SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN’T RESIST! It’s SO cheesy and saucy—right out of the oven! You dive in and take your first bite…
Uh oh! Too soon! You’ve got “pizza burn!”
Pizza Isn’t The Only Culprit
You’ve probably burned your mouth before on coffee, soup, and other scorching hot foods. Soon after, you may have noticed that the roof of your mouth, and perhaps your tongue, is very tender. In some cases, you may even have blisters! Unfortunately, your mouth will probably hurt for a few days. However, there are a few things you can do to relieve the pain and irritation.
How To Soothe Your Mouth And Help It Heal
Applying or sucking on ice can relieve the stinging. Gargling cold water or eating ice cream are other options.
Drinking milk can coat the scorched area.
An over-the-counter pain reliever can help, if the pain is really distracting.
Avoid acidic, crunchy, and other hot foods, or even very salty and spicy dressings. This will stop the burn from getting irritated further.
Squeezing Vitamin E from a capsule over the wound can speed up healing. It will regenerate new tissue and heal the wound.
Maintain good oral hygiene while your mouth is burnt, keeping it as clean as possible to promote healing and prevent further infection. Warm saline rinses can also be helpful.
Resist touching the burned area. This may be difficult, but by touching the affected area, the lesion may become irritated further.
If It’s Not Feeling Better In A Few Days, Call Us
Pizza-type burns tend to heal within three to seven days. If soreness and blistering continue beyond a week, please contact us! In the meantime, have fun enjoying that delicious, cheesy pizza—that is, once it’s cool!
Thanks for being our valued patients and friends!
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Happy Heart Month! February is known not only as the month of Love (namely, Valentine’s Day) but also as American Heart Month. Since our bodies are ecosystems, where a change in one area affects other areas. This connection is becoming clearer as scientists continue examining the links between oral health and cardiovascular health. Recent studies suggest that taking care of your gums through great oral hygiene could cut your risk of a heart attack or stroke!
Important Links Between Gum Health And Heart Health
Inflammation caused by gum disease could contribute to an increased risk for heart problems. The mouth is the gateway to the body, and gums that are infected or bleeding provide easy access for bacteria to get into the bloodstream. Once inside, certain types of bacteria cause low-level inflammation of blood vessels without causing a full-blown blood infection. Because of this, treatment is very difficult once the bacteria have become established. The constant low-level inflammation can induce atherosclerosis–the hardening of arterial walls–and lead to blockages.
Mom Was Right—An Ounce of Prevention…
Beyond diet and exercise, it’s hard to know what to do to prevent heart disease. However, gum disease and tooth decay are completely preventable!
Brush twice daily for two minutes, gently massaging the gums.
Floss once daily.
Brush or rinse with water after eating or drinking.
Don’t miss your regular cleanings and check-ups with us.
As such studies continue, it’s likely more evidence will be found linking gum disease and heart disease. In the meantime, there are already enough reasons to take charge of your oral health! Establishing good dental hygiene habits now and sticking to them will help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and a host of other problems.
Stay Healthy For The People You Love
One way that the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is suggesting is thinking of your heart health as a version of self-care. Here are their 7 days of self-care for your heart health:
We’re proud to assist you in your pursuit of comprehensive, lasting health. We look forward to seeing you during your next dental visit. Contact us or schedule an appointment today!
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Since starting down the healthy habits road in 2021, we’ve all been hearing how beneficial water is to our bodies and our overall well-being. But let’s talk about specifics! How does water specifically help our teeth? We’re gonna dive in on that question today, read on.
What are my teeth made of?
First, let’s talk about what our teeth are made of. Our teeth are composed of four main tissues: dentin, cementum, pulp, and enamel. Enamel is the outermost layer that is stronger than anything in our bodies (even our bones!) and contains minerals such as calcium phosphate. The next layer is dentin, this is the softer portion of our teeth that is susceptible to cavities. When enamel breaks down, this is where our teeth start to form cavities. Next, the inner core of your tooth is called the pulp – this is where your connective tissue and nerves lie.
Are Teeth the Same as Bones?
