Don't Miss Your Chance to Enter Our Photo Contest!

In case you missed it, we wanted to remind everyone to enter photo contest titled “One More Good Reason to See the Dentist.” Are there summer activities or fantastical food splurges that may mean a trip to the dentist later? Be creative and have fun! Send your pictures to gentledent@sbcglobal.net... ...and put a title for your picture in the e-mail subject line. Winner will receive a “Movie Night at Home” package, which includes a DVD player, the movie Avatar, popcorn and soda for four. All photos must be submitted by August 31st, 2010. The winning photo will be announced on September 10, 2010. In the meantime, enjoy the latest entry above, entitled "A Loose Tooth".

Professional Custom Whitening Trays

You've seen the toothpastes and mouthwashes aimed at giving you a whiter smile. These in-home products can help reduce stains from coffee, tobacco, tea, wine and other heavily pigmented foods, but they will not dramatically change the color of the teeth.

We're sure you have also see the over the counter whitening strip kits. While these can work well for young adults and teens, their effect for adults is often not as effective.These strips only treat the front six or eight teeth, and cannot whiten your entire smile.

So what is the answer? One of the methods we offer at Gentle Dental Associates is professional custom whitening trays. These are an easy way to whiten all of your teeth and allow you more control of the whitening process. Once we create your trays in the office, the whitening kit can be used in-home, and comes with custom whitening gel in various strengths depending on the sensitivity of your teeth.

These trays are comfortable to wear, and the application time is only about 15 to 30 minutes. If you have been considering a teeth whitening solution, give us a call today!

Gum Disease Can Sneak Up On You

It’s easy to tell when you have a cavity; but unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you even knowing. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Since gum disease can be undetectable, it’s important to watch for warning signs in order to prevent the disease from worsening!

Signs to watch for:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, schedule an appointment right away by calling The Gentle Dental Associates of Ann Arbor, MI. We can diagnose the problem and begin treatment to save your teeth and give you back a healthy mouth!

Gentle Dental Associates Preschool Presentation

Recently Pat and Renee gave a presentation to a group of preschoolers from Perry Nursery School on how to brush their teeth. They also talked with the children about nutrition, and how to make the right choices for their oral health! We've included this video above about their presentation, enjoy! At Gentle Dental Associates of Ann Arbor, MI, we work with patients of all ages to help achieve their oral health goals. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Bottled Water May Be Behind Tooth Troubles

We at Gentle Dental Associates want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

As of 2005, bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the United States, beating out milk, juice, and – more significantly – tap water. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health.

If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at Gentle Dental Associates regularly.

Brandon's Life Changing Choices

We've featured Brandon's story in the past - his initial visit to Gentle Dental Associates, and the story behind his deep-rooted dental fears. Today, we wanted to share this video where Brandon describes some of the onging issues he was experiencing from a tooth problem. He couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat right, and he was anxious to get the problem fixed on his initial visit to Gentle Dental Associates in Ann Arbor, MI. Listen as Brandon describes his first visit to our office, and then head to our website!

Toothbrush Trivia

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It wasn’t until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste):

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every two months
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873