What does 150 pounds of candy look like?

We want to thank our patients, neighbors, friends, and even a few strangers to helping to make our first annual "Halloween Candy Buy Back" campaign a tremendous success. We shipped $150 pounds of candy to some very dedicated soldiers. Operation Gratitude will send most of the candy that we collected as part of their Care Packages. One special box will go to Jordan Johnson, a local Alpharetta young man stationed in Afghanistan. His brother is a dear friend of our son.

So, what does 150 pounds of candy look like? It fills 14 flat rate boxes. Those boxes stacked up were taller than Dr Johnson. They filled Debbie's car. Every bag delivered to our office was brought by someone wearing a huge smile. We had bags left by our office door, home door, and even in our home mailbox. Our entire family and staff really enjoyed the opportunity to see our community unite to share smiles with the men and women who are separated from their families and serving our country. We are so proud and excited to be able to share a smile or two from home. The moral of this story is that a small act of kindness like donating your candy can make many days brighter for so many.

150 pounds of candy looks like warm hearts and more smiles than we could measure! Thanks again!

Debbie and Brian Johnson

What kind of toothpaste should I use?

Walking down the toothpaste aisle at the local supermarket can be overwhelming. We are frequently asked for guidance in choosing toothpaste. Today, there are more options than ever. Toothpaste manufacturers provide so many kinds of toothpaste for two reasons. First, people have different dental problems and benefit from different toothpastes. Another reason is marketing; more kinds of toothpaste mean more shelf space for that manufacturer. Colgate (www.colgate.com) lists over 60 different kinds of over the counter toothpaste. All that toothpaste creates a big billboard right inside the local grocery store. That makes Colgate products much easier to find than Biotene which produces only two kinds of toothpaste.The dentist will ask you what you need toothpaste for. People who use toothpaste clean their teeth by brushing and flossing them. The mechanical action of the brush and floss loosens plaque. Plaque is the bacterial coating that forms on teeth and causes gum disease and cavities. Rinsing with water washes the loose plaque away. Toothpaste must provide an addition benefit.Procter and Gamble (www.crest.com) introduced fluoridated toothpaste with Crest in 1955. Now, most toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride from toothpaste seeps into the surface of teeth making them more resistant to decay. People who use toothpaste with fluoride get fewer cavities than those who do not.For people who have a very high rate of decay, their dentist may prescribe toothpaste that has a higher concentration of fluoride. Such a high concentration is able to reverse very small decayed areas.Young children who can not rinse and spit out should not use fluoridated toothpaste. They may swallow too much fluoride which may stain the permanent teeth. That is why some manufacturers market fluoride free toothpaste for children. Tom’s of Maine (www.tomsofmaine.com), known for their “natural” oral health care products offers fluoride free, strawberry flavor toothpaste for children.

Whitening toothpaste is generally safe for daily use, but excessive use might damage tooth enamel. If you're considering using a whitening toothpaste, look for a brand that has a seal of approval from a reputable dental organization — such as the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance, which indicates that the toothpaste is effective at removing surface stains and reducing tooth decay. If you're not satisfied with the effect of whitening toothpaste, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about more effective tooth whitening options.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18779/choosing_which_toothpaste_you_should.html

Brian D. Johnson, D.M.D

1240 Upper Hembree Road

Suite C

Roswell, GA30076

770.993.9809

http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

Smile! It makes people wonder what you are up to!

A smile is a powerful tool. Unfortunately, it is terribly underused. If you are not sharing your smile because of dental problems, we can help you!
Call today to schedule an appointment.

Dr Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
770)993-9809
www.brianjohnsondmd.com

Choosing the Right Mouthwash

Many people use daily mouth washes. The problem is there are so many on the market these days, it can be difficult to decide which to choose.
If you are prone to decay, you should choose one with fluoride and use it daily. If you are prone to periodontal disease, you may benefit from a prescription rinse. Many rinses contain alcohol and should be avoided by children and many adults. Alcohol based rinses can make dry mouth worse , which can lead to decay.

As always, if you have any questions regarding your dental health, please call our office and one of our team member will be happy to help you!

Brian Johnson, DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
www.brianjohnsondmd.com

Tired of all of our appointment reminders?

