New Year's Party

Last Friday, we celebrated the new year. Oroville and Paradise Gentle Dentistry teams met at Gold Country Casino for a dinner, a great game and some stories.

The game was a hoot! Everyone had a ticket (including team members + 1s) with a number. Dr. Parrott would call out that number and that person could pick out a beautifully wrapped gift from a giant pile of gifts and open it in front of everyone OR steal a gift another team member had opened. All the gifts were great. There were $50 gas cards, gift cards to fancy restaurants, a nights stay in Reno, Disney and Marvel waffle makers, griddles, etc.

One member got the biggest wrapped present, and inside she found a bunch of 5x* Swag.

*5x is a program that Oroville and Paradise Gentle Dentistry is a part of which teaches team members how to strengthen their individual role in their work, but also in every other part of their life. It also teaches how to create a community within the office and helps remind everyone to be 5 X (times) greater than they are. The program has really helped the office grow. 

NO ONE wanted to steal Katie's gift. At the end of the gift stealing game, Dr. Parrott and Alexis presented Katie with the biggest gift of the night! One week stay at a Caribbean resort! They explained that out of all the gifts, they wanted to help the team understand that the 5x swag represented something that they really love and treasure. 5x has helped them accomplish so much more.

Dinner was great. Gold Country Casino had a buffet with salad, rolls, chicken, beef, vegetables and we also had a chocolate fountain!

Last year, the offices focused on growth. Paradise Gentle Dentistry had a major office renovation, and Oroville Gentle Dentistry focused on increasing numbers. This year the focus is changing to strengthening and growing the team.

This party was a great way to start the year.

TMJ...What Is it?

Located in front of the ears on each side of the head, is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ serves many purposes such as chewing food, speaking and yawning. It moves side-to-side and up and down. The joint functions like a sliding hinge, making it one of the few unique areas of your body.

Symptoms of TMJ

If you suspect you're suffering from TMJ, let us know on your next visit or contact us by phone to make an appointment. We will examine your mouth and can take X-rays to better analyze your condition. Common TMJ symptoms include:

A clicking noise upon opening and closing the mouth.
Difficulty biting or chewing.
Earaches and headaches.
The jaw locks frequently.
Jaw pain.
Dull facial pain.

Chronic TMJ Jaw

If the condition becomes chronic, your jaw pain can persist due to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, tooth loss, nighttime grinding and even bone disease. Chronic TMJ can affect not only parts of the joint, but the adjacent muscles as well. That means treatment options will vary depending on your specific issue.

What Can You Do?

Until we determines a course of treatment, you can take your own steps to lessen the pain. If you grind your teeth while you sleep, use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, which can help stop brushing pain caused by enamel loss or root exposure.
TMJ jaw pain affects people in a variety of ways. Thus, there's no singular cure-all. However, from a nighttime mouth guard to anti-inflammatory medicine, there are many ways to help in the treatment for those who suffer from any level of irritation.

The Worst Crunchy Foods For Your Teeth

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, you've probably heard that before.... but an apple a day is also very good for your dental health as well.

So, you may ask...what about all the other foods that go CRUNCH during the Holiday season? What's bad for my teeth? Let's take a look at some of the worst crunchy foods that you might eat during the day.

Bad Crunch

Snack Foods: Foods like crackers, potato chips and pretzels can be really bad for your teeth. Why? Because when you chew these types of foods, they can get stuck in your teeth. When the carbohydrates they contain convert to sugar, it can damage the enamel on your teeth. Brushing and flossing after eating these snack foods to remove the damaging particles will help.

Hard Candies: An enemy to your teeth! If it's candy you crave, don't go for the hard candies...they are the worst things for your mouth. The longer they are in your mouth, the more time it gives the sugars to wreak havoc on you enamel. The sugar in this type of candy can also stick to your teeth ad cause decay.

Good Choices

Remember, eating healthy during the holidays is important for your overall well being and dental health. Try sticking to foods that are good for you, instead of reaching for that next Christmas goodie. You will have a Merrier Christmas for choosing the right food to crunch on.

Is a Water Flosser Benificial to my Dental Health?

Many people wonder what the benefits are of using a water flosser, here are just a few examples of why they are a very good tool for maintaining a healthy mouth.

• fresher breath over just using string floss.
• healthier, pink gum tissue.
• No build up of gunk and bacteria between my teeth
• Improved dental visits.
  

Makes a great gift!
Looking for a gift for that person that has everything, and that will keep on giving all year long? Try surprising them with a Water Flosser this Christmas. There are many to choose from on the market today, we sell a very good WaterPik here in the office. Skip the big stores, and long lines, by swinging by the office to get one for that favorite person on your list.

Check out the Waterpik in action:

http://youtu.be/U1Jh1zjV9SQ