In celebrating 25 years as a Waynesvlle, NC dentist, I set out to have a banner year of events to show my team, my patients, and the community how much I have appreciated their support. We pulled out all the stops!

Dr. G’s Movie Night

Our patients enjoyed a private screening of Captain Marvel before the public premiere at The Strand Theatre in Waynesville, NC. We had a superhero costume contest and each person was given a credit for snacks at the concession stand.

Best of Haywood Gala

Team Gillespie won “Best Dentist” in The Mountaineer Best of Haywood polls for the 7^th time. We got dressed to the nines as we joined the rest of our community in honoring excellence in a gala at the Laurel Ridge Country Club.

Delivering WOW Summit

Our team enjoyed a sunny visit to Jamaica for some continuing education as well as some late winter R&R. We sat in on courses that highlighted providing excellent customer service, marketing, and improving the patient experience. We stayed at the beautiful Hyatt Ziva Resort in Montego Bay.

Trash Talk Challenge

We teamed up with the fun-loving group at Haywood Family Eye Care to clean up an area of Waynesville during the DOT’s Spring Cleanup. We had a great time “trash-talking” about who would pick up the most trash, but in the end, our beautiful community of Waynesville, NC was the winner!

25^th Anniversary Celebration

The sun shone bright as we hosted our patients for a delicious barbecue lunch and music by The Brothers Gillespie. We closed off the parking lot of our Waynesville dentist office and had a down-home shindig!

Food Truck Friday

Our team delivered complimentary lunches to workers in the Downtown Waynesville district, as well as the first 50 people who walked up to FUEGO Food Truck.

Dr. G’s Night at the Ballpark

Patients and friends were treated to a night with the Asheville Tourists minor league baseball team, along with a tasty dinner at the ballpark. They also received t-shirts and souvenir sunglasses.

Project Smile 2019

We received 25 nominations for a deserving person in our community to receive a smile makeover. A complimentary exam and smile assessment was given to 3 finalists. Check out this video to see our announcement to the community. Stay tuned to this blog and our social media pages as we will select a winner in the next few days!

One of my original telephone book ads proclaimed, “Some Things Can Only Be Done By Hand.” While it is still true that dentistry is a high-touch practice, technology has transformed many facets of the modern dental office. Chief among these are:

Digital X-Rays. Modern dental x-rays are taken with a digital sensor connected to a computer. These are of higher visual quality and require less exposure time. The images can be enlarged for better evaluation, and can be shared with the patient, specialists, and colleagues via email or file upload.

CEREC Same-Visit Crowns. Using an optical scanner and a milling unit, a tooth requiring crown coverage can now be restored during the same visit. Previously this required goopy impression material, fragile temporary crowns, and a lengthy fabrication time at an off-site dental lab. The crown materials are strong, functional, and esthetically pleasing.

Cone Beam Computerized Tomography. (CBCT) Traditional x-rays are invaluable for the information they provide, but CBCT provides a three-dimensional view of the patient’s anatomy. Using this technology, a dentist can plan and perform dental implant therapy more safely and efficiently by knowing where nerves and anatomical landmarks are located.

Dr. Michael Gillespie has practiced dentistry in Waynesville for 25 years. The modern office uses the technology noted above and is located at 611 S. Haywood St. Please call 456-9007 for more information!

A lot of folks ask us what toothpaste we recommend. We know you have a million and one choices facing you in the toothpaste aisle, and it can be hard to figure out what’s best for you. Many of the products available are “NEW AND IMPROVED!” with the latest dental fad. There are TOTAL, COMPLETE, HEALTH and WHITENING toothpastes, and some patients have even tried charcoal! Depending on your particular needs, any or all of these may suit you.

Cheap is Good

Most people can use any toothpaste that has the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval. This seal means that the toothpaste contains fluoride, has the right amount of abrasiveness (not too little and not too much), and has been shown to be both safe and effective for the intended use. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the job done. You can save a few bucks by choosing brands like Aim, Aquafresh, and Pepsodent from the lower shelves of your grocery or drug store, and the quantities seem to last forever. The U.S. toothpaste market is worth millions of dollars and there are many players in the game. Therefore, each one must differentiate its products in a unique way. This leads to marketing claims of superiority through ingredients designed to whiten teeth, control tartar, and kill bacteria. Unfortunately, many of these chemical ingredients can be harsh to oral tissues. Dealing with my own chemical sensitivity issues, I have found the cheap stuff to be the best.

