Helpful Tips Archives | Dr. Bruce Silva D.D.S.

August 11, 2016

School is about to start up again and your child has some necessities. Along with getting new clothes, new shoes, and school supplies, you need to take a trip to the dentist’s office so your child has a healthy smile before heading back to class. Here’s a brief back-to-school checklist.

Schedule (Another) Check-Up

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that tooth decay affects U.S. children more than any other chronic infectious disease and 19 percent of children ages 2 to 19 years old have untreated tooth decay. So don’t just visit your child’s dentist during the summer. Schedule regular dental examinations to diagnose or prevent any dental problems. Regular checkups are important because your child may not bring up any tooth pain and teachers are unlikely to notice your child’s dental problems. By scheduling dental checkups often, you’ll prevent your child from losing school time.

Make Sure They Brush and Floss

Have your child brush and floss often. While you’re out scrounging for school supplies, stock up on toothbrushes and dental floss for the school year. You’ll want to change toothbrushes every three months or after encountering a sickness. An easy way to remember when to switch out a toothbrush is to do so when report cards come out. You might also want to ask your dentist the best time to change toothbrushes for your child’s teeth.

Watch What They Eat & How They Play

Make sure your child is eating healthy lunches and snacks. Avoid sugary foods and soft drinks. If you pack a sack lunch, include foods like grains, milk, cheese, vegetables, fruits, and yogurt. If your child eats in the school cafeteria, discuss with your child some healthy options to eat when not under your supervision. Also, if your child is involved in sports, have them wear a properly fitted mouth guard while participating in sports and PE classes.

Your child’s dental problems can lead to difficulty in eating, speaking, and learning. Prevent it by visiting their dentist every four months. For any questions concerning your child’s healthy smile, give Dr. Silva a call at (512) 605-0860.

Editor

June 22, 2016

Did you know that the summer can negatively affect your healthy smile? The extreme heat and dry climates can harm your teeth and surrounding tissues. High humidity also leads to sweating, which results in loss of hydration and oral tissue problems. Here are a few ways to properly care for your teeth during the summer.

If you keep yourself hydrated, you’ll reduce the risk of tooth decay and keep your skin and gums healthy. Consume plenty of water and ignore sugary drinks like lemonade. Citric acid and sugar with a dry mouth can cause tooth decay.

Protect your lips with lip balm or gloss to prevent dry, chapped lips. Find products with a minimum SPF factor of 15 to ward off possible risks of skin cancer. Lips are the most susceptible to burning compared to other parts of the body.

Snack intelligently by choosing the right fruits as your summer treats. Watermelon is a great fruit as it helps clean your mouth with its high water content. Other citrus fruits are acidic and can result in the erosion of tooth enamel. Remember to brush and rinse an hour after consumption to rid your mouth of the fruit’s acids.

If you’re participating in outdoor activities, wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth. Mouth guards protect your teeth, lips, gums, and cheeks and are cost-effective.

Because of high chlorine content found in swimming pools, too much swimming can lead to erosion and weakening of teeth. Brush your teeth following a swim to prevent damage from the pool chemicals. On the other hand, swimming in an ocean can cut down oral bacteria because of the high levels of salt in oceans.

Don’t skip the first meal of the day. If you skip breakfast, you’re more likely to snack on unhealthy foods throughout the day. Just make sure to brush your teeth an hour later after a big breakfast.

Call our office today to schedule your teeth cleaning.

Editor

June 9, 2016

You know candy and chocolate can be damaging to your healthy smile. But, what else? There are two main food components that are detrimental to your teeth: sugar and acid.

Bacteria feast on your plaque buildup created by your sugar consumption and produce lactic acid, which erodes your tooth enamel. Sucrose is the worst form of sugar because it adheres to teeth very strongly making it, and the bacteria, difficult to remove even when brushing.

Acids naturally occur in many foods, including fruit. Acidic foods eat away at your enamel and break down your teeth directly. You can wash away natural acids by just drinking water. However, brushing soon after consuming acidic foods or beverages can actually cause more damage because teeth are permeable, brushing softens them and makes them more susceptible to acid. Wait at least an hour before brushing after eating acidic foods.