No. The biggest difference between our bones and our teeth is that our bones can heal over time if they break or shatter – teeth cannot. This is why it’s so important to regularly visit your dentist, brush, and floss daily.
So how exactly does drinking water help my teeth?
Water acts as a neutral party. When coming into contact with acidic drinks like sodas or coffee it helps to neutralize these acidic situations and creates an environment that our teeth enjoy.
Water also contributes to saliva production and washing away bacteria that like to form on the surfaces of our teeth. If your water contains fluoride, this is also beneficial to your enamel because it hardens the surface – making you less susceptible to cavities.
Help Fight Cavities the Easy way
Teeth are slightly porous and do absorb materials – not like a sponge but more like a stone that can be withered away over time. So it’s important for us to maintain a consistent habit of drinking water and essentially ‘flushing’ out the bad particles or acidic materials that can build up over time to create cavities, cause discoloration or yellowing, or lead to periodontal disease. The easiest way to do this? Drink your water, brush & floss daily, and visit your dentist.
Have more questions about the benefits of drinking water for your teeth? Learn more on the ADA’s website here.
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Giving Back at Lane & Associates
This past Saturday, January 16th our staff at the Cary Green Level office held a Free Dental Outreach Clinic. Lane & Associates strives to give back to the community through these dental outreach services once every quarter if possible. We were so thrilled that patients who attended our clinic were able to receive dental treatment ranging from Dental cleanings to Dental extractions!
Happy patient with Dr. Ed Howard on left.
Staff attending this event included our Cary Dentists: Dr. Ed Howard, Dr. Mike DesRosiers, and Dr. Andy Ciesielski, and our Cary Office Manager, Heather Egan. We also had our incredible Dental Assistants & Treatment Coordinators to help during the event, including, Sarah Benore, Jaida Halleran, Kendall Brooke, and Mikayla Egan. Check out photos from the event below!
Dr. Mike DesRosiers helping patients with dental care.
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Lane & Associates is so proud to sponsor the upcoming 2021 Kay Yow Cancer Fund Celebration Run/Walk!
2021 is about YOU! You pick the time, the distance, the place — run or walk, it doesn’t matter. Be a part of our virtual team and let’s raise more money for cancer than ever before! All proceeds go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in the fight against ALL women’s cancers. The Celebration Run/Walk will run from February 22nd – February 27th and registration is now open at $25 per person.
The 2021 event will feature live-streamed programming from Scotty McCreery (Country Superstar), Buzz Peterson (Charlotte Hornets), Jeff Gravley, Joe Ovies (99.9 The Fan), Josh Martin, Cindy Alexander, Jessica & Joe Giglio, Cancer Warriors, Kay Yow’s Former Players, & much more!
As a special for our patients, we are giving away 5 Registrations on our Lane & Associates team! If you’d like to join us, fill out the form below for a chance to win!
It’s National Get Organized Month, and one way we love to organize is by planning out our health goals for the year. Are you creating vision boards and looking for healthy habits to start in 2021? We’ve got a list of 7 Healthy Habits to Start in 2021, read more below!
1. Brushing 2x per day for 2 minutes.
Of course, as dental professionals you know we had to start with the obvious. Our first healthy habit to start in 2021 is Brushing twice daily for 2 minutes and flossing at least once per day (if not more!). This sounds repetitive but we’re serious, brushing for two minutes is longer than you think! Our suggestion, find your favorite 2-minute long song and play it while you brush. This will help you to keep on track and to realize just how long 2 minutes of brushing really is!
2. Getting Active for at least 30 minutes Daily.
We don’t mean doing sprints and hurdles for 30 minutes (unless you’re into that sort of thing) but simply taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood or even during your lunch break. It’s amazing what a small habit change like this can do to your overall health.
3. Choosing Water First.
And we mean it too! Before you go for that cup of morning joe, grab some water first. This will help start your engines and create a less acidic environment for your gut. Water has so many benefits for your body: teeth, skin, hair, nails… this list could go on and on. So during 2021, think to yourself, “Choose water first” before diving into the same soda or sweet tea throughout the week. It will definitely be a habit to continue!
