Smile, smile, smile! From Bridgeview Dental

Good news! People with big smiles may live than those who don’t, according to a new study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Drs. Briles and Parks have known for a long time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers there used information from the Baseball Register to look at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball before 1950.

The players' photos were enlarged, and a rating of their smile intensity was made (big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then corrected their analysis to account for other factors associated with longevity, such as body mass index, or BMI, career length and college attendance.

The researchers found that players who weren't smiling died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you tried perfecting your smile by visiting Bridgeview Dental lately? If not, give our team a call and set up an appointment!

Toothbrush Trivia with Drs. Briles and Parks!

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It wasn’t until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste):

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every two months
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873

Bridgeview Dental, supporting National Nutrition Month

March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it’s National Nutrition Month. Every March, Drs. Parks and Briles, as well as thousands of dentists and hygienists around the country, celebrate this occasion, and this year is no different. This March, our dedicated staff at Bridgeview Dental want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve your periodontal health. Drs. Parks and Briles know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet this March:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think fresh, think local: From Portland's farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in our neck of the woods.

• Don't give in: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you crave a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

• Make your calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Expand your horizons: Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new healthy favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself and your mouth healthy, please give us a call. Drs. Parks and Briles look forward to seeing you!

Getting married this spring? Stop by Bridgeview Dental!

It’s spring. Tulips are blooming and world is awakening from its winter sleep. What a great time for a wedding! If you are gearing up for a wedding this spring, consider matching that white dress to a perfectly white smile!

At Bridgeview Dental we offer in-office tooth whitening for the bride, the groom, or the entire wedding party! You get the girls together to get their nails done, and now you can get them together to get their teeth done!

In-office whitening is the quickest, most effective way to achieve whiter teeth. Because we are dental professionals, we have the expertise to use higher percentages of whitening agents than the at-home systems allow. So you can get a brighter white, usually in just one visit! Drs. Briles and Parks also offer porcelain veneers and crowns, Zoom! whitening treatments and deep bleaching, the only method that insures dramatic whitening for dark teeth and

Give us a ring this spring and let Drs. Parks and Briles add some extra sparkle to your “I do”!

Ask Bridgeview Dental: Who benefits from Invisalign®?

Part of what makes Invisalign "work," is that the treatment is customizable for anyone. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment at Bridgeview Dental, the first thing Dr. Stuart Parks does is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now - and digitize it. Using special software, our doctors look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next, our team at Bridgeview Dental uses special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Parks is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please don't hesitate to give us a call.