Foods that you may want to think twice about!

By now we all know sugar and soda are not ideal for a healthy smile, however there are some fruits and other foods that cause cavities as well.

According to an article written by Tim Utton on dailymail.com, "dental erosion in adults due to diet is usually a result of excessive consumption of fruits and fruit juices." Unlike sugar causing tooth decay, erosion of the enamel on teeth is not as widely known about.

What is enamel and why is it important? Enamel is a thin shell around the outside of your tooth and is considered the hardest tissue in the human body. It helps protect the teeth from hot and cold sensitivity as well as chemicals that can cause tooth pain. Although it is very tough, it can chip and wear off. If this happens, you cannot get it back. Crowns, fillings and desensitizer are methods to help protect the teeth if the enamel starts to wear off.

Losing your tooth enamel is a scary thought, considering you can't get it back and you'd have to spend money on treatment to make sure your teeth are back to full health. Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind to ensure you have a healthy, white smile!

Drinking soda and high sugar juices are okay once in a while. After you're finished, brush your teeth or rinse with mouth wash to help remove the sugars from your teeth. If you don't, the sugars will stick to your teeth and start to cause decay and discoloration. Saliva is helpful to break up food particles but toothpaste and mouthwashes are more effective when it comes to removing the sugars.

The carbonation in soft drinks also causes wear to tooth enamel, so if you drink soda every day, try drinking it through a straw to help eliminate the amount that actually touches your teeth.

In addition to fruit juice containing acids, some fresh fruits contain high amounts of acid as well, such as pineapple, tomatoes, lemons and limes and oranges. The acid causes erosion, so don't suck on these types of fruits for long. Other foods that have high acidity include pizza sauce, pickles, honey and wine. Again, if you choose to consume these, just rinse after or brush your teeth to help lower the acidity level in your mouth.

High-carb foods such as crackers, breads, pastas and chips can also be considered harmful. According to deltadental.com, "Starches made from white flour are simple carbohydrates and can linger in your mouth and then break down into simple sugars. Bacteria feed on these sugars and produce acid, which causes tooth decay." You don't have to eliminate these foods completely from your diet, just eat them in moderation and be conscious of any food particles that may be sticking to your teeth and causing erosion.

Now I bet you're thinking what CAN I eat without worrying about side effects? You have a lot of options. Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt are excellent because they contain a lot of calcium to help strengthen teeth and they also can stick to your teeth and prevent acid from sticking to your teeth.

If you drink a lot of water, be careful with your options. Bottled water is actually acidic and can cause wear, but some towns and cities have fluoride in the water. It might be more beneficial to you to drink tap water than filtered water. Fluoride helps strengthen your teeth from the outside in.

Green tea and black tea is also a great choice to help remove bacteria from your teeth. Along with that, Spry gum and mints are also excellent. Spry products contain xylitol which helps balance the acid levels in your saliva, minimizing the effects of erosion.

MI Paste is also an easy option if you prefer more acidic foods and beverages. It's a toothpaste type paste that helps balance any acidity in your mouth. It's a small tube that can be easily stored in your pocket, purse or desk drawer. After drinking an energy drink, coffee or having some pineapple, rub a pea-sized amount of MI paste on your teeth and voila! your mouth is neutralized.

If you're interested in purchasing any Spry products or MI paste, swing by Glacier Dental and we can help you out!

Meet Dr. Heather Carpenter

Heather Carpenter D.D.S.

 

              Meet Dr. Heather Carpenter. She is Glacier Dental's newest associate. Currently she is working side-by-side with Dr. Steckbauer during her training period and starting August first, Dr. Carpenter will be working Tuesdays, some Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

 

                Dr. Carpenter was born and raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She recently moved back after completing dental school at Marquette University in Milwaukee. In her free time she enjoys gardening, cooking and baking, crafting and watching movies. She also enjoys bicycling with her husband.

 

             Dr. Carpenter is really passionate about giving back to the community and helping patients feel comfortable and at ease at their visit to the dentist. She also really enjoys working with children, as she plans to start a family of her own soon.

 

             We are thrilled to have Dr. Carpenter join the Glacier Dental Team. Visit us during our nights and weekend hours to meet our new Doctor!

 

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Red, WHITE and Blue!

Red, WHITE and Blue!

In celebration of Independence day, throughout the month of July, Glacier Dental is offering free whitening consults. In addition, we will be offering $50 off all in-house whitening. This special is good for new and current patients.

Summer is a great time to whiten your teeth. Not only are there weddings and other various family functions going on, senior pictures are right around the corner. Who doesn't want whiter teeth for pictures that will last a lifetime?

So now you're probably thinking, what whitening options are available to me? How long is this going to last? Am I a good candidate for this? All these questions can be answered at your free consult, but here's a little insight on the whitening Glacier Dental has to offer.

If you're looking for something simple and easy to take home, Treswhite would be perfect for you. This doesn't require any impressions or in-office work. You simply purchase Treswhite, take home your 10, pre-gelled trays, and wear 1 every day for 10 days for one hour. Although Treswhite are not part of Glacier Dental's whitening promotion, it is a great option for whitening your teeth fast.

Another great, in-house option, is Opalescence. According to opalescence.com, "Opalescence will give you a brighter, whiter smile in a way that fits your budget AND your lifestyle." After your consult, one of Dr. Steckbauer's assistants will take impressions of your teeth and make you custom trays. It typically takes about 1-2 days before your trays are ready to be picked up.

When you're ready to start using your trays, simply put a small amount of Opalescence gel in the trays and wear them for two hours, for two weeks. If you're interested in seeing before and after pictures, visit: http://goo.gl/BRbUlg.

The final option Glacier Dental has to offer is KöR. According the the KöR website, KöR is a great option for anyone ages 14-90 and offers nearly permanent results. The website also states, "KöR Whitening was ranked highest as the most effective, reliable way to whiten your teeth permanently, by a respected dental products journal."

To have KöR whitening done, again the assistants make you custom trays. You would use take-home gel for two weeks and you'd wear your trays over night. After the two weeks is done, you'd come back to the office and do the three hour whitening portion in-house. It's a comfortable and simple procedure and is safe for your gums and teeth. KöR is highly recommended if you want to your teeth to be whiter than ever! Check out the KöR website for some excellent reviews: http://goo.gl/SyjhRM.

After talking to Dr. Steckbauer regarding Opalescence and KöR, he said the results are excellent and will last quite a long time. He also mentioned if you do decide to use one of the in-house options, you wouldn't have to re-do the full cycle of whitening again. If you notice an returning yellow on your teeth, you just do touch-up whitening to get them back to bright white again.
We can't wait to see you in for your FREE consult at Glacier Dental. Please call our office at 920-235-3251 to schedule your consult reservation or email scheduling@glacierdental.com.

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Welcome to Glacier Dental

 

Dr. Wyn Steckbauer is dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care for healthy, beautiful smiles that can last a lifetime! Dr. Steckbauer received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He is a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

You'll love Glacier Dental's staff. They are friendly, gentle and caring with each and every patient, any current patient will tell you how much they love their Dentist! Mention this blog post today and receive a $75 New Patient Cleaning, Exam and X-rays. We can't wait to help you and your friends with any dental needs you may have and give you the best dental experience you've ever had!

Www.glacierdental.com