4. Getting the Sunshine Vitamin.
Sunlight, fresh air, and Vitamin D are a combination as old as time. They are so beneficial for your mental and physical health. According to Healthline, Vitamin D has three key benefits: improving resistance to certain diseases, fighting depression, and improving overall bone and teeth health. Whether you get your Vitamin D from walks outdoors or through supplements, this is a healthy habit to continue into 2021.
5. Putting down the Devices 30 Minutes Before Bed.
This is a healthy habit that many of us should be adopting ASAP. Studies show that your brain has a hard time winding down before bed if you have an electronic device in front of you (due to less production of melatonin). So turning off your devices 30 minutes before your ideal sleep time is a must. Our suggestion? Read a book that’s not too captivating or turn on some sleep sounds. Zzzzz
6. Giving Yourself Step Goals.
One of the best investments in your health in 2021 is tracking your steps via a fitness watch. Don’t have a fitness watch? You can also track your steps using your phone’s Health app. It may not track every step but it will at least track the steps you take with your phone. Giving yourself a step goal is one easy way to increase your movement throughout 2021. Start with a lower step goal and change out your daily goal once every month. If you use fitness watches, you can also join challenges within the app itself which are really fun if you have any sort of competitive spirit.
7. Planning Out Your Meals Each Week.
This one is relatively self-explanatory but really goes a long way to stay consistent with any dietary or budgeting goals you’ve set for yourself or your family. Investing in a planner (whether that be digital or physical) and listing out meal options for the week + a grocery shopping list will create a balanced week. Plus, you won’t have to do the “What do you want to eat? No, what do YOU want to eat?” battle. Win-win!
We hope these 7 Healthy Habits to Start in 2021 give you plenty of ideas for your own health journey & can lead you towards a healthier future. If you’re searching for more ways to improve your dental health, read our blog about Calcium & all of its amazing benefits or schedule an appointment with us today! At Lane & Associates Family Dentistry, we love to make you smile!
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Thank You for Choosing Us
It’s been the land of good news recently for Lane & Associates Family Dentistry. Our valued patients in our hometown of Fuquay-Varina have not only voted and chosen us as Best Dentist in Fuquay but also as Best Orthodontist during the Suburban Living Health Care Services: Best of Fuquay Awards!
We are beyond thrilled to have been chosen amongst all of the incredible providers in our community. Thank you so much to our amazing dentists, specialists, and Lane Team members at the Fuquay-Varina office for your continued efforts. And an especially big thank you to our incredible patients!! We are so grateful for your continued loyalty and appreciation over the many years of serving you and your families.
Visit our Fuquay-Varina location page to schedule your dental appointment with our Fuquay Dentists and Specialists today.
At Lane & Associates Family Dentistry, we love to make you smile!
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Best Raleigh Dentists
We are so humbled by our amazing patients in the Raleigh-Durham area that voted our practice as the 2020 Best Dentist of Raleigh for the News & Observer! Thank you so much for all of your support and praise. We are so excited that even during these uncertain times, our patients feel as appreciative of us as we do of them.
How were the winners chosen?
The process to select the winners began with an open write-in nomination round, followed by a voting round consisting of the Top 5 recipients of nominees in each category. The final winners were chosen based on the number of votes from readers of the News & Observer.
See a list of all winners by visiting the News & Observer results on their website. If you would like to schedule an appointment with our Raleigh Dentists and Specialists please visit our Raleigh Dental page or chat with us online to discuss any treatment needs. We are also offering Teledentistry appointments if you wish to remain at home and have a virtual consultation.
Again, thank you so much to our patients and our amazing community for choosing us!
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are taking time to recognize the amazing Breast Cancer Awareness organizations that are so supportive of our North Carolina communities. We especially want to note the amazing work that the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and 1 of Us Foundation are attributing and want to highlight some incredible events that you can be involved in this month.
What is the 1 of Us Foundation?
Since 2010, 1 of Us, founded as 1 in 9, has assisted more than 3,000 patients in cancer treatment. 1 of Us provides direct, non-medical financial assistance in the form of grocery assistance, gasoline or transportation to treatment, rent, utilities, childcare, and more. By partnering with UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh, and Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, women with breast and gynecological cancers who need help are identified by their medical teams and supported by 1 of Us.
