Legend has Oral Cancer

September 23, 2014

Filed under: Dental Health,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — Mary Kay @ 8:13 am

Iconic Baseball legend Curt Schilling, like many professional athletes, was a tobacco chewer. He is now revealing he had Oral Cancer, and states that he regrets chewing tobacco for over 30 years . “I’ll go to my grave believing that was why I got what I got” he said in an radio interview . “Absolutely. No question in my mind about that…I do believe without a doubt, unquestionably, that chewing is what gave me cancer.”

curt schilling chewing tobacco Schilling talked at length about how addictive chewing tobacco was, and that despite losing his sense of taste and smell, and having his gums bleed, he didn’t quit.  Not until he was diagnosed.  Treatments, including radiation therapy, were so painful Schilling said “The pain I was going through this treatment, the second or third day, it was the first thing and only thing in my life that I’ve ever had that I wish I could go back and never have dipped. Not once. It was that painful.”

If you or someone you care about is addicted to tobacco, talk to us. We can help. Don’t let what happened to Curt Schilling, happen to you.

Congratulations Doc!

July 8, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 8:09 pm

Do we have to call you ace now?MedinaGazette Dr Milewski hole in one ! (3)

No Mouthguard, No Game

April 11, 2014

Filed under: Dental Health,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 8:17 pm

Last weekend I watched my first Rugby game.   Wow, what a game it was!  A couple of my patients play for Medina High School’s Rugby team and I made good on a promise to watch them in action.  It is not a game for the faint of heart. I think it is fair to say you have to be very, very tough to play a game that is almost all about physical contact.

brandon Hudak playing rugby

Of course as a dentist, seeing that melee of arms and legs and body slamming out in that field, my first thought is “I hope they all have good fitting mouthguards.”.  As any parent will tell you,    getting their child athlete to wear a mouthguard can be a difficult chore. Often that is because the mouthguards do not fit well and impede the child’s ability to talk and breathe. The most basic mouthguard, an over the counter stock mouthguard,  requires the mouth to be closed to keep it in place. Slightly better but still difficult to wear are the boil and bite mouthguards sold in most sporting goods stores. These guards are softened in boiling water and then molded to your teeth. These guards can  also be bulky and uncomfortable to wear.

What my two patients out on that rugby field were wearing were Custom Made Mouthguards, made by our office. These mouthguards are available to you too, and are made by us at a very reasonable cost.   A molded cast will be made of your teeth, and the mouthguard is fabricated to fit comfortably over your teeth.

mold and mouthguard copyright

 

A well made mouthguard can protect your mouth from serious injury, cushioning your teeth and soft tissue from the trauma of serious blow to the mouth or jaw.   According the Academy of General Dentistry, in some 200,000 cases annually, mouthguards have been known to avert oral injuries and cut the risk of concussion by 50 percent.  Injuries to your teeth and brain can impact you for the rest of your life.  Why take the risk?mouthguard copyright

My two boys played soccer, basketball, baseball and lacrosse.  In each sport  it was a house rule that if they didn’t have their mouthguard with them, they were benched.  Trust me, they only forgot them once.  Make it your house rule.  No mouthguard, no game. And if your child needs a mouthguard, CALL US!  We will get one made for them pronto.

Watching young athletes excel like my two Rugby Playing Patients is always so much fun!  Go Medina!  Win that Scrum!

All Brushes Are Not Created Equal

October 25, 2012

Filed under: Dental Health — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 11:43 pm

Recently, I visited Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.  One of the items on display was a toothbrush thought to be used by Jefferson himself.  Back in colonial days, toothbrushes were made by attaching hogs hair bristles to a bone handle with copper wire. Because of the cost of hogs hair bristles, it was not uncommon for all members of a family to share a toothbrush. Many people didn’t even use a toothbrush, but instead used a cloth to wipe their teeth!

Today we have so many choices for toothbrushes.  They come in a rainbow of colors, shapes and sizes.  Some are electric,  some are manual, some have long bristles, some have short bristles, some have Big Bird smiling up at you from one end and others have special handles for arthritic hands.  The question is which toothbrush is the right toothbrush for you?

Dr. Milewski recommends a soft bristle brush in a size and  shape that  fits your mouth comfortably, allowing you to reach all areas easily.  Many people like battery operated toothbrushes, which have the added benefit of a timer.  We find that many of our senior patients find a battery operated toothbrush because it is easier for them to use.

Whatever you chose, make sure to replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Bristles that become frayed and worn with use and will be less effective at cleaning teeth.  Keep your toothbrush stored in an upright position and allow it to air dry.

And remember…the most effective toothbrush is the one you use! So use it. At least twice a day!

 

 

 

Now That’s a Sweet Tooth!

October 15, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 6:04 am

We’ve known for years that  that sugar is bad for your teeth.  Even the ancient Greeks asked “Why do figs, when they are soft and sweet, produce damage to the teeth?”

But do you really know why?  It’s actually quite simple.  The bacteria in our mouth like to feed on sugar. As the bacteria feeds on the sugar lodged on our teeth, they create acid that eats away at your tooth enamel.  The longer the sugar remains on your teeth, the more acid is formed and the more enamel is eroded.

now-thats-a-sweet-toothSo if you are one of those folks with a serious sweet tooth (and you know who you are!) your sweet habit can be creating problems with your teeth and gums.  Try to limit your consumption of sugary foods. But when you do treat yourself, enjoy it!  Then brush and floss right away to limit the damage that can be done to your teeth.

Be sure to get enough calcium!

October 1, 2012

Filed under: Dental Health,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 5:39 pm

 

Adequate calcium in your diet is important for your dental health!  As we get older, we need calcium to prevent bone loss or osteoporosis. Did you know osteoporosis can also happen in the jaw bone and if it does, it may lead to your teeth becoming loose or falling out?

So be sure to get enough calcium…your teeth will thank you!

Time’s Ticking!

September 24, 2012

Filed under: Dental Health — Tags: , , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 5:55 pm

The leaves are changing once again and there is a chill in the air.   This signals more than the fact that it’s college footballl season once again.  It also means the year is coming to a close.

I’ll bet things are getting hectic  at your house, with kids back to school and the holidays looming ahead.  Don’t forget to think about your dental health.

clock1 All of us here at Medina Family Dentistry pride ourselves on providing our patients with the best possible     care. An important part of this is reminding you that you have treatment that has been recommended but   not completed.  We urge you not to delay having your treatment done and risking an even more extensive     problem.  If you are fortunate to have insurance, remember that your benefits may reset at the end of the     year and  any unused benefits are then lost.  If you have flex spending that you want to use in 2012, now is     the time to schedule.

Each year, our schedule gets very full in November and December. Please contact our office as soon as possible to ensure we can accommodate you before the end of the year.

Take a few minutes to enjoy Ohio at it’s most beautiful.  Cheer on your favorite high school or college team.  Jump in a pile of leaves. And give us a call!

You are what you eat!

September 17, 2012

Filed under: Dental Health,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 6:16 pm

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson was an avid fossil collector?  When you walk into his home, Monticello, he had fossils of giant Mastadon teeth right by his front door.  Jefferson knew from studying the giant teeth that the Mastadon were herbivores.  Even Thomas Jefferson knew that our teeth were often a reflection of what we eat!

Healthy Habits for Kids

September 10, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 6:18 pm

Kids will spend 8 minutes decorating their little brothers.  How about two minutes to brush their teeth?  We love this campaign promoting healthy habits in children.

 

Hippos and Cavities

September 2, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — Mary Kay @ 6:23 pm
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