3 Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

Having clean, glistening white teeth is certainly something to smile about! However, for many adults, years of staining caused by coffee, tea, smoking, and certain medications, can dull even the most perfect teeth. There are a number of products that claim to whiten the teeth in just a few days or even overnight. Although it may be tempting to try one of these methods on your own, the best choice is to seek the advice of your dentist. Here are 3 benefits you'll gain when choosing a dental professional to whiten your teeth:

1. Before beginning any whitening regime, it is advised that a thorough check-up by your dentist or dental hygienist take place. If untreated cavities or undetected cracks are present, efforts to whiten the teeth can exacerbate the problem. When a professional who is familiar with your individual situation takes care of the
whitening process, you'll have piece of mind in knowing that your dental health will not be jeopardized.

2. Sometimes the frequent use of over the counter whitening kits can cause the pores of the tooth enamel to open. This is due to the presence of oxygen radicals that are typically contained in stain removal products.  Avoid potential damage and pain by allowing your dental professional take care of brightening your smile!

3. Would you try to mix up your own paint color for your home or would you visit a paint store for assistance? Matching the subtle color variations in your teeth can be tricky. Due to individual tint differences in each of your teeth, it is quite difficult to get perfect results on your own. When a dental professional is able to employ the use of specialized lighting and magnification tools, you'll know that your whites match!

Please contact the Implant and General Dentistry in Raleigh to schedule a consultation for teeth whitening today! 919-782-0548

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Office in Raleigh

If you're a new patient or a potential new patient and have never been to our office in Raleigh before, then you may appreciate taking a virtual tour through the convenience of your computer screen.  Enjoy!

Why Sugary Drinks Should be Avoided

It is estimated that on average, Americans down 45 gallons of soft drinks per year. For many, sodas are the "go to" beverages of choice, and are often mindlessly served at mealtime. In addition to being the #1 cause of the nation's obesity epidemic, sugary drinks wreak havoc with the teeth.

The two main culprits contained in carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks that spell only bad news for our teeth are their high volumes of sugars and acids. Some sodas come with 11 teaspoons of sugar packed into just one 12-ounce serving. The larger 20-ounce bottles can contain close to 20 teaspoons of sugar! Consider individuals who routinely consume 2 to 3 sugary drinks a day-and then reflect on the American Heart Association's guidelines for daily sugar intake:

        "For women it is no more than 5 teaspoons a day and for men, no more than 9 teaspoons a day. Each teaspoon of sugar contains 4 grams of sugar. According to the AHA, kids should have no more than 3 teaspoons of sugar a day."

Please do not think that sugar-free choices or artificially sweetened beverages are an alternative. In addition to numerous questionable, artificial and unpronounceable ingredients, they are also filled with acids. The added acids and sugars in these drinks mix together with your mouth's naturally occurring acids and the combination is too much for your teeth to handle. The sugar-laden acids destroy the tooth enamel and over time cause decay and pitting of the teeth.

Sports drinks, iced tea, lemonade, and fitness water are no better! Along with significant amounts of sugar, they also contain additives and organic acids that are extremely erosive to the teeth and gums. Recent studies have revealed that non-carbonated drinks and sports drinks are 5 to 10 times more likely than soft drinks to cause enamel damage and cavities.

The bottom line is to avoid such beverages all together. If that is impossible for you, limit your consumption to no more than a 12-ounce serving and brush and use a dental rinse immediately afterwards. The best choice for improving and maintaining your overall health is to make water your #1 beverage choice!

For more information, visit Rethink Your Drink from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have concerns about your dental health or nutrition habits that may be affecting your teeth, please call our office in Raleigh for a consultation: 919-782-0548

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Cavities

It seems that there are a few lucky folks who inherit great genes when it comes to their teeth. They may never have any serious issues if they follow their dentist's guidelines for brushing, flossing and regular check-ups. However, there are many more individuals who must pay careful attention to maintaining their dental health.

Whether it is a matter of diet, genes, environment or other health issues that place some of us in more jeopardy when it comes to tooth decay, there are a few simple steps that will reduce the risk of cavities.

• Frequent Brushing - Brushing after every meal and snack is not just something to encourage small children to do! Establish this habit now for a lifetime of better dental health.
• Avoid Snacking Between Meals - Snacking between meals can be detrimental to your teeth and gums. Problems arise because snacks are often not a "whole food" or nutritionally sound choice, and brushing afterwards rarely happens. That's why it is best to avoid between meal snacking entirely. Hungry? Drink water!
• Stay Away from Sugary Foods and Drinks - Sugar is lurking everywhere! In addition to common white sugar and high fructose corn syrup, there are over 20 possible added sugars that may be in your food! This includes naturally occurring sugars in fruits and vegetables. They all  present problems for the teeth. Sugars have the tendency to adhere to teeth and the bacteria in your mouth combines with these sugars and releases acid, which is the main cause of tooth decay. It's so simple - stay away from sugary foods and drinks! If you must have them, brush, floss, and rinse immediately afterwards.
• Drink Water! Rely on basic, unprocessed food and beverage choices for your meals and snacks. Water is hands down the beverage of choice.

Preventing cavities through good nutrition and excellent dental habits is your best bet to maintaining a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.  Call Dr. Simon Melcher at Implant and General Dentistry today to schedule an appointment with the dentist and dental hygienist: 919-782-0548