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Smoking Cessation Timeline

Here are the health benefits over time if you quit smoking:

*In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increases.

*Carbon Monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood's ability to carry Oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal, increasing your blood oxygen level to normal. Your Oxygen levels effect your healing ability.

*At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases

Why Do I Need X-Rays?

Radiographic, or X-ray, examinations provide your dentist with an important tool that shows the condition of your teeth, its roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones. X-rays can help your dentist determine the presence or degree of periodontal (gum) disease, abscesses and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumors. X-rays also can show the exact location of impacted and unerupted teeth. They can pinpoint the location of cavities and other signs of disease that may not be possible to detect through a visual examination.

Do I Really Need to Floss?

Yes. Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth, including places where toothbrushes can't reach. This can lead to gum disease. By ﬂossing your teeth daily, you increase the chance of keeping them for a lifetime and decrease the chance of getting gum disease.

Men: Looking for a Better Job? Start by Visiting the Dentist

An online poll of 289 general dentists and consumers confirms the traditional stereotype that men are less likely to visit the dentist than their female counterparts, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.

The Mouth and Body Connection

Scientific research shows a connection between gum disease and serious systemic diseases including: Diabetes, Heart disease, respiratory disease, blood clots and strokes, pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease. The studies linking gum disease to these other diseases explain that the infection in your gum tissue may serve as the entry point for bacteria to invade your body.