5 WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SMILE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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1. Opt for Smile-Friendly Stocking Stuffers:

Nearly everyone indulges in more sweets than they usually would throughout the holidays. The National Confectioners Association says, “77% of people include candy in holiday gifts.” Instead of having too many candy canes or other sticky, hard candies eat more chocolate. Chocolate is much easier to brush off whereas other candies leave a stickier coating on your teeth that can be extremely difficult to remove. This sticky coating contains sugar that will erode your enamel if not taken care of properly. Remember though, taking care of your smile is still necessary regardless of your candy choice. This Christmas, let’s say yes to chocolate santas and no to tooth decay

2. Carol While You Brush:

One of the easiest ways to brush for a full two minutes is to listen to a song that’s two minutes long. Create a playlist of your favorite holiday music to listen to whenever you brush your teeth. This way you’ll ensure that every time you brush, you’re doing it correctly. Remember to do it at least twice a day, (and you’ll definitely make Santa’s nice list if you add in a song to floss to).

3. Never Open Gifts with Your Teeth:

As tempting as it can be to use your teeth to open a present, please just take that short walk to the kitchen or craft area to grab a pair of scissors. If you’re a younger reader, simply ask someone for help unwrapping. Your teeth were made for eating, not to unwrap the gift your mom spent an hour making sure was secure enough to prevent any peeking. If you use your teeth to open your presents, you risk cracking or damaging a tooth and even injuring your jaw. There’s also the chance you could accidentally swallow something you shouldn’t (Christmas cookies taste much better anyway).

4. Stick to Your Routine:

Between holiday parties, travel, and other festivities, it’s easy to slip out of your normal routine. Don’t wait until New Year’s to make your dental health a priority again. Maintain your healthy habits no matter the time of year. If you have a routine dental visit scheduled, keep the appointment. Your teeth actually need a cleaning now more than ever. Don’t forget to brush twice a day for two minutes each time and floss after at least one of those times.

5. Ask for or Give Oral Hygiene Products as Presents or Stocking Stuffers:

This year put a new toothbrush (maybe even an electric one), floss (the Waterpik Water Flosser works amazing and is easy to use as well), mouthwash, Glo whitening products, or any other oral hygiene product you could use on your Christmas list! If you are looking for a very practical and useful gift for someone you care about, consider giving them some oral care products! We could all do with receiving toothbrushes and floss, even if we’re already stocked up because you can never have too much of something so important and necessary.

WHAT WE EAT AFFECTS OUR SMILE!

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The food we eat can have a big impact on our teeth. It is obviously important to take good care of your smile by brushing and flossing but the things we eat can also affect our teeth. To keep those pearly whites bright snack on crunchy vegetables that do not get stuck in the teeth like carrots, broccoli and celery. Watermelon with its high water content helps to keep the teeth hydrated and free from debris as well. Pears are another good choice for crispness and water content. Crunchy nuts and seeds are full of protein and the crunch helps remove plaque from the teeth keeping them stain free. If you are looking for a natural tooth whitener go for strawberries. The malic acid in the berry is a natural tooth whitener. You can also try a paste of strawberries and baking on your pearly whites to brighten them.

Foods that are harmful to the teeth include dried fruits and raisins as they are very sticky after being dehydrated and promote tooth decay because they sit on the enamel. Saltine crackers are another poor choice. Remember that any sticky substance on the tooth will provide food for the bacteria that cause decay. Think of how your teeth feel after a banana, all sticky and covered with a film. That film gives fuel to the sugar bugs and if left on the tooth will allow it to start to break down. Acidic foods like pickles change the alkalinity of the mouth and promote enamel breakdown. Sugary sports drinks and sodas do the same thing. We are seeing an increase in cavities between the teeth in young adults and it is being attributed to the energy drinks which are mostly caffeine and sugar. Certainly not the best thing for your smile. Keep in mind that water is always the best choice for your smile it cleans the teeth and hydrates them to keep them healthy. If you opt for a different drink make sure you rinse with water after drinking it and don’t sip on something sugary all day. The worst thing you can do for your teeth is to constantly bath your enamel with demineralizing sugars and acids over the course of the day. This does not give the saliva a chance to do its job of cleaning the mouth and re-mineralizing the tooth structure and enamel breakdown occurs. Alcohol also reduces the saliva flow and promotes drying of the teeth and gums.

