Month: August 2021

If you want to know how to get whiter teeth, you’ve come to the right place! Thanks to advancements in whitening technology, your dentist in Holland offers several ways for you to whiten your teeth and give you back that gorgeous smile! Read on to find out which methods will work best for you!

Brush 

First and foremost, you should brush your teeth twice daily. Your dentist in Holland recommends brushing for at least two minutes per session. Use an ADA-approved toothpaste with fluoride, which is best at helping to remineralize and re-harden enamel and protect against tooth decay. If you smoke or drink coffee or tea regularly, it’s even more important to use ADA-approved toothpaste. 

Floss

Flossing is an often forgotten part of a good oral hygiene routine, but it’s key to floss if you want to keep your teeth stain-free. Flossing your teeth removes pieces of food that can stain your teeth and put you at risk for tooth decay. It’s also been shown to reduce gingivitis, which is one of the causes of tooth discoloration. 

Whiten

With so many different types of teeth whitening treatments on offer, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by options. Fortunately, your dentist in Holland is here with some basic truths that you can use to guide your decision-making. When it comes to smile-whitening products, it really comes down to two options: DIY strips and professional treatments.

• DIY Strips: Available over-the-counter, whitening strips are one of the fastest and most effective ways to whiten your teeth. They can be worn for 30 minutes up to two hours, depending on their strength. But there are some downsides. They’re often messy and may take a little bit of trial and error before you find one that fits well and doesn’t irritate your gums. Also, they don’t always last as long as in-office whitening treatments.
• Professional Treatments: Even though these treatments can be more expensive, they often get you results faster and last longer. Professional in-office smile whitening is also often done using custom trays so that none of the whitening gel gets on the gums, which reduces the chance of irritation. 

Enhance

Some types of tooth staining won’t be reversed through brushing, flossing, or whitening. This is why it’s important to talk to your dentist before starting any smile whitening option. If the type of stains you have can’t be removed with the other options, you may be a candidate for certain cosmetic dentistry treatments. The most common version of cosmetic dentistry to help with staining is veneers. These porcelain slices are adhered to the front surface of teeth and cover up stains or other imperfections.

Visit

Most people visit their dentist to have their teeth cleaned, which is important for keeping teeth healthy. But in addition to cleaning your teeth, your dentist can also remove stains from tooth surfaces and even prevent new ones from forming. More importantly, removing stains helps prevent cavities and decay at a microscopic level where they cannot be seen by even our sharpest eyes.

If you’re looking for a brighter, whiter smile, talk with your dentist in Holland to find the best solution for you. 

Do you feel like your breath isn’t what it used to be? Or maybe you notice that those around you have bad breath from time to time, and you don’t want to offend them. Either way, National Fresh Breath Day — August 6th — is the perfect day to learn how to freshen your breath and keep it healthy all year long! Here are 5-tips from your dentist in Holland on how to keep your breath smelling great.

1. Take Care of Your Teeth & Gums

The first step to getting and keeping fresh breath is to take care of your oral health by brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes. And don’t forget to gently brush your tongue, too! Thoroughly cleaning your mouth each morning and every night helps remove bad breath bacteria and can even reduce the risk of gum disease. In fact, gum disease is the second most common source of bad breath.

2. Eat Healthier Foods

Eating a balanced diet is one of the best ways to improve your breath. Processed, sugary foods can leave you with bad breath because they feed bacteria in your mouth and produce acids that cause tooth decay and plaque buildup. Instead, choose raw fruits and veggies. 

3. Drink Water

Drinking water keeps your mouth and throat hydrated, so it helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Water is also essential for thinning your saliva. Saliva is a natural defense against germs, but it can get thick from dehydration, which leads to higher levels of bacteria in your mouth. Take long sips throughout the day or even drink water in between meals. Your dentist in Holland recommends drinking 6 to 8 eight-ounce glasses of water every day.

4. Stop Smoking

Smoking cigarettes can automatically make breath smell simply because of the way cigarettes smell. But that’s not the only reason. The smell of cigarettes can linger around long after you’re done smoking because it gets trapped in your mouth. Smoking also causes dry mouth and can increase the likelihood of developing gum disease, both of which are common causes of bad breath. 

5. See Your Dentist in Holland

Regular visits to your dentist help catch issues before they become serious and allow a chance for your hygienist to give you a deep, professional cleaning. These cleanings help remove bacteria or plaque buildup that you can’t tackle at home and may be contributing to bad breath. These same bacteria may also increase your risk of cavities or gum disease later on down the line if left unchecked and uncleaned by a hygienist.