Gettin' Ready for the New Year

In January, my schedule relaxes a little from the hectic pace my family keeps in December.  It also happens to be when we go to the dentist.  Visiting Dr. Matthews in January makes sense for me.  With three kids with some specific health problems, I find that I actually have more money to spend on fixing things up in January when our health reimbursement account reboots at the start of the year.

It's also been a great time for us to think about things like what cosmetic dental work we need (my husband Wendell got a dental implant last year) and mapping out how to do that.  CreditCare® is a great option Mary shared with us last year.  CreditCare allows to finance your dental work with NO interest.  0%.  Seriously.  You just figure out, in advance, how long you'll need to make the payments; set it up; and pay it off on time with no interest.  CreditCare can also be used by the whole family for ongoing treatment without having to reapply.  This can be a life saver if you have a couple of people who need some serious work.  And because it makes sense, CreditCare has no upfront cost, no annual fees and no prepayment penalties.

If, like my family, you need some work done and money is tight, you don't have to put it off.  Get it done this year.  I know my husband and I are both glad we got his implant done in 2013.

And whether it's teeth whitening that you've just always *wanted* to have done, or something bigger that you need to have done, it's wonderful to have an amazing cosmetic dentist right here in Provo who is specially trained and equipped to save the day!  Aren't those pearly whites worth it?

See My Two Front Teeth...

by, Andrea Harris

From the Colgate Comedy Hour TV Show on the NBC network (1950-1955), we bring you the timelessly funny Spike Jones…

If he really needs his two front teeth, he also need a great cosmetic dentist. Luckily, we know a great one right here in Provo!

Merry Christmas from Dr. Blake Matthews and the entire MatthewsSmiles staff!

All I Want for Christmas...

by Andrea Harris

We all know the popular children’s Christmas song about needing a couple of front teeth.  It makes us think fondly of our own gap-toothed young and have a good laugh, but did you know that according to a National Center for Disease Control study a few years back, they found Christmas decorating accidents account for 1% of the 1.9 million holiday related injuries that occur from Nov 1st through January 31st each year.  And of those injuries, the CDC found that 56% were from falls that were at considerable heights (roof tops) and 11% were falls from moderate heights. This included falls from chairs, step ladders etc (getting the star just right? Don’t step backwards!). Most of the injuries (62%) happened to young and middle aged adults (the most reckless age group, right?) Some of these accidents involve facial and dental trauma!

Yikes! Who would have guessed so many people were losing teeth in decor related accidents the holidays? I confess, when I was out scampering around on my roof last week, perfecting the lights I didn’t think once about my teeth.  Falling on my head and suffering major brain trauma? Missing a step on the ladder and breaking a leg?  Absolutely.  Knocking out a tooth?  It didn’t even cross my mind.  

Of course there are a few other way you could lose your own two front teeth this winter: A skiing mishap, a fall on the ice, a crash at your local skating rink…. you get the idea.  All I’m saying is be a little careful out there, guys!  You don’t want to be wishing anyone a Merry Chrithmeth when you’re 40!

Photo Credit: Coloribus.com

Take Five

by Andrea Harris

Let’s be honest, the holidays are a little bit stressful.  Whether you’re hosting the family or packing up the car to head to grandma’s house, go ahead and take five minutes for a chuckle courtesy of the illustrious Mr. Bean.  

And the Nominees Are...

As you know, our own Provo dentist, Dr. Blake Matthews is giving away a set of braces to one lucky winner!  They will start treatment in 2014 and get a New Smile for the New Year!

We wanted to introduce our amazing nominees, selected by Dr. Matthews and the MatthewsSmiles team. And they are...


1. Quinlan

Story: My son Quinlan was born at 26 weeks and weighed 2 pounds 3 ounces when he was born over 12 years ago. He has survived over 57 surgeries and is doing great. He has cerebral palsy and cannot walk but does really great other than that. He was born on 09/14/01, I actually went into labor on 09/11. He is an amazing boy.

On his birthday this year he asked for one thing and one thing only...... Braces! Who does that??? Well he is very insecure about his smile. He tells me his teeth are "jacked up". It breaks my heart but I wanted to wait until he was a little older and understood how important beautiful teeth and a beautiful smile are. I think he's ready.

