SANTA CRUZ, SCOTTS VALLEY CA
Our smiles are windows into our souls. Something as simple as a bright smile of straight, pearly white teeth can make a person feel and appear more confident from the inside out. Our family dentist in Santa Cruz loves seeing your smiling faces every six months for routine checkups and cleanings. But between visits, we have a list of ways that you can ensure you’re doing everything possible to maintain your beautiful, sparkling white smile. Let’s take a look:
Brush and floss
The cornerstone of your oral health care starts with brushing and flossing your teeth. Many people develop a habit of brushing their teeth in childhood, but a surprising number of people skip flossing. This can lead to tooth decay between the teeth, in areas that are hard for toothbrush bristles to reach. Our Los Gatos family dentist recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, once in the morning after breakfast and then again before bed at night.
Keep your dental appointments
Brushing and flossing are the daily steps you can take to maintain your smile’s sparkle, but it doesn’t make up for twice-a-year visits to our family dentist in Scotts Valley for routine checkups and professional cleanings. During these visits, our dentist will examine your mouth for any potential decay forming and any cracks or fractures in teeth that may end up presenting a problem down the road.
Avoid tobacco
The dangers of smoking, chewing tobacco and vaping to overall physical health are widely known. But they’re proven to harm your oral health, too. Nicotine and tar accumulate on the teeth, causing stains and contributing to tooth decay. Tobacco products also dry out the mouth, leading to bad breath, also called halitosis, and the risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
Watch your diet
Foods that are processed and high in sugar aren’t good for overall health, and they also increase a person’s risk of developing cavities. Beverages like coffee, tea, red wine and dark sodas can stain the teeth and cause acid erosion, making the teeth look yellow, dark and/or dingy over time. Dark berries and foods with tomato-sauce bases can also stain teeth. Hydrating and/or rinsing with water immediately after consuming staining foods or beverages can help rinse acid and sugar from the teeth. It’s always a good idea to rinse with water after enjoying staining foods and beverages. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t brush your teeth immediately after consuming stain-causing foods or beverages because this can actually help brush the stains into the teeth.
Consider professional teeth whitening
Our Santa Cruz cosmetic dentist offers in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments that can dramatically whiten and brighten your smile in very little time. While over-the-counter whitening kits may be tempting, they do not produce the results that a professional whitening does because the bleaching agents aren’t as strong. People who choose over-the-counter whitening kits often report sensitive teeth and gums and inconsistent whitening results.
TEETH WHITENING IN SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, AND LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
It’s our specialty at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry to keep your smile sparkling and healthy. Be sure to do your part at home and maintain your routine checkups and cleanings at our office. If it’s time for a checkup, or if you’re ready to whiten your smile, give us a call at (831) 824-5111, or reach us online today.
