Love your smile? Tell the world ALL ABOUT IT!

At the dental practice of Dr. Michael G. Long, we treat patients in a casual, relaxed, and family-friendly environment. Dr. Long and his team are dedicated to giving you, our patient, the care you deserve and the healthy, bright smile you want. Oral hygiene is at the core of what we do. We believe that a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy lifestyle, and we always want you to feel like your smile matters – because to us, it does!

Whether you've visited Drs. Perry and Long for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is doing! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Places page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Dr. Long create more beautiful smiles in Fresno and surrounding communities here in Fresno County.

You may write a review here.

Thank you and enjoy your weekend! Dr. Long and team look forward to reading your reviews!

What is your New Year's Resolution?

2011 is here—and what a year 2010 was at the office of Dr. Michael Long! Today, we thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to this year? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

What is your New Year's Resolution?

2011 is here—and what a year 2010 was at the office of Dr. Michael Long! Today, we thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to this year? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

What helps you relax at our office?

Drs. Perry and Long understand that not everyone is always thrilled to see the dentist. But we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit.

At our Fresno office, we treat patients in a casual, relaxed and family-friendly environment. Drs. Perry and Long and our team are dedicated to giving you, our patient, the care you deserve and the healthy, bright smile you want.

Today, we’d like to know: What is it about our office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Drs. Long or Perry?

Let us know by posting here, on Facebook or by giving us a call! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Congrats to our GIANTS!

Dr. Long and our entire staff would like to congratulate our San Francisco Giants for winning the 2010 World Series last night! They won the Series in just 5 games, which is VERY impressive no matter WHO you play, and we couldn't be more proud of them!

Don't throw your insurance benefits away! From Dr. Long & team

Our entire team at Michael G. Long DDS would like to give those patients with flex spend, health savings, or insurance benefits a friendly end of the year reminder that it's about that time to schedule your dental visit so you can optimize your benefits!

Now is the time to reserve you appointment with us. Space is limited and we get VERY busy around the holidays, so don’t wait to give us a call! Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Dr. Michael Long wants to know: Do you suffer from sleep disorders?

Are you drowsy during the day with no explanation? Do you snore loudly, or wake up breathless in the middle of the night? If so, you may be one of more than 50- to 70 million Americans affected by some form of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical problem that if left untreated can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. It can also take a toll on your overall energy level, as sleep apnea causes an ongoing state of fatigue.

If you suspect that you or someone in your family is suffering from sleep apnea, please give us a call and we can refer you to a sleep apnea specialist here in Fresno. The specialist may recommend a "sleep study" to diagnose the precise extent of the problem, and can prescribe appropriate treatment. Depending on your situation, treatment may involve an oral device that we can custom-create for you.

$1.25 for a cavity?

Our staff at Michael G. Long DDS know that vending machines are a quick way to satisfy hunger: you put in $1.25 and you get back a candy bar, bag of chips or even a soda. But that’s not all! Vending machines not only dispense sweet treats and caffeine bursts, but they also dispense cavities!

Every time you chow down on that chocolate bar the bacteria in your mouth have a party feasting on the sugar. The sugar quickly turns into acid; that’s right, ACID!!! The acid sits on your teeth and eats away at the tooth’s natural enamel (the stuff that protects your tooth from decay). When this enamel is eaten away by the acid on your tooth, you get a cavity! Brushing your teeth after eating a sugary treat can help prevent cavities; but before you indulge remind yourself: “can’t brush? Hold the sugar!”

When choosing a snack, Drs. Perry and Long want you to consider these nutritional options that will not only satisfy your hunger and that "sweet tooth," but won’t cause acid build up resulting in cavities:

•Fresh Fruits (berries, oranges, melon, pears, etc)
•Raw Vegetables (broccoli, celery, carrots, etc)
•Bread
•Pretzels (low salt)
•Milk (low or non-fat)
•Cheese (low or non-fat)
•Nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc)
•Sliced meat

Hope this helps! Give us a call at 559-432-4850 if you have any questions! Happy Thursday!

Tell us about your summer plans!

It’s summertime here at Michael G. Long DDS, which means a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories is here to stay for a couple more months. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, taking in a camping trip, hitting California’s open roads or just having fun around Fresno, we want to hear all about it! Leave a comment on our Facebook page and tell us about your summer!

We also encourage you to post any photos from your adventures to our Facebook wall!

Happy & safe travels everyone!

Patient question: "What's the deal with nail biting? Is it all that harmful?"

OK, so you know that biting your nails is a bad habit, but many people still wonder: what’s so awful about biting your nails once in a while? Recently, Dr. Michael Long and staff came across an interesting article on biting nails and the effect it has on your teeth and oral health.

Not only is nail biting unsanitary, it's also unattractive, unhealthy for your teeth and expensive!

Look at it this way:

• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.

• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good those pearly whites. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth, contributing to teeth misalignment.

• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your that pesky habit of biting your nails. Have any questions about nail biting? We encourage you to ask Dr. Long next time you're in for a visit!

Ask Dr. Long: Can I swallow my chewing gum?

Dr. Michael Long and team know about all 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 everyone!

Write a review of Dr. Michael Long!

