February has us feeling all the love—and not just because we just wrapped up Valentine’s Day.
This month’s newsletter highlights how healthy habits start early, how your gums quietly share clues about your overall health, and what your dentist may notice about tobacco use long before symptoms appear. We’re also continuing our Oral Health & the Whole Body Connection series with a closer look at what your gums can reveal about bone health.
Of course, February wouldn’t be complete without a little fun. We’re sharing photos from our team, celebrating the connections that matter most, and featuring a simple, protein-packed rotisserie chicken salad that’s perfect for an easy lunch or light dinner.
From big smiles to everyday moments, this month’s newsletter is full of heart—and we’re grateful you’re part of our dental family.
In This Issue:
Give Kids A Smile Day: Our Favorite Kind of Busy
As part of our commitment to children’s oral health, our team participates in Give Kids A Smile Day, a national day of service focused on making dental care more accessible to kids who need it.
On Give Kids A Smile Day, we see over 50 children for free dental cleanings, treatment, and oral health education. That means kids leave with more than a “good job” sticker—they leave with healthier mouths, clearer next steps, and tools they can actually use at home.
It’s one of those days that reminds us why prevention matters so much: early support can change a child’s comfort with the dentist (and their health) for years.
Big Smiles Start Small
Source: Articles from https://www.adha.org/ncdhm/ compiled by ChatGPT and checked by our dental team
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and it’s one of our favorite times of year—because kids’ dental health isn’t just about cavities. It’s about confidence, comfort, learning good habits early, and helping families implement those habits.
Tooth decay is still one of the most common—and most preventable—chronic conditions in children. National data shows that about 46% of U.S. children ages 2–19 have had at least one cavity (treated or untreated). And the earlier we start prevention and dental care, the easier it is to keep little teeth (and future adult teeth!) healthy.
Prevention Is the Goal: Fluoride, Sealants, and Smart Habits
There’s no single “magic” product—just a handful of proven tools that work really well when used consistently.
Fluoride is one of the best cavity-fighters we have. It helps strengthen enamel and can slow down (or even stop) early decay. The CDC has recognized community water fluoridation as a major public health achievement because of how much it reduces tooth decay.
In the dental office, one of the safest and most effective preventive options for young children is fluoride varnish, which can be used as soon as teeth are present and repeated at regular visits.
Sealants are another great prevention tool—especially once permanent molars come in. For many kids, sealants + routine fluoride are a powerful combo for keeping cavity-prone grooves protected.
And when teeth begin to touch, flossing in between becomes an important addition, helping remove plaque and food debris from between teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach and teaching kids early that keeping those tight spaces clean is key to preventing cavities and gum irritation.
The Part That Gets Overlooked: Caregivers Need Clear Info, Too
Studies have shown that many caregivers recognize that “sugars + not brushing = cavities.” However, many don’t realize that salty carbohydrates and acidic foods also contribute to decay. This is why we focus on education and explaining how decay works. We want to arm caregivers and children with the tools they need to maintain a healthy smile and overall health.
Give Kids a Smile Day is just as much about teaching as treating!
Quick, Real-World Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Here are a few of the biggest “needle movers” for kids’ oral health:
- First dental visit by age one (or when the first tooth appears)
- Brush twice a day with a small smear/rice-sized amount of toothpaste for little ones (your dental team can guide you by age)
- Help your child brush until they can reliably do it well (most kids need help longer than people think)
- Floss wherever two teeth touch each other
- Drink water between meals instead of other liquids
- Maintain regular cleanings and exams so we can catch early issues early—when they’re easiest to fix.
What This Month Is Really About
National Children’s Dental Health Month is a reminder that healthy habits don’t need to be perfect—they need to be consistent, and they need to be supported.
If your child is due for a visit, if brushing is a daily battle, or if you’re not sure what’s “normal” and what’s a red flag, we’re here. No lectures. Just a plan—and a team that genuinely loves helping kids feel safe in the dental chair.
A New Smile Joins the Family
The tiniest new smile in the Dr. Levy family has arrived and we’re delighted to report that she appears to have arrived with a perfect smile on standby.
Please help us welcome Layne Ivy, the first daughter of Dr. Levy’s youngest, Ariel. Many of you may remember seeing her grow up right here in the practice and now she has a daughter of her own to chase down our halls!
