Roach Family Dentistry Winter 2018

Roach Family Dentistry Winter 2018

Your Smile News

Winter 2018

From Roach Family Dentistry & Associates

TAKING ON CAUSES THAT ARE CLOSE TO US Dentistry From The Heart and Breast Cancer Awareness

Some have been recently diagnosed, and their oncologists communicate with us about their treatment and dental care. Others have fought and survived breast cancer, and we help them get back to good oral health.

How has your fall been? We’ve been busy around here, and you know what? We’re grateful for that! It’s all been good things. We wrapped up our seventh free day of dentistry with Dentistry From The Heart in September. I couldn’t be more proud of our team for taking on this cause with such a positive spirit and

Studies even show a link between periodontal disease and the likelihood of developing breast cancer. One study in Sweden looked at 3,000 women and found that those with serious, chronic gum disease were 11 times more likely to have breast cancer. The correlation to gum disease is associated with chronic inflammation in the body, and it’s a connection we are trying to create awareness of for our patients. That way, we can work as a team to prevent it. You can read more about what to be aware of when it comes to breast cancer and gum disease inside the newsletter. As it gets closer to the holidays, I’m grateful for the wonderful people I have in my life — my wife, my kids, my team at work, and you, our patients! At home, we’re preparing for the holiday season. Since my wife’s family lives in Nashville, we spend time here with her family and then go to Memphis, where I grew up and where my family still lives. It’s nice to get a taste of home and it’s always good to go back where I’m from, even if it’s just for a visit. On Thanksgiving, you’ll find me stationed somewhere near the smoker. Smoking the turkey is a tradition for me, and I love it. For the most part, once you get the meat on the smoker, it’s relaxing. From all of us at Roach Family Dentistry, thanks for trusting us with your oral health. We’re so glad to serve your dental needs and keep Nashville smiling. Happy Holidays! We’ll see you next year!

donating their time to this day. It’s truly something special we get to be part of. Lorraine stepped up to the plate and helped make sure everything ran smoothly. The day went really well, and we feel so good about it. We

were lucky to have great volunteers from other offices, including surgeons and assistants. In total, we contributed just over $26,000 in free dental services and saw 68 patients. My team was amazing, and they made it possible to give back to our community. In our seventh year, it feels like the knowledge and awareness of our Free Day of Dentistry is growing. The more we do it, the more often I run into people at the store or around town who stop me to say, “Oh, you’re the ones who do the Free Day of Dentistry,” and patients mention they heard about it. The awareness of it has really grown, and it’s a great feeling. I could not do this community service without our team and everyone else in the area who gets involved. I’m so grateful to have you!

In October, we took on another cause — the fight against breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s something we are very aware of here. I feel fortunate to say I haven’t been personally affected by this disease, but it’s still a cause that’s close to me. We’re a family practice, so we see patients of all ages, including patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

–Dr. Roach

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Enjoy These 6 Autumn Activities

Fun for the Whole Family!

time to take advantage of it by bundling up with some hot chocolate and s’mores.

Throughout November, everyone is eagerly looking forward to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, but you shouldn’t let the rest of the month slip past you! Enjoy these other fall activities with the whole family. HOMEMADE CARAMEL APPLES Homemade treats are no doubt far better than their store- bought counterparts. Try your hand at making your own caramel apples for the whole family to enjoy. You can also add a number of toppings to liven things up, such as nuts, white or milk chocolate, coconut, sprinkles, or pecans. BACKYARD BONFIRE During these cold months, you may be tempted to stay indoors, but heading outside for a bonfire is a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying the brisk weather. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, now is the perfect

AUTUMN ARRANGEMENTS It’s time to get crafty! Creating your own fall arrangements will ensure that your home has the seasonal decorations you want. Making beautiful fall flower arrangements for your kitchen table or wreaths for your front door to greet guests will create the desired autumn vibe you’ve been searching for. MOVIE NIGHT Gather your loved ones in the living room with popcorn, blankets, and a great film. Make the most of your autumn evenings by cozying up and spending quality time with each other while watching some family holiday favorites, like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” or the Thanksgiving comedy- drama “Pieces of April.”

