5 tips to boost your self esteem

Are you one of millions of people that are wondering how you can boost your self esteem, confidence, and overall feel better about yourself? You have the power to change that and there are several tips I am going to share with you. You can harness your own power of thoughts and beliefs to change how you see and feel about yourself.

• Step 1: Identify anything situation or condition that is continuously troubling you and causing anxiety or fear. Some of these might be a business presentation, crisis at work or home, a change in your circumstances, or a challenge in a relationship with a loved one or coworker.
• Step 2: Become aware of your thoughts and beliefs. We all have certain feelings and emotions that pull into every situation whether negative or positive. Take control of your thoughts and if you are thinking something negative, force yourself to think of a happy memory. Also, smile. You cannot smile without thinking something happy and soon you will notice a change of attitude in yourself no matter the circumstances around you.
• Step 3: Probe your negative thoughts. Find out if what you are thinking about the situation is reality or just your version. Once you face your fears of why you feel the way you do, people usually realize that there is nothing to fear.
• Step 4: Adjust your thoughts and beliefs. Use hopeful affirmations to yourself. Go stand in the mirror and say something positive about yourself. Forgive yourself- we are our own worst critics. Focus on the positive side of things. Encourage yourself and above all, love yourself. If you do not love yourself, you cannot love others. 
• Step 5: Stop comparing yourself to others. We only see what people want us to see and if we could see everything about them, I am pretty sure we would change our mind about wanting to be them, and we would want to be us instead. No one can be a better you. Start by looking at the positive things about yourself. If you need help, ask a close friend or spouse what their favorite thing is about you. 

By doing these, you will notice a new appreciation for yourself and your mind will begin to go in a more positive way and it will become easier. You will feel lighter and happier as well. Try laughing if all else fails and you will be amazed at what it can do for you. 

The top 3 secrets to maintain a white smile

We are all evolving towards a more cosmetically enhanced world whether it is implants, skin peels, plastic surgery, cosmetic makeovers or any other procedure. There is so much technology that is out that can nip this and tuck that and it is becoming very affordable.
     In our office, we see many patients who want their teeth whiter. Once we get them to their desired whiteness, it is important for them to know what to do to keep their pearly whites, white!

1. Avoid any stain causing foods and drinks. This involves coffee, red wines, marinara and spaghetti sauces, dark broths in soups, ketchup, mustard, and many more. If you are an avid coffee drinker, try and drink it through a straw if you like iced coffee. Otherwise, try and drink it within 15 minutes and brush immediately afterwards.
2. You can apply Hydrogen Peroxide to your teeth after brushing them with a Q-tip or rinse with it and this will help keep your teeth white.

3. See your dentist and hygienist regularly to have them professionally clean your teeth.

Top 5 New Years Resolutions!

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." - Abraham Lincoln

So many people always love when New Years comes around because they feel it gives them another chance to do something they have always dreamed of yet never accomplished. Here are some of the most popular ones:

1. Drink less alcohol and eat healthier food. This is much easier said than done because it takes a lot of will power and self control. Once the alcohol and unhealthier food is in your system, your body craves it and the first 3 days to a week are the hardest time of all when starting this, but if you can get past it and go one day at a time, you will be happier with the results.
2. Get a better education and a better job. Many people want to continue their education and with all of the financial help you can get and the flexible schedules that the schools offer, it can be very easy. Speak to an advisor at a school near you to get started.
3. Get fit and lose weight. This can go hand in hand with #1. When I exercise, especially in the mornings, I tend to feel more motivated to stay healthy and eat better foods for my body. Exercise and Food are both extremely important to reach your goals.
4. Pay off Debts and have less stress. Getting a plan and a goal in place is essential for this to work and it is important to make sure that you see a financial advisor for help if you cannot afford things on your own.







5. Save money while enjoying more trips. Taking a look at all of the areas you are spending extra money such as alcohol, smoking, coffee, and little extras can really add up anywhere from $20-$500.00 a month. I don't know how you feel but I can think of other things more important than smoking to spend a couple hundred on. Weekend trips are also important and you can always find day trips that are fun in your area that you can do without spending an absurd amount of money.

If you really want it, you will find a way. So many people have good intentions of sticking to their New Years Resolution but over 75% of them fail. Why?  A variety of reasons is out there and many people will all have their own. Habits are hard to break and if you are that sick of doing the same thing over and over again, you will find a way to change. Find an inspirational quote, get an accountability partner, or a friend to help you out when you go to the gym to help you stay motivated. Reward yourself, not with food, maybe money or something you really desire! Make it fun and give yourself a reason to keep going instead of finding excuses not to continue. Good luck with your resolution!

The top 5 dangers of Narcotics

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States and in a recent year, one death occurred every 19 minutes due to drug overdosing. There are medical reasons to take narcotics and should be taken only when prescribed by a medical professional and under supervision and no more than the instructed amount. There are several dangers to watch out for and here are some of them:

Narcotics: a drug that in moderate doses, dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions.

1. Physiological addiction: This can lead to infections, diseases, and toxic overdoses. Narcotics are only meant to be be taken when other pain killers will not take away the pain. They are highly addictive and very destructive to your body.
2. Psychological Addiction: Your brain can get highly addicted to narcotics and soon it is a mind game. Some people believe they can only function on these pills, be happy on these pills, and that it stops them from being angry.
3. Sleepiness and Coma's: By taking too many of these pills, many people sleep their day away on the couch and wake up just to take another pill.
4. Reduces the ability to focus: When you are on these pills, your senses are numbed and you may walk around like in a stupor. Your eyes will have a glassy look and somewhat bloodshot.
5. Less physical activity: You will become lazy and sit around more than you usually would. You may also experience watery eyes, runny nose, yawing, sweating, restlessness, irritability, and loss of appetite along with constipation.