Why Your Gums Matter More Than You Think
When people think about oral health, they mostly think about their teeth, not their gums. February is Gum Disease Awareness Month, and we’ll remind you of what gum disease actually is, why it matters, and how your gum health connects to your overall health.
What Is Gum Disease, Exactly?
Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of the tissues that support your teeth. It usually starts with gingivitis, caused by plaque buildup along the gumline. At this early stage, gums may look red, swollen, or bleed when brushing or flossing—but the good news is gingivitis is reversible with proper care.
When left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, a more advanced and serious condition. At this stage, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, bone loss occurs, and teeth can become loose—or even be lost entirely. Once gum disease reaches this point, it can be managed, but it cannot be fully reversed.
The Whole-Body Connection: It’s Not Just About Your Smile
Gum disease is far more common than most people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of adults over 30 show signs of periodontal disease—and that number jumps to over 70% for adults 65 and older. Even children aren’t immune; up to 50% of pediatric patients may show plaque-related gum inflammation.
Gum disease doesn’t stop at your mouth. Research continues to show strong links between periodontal disease and overall health conditions, including:
- Heart disease and stroke (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes (and difficulty controlling blood sugar)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Respiratory diseases
- Pregnancy complications, such as low birth weight
The Stages of Gum Disease (and What to Watch For)
Stage 1: Gingivitis: Red, swollen gums, bleeding with brushing or flossing.
Stage 2: Early Periodontitis: Bone loss begins around the teeth.
Stage 3: Moderate Periodontitis: Gum recession, further bone loss, teeth may feel loose.
Stage 4: Advanced Periodontitis: Pain when chewing, significant tooth mobility, and possible tooth loss.
The earlier gum disease is caught, the easier it is to treat.
What You Can Do
Preventing gum disease (or stopping it early) doesn’t require anything fancy—just consistency:
- Brush twice daily for two minutes
- Floss once a day
- Keep up with regular dental cleanings and exams
- Address dry mouth, smoking, and uncontrolled diabetes
- Don’t ignore bleeding gums, they’re not “normal”
Professional care, such as deep cleanings (scaling and root planing), can slow or stop disease progression when needed.
Want to Learn More?
We’ve created a YouTube video series dedicated entirely to gum disease, where we break things down in a clear, approachable way—what it looks like, how it’s treated, and why it matters beyond your mouth. It also ties directly into our Oral Health & Whole Body Connection series, exploring how oral health impacts overall wellness.
Check out our Gum Disease YouTube Series or our Oral Health and the Whole Body Connection Series
Love Is in the Air
This month, our team is sharing a few favorite moments, silly snapshots, and little glimpses into life outside the dental chair. These are the people (and pups) who keep us smiling every day!
We hope these photos bring a little extra warmth to your day. Whether you’re soaking up quiet moments, spending time with people you love, or simply enjoying a small treat for yourself, here’s to laughter, connection, and plenty of reasons to smile.
Tobacco + Your Mouth: What Your Dentist Sees
Source: https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/tobacco-use-and-cessation Summarized by ChatGPT and checked by our dental team
If you want to quit smoking or tobacco use generally, there is no better time than when you walk out of a dental cleaning appointment!
If you use tobacco (smoking, vaping, chewing, snuff, cigars, hookah) you’re not alone. Tobacco use is still one of the leading causes of preventable illness in the U.S., and nicotine is exceptionally good at keeping people hooked. The important part: quitting is possible, and you don’t have to do it by sheer willpower.
And yes, your dental team genuinely wants to help. Not to judge, but to support.
Why tobacco hits the mouth so hard
Your mouth is often where tobacco does its earliest, most visible damage. Depending on the product, we may see:
- Gum recession and faster progression of periodontal (gum) disease
- Slower healing after dental cleanings, periodontal treatment, extractions, or surgery
- Oral cancer risk (and other mucosal changes/lesions)
- Tooth staining, bad breath, and persistent irritation
- With smokeless tobacco specifically: higher risk of oral lesions, gum “thickening”/keratosis where it sits, enamel erosion, root or surface cavities (some products contain added sugars), and even bone damage over time
One of the sneakiest issues with smoking is that it can mask symptoms. People may have serious gum disease with less bleeding than expected—so things feel “fine” until they’re not.
Cancer risk beyond the mouth
While oral cancer is one of the most direct risks we monitor in dental care, tobacco use is linked to several other cancers throughout the body:
- Lung cancer
- Throat and esophageal cancers
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bladder and kidney cancers
- Cervical cancer
- Stomach and colorectal cancers
Even smokeless tobacco products have been associated with cancers of the esophagus and pancreas.
