Knowledge Isn't Enough; Floss, Floss, and Floss.

Earlier this week, we focused on a few things you could do to rejuvenate your brushing habits. This time we are going to talk about flossing. And no, we are not talking about the flossing dance move. Although, if you decide to do that while flossing your teeth, would love to see a photo. 

However, we are talking about the all-important habit of flossing your teeth. Your gums deserve it, and we know that it can be time-consuming, painful, and, well, maybe not your favorite part of the day. However, your teeth deserve it, so how can you add this habit into your daily routine start by:

1.  You are picking the time. Suppose you are busiest in the morning, floss at night. If you don't feel like you have time at night, do it in the morning. Pick a time that works for you. 
2. Use a product that makes it easier. If you do not like flossers, then ditch them and pick up the mint-flavored floss at your local store. Pick a new flavor or a new type and try different kinds if you are not sure which you love. 
3. Put out a reminder. Add a calendar invite to your phone, and add fun music to it. So that when it goes off, you aren't dreading it. 
4. Make it accessible. If you go to floss, you have to dig it out to find it; you are less likely to do it. Make it easy. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. You can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. 

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Avoid Dental Emergencies

Nothing is worse than having a cracked or broken tooth interrupt your holiday plans. This year you can take care of problems ahead of time to decrease the risk of having problems when you want to be with family. Here are 5 tips to helping you stay out of the dentist's office with an emergency this Holiday Season.

1. Get problems taken care of. If you have a tooth that is bothering you or is cracked or broken schedules your appointment now.
2. Brush and floss regularly. This is a great way not only to keep your smile healthy but also to cut down on problems.
3. Don’t use your teeth as tools. If you are opening packages or using your teeth as tools you run a higher risk of damaging the structure of your teeth.
4. Don’t chew on ice. Cracked and broken teeth can happen when the enamel on your teeth is weakened. Chewing on ice can cause problems you don’t need.
5. Use a mouthguard. If you and your family get together over the holidays and play a little ball, street hockey or football, protect your smile with a mouthguard.

• more information on avoiding dental catastrophes over the holiday break, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team.

What Are Your Dental Goals?

You may have goals for other parts of your life, but do you also have dental goals? It is so important you have a plan for your smile. Your smile is essential to the health of your entire body. Don’t leave your smile hanging. A beautiful, healthy smile is critical in order to have a healthy body. Don’t take risks with your smile, by not setting clear and concise goals for your dental health.

This may include brushing and flossing regularly. Eating healthy or scheduling and visiting your dentist 2x a year is critical to the health of your smile. No matter what your goals are, your cosmetic dentist, Dr. Judy Strutz and her team are ready to help you. If you are not sure what type of dental goals you have, or if you are not sure what types of problems your smile is facing, it is important to schedule your appointment in order to get your smile back on track.

Simply taking a minute to write down what you want your smile to look like may be the jumpstart you need in order to get your smile back on track.  For more information or help with your smile contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team today.

Are You In The Know?

With the world around us, it can be easy to think that you have all the information about your smile, but do you have the facts about how to prevent dental decay and keep your smile healthy? There is so much information floating out there at times it can be over whelming and feel that there is no way you will ever really be able to discern the facts from the opinions. Dr. Judy Strutz and her team are here to help. Here are 3 tips on how you can keep your smile healthy without getting bogged down by too much information.

1.     Always brush and floss. There is no other single activity that will keep your smile healthy. Brushing removes food from the surface of your teeth before it turns into sugar which turns into plaque and causes cavities and other problems. While flossing is essential for gum health.

2.     Eat healthy foods. Foods that are healthy have the ability to keep your smile healthy by keeping food from sticking to your teeth. Think about the rich, juicy flavor you get when you bite into that piece of watermelon. All of that juice is helping to remove food from your teeth. On the other hand, think about eating a piece of bread. As it mixes with your saliva, it may stick to the surface of your teeth making it more difficult to wash off.

3.     Visit the dentist, this is critically important and no other single task can help prevent problems from rising more than this easy step. Your dentist is your friend. She can help diagnose problems as well as fix problems before they become worse.

For more information on the facts about your smile, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team.

Fall Is Right Around The Corner

With the cooler weather right around the corner, fall hot chocolate and baking may be in your future. While you may be excited and ready for the fall, is your smile? It can be difficult to keep up with your healthy dental habits during the holidays with the influx of sugar and sweet treats that are around. With these 5 tips you can stay ahead of the decay and decrease your risk of needing restorative procedures.

1.     Brush and floss every day at the same time. The more consistent you can be, the better off you are.

2.     Brush after consuming sweet treats.

3.     Carry a travel toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to brush and floss after that high carbohydrate meal.

4.     Drink water. Having a dry mouth not only increases the risk of bacteria in your mouth and the longer you are dehydrated the greater the risk for decay.

5.     Consume fruits and vegetables instead of treats high in carbohydrates, this will help ensure food is removed from the surface of the teeth.

Enjoy the fall weather, pumpkin drinks and the colors of the leaves with a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. For more information, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and keep your smile healthy.