Please consider giving this amazing kid the chance at having straight teeth and the confidence he deserves to have, in an amazing smile.

2. Alexa

Alexa is a beautiful girl with a fun personality.  Our family has gone through a job loss and a cross-country move in the last year.  Money has been tight and we are needing to get Alexa into braces. Please help us make her smile.

3. Andy

Andy never got a chance to have braces as a youth.  His father worked construction which provided for the family but never had insurance that would pay for braces to fix his smile.  Now that he is an adult, the cost of braces is prohibitive even though he has always tried to take care of his teeth.  Andy has always wanted to have a nice smile and where he wasn't ashamed when he was happy in front of other people. 

To vote go here: http://woobox.com/46gnfp

Let's share our Jimmerosity!  And join Dr. Matthews and the Fredette Family Foundation in picking someone special to get braces in 2014.  Voting runs until 12/9 and the winner will be announced 12/10.  

Grateful for Good Dental Care with Dr. Matthews

It’s November and if you’re like me, this month has you feeling a little more thankful.  Now, I confess I’ve NEVER said “really great dental care” when it was my turn to say what I was thankful for around the dinner table, but a conversation I overheard not too long ago has me pretty tempted this year.

by Andrea Harris

I found myself waiting in a long line the other day. Usually in cases like that, I’d just browse around on my phone to stay busy, but on this lucky day I found myself sandwiched between a dental hygienist and a dental hygiene student studying for a big exam.  At first, the two women were swapping study techniques and commiserating about the amount of memorization required to graduate. (Let me just say, hats off to the people who work in the dental industry. These are some dedicated, hard-working people. It’s not an easy job!) Then, they started into the more interesting stories about internships at free dental clinics.  

I listened in fascinated horror to the seasoned hygienist recount her tales of working in a free clinic in an economically depressed, rural  town. She described one patient who came in for a cleaning.  A middle aged woman, as she described her, who only had about six teeth in her mouth. An eyetooth or two and a few molars… Can you imagine?  I have to be honest. I can’t.   

She went to explain that the only thing holding the molars left in this unfortunate patient’s mouth was several years’ worth of plaque build-up.  After consulting with the clinic’s capable dentist,  they concluded it was better to leave the plaque and let the woman keep her existing teeth as long as possible.  The three of us now involved in the conversation talked candidly about our sorrow for the woman’s plight and what it must be like to not have access to regular dental care.

It’s one of those things I admit I take for granted regularly and sometimes even grumble about.  But this year, I’ll probably add it to my list of things for which I’m genuinely grateful.    

Share Your Jimmerosity | Help Someone Get a New Smile

A smile makes a big difference in someone's life.  Provo dentist, Dr. Blake Matthews, is teaming up with the Fredette Family Foundation to give a FREE full set of braces to someone in need!  But we need your help.  We need nominations for someone who can benefit from a FREE full set of braces. We need you to Share Your Jimmerosity!


To nominate someone:
1. Get a picture of the smile.  The picture should be nose to chin--no full facials, please.
2. Share what difference a new smile would be for them.
3. Email all of this info to matthewssocial@gmail.com.

Entries will be narrowed to 5 finalists and we'll vote to see who gets FREE braces in 2014!  Entries will be accepted until Nov 14. (Yep!  We extended the date.) Voting will run from Nov 21 - Jan 5.

Restrictions: Prize is limited to standard orthodontic treatment. Surgery cases, including implants, are not included. Winner must be available to start treatment in 2014 and make regular trips at their own expense to our dental office in Provo, Utah. 

The winner will receive the braces and the runners up will each get a ball signed by Jimmer Fredette.  

Update 11/27:  Thank you so much for the great nominees!  To see who made it to the finals go here.  And to vote go here:  http://woobox.com/46gnfp

Let's give someone special a new smile in 2014!

Smiles Giveaway Winner!

And the winner of the Home Depot Card is... 

Dave-Abi Boyer!

To pick up your $25 Home Depot gift card come by the office Wed-Friday of this week or anytime next.  Dr. Matthews office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

Also, make sure to LIKE us on Facebook so you don't miss a single giveaway!

