Putting off dental cleanings could hurt whole body health

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times We all get those pesky reminders from our dentist’s office, reminding us to have our regular preventive visit with the dental hygienist.  I hear over and over that “It’s just a checkup and cleaning — I’ll get to it when I have time.”  Make time, because based on new research done by New York University and Cornell Medicine,...

Breaking those bad dental health habits

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Bad Habits? You betcha – we all have then,nobody’s perfect. We all pick up bad habits along the way. Our personal oral health is no exception. Odds are you, like just about everyone else has picked up a habit or two that is not beneficial. It’s human nature to cut corners in the name of time or money, but with oral health care, the...

An apple a day may keep the dentist away

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times We’ve all heard that “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This old adage has been around for more than 100 years.  While there is no real empirical evidence that regularly eating an apple will replace your primary care physician, there is plenty of evidence that apples are a healthy choice. The vitamins, minerals and fiber are good...

How to quickly treat cold sores

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Got a Cold Sore? Here’s How to Treat It Quickly. A cold sore always crops up at just the wrong time. Nobody likes to have an ugly sore on their lip or corner of their mouth. Finding which cold sore treatment works best for you can help speed along its healing. And that’s why we’re here. Cold sores usually last 7-10 days but how you manage...

Scary teeth are for Jack-O-Lanterns

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Scary teeth may look great on Halloween night but they never look great the next day. Here are a few tips and tricks that may take a bite out of all that Halloween candy. Safety first, when that sack of candy comes home after Trick-or-Treating, always take a few minutes to sort through all that loot. Throw away any candy or treats that are not...

A new world for dentistry

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times It’s a new world in dental care and most people just don’t know. Online dental consultations, called teledentistry is here and here to stay. Have a question? Need advice? Don’t know what to do? For a small fee you can go online to a number of different teledental sites, answer a few questions and get hooked up with a dentist licensed in...

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Buyer Beware, I heard my parents tell me that decades ago when I earned my first paycheck working as a part time lifeguard.  It was the mid 1970’s and I wanted a stereo. Yes I just dated myself. I listened to music before the ipod,earbuds and pandora.  I knew the sound of a needle skipping on a record and the horror of a cassette tape unraveling...

Dental tips for a great vacation

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Hooray — it’s time for the long awaited vacation.  I’m going to share some of the tips on how to handle a dental problem when you are away from home. Nobody wants a tooth problem but being prepared will help lessen the inconvenience and perhaps keep that vacation on track.    Send article as PDF   ...

Do you have a cavity?

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times How do you know if you have a cavity? According to the National Institutes of Health, the most prevalent health condition after the common cold is tooth decay. It’s more than likely that if you haven’t already had a cavity, you will develop at least one in your lifetime. So, how do you know if you have a cavity? Well, depending on the severity...

How being vegan can affect your teeth

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times As the year comes to a close many people are considering changes to make for the new year.  I was recently asked if there were any dental concerns with being vegan.  Does the vegan diet have an impact on dental health? There is no doubt that plant-based food sources can be a healthy choice. Even meat eaters benefit from the nutrients found...