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Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday each September here in the United States, is a holiday devoted to the American working community. The purpose of the holiday is honoring the country's workers and their contributions to the strength of our country as a whole.

How Labor Day Started

There is actually some debate as to the origins of Labor Day. It is uncertain whether Peter McGuire, a cofounder for the American Federation of Labor, or Matthew Maguire, who was the secretary of Central Labor Union of New York, had the great idea. However, the Central Labor Union's plans were what launched the first Labor Day in America.

The First Labor Day

The very first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5th, 1882. The Central Labor Union then held annual celebrations on September 5th for what they called a working man's holiday. By the year 1885, the Labor Day celebration had spread to many different industrial areas, and after that it began spreading to all industries in the United States.

Labor Day Today

Labor Day today is a huge United States holiday during which we honor the country's workers with a day of rest and relaxation or a day of picnics and parades. This holiday is truly one to honor the many people who work hard to contribute to the economic well-being of our great country!

Our team at Elite Smiles Dental hopes all of our patients celebrate Labor Day, and every holiday, safely and happily. Whether you stay in the Appleton, WI area, or travel out of town, have fun, and don't forget to brush!

YES! X-rays have been used in dentistry for a long time, and the amount of radiation has significantly decreased with advances in technology. While there is risk in every health diagnostic procedure at Elite Smiles Dental, the benefits must outweigh the risks. Dental X-rays do indeed fall into this category.

X-rays are exposed to a type of film to produce an image. The amount of X-rays required to produce this image differs with film speeds. Speed E or F is highly recommended, and digital X-rays require up to 50% less than speed E or F film. The digital X-ray software can adjust the exposure to produce a quality image. Digital X-rays are becoming a new standard and are most common.

Lead aprons have been used to reduce the amount of scatter radiation. All X-ray units have a cone to focus the X-ray beam so the exposure is highly localized. Lead aprons continue to be worn as a precaution for pregnant women, and a thyroid collar should also be worn. In most cases, this is sewn into the lead apron.

We get radiation exposure from environmental factors as well as healthcare diagnostic and treatment tools. To place this in perspective, in one year a person is expected to have 360mRem per year from the sun, air etc. By comparison, a single set of bitewing X-rays is 0.3mRem. Radiation can accumulate in our body over a lifetime, and additional exposure should be avoided whenever possible.

We all know that sleep apnea causes many a difficult night. Noisy snoring, gasping for breath, and waking up dozens of times a sleep cycle are the unhappy consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). What you may not realize is that sleep apnea can make your days just as challenging.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by an obstructed airway. The throat muscles may relax as you sleep and make it impossible to inhale fully with each breath. Or you may have a physical condition such as a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils or excess throat tissue that blocks the free passage of air into your lungs. As a result, you stop breathing for a short time and often choke or gasp for breath. Your body responds by waking every time you need to start breathing properly again, and this can happen dozens of times each hour you are asleep. The result is that, while you may think you have slept through the night, you have never gotten the deep sleep your body needs to restore itself.

How can sleep deprivation affect our daytime hours? You might find yourself suffering from any of these problems:

• Constant drowsiness
• Falling asleep at work or while driving
• Headaches every morning
• Sore throats
• Dry mouth (which can lead to gum and dental problems)
• Memory and attention problems
• Moodiness or depression
• Decreased libido

As if these reasons weren’t cause enough to find a solution to your sleeping disorder, the longer term results of sleep apnea can be devastating. High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, dangerous responses to medication or general anesthesia, a higher risk of accidents, and many other serious consequences have been linked to sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea doesn’t just ruin your night. If you suffer from any of the daytime problems listed above, please give our Appleton, WI office and your doctor a call. If obstructive sleep apnea is the cause, Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Mark Pflum can work with you to find a solution that will improve your quality of life 24 hours a day.

As students prepare to head back to school, it's time to prioritize their dental care to ensure a healthy smile throughout the year. You can start by scheduling teeth cleaning before the school year begins.

Our practice has appointments available before the start of the school year, including additional hygiene spots to accommodate as many kids and teachers as possible. To schedule, parents can call 920-735-9366. For those needing visits after the school year begins, we provide excused absence notes for students and adults with work requirements.

There are a few tips to know as the school year starts. If your child received Invisalign or retainers over the summer, they should establish a new routine for the school year. It's important that they bring a toothbrush to school to brush after meals. You should also remind your child to always carry their case with them and always place retainers in the case when they aren't in your mouth.

When it comes to packed lunches, choose whole foods that are low in sugar and require chewing, as they help remove plaque. Avoid high sugar, processed foods and sugary drinks. Students with braces should steer clear of sticky, chewy foods and hard items that require biting with the front teeth.

This August, we’re offering a special Zoom! in-office teeth whitening promotion at $306, down from the regular price of $447. It's a perfect way to return to school with a tan and a bright smile. Take advantage of this offer for a dazzling start to the school year!