Sensitive Toothpastes

If you experience sensitivity to cold liquids, a toothpaste for sensitive teeth may reduce symptoms. These products contain a chemical ingredient that blocks the tiny tubules that transmit sensation to the inner tooth. It may take several days or weeks for the chemical compound to do its job, so don’t give up too soon. Most major brands such as Crest and Colgate have sensitivity toothpastes, and others include Sensodyne and Periodontax. The inexpensive brands that I favor also have sensitive teeth options.

Natural Toothpastes

If you have any sensitivity to dyes, preservatives, or certain ingredients, opt for a toothpaste that is free of those. Just make sure it has fluoride. Tom’s of Maine has an anti-cavity toothpaste that contains fluoride, but their other options are not ADA-approved since they do not contain fluoride. Again, I have found help on the bottom shelf for stripped-down toothpastes without an overload of chemical additives.

Things to Avoid

Remember several years ago when soaps that contained Triclosan were all the rage? The FDA has now banned Triclosan from soaps and body washes due to its undetermined effects after long term use. However, it is still available in some toothpastes such as Colgate TOTAL. Several patients in our office, as well as myself, experienced untoward effects after using TOTAL, including sloughing of tongue and cheek tissues, burning mouth, and loss of taste. When choosing a toothpaste, it is best to keep it simple. Fluoride is your best form of cavity prevention, so always select a paste with the ADA seal of approval. We are happy to talk to you about our recommendations for these, as well as other dental products.

Dr. Michael Gillespie has been a practicing Waynesville dentist for 25 years. The award-winning team has been honored to be selected as “Best Dentist” multiple times. Call us to see how we may provide an excellent dental experience for you!

The Importance of Dental X-Rays

A radiographic exam is an integral part of dental screening. In fact, it is the only way to assess areas that are not visible to the naked eye. The surfaces between the teeth are generally where cavities arise in adults, and the bony architecture surrounding the teeth is where gum disease can be evaluated. Just as your physician uses blood tests and other screening tools to assess your physical health, dental radiographs are used to give us a snapshot of your current dental health.

X-Ray Myths Busted

Infrequently, a patient will voice concern over fear of getting cancer from the radiation in dental x-rays. In almost 30 years of involvement in the dental industry, including hundreds of hours of continuing education and interaction with colleagues across the world, I have never heard of a single case where cancer has been linked to dental x-rays. Likewise, if dental x-rays caused cancer, there would be a high incidence among dental personnel, who are around it on a daily basis. This is simply not the case. My advice is to place this concern on those areas that we can control, including diet, tobacco and alcohol use, overexposure to sunlight, and exposure to known chemical carcinogens.

Frequency

Our goal is to provide optimal dental care for our patients. In order to treat dental problems at the earliest stage, we need to have current and accurate information. This saves our patients unneeded time and expense. Our Standard of Care is to take a full set of radiographs on all of our new patients, and x-rays of the posterior teeth on a yearly basis. We will update the full set of x-rays every 3-5 years, and take radiographs of individual teeth depending on the patient’s particular needs.

Many of our patients are over 50 years old and have extensive existing dental work. As we age, it is even more important to have current dental radiographs to assess dental health and protect their investment in their teeth.

Testimonial

“As a retired educator, I try to be pro-active about my dental care. When I read in a recent AARP article that dental x-rays are not needed annually, I advised my hygienist that my husband and I would delay ours. Then I had an exam which revealed the need for a crown and found a broken filling, resulting in the need for an additional crown. In talking with Dr. Gillespie about x-rays, he stressed the importance of regular x-rays as we age. Since the fillings in our teeth age as we do, and since x-rays are the only way the dentist can “see” potential problems before we experience physical symptoms or tooth loss, it is really important to utilize x-rays in order to maintain our dental health. Sometimes “penny-wise” is “pound-foolish.” Needless to say, we will continue paying for annual x-rays as recommended by Dr. Gillespie.”  Beth

Dr. Michael Gillespie has practiced dentistry in Waynesville for 25 years! His award-winning team invites you join their dental family.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and an ideal time to discuss the latest facts and statistics concerning this disease. While oral cancer is relatively rare, it has historically resulted in a high death rate because it is generally diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. To aid in the screening of our patients for oral cancer, we use fluorescence technology along with a tactile and visual exam at each dental re-care appointment. Our patients appreciate it and we believe it is our obligation to provide this important service.

