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Warmer weather is quickly approaching and everyone is wanting to get those chompers nice and bright! Although we recommend in office whitening treatment for the best, quickest, and most long-lasting results, there are a few things you can add to your diet to aid the process.

Strawberries contain malic acid and an antioxidant called ellagitannis. Both help to polish the teeth and reduce the amount of stain attracting bacteria that are present in the mouth.

Cheese, especially hard cheeses, stimulates saliva production and therefore helps to clean the teeth. Cheese also provides calcium and phosphorus, two minerals that help to strengthen and protect teeth against decay.

Raw broccoli is very crisp and therefore helps to polish teeth. Broccoli also has a lot of iron, iron coats the teeth and protects against staining and decay.

Water is great to sip and swish when drinking darker beverages such as soda, red wine, and coffee. The water rinses off any dye that might be lurking on the teeth and also works to prevent tooth decay. If you can’t brush your teeth, always rinse with water after drinking a dark colored beverage-especially if it’s sugary!

Baking Soda isn’t exactly a food, but it can still help you whiten! Once or twice a week switch your regular toothpaste out with baking soda to help remove those surface stains.

All of the above mentioned foods can aid in removing surface stains, but only in-office whitening treatments can remove those below the surface stains. If you aren’t getting the results you’d like to see, consider giving us a call. First Impressions offers 4 different whitening options, something to fit into everyone’s lifestyle and budget. Let us help you get your smile ready for spring!

At First Impressions Dentistry, we are here to help you achieve the best smile of your life! Feel free to call our office if you have any questions!

704-933-2115

Adalyn Elizabeth turned three months old this week! We are so enjoying having her in the office everyday. She will have no shortage of people to spoil her. We’d like to say a big thank you to all our sweet patients for doting on her and showering her with gifts, we appreciate all of the love.

Dr. Wells and Adalyn have been back in the office for a little over a month and the transition has gone very smoothly. Adalyn is an easy baby, but she likes to keep to her eating schedule! When she’s in the office she always eats at 9am, 12 pm, and 3pm. Adalyn enjoys tummy time, can roll over, and loves to chime in on conversation.

If you haven’t met Adalyn yet, you need to! She is sure to brighten up your day.

At First Impressions Dentistry, we are here to help you achieve the best smile of your life! Feel free to call our office if you have any questions!

704-933-2115

How often do you floss? If you’ve ever been to the dentist you have surely been asked that question. Only 4 out of 10 Americans report flossing daily. We often get asked if flossing is really necessary, so let us tell you why it is such an important habit to have!

If you were washing dishes, you wouldn’t wash one side of the dish then call it “clean”. Well, you shouldn’t do that with your teeth either! When you brush you are really only cleaning 3 of the 5 surfaces of your teeth. If you don’t floss you are not getting a good clean in-between your teeth and that can lead to inter-proximal caries, otherwise known as “flossing cavities”. These are cavities that can be easily avoided by flossing at least once daily. Flossing breaks up the bacterial bio-film so that it cannot continue to populate and wreck havoc on your teeth.

If you skip flossing you could have more than just bad breath and cavities in store for you. Not flossing can lead to gingivitis, a gum disease that causes inflamed and sensitive gums. Gingivitis is preventable and can be reversed if you practice good oral hygiene.  If ignored gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, a serious gum infection that damages the gum tissue and often times causes bone loss, putting the patient at a greater risk of losing teeth. Periodontitis cannot be reversed and can lead to insulin resistance and therefore diabetes. Believe it or not, the same bacteria associated with periodontitis has also been found in diseased human hearts. Doctors still don’t fully understand why, but are linking periodontitis to heart disease.

Gums bleed when you floss? There is an easy solution to that-floss more! Don’t exactly love flossing?

Here’s a few tips:

-If you have tight contacts between your teeth and floss tends to shred on you, try a thinner “tape-like” floss.

-For open spaces between teeth, try a thicker, nylon floss.

-When flossing use a C motion to curve around each tooth.

-Be sure to keep using a clean section of floss.

Still don’t want to floss? There’s plenty of flossing options out there for those who can’t get down with the old fashioned stuff. Utilizing a Waterpik is a great option if you just know you won’t ever become a flosser.

At First Impressions Dentistry, we are here to help you achieve the best smile of your life! Feel free to call our office if you have any questions!

704-933-2115