Peter A. Pate, DDS Dental Blog

March 2, 2012

Rock Star Dental Habits

Filed under: General Dentistry,Just For Fun — Tags: atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, atlanta stained teeth, buckhead dentist, buckhead family dentist, dentist atlanta, dentist buckhead, energy drinks, family dentist atlanta, family dentist buckhead, stage oral injury atlanta, stained teeth atlanta, teeth knocked out atlanta, tooth decay atlanta — dr_pate @ 7:02 pm

February was a month full of awards shows, including the 54^th Annual Grammy Awards. As your favorite musicians accepted their awards, what did their smiles look like? Dr. Pate can help protect your teeth from some common destructive rock-star habits.

Oral Habits

Some rockers have wild lifestyles. Drug, tobacco, and alcohol use can damage their smiles. First, these products contribute to stained teeth. Your teeth should not look the same gold color as your Grammy! Furthermore, these habits can lead to dry mouth and increase your risk of oral cancer. Most musicians should set an example to their young fans and avoid harmful habits to keep their smiles white and healthy.

Stage Accidents

Instrument wires and stage oils can make performances very hazardous. Slipping on stage or diving into the audience may cause oral injuries, like broken teeth or knocked out teeth. Actress-singer Hilary Duff admitted that she chipped four of her teeth on microphones, influencing her decision to get veneers. If rock stars plan rowdy dance moves, they should consider wearing mouth guards to protect their smiles against accidental injuries.

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March 1, 2012

What are Taste Buds?

Filed under: Fun Dental Facts,Healthy Living — Tags: atlanta dentist, atlanta general dentist, bad breath atlanta, bad taste in mouth atlanta, buckhead dentist, buckhead general dentist, dentist atlanta, dentist buckhead, dentist sandy springs, dentist vinings, dry mouth atlanta, family dentist atlanta, family dentist buckhead, general dentist atlanta, general dentist buckhead — dr_pate @ 4:21 pm

Taste is the weakest of your five senses, but it’s responsible for the different flavors you experience when you eat. In general, girls have more taste buds than boys. Taste buds are tiny nerve endings that send messages to your brain to help you sense a taste. How much do you know about your taste buds? Test your knowledge and visit Dr. Pate to make sure the taste in your mouth is healthy.

1. What are the bumps on your tongue called?

a. Papillae
b. Ridges
c. Palate

2. What are the five main tastes?

a. Sugar, fruity, sour, spicy, creamy
b. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami
c. Dairy, bread, meat, dessert, beverage

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February 29, 2012

Receive Your Celebrity Smile Makeover in Atlanta

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: atlanta cosmetic dentist, atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, atlanta smile enhancement, atlanta smile makeover, atlanta veneers, buckhead cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentist atlanta, cosmetic dentist buckhead, cosmetic dentist sandy springs, cosmetic dentist vinings, dentist atlanta, family dentist atlanta, smile enhancement atlanta, smile makeover atlanta, veneers atlanta — dr_pate @ 6:54 pm

Tom Cruise certainly has a lot to smile about. We’re not just talking about his successes as an actor and producer, but his smile enhancements gave him a new grin worthy of the spotlight. Dr. Pate can transform your smile so you, too, can achieve a superstar beam.

Tom Cruise’s Smile Makeover

You may recall a young Tom Cruise in The Outsiders. You may also remember his unappealing smile. It appeared as if each tooth was stained and going in a different direction. Some of his teeth were overlapping and his enlarged front tooth was twisted at an uncomfortable angle. Since then, Tom’s smile has undergone major dental and orthodontic work.

During a trip to the orthodontist with one of his children, the actor discovered that his jaw and teeth were out of alignment. At age 39, the star decided to use orthodontic treatments to adjust his teeth. He wore clear braces with only the connecting wire visible. Fortunately for you, Dr. Pate offers Invisalign clear aligners, so you can invisibly straighten your teeth without any connecting wires or uncomfortable brackets.