Risk Factors

• Tobacco Use, both smoking and smokeless varieties
• Alcohol Use (More than 1 drink per day for women, and 2 drinks per day for men)
• Age over 40
• Males are 2X as likely to get oral cancer as females
• Exposure to Human Papillomavirus 16
• Use tobacco and alcohol together is related to a 15X increase in oral cancer risk

Increasing Incidence

While oral cancer has decreased in the historical patient type: a heavy drinking male who uses tobacco, cases are actually increasing among the younger population due to Human Papillomavirus 16. This is the same virus that the gynecologist screens for with the “pap smear”. You have probably already put two and two together, but this is a sexually transmitted virus. It is surmised that this effect follows the trend of younger people having less sex, but more oral sex. Most sexually active adults have been exposed to HPV-16 and the body’s immune response generally keeps it in check. However, this virus can become active long after the initial exposure.

What to Look For

• Trouble swallowing or the feeling that something is stuck in your throat
• Lumps, bumps or nodules in the neck. They may or may not be tender
• A white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not dissipate within 2 weeks
• Lumps or bumps on the tongue, palate, lips, or cheeks

Our Screening Protocol

We screen all new patients to our practice, as well as our existing patients at each dental cleaning for oral cancer. We use OralID, which is the latest in fluorescence screening technology, along with a tactile and visual exam. If a suspicious lesion is noted, we will photograph it and enter into the patient’s digital chart. The patient is then scheduled to return for an evaluation in two weeks to verify healing. If the lesion is still present, we make a referral to an oral surgeon or ENT physician for further evaluation and treatment.

Please let us know if you have any questions about a suspicious lesion and we’ll shine some light on it!

Dr. Michael Gillespie has practiced as a Waynesville dentist for 25 years. The office is located at 611 S. Haywood St. in Waynesville, and can be reached at 828-456-9007.

The Benefits of Sleep

The science of sleep has revealed that stacking Z’s is much more important to our physical and mental health than previously thought. There are many physiological processes that take place only while we are sleeping, and during specific stages of sleep. For our bodies to function at their maximum levels, we have to enter the realm of The Sandman.

While we are sawing logs, our body is storing our day’s experiences into our long-term memory, repairing damaged tissues, regulating our hormones, adjusting our insulin levels, and cleaning out garbage and toxins that are built up in our cells as they do the business of running our bodies.

Setting the Stage for Sleep

Our sleep schedule was developed over millenia as our ancestors followed the rising and setting of the sun. When the sun was up, they awoke and got busy with the day’s work. When the sun set, they finished the day’s work and got ready for slumber. In modern times, we have altered the sleep schedule by controlling our environments with artificial light, temperature control, and our daily habits. Studies show that the optimal sleep time is 7 hours, and we need to take steps to ensure it is quality sleep.

Tips for Prime Sleepy Time

Turn off your devices.

Our bodies need almost total darkness to get quality sleep, otherwise the light is transmitted to our brain and disrupts the signal to enter sleep mode. If you can see your hand in front of our face,  it’s time to cut out the night lights. Also, lying in bed with a phone or tablet inches from your face stimulates your brain and indicates it is still day time. Go off the grid 30-60 minutes before your desired sleep hour.

Play it cool.

The desired room temperature is between 60-70 degrees. Turning the temp down a few degrees at night tells your body it is time to snooze. Don’t overdo it on heavy covers and night clothing.

No caffeine after lunch.

Caffeine has a long half-life, and traces of it remain in your system up to 12 hours of ingestion. Drinking coffee and caffeinated soft drinks, and even eating chocolate in the afternoon can disrupt sleep.

Skip the nightcap.

While alcohol can initially make you drowsy, it interrupts sleep hours later as your body metabolizes the sugars in alcohol. This can prevent you from entering the deep sleep states needed for tissue repair and hormone regulation.

Relax, relate, release.

