Fun facts with Dr. Partovy!

We hope you enjoyed last week's video! More fun stuff this week! Dr. Partovy and our staff know everyone loves trivia. Fun, fun, fun! Enjoy!

• If you're right handed, you will chew your food on your right side. If you're left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
Your set of teeth is as unique as your fingerprint. No two people have the same set of teeth. It is as unique as your fingerprint and even identical twins are different.

• Approximately 200,000 athletes annually avoid dental tragedy by wearing mouth guards.

• The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva (spit) in a lifetime. That's enough saliva to fill two swimming pools!

• 100 years ago, one half of all adult North Americans were toothless - today less than 10% of adults over 65 have lost their teeth!

• Most tooth loss in people under 35 years of age is caused by athletic trauma, fights, or accidents. The cause of most tooth loss in people over 35 is periodontal disease. Remember to brush and floss!

• The average woman SMILES about 62 times a day! A man? Only 8. Kids laugh around 400 times a day, Grown-ups, however, just 15.

Dr. Partovy presents: Mr. Bean goes to the dentist

Dear patients and readers: How about a treat today? Dr. Partovy and staff thought we'd pass along a little classic dental humor for you to enjoy, from the bumbling yet lovable British spy, Mr. Bean. We loved it, and know you'll get a laugh out of the clip as well. Enjoy "Mr. Bean Goes to the Dentist”!

If you have any other suggestions you think we should share with other patients, please let us know!

Ask Dr. Partovy: What issues should I be aware of during pregnancy?

Our staff at Ray Partovy DDS will tell you that maintaining your oral health is an important part of keeping your entire body well, but never more so than when you're expecting. If you're pregnant or considering pregnancy, schedule an appointment with us, and remember to raise the issue of your oral health at prenatal appointments with Drs. Partovy and Baum.

If pregnant, Dr. Partovy wants you to be aware of the following issues:

• Tooth Decay
Excessive morning sickness can also contribute to tooth decay, as the stomach acids introduced to the mouth during vomiting wear away the protective enamel coating on the teeth.

• Gingivitis & Gum Disease
The primary issue to avoid during pregnancy is gum disease, due to its link to premature birth. The precursor to gum disease is gingivitis, a condition in which plaque buildup on teeth irritates the gums, making them red, swollen, and sensitive. The high levels of hormones in the bloodstream brought on by pregnancy exaggerate your gums’ reaction to irritation from plaque.

• Loose Teeth
Another risk faced during pregnancy is loosening teeth. The large amounts of hormones in your bloodstream can have an adverse affect on the bones and ligaments that create the foundation of your teeth, weakening them to the point that teeth may loosen.

The ideal time to schedule an appointment at Ray Partovy DDS is before becoming pregnant. Dr. Partovy will perform a check-up to determine the state of your oral health and how pregnancy might affect you.

Give us a call today!

Smile wider, live longer, from Dr. Ray Partovy

Dr. Partovy has some good news to report! People with big, happy smiles may actually out-live those who don’t, according to a new study conducted at Wayne State University in Michigan.

Drs. Partovy and Baum knew that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they used information from the Baseball Register to look at photos of 230 players who began their baseball careers prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (wide smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were then compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through last year.

The researchers then took into account other factors associated with longevity, such as body mass index, or BMI, career length and college attendance. They found that players who weren't smiling died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old!

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you tried perfecting your smile by visiting Ray Partovy DDS lately? If not, give us a call today!

Wishing you a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day, from our team at Ray Partovy DDS

Dr. Partovy wants to know: Did you remember to wear green when you stepped out the door this morning? Whether Irish or not, millions of people in the U.S. and around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day Drs. Partovy and Baum know you will enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia.

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

March is National Nutrition Month! From Dr. Partovy

Remember February, which was also known as American Heart Month? Well, March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it's National Nutrition Month®. Every March, Dr. Ray Partovy and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Dr. Partovy and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

Small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Look locally: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts.

We hope this helps! Give Dr. Partovy a call if you have any questions!