Your turn! From New Image Dentistry

Week after week, Dr. Blourchian and our staff at New Image Dentistry blog about important topics pertinent to dental care. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the field of dentistry? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

Five helpful tips to avoid plaque, from Dr. Allen Blourchian

Dr. Blourchian knows Nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Let’s start with not brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is not flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to visit Dr. Blourchian is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your dentist at least twice a year, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick that candy up, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, please give Dr. Blourchian and team a call at (615) 591-4490.

At New Image Dentistry, a pursuit of excellence

At New Image Dentistry, Dr. Allen Blourchian and team make every effort to provide you with the best dental treatment possible. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Dr. Blourchian do that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven cosmetic dental technologies available
2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant
3. Training our entire team on new dental techniques
4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about cosmetic dental treatment, please give us a call at (615) 591-4490. Dr. Blourchian and team look forward to seeing you.

February is also National Children’s Dental Health Month, from Dr. Blourchian

Last week, the team at New Image Dentistry discussed February, also known in the dental world as "Heart Month." Well, did you know February is also National Children’s Dental Health Month, and Dr. Allen Blourchian is here to tell you about the need for preventative oral care in kids. For 60 Februaries, the American Dental Association, or ADA, has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. National Children's Dental Health Month began as a one-day event in 1941 in a Cleveland clinic. Forty years later, however, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Every February, Dr. Blourchian and thousands of fine dental professionals across the U.S. focus on the preventive oral care of our children. Dr. Blourchian and our staff want you to remember developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Has your child visited New Image Dentistry the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!

February is American Heart Month, from New Image Dentistry

Did you know February is Heart Month? It’s a great time to take notice of the health of your heart, says Dr. Blourchian. Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our office regularly can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. And because people with dental insurance are more likely to visit their dentist when they should, a healthy mouth begins with a visit to New Image Dentistry. In observance of Heart Month, Dr. Blourchian says it’s also important to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25). If you have any questions about heart health, or about your treatment at New Image Dentistry, please give us a call today.

Toothbrush trivia with Dr. Blourchian!

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It wasn’t until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste), from Dr. Blourchian and team:

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every two months
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873

At New Image Dentistry, 24/7 access to your account

At New Image Dentistry, our professional team and Dr. Blourchian embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative dental treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Nashville and Franklin.

Did you know Dr. Blourchian's patients have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You may look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what some of our patients are saying about this service!

"It is nice to be able to slowly browse for information without worrying about wasting anyones time. This way I can be sure about what the important things I need to ask when calling." ~ Scherra V.

"It seems to me very few dentists have this sort of internet-based service. Very good." ~ Byron S.

"No call needed to update insurance state, or to confirm next appointment time." ~ Jean K.

"I am a new patient and used Sesame for the first time. I was able to easily check and confirm my appointment. It looks like a very easy site to use." ~ Earl M.

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at New Image Dentistry if you have any questions!