Simple Habits For a Healthy Smile For Life

Dr. Jonathan Bloch

We all know life can be a bit crazy sometimes. Work, kids, school, traffic! It is sometimes overwhelming, but don’t get too busy to neglect your dental health. Your dental care is just as important now as it was when you were a kid. Untreated dental disease can lead to serious health issues like dental infections, bone loss around teeth, dental nerve damage, and even tooth loss. A few simple habits can go a long way in helping you maintain a healthy smile, even when you are too busy.  Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss once a day and visit your dentist regularly for both check ups and cleanings. These simple habits can help you maintain a Healthy smile for Life.

What About Missing Teeth

Did you know that the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth? If you are missing one or more teeth, there are plenty of ways to correct the problem. Schedule an appointment with our office for more information about improving your smile and find out how you can maintain a healthy smile for life!

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

Is Chewing Gum Good for Your Teeth?

Chewing gum in various forms has been around since ancient times. The Greeks chewed sap from the mastic tree, called mastiche. On the other side of the world, the ancient Mayans favored the sap of the sapodilla tree (called tsiclte). Native Americans from New England chewed spruce sap—a habit they passed on to European settlers. Today, the base used for most gum products is a blend of synthetic materials (elastomeres, resins and waxes in various proportions). However, chewing gum is as popular as ever.

Consumers may be used to thinking about chewing gum as a kind of candy, but this category of the ADA Seal recognizes chewing gum that has demonstrated scientifically that it can protect the teeth.

 

For an informative article on the history of chewing gum, visit

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/85/8532sci2.html (Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.)

The physical act of chewing increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. If you chew after eating, the increased salivary flow can help neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth. Over time, acid can break down tooth enamel, creating the conditions for decay. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel. Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

Find out more information on other interesting oral health topics, please visit our website or

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

 

Tooth whitening in The Dental Office

By. Dr. Jonathan Bloch

Everyone would love to have a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you achieve a healthy bright smile or simply improve the look of your smile.

Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and regular cleanings. If you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.

You can take several approaches to whiten your smile:

• In-office bleaching;
• At-home bleaching;
• Whitening toothpastes

For faster and better results we suggest a in-office tooth whitening procedure that is fast and effective. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.

During chairside bleaching, the dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent. An hour later your teeth are several shades whiter.

At-home bleaching trays and whitening toothpastes can also help you brighten your smile, but take longer and may be less effective than in-office bleaching.

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!