However these antibiotics can only provide temporary relief to an individual. The main cause of the pain should be identified and treated. When the decay has infected the enamel, dentin and the pulp of the tooth root canal treatment is the best option. It involves removal of the entire pulp and filling it with a good quality material. Extraction can be the last mode of treatment if the teeth are mobile and have multiple periodontal problems.
You can now save your teeth and maintain a good smile when you take preventive measures every day. Proper brushing in the morning and at the night will help you to remove the micro organisms present in the teeth which are responsible for causing decay. Mouthwashes can also be used as an adjunct to maintain good breath and oral hygiene. Restrict your diet to healthy food stuffs that has low carbohydrate and sucrose content. This can maintain your tooth and gums healthy and vital. Visit a dentist once in six months and get your teeth cleaned and if there are any decays, get them filled.
Author bio :
The writer is an expert in health care articles and has written more than 150 articles for several information portals. The author provides every day tips for maintaining proper oral hygiene.
Showers, Blossoms, Babies, and Bleach
Greetings from the dental office! Spring has made its presence quite obvious outside lately. First crocus and now daffodils, forsythia, and magnolias are blooming here in the Spokane Valley. The rhubarb is up and trees all around us are budding out and ripe for a foliage explosion.
At our house, we have had 3 baby lambs and 4 baby goats born in the last 3 weeks, one new doeling last night. In the next two weeks, what will spring bring? I expect to see hummingbirds and serviceberry blossoms. Who will be the first to spot these landmarks of spring.
And, what are dental patients looking for? Well, as people do their spring cleaning inside the house and outside in the yard, to make the house and property look great, likewise, people want to have their smile look great also. Whiter teeth is a frequent request all year, but more so in the spring. Many people may be looking forward to graduation, reunions, weddings, and whiter teeth may be on their mind. But, whatever drives the desire, we can whiten teeth.
Just a couple caveats to consider before bleaching teeth:
- Whitening toothpastes are really a con – don’t buy into it. What is done during and after bleaching is a big determiner of success vs. failure.
- Teeth are covered with enamel rods. Despite the fact that enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, under an electron microscope enamel is quite porous. It looks like PVC pipe stacked in a pile, from the end you see all the tubes. When teeth are bleached, all the coffee, tobacco, tea, blueberry, etc. stains are cleaned out of those tubes. Following bleaching, the teeth reflect light better and look both whiter and brighter.
- Once teeth are bleached, those now clean tubules need to avoid all staining colored liquids, not forever, but for at least 2 weeks. This gives these newly bleached enamel rods a chance to fill in with clear fluid. This interim period must be gone through without cola, tea, coffee, huckleberry sauce, apple juice, etc. If you can’t give up coffee, tobacco, etc. for two weeks, don’t consider bleaching teeth. Anything with color can and will re-stain those freshly bleached tubules.
Ask your dentist about bleaching your teeth for a fresh spring smile.
Keep smiling,
Dr. James G. Hood
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
April Showers
April started out with two dry days, but the forecast predicts that it may be as wet as March. March was the wettest March since the 1880s. The very last day of March, we had a little lamb born at our farm. We didn’t debate long before settling on “Rainy” for a name. My daughters actually wanted to sleep in the barn with our new addition. Lots of new things are appearing during this spring season.
The rain is something that we may get tired of; the mud is certainly not fun to negotiate. However, my folks always used to say, “Don’t complain about things you cannot change.” Weather is just one of those things for which we have no control. So we should look for the good things which come along with the rain of spring. Robins and daffodils are appearing everywhere. The grass is beginning to green up and the trees are already beginning to bud out. Easter break is certainly a welcome break for school children and a time to get out and explore nature.
My personal favorite spring blossom will most probably appear later this month, the serviceberry. Also known by sarvisberry (serviceberry’s name comes from the custom of funeral services being delayed in the spring until the ground is sufficiently thawed to dig a grave, which was about the same time this bush flowers), shadbush (the name comes from the fact that the shad or river herring ran about the same time this bush flowers), juneberry, and Saskatoon berry. Serviceberry blossoms appear on hillsides before the bushes leaves appear. The white flowers look like areas of popcorn exploding from hillsides. The serviceberry is an important fruit for local wildlife. Thanks to our rainy spring weather for our serviceberry
Everyone should make an effort to find something you truly enjoy about spring. The rains bring flowers on trees and plants. Soon, the hummingbirds will appear, probably extra early this year. The air is clean and fresh following our splash of spring. What is it that you especially like that spring showers bring?
April showers really aren’t such a baa-d thing. In fact, Rainy is something to embrace and enjoy.
Happy Spring!
Keep brushing and flossing,
Dr. James G. Hood
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Greetings to all and a good Monday morning!
Today is the last day of winter, ending tonight at 10:14 pm. I hope everyone had a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, on Saturday, 3/17/12. It’s hard to get enough corned beef and cabbage…in my book.
And a bit of tooth trivia on this National Poultry Day, from the Spokane Regional Health District: Every March 19th, the swallows return to California’s Mission San Capistrano, after spending the winter in Argentina. Swallows, like all modern birds, have no teeth. They “chew” their food by swallowing tiny bits of gravel. The gravel chews the food internally. The last time that a bird-like creature could actually bite was about 90 million years ago.
My wife, son, and I went to visit Carroll College in Helena, Montana this past weekend. As a graduating senior, he is in search of the perfect fit for his college education. We were extremely impressed with the curriculum, professors, and campus. Located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the setting was more beautifully pristine than any campus I had ever seen. The weather was clear and crisp and the students and faculty were warm and welcoming.
We toured the campus and visited all buildings. My son is considering pre-med as his initial direction and Carroll has an unmatched record for placement in Medical schools for graduating seniors from Northwest US colleges. The small size (1,500 students) and personalized student-to-faculty ratio (13:1) make it an excellent institution for higher education. The Carroll College fighting Saints have won the national title in football for their division 6 of the last 10 years. And, the ecumenical atmosphere in this diocesan college makes it appear that mental, physical, and spiritual growth is part and parcel of the learning process.
The six things that Carroll College and its faculty and staff aim to instill in its graduates are for them to:
- Continue learn and search for truth
- Develop and exercise thinking skills
- Become and practice effective communication
- Always see the connectedness in the world around us
- Always keep a focus on physical, emotional, and spiritual strength building
- Graduate with a sense of vocation and a willingness and desire to give back to the community.
I would encourage anyone seeking an excellent undergraduate education to consider Carroll College in Helena, Montana.
While in Helena, Montana’s capitol, we went to the Cathedral of St. Helena, the Capitol Building, and Montana Historical Museum. Of course we saw Indian artifacts, gold mining maps, Charlie Russell paintings, and bronzes, dinosaur bones, and a white buffalo. We also saw a giant mastodon tooth. Elephants have teeth like mastodons but have only four, which re-grow six times during their life.
Happy Spring!
Keep brushing and flossing,
Dr. James G. Hood
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
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