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February 8, 2012

Pet Dental Health

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Just For Fun — Tags: atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, buckhead dentist, buckhead family dentist, dentist atlanta, dentist buckhead, family dentist atlanta, family dentist buckhead, gum disease atlanta, how to brush pet's teeth, pet dental health, professional dental care atlanta, tooth decay atlanta — dr_pate @ 4:51 pm

Eating table scraps, licking people, and digging through trash cans and outdoor surroundings can make your pet’s mouth very dirty. Dental disease affects 78% of dogs and 68% of cats, and poor dental health can lead to bacterial infection and tooth loss in any species. Since your canine or feline doesn’t have access to professional dental care by Dr. Pate like you do, it’s important that you understand how to keep your pet’s mouth clean.

Pet Dental Problems

This month is National Pet Dental Health month. P. gulae is the bacteria responsible for causing gum disease in animals. Dental problems in pets can cause pain, discomfort, shyness, and irritability. Contact your vet if you notice any of these oral symptoms in your pet:

Tartar buildup
Bad breath
Bleeding
Difficulty eating or chewing
Wincing when touched near mouth
Red gums

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February 1, 2012

Children’s Dental Health in February

Filed under: Children's Dentistry,Family Dentistry — Tags: atlanta childrens dentist, atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, buckhead childrens dentist, buckhead dentist, buckhead family dentist, childrens dental care atlanta, childrens dentist atlanta, childrens dentist buckhead, dental care for kids atlanta, dentist atlanta, dentist buckhead, family dentist atlanta, family dentist buckhead — dr_pate @ 5:16 pm

Children miss about 51 million hours of school each year due to dental problems and treatments. It’s important to emphasize proper oral care for kids. This can reduce irritability, behavior problems, and decreased performance during the day resulting from dental pain. The American Dental Association sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month in February to promote awareness of dental care for kids. This year’s NCDHM features the slogan, “Rock Your Smile,” to help children get an awesome smile, one that rocks!

Children’s Dental Health

To help improve the status of children’s oral care, take a look at some of the unfortunate statistics about current dental dangers.

Tooth decay is the second most common childhood illness, following the common cold.
Researchers found that about 80 percent of children are already infected with the cavity-causing bacteria, S. mutans, by the time they are two years old.
Advertisers spend about $900 million each year on television ads aimed at children under age 12. More than two-thirds of this advertising promotes junk food, which can promote tooth decay. (more…)

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January 25, 2012

What’s in Your Mouth?

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, buckhead dentist, buckhead family dentist, dentist atlanta, dentist buckhead, different parts inside your mouth, family dentist atlanta, family dentist buckhead, parts of mouth, whats in your mouth — dr_pate @ 4:21 pm

When you look at the inside of your mouth using a mirror, what do you see? There are many components that help your mouth stay healthy and function properly. Dr. Peter Pate can explain how to keep all the parts of your mouth healthy.

The Visual Parts

When you open your mouth, you can see a number of important features::

Teeth: The white part of a tooth is called the crown. The roots of your teeth are located under your gums, and help attach your teeth into your jaw bone. You may notice that your teeth are different shapes and sizes to help with different parts of chewing.
Gums: The pinkish tissue that supports your teeth is called your gums. When you look at your mouth, your teeth are attached to your gums. Red, swollen, or bleeding gums are signs of periodontal disease, which can eventually lead to tooth loss.
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January 24, 2012

What Happens When I Sleep?

Filed under: Healthy Living,Stop Snoring — Tags: atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, atlanta general dentist, atlanta sleep apnea, buckhead sleep apnea, healthy living atlanta, sleep apnea atlanta, sleep apnea buck head, sleep apnea dentist, sleep apnea vinnings, stop snoring atlanta, stop snoring buckhead — dr_pate @ 3:01 pm

In a previous blog post, we discussed the risks, causes, and symptoms of sleep apnea. Dr. Peter Pate offers his patients snoring and sleep apnea treatments. Scientists devote a lot of research to sleep. Although we spend nearly 30% of our life in bed, we are often unaware of the science of sleep. Below are a few interesting facts and trivia dedicated to what happens while we rest.

Facts You May Not Know About Sleep

Sleep is a necessity. Sleep deprivation can result in death before starvation. In as little as 10 days without sleep, you could be facing mortality.
There are four stages of sleep that you progress through in your sleep cycle. The deepest stages of sleep help your organs and tissues repair from daily damage
Outside of the four sleep stages, you enter Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep multiple times throughout the night
In the past, researchers believed that humans only dreamed during REM sleep. However, recent findings have shown that we dream throughout the night, but REM dreaming is more vivid and strange. (more…)

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