Peter A. Pate, DDS Dental Blog

January 7, 2011

Turn a Few Heads with a Healthy, Beautiful Smile

It has been said that a person’s smile is the first thing others notice. I am Dr. Peter Pate and, as a dentist in the Atlanta area, I couldn’t agree more.

It has been proven that people tend to base their first impressions on the quality of your smile. In fact, people who have bright, healthy-looking smiles tend to achieve more in almost all aspects of their lives, especially professionally.

Many of my patients are surprised to hear this. It seems like in our modern day and age, people tend to obsess over their weight, hair color/style, skin tone, clothing, and other aspects of their physical appearance. The truth is, when it comes to first impressions, a beautiful smile says it all!

My team at Dentistry in Buckhead is here to help. Obviously, a healthy, beautiful smile can take you far. The mouth is often referred to as the window to the body because oral health has such a large impact on overall health. A healthy mouth that functions properly helps to ensure the overall health of your body. Let’s face it, healthy people tend to be happier. Speaking of faces, having a well constructed smile affects more than just your mouth. Your whole face will benefit from a beautiful smile — including your eyes, which are the second thing people notice about a new acquaintance.

I offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry options if you feel that is the best way for you to achieve a sparkling smile. I will be happy to sit down with you at a consultation to discuss your dental goals and possible treatment plans.

Make it your new year’s resolution to achieve a healthy, dazzling smile, and you’ll be unstoppable. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact my office at (404) 266-9424.

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January 5, 2011

Promises, Promises (New Year’s Resolutions)

Filed under: Living It Up — Tags: atlanta cosmetic dentist, atlanta dentist, atlanta general dentist, atlanta health, buckhead cosmetic dentist, buckhead general dentist, healthy living atlanta — dr_pate @ 10:53 pm

A recent study tells us that most of us make promises to ourselves on New Year’s Day, then promptly break those vows. About 30% of women tend to make and keep their New Year’s resolutions for over 30 days, but most guys ditch their deals in a day or two. I hope we’re all much more diligent with brushing, flossing, checkups, and cleanings!

According to articles from About.com and USA.gov, these are the top resolutions people make in January. See if any of yours made the list!

Spend more time with family and friends
Get a better education
Land a better job
Get fit
Lose weight
Quit smoking
Enjoy life more
Manage stress
Quit drinking
Get out of debt
Save money
Learn something new
Take a vacation
Help others
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
Get organized

It sure would be great to see people add “go to the dentist regularly” to this list! Only half of Americans visit the dentist each year, and the most widespread childhood disease is dental caries (cavities). I want to ask you to make a resolution – a promise to yourself – to come in and see me twice this year. The ADA and most dental professionals recommend a minimum of two checkups and cleanings each year. These visits allow us to find problems in the early stage, when treatment is more effective and less invasive. Early treatment of oral cancer, for instance, improves a person’s survival potential by 80%! This is serious stuff, folks.

So instead of making a promise that’s just not practical, make one you can keep. If you live in the Atlanta area, visit Dentistry in Buckhead for six-month checkups and cleanings, and you could keep more than your promise. Ultimately, you could keep your teeth for life!

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November 16, 2010

How Pilgrims & Indians Brushed Their Teeth

Filed under: Fun Dental Facts — dr_pate @ 7:30 pm

Thanksgiving is coming up, and it started me thinking… did pilgrims and Indians brush their teeth? Thanks to Google, I found my answer. I think you might find it interesting!

As we mentioned in another blog post, people throughout history have used twigs and hog’s hair toothbrushes to clean their teeth. Pilgrims may have used salt to brush their teeth. While it didn’t taste as good as our minty gel toothpaste, it was quite effective. Indians likely rubbed herb leaves, like sage, against their teeth. Other tribes used paste made from the cucacua plant to remove debris and plaque from their teeth. Additionally, some foods, like cranberries, have cavity-fighting powers.

To relieve a toothache, American Indians used the inner bark of butternut trees. They may have also used cloves, terragon, Calendula, and Yarrow root for pain relief.

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October 29, 2010

Don’t Neglect Your Tongue!

Filed under: Fun Dental Facts — Tags: atlanta cosmetic dentist, atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, atlanta general dentist, bad breath, buckhead dentist, halitosis, tongue facts, tongue health — dr_pate @ 3:51 pm

What’s the strongest and most flexible muscle in your body? It’s your tongue! Your tongue is the only muscle that’s attached only on one end. It also has a unique print, just like your thumb – and it heals faster than any other body part. The tongue has 9,000 taste buds and can sense four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. About 10% of your taste buds, though, are on your cheeks and palette.

Can you curl your tongue in a u-shape? About 15% of people can’t.

Your tongue harbors HALF of the bacteria that live in your mouth. If you have bad breath, brush your tongue or consider using a tongue scraper to gently remove bacteria and food particles from the surface of the tongue. It can really help!

