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Subject: Smiles of Punta will resume business May 11, 2020

We hope this email finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing at Smiles of Punta Gorda has remained the same: our constant commitment to your safety.

As you have surely seen during your visits to our office, infection control has always been a top priority for our practice. Our strict processes have consistently made the care you receive at Smiles of Punta Gorda both safe and comfortable.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We continue to closely monitor the recommendations of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

When it is time for your next appointment, you may see some changes along with our already strict infection control protocols. For example:

  • Our office will communicate with you ahead of your appointment to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you arrive at the office.
  • Upon arrival at office, we ask that you call or text to let us know you have arrived and what type of vehicle you are in.  Stay in your vehicle and one of our team members will come to bring you in for treatment.
  • When entering the office, we will ask you to use hand sanitizer which we will supply. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed. You are required to bring a mask/face covering to wear while you are in our office.
  • You may see that our reception area will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and other items which cannot be properly disinfected. You are encouraged to bring your own iPad, reading materials, etc.
  • Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered slightly limited options for scheduling your appointment.
  • We will do our best to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the office at any one time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at 941-787-2223 or visit our website at www.smilesofpuntagorda.com.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends in the safest way possible.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Martin DMD,
Christopher Ramke DMD,
and your Smiles of Punta Gorda team

Contact Us
WE ARE OPEN | Read our COVID-19 Protocols
Call Today941-585-0424 Request an Appointment
Call Today941-585-0424 Request an Appointment
100 Madrid Blvd, Unit 414, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Doctors
      • Meet Dr. Jeremy Martin
      • Meet Dr. Christopher Ramke
    • Meet The Team
    • Why Choose Us
    • FAQ
  • Our Services
    • General Dentistry
    • Dental Emergencies
    • Family Dentistry
    • Relieving Dental Anxiety
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Teeth Whitening
      • Dental Veneers
      • Invisalign
    • Restorative Dentistry
    • Full-Mouth Reconstruction
      • Dental Implants
      • Dentures
    • Oral Surgery
    • TMJ Treatment/Teeth Grinding
  • Patient Testimonials
    • Smile Gallery
  • Patient Resources
    • New Patient Forms
    • Payment Options
    • I’m In Pain Or Have Discomfort
    • I’m Embarrassed To Smile
    • I’m Having A Hard Time Chewing
  • COVID-19 Protocols
  • Virtual Smile Assessment
  • Blog
  • Search
Home > Blog > How Diabetic Patients Can Have Healthy Mouths and Bodies [BLOG]

How Diabetic Patients Can Have Healthy Mouths and Bodies [BLOG]

November 1, 2018
Middle-Aged Woman Looking Up while Smiling | Smiles of Punta Gorda

November marks an important month at our Punta Gorda dental office: Diabetes Awareness Month. It may seem odd that your dentist office is concerned about diabetes, but it’s actually a very important part of oral health care for some of our patients. Today, we want to talk about what that looks like and why we are so concerned about it! We’ll also take a look at things any person can do to protect their smile from gum disease, so let’s begin.

First, a story.

Sheryl is a diabetic patient who was having trouble keeping her blood glucose levels under control. After her initial diagnosis, Sheryl took classes, changed her diet, began exercising, and made all of the life changes you would expect in order to regain her health. It worked for a while, but things were starting to go downhill again.

Sheryl’s doctor kept changing medications and never really presented a solution, so Sheryl switched doctors. Her new doctor asked her when she had last been to the dentist. It had been quite a while, so Sheryl made an appointment.

After her initial cleaning, Sheryl learned that she was facing advanced periodontal disease. She accepted her treatment plan and put in several months of cleanings, treatment, and work at home with her new water flosser. Slowly but surely, her gums healed. Something else happened, too. Her blood sugar readings improved. Coincidence? We think not.

The Cyclical Connection Between Diabetes and Gum Disease

It is no secret that the health of your mouth affects the rest of your body. Research studies show again and again that gum disease infection is linked with heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, low birthweight babies, and some cancers. It is also linked with a rapid progression of diabetes.

Gum disease bacteria can get in the bloodstream and wreak absolute havoc. The biggest problem for diabetic patients is that this bacteria makes it really difficult to control blood sugar levels. If you cannot control your levels, the disease progresses faster because your body is being harmed by the high glucose levels.

You may be thinking that you’re safe from this because you’ve always had a healthy mouth before. Remember that diabetes affects your ability to fight infection. So an already prevalent gum disease is even more likely to affect diabetic patients because they are less able to fight it off. So diabetes makes you more likely to have gum disease, and gum disease makes it more difficult to control your diabetes. It’s a dangerous cycle!

The good news is that there are measures you can take to protect yourself from gum disease, and they should be absolutely no surprise to you.

  1. Brush your teeth at least twice each day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth for a total of 2 minutes of brushing time.
  2. Floss really well at least once per day. Wrap the floss all the way around the tooth and gentle glide it up and down. This is the best way to remove bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth. Remember Sheryl’s water flosser? Consider getting one for yourself!
  3. Visit our office often. Visit our office at least twice per year. If you find that gum disease is difficult to get rid of or control, we will likely recommend that you come in for cleanings every 3-4 months instead of every 6 months. This will allow us to help you keep the infection under control.

Just because you have diabetes does not mean that you have to give up on the health of your teeth. Call our office today at 941-585-0424 to make an appointment. The sooner we can help you get rid of the gum infection, the sooner you’ll see improvements in your overall health.

What Our Patients Are Saying

L. A. (Verified Patient) | Jan 23, 2021
5
Mary did a great job cleaning my teeth! She is so caring and gentle! One...
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Mary did a great job cleaning my teeth! She is so caring and gentle! One happy client! :)

T. M. (Verified Patient) | Jan 21, 2021
5
I have been treated here 3 times. My dentist is Dr. Ramke and he is...
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I have been treated here 3 times. My dentist is Dr. Ramke and he is just incredible. He is thorough, kind and caring and meticulous. I cannot believe how lucky I was and am to have him as my dentist.

H. M. (Verified Patient) | Jan 14, 2021
5
Very friendly staff! Have finally found the perfect dentist! Far exceeds expectations!

Very friendly staff! Have finally found the perfect dentist! Far exceeds expectations!

T. F. (Verified Patient) | Jan 08, 2021
5
To correct the loss I had of two teeth In the lower part of my...
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To correct the loss I had of two teeth In the lower part of my mouth, Dr. Martin recommended I have a bridge that basically encompassed six teeth including the missing two. Thanks to his outstanding work and the work of his dental technician, the result was basically perfect. I couldn’t be happier about the outcome.

P. H. (Verified Patient) | Jan 07, 2021
5
Pleasant a efficient as always.

Pleasant a efficient as always.

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Call Today to Make an Appointment 941-585-0424 Request an Appointment
100 Madrid Blvd, Unit 414, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
  • Mon: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Tue: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Wed: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thu: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Fri: By Appt Only
  • Sat: Closed
  • Sun: Closed
Call Today to make an Appointment 941-585-0424 Request an Appointment

Locations

100 Madrid Blvd, Unit 414, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Office Hours

  • Monday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Friday By Appt Only
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

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Call Today to make an Appointment 941-585-0424 Request an Appointment

Locations

100 Madrid Blvd, Unit 414, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Office Hours

  • Monday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Friday By Appt Only
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

Latest Blog Articles

Need Help With Dry Mouth Before Date Night?

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so you might be planning something special for your sweetheart. But ...

Read More
Want To Improve Your Smile In 2021?

With the holidays over, most people won’t do much socializing until spring and summer for special events like ...

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