Fall into Good Oral Health!

Some people like to think that their teeth will be exactly like their parents teeth were. You might think, "If mom had a lot of decay, so will I". While genetics can play a role in how your teeth are, your daily habits and routine can make a huge difference in your oral health, regardless of your parents.

So, why not make this fall the time to ‘fall’ into good oral health by developing some good habits and using the best products. For starters, you do need to floss once a day and brush for 2 minutes, two times a day, every day. This is imperative for your teeth to stay healthy! You also might want to consider investing in an electric toothbrush. These tools are extremely helpful in making sure you brush for the correct time and they do a great job at removing debris from your teeth and helping them to keep their pearly white color.

When it comes to color, many people would like to have whiter teeth. At home, try a whitening toothpaste to use when you brush twice a day. In addition, drink liquids that might stain your teeth (coffee, tea, red wine are a few examples) in moderation, and always try to drink water immediately after. 

If you really want to make an impact on your tooth color though, the best thing to do is to professionally whiten your teeth. Seeing a dentist for custom whitening trays will ensure that the whitening solution stays on your teeth, where it belongs, and not on your gums or tongue. Your dentist will also have high quality, professional whitening solution, which will give you the best results. 

While you are at the dentist to ask about your whitening, make sure you schedule your preventative exam and cleaning. These twice-a-year dental visits are extremely important. For one, they allow your dentist and hygienist to make sure you are doing the best job you can at home. They can recommend a product, if needed, and teach you the best way to care for your teeth. In addition, these (usually) bi-annual visits allow your dentist to catch any issues or decay earlier rather than later. The earlier tooth decay is caught, the easier it is to treat it and the less tooth structure it will affect.

So, if you know you are due for your dental visit, we encourage you to schedule it now. Make this fall the season you take charge of your dental health and develop some good dental habits!

And, remember, pumpkin spice lattes are delicious, but they are acidic, sugary and have staining potential … so, everything in moderation!

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!