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!

Back to School with a Smile!

It’s that time of year again! School supplies are purchased (and labeled!), new clothes are ready for those school pictures and the first day of school is upon us. We’ve put together a few tips on how to start the school year off with your best foot (and best smile) forward!

1. Be sure to start the school year with a dental exam and cleaning. Some schools require that a child entering 4K or Kindergarten have a dental exam before the year starts. Even if that is not the case, be sure your child has their preventative visit before school starts or as soon as possible. If there are any issues, you want to catch them early and not have your child experiencing dental pain while trying to focus on their school work. 
2. Put up a brushing calendar for your kids! School is all about accountability and hitting goals. A brushing calendar to monitor their daily brushing habits will fit right in. Post this in the bathroom or their bedroom and encourage them to use crayons or stickers to mark down every time they brush. If they get a full month of brushing for 2 minutes, 2 times a day, consider adding a reward for them. See one below!
3. Pack tooth-healthy lunches and snacks! It’s easy to pack processed foods in your child’s lunch because it’s quick, but remember that fresh fruits and vegetables are also quick and are a much better option for your child’s teeth and overall health. A few healthy options are: cheeses, cucumbers, apples and carrots. These will not only keep your child’s teeth healthy but also give them a great pick-me-up in the middle of the school day!

With a few simple steps you can ensure that your child starts the school year with their best smile possible! Have a great school year, everyone!

It's Still Summer! Who Needs a Routine?! (Hint: We all do!)

Here we are in mid-August (can you believe it?) and there’s a good chance that summer has gotten the better of many of our routines. Going to bed, waking up, when we eat our meals … all of these things, and more, have become less routine for many of us as the summer has worn on. And yet, in a matter of weeks, we will all be in “back-to-school” mode. Fall will be upon us and many of us (not naming names) will be needing to get back on schedule ASAP.

That makes this a great time to be sure that your oral health care routine gets back on track before the craziness of fall hits. There are a few simple things to do to make sure you are ready:

First: Be sure to get back on your brushing and flossing habits! Brush two times a day for two minutes, morning and night and floss one time a day. Using a fluoride toothpaste can help!

Second: If you are squeezing in some last minute travel plans, take healthy snacks with you. Apples, oranges, bananas and cheese sticks are all easily transportable, make great on-the-go snacks and are healthier for your teeth and body than processed foods. If you are bringing pretzels or chips with you, try to add cheese to the snack also. Starting these snacking habits now will help you transition into some great school lunch snacks also!

Third: Keep travel size toothbrushes, paste and floss with you or in the car for day-trips or spur-of-the-moment plans! It is fun to be spontaneous but not-so-fun to skip brushing or flossing so set yourself up for travel success!

Lastly: Drink water! Whether you are on the road, at home or starting school again, drinking water throughout the day is one of the easiest things you can do to maintain your dental health!

Regardless of what your daily routine ends up looking like, be sure your brushing routine stays strong!

Avoiding a (tooth)Break During Summer Break!

Summer is a time of relaxation and enjoying the simpler things in life, right? Right! However, summer is not the best time to break a tooth. So here are a few tips to help you and, the kids in your life, to protect your teeth over the summer break!

1. Invest in a mouthguard for your sport-playing kids! This is the time when baseball might be wrapping up but soccer and football are getting ready to start. Whatever the sport, if there is a chance of physical contact or ball-to-head contact, you should invest in a mouthguard for your child. While you can buy these from a local drug store, we recommend that you check with your dentist about making a custom mouth guard for your child. These will fit better, accommodate braces, if necessary, and they will protect your child’s jaw joint, or TMJ. 
2. Drink water! At Grand Avenue Dental Care, we continue to come back to this. Drinking water throughout the day can help your mouth get back to a neutral pH level and can help protect our teeth from possible decay. In addition, snacking on something like cheese can also help neutralize acidic levels in your mouth from things like fresh fruit, coffee, beer or other delicious summer treats. 
3. Consider an Occlusal Guard. This is similar to the mouthguard mentioned above, but this one is meant for anyone who has a crown or a bridge in their mouth. An occlusal guard protects both your crown, or bridge, and your natural teeth. Typically this is worn at night-time, when it is more common for people to clench or grind their teeth. The occlusal guard prevents the crown from wearing on your natural teeth and protects the crown as well. This is a great investment to protect the work you might have already done in your mouth.

Taking care of your teeth in the summer, and year-round, mostly comes down to your at-home care and what you do to protect your teeth between dental visits. However, if you ever have a question about your teeth, or your loved one's teeth, don’t hesitate to ask any of us at Grand Avenue Dental Care!

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!