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!

Preparing for Fall!

It’s about this time every year, where you are supposed to do a checklist of things to prepare your house for the changing of the seasons. Checking the gutters, changing the furnace filter and replacing batteries in your fire alarms are just a few examples. We think this is also a great time of year to do a few things to make sure your dental health is taken care of. 

1. Replace your toothbrush! Similar to replacing your furnace filter, it is time to get a new toothbrush! You should actually do this every 4 - 6 months to make sure you have the best tools to properly care for your teeth.

2. Eliminate one bad habit or start a good one. This is a great time of year to pick ONE thing that you know you need to work on and do it. Whether it is drinking less soda, flossing every day or eliminating sugary snacks throughout the day, start it now. If we begin implementing this now, we should have a good foundation to stay strong with this habit throughout the holiday season, which can be challenging.

3. Drink more water! We know pumpkin lattes are delicious, but be sure you are drinking water throughout the day to rinse your teeth of sugar and acid. In addition, as it gets colder and drier outside, we need more water! 

4. Check your insurance benefits. This is the time of year to see what you still have remaining in your dental insurance benefits so that you can maximize them. If you have been holding off on something, do it now, before the chaos of the holidays. Even if you don’t have benefits left, if you need dental treatment you should work out a way to get that done so that your mouth is in good health as the holidays approach. 

Use this time of year to get yourself prepared for the holidays, make the most of your dental benefits and set good oral hygiene habits!

What about fluoride?

This week, Erin was on the Rahny Taylor Morning Show on 97.3, talking about the differences of opinion regarding fluoride and why we still think it is beneficial for your teeth. You can listen to the segment here:

If you ever have any question about fluoride or anything affecting your teeth, please let us know!

Why do we visit the dentist twice a year?

This week on The Rahny Taylor Morning Show, Erin and the group spoke about why it's so important to visit the dentist regularly. There are a couple key takeaways here:

1. How often you should see your dentist is something that you should decide with your dental health professional. While the average is once every 6 months, some people would greatly benefit from going more frequently. 
2. Visiting your dentist regularly allows your dental health professional to assess how your home dental care is going. Checking on the health of your gums is extremely important and being able to catch any decay early will benefit you in more ways than one.
3. Even the best brusher could get decay between their teeth. Flossing regularly is a good way to try to prevent this type of decay but going to see your dentist regularly will allow them to check and see how everything is looking. X-rays can be very helpful in catching decay between the teeth early.

So remember, visit your dentist regularly and discuss with them how often you should be going to properly care for your teeth!

What's the deal with fluoride?

Yesterday on The Rahny Taylor Morning Show on 97.3, Erin talked to Rahny about the importance of fluoride and why you should ask for it at your dentist. Fluoride bonds with your enamel to make your teeth more resistant to decay. This is true whether you are a child or an adult and therefore, fluoride is beneficial for all patients. For more information on the benefits of fluoride, please visit the ADA website.

If you missed Tooth Day Tuesday yesterday, you can listen to the segment here: