Waterford, MI Dentist
Lloyd H. Alpert, D.D.S.
4025 Highland Road
Waterford, MI 48328
(248) 682-6010

My Blog

Posts for: September, 2013

September 25, 2013
Category: Dental News
Tags: Whitening  

Here is another great article brought to you by the ADA about tooth whitening.

 

Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours. Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from daily oral hygiene and regular cleanings at your dentist’s office, but if you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your whitening options.

Start by speaking with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. If you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth the whitener will not affect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. You may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

If you are a candidate for whitening there are several ways to whiten your smile:

  • In-office bleaching. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and usually requires only one office visit. The dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used. Lasers have been used during tooth whitening procedures to enhance the action of the whitening agent.
  • At-home bleaching. Peroxide-containing whiteners actually bleach the tooth enamel. They typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage regimens vary. There are potential side effects, such as increased sensitivity or gum irritation. Speak with your dentist if you have any concerns.
  • Whitening toothpastes. All toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not change the color of teeth because they can only remove stains on the surface.

Remember when selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance—your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
 


0 Comment(s) Permalink
September 18, 2013
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: Untagged

According to the ADA, Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

The chewing of sugarless gum increases the flow of saliva, which washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel.

The only varieties of gum with the ADA Seal are sugarless. They are sweetened by non-cavity causing sweeteners such as aspartame, xylitol, sorbitol or mannitol. Of course, chewing sugar-containing gum increases saliva flow too, but it also contains sugar which is used by plaque bacteria to produce decay-causing acids. Further research needs to be done to determine the effects of chewing sugar-containing gum on tooth decay.

Don’t let chewing sugarless gum replace brushing and flossing. It’s not a substitute. The ADA still recommends brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning plaque from between your teeth once a day with dental floss or other interdental cleaners.

Look for chewing gum that carries the ADA Seal. The ADA Seal is your assurance that the sugar-free chewing gum has met the ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness. You can trust that claims made on packaging and labeling for ADA-accepted products are true, because companies must verify all of the information to the ADA. Products with the ADA Seal say what they do and do what they say.  


0 Comment(s) Permalink
September 12, 2013
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: Untagged

Fun Dental Facts from Michigan Dental Association

Terrific Tooth Trivia

Bet you didn’t know that the soreness you feel when you burn your mouth on mozzarella cheese has a name – pizza palette. 

Or that only the common cold beats tooth decay as the most prevalent disease in the United States – even though a third of us make it all the way to the age of 17 without ever getting a cavity.

Or that your teeth are as unique as your fingerprints. In fact, even identical twins have different “dental fingerprints!”

In fact, there’s probably all kinds of things you didn’t know about your most important orifice – your mouth.

Read on for more rocking trivia that’ll stump even your most Cliff Clavin-like friends.


Q. Guess who worked as a silversmith, a copper plate engraver, a dentist, and still found time to warn the countryside when the Brits were coming?

     A. Paul Revere

Q. And who do you suppose daydreamed of the westerns he would someday write while cleaning an unlucky patient’s teeth?

     A. Zane Grey

Q. What fearless female shattered the fluoride ceiling when she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1866?

     A. Lucy Hobbs Taylor

Q. What famous artist depicted his stone-faced dentist as a farmer in “American Gothic”?

     A. Grant Wood

Q. Which celebrities have donned braces to make their smiles even more glamorous after achieving stardom?

     A. If you guessed Diana Ross, Carol Burnett, Cher, Jill St. John or Jack      Klugman, you’re right!

Q. How many athletes avoid dental tragedy each year by covering their pearly whites with mouth guards?

     A. 200,000

Q. What delectable dairy delights should you chomp on to keep your smile sparkling white?

     A. Cheese! Specifically, aged cheddar, Swiss or Monterey Jack)

Q. Which Michigan city was the first in the United States to protect its citizens’ teeth by fluoridating the water?

     A. Grand Rapids

And, the million dollar question is . . .

Q. What obscure Mexican super-plant is 1,000 times sweeter than table sugar, doesn’t cause tooth decay and could ultimately serve as a low calorie sweetener?

     A. (drumroll please) Lippa dulcis! If you got that one right, you’re probably a dentist. 


0 Comment(s) Permalink
September 05, 2013
Tags: dental kids  

Dental Tips

 

for Kids!

by Sherra Robinson


 

Passing on good oral health habits to your child is one of the most important lessons you can teach. This means brushing twice a day, showing the proper way to floss, limiting between-meal snacks and seeing your dentist regularly.

Most dentists recommend that children start their dental visits by the age of two. This gives your dentist a chance to monitor your child’s dental growth, and you a chance to learn about tooth development, fluoride, proper oral hygiene, dealing with oral habits (such as pacifier use), diet and nutrition, and how to prevent oral injuries.

Always emphasize that a dental visit is a positive experience. Explain to your child that visiting the dentist helps maintain good oral health. By fostering a positive attitude, you’ll increase the chances that your child will see a dentist regularly throughout life.

Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in their health that will pay lifelong dividends. You can start by setting an example; taking good care of your own teeth sends a message that oral health is something to be valued. And anything that makes taking care of teeth fun, like brushing along with your child or letting them choose their own toothbrush, encourages proper oral care.

The cases of early childhood decay in small children is rising, but there is good news: tooth decay can be prevented with proper education and preventative care. While convincing your child to take better care of his or her teeth isn’t easy, below are a list of suggestions and ideas to share with your child to help keep their teeth and mouth healthy and strong.

 

1BRUSH: Encourage your child to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time, using no more than a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Using a childsize soft-bristle toothbrush, brush the front, back, inner and outer surfaces and tops of their teeth, as well as their tongue, with short, gentle, back-and-forth motions.

2EAT: Nutritious foods are an important part of keeping children’s smiles healthy and their teeth strong. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and cheese help build strong, healthy teeth and gums.

3FLOSS: Have children gently floss once a day to remove food that can get stuck between their teeth and sticky plaque that forms on their teeth. Brushing alone cannot reach all of the surfaces on a tooth.

4AVOID: Try to avoid overindulging in sticky and sugary foods. Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When they do eat these foods, include them with their meal instead of as a snack-the extra saliva produced during a meal helps rinse food from the mouth. When kids do have a special treat, make sure they brush and floss afterwards.

5ROUTINE: Remember to get regular dental checkups. Have them visit twice a year to make sure that they are taking good care of their teeth and gums. The dental team will check for cavities and 

 


0 Comment(s) Permalink


Blog Content

Archive:

Tags

ADA Patient Library