And, according to Guinness, this is the most difficult tongue twister:

The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.

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National Museum of Dentistry

Filed under: Living It Up — Tags: atlanta cosmetic dentist, atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, atlanta general dentist, buckhead dentist, national museum of dentistry — dr_pate @ 3:37 pm

At the University of Maryland, there’s a museum that everyone can relate to. It’s the National Museum of Dentistry. It’s affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

Everyone brushes, right? So, it just makes sense that every human should want to visit this amazing museum!

Actually, the website is pretty awesome, and the interactive exhibits are fun for kids and adults. For instance, one lets you become a forensic investigator. And we’ve always heard about George Washington’s dentures. You can actually see them at the National Museum of Dentistry. You might also like the Evel Knievel toothbrush or Queen Victoria’s dental instruments. Another cool collection, the world’s largest of its kind, is the museum’s dental advertising poster art. If you like the future more than the past, you’ll enjoy the Operatory of the Future exhibit.

Visit http://www.dental.umaryland.edu/museum/ for more information, and if you DO go to the museum, send us pictures to post on Facebook!

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October 26, 2010

Toothbrush Facts that Make You Say, “REALLY??!”

Filed under: Fun Dental Facts,General Dentistry — Tags: atlanta cosmetic dentist, atlanta dentist, atlanta family dentist, atlanta general dentist, buckhead dentist, dental checkup atlanta — dr_pate @ 8:53 pm

Get this! In 2003, Americans chose the toothbrush as the “cannot live without” invention. The toothbrush won over computers, cars, cell phones, and the microwave!

People have always wanted clean teeth. Until the first toothbrush was invented, folks used a frayed stick, feathers, bones, porcupine quills, and just about anything they could come up with to get plaque and food off their teeth.

The first toothbrushes on historical record were created in China around 1498. They were made of hog’s hair in bamboo and worked much like today’s toothbrush.

In 1780, William Addis first mass produced a toothbrush. He came up with the idea and made the prototype while in prison (for causing a riot — those rowdy oral healthcare guys!). The toothbrush was made with a small animal bone and bristles inserted through drilled holes. (What small animals are in a prison? Ugh. Don’t ask.)

In 1857, Mr. H. N. Wadsworth patented a toothbrush in the United States, and mass production came about in 1885. Again, the inventor used a bone handle and boar’s hair in the design.

DuPont introduced nylon bristles in 1938, and they were a much better choice. They did not harbor bacteria, and they dried much faster than boar’s hair.

Broxodent released the first electric toothbrush at the American Dental Association (ADA) convention in 1960. (Yay!)

Now, here are the best toothbrush practices for your family…

Get a new toothbrush every six weeks. Opt for a soft or medium brush for adults, and a soft brush for children and elderly, unless Dr. Pate or our hygienist has other advice for you.
Kids need appropriately sized toothbrushes and non-fluoridated toothpaste.
If you’re ill, microwave your toothbrush for a minute in a glass of water to kill bacteria. If the bristles fall out, get a new toothbrush!
Electric toothbrushes are great – just replace the head every six weeks.
Be sure to clean your travel toothbrush thoroughly and let it dry before packing it away. You might even consider using the newer version of the travel toothbrush: a disposable toothbrush with water-activated toothpaste powder in the bristles.

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October 19, 2010

Got Dry Mouth?

Filed under: Dental Pain,General Dentistry — Tags: atlanta dentist, atlanta dry mouth, atlanta dry mouth doctor, atlanta general dentist, dry mouth atlanta, my mout is dry, suffering with dry mouth — dr_pate @ 8:34 pm

Dry mouth is that dry, cottony feeling you get when your salivary glands don’t produce properly. Saliva is important to digestion and lubrication of oral structures. It also contains enzymes, electrolytes, anti-bacterial compounds, and mucus. Without the proper amount of saliva, you might experience bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, trouble eating and talking, and general discomfort in your mouth.

Often, people with dry mouth feel excessively thirsty, their saliva seems thick, and their mouths feel sticky. Dry mouth can contribute to a hoarse voice, scratchy or burning tongue, chapped lips, thrush (oral yeast infection), mouth sores, or dryness in the nose.

So what causes this irritating condition? Factors that may affect dry mouth include:

Smoking or chewing tobacco
Drinking too little liquid
Drinking alcohol or caffeine
Mouth breathing
Anxiety and stress
Using one of over 1,000 over-the-counter medications
Taking 3 or more prescription drugs
Medical Conditions: HIV/AIDS, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, Sjorgren’s Syndrome, diabetes, mumps, stroke, and others
Radiation and chemotherapy
Trauma to the mouth or throat

If you’re struggling with dry mouth, tell Dr. Pate at your next appointment. He’ll help you find the factors contributing to your condition, and then he can recommend ways to alleviate the problem.

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