To keep your family smiling choose good snacks that not only taste good but are healthy. Fresh fruits and nuts will certainly keep that smile on their faces and not affect the teeth. I find my family prefers the healthy stuff anyway so that is what I offer. Trader Joe’s sells convenient packs of nuts that are great to throw in my bag if the kids or I get hungry. I also usually have lots of fruit poolside. Bowls of grapes and watermelon are sure to please the crowd at my house. I am even surprised when we have a BBQ and the fruit is empty but the chips are not. Everyone likes fruit. I even make a delicious fruit dip to go with cantaloupe, watermelon, bananas and strawberries. Just mix a bar of cream cheese, a jar of marshmallow fluff and 1/4 cup orange juce in the food processor and chill for an hour before serving with fruit. Enjoy the summer!

SMILES FOR LIFE

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Our annual campaign for Smiles for Life is currently underway. Now through the end of June we are whitening smiles while helping the local foster kids. Arizona foster will benefit locally from the money we raise this year. Half of our proceeds will be distributed locally and the other half will support the national and international endeavors of Smiles for Life. This year they will be sponsoring humanitarian missions in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Through these missions people who would have no access to dental treatment will be able to receive dental care. Last months mission went into the remote areas of Santo Domingo. You can help these and others who are in need by supporting the campaign. 100% of the proceeds we raise whitening teeth will go directly to helping those in need. Call the office to schedule whitening and get a whiter smile while you are helping both locally and internationally. This year we also are offering two smile makeovers in our Smile Auction. Clear Correct invisible braces has generously given us a complete orthodontic case to offer for bid and bidding is open. If you are interested in invisible braces call our office or bid on our facebook page. Opening bid is $1000 for this $5600 prize. We also have a 6 veneer smile makeover available that is currently at $3500. The value of the prize is $7800. Call and bid on these spectacular items. A special thanks goes out to Clear Correct and Cruz Dental Studios for donating these items. Please help us reach our goal this year of $15,000. Spread the word to friends and co workers about the whitening campaign. In office whitening is $149 and custom take home whitening is only $99. Call today to schedule or bid 480-507-1807.

TOOTH PAIN- WHAT ARE THE TYPES AND CAUSES?

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Tooth pain can occur in many forms, it can be isolated to one tooth, or many, it can be instigated by temperature (hot or cold) or when chewing. Let’s take a look at the most common instances of tooth pain.
There are two basic types of tooth pain.
– Sharp and Dull
Sharp tooth pain is caused by many factors.
– A broken cusp of a tooth
– Decay at the gumline
– A space between a crown/ filling at the gumline
– A filling or crown that is too high when chewing
– Grinding or clenching
– Cold temperatures
Sharp tooth pain rarely lingers, it is short duration and often instigated by the factors listed above. Sharp tooth pain relief is usually accomplished by repairing fractured cusp with a crown or onlay, adjusting the crown/ filling that is too high when biting, checking for and removing any decay or faulty crowns/ fillings at the gum line. Sharp tooth pain should always be evaluated because sharp tooth pain can lead to dull pain, which is discussed below.
Dull tooth pain is often more serious, and usually means the nerve inside the tooth has been irreversibly damaged.
Dull tooth pain is usually initiated with hot temperatures, hot coffee or soup.
It will tend to ache for a significant period of time.
It can wake you up in the middle of the night or just start to ache spontaneously. It can also be initiated by tapping on the tooth.
Dull tooth pain originates from the nerve/pulp of the tooth.
Tooth pain is often an indicator of a potentially serious problem that should be addressed by a dentist.

CLEAR CORRECT…A NEW EASY WAY TO STRAIGHTEN YOUR TEETH.

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You deserve a smile you can be proud of, and ClearCorrect can make it happen. The clear aligners are comfortable, removable, and, best of all, nearly invisible. People won’t even notice you are wearing them. They are easy to remove for eating or a special engagement.
Some severe cases can require traditional metal braces but most patients can be treated with ClearCorrect. The cost and length of treatment are comparable. ClearCorrect makes it fast and easy to straighten your smile.

