Outshine the Lights This Holiday Season

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It’s hard to compete with the dazzle of the holidays. You try to juggle work, kids, shopping, event planning, event attending, and a ton of other tasks that can leave you frazzled. The problem is, in November and December, everyone seems to take photos! So there you are, looking bedraggled and feeling like a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. What’s the one thing – the one simple thing – you can do now to make those photographs positive memories of the season (rather than kindling for the upcoming winter)?

People agree, the single most important feature, according to studies, is our smile.

People also agree, a bright smile makes a person look better…much better in some cases.

Today, teeth whitening can give you a smile that’s youthfully white and, thus, very attractive. I’m Dr. James Stewart, and at my Livonia general and cosmetic dentistry office, patients can choose from immediate, in-office teeth whitening or a more gradual transformation with professional-strength home whitening kits.

Home kits take two weeks to produce results similar to one-visit, in-office whitening, so you have time for either. When you come in for a teeth whitening consultation, we’ll discuss your experience with whitening systems, your level of tooth sensitivity, and the results you’re looking for. Then, together, we can determine which type of whitening is best for you.

If you live in Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Novi, Garden City, and surrounding communities, my team and I would like to introduce you to our family friendly, fun, and comfortable dental office. Call 734-425-4400 today to schedule a consultation.

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry

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Please Welcome Nameless CPAP to Our Team

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This is our newest addition to the James Stewart, DDS team. Sadly, he does not have a name, and we hope you can help by commenting on our blog or Facebook page with ideas. Here’s the scoop on him:

Nameless is a member of the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure family, commonly called the CPAP family. For many, many years, his family has earned a respected reputation for improving sleep and reducing snoring in many a human. We invited Nameless CPAP to join our team because he desperately needed a job. His entire family is getting laid off, which you might attribute to the economy. But nay, the CPAP family is out of work because they did not keep up with modern technology. They would not take the continuing education required; they would not grow, develop, and transform to meet the needs of their clients. Of late, the Somnomed and Silent Nite families have replaced the CPAPs and are moving sleep apnea therapy into a new age of comfortable, effective treatment.

So, to be honest, we felt sorry for Nameless. He’s ancient and has outlived his usefulness. We allow him to greet our patients in the front office, and his son the modern CPAP, does occasionally work for us on a contract basis. Nameless CPAP works directly under the watchful eye of our office administrator. If he says anything off color or rude, please alert his manager immediately. He is a dying breed, and we respect him as our elder, but if he causes any trouble, he’s going straight to the resale shop.

Our team and patients are coming together in a mercy-effort to give Nameless CPAP a good moniker. Help us out – and get creative! So far, the name list includes Iron Cross, Torture Chamber, Pilot Mask, Stenographer Mask, and OMG Are You Serious? To clarify, that last one was indeed a name idea, not a question. And yes, we are serious.

filed under: Just for Fun

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You Are What You Eat. Just Ask Your Mouth.

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When you think about the word diet, losing weight may come to mind. Or maybe thoughts of which foods are best, as in a balanced or healthy diet. Most people don’t automatically think about their oral health and how it relates to what we eat. I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I’m one of the few who do think about oral health in relation to diet.

Before food ever reaches your stomach, it affects the balance in your mouth. Sugars and starches are converted into acids when they enter the mouth, and these acids are the main cause of tooth decay (cavities). Many health experts tell us to eat small meals often rather than a few large meals in a day. While this is good for our metabolism, it’s not ideal for our mouths unless – unless you eat foods that are low in starch and sugar, and you rinse your mouth with water after eating.

Best foods for oral health include cheese, meats, milk, and nuts because they contain calcium and phosphorus, minerals necessary for remineralization of teeth. Remineralization is the process of restoring minerals to tooth enamel. Acids eat away the minerals, remineralization replenishes them.

You’ve heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Not only are apples and crunchy fruits and veggies good for your bodily health, they’re also good for your mouth. These foods have a lot of water in them to dilute their sugars. Water also promotes saliva production, and saliva equalizes acids while rinsing away food particles so that they don’t sit on teeth and cause demineralization. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living

Operation Gratitude

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You may have read my blog earlier this week about the Halloween Candy Buyback program our office is taking part in.  What you may not know is the bigger picture behind this event — taking part in Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm’s way. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.

Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of funds for shipping expenses, Operation Gratitude provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. Military in an active, hands-on expression of thanks.

Halloween Candy Buyback is just a small part of their overall  program and we are proud to be involved.  Visit Operation Gratitude for more information, videos and what you can do to get involved.

filed under: Community Events

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Halloween Candy Buy Back at Dr. Stewart’s Dental Office

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Have you heard about Halloween Candy Buy Back? We started the annual event last year and had great success, so we’re pleased to host another buy back this year on November 1st and 2nd during regular office hours.

Halloween Candy Buy Back is a great opportunity for our community to recognize American troops overseas. Parents love the event because it involves kids “selling” their Halloween candy to our office for $1 per pound. Kids love the event because of the excitement and cash!

