Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Sher Warkentin Maintaining good oral care during the holidays can be tough with the bombardment of sugary sweets all season. Counting down to Christmas with an advent calendar is a fun activity for your kids, but if they are filled with chocolate and sweets, it won't be so great for their teeth. Check out these simple sugar-free ideas to fill your countdown instead. Holiday Activity Fun Fill your child's countdown with special moments that they will cherish all year round. For each day of the month come up with a fun holiday activity that you can do together as a family. Some ideas include: watching a holiday movie, going ice skating, building a snowman and looking at Christmas lights. Write down the activity on a slip of paper and tuck one note into each day of your advent calendar. A Puzzling Treat Give your child a fun challenge with a customized puzzle. Draw a picture or write a special me...

Senior Dental Care is Different As we get older, our teeth become worn and lose strength. Prior dental work can show the wear of time. There is a greater risk for gum infection, as well. So we check our patients for the indicators – red, swollen, or bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, and loose teeth. After years of caffeine and tobacco consumption, teeth may need professional whitening to return their original luster. Some of your medications will decrease the necessary flow of saliva through your mouth, and we have products that will alleviate this complication. We advocate good nutrition, daily hygiene, and routine check-ups to help your smile stay brilliant and keep your natural teeth healthy for a lifetime. Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

Now the Good News The dangers of gum disease have been established, and most dental insurance plans offer coverage to pay for available treatments. With advanced periodontal disease, the treatment is surgical. However, for all other cases there are potent NON-surgical treatments that, combined with enhanced dental hygiene, can essentially stop the spread of the disease. Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This month we are featuring information found on MouthHealthy.org that discuss how diabetes can affect  your dental health. Below is one way that diabetes can affect your oral health. Slow Healing  Have you ever noticed a cold sore or a cut in your mouth that doesn’t quite seem to go away? This can be another way that diabetes may affect your mouth. Poor control of blood sugar can keep injuries from healing quickly and properly. If you have something in your mouth that you feel isn’t healing as it should, see your dentist. To read all '5 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Mouth' visit MouthHealthy.org . Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This month we are featuring information found on MouthHealthy.org that discuss how diabetes can affect  your dental health. Below are two ways that diabetes can affect your oral health. Change in Taste  Your favorite flavors might not taste as rich as your remember if you have diabetes. It can be disappointing, but take the opportunity to experiment with different tastes, textures and spices to your favorite foods. Just take care not to add too much sugar to your food in an effort to add flavor. Not only can this affect the quality of your diet, it can also lead to more cavities. If you have a persistent bad taste in your mouth, see your dentist or doctor. Infections  Diabetes affects your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to infection. One common among people with diabetes is a yeast infection called oral thrush (candidiasis). The yeast thrive on the higher amount of sugar found in your saliva, an...

Dentistry Without Drills or Needles? Can you imagine going to the dentist and never feeling a drill or suffering the pinch of that dreaded needle? One of the most remarkable advances in modern dentistry is called air abrasion. Unlike a traditional drill, this tool aims a stream of small particles and air at the region of decay and gently sprays it away! Many patients need little or no anesthesia for this procedure. The sound and vibrations of the drill have vanished – and so has most of the pain! For many procedures, it’s good-bye needles, good-bye drill! Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

What is Wellness Dentistry? The best course to retain your good health is not to get ill in the first place. To the degree that your good health is determined by shunning bad habits and fixing issues when they are small, it is possible to avert high-risk health factors. That’s what we call “Wellness Care.” And that’s just what we promote in our dental practice. We can unquestionably get your teeth and gums healthy and remedy any damage just like any dental office can. But we take it a step further and show you how to avoid dental issues before they become huge problems.  We start with a detailed examination. Most of our patients state they’ve never experienced such an exhaustive examination of their gums or teeth. We study your bite and how your teeth fit together, we check for oral cancer, gum disease, signs of wear on your teeth, and any indicators of problems that you might encounter later. We want to halt issues in their tracks, making your teeth and gums healthier so you wil...

A Lifetime Foundation of Good Habits Dr. Cox and Dr. Kunkel share your goals for preserving your child’s outstanding health. We want to help them learn proper dental care from the beginning and foster a lifetime foundation of strong dental habits. There are many factors that contribute to your child’s teeth being vulnerable to cavities from a very young age. Little kids often don’t have the dexterity to brush correctly on their own. Because of this, it is imperative for parents to assist in their child’s daily hygiene. This encourages both good cleaning and the development of appropriate dental habits. Poorly cleaned teeth are more likely to decay when exposed to food and juice acids. Small children tend to eat constantly throughout the day. This type of extended exposure to food acids often results in more cavities.  The good news is that recognizing poor dietary and hygiene habits, along with employing a fluoride varnish to the mineralizing teeth, can drastically reduce the odd...