With ClearCorrect we need a records visit to take impressions, xrays and photos of your teeth. From these records a 3D model is constructed to fabricate a series of aligners that will straighten the teeth. Each aligner will apply a targeted pressure to the teeth to move them into alignment. Treatment will vary between 6 and 18 months. Results can be seen right away as they smile changes.
ClearCorrect addresses problems like crowding, spacing, misalignment, and overbite.

Call today to discuss your options. The ClearCorrect system is comfortable, effective, convenient affordable and hassle-free. Cost of treatment is customized by patient needs so it is more affordable.
Visit www.clearcorrect.com for more information.

10 SECRETS FOR RAISING CAVITY FREE KIDS!

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If you have kids introducing them to new things can be fun, challenging, exciting, and frustrating at the same time. I have three children and with today’s technology I expect them to grow up without cavities. When I was a kid it was almost expected to have a cavity when we went to the dentist. Getting a filling was normal-hey we were happy if it was only one. Times have really changed. Today children can have the benefit of regular dental care and advancements like sealants, and electric toothbrushes.

To help your child grow up cavity free teach them that going to the dentist is fun. Regular dental care prevents problems and catches things early before the problems are major. I think it is best to bring the kids in early for a fun ride on the chair and toothbrush instruction. They come in at 2 or so and have an easy visit, get a new toothbrush and pick a prize out of the toy box. The first visit should be problem free so that it is a positive experience. It is great when the kids look forward to going to the dentist!

10 secrets for cavity free kids!

1. Clean baby’s mouth with a 2X2 gauze so that the gums and new teeth are clean and debris free. This will get baby used to the process and help in the future.

2. Start toothbrush at 18 months. They can play with the toothbrush and then you can actually brush their teeth for them. Toothpaste is not necessary to start. Introduce that when you know they can spit it out and not swallow it.

3. Regular Dental Checkup every 6 months.

4. Stop thumbsucking before permenant teeth come in. This is usually around 6 years old.

5. Have dental sealants placed on permenant molars and premolars.

6. Never put kids to bed with a bottle of juice or milk. If they need a bottle only fill with water.

7. Never dip a pacifier in anything sweet.

8. Help your child brush. Let them brush first then go over their teeth again.

9. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes.

10. Be a good role model. Let your kids see you brush and floss. Be a consistent dental patient, having your check up as well twice yearly.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

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Dental implants are a great solution for a missing tooth. Many patients we see are missing a single tooth. Over the years we have recommended a dental bridge to replace it but some patients were hesitant to touch their adjacent teeth. These teeth were in great shape and they did not want to harm them. We can now replace the missing tooth without doing anything to the teeth that are next to it. Pateints feared that the bridge would cause the teeth to also have issues down the road and they were correct. With the dental implant no stress is placed on any of the other teeth in the mouth and in fact replacing the missing tooth the stress on other teeth becomes less.
If you have a missing tooth and are interested in replacement let us know. We are happy to discuss the dental implant option with you. Call Katie today to schedule a complimentary consultation at 480-507-1807. I look forward to giving you a great solution to all your smile concerns.

DENTAL IMPLANTS NOW PLACED IN OUR GILBERT DENTAL OFFICE.

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I am pleased to introduce Dr Brent Call to our family dental practice here in the east valley. Dr Call will be joining the practice to assist in all aspects of implant dentistry and oral surgery. We no longer need to refer you out of the practice for these services. Since our patients are comfortable here we can perform these additional services in the setting you are already familiar with. Dr Call will be performing wisdom teeth extractions as well as implant placement. All aspects of oral surgery can now be addressed at Contemporary Dentistry.

Dr Call is a graduate of Oregon Health Science University in 2004. He completed his general practice residency at the University of Texas Health Science University in San Antonio. He is trained in implant surgery as well as IV sedation.
We are pleased to be able to offer these services in our office. Working with Dr Call on our dental implant cases will improve patient comfort and treatment outcome for our patients.