These risks arise because tobacco products contain dozens of carcinogens — chemicals that damage DNA and interfere with the body’s ability to repair itself. Over time, this damage can allow abnormal cells to grow uncontrollably.
The encouraging news: quitting tobacco lowers cancer risk over time. The body begins repairing itself soon after quitting, and the longer someone remains tobacco-free, the more their risk declines.
Nicotine is the trap (not a character flaw)
Nicotine is the primary addictive ingredient in tobacco products. When inhaled, it reaches the brain quickly and triggers reward pathways tied to dopamine (the “this feels good, do it again” signal). Those effects fade fast, which pushes the cycle of repeat use.
When people try to quit, withdrawal can be rough—irritability, cravings, anxiety, low mood, sleep disruption, and increased appetite are common. Most people who quit “cold turkey” relapse, often within the first week. That’s not weakness—it’s biology + habit + environment all stacked together.
What about vaping or e-cigarettes?
A lot of people assume vaping is “harmless” or automatically a quitting tool. The honest answer is: we’re still learning.
What we do know from your source material:
- Vaping exposes the lungs (and mouth) to multiple chemicals, including substances created during heating/vaporizing.
- It has been linked to serious health risks such as heart attack and stroke, as shared in our previous newsletter featuring Abbey, our front desk coordinator, who experienced a stroke associated with vaping.
- Evidence on oral health outcomes is still limited; some studies suggest e-cig aerosols can contribute to gingival (gum) inflammation, and we need more research on long-term periodontal effects.
- Using e-cigarettes doesn’t reliably prevent relapse back to cigarette smoking as demonstrated in large population studies.
If your goal is quitting nicotine entirely, we’ll support that goal—without pretending there’s a perfect one-size-fits-all pathway.
The most effective quitting approach: support + (sometimes) medication
Research consistently shows that counseling and medication each help, but the combination works best for many people.
Helpful options include:
- Counseling: individual, group, or phone-based support (more support generally = higher success)
- Free coaching is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), the national quitline portal that connects you to state programs
- Medications (for many adults): nicotine-replacement therapy (patch/gum/lozenge, etc.), bupropion, or varenicline—used appropriately with your medical history in mind
Nicotine-replacement products can cause mild mouth/throat irritation or dryness for some people, but those effects are usually temporary—and far less harmful than continued tobacco use.
If you want a next step
If tobacco use has been part of your life for a while, you don’t need a dramatic “I’m quitting forever starting this second” moment. A solid next step can be as simple as:
- Picking a quit date
- Calling Tobacco Quitline 1-800-QUIT-NOW
- Telling us at your next visit, “I want to talk about options.”
We’ll meet you there—no judgement, just support and a plan.
Oral Health and the Whole Body Connection: What Your Gums Can Tell Us About Bone Health
Sources:https://www.smilestoremember.com/blog/1268181-osteoporosis-and-oral-health
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/osteoporosis-and-oral-health
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8067960/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568163724002307 compiled by ChatGPT and checked by our dental team
When we talk about “bone health,” most people picture hips, spines, and maybe wrists. But your jawbone matters, too—because it’s the foundation that helps support your teeth. As part of our Oral Health and the Whole Body Connection series, this month we’re looking at the growing evidence linking osteoporosis (and low bone density) with gum health, tooth loss, and even how well certain dental treatments heal.
The short version: your mouth is part of your skeleton
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become less dense and more fragile over time, increasing the risk of fractures. It is often preceded by osteopenia, an earlier stage of bone loss that may not cause symptoms but signals declining bone strength. Research increasingly suggests that changes in bone density may also be connected to oral health, especially in older adults.
A recent systematic review found associations between multiple oral health measures and bone mineral density conditions—specifically osteoporosis, fractures, and decreased bone density. The strongest and most consistent link? Fewer remaining teeth showing up alongside outcomes related to lower bone density. Periodontal disease (gum disease) also appeared repeatedly in connection with osteoporosis and decreased bone mineral density.
Why might osteoporosis and gum disease be connected?
There’s still a lot being studied, but researchers point to a few likely “shared pathways”:
- Inflammation: Chronic gum inflammation can increase inflammatory signals in the body. Some of the same inflammatory messengers involved in periodontal disease are also involved in bone breakdown.
