Is Your Smile Valentine-Proof?

Is Your Smile Valentine-Proof?

What is Valentine’s Day without sweets? Aside from bouquets of flowers, sugary treats like chocolates and candies are the most common gifts we give to our loved ones whether they are young or old.

Considering how much sugar one consumes on this day, it’s very important that you and your loved ones take really good care of your teeth. Good oral hygiene is key to protecting your teeth from all the sugar and the bacteria that can cause gum disease and tooth decay.

So how do you protect your smile this Valentine’s Day?

Stay Away from Sticky Candies

While all sugary treats are a threat to your teeth, the sticky and hard to chew variety are the worst. Caramels, gum drops, and toffee, among others, are full of sugar and they will stick to both natural teeth and dentures. Some of them are so sticky that they can actually dislodge dental appliances like braces. If you want to protect your teeth from damage and decay, you should avoid these types of candies.

Don’t Forget to Brush and Floss

Sweets, especially the sticky and chewy ones take hours to dissolve or wear away. They can also get lodged between your teeth and eat away the enamel and lead to gum irritation and cavities. That’s why you should remember to brush your teeth after eating candies. You should also floss to get those hard-to-remove stuck particles between your teeth. Swishing with mouthwash after can also help.

Establish a Daily Oral Hygiene Routine

It’s not enough to just brush your teeth on days when you eat a lot of sweets. You should protect your gums and teeth all year long. You can do this by having a really effective oral hygiene routine. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. When your teeth are strong, they can withstand the damaging effects of sugary treats better.

Schedule a Visit to Your Dentist

It’s a good idea to have a professional dental cleaning after Valentine’s Day. This way, you can be sure that your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned. Your dentist can also check those problem areas that you might have missed. Any oral health issue will also be caught and you can avoid major dental problems.

Pickering Square Dental can help you keep your teeth strong and healthy. We can also give you tips on how you can still enjoy those sweet treats you get on Valentine’s Day without having to worry about your oral health!

Love Your Teeth More this Valentine’s Day, Unlocking the Secret to a Healthier Smile

woman's portrait with chocolate

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and as it gets closer, you may also be getting more and more anxious about what kind of celebration your loved one has planned, or just hoping you’d find a date before that big day. Equip yourself with one of the best weapons for Valentine’s – a beautiful smile. Research shows that nothing is more attractive to the opposite sex than a bright and white smile.

 

What is ironic is that Valentine’s Day, which we often spend smiling, is actually a bad day for your teeth – and your smile. People tend to get carried away with all the delicious chocolates and sweets, as well as wine and other great food. These can all take their toll on your teeth.

Bacteria that grow in your mouth feed on sugar, so the more sugar you eat, the more those bacteria can damage your teeth. That is when they start creating cavities that also hurt the inner layer of your teeth and enamel. Because we cannot totally ban sugar, especially on Valentine’s Day, the least we can do is to limit our intake and try to avoid sticky candies that are more damaging than the others.

 

To get a better and healthier smile, here are our Valentine-proof tips just for you:

 

Choose Strawberries. Not everyone knows that strawberries have that substance called malic acid that acts as a natural tooth whitener. It can remove any discoloration on the surface of your teeth.

 

If strawberries are not your thing, you can eat red apples instead. They increase saliva production that help wash debris away.

 

If you can’t skip the chocolates, at least go for dark ones. Dark chocolates are known to have calcium and other ingredients that actually promote stronger and better teeth.

 

Drink lots of water to help flush away food particles that are left in your mouth. Stay hydrated!

 

Do not forget to visit your dentist at least twice in a year. Only a professional can tell whether or not your teeth are in good condition. You dentist can also help you in maintaining a healthy mouth.

 

Valentine’s Day is holiday that is best celebrated with a loved one. Instead of following the norms of giving sweets and chocolates, why not start a new one? Perhaps we can give a fruit basket instead a box of chocolates. That would make Valentine’s Day even more special than it already is.

