Choosing The Right Toothpaste

Posted on 01.25.16 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

Choosing the right toothpaste can be a daunting task, as the choices are varied and vast. Some of us have a hands down favorite and always use the same kind. This preference is often based on flavor, consistency or a recommendation from our dentist or hygienist. Others of us buy whatever we have a coupon for or the drugstore has on buy one get one free special. Here are some interesting facts that may help the next time you have to choose a toothpaste.

Cleaning your teeth is the responsibility of the toothbrush, and water is all you need to use.
Toothpaste freshens your breath and delivers protective chemicals like fluoride and calcium.
Whitening toothpastes are usually more abrasive and can contribute to damage to crowns and veneers, as well as accelerate the rate of tooth wear.
Sensitivity toothpastes contain a chemical called potassium Nitrate which does reduce temperature sensitivity with regular use.
Tarter Control and Whitening toothpastes may increase temperature sensitivity in some people.
Many toothpastes contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate, so if you are sensitive to this ingredient you need to read the ingredients carefully.
Children’s toothpastes are different, and are designed to be safe if swallowed in large amounts.

So with these facts in mind, it will be easy to narrow down the choices and still find the flavor you prefer in either gel or paste, and you’ll still have to deicde whether to buy the tube or the pump!

The Danger of Sour Candy and Gum

Posted on 01.18.16 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

There is something magical to our taste buds about the combination of sour and sweet! As you peruse the racks of gum and candy, the lemon, lime and orange flavors are right there calling to you. We love how they taste and we love how they make us salivate. From small kids with their sour patch kids and sour gummy worms to adults who utilize lemon drops the dangers are the same. The acidic pH of the sour candy and gum is an enemy to your teeth in two ways. First it erodes and dissolves the structure of your tooth and secondly it creates a favorable environment for the bacteria that cause cavities. Our teeth do best in a neutral or basic environment which means a pH over 7. Some of the most popular sour candies have a pH in the range of 2 or 3. Tooth enamel begins to dissolve at a pH of around 4. Its the job of our saliva to keep the pH nuetral, and correct for when we eat really acidic things. If you eat sour candy, gum or mints often enough, or suffer from a lack of saliva your mouth may often be at a pH low enough for tooth damage to occur.

The other challenge is that the bacteria that cause cavities prefer to live in an acidic environment. This means that if your mouth is often below a pH of 7 you will have a greater number of these bacteria. If you are also feeding them sugar, and they are living on teeth already damaged from the acid, it can be a triple whammy! If you can try and limit the amount of sour candies, gums and mints you consume. When you do try and rinse your mouth out as soon as possible. Don’t go right in and brush until the pH of your mouth is back to normal in 15-30 minutes, or you could cause excessive abrasion to the enamel.

The Pregnant Woman’s Guide to Oral Health: Protect Your Teeth!

Posted on 09.21.15 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

The first few months of a new pregnancy can be filled with ups and downs, from uncomfortable physical changes to the joys of wondering what the baby’s sex will be. Most mothers know automatically from pop culture and informational texts that they will need to avoid certain foods, take pre-natal vitamins, and let their roots grow out, but what they may not realize is that oral health should be on the top of their pregnancy to-do lists.

Our number one piece of advice is to schedule a check up at the dentist during your pregnancy. While pregnant, your body is going through changes at a microscopic level that can affect the health of your teeth and gums and add unforeseen difficulties.

According to mouthhealthy.org, pregnant woman are prone to a few oral health related issues that a check up can either prevent or diagnose quickly. These can include pregnancy gingivitis, increased risk of tooth decay, and even non-cancerous pregnancy “tumors” which are simply plaque related areas of swelling that can show up on the gums.

Before even considering all of these potential consequences of pregnancy (some of which simply stem from changes in diet and hormones), keep in mind that it is perfectly safe to visit the dentist while pregnant. The American Dental Association (ADA) has even stated that dental treatment “…is safe throughout pregnancy…”

Your dentist is trained to be just as careful as any other practicing “Dr.” and will be sure to determine the safety of local anesthetics, X-rays, and any prescriptions they may prescribe. Make sure to let them know you are pregnant and then they can tailor any necessary treatment with that important consideration in mind.

Armed with this information, you can fully engage in a holistic approach to health care during your pregnancy. Protect your teeth!

Tips and Tricks: The Most Effective Path To A White Smile

Posted on 08.3.15 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

One of our preferred whitening brands at Desert Sun Smiles.

If you’re looking in the mirror and feel dissatisfied with the color of your teeth, you may also find that there are too many confusing options for turning them into genuine pearly whites. The market is flush with attractive and easy products such as Crest 3D White Whitestrips, whitening toothpastes, brightening mouthwash, and more. You may even consider that trip to the dental office for a professional whitening or a more advanced version of the “Whitestrips” phenomenon. But what method to whitening teeth is truly the most effective when considering time, cost, and end result?

1. Let’s Start With The Basics

Before you shell out the big bucks or devote hours in the dental chair, consider these facts that may be contributing to dull or yellow teeth:

Did you know fruits and vegetables can stain your teeth? Not many people do, but according to Webmd, even apples and potatoes can be contributing to a lackluster smile.
Coffee, coffee, coffee. Are you a caffeine addict? A Starbucks connoisseur? Consistent espresso consumption may be gradually discoloring your teeth.
Lighting up that cigarette is a sure fire way to turn your teeth into a dentist’s worst nightmare. Plus, it can cause massive oral health issues, cancer, and a smile worthy of a 16th century monarch or a caveman.
The dermatologist! Using antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline for clearing up acne? Teeth looking more and more like you smoke two packs of cigarettes a day and single handedly keep your local coffee shop in business? This medication may be the culprit.
Be honest with yourself. If you’re not brushing twice a day and flossing regularly than your solution may be as simple as upping your daily dental game.

2. Are The Famed Crest Whitestrips Effective?

The short answer is: Yes and no. Yes, they will whiten your teeth, but the trays will only make a difference in the incisor (front) teeth. What this means is that if your smile happens to be larger than life (or at least wide enough that it exposes more than these common front teeth), then you may be left with an only partially brighter smile.

3. Bringing Out The Big Guns

If you’re interested in the quickest way to achieve Fabio or Jennifer Aniston level whiteness, a trip to the dental office for in office professional whitening might be very appealing. There are pros and cons to this approach.

Pro: The dentist can use a professional whitening formula and decide using a shade matching method where your teeth are currently and what color you would ideally like to reach. For busy professionals this method can generate the same results in one hour as one month of at home approaches.

Con: This option costs more than over the counter methods, requires a dental visit of 90 minutes, and can cause sensitivity for those with overly sensitive teeth. If you continue habits such as excessive coffee consumption, smoking, and/or don’t brush or floss effectively, you may need to repeat whitening every 6-12 months.

4. The Best At Home Approach

Don’t let yellow or discolored teeth prevent your from making a good first impression or feeling confident on a blind date. The best approach that combines the comfort of Whitestrips with the effectiveness of the dental office is to set up an appointment with your dentist to make personalized whitening trays. The dentist will make these trays by creating molds of your teeth and will provide whitening gel and instructions for their use. Then, achieving a white smile is simply a matter of wearing the trays while doing chores around the house or watching Netflix.