Now we gotta find out if you're going to make the wire ghosts or pumpkin books!  

Trick or Treat Truth

by Andrea Harris

I’m pretty sure I’m one of the few kids in the world who didn’t love trick-or-treating.  I mean, how weird is that?  While all the other kids were running pell-mell from house to house trying to get as much candy as possible, I just wasn’t into it.  I think the year I was 10, I stopped going out entirely.  But let’s be honest, I had come up with a MUCH better system of getting the goods.  While my friends got bundled up for hours of waddling around in the freezing cold, I stayed in my warm house and helped “pass out” the goods.  One for you, one for me… All night long, I set aside my stash. That way I got just as much candy as my friends without having to beg for it. And let’s be honest, my mom got the good stuff.  No wimpy Smarties or lollipops for me!  I got 100% pure chocolate. I might just be a Halloween genius!  The only problem with this little system was that I ended up with a stash that lasted until Christmas.  Now, as a 10 year old, that wasn’t so much of a problem as is was all my dreams coming true.  However, in retrospect, I wasn’t really doing myself any favors.  

According to WebMD,  Moderation and rules are not characteristics we often associate with Halloween, but, say child health experts, the holiday can be a good time to teach your kids important lessons about nutrition and dental care. "In general, I tell parents that kids who eat many times a day are at higher risk of tooth decay," says Jim Steiner, DDS, "It's the kids who have access to…snacks all the time that are at high risk for tooth decay. It's that kind of chronic exposure that causes [cavities.]"

And that's why Halloween is a problem with the dental profession. Some children will hoard their favorite candies and eat them a little bit at a time over a long period of time. (Aww, nuts!  That was totally me! ) And the truth is, as far as oral hygiene goes, it is better to eat five candy bars at once than to eat one every few hours. In the first scenario, acid will build up in your mouth, but your saliva will naturally neutralize this over the course of an hour or so. And then that acid is gone. In the second scenario, you are constantly exposing your teeth to acid throughout the day, too much for saliva to wash away.

So here are just a couple of suggestions to help your kids enjoy the holiday in healthy way (and not be a  total Halloween killjoy!):

• After trick-or-treating, select an age appropriate amount of candy for each child to enjoy.  Toss, trade-in, or donate the rest.
• Allow your child to enjoy their Halloween haul after meals or at set snack times. No secret noshing!
• Be sure to have your child brush their teeth thoroughly after indulging in sugary treats.  It’s a good habit to have anyway!

Happy Halloween from the Matthews’ Dental Group!!

The Best Medicine

by Andrea Harris

Laughter, they say, is the best medicine.  So instead of talking about gingivitis, cavities, or periodontal disease, let’s just take a minute to have a good chuckle at ourselves.  Because, let’s be honest, sometimes dentistry is just plain funny.  And nobody tells it better than the incomparable Bill Cosby.  

Enjoy!

This humorous post was brought to you by Provo cosmetic dentist, Dr. Blake Matthews. 

Smiles Giveaway Winner | Rachel Elder

And the winner of the $25 Outback Steakhouse Gift Card is...

Rachel Elder!!!

And, just so you know, her favorite drink is a Diet Dr. Pepper with Coconut.

To pick up your $25 Outback Steakhouse gift card come by the office Tues-Friday of this week.

Dr. Matthews office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

Also, make sure to LIKE us on Facebook so you don't miss a single giveaway!

New Year, New You!

The Fredette Family Foundation and Dr. Blake Matthews are teaming to donate a full set of braces to one person in need.  If you need braces (or know someone who does) submit a picture of the smile (nose to chin--no full facials, please) to matthewssocial@gmail.com along with the information on why we should choose them.

The entries will be narrowed to 4 finalists and we'll have a vote off to see who gets FREE braces in 2014!

Entries will be accepted until Nov 7.  Voting runs Nov 21-Jan 5. 

Restrictions: Prize is limited to standard orthodontic treatment. Surgery cases, including implants, are not included. Winner must be available to start treatment in 2014 and make regular trips at their own expense to our dental office in Provo, Utah. 

