Ask Dr. Spurlock: What’s the deal with coffee and tea?

At Advanced Dental Concepts, we know most folks enjoy a hot-brewed coffee or tea in the morning, followed by a cola (or more coffee) in the afternoon. But what many don’t know is that both coffee and tea are especially tough on your teeth, because tannic acid (the substance that makes the dark color) etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel, and can stain your pearly whites brown.

So, if you can’t give up that morning cup o’joe, what can you do? Drs. Faulkner and Spurlock suggest rinsing with a glass of water after every cup. If you enjoy iced coffee or tea, drink your beverage with a straw so that tannins don’t make contact with your front upper and lower teeth. Even if you’re not a big coffee drinker, we encourage you to swish and swallow some water at the end of each meal. Water, after all, helps neutralize acids left in your mouth after eating and also reduces cavity-causing bacteria.

We also invite you to visit our convenient Pace, Florida office for whitening options. We can help bleach your teeth with proven and professional products. To learn more about whitening options at our office, please visit our website, ask us on Facebook or give us a call!

Dental fun facts with Advanced Dental Concepts!

Everyone loves fun facts and dental tips. Fun, fun, fun! Our team at Advanced Dental Concepts came across these dental fun facts recently and thought you might enjoy!

• The second most common disease in the United States is cavities. The first is the common cold.
• There are almost 9,000 accidental pockings and piercings with toothpicks per year.
• X-rays may be an effective tool in preventing strokes.
• A child will have 20 baby teeth by the time he or she is 2 years old. Through childhood, kids gradually lose baby teeth and grow 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
• According to consumer reports, dentists are among the 5 most trusted professionals in the United States.
• Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products like toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss.
• The average American spends about 38 days brushing teeth over his or her lifetime.
• Kids in North America spend half a billion dollars per year on chewing gum.
• Approximately 94 percent of Americans say they brush nightly while only 81 percent say they brush first thing in the morning.
• Grand Rapids, MI was the first American city to fluoridate its water.
• Earliest record of a toothbrush was found in Chinese literature about 1600 AD
• The natural bristles of early toothbrushes were taken from the necks and shoulders of swine, especially pigs living in colder climates like Siberia and China.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call!

Tell us about your summer!

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for our team at Advanced Dental Concepts to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited Disney World, went on a camping trip, visited the state fair or just stayed in town and hung out with friends, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as the summer comes to an end soon for a lot of our patients at Advanced Dental Concepts!

We look forward to reading all about your adventures! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Dr. Spurlock Receives 2011 Mastership Award from The Academy of General Dentistry

We are excited to announce that Dr. Noel Spurlock received the 2011 Mastership award, which is the highest honor available at the Academy of General Dentistry and one of the most respected designations within the profession. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Spurlock completed 1,100 hours of continuing dental education. Dr. Spurlock was awarded during the 2011 AGD Annual Meeting, held July 28-31 in San Diego, California.

As a recipient of the Mastership award, Dr. Spurlock joins the active AGD Masters who understand that providing great smiles and good oral health for their patients are the result of going above and beyond basic requirements.

“We are proud to honor Dr. Spurlock for his commitment to provide the highest quality of oral care to his patients,” says AGD President Howard Gamble, DMD, FAGD. “There are more than 100,000 general dentists in the country and less than one percent of those are Masters with the AGD. It’s a remarkable accomplishment for Dr. Spurlock”.

Dr. Spurlock graduated from Emory University in 1974 and currently practices dentistry in Pace, Florida at Advanced Dental Concepts. In addition to the AGD, Dr. Spurlock is a founding member of the Pace Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of Dental Foreign Missions, on the Advisory Board at United Methodist Girls Home, and President of Finance Committee at Cokesbury United Methodist Church.

Dr. Spurlock and his wife Kay have one child, Amy who lives in Norfolk, VA.

Congrats, Dr. Spurlock, from all of us at Advanced Dental Concepts!

Your oral health and overall health, from Advanced Dental Concepts

Don’t put off your next visit to visit Advanced Dental Concepts! As we’ve shared in previous blog posts, oral health issues have been increasingly linked to other health concerns, such as heart disease. Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Studies are also beginning to suggest that patients, especially those with periodontal disease, are believed to have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. Since most patients are not regularly visiting a heart specialist, their regular visits to Advanced Dental Concepts can help detect early warning signs of heart issues, prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. We’d also like you to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25).

Additionally, if it’s been more than six months since your last visit to our office, please give us a call! Summer makes for a great time to check in with us!