Month: December 2014

The holiday season is a time to celebrate life, enjoy those closest to you, and be thankful for the gift of a healthy life. But during the holidays, it can easy to overindulge, overbook, and overspend, putting that healthy life at risk and increasing your chance of getting sick. At my dental office in Holland, we’d like to share some healthy holiday hints to keep you in tip-top shape all season long.

Avoid Overeating and Overdrinking

Food. It’s probably our favorite part of the holidays, and at every party, there is bound to be a plethora of delicious delights, from the chewy cookies to the succulent hors d’oeuvres. While it’s all surely scrumptious, your dentist in Holland wants to encourage you to keep an eye on how much you consume to avoid overeating. Eating too much can lead to bloating, stomach pain, and a disheartening post-holiday weigh in. The same thing goes for overdrinking. Drinking alcohol in excess can mean a hurtful hangover the next day, lapse in judgement, and isn’t healthy overall. So be easy on the eggnog, watch the amount of wine, brace yourself with the beer, and alternate drinking alcohol with a glass of water.

Relax, Rejuvenate, Renew

You don’t need to accept every invite to every party. In fact, doing so can affect your sleep, make you feel run down pretty quickly, and increase your chance of illness. Don’t let running yourself ragged ruin your holidays. Avoid the stress of constantly having too much to do by maintaining a healthy work life balance, keeping your holiday budget in check, and making sure not to overbook your calendar.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Washing your hands several times a day is always important, but during the holidays it becomes even more so. Throughout the season, we tend to interact with more people, handle more food, and visit friends’ houses a lot. All of these instances can increase the chance of swapping germs and getting sick. Decrease your vulnerability to illness and wash your hands often using warm soap and water and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.

As always, at my Holland dental office, your health is at the forefront of everything we do. We want to help keep you healthy not only throughout the holidays, but throughout your entire life. Following these hints is just a small step. It’s always important to maintain regular appointments with us as well as your medical doctor to catch any problems before they become big issues and to keep you healthy for a lifetime.

Serving patients in Holland, Saugatuck, Zeeland, and surrounding areas.

Several things can keep you from visiting the dentist every six months as normally recommended. A bad experience, a fear of the dentist, finances, or maybe you’re just too busy. However, when you make the decision to get back in the dental chair, you may still feel reluctant. The team at my Holland dental office wants to ease your concerns and help you understand what you can expect at your first visit.

A Lecture-Free Zone

One of the main fears patients have when they’re getting ready to come back is fear of a lecture. When you visit your dentist in Holland, we don’t want you to be afraid of getting chastised. Our philosophy doesn’t include making our patients feel guilty, but rather we talk with you about your concerns and work together to ease them. With us, you’re never in trouble and we’re always here to help.

A Longer Visit

Your first visit after a hiatus will typically warrant a longer visit. This isn’t to scare you but because we like to spend time getting to know our patients personally and familiarizing ourselves with their mouths. We’ll also perform a thorough evaluation that will most likely include x-rays, a comprehensive exam, and cleaning. We’ll move at your pace and constantly ensure that you’re at ease.

Cavities

If it’s a been a few years since you’ve seen a dentist, there is a good chance that you have some decay and cavities. However, they’re nothing to fear. Most people, even those who do see the dentist every six months, get several cavities throughout their lifetime. But thanks to improvements in dental technology, treatment is easier, less painful, and faster than ever before. Getting a cavity filled is a much better option than leaving it untreated as a cavity that is left to fester can lead to more serious problems.

Whether it’s been a few months, years, or decades since you last visited the dentist, we’re here to welcome you to my dental office in Holland. Our goal is not only to get your mouth healthy, but to make sure you’re comfortable and that you’re an active part of your health care team. We welcome you to talk to us about your concerns so we can help ease your worries and get your smile back to health, beauty, and strength.

Welcoming patients from Holland, Saugatuck, Zeeland, and surrounding areas.