Should Parents Help Pull Loose Baby Teeth?

Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage for children. It’s a sign that they are growing up! Many parents are excited to be part of this experience and re-enact the traditions of their childhood. How many of you remember a parent tying one end of a string to your tooth and the other to a doorknob, helping the tooth come out with a single slam? This “trick” for getting out a loose tooth is a time-honored tradition — and it’s also one of the worst ways to handle a loose baby tooth! You should never force a tooth to come out before it’s ready. If a tooth is yanked out before the root is fully dissolved, the root can break and cause a great deal of pain. Forcing a tooth out can also damage gum tissue or the surrounding teeth, leading to infection. Some parents want to get loose teeth out of their child’s mouth as soon as possible because they’re worried the tooth will get swallowed by accident. If this happens, you don’t have to be alarmed. A baby tooth is not a choking hazard and a swallowed tooth will pass through your child’s body without any trouble. At most, you may have to help your child write a letter to the tooth fairy explaining what happened. If your child is begging you to take out their loose tooth, don’t go searching for the string. Instead, take a tissue and gently apply pressure on the tooth with two fingers. The tooth should pop right out. However, if the tooth resists or your child complains about any pain, leave the tooth alone a little longer. The best way to deal with a loose tooth is to have patience and let your child wiggle their tooth until it falls out on its own. Loose teeth will fall out when the time is right.

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HOME-COOKED FOOD When autumn rolls around, pie and warm cider may be high on your list of tasty treats you’re eagerly anticipating. This fall, encourage your family to take part in making annual goodies and sharing them with your neighbors. Nothing warms the heart more than receiving a loaf of freshly baked pumpkin bread during these increasingly cold days. KNITTED SCARVES If you’re handy with knitting needles, now is the season to put them to work. Hand-knitted scarves are great gifts to give throughout the fall and winter, and you can also make it a family activity! Take some time to teach your kids how to knit and crochet to create scarves of their very own.

DAVID ROACH FROM THE DESK OF As I mentioned on the cover, October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at our office, we looked for ways to support our patients and community. In addition to creating awareness around this disease and its connection to oral health, there are some additional oral-health concerns we have for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Chemotherapy or radiation can leave the mouth more prone to infections and cause conditions like dry mouth, which can lead to more cavities. Because of these side effects, we do our best to coordinate cleanings and fillings with a patient’s cancer treatment. Usually, this means scheduling dental appointments before the patient starts chemotherapy and radiation, especially for any periodontal treatment, and it may also mean scheduling more frequent cleanings before and after to further protect their oral health. As dentists, we have a role to play in planning a patient’s oral care to work with their cancer treatment. We collaborate with a patient’s medical team to provide them with treatment that makes sense for them. It’s a conversation that goes both ways. If we need to reach out to an oncologist, we will. Sometimes the oncologist will reach out to us and recommend the dental treatments they want us to perform before the patient begins treatment. The bottom line is this: We work together to provide the best dental care for our patients going through cancer treatment and recovery. We want to do our part to ensure that oral health doesn’t take a hit during this time. If you have any questions about what to expect, don’t hesitate to reach out. If you’d like to learn more about breast cancer and oral health, I recently wrote a blog post on this subject. You can read it at GreenHillsDentist.net/blog. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ORAL HEALTH AND BREAST CANCER

FALL REFERRAL CONTEST WINNER VICTORIA V.

This winter’s referral contest winner will receive a 43-inch 4K Smart Roku TV!

Drawing is Dec. 31, 2018!

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Roach Family Dentistry & Associates 3824 Bedford Ave. Nashville, TN 37215

615-499-5615 GreenHillsDentist.net

INSIDE The Fall/Winter Edition Page 1 Caramel Apples, Knitting, and Bonfires Page 2 The Right Way to Handle Loose Baby Teeth Page 2 From the Desk of David Roach Page 3

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

In the Months to Come...

Do you have family and friends in town for the holidays? Don’t let them go through the holidays in pain! WE’RE OPEN! $99 special for exam and x-rays! Mention code “Pain Free”

$499 Holiday Zoom special

Ask about our BRAND NEW Senior Savings Plan!

Mention promo code “Bright Christmas”

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