If you are interested in replacing a missing tooth with an implant or you need to have an extraction call Katie to get scheduled at 480-507-1807. If you have any questions regarding what is involved with dental implants let me know. I can be emailed at drkathyj@azdentistry.com or on my cell at 602-332-6202. Feel free to schedule a complimentary consult as well if you are interested.

NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

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February is Dental Health month! Dental cavities are on the rise and we want to help our patients remain cavity free. We would like to spotlight easy ways to keep kids smiles cavity free.

1. Effective brushing twice a day.
Children need to remove the plaque that sits on the teeth every morning and every night. A timer can help them brush for the recommended 2 minutes. There are also rinses that color the plaque so parents can check to see if they did a thorough job.
2. Regular dental check ups.
We recommend every 6 months because kids are prone to cavities and we like to catch these early. Dental disease is the most common disease in children.

3. Healthy Diet!
I am amazed at what kids eat. Fresh fruits and veggies are essential to a healthy body and smile. Remember they will usually eat what they are given so put out carrots, grapes and apple slices. I usually have grapes next to chips at a party and the grapes always go first. Try it and see.

4. Dental Sealants.
Sealants can reduce the risk of a cavity up to 80% and can last 10years. The dental sealant protects the chewing surface from getting a cavity. We place BPA free sealants in our office and they are generally covered by dental insurance.

During the month of February sealants will be buy one get one free. Call today to schedule so we can protect the teeth from decay!

— Kathy

SMILE!

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What Does Your Smile Say About You?

Want to succeed in business, fill up your social calendar, and get more romance into your life? One secret may be in your smile.

A Confiddent Smile exudes success.
“A smile conveys confidence and professionalism,” says Lily T. Garcia, DDS, DDS, MS, FACP, president of the American College of Prosthodontists. People who project a positive outlook are generally more open and flexible. They tend to cope better with challenges than people who are withdrawn and unsmiling.

A study that followed a group of women for 30 years shows the lifetime benefits of smiling. The women who displayed genuinely happy smiles in their college yearbook photos went on to have happier marriages and greater wellbeing.

In the same study, a group of strangers looked at the college photos and reported their assumptions about the women’s personalities. The women who smiled were judged to be more positive and competent than those who didn’t.

Turn that Frown Upside Down
Want to be happy? Just smile. Believe it or not, forcing yourself to smile can actually make you happier.

Paul Ekman, PhD, a psychologist who is an expert in facial expressions, taught himself to arrange the muscles in his face to make certain expressions. To his surprise, he found himself feeling the emotions that he was mimicking. When he raised his cheeks, parted his lips, and turned the corners of his mouth up, he felt happier.

Ekman and his research partner went on to do a study of college students to see if they, too, would feel happier by making themselves smile. The researchers measured the students’ brain activity while the students followed instructions to smile using the muscles in their cheeks and around their mouths.

Whether the students smiled spontaneously or on purpose, the activity in their brains was virtually the same. They felt happy.

Smiles make people feel that you are friendly and approachable. Over the long term, smiling can benefit your health, perception at work, social life, and romantic status. With that much at stake, it’s worthwhile to discover what your smile is saying about you — and how to interpret the smiles flashed your way.

Many Americans look at the mouth to judge a person’s mood, but people smile for all sorts of reasons: anger, fear, embarrassment, confusion, to deceive. It’s really your eyes that give you away.

The muscles around the eyes can’t be forced to look happy. When people smile for real, their cheeks rise and the skin around their eyes bunches up. In fact, in certain countries where suppressing emotion is a cultural norm, people look more at each other’s eyes to gauge emotion.

Your smile — simple, straightforward, and most important, sincere — can attract more than admiring looks. A smiling face tells people that you’re an outgoing and intelligent person worth getting to know.

Smiling can benefit your health, perception at work, social life, and romantic status. With that much at stake, it’s worthwhile to discover what your smile is saying about you — and how to interpret the smiles flashed your way.

Keep Smiling and remember if your smile isn’t projecting what you want it to I can help. Call the office at 480-507-1807 if you would like to evaluate your smile. It is never to late to get the smile you deserve.

Dr. Kathy