The Greatest Love of All?

We're found of quoting these words of wisdom from the late comedian and children's show host, Soupy Sales: "Be true to your teeth, and they'll never be false to you." Still, we at Hamlin Dental Group can't help but be impressed by the unwavering commitment to our pearly white friends of viral YouTube sensation, Kansas resident Abbie Kritz.

As any oral surgeon or dentist in Van Nuys or anywhere else can tell you, patients can often have interesting and amusing reactions to the very safe yet definitely powerfully effective anesthetics that we use. Ms. Kritz, who really does seem to be a very nice young lady,  was apparently captured on tape by her mother and boyfriend as they were driving her home from having her wisdom teeth removed. Her feelings were marked by amusingly sincere remorse for her lost friends, her wisdom teeth. While it's pretty funny, we have to say we find ourselves oddly moved. It's pretty obvious that Ms. Kritz is a very nice young lady, and we strongly suspect that any pets she has are very well taken care of.

In case you haven't seen the video can yet, you can see what we mean right here.


Of course, all of this is in good fun. Ms. Kritz is back to normal now and enjoying her 15 minutes of fame (she was just featured on "Good Morning, America" and her Twitter feed is quite busy). She is no doubt aware that, while teeth are very important, they probably don't have any individual consciousness. Still, a dentist in Northridge or anywhere else has to be impressed with her passion.

New Study Shows that Flouride in Drinking Water Decreases Risk of Tooth Decay

At Hamlin Dental Group, dental health is our top priority, so our interest was certainly piqued at a recent article from the publication Medical News Today. The headline of the piece basically spells it out: 'Adults Who Consume Fluoride in Drinking Water at Decreased Risk for Tooth Decay'.

The article goes on to state that a recent study completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of North Carolina and the University of Adelaide in Australia has produced strong evidence that fluoride in drinking water provides dental health benefits to adults and children. At Hamlin, we've understood the value of fluoride in prolonging the strength of tooth enamel for a number of years, and we've wondered about the repercussions of recent trends to avoid fluoride by drinking bottled water instead of public tap water.

As the most trusted dentists in Southern California, we take the health of our community very seriously. Whether you're looking for a dentist in Northridge or a dentist in North Hollywood, we will always have a warm, knowledgeable dental professional eager to assist you in any dental need. Of course, those looking for a dentist in Van Nuys don't have far to look, either, as our practice on Hamlin is right in the heart of Van Nuys.

Regardless of which region of the valley our patients hail from, we want to make sure their teeth are strong and healthy, well into old age. That's why we recommend those who elect to avoid fluoride-fortified drinking water rinse with fluoride mouthwash on a regular basis. At Hamlin, we always love to see you, but hopefully only for regular cleanings, and not emergency dental issues!

To schedule a consultation, contact us today, and remember to brush, floss, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash regularly!

A Noble Profession

Don't ask us why or how, but this morning we stumbled on a fun article by a Dr. Stephanie McGann in The Unionville Times of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It caught our eye for the obvious reason that it's about dentists. Believe us, whether you're a  a dentist in Chester County or a dentist in Van Nuys, you're interested in anything having to do with dentists that goes beyond taking care of teeth. In this case, we were reminded that the famed patriot and midnight rider Paul Revere took up dentistry as a side business when his day job, silver smithing, was hit by hard times thanks to the hated British Stamp Act.

The article went on to mention future grape juice magnate Thomas Welch, character actor Edgar Buchanon (Uncle Joe of "Petticoat Junction" for your old-time TV fans), famed Western writer Zane Gray (Riders of the Purple Sage), and real-life Western legend “Doc” Holliday. Holiliday, of course, has the kind of resume none of us here at Hamlin Dental Group are ever likely to attain. Participating in the famed gunfight at the OK Corral is one thing, but it's being played on screen by the likes of Val Kilmer in "Tombstone,", Kirk Douglas in "Gunfight at the OK Corral," Jason Robards in "Hour of the Gun," and Victor Mature in "My Darling Clementine" that really impresses us.

Still, we have to give a nod to another legendary dentist, Herbie the Elf, the heroic misfit of the stop-motion animated holiday favorite, "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He's got what a really great dentist in Northridge (or anywhere else) needs -- a sense of vocation!

Too Sensitive?

While being sensitive emotionally can be a pretty wonderful quality, especially for people in the creative or healing disciplines, when it comes to your teeth it's just kind of annoying. Sometimes its worse than annoying. Excessive sensitivity, particularly to heat and cold, is one of the most common complaints we hear at Hamlin Dental Group.