1 of Us provides assistance that directly impacts the lives of women with breast and other gynecological cancers.
1 of Us Foundation Upcoming Events:
October 17th from 12 pm – 8 pm is Brueprint Brewing Company’s 1ofUs Fundraiser supporting Women’s Cancers. There will be a Cornhole Tournament, Mobile Mammogram Unit, Live Music, Food Trucks, and Raffle + Door Prizes! See more info on the 1 of Us Facebook page here.
November 7th is their 9th Annual Pink Tie Affair Gala and this year they are going virtual! To join the auction for a chance to bid on amazing prizes like a Cabin Stay in the NC Mountains visit the site here: bit.ly/PTA-11-7
What is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund?
The vision of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund is to be the premier non-profit organization dedicated to supporting innovative ways of fighting ALL cancers affecting women and providing support through giving strength, courage, and hope.
Battling stage IV cancer, Hall of Fame coach, Kay Yow, gave her final and lasting gift — the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. In the 12 years since its inception, the Fund has served as a catalyst, uniting communities in the fight against cancer.
Since the Fund’s inception, $7.78 million has been awarded to scientific research grants and programs that serve the underserved in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women.
Kay Yow Cancer Fund Upcoming Events:
Week of October 3rd-October 10th the Le Tour De Femme typically held in Holly Springs, NC will now be a virtual event! This is a virtual biking and cycling event for women to show support through donations and raise cancer awareness. Find out more details on the event here: https://www.letourdefemme.org/
Feb 22-27, 2021 is the 5th Annual Kay Yow Celebration(VIRTUAL) Run/Walk! The cost to register is $25/person, which includes a Kay Yow Cancer Fund branded item. We also encourage team fundraising! There will also be incentive prizes awarded for individuals whose fundraising meets incentive levels. All proceeds go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for Women’s Cancer research. Register here: https://kayyow.com/get-involved/celebration-run-walk/
August 2021 – The 12th Annual Kay Yow Cancer Fund Golf Classic will be held in Pinehurst, NC in August of 2021. Be on the lookout for more info here: https://kayyow.com/get-involved/golf-classic/
How is Lane & Associates giving back during Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
Lane & Associates are proud supporters of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the 1 of Us Foundation. This year LAA has donated $50,000 to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in support of research for ALL women’s cancers and has also given a generous donation to the 1 of Us Foundation for direct support to women battling Breast or Gynecological Cancer.
Presenting $50,000 Donation to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund at the last Play4Kay event at UNC
To view all of our community support efforts please visit our Community Involvement page here. We hope you have a chance to visit the sites of these amazing organizations and give back during the month of October.
Last but not least, we also want to give back to our patients and non-profit organizations they are passionate about. Be sure to keep an eye out on this week’s Freebie Friday email to enter for a chance to have LAA donate to your favorite Breast Cancer Awareness Organization in your name! At Lane & Associates Family Dentistry, we love to make you smile.
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Our Middlesex Dental Office
We are so excited to announce that LAA is now open at our new location in Middlesex, NC! Our team in Middlesex will begin seeing patients on September 29th and is accepting appointments online.
Our Middlesex Team
We are also excited that Dr. Matthew Smith and Dr. Matt Miller will begin seeing patients at this newly renovated location Monday through Friday and they are thrilled to join the Middlesex community. Our Middlesex Office Manager, dental assistants, and front desk staff are all ready to meet you!
Why Choose Us?
Our Lane & Associates Middlesex dentists are offering all of our amazing services that are available at every Lane and Associates location. In addition to these services, our Middlesex patients will also have access to a beautifully renovated office with new flooring, paint, and features such as our Beverage stations with coffee, tea, soda, and water bottles. Furthermore, we have updated our lobby along with TVs in every operatory allowing patients customized entertainment during their treatment.
At Lane & Associates Family Dentistry, our motto is ‘We love to make you smile!” and we hope that the patients in Middlesex are excited to join our dental family and join our smiling Middlesex staff! We can’t wait to meet you!
Our offices will be closed from December 24th through December 29th to celebrate the holidays. We’ll be back and ready to assist you on Monday, December 30th.
We wish you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!
