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!

Summer Whitening

It’s July and it’s the middle of wedding season. Whether you are the bride-to-be, standing up in a wedding or are an invited guest at one or two this summer, chances are that attending a wedding means smiling for some photos. 

That makes right now the perfect time to treat yourself, and your smile, to whiter teeth! In addition to looking great for wedding photos, your teeth and smile are one of the first things that people notice about you and having a smile you love can also increase your confidence. Summertime can also mean fun family vacations, where it is also likely that the camera could make an appearance. 

To summarize and in case you aren’t yet convinced, here are 5 reasons you should whiten your teeth this summer:

1. Weddings! Remember, weddings = photos.
2. First Impressions. You know, for all of those new family members you’ll meet at the weddings!
3. Confidence. Weddings, work parties … let’s face it, we can all use a little boost.
4. Family Vacations. Look good, feel good, photograph well.
5. Summer Lovin’! You never know who you will meet or when and we love a good Grease reference! 

Call today to schedule your visit to have your custom trays made! Our Whitening For Life program means that you can refill your whitening solution every six months at your cleanings, FOR LIFE! Usually $149 (a $500 value), Whitening for Life is only $99 now through August 1st! 

Happy Summer!

Teeth Whitening - It’s Everywhere!

These days it seems we can find the words “teeth whitening” on nearly every product in the dental aisle. The truth is that, as a country, we spend $1.5 billion annually on teeth whitening products! That is a lot of money and the results will vary greatly based on what the product is and where you got it from. One of the biggest questions we get is: What is the difference between over-the-counter teeth whitening products compared to what we can provide you in the dental office?

Well, we’ve put together a list for you!

Over-The-Counter Whitening Projects:

• Treat extrinsic stains (on the surface of your teeth)
• Use hydrogen peroxide to help whiten
• Have limited amounts of active ingredients they can use 
• Use a one-size-fits-all mentality, where the size of the trays and the percentage of whitening agents are the same for everyone

In-Office Teeth Whitening Options:

• Treat intrinsic stains that go deeper than the surface of your teeth
• Use several active ingredients (including hydrogen peroxide) to whiten your teeth
• Have a much higher percentage of active ingredients for quicker, more noticeable results
• Can be customized for each individual patient. We make trays for each person and will recommend a whitening product and percentage that we think is best for you!

Here at Grand Avenue Dental Care, we recommend that you speak to your dentist or hygienist about which whitening product would be best for you and your lifestyle. In our office, we offer both in-office whitening and take-home whitening options, both of which can be very effective. Our ‘Whitening For Life' program allows our patients to spend just $99.00 to get custom made trays to take home and use with a high percentage whitening solution. As long as you keep up with your regular dental appointments (every 6 months), we continue to give you additional whitening solution to use with your trays! 

Using a whitening toothpaste at home will still help in removing external stains from your teeth, but if you want to really jump start your whitening, we recommend you speak to your dental professional to get the best options for you!

Smile Like a Celeb!

For years, celebrities have always had those ‘knockout’ smiles. The good news is that the technology that allows celebs to achieve those amazing results is available for everyone. So, regardless of what needs improving in your smile, there is a way that your dentist can help you to get that million dollar smile!

1. Crooked teeth?  Braces, or orthodontics, will help you straighten your teeth so that they are aligned beautifully.
2. Discolored Teeth?  Whitening is a treatment that can be done either in the office or at your home. This will take the overall shade of your teeth and whiten and brighten it just the right amount for you!
3. Decay or Dark Spots on Front Teeth?  Composite Bonding is a dental treatment during which, the dentists remove decay and use a composite resin material to fill in the area. The tooth colored material can be applied to most surfaces of the teeth and gum line. Veneers are thin, tooth-colored coverings that are placed over existing teeth. They can cover damaged or dis-colored surfaces, look and feel very natural and they can give your smile a major makeover!
4. Missing Teeth?  Implants can allow you to replace a missing tooth. An implant acts very much like your real tooth and can be placed almost anywhere in the mouth, giving you back your full 

No matter what the issue it, it’s nothing that you and your dentist can’t handle. Visit your dentist, discuss your concerns, make a plan and smile! We are here to serve you and help you to share your best smile possible!