What's on your mind?

Week after week, Drs. Perry & 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!

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!

Dr. Michael Long, protecting you from oral cancer

In our continuing efforts at Michael G. Long DDS to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality dental care available to our patients, we screen our patients for oral cancer. The fact is, every hour of every day in the United States, someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the deadly disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved with time.

Fresno dentist Dr. Michael Long will tell you early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. Ask Dr. Long about a screening at your next appointment and have a great weekend!!

Dr. Michael Long and staff, wishing you a relaxing and memorable Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend, only two days away, is a time when Americans everywhere stop and remember all those men and women who bravely gave their lives for our country.

Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer 2010, and for many folks in Fresno and surrounding communities in Central Valley, getting out of town for three days after being cooped up in the office or in the classroom means sweet, sweet relief. At the office of Dr. Michael Long, we also know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s a season of vacations, adventures and great memories. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hitting the great open roads or hanging out in your backyard this weekend, we want to know about it!

Our entire team at Michael G. Long DDS wish you a nice and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!