Take the Perfect Selfie with Sparkling Whites & Bright Smile

Nowadays, almost everyone is taking their own portraits – better known as ‘selfies’. If you are fond of taking photos of yourself, don’t you want to have a perfect smile to go with your photos? Here are some tips on how to keep your teeth picture-perfect:

 

Brush and Floss Properly

It’s surprising to know that some adults grow old and never learn how to brush and floss properly. Even if you do brush and floss daily, but your techniques are wrong, then your teeth and gums will not get the maximum care and protection that they need to become stronger and healthier. An expert said that the more you floss, the tougher your gums become – even if flossing hurts or makes your gums bleed at first.

 

Stop Smoking

A study by the American Dental Association states that smokers get periodontal disease at two to three times more the rate of non-smokers. This is why it’s important to stop this bad habit immediately. Smokers do not heal as fast as non-smokers following a treatment for gum infections. If you want your teeth and gums to be stronger and healthier and to have less risk for periodontal diseases, it’s best to quit smoking.

 

Stay Away from Caffeinated and Carbonated Drinks

Just like smoking cigarettes, drinking caffeinated drinks also damages your perfect smile and pearly whites. Why? These drinks are loaded with high-acid content. Did you know that acid weakens tooth enamel and makes it softer? After drinking these beverages, make sure that you rinse your mouth with clean water. It would be better if you can brush and floss immediately after drinking too!

 

See Your Dentist Regularly

As we get older, the busier we also get. A hectic schedule should never be an excuse to miss out on your dental appointments and maintaining your optimal overall healthcare. No matter how busy you are, it is essential that you still make time for your dentist. It cannot be reiterated enough, the importance of regular dental visits. If you follow your schedule, the dentist will be able to detect serious illnesses at an earlier time.

 

Get Rid of Grinding

If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth – get rid of it as soon as possible. Even if you are stressed out or upset, keep in mind that this habit causes excessive wear and tear of teeth. Your dentist will be able to tell if you have been grinding your teeth because areas of the tooth enamel will be smooth. If you have this habit, Dr. Marvin Lean and our Team of Health Care provideres can recommend a night mouth guard for you to use when sleeping.

 

For the perfect set of teeth, have Dr. Lean and his team of experts take a look at your teeth and gums. It is best to have a team of trusted professionals to take care of something as important as your teeth. 

Creating a More Confident Smile

Who doesn’t want to have a dazzling smile? We trust that everybody wants just that. Most people do not find their smiles beautiful enough, but that shouldn’t be the case. Contrary to popular belief, having a confident smile is totally up to the willingness of the beholder – that and proper oral health routines.

If you find it difficult to socialize with others because you have to talk, laugh and smile most of the time, then maybe it’s time to rethink of your oral health routines and practices.

It Starts Within

Pearly whites make all the difference, yes, but you have to make sure that all your other teeth are healthy as well. If you have damaged teeth that need treatment, you should work on those first. They might not be hurting now, but once they do start being sensitive, smiling would be the last thing on your mind.

Stick to a Healthy Routine

Brushing your teeth should never be skipped nor forgotten – no matter how busy you are. Keep in mind that our mouths are one of the dirtiest parts of our bodies. Ending the day without brushing your teeth is similar to sleeping with dirty clothes on.    

Keep It Sparkly

Most people with confident white smiles have had their teeth whitened. If you know you have sparkling whites to show, you are more likely to flaunt it than keep it hidden. Having perfect white teeth doesn’t come naturally.  Professional whitening systems at our office create dazzling white teeth!

Say No to Bad Breath

The most common reason for having foul-smelling breath is poor oral hygiene practices. Some people find it difficult to keep a conversation longer than 2 minutes because they are too conscious of their breath and other people smelling it.  Brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis helps you prevent this.

Replace Missing Ones

Losing our teeth can be very traumatic. Even if you take care of your teeth, certain circumstances might have caused you to have lost a tooth or two at some point. Don’t leave it like that.  Consider getting dental implants as soon as possible to restore your mouth and its ability to function well as well as for your own self-esteem.

Regularize Trips to the Dentist

Maintaining your teeth in the best condition is done with the help of a professional.  We are here to help and are well worth the time and commitment.