It’s important to know the difference between a dab and a dollop! Here’s some great advice about that, and a few other noteworthy concerns for our patients with kids 🙂

• Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in all water sources.  toothpaste has an ideal amount for strengthening dental enamel and preventing cavities
• bottled waters may not contain fluoride naturally due to the filtering processes used
• all children 6 months and older should use fluoridated toothpaste when brushing…just use the dab!
• children should have their first dental visit by age 1, or when their first tooth erupts.  whichever happens first!

1.  Sort the Candy.  After getting home with all …that halloween loot, sit and go through the candy, putting it into 2 piles.
   1.   first pile: taffy, caramels, gummies, sugary gum.  Anything   that is sticky, chewy or sour
   2.  second pile:  all other candy
2. Avoid the first pile.  Dental cavities are proven to have a relationshipt with extended exposure to sugary and/or sour substances.  the longer it’s in your mouth, the more likely you are to get cavities.
3.  Watch the whole family’s consumption.  This time of year is famous for all of its sweets and tasty candies.  It’s a good idea to leave the wrappers in a visible place, maybe in a jar or bowl, so it’s easy to see how much candy the family is actually eating.
4.  Chew sugar-free gum.  This can help ration your sweet intake.  Ingredients like Xylitol and Sorbitl, low calorie sweetenters found in gum, can actually be beneficial.  studies show that these sweeteners can starve cavity causing bacteria, allowing the mouth to replenish minerals needed in the enamel of the teeth.  Talk to your dental provider about the frequency and amount of gum recommended
5. Talk about oral health as a family.  This is a great time for everyone to be reminded of twice daily brushing, and daily flossing.  Making these tasks a family event helps keep everyone onthe right track and makes it fun!  Ideally, brush every time after eating candy.  But, if that’s not possible, then eat the candy withing a few minutes instead of snacking on it throughout the day.  Also, drinking a glass of water, both during nad after, is helpful to remove the excess sugar from the mouth.  REMEMBER, the whole family should be seen at least once every 6 months for a dental check up, so make sure everyone is up to date!

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN FROM ALL OF US AT D’AGOSTINO FAMILY DENTISTRY

We had a great time at the Iowa Mission of Mercy.  We saw lots of patients and took care of lots of dental need for all ages.  During the span of 2 days, we saw 1400 patients and did over $1,038,000 worth of free dental care!  What a rewarding experience.  we are all looking forward to next year in Waterloo.  Carolyn was even Inteviewed by one of the Des Moines news channels!  Click Here to see the news reel!  Below are some pictures of us working.

October is Dental Hygiene month!  This year marks 100 years of Dental Hygiene being recognized as a profession.  We LOVE our Hygienists, Carolyn and Emily.  We couldn’t do our job without you!

There is no substitute for brushing 2x daily and flossing daily, but there is something you can do in between brushing to help keep your mouth clean and healthy….Chewing Sugar free gum!

research shows without a doubt, that chewing sugarfree gum increases saliva production, helping to wash away bad bacteria, and food debris, after eating and drinking.

1-Chewing sugarfree gum can reduce risk of cavities in certain people up to 40%

2-saliva production can be increased by up to 10%, helping to alleviate mild dry mouth symptoms

3-chewing sugarfree gum for 20 minutres after eating and drinking can help to neutralize plaque acids

4-chewing sugarfree gum with Xylitol can help replace lost minerals after acidic foods and drinks

5-Chewing sugarfree gum has been shown to help reduce plaque accumulation after meals

Tara is a School teacher who never liked the way her teeth looked.  She decided that Invisalign might be the right choice for her.  This is her story in her own words:

“For years, I complained about my teeth moving and not being aligned in my mouth.  Food got stuck and my teeth were grinding other teeth down.  I was becoming more aware of the movement and it looked horrible.

About 2 years ago, I got an estimate for traditional braces but did not do it.  Treatment was going to take too long.  I felt that I was getting older and I did not want to go through that again!  I had them when I was a teenager and never knew I was suppose to wear my retainer ‘forever’ so…my teeth moved back.

On a routine dental visit, Dr. Adrienne explained Invisalign to me.   It was a perfect choice.  It took about 6 months for treatment.  The initial visit was about 1 hour to put everything on and then other checks were quick.  The office visits were convenient and everything works around my schedule.

The trays were durable, no food restrictions, easy to floss, simple to clean, and amazing results.  And I can whiten my teeth in the trays, too!  Best of all, they were never noticeable.  People never really knew I had them in.

It truly was the best alternative to braces for me.  I highly recommend Invisalign at D’Agostino Family Dentistry.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.”

Tara Michel

These are her pictures at the beginning, middle and end of treatment,  Check out her great results!

Tara’s smile at the beginning of treatment

Tara’s smile midway through treatment

Tara’s final reult!

You may have seen a lot of pinterest posts about home tooth whitening.  These may look very appealing and inexpensive, but be careful.  Some use large amounts of baking soda, which at that quantity can be VERY abrasive when you brush it on the teeth.  some also contain lemon juice, which is more acidic than battery acid!  So while you may achieve bright shiney teeth, the longterm damage to the enamel may wind you in the dental chair, undergoing expensive treatments to repair them.  So before you make your own, speak with your dental professionals about safe ways to get a gleaming, healthy smile for years to come 🙂

Dr. Bruce and Dr. Adrienne are going to a Continuing Education course May 9th and 10th to integrate placing implants into the practice!  Have a missing tooth?  Our Doctors would be happy to discuss if a dental implant is right for you!

You may have heard about the Oral Surgeon in Oklahoma who was not properly sterilizing his instruments.  Our Office has State-of-the-Art sterilization equiptment and is tested EVERY WEEK at the university of Iowa to ensure everything is 100% sterile for each and every one of our patients 🙂  Our sterilization reports are always on hand for anyone who would like to look and them, and we would LOVE to show you our sterilization system.  Just Ask!