Winter Weather Tips

Since snow is already on the ground, we thought that we should talk about the inevitable: winter. It might not technically be winter yet, but it sure feels like it is! With all this cold, dry air we’d like to offer a couple of tips for your oral health.

1. Carry Chapstick. Well, it doesn’t have to be the brandname Chapstick (although that IS what Dr. Wilk carries) but be sure to carry some kind of lip balm or vaseline with you. The dry air can really make your lips susceptible to chapping and cracking and keeping them moisturized also makes it more comfortable to brush and floss every day!

2. Drink Water! This is just never going to get old. =) There is very little moisture in the air at this time of year, so drinking water not only helps to keep your teeth clean, but it keeps your mouth, lips and entire body hydrated, which is always a good thing.

3. Replace Your Toothbrush. Well, you should be doing this at least every 6 months, but more like every 3-4 months. Even if you have recently replaced it, if you are experiencing your first winter cold or flu, throw your existing toothbrush (or toothbrush head, if you are using an electric toothbrush) away and buy yourself a new one. Germ-free is the way to go! On that note, please don’t share your toothbrush with anyone.

4. Address Sensitivity: If at any time the cold air causes sensitivity with your teeth, please be sure to call your dentist right away.

These tips can help keep your mouth and overall health in better shape this time of year. Enjoy the start of the season everyone! Stay warm, stay hydrated and keep on Sharing Smiles!

Avoiding a (tooth)Break During Summer Break!

Summer is a time of relaxation and enjoying the simpler things in life, right? Right! However, summer is not the best time to break a tooth. So here are a few tips to help you and, the kids in your life, to protect your teeth over the summer break!

1. Invest in a mouthguard for your sport-playing kids! This is the time when baseball might be wrapping up but soccer and football are getting ready to start. Whatever the sport, if there is a chance of physical contact or ball-to-head contact, you should invest in a mouthguard for your child. While you can buy these from a local drug store, we recommend that you check with your dentist about making a custom mouth guard for your child. These will fit better, accommodate braces, if necessary, and they will protect your child’s jaw joint, or TMJ. 
2. Drink water! At Grand Avenue Dental Care, we continue to come back to this. Drinking water throughout the day can help your mouth get back to a neutral pH level and can help protect our teeth from possible decay. In addition, snacking on something like cheese can also help neutralize acidic levels in your mouth from things like fresh fruit, coffee, beer or other delicious summer treats. 
3. Consider an Occlusal Guard. This is similar to the mouthguard mentioned above, but this one is meant for anyone who has a crown or a bridge in their mouth. An occlusal guard protects both your crown, or bridge, and your natural teeth. Typically this is worn at night-time, when it is more common for people to clench or grind their teeth. The occlusal guard prevents the crown from wearing on your natural teeth and protects the crown as well. This is a great investment to protect the work you might have already done in your mouth.

Taking care of your teeth in the summer, and year-round, mostly comes down to your at-home care and what you do to protect your teeth between dental visits. However, if you ever have a question about your teeth, or your loved one's teeth, don’t hesitate to ask any of us at Grand Avenue Dental Care!

Summertime Tips for Caring For Your Smile!

At Grand Avenue Dental Care, we love summertime. It usually means fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, spending more time outside and enjoying refreshing beverages with friends and family. While summer is an enjoyable season and much of what it offers is delicious, some of it can raise a concern for your teeth.

Because much of what we eat and drink can be a bit more on the acidic side of things, it’s important that we take care to balance what we eat and drink to best protect our smile. An acidic environment in our mouth can make our teeth more prone to cavities, so if we can try to keep our mouth’s environment less acidic, it will help in the prevention of decay.

With that in mind, here are our three summer tips on how to care for your teeth:

1. Drink water! Both between meals and between drinks, be sure to drink water to help neutralize acids in your mouth and rinse away debris. Don't forget - this is also good for your skin and will keep you hydrated! 
2. Eat some cheese! Cheese naturally has a more basic pH level. So when eating or drinking something more acidic, adding a little cheese can help your mouth neutralize more quickly.
3. Take care when brushing. If you are using a manual toothbrush, be sure it is a soft bristle brush and don’t push too hard. Also, if you are eating or drinking something acidic, wait about 30 minutes before brushing so that your mouth as time to return to a neutral environment. Otherwise you risk eroding the enamel of your teeth. If you are ready for a change, make the switch to an electric toothbrush. It will not only time you to make sure you are brushing for the full two minutes, but it will alert you if you are pushing too hard!

It’s not that we can’t have all the delicious food and drinks that summertime offers, we just need to make sure we are taking the necessary steps to protect our best summertime accessory - our smile!