Celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2016

 

The first Earth Day celebration took place on April 22, 1970.  20 million US citizens participated in a celebration of the planet’s environment on that day!

Earth Day has since turned into an international celebration.  Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 175 countries where over 500 million people participate in celebrations.

The Earth Day movement spawned the idea that people should “think green” and encourage legislators to enact laws to protect the planet.  Significant changes have resulted, including the passage of the Endangered Species Act and creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

 

Protect the Planet by Thinking about These R’s:

Refuse – Refuse is to say no to things people offer you that you don’t need, that you never even asked for.   Refuse to buy products that can harm you, your family and the environment.  Say no to plastic grocery bags.  Refuse to buy harmful products, like cleaners.  Buy more eco-friendly options or make your own. Say no to single use plastic.

Reduce – Think about what you use and buy.  Could you use less?  Reduce your junk mail. Reduce your use of disposable bags, plates, cups, eating utensils, and batteries. Reduce the amount of energy you use to heat your home by getting an energy audit.

Reuse – Instead of using plastic bags for your groceries or purchases, bring your own reusable bags. When you go to buy coffee at Starbucks, take a travel mug so you don’t have to get your coffee in a disposable paper cup. Instead of storing food in disposable refrigerator containers, buy containers that can be washed and reused. Don’t use regular batteries. Whenever possible, opt for rechargeable batteries that you can reuse.

Repurpose – Take something and use it for something else.  This requires a bit of thinking and crafty-ness, but doesn’t have to be gorgeous.  Pretty up a regular old cardboard box to use as storage.  Save rubber bands, veggie scraps and more to use in interesting ways.  Reuse an old yoga mat as foot pads for furniture, a tent “door mat” and more.

Recycle – Most cities offer a recycling program to collect used bottles, cans, and newspapers. Recycling includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers and manufacturing raw materials into new products.

Rethink – Rethink the way you do things so that you do them in an eco-conscious way at all times. Instead of driving to work alone, consider taking the bus or going in a carpool. Walk or ride your bike when you’re only going a short distance. Plan your shopping trips and errand runs so that you can do everything on one day, and do it in a way where you can save time and gas.

Earth Day teaches people that the planet belongs to everyone, so everyone is equally responsible for protecting it. 

Happy Earth Day from everyone on our dental care team – let’s all lead a greener life!

We’re Doing the Bubble Challenge for Oral Cancer Awareness Month!

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Did you know that oral cancer kills roughly one person every hour in America? Oral cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the United States. Approximately 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year.

Many patients battle oral cancer by receiving some sort of surgery. Some patients need to have their mouths reconstructed. In some cases, recovery requires the removal of the palates, teeth, or pieces of the tongue. For these people, chewing gum or blowing a bubble is no longer an option.

To show our support and spread awareness of oral cancer, we are doing the Bubble Challenge and blowing bubbles for those who can’t!

 

Here’s how you can participate:

Step 1: Post a video or photo to social media of you blowing a bubble for those who can’t. Invite your friends and family to join you!

Step 2: Share your post with us by tagging Omni Dental in your photo or video. Let us know if you are blowing your bubble for a friend or loved one.

Step 3: Challenge at least 3 of your friends and family members to join in on the challenge and blow a bubble for a cause!

Step 4: Schedule an appointment for an oral cancer screening with Omni Dental. Your dental professionals are able to detect early signs of oral cancer and provide you with knowledge about what increases risk of oral cancer.

Step 5: Donate to The Oral Cancer Cause Inc. This organization’s purpose is to improve the quality of life for oral cancer patients through financial support. Visit their website to make a donation.

 

See your Omni Dental team do the Bubble Challenge on our Facebook page! We are showing are support and we’re looking forward to seeing you do the same. Call us today at 888-860-4886 to schedule your oral cancer screening appointment with your local Carter Lake and Council Bluffs dental practice.

Stopping Oral Cancer Before it Starts

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Oral Cancer is the 6th most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved.

Every hour of every day, someone in North America dies of this awful disease.

Anyone can develop oral cancer, but some people are at a higher risk. These high-risk groups include those over the age of 50 and men, who are twice as likely as women to develop the disease. Smoking or chewing smokeless tobacco products, consuming alcohol excessively, and constant exposure to the sun at a young age are also risk factors.

The high death rate associated with oral cancer is directly related to how late in its development oral cancer is detected. Regular screening for oral cancer is the key to early detection and survival.  

During your oral care visit at Omni Dental, our dental professionals inspect your oral tissues for sores, unusual red or white patches, lumps, or thickenings anywhere inside the mouth, on the lips, or in the throat and neck area. If Omni Dental discovers abnormal tissues during your visit, a biopsy will be sent to a laboratory to determine if the cells are cancerous or precancerous.

Through a routine visual screening, we can often detect premalignant abnormalities and cancer at an early stage – when treatment is not only less expensive and more successful but can potentially save your life.

Feel free to contact our dental professionals at Omni Dental for more information about our commitment to oral health and prevention of oral cancer at your next scheduled visit!