Share your Jimmerosity and submit a smile today!

Back-to-School Special | 10% Off Wisdom Teeth Extraction

With autumn here and school back in session, it's a great time to think about wisdom teeth.  It's the perfect in-between time avoiding the travel and craziness of summer, but before the Holidays arrive.

Wisdom teeth extraction is especially critical for those who have had braces or other cosmetic dentistry.  When wisdom teeth move in--in all the wrong ways--they can completely mess up beautiful teeth.  The last thing anyone needs is their cosmetic dentistry ruined!

Wisdom teeth can be extracted on Friday and you can be back to school (or work) on Monday with fewer teeth and fewer worries.  Provo dentist, Dr. Blake Matthews, is offering a special Back-to-School promotion.  Get 10% off any wisdom teeth extraction and get FREE conscious sedation, which is a $150 value.  (Funny videos of conscious sedation are optional.)

Smiles Giveaway Winner | Kathleen Ianziti

And the winner of the Smiles Giveaway is...

Kathleen Dos Santos Ianziti

To pick up your $25 Olive Garden gift card come by the office Tues-Friday of this week.

Dr. Matthews office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

Also, make sure to LIKE us on Facebook so you don't miss a single giveaway!

Cankered

by Andrea Harris

When I was growing up, I used to get the worst canker sores. At least once or twice a month, I was fighting off that dreaded mouth pain that made eating and talking a terrible chore. Considering how much I love both of those things, it was quite a teenage trial!  Over the years, I’ve discovered a few canker kickers (my favorite is called Kanka, but hydrogen peroxide will do in a pinch) and, luckily, my canker causes (stress, chocolate, and, weirdly, too much fluoride).   But what exactly is a canker sore?  

According to Dentristy.about.com, canker sores, also known as Aphthous Ulcers, are small lesions that occur inside the mouth, and are not contagious.

Symptoms

One to two days before appearing, a burning or tingling sensation may be present in the area of the mouth where the lesion is developing. Rarely, a fever might present itself when developing a canker sore.

Canker sores appear inside the mouth as round or oval sores typically with a red border and yellow or white center. Canker sores typically develop:

• On the top surface of the tongue and the tip of the tongue
• Underneath the tongue, on the floor of the mouth
• The inside of the cheek and lip
• On the gum tissue

Canker sores do not develop on the external surfaces of the lips and are not to be confused with cold sores.

Types of Canker Sores

Canker sores may be classified as:

• Minor - Although painful, minor canker sores are often fully healed within two weeks after onset.  The size of a minor canker sore varies, but typically stays under 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch.
• Major - Canker sores that appear larger than 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch, last longer than two weeks and appear to have irregular margins -- oddly shaped -- may be classified as major.  Rarely, this type of canker sore may leave behind a scar.  Common in immunosuppressed patients. 
• Herpetiform Canker Sores - A cluster of several tiny lesions that appear to form one larger sore.  This type of canker sore may last from one week to one month.  

Treatments for canker sores also vary depending on the suspected cause.

It is recommended that you seek treatment from your dentist if you have recurrent canker sores and/or canker sores that do not heal after 14 days. I talked to Dr. Matthews’ about mine and with just a few minor changes in things like brands of toothpaste, I was able to seriously cut back my cankers.

Smiles Giveaway Winner | Kelsie Beeston

And the winner is....

Kelsie Beeston!!!

To pick up your $25 Hobby Lobby gift card come by the office Tues-Friday of this week.

Dr. Matthews office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

Also, make sure to LIKE us on Facebook so you don't miss a single giveaway!

Strange Brew

by Andrea Harris

Tortoise blood.

Burnt alum.

Goat’s milk.

Charcoal.

Sounds a little like a wizard’s brew, doesn’t it?  But, as startling as it might sound, each of those ingredients was once used for toothpaste.  As far back as 23-79 AD man has followed rather unique oral hygiene rituals.  Call me crazy, but rinsing three times a year with tortoise blood sounds both unappetizing and ineffective!

