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Just like that, it’s Spring, and the world looks brighter! The skies are sunnier. Daylight in Raleigh, NC lasts longer. And your smile can be brighter, too—with a little bit of spring cleaning.

After all, sometimes dental habits become so automatic that we don’t pay them as much attention as we should. Without careful daily brushing and flossing, you could start to see surface staining on your enamel. Or red and swollen gums. Or tartar deposits along the gumline or behind your teeth. 

The start of the season is a good time to spring ahead with a plan for better oral health, and we have some simple ideas to help you clean and protect your smile all through the year.

Assemble the right tools.

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, because anything firmer can be hard on your tooth enamel and gums. If you’re having trouble removing food particles and plaque, an electric toothbrush might be a game changer.
• Find the right floss. If you’ve been neglecting flossing because it’s difficult, or if you have mobility issues, there are lots of options available to improve efficiency and comfort. Whether it’s floss picks, interproximal brushes, or water flossers, Dr. Gregory Weaver can recommend the best products for your individual needs.
• Choose fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride not only helps prevent cavities by creating an unfavorable environment for cavity-causing bacteria, it also actually strengthens tooth enamel as well. Win/win!

Use those tools!

• Brush all the surfaces of your teeth carefully and thoroughly (no need to scrub) and brush along the gumline at a 45˚ angle. This will help prevent plaque from accumulating above and below the gumline, where it can harden into tartar.
• Brush often enough and long enough. The team at Weaver Dentistry generally recommends brushing twice a day, for two minutes each time. 
• If you wear aligners, a retainer, a mouthguard, a nightguard, or other appliances, brush your teeth before wearing them. You don’t want to trap food particles or bacteria in your appliance!
• Floss at least once a day, or more often as recommended. Proper flossing can be difficult sometimes, so ask Dr. Gregory Weaver for the best techniques.

Make sure your dental products are in top shape.

• Replace your toothbrush as often as necessary. After three months or so, bristles start to fray. They don’t clean as effectively, and they could be abrasive to gum tissue. Change out your brush every three to four months, including the head on your electric brush. A good way to remember is to change your brush with the change of seasons. 
• Check the date(s)! Many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other oral supplies come with a “best used by” date, ensuring that your products remain safe and effective.
• Choose the right toothbrush holder. Your brush should air-dry upright, because germs thrive in closed, damp environments. And your holder shouldn’t allow your brush to touch other people’s brushes to avoid transfer of bacteria and viruses. Clean your brush holder regularly to remove toothpaste residue and germs.
• Clean your aligners, retainer, mouthguard, night guard, and/or cases for your appliances as recommended. Bits of food, bacteria, viruses, and other germs collect there as well.

Work with the experts for your brightest smile.

• See Dr. Gregory Weaver regularly. You’ll discover any problems which might be dimming your smile, and you’ll discover them early.
• Schedule cleanings with your exams. The team at Weaver Dentistry uses tools such as ultrasonic or hand scalers and polishers to remove stubborn plaque, tartar deposits, and surface stains that brushing can’t.
• If you want brighter, whiter teeth, consider professional whitening. While whitening kits are available in almost any drug store or supermarket, office treatments or kits provided by Dr. Gregory Weaver use stronger ingredients and are more effective.

Easy steps, yes? Step up your cleaning routine, and you’ll have a springtime filled with not just brighter smiles, but healthier smiles, too!

While they may sound refreshing, especially after participating in sports activities or after a jog, recent studies suggest that energy and sports drinks can damage tooth enamel, thus elevating your cavity risk. These drinks are especially popular among our younger patients.

In the study, researchers analyzed the fluoride content and pH levels of 13 sports and nine energy drinks by soaking tooth enamel samples in the aforementioned drinks. The samples were soaked for 15 minutes in each drink, and then were soaked for two hours in artificial saliva four times a day for five days.

As much as sports drinks are harmful to your teeth, researchers found that exposure to energy drinks such as Rockstar, Monster®, and Red Bull® resulted in twice as much enamel loss as exposure to sports drinks such as Powerade®, Gatorade®, and Propel® (3.1 percent to 1.5 percent).

Yes, there are health benefits to consuming orange juice, fruit juices, sports drinks, and flavored waters, which can contain valuable ingredients such as vitamin C and other antioxidants; these drinks can also replenish nutrients lost during a sporting event and lower the chance of heart disease and cancer. But, if not consumed carefully, these beverages can harm your teeth. They are full of sugar, which converts to acid and wears away at your teeth, causing cavities, sensitivity, and eventually tooth loss.