Believe it or not, the following 10 foods can be the most damaging to your teeth.

Apples

Apples are very high in acid. Be sure to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash shortly after.

Hard candies

Hard candies are especially harmful because we tend to hold them in our mouths longer.

Pickled vegetables

Pickles are made with vinegar, which is acidic. Vegetables may be healthy but the brine can damage your teeth. Remember to brush an hour later.

Bread

Many breads contain sugar, especially processed white breads. Bread is also sticky and gets between and behind your teeth.

Popcorn

Popcorn gets stuck in your teeth, and the areas between your teeth will build up more bacteria for that reason. Rinse your mouth with water and floss after.

Peanut Butter

Sticky and often made with sugar, peanut butter not only feeds bacteria but makes it easier for them to adhere to teeth.

Jelly

Just like peanut butter, jelly is loaded with sugar. Even the all-fruit brands contain natural sugars and encourage plaque and bacteria if not washed away soon.

Meat

Some meat products contain sugar as a preservative and gets stuck in between your teeth. While the amount of sugar may not be very high, any food that sits between your teeth can promote tooth decay.

Diet Soda

The acidity of diet sodas is very high, making it one of the worst products for your teeth.

Salad dressing

Salad dressings are composed of vinegar and sugar for flavor.

While many of these foods are healthy, you should try and care for your teeth soon after eating them. Drinking water with your meal and rinsing with an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash or flossing and brushing with toothpaste reduces the risk of damage.

Furthermore, consider the length of time food is left in your mouth. The more time bacteria have to produce acids, the more damage will be done.

So, watch what you eat and drink and don’t forget to call us when you’re ready to schedule your dental cleaning appointment.

Editor

April 15, 2016

Everyone wants that perfect smile! When you open your mouth, those pearly white teeth should be gleaming. However, not everyone is so lucky. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, soda drinker, or you just haven’t gone to the dentist in years, you might suffer from tooth stains and yellow teeth. Teeth whitening is a popular option for getting that healthy smile back.

There are different options though regarding tooth whitening and there are pros and cons to each. There are over-the-counter kits and professional whitening procedures. The first thing you want to do is consult with your dentist about the most effective way to brighten your smile.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Pro: Done at the office, your dentist will apply a whitening product that contains hydrogen peroxide. Visiting the dentist is the most effective way to whiten your teeth. The procedure is relatively fast, taking only 60 to 90 minutes. Results are noticeably quicker this way, as well.

Con: A con to this procedure is tooth sensitivity. Teeth and gums may become irritated for a short amount of time. Another con is the price it costs to get the procedure. These sessions run anywhere from $500-$1200, more costly than over-the-counter products.

Over The Counter

Pro: Over-the-counter kits contain whitening gel with a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Cheaper in price, they range from $20-$50 a kit to whiten your teeth depending on your teeth stains. You’ll save money, however, dental supervision while whitening your teeth at home is recommended.

Con: Results for do-it-yourself whitening kits are slower. They may take two weeks to two months before whitening becomes visible. Tooth and gum sensitivity will also occur if you go down this route.

Again, consult with your dentist first about any procedures and over-the-counter kits to see which is the right path for you. To learn more about teeth whitening, call (512) 605-0860 and make an appointment today with Dr. Bruce Silva.

Editor

March 16, 2016

Sales for green food coloring are about to surge as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. If you’re planning on celebrating the Irish holiday, known for its emerald theme, the restaurants, bars, and parties you attend may offer food and drink with green food dye. Most bars will offer the popular option of green beer as desserts with green icing will be served at social gatherings. If that’s the situation, green teeth are inevitable.

