Keep Your Smile Bright and Sunny, All Summer Long

Sep, 2015

The summer months are ahead and that usually means major changes around the house. The kids are home, there’s more time for fun, and everyone wants to be outdoors. As our routines begin to change with the warmer weather, it’s a good time to evaluate what we’re doing right and what needs improvement. Download PDF Version SET THOSE SUMMER ROUTINES With the start of summer vacation, parents are always scrambling to find ways to keep their kids busy. But for kids, it’s often a time to relax and unwind. That usually means waking up much later than when school is in session. Make sure that your kids are still following their morning routine when it comes to oral hygiene. Just because they may wake up right before lunch doesn’t mean they get to skip brushing their teeth in the morning. Maintaining consistent habits like brushing and flossing when they first wake up will give them a fresh start to the day. While they’re home, the tendency is to snack throughout the day. Make sure that you have healthy snacks available, like fresh fruits and vegetables, not just the typical cookies and chips. Don’t bring home any soda. Trust me, with all the graduation parties, barbecues, picnics, and other special events throughout the summer, they’ll get more than fair share of the stuff. While they’re home, encourage them to drink more water. Regardless of the time of year, adequate water throughout the day is essential to stay healthy, and to clean out any loose carbohydrates left in their mouths after snacking. The summer also means kids tend to stay up later...

WHITE DRESS… Yellow Teeth?

Aug, 2015

Wedding season is around the corner and at our office, this usually means a rise in cosmetic procedures. Whether you’re the bride or groom, or if you are simply a participant or a guest, having a bright beautiful smile is now back on the priority list. There are many paths to a whiter smile, some are easy and inexpensive, while others can put a bit of dent in the pocketbook. Download PDF Version ?THE RIGHT WHITE The simplest thing you can do for a whiter smile is to get a professional cleaning at your dentist. Oftentimes the yellowing we see on our teeth is simply superficial staining that has built up over time. A good cleaning and polishing usually will result in an immediate lightening of your teeth. Follow up your fresh new smile with the purchase of a mechanical toothbrush. There are several brands of electric toothbrushes out there, as long as they come with a wall charger, and are not just battery operated, they should work much better than a manual brush to maintain your healthy smile. Teeth whitening procedures have become commonplace and prices have come down significantly. Everyone’s teeth tend to whiten at different rates however, so some products may work for you while others may seem like they accomplish nothing. Over-the-counter whitening products are effective, but tend not to give you that “wow” factor. Also the results usually fade pretty quickly. The most effective and long-lasting method of whitening is consistent at-home whitening with custom trays made by your dentist. Follow that up with an in-office whitening treatment and you have a recipe for bright beautiful teeth! ?SMILE, WITH...

You’re In Control of Your Dental Health

Jul, 2015

The “doctor knows best” mentality has been a cornerstone of medicine and dentistry. But over the last decade, with the advent of the Internet, families are becoming more informed about their healthcare. Although I do, occasionally, get patients coming in and presenting me with some crazy ideas found on some less than reputable websites, people are, for the most part, benefiting from the resources out there, and I welcome more involvement of patients in the decision making process. After all, I only see a patient twice a year for checkups and a lot can happen in the six months in between. Download PDF Version So how can you take an active role, and make your home a positive place for your family’s dental health? CONTROL WHAT GOES IN THE GROCERY CART By far, the best thing you can do for your family’s dental health is to bring home wholesome foods. Avoid processed foods and carbohydrates. Thankfully, over the past decade our entire culture has gotten more “carb conscious.” There are so many alternatives out there now, compared to when I was growing up. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great substitute for a snack that, in the past, may have been made up of cookies and potato chips. Beyond the typical high carb snacks, there are the problems of pop and juice. As I’ve mentioned in my previous columns, juice may have natural sugar, as opposed to artificial sugar, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doing damage to your teeth. When kids admit to me that they drink pop, I always delve deeper I ask them, “What kind of pop...

Put that Winning Smile Back on Your Resume

Jun, 2015

You may not realize it, but a healthy smile can go a long way in securing a successful career. Regardless of the type of work you do, maintaining your teeth and gums can even be the difference between getting a promotion or being stuck in a rut. Anyone in sales will tell you the importance of a winning smile. When your job dictates close, face-to-face contact with potential clients, certain aspects of your smile really need to shine. Download PDF Version First, and foremost…odor. If you have bad breath, you can kiss that sale goodbye. Bad breath odor can come from a multitude of places, the back of your tongue, the pockets in your gums, even your tonsils. Good hygiene is the first line of defense. Make sure you’re brushing a minimum of twice a day, sneak in that lunch time brushing if you can. Don’t neglect your tongue! A large number of odor causing bacteria reside on the back of the tongue, you can brush your tongue with your regular toothbrush, or if you feel like you’re going to gag, you can buy a tongue scraper that will thoroughly clean your tongue with less discomfort. Flossing also is essential, as the pockets between your teeth are holding particles of food and bacteria. Finally, some people have deep crypts in their tonsils, these hidden areas can hold food and bacteria as well, although they are harder to clean, and may require professional attention from a dentist or an ear/nose/throat doctor. Besides odor, minor cosmetic issues can make a huge difference in a career. Have you ever thought someone has a nice smile only...

One Step at a Time

May, 2015

2013 has come to an end and we find ourselves at the beginning of an exciting new year! The common cliché is the “New Year’s Resolution,” where people decide to make a significant change in their lives. Unfortunately, for most people, making big changes in your lifestyle can be very difficult to start and even harder to keep. Whenever I recommend changes in a patient’s habits, I always recommend small, gradual changes that are made with consistency. These are far more effective than drastic changes implemented for a month or two. We’ve all known someone who engages in a fad diet, only to put the weight right back on a few weeks after they’ve finished. So what changes can you make to your dental health, which are simple, and easy to maintain? Download PDF Version DIET The most effective anti-cavity treatment, believe it or not, is controlling your diet. Cutting sweet and acidic drinks like pop and juice will go a very long way towards preventing cavities. Everyone knows pop is bad for you, from the standpoint of calories as well as sugar and acidity. But often, people substitute other drinks, which they think are better for them. The most common is natural fruit juices. I will concede that natural sugar is better than artificial sugar, but in the end it’s still sugar, and that means it is food for bacteria. Not to mention most fruit juices are very acidic, as well. The acid in both pop and juice weakens your enamel and the sugar feeds the bacteria already in your mouth to start multiplying and producing more acid! The end...