Category: Dental Tips

While your tooth enamel is strong, it is still susceptible to erosion by acids produced by bad bacteria. If weakened areas of enamel are not remineralized, they become permanently damaged in the form of holes, called cavities. If left untreated, cavities can result in serious issues, like infection and tooth loss. They can be repaired with fillings, but it’s better to simply prevent their formation in the first place.

Brush & Floss Every Day

Plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria, develops when you eat anything with sugar, including candy, pasta, bread, fruit, juice, soda, and so on. Bacteria produce acids, which wear down your tooth’s enamel and irritate your gums. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and floss every day to prevent plaque from building up on your teeth and under your gumline.

Get Professional Cleanings Twice a Year

Even if you take excellent care of your teeth at home, you should still visit the dentist for regular cleanings and exams. We’ll clean off tartar (which is hardened plaque), remove stains, and identify areas at a higher risk for decay. We can also apply a concentrated varnish of fluoride to help fortify your teeth.

Avoid Snacking Throughout the Day

Frequent snacking is linked to a higher risk of cavities. When your mouth never gets a break from food, it becomes a very acidic place. Eat regular meals and try to eat any snacks or treats all at once instead of grazing on and off during the day.

Drink More Water

Water washes away food debris and sticky plaque. It’s especially important to stay hydrated if you deal with dry mouth, which makes it easier for cavities to form.

Use Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural cavity-fighter added to many tap water systems and toothpaste brands. You’re probably getting enough of this fortifying mineral if you use toothpaste with fluoride and your area has fluoride in the water.

Preventive Dental Care at Serenity Dental Studio in Frisco, TX

Cavities are usually preventable! Following these tips will dramatically reduce your risk of developing a cavity. But if you do get a cavity, we offer restorative treatments like fillings and root canal therapy. If you have questions about cavities or want to schedule an appointment with our team, please contact us today!

April 30, 2022

How To Keep Your Teeth Bright After Professional Whitening

Serenity Dental Studio offers two kinds of professional whitening: at-home custom bleaching trays and in-office whitening. With both, you can expect results much better than anything you’d buy over-the-counter. Teeth whitening isn’t permanent, however, so how do you keep your teeth bright as long as possible? Here are some tips:

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

To reduce staining, maintain good brushing and flossing habits. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Remember to brush your tongue! Floss once a day. And keep up with regular professional cleanings twice a year.

Don’t Smoke or Use Tobacco

The pores in your teeth absorb the tar and nicotine from tobacco. Nicotine by itself doesn’t have a color, but when combined with oxygen, it gives your teeth a yellow shade. Avoid all tobacco use for both the health and appearance of your teeth.

Limit Dark-Pigmented Beverages

Dark-colored beverages like coffee, wine, hot chocolate, and black tea can stain your teeth. If you do drink them, rinse thoroughly with water right after. You can also drink with a straw to reduce a beverage’s contact with your front teeth.

Limit Acidic Foods & Drinks

When you eat acidic food, your tooth enamel softens. This makes your teeth more porous and more likely to stain. Certain acidic foods, like whole citrus, contain healthful nutrients so shouldn’t be eliminated from your diet. However, be sure to rinse your mouth with water when enjoying citrus and avoid acidic fruit juice whenever possible.

Professional Teeth Whitening in Frisco, TX

How long the effects of your professional teeth whitening last will depend on many factors. To maximize the longevity of your brighter smile, you should: take good care of your teeth, avoid tobacco, and watch what you eat and drink. If you’re interested in professional whitening or any of our other services with Dr. Kengskool, please contact us today!

January 31, 2022

Dental Tips to Keep Your Smile Healthy

Want to know more about keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy? We’re so glad you asked! While every patient is different, here are some simple yet very effective tips for keeping your smile healthy.

1. Brush & Floss Regularly

Establishing a thorough and consistent at-home oral care routine is one of the best ways to keep your smile healthy and clean. Switching out your soft-bristled toothbrush every couple of months and using a fluoridated toothpaste can help keep harmful bacteria at bay. Flossing is an important dental habit that many patients don’t do regularly enough, but it’s very helpful for cleaning in between teeth and preventing cavities and gum disease.

2. Drink Water

Drinking lots of water offers many great benefits for the body, but did you know that staying hydrated can help your smile too? Drinking water while eating or after eating sugary or starchy foods is especially effective, as it helps to rinse food debris from the mouth and reduce plaque. Keeping the mouth from drying out can also reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria that are present.

3. Eat Tooth-Friendly Snacks

Foods like apples, carrots, celery, and nuts are not only healthy snack options, they’re beneficial for your teeth too! Chewing these foods helps to scrub the teeth and keep them clean while eating (although they’re not a replacement for daily brushing, of course!). If you’re looking for another delicious snack, cheese is a tooth-friendly option that is full of calcium. Calcium is a mineral that keeps your teeth strong.

4. Schedule Regular Preventive Care

During routine exams, our team can diagnose and treat dental issues early before they become more serious. Professional teeth cleanings allow our hygienists to remove plaque from hard-to-brush areas, like around the gumline and in between teeth. In addition to biannual checkups and cleanings, preventive treatments like fluoride treatments and dental sealants can reduce your risk of tooth decay. We also offer mouthguards for sports and nightguards if you grind your teeth.

Has it been more than six months since you last visited the dentist? Contact us today to schedule your appointment at Serenity Dental Studio!

November 30, 2021

The Best Foods to Eat Post Oral Surgery

After oral surgery, our team will give you specific care instructions to follow at home. For example, we will recommend you eat soft foods. Hard and crunchy foods can irritate your surgery site. Soft foods will be easy to eat as you recover.

The following foods are safe and comfortable to eat post oral surgery. It’s likely that you already have some of these foods in your home!

Protein Shakes & Smoothies

Protein shakes and smoothies are easy to eat, filling, and nutrient-dense. Getting adequate nutrition will be critical as you recover. Just remember to not drink your beverages with a straw. The sucking of a straw can dislodge the blood clot that is supposed to form at your surgery site. If it gets dislodged, you will experience a painful dry socket.

Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes is a food that doesn’t require much chewing. Potatoes contain many healthful minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body heal after surgery, injury, and infection.

Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs are another nutritional and easy food choice post oral surgery. They contain protein, which is the building block of all your body cells, as well as many disease-fighting nutrients.

We also recommend eating applesauce with no sugar added (just sprinkle with some cinnamon for extra flavor), low-sugar yogurt, steamed broccoli, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and bananas.

Tooth Extraction & Root Canals at Serenity Dental Studio

If you’ve been told you need oral surgery, like a tooth extraction or root canal therapy, visit us here at Serenity Dental Studio! We can thoroughly answer any questions you may have so you can make an informed decision about your oral healthcare. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!