In order to avoid this, you’ll want to steer clear of all things green but you don’t want to stray from the social events all together. Here are three ways to prevent green teeth on St. Patrick’s Day:

AVOID THE GREEN BEER: Requesting beer without food dye is actually possible. Green beer is only offered by request in most situations. If you still want to celebrate the Irish way, stick with an Irish beer like Guinness.
SKIP THE ICING: Try to avoid desserts like cake and cupcakes that have green icing. This will show up worse on your teeth than just drinking it as it will stain in between your teeth. Eggs will be dyed green as well as ice cream, so watch out for foods that may not look natural in color.
TAKE A TOOTHBRUSH: If you decide to participate in the green ritual, all is well. The green stains gathered from the food coloring can easily be removed with a brushing and whitening toothpaste. Your best option is to brush shortly after the consumption of the food to prevent tooth staining. However, if you don’t want to carry a toothbrush with you or physically don’t have anywhere to put it, brushing your teeth before bed will suffice. Your goal here is to not show up to work the next day with a green smile.

For additional information schedule an appointment with Dr Silva today. He can provide helpful tips on how to avoid teeth staining. Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

admin

December 31, 2015

A New Years resolution that should be on everyone’s list for 2016: smile more! Smiling more often is proven to increase your quality of life, better your chances of success in your career, and help you catch the eye of that special someone. Many people hide their smiles because are embarrassed by yellowed or stained teeth. Teeth usually darken as we age, but other factors can cause teeth to become discolored as well including certain foods, drinks, medications, tobacco, and genetics. Though you can’t choose your ancestors, you can elect to do something about your own teeth.

Professional whitening is safe and can brighten your teeth up to ten shades lighter in just one visit! Over-the-counter remedies aren’t as effective and can take weeks to see results. They can also cause discomfort to people with sensitive teeth or gums when used long-term.
Start the year off right and schedule your teeth whitening consultation today. Reveal those pearly whites waiting to be uncovered!

Here are some benefits of teeth whitening:

Smile more
Boost your confidence
Remove stains from coffee, tea, juice, smoke, or medications
Elevate your outlook on life

At Austin Premier Dental, we offer several teeth whitening options, including an in-office procedure that can give you a brighter, whiter smile in as little as an hour. We also offer customized, take-home options as well. Whichever treatment you choose, you can rest assured that we’re the Austin dentists who will work with you to determine the most appropriate teeth whitening method for you.

Start the New Year with a new smile, a new look…and a new you! Call today for a consultation.

Source: Jefferson Dental & Popular Mechanics

admin

December 22, 2015

Happy Holidays to all of our patients and their families! With the celebrations beginning, you know that even those on Santa’s nice list can be tempted by the constant offerings of sweet treats like desserts, candies, cookies and other sugar plums. We don’t want to be a scrooge, though, we want you to have a good time and enjoy the season! The good news is you can have your cake (in moderation) and eat it too and still keep your oral health top of mind.

Remember, when you consume a lot of sugar, the natural bacteria in your mouth will create acids that can wear down the enamel of your teeth. When your enamel wears down, the tooth can soften and become more susceptible to decay. These acids and developing decay can cause gingivitis and other gum problems. During the holidays, when so many sweets are readily offered, your dental health can go from bad to worse. Here are some helpful hints in making the right choices without missing out on all of the fun.

Did you know cakes and cookies are better for your teeth than hard or chewy candy? Make the right choices when it comes to dessert.

If you can’t brush your teeth after you eat, try rinsing your mouth out with water. Even chewing sugarless gum can help add saliva to wash away that sugar.

Do keep a travel size toothbrush and toothpaste handy so that you can be prepared. Keep them for your children as well.

Increase your brushing at home. Spend a little extra time at the sink both morning and night. This may just be a habit you’ll want to keep all year! The recommended amount of time for brushing is 2-3 minutes. Maybe a timer will help, especially with the kids.

We hope you have a magical holiday season and look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Remember, if you suspect you may have a cavity or any other dental issue, give us a call!

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Your Back-To-School Dental Checklist

The Effects of Summer on Your Teeth

The Worst Food For Your Teeth

Pros and Cons of Teeth Whitening

3 Ways to Avoid Green Teeth on St Patrick’s Day

A New Year-A New You! Get a Fresh Start With Teeth Whitening

Tips For Clean Teeth During the Holiday

Contact us for your next appointment!

CALL US!

VISIT TODAY!

Specials and Promotions

On Social Media