At the dental practice of Dr. Michael G. Long, we treat patients in a casual, relaxed, and family-friendly environment. Dr. Long and his team are dedicated to giving you, our patient, the care you deserve and the healthy, bright smile you want. Oral hygiene is at the core of what we do. We believe that a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy lifestyle, and we always want you to feel like your smile matters – because to us, it does!

Whether you've visited Dr. Long for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is doing! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local listing and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Dr. Long create more beautiful smiles in Fresno and surrounding communities here in Fresno County.

You may write a review here.

Thank you and enjoy your week! Dr. Long and team look forward to reading your reviews!

Your turn! From Dr. Michael Long

Week after week, Dr. Long and our creative team blog about important topics pertinent to dental care and your well-being, including innovative dental techniques offered at the office of Michael G. Long. Today, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our loyal patients and readers: 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 in the coming months? 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!

"Hey, Dr. Long! Which toothbrush should my child use?"

Dr. Michael Long will tell you that brushing your teeth is one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. But the question remains: which type of toothbrush should your child use? When choosing a toothbrush, look for round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Choose one that is specifically designed for children's smaller mouths and hands. Also, look for large handles that can help children control the toothbrush. Lastly, throw out a toothbrush after three months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles have the ability to harm your gums, and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.

As far as which toothpaste is best? It doesn't matter as long as it has fluoride in it. However, for small children who tend to swallow toothpaste, do not use fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to touch each tooth and every side of that tooth. Also, you do need to gently brush on your gums.

To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your child, we encourage you to read this helpful article from Parenthood.com. Or, you may give us a call at 559-432-4850 and we'll try to answer any question you may have about keeping your child's mouth as healthy as possible!

Dr. Long wants to know: could you be a teeth whitening addict?

Dr. Michael Long knows people want to look and feel great, and at a time when a set of sparkling teeth might mean the difference between getting a job, more and more folks are complaining about irritation and bleeding gums, excessive teeth sensitivity and translucent teeth.

At Michael G. Long DDS, we are proud of offer the latest in in-office whitening. The process takes just about an hour in our office. During chair-side bleaching, Dr. Long will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.

We also have in-home whitening treatments, including teeth whitening trays, teeth-whitening strips, paint-on teeth whitening and whitening toothpaste. While all toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.

Lastly, our friends at WebMD have written a helpful article on teeth whitening addiction, and we encourage you to give it a read if you suspect you may have a teeth whitening addiction.

Mr. Bean goes to the dentist! From Dr. Long

How about a treat today? Above is a little classic dental humor for you to enjoy, from the bumbling yet lovable British spy, Mr. Bean. Our staff loved it, and know you'll get a laugh as well. Enjoy "Mr. Bean Goes to the Dentist”!

Dr. Michael Long, helping kids overcome fears of the dentist

Dr. Michael Long is well-aware that many children have fear when it comes to visiting the dentist. Our team at Michael G. Long DDS found a great article on helping kids overcome fears of the dentist, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Dr. Long and our team excel at making children feel comfortable visiting the dentist. In fact, most of our young patients look forward to their next visit!

Has your child visited us in the last six months? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment!

Smile wider, live longer, from Dr. Michael Long

Folks with big smiles may live than those who don’t, according to a new study at Michigan’s Wayne State University.

We’ve known for a long time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers there used information from the Baseball Register to look at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball before 1950. The players' photos were enlarged, and a rating of their smile intensity was made (big smile, no smile or partial smile).

The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then corrected their analysis to account for other factors associated with longevity, such as body mass index, or BMI, career length and college attendance. The researchers found that players who weren't smiling died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer!

-- Dr. Long

Ask Dr. Long: Why cosmetic dentistry?

At Michael G. Long DDS, we know your smile is one of the most important aspects of your appearance. With the advent of new aesthetic dental treatments, a stunning, memorable smile is now easily within your reach. Offering cosmetic dentistry in Fresno and Central Valley, Dr. Michael Long would love to see you for a smile makeover if you are experiencing the following "symptoms":

* Do you hesitate when you smile?
* Would you like to increase your self-confidence?
* Do you want to look your best in social or professional situations?
* Are you ready to reverse dental imperfections caused by Mother Nature or an accident?

Dr. Long and our dedicated team can help you achieve your smile goals. Cosmetic dentistry is art and science working seamlessly together to offer smile enhancement, restoration, and maintenance for your optimal dental health. Using cutting-edge techniques and advanced materials, Dr. Long proudly offers you a beautiful, natural smile and all the benefits that come with it. You will look and feel better because a beautiful smile is a healthy smile.

If you have been wanting that perfect smile, please give us a call at 559-432-4850! We'd love to help!

March is National Nutrition Month! From Dr. Michael Long

You may remember our post from a few weeks ago about February being National Children's Dental Health Month. Well, we're now well into March, and March happens to be National Nutrition Month. Every March, Dr. Michael Long, as well as thousands of dentists take time to celebrate this occasion. This March, Dr. Long and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

Dr. Long and team know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet beginning this March:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Look locally: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods here in Fresno.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, enjoy some fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you care for a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts.

We hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions and have a great week!