Here’s how it works. On Monday, November 1st or Tuesday, November 2nd, come in to our office with your children and their candy. We’ll weigh the candy, give the kids cash, and send the candy to Operation Gratitude to be shipped to the US troops.

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and my team and I are proud to be a part of the Halloween Candy Buy Back again. If you’d like to learn more about the event, please call our Livonia dental office at 734-425-4400.

If you’d like to help with publicity for this community-wide event, feel free to link to this blog post or call our office for more information! Visit www.HalloweenCandyBuyBack.com for details.

filed under: Community Events

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Ann Arbor Antiques Market Final Weekend of the Season

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Take a drive over to the Ann Arbor Antiques Market, October 15 & 16, for the last show until spring. 

For 42 years this show has offered a wide range of quality antiques and collectibles to buyers throughout the United States and Canada. Exhibitors have successfully offered for sale every type of antique imaginable from early Americana to Art Deco.  

This is a great excuse to take a scenic drive, enjoy the fall foliage, and do some shopping!

filed under: General

Dr. James Stewart, Livonia Dentist and Dental Sleep Medicine Expert

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For a few months now, this blog has been dedicated to dental sleep medicine. We’re shifting gears a bit because I’m more than a sleep apnea doctor. I’m an established general dentist who provides state-of-the-art dental care for families from Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, and surrounding communities.

My team and I offer checkups and cleanings, as well as fillings, crowns, dentures, and dental implants. We are always happy to offer children’s dentistry, as well as cosmetic dentistry for image-conscious adults. As a general and cosmetic dentist, I approach all restorative dental care with attention to esthetics. For instance, I offer white fillings, white crowns, and natural-looking replacement teeth. In addition to esthetic restorations, my team and I have transformed smiles with porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and other popular cosmetic dentistry procedures.

To learn more about dental sleep medicine in my Livonia dental office, visit www.DentalSleepMedicineofMichigan.com.

To learn more about general and family dental care in my Livonia dental office, visit www.JamesStewartDDS.com.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit, please call 734-425-4400 and chat with one of my friendly front desk associates. We’re here to help you enjoy optimal oral health, a beautiful smile, restful sleep, and a high quality of life.

filed under: Uncategorized

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Teeth Whitening from Your Livonia Cosmetic Dentist: Invest a Little, Get a Lot!

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What’s one of the easiest, fastest, and most economical ways to improve your smile? Professional teeth whitening! It’s no secret that a brighter smile can make you look better, even younger. And when you look good, you feel better about yourself. Dr. James Stewart has done all the research on teeth whitening products. Now you get to reap the rewards!

The doctor often receives questions about the best way to whiten teeth stained by red wine, coffee, tea, dark sodas, tobacco, and more. Dr. Stewart cares about our patients, and he provides dental services that deliver outstanding results. He feels that tray teeth whitening gives patients the most bang for their hard-earned buck. (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry

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Visit the Detroit Zoo this October!

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The Detroit Zoo has two great events this month giving you a great reason to take a trip to the zoo this fall!

The Fall Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10. The event will feature live entertainment, delicious fall inspired food and a children’s activity area. Other attractions include hayrides and pumpkin painting.

Zoo Boo, Detroit Zoo’s annual family-friendly Halloween event, will be held the remaining three weekends of October.  Zoo Boo is a merry-not-scary Halloween celebration with a cleverly decorated half-mile trick-or-treat trail through the Zoo. There will also be live entertainment and games for kids of all ages.

Also new for Zoo Boo 2010 – See the limited-release movie “The Curse of Skull Rock” at the Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater.

filed under: General

Can Sleep Apnea be Fatal? Yes!

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Sleep apnea is behind about 1400 automobile accident fatalities each year. Because sleep apnea patients do not get enough deep, refreshing REM sleep, they are tired during the day. Their responses are delayed, and some tend to fall asleep at inappropriate times, like while driving.

Sleep apnea increases risk of heart attack or death by 30%. It also makes people more prone to stroke. During sleep apnea episodes, the brain and body do not receive sufficient oxygen. This causes significant stress and, studies show, has a direct influence on risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

Some experts say that the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Challenger space shuttle crash, and Chernobyl Nuclear disaster can be traced back to sleep apnea.

So, untreated sleep apnea not only increases YOUR risk of fatality, it increases your risk for CAUSING deaths.

Don’t let your sleep disorder go undiagnosed and untreated. Sleep apnea was listed by Reader’s Digest as one of the top 10 diseases doctors miss. If you snore, if you awake in the night choking and gasping, if you feel chronically fatigued, irritable, and non-productive, come in and talk with me about a sleep study. I’m Dr. James Stewart, a Livonia dentist, and I’ve also studied dental sleep medicine. A sleep apnea oral appliance could eliminate your symptoms and give you renewed quality of life. It’s helped many of my patients overcome sleep apnea and enjoy refreshing rest. Sleep dentistry also works well for people who’ve tried CPAP and had poor results.

Give me a call to schedule your sleep apnea consultation today. Let’s put this problem to rest, once and for all!

filed under: Uncategorized

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