What is your New Year’s Resolution?

The 2010 holiday season is upon us, and all of us at the Dental Team of Sumter would like to wish all our patients and their families the merriest of holidays and best wishes for the New Year.

We thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, from the Dental Team of Sumter!

Beware of those Holiday Goodies!

The Dental Team of Sumter knows that maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, our friends at the American Dental Association recommend nuts or dried fruit, which are a nice alternative to sugars and have a greater nutritional value—and can satisfy your sweet tooth! Both nuts and fruit are a great source of fiber and act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, nuts are a great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9, nutrients that contribute to a healthy immune system. Nuts are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with reducing heart disease and lower blood pressure.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

--Drs. Vincent, Lee and Team

Don't Get Sick this Holiday Season - Replace Your Toothbrush!

It is still the dreaded cold and flu season and with the holidays around the corner, nobody wants to get sick. If you or someone you know is recovering from a cold or flu, Drs. Vincent & Lee will tell you one of the most important steps to avoiding reinfection is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Dental Team of Sumter if you have any questions or ask us on our Facebook page.

Ask Drs. Vincent and Lee : What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with the Dental Team of Sumter than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Vincent or Dr. Lee the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

The Importance of Dental Missions

Missions, both domestic and foreign, are of utmost importance to Dr. Vincent and Dr. Lee. Having met in Venezuela on a dental mission trip in 2005, both men felt compelled to have the blessing of volunteering on dental mission trips be a cornerstone of their practice. Thus far they have visited Peru, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Ecuador in addition to Venezuela to provide free dental care and share the gospel to others.

Dr. Vincent and Dr. Lee helped start Dental Community Fellowship which is a non-profit organization through which the trips are organized. They are able to offer not only extractions but also an array of restorative treatment, cleanings, fluoride treatment and oral hygiene education with the purchase of generators, air compressors and portable dental units. They try to show the love of Christ by treating the dental needs of those less fortunate in a caring and loving way and as painlessly as possible.

Dr. Vincent and Dr. Lee would like to take the opportunity - especially now, during the holiday season, to thank all of their patients for partnering with them in their efforts to serve others. A portion of every dollar that comes into The Dental Team is used to support missions whether they be local or international. If you would like to support our missions either financially or otherwise, please contact us. Contributions to Dental Community Fellowship are tax deductible and would help purchase needed supplies.