If you have “monkey mind” and can’t stop thinking about the past and future, practice some meditation at bedtime. There are many apps that can guide you through this. Also, search “Theta Waves” on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music. There are many brain wave, sleep-inducing pieces that can provide some background noise that is ideal for snoozing.

So, Why is a Dentist Talking About Sleep?

Through my own personal journey with sleep apnea, I became educated in the subject of sleep. Proper sleep is a fundamental part of  overall health, and  dentists can provide a great service to their patients who suffer from sleep apnea by fabricating oral appliances to maintain an open airway during sleep. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea: snoring, loss of breath during sleep, and daytime fatigue, we may be able to help. Contact our Waynesville dentist office for a complimentary airway assessment to see if you may be a candidate for an oral sleep appliance. We look forward to helping you improve your health!

Dr. Michael Gillespie is celebrating 25 years as a Waynesville dentist! The award-winning team provides a wide range of modern dental services including dental implants, orthodontics, CEREC same-visit crowns, oral sleep apnea devices, as well as routine dental cleanings and traditional dentistry.

Serving Waynesville, Asheville, Sylva, Bryson City, Franklin, and all areas of Western North Carolina.

February is American Heart Month, and you can begin to take care of your heart by taking care of your teeth and gums.

Almost 50% of Americans have some form of gum disease. This is important because those with gum disease are 2-3 times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. So, what is the connection?

Gum disease begins when the plaque that forms around the teeth is not adequately removed. This material is an aggregation of bacteria and bacterial waste products that irritates the gum tissues. If it is not removed, over time it will mineralize and become attached to the teeth like concrete. The body recognizes this material as a foreign invader and activates its immune system to get rid of it.

Think of a splinter!

Think of a splinter in your finger. Very quickly, if it is not removed, you will experience pain, swelling, redness, and heat in the affected area. Your body is sending its defenders to remove the splinter. Over time it can become infected. This same scenario plays out when the foreign invader is embedded in your gums.

The inflammatory process of the gums allows bacteria from the mouth to enter the blood stream. Now it joins other bacteria and cholesterol as it flows through the blood vessels. Recent studies have shown the presence of mouth-specific bacteria in cholesterol plaques of patients suffering from heart disease.

Rx for Dental/Heart Health

To aid in heart health, make sure you are removing plaque from the teeth by brushing meticulously twice daily for two minutes. Eat a heart healthy diet that consists mostly of vegetables and fruits, and limit your red meat intake. If you are a smoker, seek to cut your daily habit in half, moving toward a complete cessation.

See us a minimum of twice yearly to have your teeth cleaned professionally and checked for any evidence of gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer.

We are celebrating 25 years in dentistry this year! We hope to see you around for many years to come, so make a commitment to excellent dental, and therefore, heart health!

  Bad breath has several origins, but is generally caused by sulfuric compounds which are the waste products of bacteria in the mouth. Read on for several tips on combating the breath of death. For a friend, of course!  

Remove Bacteria and Bacterial Waste Products

Sound gross? You ought to see it under a microscope. Live organisms called rods and spirochetes are wriggling in the soft, yellow deposits around your teeth. The longer they live, the more they stink. These need to removed daily by flossing and brushing. And more flossing. (What did you think I was going to say?)  

Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water helps maintain salivary flow and keeps the saliva at a neutral pH. Bacteria love an acidic environment and their waste products are, in fact, acids. This not only smells bad, it also creates holes in the teeth. The goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces. For example, a 150-pound person should drink at least 75 ounces of water every day.  

Eat Yogurt

A study by the International Association for Dental Research showed that eating 3 ounces of yogurt twice daily for 6 weeks resulted in an 80% drop in oral hydrogen sulfide, which is a major cause of bad breath. Go for plain Greek yogurt with no sugar added. This is also excellent for gut health due to the probiotics in the yogurt.  

Clean Your Tongue

Bacteria love dark, warm, moist places. In addition to the spaces between the teeth, the surface of the tongue is a bacterial paradise. Up to 70% of the bacteria that cause bad breath live here. Use a tongue scraper or your toothbrush to gently scrub the tongue. If you have never used a tongue scraper, you will be surprised at the material you remove from your tongue. As an added benefit, food will taste much better!  

