Prioritize your oral health with regular checkups!

Has it been six months since you came in for a dental checkup with Dr. Scheier & Associates? It's important to visit our office for regular dental checkups, in addition to brushing and flossing on a regular basis.

With school, work and sports to consider, Dr. Scheier and our team know that it can be challenging to find time to visit our office. In order to accommodate all of our patients' busy schedules, it is best that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give Dr. Scheier and our team with at least 24 hours advance notice if you are unable to make an appointment. Beginning February 1, 2011 you will be charged a $35 fee if 24 hours’ notice of cancelation has not been provided to our office. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your winter appointment.

Thank you for your understanding!

-Dr. Scheier and team

Today marks the 25th anniversary of MLK Day

The activism of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was integral to the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950s and ‘60s. As the social justice leader once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” There are many ways that you can answer this question, whether it is participating in a environmental impact project, volunteering through an education program, or serving veterans and military families. Are you in search of a Day of Service project? You can always ask Dr. Mitchell Scheier, or visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service website.

All of us here at Dr. Mitchell Scheier Family and Cosmetic Dentistry would love to hear what you’re doing for others in our Havertown, PA community. We encourage you to share any pictures, videos, or information about your Day of Service project on our Facebook page. Happy MLK Day!

Gummy Tummy, from Dr. Mitchell Scheier

At the practice of Dr. Mitchell Scheier we know the rumors going around—mostly among young people—that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing!

Tuesday Toothbrush Trivia, from Dr. Mitchell Scheier

It isn’t any big news to dentist Dr. Mitchell Scheier that toothbrushing dates back 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 began practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss:

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• If you don’t floss, you are only cleaning 65% of your tooth surfaces
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Replace your toothbrush every two months, when bristles appear worn, or after recovering from a cold or flu
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873