Fall Cheers And Flu Blues

With fall here and winter on the way, there’s excitement in the air for sweater weather, scarves, color changing leaves, everything pumpkin, snow sports, and holiday cheer. But beware! Along with these great things comes the dreaded flu season: drippy noses, tissues everywhere, sneezing, sniffling, coughing, fevers, etc. If you do not protect yourself, the flu can stop you in your tracks, causing you to miss out on the wonders of fall and winter.

WHAT IS THE FLU? The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by the influenza virus. The severity of the illness can range from mild to severe, depending on the infected individual. Young children, older people, and people with other illnesses are at greatest risk because they have weaker immune systems. The best way to prevent it is by getting vaccinated every year.

WHAT IS THE  SEASONAL FLU SHOT? The flu shot is a vaccine available every year that lowers your chances of getting the seasonal flu. Even if you received a flu shot in previous years, it is important to get the current shot because it is made to provide protection against the most common flu viruses for that year. PEAK FLU SEASON The flu shot is a vaccine available every year that lowers your chances of getting the seasonal flu. Even if you received a flu shot in previous years, it is important to get the current shot because it is made to provide protection against the most common flu viruses for that year.

Visit our website http://www.healthysmileswalnutcreek.com Visit our Yelp! page: http://www.yelp.com/biz/michael-a-carpentier-dds-and-grace-mary-hume-dds-walnut-creek

You can use the Flu Vaccine Finder to find a place near you that is offering the vaccine. To learn more about the flu and the vaccine, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reference Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "What You Should Know for the 2014-2015 Influenza Season."Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Oct. 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Being Cavity Free

For all our best intentions to brush and floss consistently, it seems that we can’t always avoid the cavity diagnosis. While brushing and flossing daily is good for your teeth and important for battling gum disease there are other things that we can do to prevent cavities from forming. 

• Use a mouthwash after brushing help clear out remaining cavity-forming bacteria.


• Avoid snacking between meals, especially on sugary or chewy foods can accelerate the forming of cavities. But chewing vegetable fiber, like celery, after meals can help stimulate saliva, cleansing the fissures and pits where cavities typically form.


• For those with braces, water picks can be used to do replace flossing which is impossible with most braces. 


• Chewing sugar free gum between meals, particularly sweetened by natural xylitol, can help prevent cavities by helping neutralize the PH balance in your mouth and suppressing bacteria growth.


• Visit our office regularly to ensure the application of fluoride, which strengthens enamel thereby preventing tooth decay.  Also, if you are prone to cavities, it’s a good idea to have ongoing checkups to catch cavities early while they are small before they can become larger problems.

Proper dental care goes beyond just brushing and flossing. Protecting our smiles isn’t always convenient, but it is rewarding.

Have a great day!

Drs. Carpentier & Hume

March, 2014 - Dental Vocabulary

Creating beautiful smiles....
March, 2014
	Thank you for showing your confidence in us through the referral of your friends! Visit our web site Basic Dental Knowledge Ever hear all those dental words being thrown around and feel out of the loop? Here is a guide to common dental terms that you may need to know. Cuspid: Your teeth that come to a point (right next to your front teeth) are called cuspids. Sometimes they are called canines as well. Teeth that come to two points are called bicuspids. Molar: Your back teeth behind your bicuspids. Crown: The part of your tooth above the gum. (The visible part of your tooth.) Root: The part of your tooth in your gums. Enamel: The hard surface of your teeth that protects the root of your tooth. Gingivae: Another name for your gums. Pulp: the soft inner structure of your tooth housing nerves and blood vessels. Antiseptic: A chemical that can be applied to your mouth to destroy germs. Aspirator: A straw like vacuum the dentist uses to suck all the saliva from your mouth. Caries: Another name for a cavity. Fluoride: A chemical that hardens your teeth and prevents tooth decay. Labial and Lingual: Anything having to do with your lips or tongue respectively. Mandible: Your lower jaw Tartar: Bacteria on your teeth than can lead to periodontal disease. Plaque: A sticky film that can form on the surface of your teeth that can turn into tartar.   Have a great day! Drs. Michael Carpentier & Grace-Mary Hume
ph: 925-944-5151 - website: http://www.healthysmileswalnutcreek.com

February is also National Children's Dental Health Month

Hello Patients! February is National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages children to practice good oral health habits. Dr. Carpentier & Dr. Hume recommend that parents schedule their child's first dental visit between the ages of 2 and 3 years old.  Don't Just Take It From Us! The ADA offers free downloadable oral health information to provide fun tools to promote the benefits of good oral health. The NCDHM program guide includes easy-to-do classroom activities and program planning timetable tips. During NCDHM, it is particularly important to raise awareness of the plight of children from low income families, many of whom have difficulty eating, sleeping, paying attention in school and smiling due to rampant dental disease. Did You Know? The highest compliment our patients can give us is to recommend us to a friend. We appreciate your referrals! If you have a friend or loved one who is in need of a dentist, please call the office and ask about our 'New Patient Promotions.' Read Reviews From Real Patients and Request An Appointment! Get Directions! http://www.healthysmileswalnutcreek.com