Sharing Smiles at the State Fair

It’s August in Wisconsin, so there’s a good chance you’ll be heading to the State Fair (or county fair!) in the near future. (Cream puffs, anyone?!) When at these special events, how can you enjoy yourself, take in some of the delicious food and drink, and still take care of your teeth? 

There's no doubt, that at special events like these, we tend to eat and drink a little differently than normal. (At least we hope so. A cream puff a day might be a bit too much. Double check with your physician.) The truth is, that’s OK. As we frequently say to our patients here at Grand Avenue Dental Care, “everything in moderation”. As we don’t go around eating food on sticks and cream puffs everyday, a trip to the state fair is part of the ‘moderation’ we talk about. However, there are still a few things you can do to take good care of your oral health while out at the fair!

Tip #1: Drink water throughout your day at the fair. This is a no-brainer not just for your teeth, but your whole body. It will keep you hydrated, it will help to rinse debris from between your teeth and it will help to restore your mouth to a neutral pH level after eating or drinking something acidic. 

Tip #2: If possible avoid the super sticky foods. These kinds of treats tend to trick you by sticking into the grooves of your teeth and between your teeth, making your mouth more susceptible to cavities. Instead, eat some dairy (cheese or milk) when you can to help neutralize any acidity in your mouth.

Tip #3: Eat some crunchy, raw vegetables or fruit with your meal. Even corn on the cob can help push sugar-y foods off of your teeth. Just remember to floss later! (and rinse with water!)

Tip #4: Chew sugar-free gum in-between snacks or meals. This can help remove debris from your teeth and will also keep your breath fresh!

Tip #5: Bring floss in your purse or pocket! Just in case that corn on the cob, or some other food on a stick, gets stuck between your teeth. A quick flossing session and you’re good to go!

Ultimately, these kinds of summer traditions are the things we want to enjoy and ‘splurge’ on. Drink water throughout the day to help keep your mouth at a neutral pH level and less susceptible to cavities while you enjoy the deliciousness of the fair. You also might want to put your dentist’s phone number into your phone. That way, if you ever have a dental emergency, you’ll be set!

See you at the Dairy Pavilion!

Help! I broke my tooth!

Whether you are seeing a dentist regularly or not, changes in your dental health or even dental emergencies can pop up. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, we recommend that you call your dentist as soon as possible, so that you can be treated and given the care that you need. 

Help! I … 

… broke my tooth!

A broken tooth can mean a wide variety of treatment, depending on the severity of the break. Sometimes a chip or a small break can be treated with a simple filling. A bigger break in the tooth might require something more like a crown. There are also certain times in which a tooth cannot be saved and would need to be removed. However, at Grand Avenue Dental Care, we are in the business of saving your teeth, so we will do everything we can to help you with a broken tooth!

… have sore gums!

Sore or bleeding gums are abnormal and should never be considered part of your brushing or flossing routine. If you are experiencing either of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your dentist. It could be something as simple as having something stuck in your gums or it could be a sign of periodontal disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Periodontal disease is treatable, but the earlier you can treat it, the better.

… have soreness in my jaw!

A sore jaw can be attributed to a couple of things. It could be that you simply strained the muscles of your joint and it will feel better in a couple days. However, if you are having soreness or pain in your jaw joint that doesn’t go away, or comes and goes frequently, you should schedule an exam with your dentist. Sometimes this is a sign of grinding your teeth while you sleep or clenching during stress. Either way, this can affect your tempera-mandibular joint (TMJ) and it is something your dentist can help you with before it becomes more problematic. 

At Grand Avenue Dental Care, regardless of what your dental concern is, we are here to help you through the process. With our caring staff and the latest in dental technologies, such as 3D x-ray, we make the process as less-invasive, caring and efficient as possible. Call us today if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms!

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!

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!

Join Us for a FREE Educational Seminar on Tooth Replacement!

Part of our mission of Sharing Smiles means that we do everything we can to educate our patients and our community about their dental health. Tomorrow we are hosting a FREE Implant Seminar to discuss what tooth replacement options there are, how they compare to each other and hopefully help guide you to determining which option would be best for you!

If you or someone you know is interested in this, please reserve a seat by calling our office at 262-673-7826! You do not need to be a patient to attend and there is NO COST for this event!

We look forward to seeing you there!