By In 1855, the Farmers Almanac included this recipe for an appropriate toothpaste:

• 1 oz. myrrh (fine powder)
• 2 spoonfuls of your best honey (Mmm… Coat your teeth with sugar… sounds like a perfect way to keep them clean!)
• A pinch of green sage

Mix together and use every night on wet teeth.

Or, if that didn’t suit your fancy, this concoction was also popular:  

• 2 oz. cuttlefish bone
• 1 oz. cream of tartar
• 2 drachms drop lake (Fun fact: A drachm is a unit of weight formerly used by apothecaries, equivalent to 60 grains or one eighth of an ounce.)
• 15 drops clover oil

Cuttlefish bone? Yikes.

According to Colgate, prior to the 1850s, 'toothpastes' were usually powders. During the 1850s, a new toothpaste in a jar called a Crème Dentifrice was developed and in 1873 Colgate started the mass production of  toothpaste in jars. Colgate introduced its toothpaste in a tube similar to modern-day toothpaste tubes in the 1890s.

Until after 1945, toothpastes contained soap. Thankfully, after that time, soap was replaced by other ingredients to make the paste into a smooth paste or emulsion - such as sodium lauryl sulphate, a common ingredient in present-day toothpaste.

The most recent advances in toothpastes have included the development of whitening toothpastes, and toothpaste containing Triclosan which provides extra protection against caries, gum disease, plaque, calculus and bad breath.  

Maybe in another 20 or 30 years, someone will be balking at Triclosan, but for now it sure beats charcoal in my taste test!  So get brushing and enjoy your drachm of minty-fresh goodness!

Now I Can Winner and Donation Total

This Now I Can Promotion has been amazing.  Perhaps it's because there are two wonderful organizations thinking about how to help kids who can use a hand up.  Perhaps it's because the Now I Can kids are amazing.

What ever the reason, it has been a special privilege for us at Dr. Blake Matthews' office to partner with Now I Can.  Our total count was 680!  So Dr. Matthews will be dropping by Now I Can with a check for $680 dollars.  It is so heart-warming to think of a family in need of some help who will benefit from our collective efforts and Dr. Matthews' generosity.

And that's not all!  As our thank you for participating in promo, we've selected a winner to receive 4 reserved seats to the Legends Benefit Concert at the SCERA Shell on Sept 14th.  And the winner is...

Alicia Christensen Durrant!!!

A huge thanks to everyone who participated!  Thank you for the LIKES, for the Shares, for the entries. We could not have done this without you!  

Alicia, to get your 4 tickets, come by Dr. Matthews office this week.  Dr. Matthews dental office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

For all those who entered and would like to buy tickets, you can get them here: http://nowican-concert.eventbrite.com

If you can't come to the concert, but you'd like to make your own donation to Now I Can, go here: http://www.nowican.org/donate/

Back to School Basics

by Andrea Harris

Photo Credit: Pediatric Dentistry of Glensfalls

I’m not sure where the summer went, but it’s back to school time!  So you’ve got new clothes and shoes, a few binders and crayons.... but did you remember a new toothbrush? How about your child’s annual check up? Did you miss your appointment while you were on vacation?  

According to the ADA, every child’s back to school routine should include the following:

•  Regular dental examinations to diagnose and treat or prevent dental problems. Parents and teachers may not realize there's a dental problem, so regular checkups are important. Your dentist may suggest fluoride treatments or sealants to prevent decay and can diagnose and treat dental problems to save your child pain and lost school time.

•  Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing. Head for the dental care aisle when you're out shopping for notebooks, binders and pencils. If parents buy several toothbrushes they could have their child change to a new one every three months or so, or after an illness. If it's hard to remember when to change a brush, you could try to change it every time report cards come out.

• Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard while participating in organized sports, PE classes or playground activities.  Dr. Matthews knows all about how important proper dental safety is when playing sports.  Just ask any BYU athlete, including Jimmer!

•  Eating healthy lunches and snacks. Include portable healthy lunch items and snacks in your child's sack lunch, including grains, milk, cheese, raw vegetables, yogurt or fruit. If your child eats in the school cafeteria, review healthy, balanced food choices with him before the first day of school. Cut back on sugary foods and soft drinks.

Got all that?  Of course you do! Here’s to a happy, healthy new school year!