Apparently, you don't have to be a dentist in Van Nuys to hear what we've heard. A survey discussed in today's HealthDay News mentioned that an astonishing 1 out 8 adults report some sensitivity in their teeth. There were some other somewhat counterintuitive observations included in the report. It appears that sensitivity is more of a younger person's problem, as people under 44 were more than three times likely to report sensitivity as an issue. As to the reasons for the issue, a number of possible culprits have been pointed to including excessive teeth whitening and even alcohol consumption.

Occasionally, sensitivity can be a sign of a significant dental issue, such as a cavity, receding or swollen gums, or chipped teeth. So, if you're enjoyment of very cold or very hot foods or drinks is being hampered by sensitivity, don't wait to contact a Hamlin dentist in Northridge,Van Nuys, or North Hollywood. Sensitivity can be often be handled by doing something as simple as switching toothpaste brands, but it can also be a sign of something important.

Some Quick National Children's Dental Health Month Activities

As National Children's Dental Health Month is wrapping up, we here at Hamlin Dental Group want to share some fun activities for teaching good dental hygiene to kids that we've found around the web. After all, we've dedicated portions of our careers to investing in engaging ways to instruct children of all ages about their teeth. Hamlin Dental Group recommends regular visits to our office to guarantee whole mouth health and to catch issues before they get worse. We have locations for a dentist in Northridge, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood, so feel free to visit the office closest to you.

Until your visit to a Hamlin dentist in Van Nuys, Northridge, or North Hollywood, here are a few ideas to inspire good dental habits at home (or perhaps suggest to your child's teacher):

• Soak hard boiled eggs in soda for a day and then brush them. This shows how bad cola can be for your teeth and it's fun to see them get white again. This can also be done with other drinks for comparison (we've seen Kool-Aid and lemonade as two other examples).
• Create a "dental describing toothbrush". It's made out of paper and the child writes how their teeth feel after brushing. Think of it as positive reinforcement!
• Floss out Play-Doh from the spaces in Mega Blocks using yarn. Most people already have these things around the house and it's a great way to practice the essentials of flossing.
• Make your own activity! The bottom of a soda bottle can be painted white to look like a tooth and you can make a mouth using egg carton teeth or marshmallows on construction paper. One particular favorite is using dry beans and pink Play-Doh.
• Twice daily brushing chart to hang in the bathroom. This seems to be very popular. Any type of visual reminder that works is great!

For fuller instructions, most of these can be searched on Google! Call Hamlin Dental Group for more information on our services at 888-400-8011.

Join Hamlin Dental Group in the Fight Against Gum Disease

February is not only Children’s Dental Awareness Month; it is also Gum Disease Awareness Month. It might seem like a strange theme for an entire month, but designating  February Gum Disease Awareness Month might seem more practical in light of the fact that gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is the most common disease in the U.S. The disease affects 85% of Americans on some level. Why, you might ask? It boils down to poor dental hygiene, lack of visits to the dentist, and, the fact that there are really no warning signs of early-stage periodontitis. Gum disease is also proven to be linked to the most serious physical conditions, like heart attack, stroke, and cancer.

We are not sharing this information to alarm our patients, but to remind them that it is so important to keep annual appointments with your Hamlin dentist in Van Nuys, Northridge, or North Hollywood. In the case that a patient is already suffering from gum disease, Hamlin Dental Group offers exceptional periodontic services to the client. Treatments for early-stage gum disease are available. In some cases, more serious measures are taken, with the Hamlin periodontist grafting replacement tissue from the roof of the mouth to the gums. 

Our patients can be sure that the Hamlin dentist in Northridge, Van Nuys, or North Hollywood will make the proper recommendations to treat existing gum disease. In the interest of preventing gum disease, schedule a dental exam with your local Hamlin office this month.

National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month.  As family oriented dentists, Hamlin Dental Group is, of course, dedicated to promoting good oral health and hygiene for the whole family, and children obviously hold a very special place.

At the same time, we all know that when a child goes to visit a dentist in Van Nuys or anywhere else, there can be some very special challenges. The key, we've learned, is to get on off the right foot with the child. That's why we emphasize an approach the emphasizes kindness and empathy with children and, of course, doing our very best to keep them as comfortable as possible.

If we can get little ones to feel like their Hamlin dentist in Northridge or at our other sites throughout the San Fernando Valley is a friend, and not someone to avoid, we can go a long way toward setting them on the good habits that will help preserve their teeth throughout childhood and on into adulthood. That why we make sure all of our superb, highly empathetic dentists know how to work with kids of all ages. After all, the issues that might concern a 7 year-old and a 14 year-old are pretty different, and it's important for dentists to understand that.

Truly, taking care of kids' teeth is one of the very highest priorities at Hamlin Dental Group. If we can give kids the right start in life with the dental health, the chances of them of having a healthy mouth -- and good overall health -- their entire life improves exponentially.