Some of our patients have recently complained about the numerous reminders that we use . We apologize for any incovenience. Unfortunately, it seems necessary to remind many people multiple times or they forget to show up. No shows are an unpleasant part of our day. Because we reserve just enough time to see our patients and do not overbook our schedule, a no show appointment leaves us empty handed and empty chaired.
We are grateful when our patients "preappoint" their next appointment. We will send you and email one month prior to the date of that appointment, then you will received another one week prior, and finally two days prior. If you need a friendly voice reminder, you need to do nothing else. However, if three reminders are enough for you, please simply reply to any one of the email reminders and we will not call you.
If you need to reschedule , please give us the courtesy of 48 business hours. We will charge a broken appointment fee of $45.00 per hour scheduled if you break an appointment with less than 24 hours notice.

Debbie Johnson
Brian Johnson, DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com

Are you happy with your dentist?

Are you happy with your dentist? If I am your dentist, I certainly hope so! I hope you are so happy with our care that you tell all of your friends and co-workers!
If you are not one of our cherished patients, and you are not happy with your current dental office, we hope that you will call today to meet us! We welcome each patient, new or established just like we do guests to our home. We hope that you will experience warm welcomes on the phone, and at the office. Our goal is to make you feel instantly at ease!

Dr. Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com
(770)993-9809

Antiobiotics and Dental Appointments

You or someone you know may been told to take antiobiotics prior to dental appointments. We are concerned about the overuse of antiobiotics; but used as intended antiobiotics are life saving. People who may require premedication include patients who have had joint replacement surgery as do those with heart murmurs or with a medical history of a heart infection called endocarditis.
The reason for the this need is that the mouth harbours all kinds of bacteria. When you come in for a dental cleaning or procedure, those bacteria gets "all stirred up" so to speak and can enter the blood stream.

If you have any questions about this issue, we are always happy to answer your questions. Please call today!

Debbie Johnson
Brian D. Johnson , DMD,PC
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com
(770)993-9809

How would you rank your smile?

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank how happy you are with your smile? There are many treatment options available to help raise that number. Talk to our staff and myself about your smile concerns!

Dr. Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com

Do you think you have morning breath all day?

If you brush, floss, and use mouth wash; but still think your breath could be fresher, the problem could be your tongue needs to be cleaned too. Bad breath surely is not pleasant to talk about and can be caused by many factors. Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, or rinsing with specialized mouthwash.
The back of the tongue is where many bacteria like to hang out. Also, it is more difficult to clean the back of the tongue. Other parts of the mouth may also contribute to the overall odor, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. Faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in-between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures can contribute to unpleasant breath.

The most common reason to clean the tongue is for the control of bad breath. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, may only temporarily mask the odors created by the bacteria on the tongue, but can not cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath. The bacteria on the tongue must be removed; as must the decaying food debris present on the rear areas of the tongue. Most people who clean their tongue use a tongue scraper, or a toothbrush. Ergonomic, specially designed tongue cleaners are more effective at removing the bacterial coating than toothbrushes which merely spread the bacterial accumulations on the tongue and in the mouth.

So, if you think you have persistent bad breath, go get yourself and tongue scraper and try it for a while. Routine cleanings are always important as well. So, if you are overdue , call us today.

Dr. Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30004
(770)993-9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

Probiotics and Your Dental Health

Probiotics- What Are They?
What are probiotics? Probiotics are dietary supplements that if taken regularly can help to balance the good and bad bacteria that live in your intestines. Why am I telling your about this? Because the imbalance of the bacteria leads to inflammation in the intestines. The intestines are in integral part of your immune system. If the bad bacteria are in control of your system, your immune system has to work extra hard to try to rebalance the normal flora. It can get tired and allow you to get sick more easily. An imbalance of bacteria can cause a variety of disorders including intestinal discomfort, and heartburn. When there is inflammation in the body, the entire system has to work harder to try to stay healthy. Coronary heart disease and periodontal disease are very closely linked. So, brush , floss, see us for regular routine cleanings and take a daily probiotic supplement daily. I have been using a live culture probiotic supplement for almost 2 years. Ask me about it!