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

Many of the processed foods typical in the American diet don’t require much chewing to swallow them. Raw fruits and vegetables, with their fibrous skins and interiors, are nature’s toothbrushes. Broccoli, carrots, apples, and others physically remove bacterial deposits due to the chewing action involved in processing them for digestion. They also add vitamins and anti-oxidants that are absent in processed foods.  

Use OraCare Health Rinse

The ingredient in OraCare is a gas called activated chlorine dioxide. The gas can get access to places that are impossible to reach by liquids and solids, killing bacteria, fungi, and their toxic waste products. Using a two-bottle system, 2 ounces of OraCare is mixed together and swished in the mouth for one minute. Our patients report a reduction in bad breath concerns as well as improved gum health.

Dr. Michael Gillespie has practiced dentistry in Waynesville, NC for 25 years. His award-winning staff provides modern dentistry in a relaxed, caring environment. Call 828-456-9007 to schedule an appointment!  

    For many of us, toothbrushing is such an automatic activity that we don’t put much thought into it. Our teeth deserve our best effort, and the new year is a great time to re-visit the fundamentals of proper brushing habits.

Brush for Two Minutes Twice Daily.

Americans brush their teeth for an average of 45 seconds. Proper brushing takes a minimum of 120 seconds to ensure all surfaces of the teeth are cleansed. Most of us have a smart phone nearby, so set the timer for two minutes, brushing each quarter of the mouth for 30 seconds. You are welcome to stop by our office and pick up a free two-minute hourglass timer as well. Remember to floss before brushing!

Choose a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush That Fits You.

Toothbrushes come in many shapes, sizes, and bristle hardness.  The head should fit easily in your mouth and you should be able to grip the handle well. Gentle brushing with a soft or medium hardness brush is recommended. Healthy gums don’t bleed and aggressive brushing is not advised.

Store Your Toothbrush Properly.

Your toothbrush should be allowed to dry completely between uses. Place it upright in a cup or toothbrush holder in an open area with good airflow. Storing your toothbrush in an enclosed area will allow it to stay damp and encourage growth of germs. Never leave your toothbrush in the shower!

Replace Your Brush Quarterly.

Toothbrush bristles can become worn and frayed, affecting the ability to clean properly. Changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months will ensure cleansing efficiency. It is also recommended that you replace your toothbrush after a cold or flu episode in order to prevent becoming re-infected.

Dr. Michael Gillespie has practiced dentistry in Waynesville for twenty- five years. The office is located at 611 S. Haywood St. in Waynesville, and can be reached at 456-9007. The award-winning dental team would love to discuss additional tips on improving your dental health!

Our office will be closed from December 21 through January 1 for Christmas vacation. Since most other dental offices will be closed as well, finding help for a tooth-related emergency may prove tricky. Read on to learn tips to handle the most common dental emergencies:

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

Toothache

Slight tooth pain may be handled with analgesics. We recommend two 200 mg Ibuprofen and two Extra-Strength Tylenol be taken together, every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. For tooth sensitivity, you may try over-the-counter gels such as Anbesol or Oragel until you can be seen.

Pain & Swelling

Swelling is often a sign of infection and should not be ignored. We recommend you visit Urgent Care or the hospital emergency room at the first sign of swelling in the mouth. There, you may be placed on antibiotics if needed, as well as receive advice on treating your symptoms.

Broken Tooth

If a tooth is chipped and absent of pain, it is likely you can wait until we return to be seen. If you are experiencing sensitivity, try a temporary dental filling material which can be found in drug stores and local grocery stores. You may have to re-apply from time to time, but it will keep the broken area covered and provide relief.

Lost Filling

Similar to broken tooth, seal the affected area with temporary dental filling material until you can be seen.

Loose Crown

Most crowns can be temporarily re-cemented with a temporary dental cement found in stores. If the crown is broken or lost, treat it according to the broken tooth procedure outlined above.

Best Wishes for a Fantastic Holiday!

We hope your holidays will not be affected by oral health issues. But if you feel you need to be seen by a dental professional while we are closed, we have contacted Dr. Lestage of Dental Urgent Care in Asheville to handle true emergencies. His office may be reached at 828-505-3410. To avoid many dental emergencies, we recommend you do not put off necessary treatment. Contact us to schedule your appointment or ask us any questions before our office closure!

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