YOUR SMILE IS AMONG YOUR MOST influential assets! But, that doesn’t mean your smile has to be a perfect, “movie star” smile for you to harness its power.

Step 1: Practice, Practice, Practice

Life’s too short to skip the simple things that make you happy. Smile more. Smile and laugh, proudly. Abundantly. Invite people to share in the things that make you smile. Your smiles will foster gratitude. Smiling can become a habit. Seek the opportunity.

Step 2: Be Aware Of The Smile/Emotion Connection

Author and poet, Thích Nhất Hạnh once said, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” We often only think about the way positive emotions trigger smiles, but it works the other way too. Smiles trigger positive emotions. They can even help us better deal with stress or pain.
 

Step 3: Eliminate The “Courtesy” Smile

Make a conscious decision to replace every half-hearted smile given in politeness with a genuine smile. You can do it!

Step 4: Remember How Attractive Your Smile Makes You

A recent study of 5,000+ singles found that both men (58%) and women (71%) judge the opposite sex MOST (and FIRST) on the appearance of their teeth. Smiles invite and strengthen relationships.

Step 5: Keep Your Smile Healthy

Treat your smile with the love it deserves. Brush and floss daily, and schedule regular checkups.

We Love Your Smiles

Some estimates say that 30% of the general population is unhappy with their smiles to a point where they avoid smiling. That’s sad. If you feel that way, let’s visit. Sometimes it just helps to talk about it. Whether you’re ready for a big change or just a tiny, subtle improvement, we can help you harness the power of YOUR smile. Thanks for being our valued patients and friends.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT NEGLECTING TO FLOSS can lead to all kinds of oral health problems—including tooth decay and periodontal disease. But what most people don’t know (or don’t think about) are the correct and incorrect techniques associated with flossing. They’re not complicated and they’re important to know. We hope this helps!

Yes, Ned Is Finally Flossing… But Don’t Be Like Ned

Nice job, Ned! You’ve gone from never flossing to flossing more often! But there are still a few very important things that you’re not doing correctly. Now it’s time to tighten up those flossing skills!

Don’t Do These Things That Ned Does:

• Don’t skip a day now and then. Floss daily to remove harmful bacteria.
• Don’t “saw back and forth” which could cut into your gums. Slide the floss up and down against the tooth’s surface.
• Don’t floss too aggressively. Snapping the floss into your gums can cut them and damage the tissue.
• Don’t forget to floss under your gum line to remove hard-to-reach plaque.
• Don’t forget to floss the back side of those very, very back teeth (even though they’re not up against another tooth).

Important Flossing Tips:

• Start with about 18 inches of floss. Wind most around one finger and the rest around the same finger on the opposite hand.
• Be gentle! Slide the floss between your teeth and below the gums and then use a soft up-and-down rubbing motion.
• Use a new section of your floss for each tooth to avoid spreading bacteria from tooth to tooth.
• Flossing in front of a mirror can help you be more thorough.
• You can floss in the morning or at night, before or after you brush.

Have Questions About Flossing?

Flossing is an important part of your daily oral health routine. However, maximizing the benefit comes from doing it correctly. If you have additional questions about flossing or any other aspect of your oral hygiene, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you! And you can always post questions directly on our Facebook page.

Thanks for being our awesome patient!

WHEN THE COLD AND FLU SEASON STRIKES your teeth are probably the last thing you’re thinking about as you reach for another tissue! But there ARE some things related to that cold or flu that can affect your oral health. Be conscious of these three things:

Tip 1: Avoid Dry Mouth By Staying Hydrated

Dry mouth increases cavity risk. Most colds come with a giant side order of stuffy nose. We respond by breathing through our mouths! Doing so, combined with decreased saliva production during sleep, makes our mouths more vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

Tip 2: Keep The Bad Stuff Off Your Teeth

• Are you sucking on cough drops all day? Most are loaded with sugar. Opt for sugar-free cough drops if possible.
• Cough syrup is loaded with sugar too. If you take cough syrup, rinse your mouth out before going back to bed.
• Stomach acid is hard on teeth. Sorry to bring this up, but if you’re throwing up, keep your teeth rinsed and clean.

Tip 3: No Matter How Tired…

We know it’s tough when you’re sick, but don’t skip your normal brushing/flossing routine just because you’re feeling really tired. Your oral health is too important to neglect. (By the way, did you notice the kitty in the photo above? We think she’s smelling his breath because he hasn’t brushed in days.)

A Few More Practical Tips For Staying Healthy

Stay healthy this flu season! Remember to sneeze into your elbow and wash your hands often to keep viruses from spreading.

And This One Is Just For Fun…

If you’re sick, get feeling better soon! And thanks for your trust in our practice.