- Hormones: Shifts in estrogen—especially around menopause—can affect both bone remodeling and gum tissues. This may help explain why several studies find stronger links in women after menopause.
- Bone remodeling: Bone is living tissue that constantly rebuilds itself. Anything that shifts that balance toward breakdown (like osteoporosis) can influence bone in the jaw as well.
The “chicken or the egg” question
One important note: many studies are cross-sectional, meaning they show a relationship, but don’t prove what causes what. It may be that:
- lower bone density makes the jawbone more vulnerable to periodontal breakdown, and/or
- long-term gum disease contributes to systemic inflammation that impacts bone health,
- and shared risk factors (age, smoking, diabetes, nutrition, certain medications) affect both.
This is another reason to keep gum disease under control and protect the teeth you have.
Tell us about your osteoporosis medications
If you were diagnosed with osteopenia, or if you take medications for osteoporosis or low bone density—especially antiresorptive agents (medications that slow bone breakdown)—we really want that on your health history.
Why? Because a rare but serious condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been associated with some of these medications, particularly:
- higher-dose, more frequent regimens used in cancer therapy, and
- much less commonly, lower-dose regimens used for osteoporosis
ONJ can sometimes occur after dental procedures that involve the jawbone (like extractions), though it can also occur spontaneously.
What this means for you:
- If you’re taking osteoporosis medications for osteoporosis (not cancer therapy), you typically do not need to avoid dental treatment, and the ONJ risk is very low.
- What’s often riskier is ignoring dental disease until it requires more invasive treatment,
Important: It’s generally not recommended to stop osteoporosis medication on your own. Always talk with your physician first—fracture risk can be more dangerous than the already-low ONJ risk for most osteoporosis patients.
Symptoms to call us about right away
If you’re on these medications and notice any of the following—especially after dental treatment—please contact us and your physician:
- pain, swelling, or infection in the gums or jaw
- gums that don’t heal after treatment
- loose teeth
- numbness or a heavy feeling in the jaw
- exposed bone
What you can do to protect both bone and oral health
Think of this as “double-duty” prevention:
For your mouth
- Keep up with regular cleanings and exams (this is where we catch gum disease early)
- Brush twice daily and clean between teeth daily
- Let us know if you notice bleeding gums, gum recession, or loose teeth—don’t wait
For your bones and your whole body
- Adequate calcium and vitamin D (per your physician’s guidance)
- Weight-bearing and strength exercises
- Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol
- Manage conditions that affect inflammation and healing (like diabetes)
Prevention is the power move
If you’re approaching menopause, have been told you have osteopenia/osteoporosis, or have a family history of fractures, that’s not just “medical information”—it’s dental information, too. It helps us tailor your care, plan wisely, and keep your mouth as healthy and stable as possible.
If you’re not sure whether your medications affect dental treatment, bring your medication list to your next appointment (or send it to us). We’re happy to walk through it with you.
Recipe of the Month: Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Source: https://nourishedbynic.com/wprm_print/rotisserie-chicken-salad
This Rotisserie Chicken Salad is fresh, protein-packed, and perfect for meal prep. Tossed with quinoa, veggies, and a spicy soy dressing.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa (1 cup dry)
- 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 340 g coleslaw mix (1 bag- kale slaw, broccoli slaw or standard coleslaw mix all work)
- 2 cups edamame beans
- 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
- 4 persian cucumbers, diced small
- ⅓ cup raw cashews, chopped
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
Spicy soy dressing:
- 4 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ tablespoon honey
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon chili oil (or chili crunch)
Instructions
- To start- cook quinoa according to package instructions, once cooked set aside to cool.
- Remove the chicken from the bones, adding the meat to a bowl. Shred chicken using 2 forks. This recipe uses about 3 cups of chicken, any additional meat can be set aside for another meal!
- To a large bowl, add cooked quinoa, shredded chicken, coleslaw mix, edamame, green onions, cucumbers, cashews and sesame seeds.
- To make the dressing- whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, lime juice and chili oil.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad, and toss to combine.
Notes
- This salad will stay fresh for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Feel free to mix it up with different flavors of chicken
- Coleslaw mix can be replaced with shredded cabbage and carrots if that’s what you have available.
- Cripsy Rice is a good alternative to the Quinoa. Cook the rice as normal and then fry it in a pan to make it cripsy.
- For a vegetarian take – swap the chicken for chickpeas!