Even one drink a day is potentially harmful, but if you are absolutely unable to give up that sports or energy drink habit, we encourage you to minimize their use and rinse with water afterward or chew a sugar-free piece of gum. Do not brush immediately after drinking them; softened enamel due to acid is easier to damage, even when brushing. Remember, it takes your mouth approximately 30 minutes to bring its pH level back to normal. The best thing to do is to wait an hour, then brush to remove sugar that lingers on your teeth and gums.

There are many sports drinks, energy drinks, and flavored waters out there today. Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team recommend you take the time to read the labels. Check for sugar content and citric acid in the ingredients. If you have any questions, or would like suggestions on the best sports drink options, please give us a call at our Raleigh, NC office or ask us during your next visit!

It may come as a surprise to learn that dogs, like humans, have both baby and adult teeth. Most dogs, unlike humans, have all of their adult teeth by the time they are seven months old, so it’s time to start looking after their dental health when they are still puppies.

While dogs generally don’t develop cavities, periodontal disease is the one of the most common diseases affecting dogs. Periodontal disease starts when the bacteria in your pet’s mouth form plaque. The plaque can harden into tartar, and, if plaque and tartar spread under the gum line, can be responsible for a number of serious problems. Veterinarians warn that tooth loss, tissue damage, bone loss and infection can be the result of periodontal disease. Professional dental treatment is important if your dog is suffering from periodontal disease, and your vet can describe the options available to you. But the time to act is before disease develops. Let’s bone up on some preventative care!

Brushing

There are brushes and toothpastes designed especially for your dog. Train your puppy from an early age to open his mouth to allow you to examine his teeth and gums. (This will also come in handy if you ever need to give him medicine.) Most dogs will accept brushing, and toothpastes come in dog-friendly flavors. Human toothpaste should never be used because it contains cleaners and abrasives that should not be swallowed by your pet. There are also dental wipes available that can be used once and thrown away. Your vet can advise you how to ease your pet into a brushing routine.

Gels and Rinses

Whether you rub an antiseptic gel on your dog’s teeth or squirt an antiseptic rinse into his mouth, these formulas can reduce the build-up of plaque. Not all dogs take to the taste of these solutions, but in general they are safe and effective. Ask your vet for recommendations if you would like to try this method.

Diet

Several dietary products offer anti-plaque ingredients or a kibble shape designed to reduce the formation of plaque. Talk to your vet for the best possible diet and nutrition suggestions for your unique pet.

Chew Toys

Chewing can help reduce plaque build-up if done consistently, and chew toys should be chosen for tooth and digestive safety. Some animal-based products and hard plastic toys are so rigid that they can cause damage to teeth or gums, so be sure to look for safe toys.  Dogs shouldn’t be left alone with toys due to choking or swallowing hazards—if the chew toy becomes small enough to cause choking, or your dog is swallowing large chunks that might not be digestible, time to replace it.

Your veterinarian is the best resource for maintaining your dog’s health and developing a dental routine both you and your pet can live with. When your four-legged friend goes for his next check-up, ask your vet what you can do to keep him and his smile fetching for a long, long time.

Taking care of your oral health involves a daily regimen of brushing, flossing, and rinsing to prevent tooth decay and bacterial infections. Though you may have asked us which toothbrush to use, few patients at Weaver Dentistry ask about mouthwash.

However, different mouthwashes you might choose will have varying effects on your oral health. So which type is best for you?

Gum Health

Antiseptic mouthwashes are designed to reduce the majority of bacteria on and near the gum line. Using an antiseptic mouthwash can help decrease your chances of developing gingivitis. If possible, look for a mouthwash with antibacterial or antimicrobial ingredients.

Fluoride

Fluoride is beneficial for oral health and can help prevent tooth decay. If you drink a lot of bottled water without fluoride, we may recommend that you purchase a rinse with fluoride in it.

Bad Breath

Although mouthwash is designed to prevent bacterial build-up within the mouth, many people use it to combat bad breath. Most mouthwashes will help eliminate the bacteria that cause bad breath, and some are specifically designed to do so.

However, if bad breath is a chronic problem that requires daily treatment with a mouth rinse, contact Weaver Dentistry to discuss your symptoms.

American Dental Association Approval

The ADA reviews mouth rinses for safety and effectiveness. A mouthwash with the ADA Seal of Approval will meet strict criteria, and will have scientific evidence or clinical studies that support the claims of the manufacturer. If possible, select a mouthwash that bears the ADA Seal of Approval to ensure you are using a quality rinse.

Considerations

If you are unsure as to which mouthwash is right for you, contact our Raleigh, NC office or ask Dr. Gregory Weaver during your next visit. Also, be sure to keep mouthwash out of the reach of children, as it contains alcohol and other substances that could be harmful to them. Avoid letting children under age six use a mouth rinse, and discontinue use if you experience a burning sensation in the soft tissues of your mouth.