Dr Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

Your Healthy Teeth and Gums

Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. Many dentists are concerned that their patients are consuming record numbers of sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and non-nutritious snacks that affect their teeth. These items generally have little if any nutritional value and over time they can take a toll on teeth.
Eating patterns and food choices among children and teens are important factors that affect how quickly youngsters may develop tooth decay. When bacteria (plaque) come into contact with sugar in the mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more. This can eventually result in tooth decay.
Not sure you're getting the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed by your body (and your teeth and gums)? Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Web site . The USDA oversees the nutritional health of the nation. The agency's dietary recommendations are designed to promote optimal health and to prevent obesity-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancers.
The government's recommendations recognize that people have different dietary needs at various stages of life. They offer guidance for children and adults based on their levels of physical activity. Your physician or a registered dietician can also provide suggestions for your daily food intake.
Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. Almost all foods, including milk or vegetables, have some type of sugar. However, they shouldn't be removed from our diets because many of them contain important nutrients. And they add pleasure to eating. To help control the amount of sugar you consume, read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugars. Added sugars often are present in soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries.
If your diet lacks certain nutrients, it may be more difficult for tissues in your mouth to resist infection. This may contribute to periodontal (gum) disease, a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Although poor nutrition does not cause periodontal disease directly, many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and could be more severe in people with nutrient-poor diets
What can you do?

Maintain a healthy diet.
Make sure water is readily available.
Limit the number of between-meal snacks. When you must snack, choose nutritious foods that are low in sugar.
Brush thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste that has the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance.
Floss or use another kind of interdental cleaner daily to remove plaque (a thin film of bacteria) from under the gums and between teeth.
Schedule regular dental visits for checkups and cleanings.
Keep a food diary for a week. Record every item you eat and drink, including hard candies or chewing gum that contains sugar. Compare the diary to the food Pyramid recommendations.

Excerpts from http://www.ada.org/public/topics/alpha.asp

As always, call our office to schedule your next appointment!
Brian Johnson DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com

Do you understand your dental insurance?

Do you understand all the details of your dental insurance? Most people do not, and the insurance companies hope that you don't! Here are a few examples of some common dental insurance FAQs:
Deductible: $25-$50. This applies typically to basic and major work and is commonly waived on preventative work.
Yearly maximums: $1000-$2500. This amount is typically reset each January. Preventative work is subtracted from this total.
Preventative is typically covered at 100% and includes new patient exams, periodic and periodontal exams, FMX(full mouth x-rays) every 3-5 years, Bitewing x-rays every 6 to 12 months, fluoride treatments usually for dependent children to the age of 16 years, sealants to the age of 16 years, prophy and/or periodontal maintenance twice per calender year or once every six months.
Basic coverage is generally covered at 80% and includes fillings, oral surgery,periodontic and endodontic(root canals) treatment. Very often insurance companies provide the alternative benefit of amalgam for fillings to posterior teeth. What this means is that although the standard of care for all teeth is to place composite resin fillings (white colored fillings) on all teeth, they pay for amalgam fillings and force their customers(you!) to pay the difference!
Major work is generally paid at 50% and includes crowns, bridges, partials, and dentures. There is usually a replacement frequency of every 5-10 years for these services.

Occasionally there is a waiting period for basic or major work . Also, sometimes, insurance companies have a missing tooth clause. This means that if you lost or had a tooth extracted prior to have that dental coverage, they will not pay to help you restore your teeth with a bridge or partial.

I hope that this helps you to understand your benefits a little better. If you have additional questions, please contact my office.



Brian Johnson DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(993)993-9809
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com
BrianJohnsonDMD@gmail.com

My Crown Fell Off! Oh NO!

Oh, no! My crown fell off and I'm out of town! What do I do now? Reach for the Polident. Denture adhesive can be an easy fix for a filling or crown that falls out.
Of course, this is a temporary fix and you should call your dentist to have your crown permanently cemented as soon as possible. If one of your crowns is loose, take care not to swallow it!

Brian Johnson DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
BrianJohnsonDMD.com
BrianJohnsonDMD@gmail.com

Do You Grind Your Teeth?

"Keep a stiff upper lip" or "get a grip!" That's often the advice we get-and give-on how to cope with stress. If you take it literally, the result could be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws. It's called bruxism, and often it happens as we sleep, caused not just by stress and anxiety but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked.

What Is Bruxism? Bruxism is the official name for teeth grinding. Symptoms include a dull headache or a sore jaw.
You could have teeth that are painful or loose from severe grinding. This can lead to fractures in your teeth.
Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep.
If stress is the cause you need to find a way to relax! Physical therapy, muscle relaxants, counseling and even exercise may help reduce tension.
Don't make your teeth the brunt of your stress.