Heart Health Information from Your Knoxville Dentist</h1> <article> <h1>Heart Health Information from Your Knoxville Dentist</h1> <p>knoxvilledentist — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:27:10 +0000</p> <p><a href="http://knoxvilledentist.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/heart-health3.jpg"></a>Since February is Heart Health Awareness month, <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/our-doctor.php">Dr. Jim Erpenbach</a> and <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/our-team.php">our staff</a> would like to raise awareness about heart disease. Did you know that the number one killer for men and women is heart disease? As proponents of <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/oral-systemic-dentistry.php">oral-systemic health</a>, our staff genuinely cares about your general wellbeing. <a href="http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm">Emerging research</a> indicates a link between oral health and heart disease. For many patients, heart disease is preventable by adopting a healthy, active lifestyle.</p> <h2>Heart Disease Statistics</h2> <ul> <li>Each year about 700,000 Americans will suffer from their first heart attack.</li> <li>Heart disease is the number one fatal illness among almost all major ethnic groups in the United States.</li> <li>One out of four people in the United States will suffer from heart disease.</li> <li>The most common form of heart-related illness is coronary heart disease.<span id="more-348"></span></li> </ul> <h2>Risk Factors for Heart Disease</h2> <ul> <li>Inactive lifestyle</li> <li>Cigar and cigarette use</li> <li><a href="../2011/11/obesity-linked-to-periodontitis/">Obesity</a></li> <li>High blood pressure</li> <li>Unhealthy cholesterol levels</li> <li>Family history of heart disease</li> </ul> <h2>Tips for Heart Disease Prevention</h2> <p>1. Exercise – The best way to prevent heart disease is to adopt an active lifestyle. We encourage our patients to engage in cardiovascular exercise such as jogging, walking, and swimming at least three times a week.</p> <p>2. Limit saturated fat intake – Patients should be wary of saturated and trans fats. Saturated fats contribute to heart disease by clogging arteries. Patients should opt for healthy fats instead. Healthy fats include almonds, avocados, and olive oil.</p> <p>3. Eat plenty of whole grains – Whole grains and fiber help keep the body from absorbing cholesterol.</p> <p>If you currently have heart disease or are at risk for developing it, we welcome you to discuss your condition with us so that we may better serve your needs. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Erpenbach, contact our <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/">Knoxville dentist office</a> at <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/contact-us.php">(865) 584-8630</a>. We serve patients from the Bearden area and West Knoxville.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Valentine’s Day Tips from Your Knoxville Dentist</h1> <p>knoxvilledentist — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:42:10 +0000</p> <p><a href="http://knoxvilledentist.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/valentines-day-2.jpg"></a>A holiday dear to our hearts, Valentine’s Day has a long history in western civilization. Ancient Romans celebrated a feast day on February 14th, in honor of Juno, the goddess of love and marriage. Some historians believe that a Bishop named Valentine performed marriage ceremonies in secret against Roman decree. In 1537 the English king, Henry VII, declared February 14th as the official day to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Besides the United States, other countries such as Canada, Mexico, France, and Australia celebrate this day as well. Did you know that over $1 billion of <a href="http://knoxvilledentist.co/2011/10/how-chocolate-can-help-your-teeth/">chocolate candy</a> will be purchased for Valentine’s Day? <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/our-doctor.php">Dr. Jim Erpenbach</a> and our staff have composed some helpful tips to keep our patients’ mouths clean, kissable, and fresh.</p> <h2>Helpful Tips for Fresh Breath</h2> <p>• <strong>Use lip balm.</strong> Apply balm throughout the day to keep your lips moist and hydrated. Harsh winter weather tends to dry out our lips.<br /> •<strong> Avoid eating foods that cause bad breath.</strong> This includes onions and garlic as well as some spices such as curry or cumin. When our bodies break down these foods for digestion, their odorous properties are released when we exhale.<br /> • <strong>Drink water throughout the day.</strong> Water helps rinse our mouths and it dilutes particles that feed odor-causing bacteria.<span id="more-334"></span><br /> • <strong>Brush your teeth</strong> and rinse your mouth with water after eating starches and sugars. Chocolate truffles may taste delicious but their sugar content is harmful to your oral health.<br /> •<strong> Look for mints or gum that contain xylitol.</strong> This ingredient is a sugar substitute that won’t affect your oral health.<br /> •<strong> Schedule a <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/general-and-family-dentistry.php">dental cleaning</a>.</strong> When we clean your teeth, we remove surface stains, tartar, and plaque buildup. You will leave our office knowing that your teeth and mouth are spotlessly clean!</p> <p>Our staff would like to wish our readers and patients a Happy Valentine’s Day. To schedule an appointment, contact our <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net">Knoxville dentist office</a> at <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/contact-us.php">(865) 584-8630</a>. We serve the Bearden area of Knoxville and West Knoxville.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Childhood Oral Hygiene Tips From Your Knoxville Dentist</h1> <p>knoxvilledentist — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:16:51 +0000</p> <p><a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/our-doctor.php"></a><a href="http://knoxvilledentist.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/childbrushingteeth.jpg"></a>Dr. Jim Erpenbach believes in providing holistic and comprehensive care to his <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/general-and-family-dentistry.php">patients of all ages</a>. As a proponent of oral systemic health, he believes that oral health is directly related to the health of his patients’ entire bodies. For this reason, our staff works hard to establish proper dental hygiene among children. When children are instructed on the importance of oral hygiene and dental health, they tend to carry these good habits into adulthood. With a focus on preventive dentistry, patients can save themselves from potentially costly and invasive procedures in the future. Below our staff has composed some useful information about childhood oral health that you may not know.</p> <h2>Childhood Oral Hygiene Tips</h2> <ul> <li>Children should visit Dr. Erpenbach before their first birthday. This allows us to check for any abnormalities in their mouths.</li> <li>When your infant’s teeth begin to erupt the gum line, clean his or her mouth with a clean, wet washcloth.</li> <li>Have your child begin using toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush around the age of two.</li> <li><span id="more-312"></span>Gently brush the surfaces of your child’s teeth, gum tissues, and tongue.</li> <li>When your child is able to brush his or her own teeth, make sure to supervise his or her brushing habits to correct improper brushing techniques.</li> <li>Make sure your child only uses a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.</li> <li>Between the ages of four and five, your child should have his or her first dental cleaning. This will help keep his or her mouth clean from harmful bacteria and plaque buildup while also establishing <a href="../2011/07/making-dentistry-comfortable-and-fun-for-your-children/">familiarity with our dentist office</a>.</li> <li>If your child shows signs of tooth decay, Dr. Erpenbach may apply a topical fluoride solution. This will help strengthen tooth enamel, which may prevent cavities.</li> <li>Discourage snacking between meals and promote a healthy, balanced diet that is low in sugar. Harmful bacteria in the mouth feed off sugary foods.</li> </ul> <p>If it is time to bring your child to Dr. Erpenbach, contact our <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/">Knoxville dentist office</a> today at <a href="http://www.knoxvilledentist.net/contact-us.php">(865) 584-8630</a>. We serve patients from West Knoxville and the Bearden area of Knoxville.</p> </article> </main></body></html>