If you are on these pills regularly, you will also gain a tolerance to them and will need to up your dosage to get the same effect they once had on you. It is a continual growing phase and will not stop unless you quit cold turkey. Many people soon experience loneliness and cannot concentrate on anything. They isolate themselves from everyone and soon have no social life. They soon become a burden to society as they soon cannot take care of themselves or anyone else and if they have a significant other or children, society has to step up and take care of them.

If you or someone you know is addicted to these drugs, the first thing to do is tell someone and to seek help. you can click on this link to learn more.

Top 10 benefits of choosing Veneers

There are so many reasons people are improving their smile with veneers. Here is the top ten:

1. Veneers greatly enhance your smile by your dental professional matching the shade to match your skin tone and whiter shades instead of gray or yellow.
2. Veneers can help straighten your smile. If your teeth are crooked, instead of spending 1-2 years in braces or invisalign, Veneers can straighten your smile.
3. Veneers over Crowns. With Veneers, we save as much of your tooth structure as possible so that you can keep your teeth for as long as possible.
4. Veneers can close spaces between teeth. If you have gaps in your teeth, the veneers will be fitted up against each other not allowing a gap anymore.
5. Veneers can lengthen and change the shape of your teeth. If some of your teeth are longer or shorter and you have a crooked tooth line, veneers will appear natural and the same length and shape.
6. Veneers can also protect your teeth from further damage.
7. Veneers do not change color and will not stain.
8. Veneer makeovers have been reported to increase confidence in people with their smile.
9. Veneers can mask staining, chipped, cracked, or worn damaged teeth.
10. Veneers look natural, offer strength and durability to damaged teeth, can cost less than other options, and give you a whole new healthy and youthful smile makeover!

What to look for when going with veneers.

• Talk to your dentist and make sure you are both on the same page.
• Make sure they are matching correctly the shade with your skin tone and rest of your teeth. Do whitening if needed.
• Have your dentist do a mock-up on your smile with composite filling material so you can get a better idea of what it will look like.
• Ask to see a portfolio of cases he or she has already completed.
• Find out how long he or she has been doing cosmetic cases.

Your child's first visit to the dentist

There can be so many frightening things about a dental office to children such as smells, new people, the sounds, and the masks. Then there is the stories that other children or even adults tell young children about the horrible experiences at the dentist that are most of the time very untrue. There are some tips that I am going to share with you about choosing the right dentist for your child, preparing them for their first visit, and what to do if they are having a rather tough time.

Choosing the right dentist. Many times, people take their children with them to their own appointments and this definitely helps with the frequency of seeing the same people and the same office. Also when the dentist knows the history of the parents, it is easier to understand each child in situations such as if they are late getting their teeth in or if the parents have been missing any permanent teeth, it give the dentist areas to watch for or if the parents have worn braces, we may refer them to the orthodontist at an earlier age for interceptive or preventive treatment. Some important things to look for:

• The dentists chair side manner, does he put children at ease?
• The "Tell-Show-Do" Technique, reviewing with your child everything he does before he begins. Many children also like to watch what he does with a hand mirror, this usually helps to put them at ease if they can watch him count their teeth.
• Does the dentist explain the proper cleaning techniques and praise them for doing something right? Several dentists I know have treasure chests that the children can choose from for having a good visit.
• How does the dentist handle your child misbehaving? The dentist may need to take action to prevent injury to your child around the instruments and tools. Calmly and firmly speaking to the child is the 1st approach they should take and if the child needs to be physically restrained, you may need to step in and help.

Preparing your child for their 1st visit:

• Talk to them about it and explain what will happen in a simple manner. DO NOT USE THE WORDS SHOT, NEEDLE, DRILL or anything that will frighten them. We have our own terms here that we use that do not frighten the children.
• If you have had a bad experience, do not relay your fears to your child.
• Talk to your dentist about any worries you or your child may have. Dr. Rick works with our patients and parents to achieve the best visit possible for you and your child.
• Look for books that explain what it is like to go to the dentist. Pictures usually help explain this.
• Never use or threaten going to the dentist as punishment as this will only heighten anxiety and fear in your child.

If your child has had a bad experience, it is important to talk to them about it. If you do not feel comfortable going back to that dentist, find one that you are comfortable with and share your concerns with them up front.

Dry Sockets and Wisdom Teeth

If you have ever had your wisdom teeth or any other teeth extracted, you may know what a dry socket is. The socket is the hole in the bone where the tooth has been extracted from. After a tooth is extracted, a blood clot usually forms inside of the socket to protect the bone and nerves underneath. If the clot comes out, it will leave the bone and nerve exposed to air, food, fluids, and anything else that enters the mouth. This can cause infection and lead to severe pain.

What does a dry socket look like? a dry looking opening, there will be just bone and over time, the pain will increase until you are treated by a dental professional.

How is dry socket treated? You can take over the counter aspirin to ease the discomfort but this is only temporary. Your dental professional will clean the socket and remove any debris that has gotten inside. We then place a special paste to promote healing and you may need to come back every day until it has healed to where it is not hurting you anymore.

How do I get dry socket? After we extract your tooth, we give you specific instructions for you to follow so that it heals properly and you do not get dry socket.

• Smoking causes dry socket
• Any forceful swishing, sucking, or spitting in the mouth
• Alcoholic beverages
• have greater than usual trauma after the extractions


• Have poor oral hygiene

If you are experiencing pain and also notice a foul smell coming from an area in your mouth that you just had an extraction performed, we recommend that you call your dentist immediately and see him as soon as possible.