ALWAYS BRUSH AFTER EATING…

Not so fast. Don’t be in a big rush, especially if you’ve been snacking on acidic things like soda, sports drinks, wine or even citrus fruit. These acids can cause the enamel and dentin of your teeth to erode. When you brush immediately after with an abrasive substance it can damage your teeth. We recommend waiting about an hour while your saliva neutralizes the acid. Can’t wait? You can try chewing sugar-free gum, munch on raw veggies or even rinse with water.

YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE: brush your teeth daily, floss regularly, and have your regular checkups twice a year. For the most part, getting in the habit of completing these simple tasks will keep your teeth healthy and strong. However, there are a few less-than-desirable oral habits that can override your good habits and compromise your dental health!

Here are some tips to avoid those dental habits that can damage your teeth:

1. Crunching, Sucking, and Sipping

After slurping down that ice cold and refreshing beverage, try not to crunch the leftover ice between your teeth. The cold temperature of the ice cubes can cause your teeth to fracture. Be careful when eating popcorn too!

Sipping sugary soda is also bad for your teeth. The constant exposure to the acids and sugar can lead to tooth decay.

Solution: Switch to crushed ice & drink your soda through a straw!!

2. Using Your Teeth As “Tools”

Some people rely on their teeth for odd jobs like opening a tightly screwed bottle of nail polish, tearing open a bag of chips, straightening a bent fork, or ripping a price tag off a new article of clothing. These actions are actually quite hard on your teeth and can even cause a weakened tooth to fracture or chip.

Solution: Keep some simple tools like scissors and pliers handy and leave the dirty work to them!

3. Grinding Your Teeth

Grinding your teeth wears them down and weakens them.

Solution: During the day, be more aware of what you’re doing with your teeth when you feel stressed or anxious. Notice if your jaw muscles are often sore. For those of you who grind at night, ask Dr. Remmers about mouth guards.

4. Using A Hard-Bristled Toothbrush

It may be surprising, but a firm toothbrush is actually worse for your teeth than a soft-bristled one. A brush with bristles that are too firm can wear down tooth enamel more quickly and may irritate your gums and make your teeth sensitive.

Solution: Stick with soft-bristles and ask one of our team members about the best type of toothbrush for your particular mouth.

5. Not Brushing Or Flossing Properly

Though you may brush and floss everyday, if you aren’t doing it correctly it could cause harm as well as good.

Solution: Make sure that you brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes TWICE a day. Be gentle. Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, and consider purchasing an electric one. Ask one of our team members the most effective way to floss. Use an antibacterial mouthwash.

If any of these bad habits apply to you, overcome them and develop a healthier oral routine! We promise you’ll see results and have more reasons to smile!

Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!

MOST OF OUR PATIENTS KNOW THAT a visit to Remmers Dental Group  sometimes involves an x-ray or two. Radiographs are important in helping us assess your needs and in determining an appropriate, customized treatment plan. Unfortunately, there are still some people who are skeptical about x-rays and have questions about their impact on health.

Well we have some good news for those of you with concerns—x-rays pose very little danger to your health…and the amount of radiation you receive during routine x-rays here at our practice is MUCH smaller than the amount you receive daily from natural radiation sources.

Exposure to tiny amounts of radiation is a natural component of life! Each year, the average United States citizen is exposed to about 360 mREM from common things like the earth itself, natural materials, cosmic radiation, and even from other people! In fact, the State Department of Health has set the yearly maximum safe radiation level at 5000 mREM.

Our dental x-rays emit less than .50 mREM per unit—which means that you’re likely exposed to about twenty times that much each year just from cooking dinner!

X-rays are an important part of dental care, as we use them to diagnose problems that we might not otherwise be able to detect. We promise you’re in the best of hands here at our practice, so don’t let x-ray fears worry you.

If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding radiographs, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 502-499-0234!  We would love to help put your mind at ease.

Teeth whitening is the #1 requested cosmetic service according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.  Typically this service ranges in price from $200 to $500 for at home whitening kits with trays made at the dental office to $500 to $1000 for in office procedures.  Outside the dental office it is just as popular, with Americans spending billions of dollars each year on over the counter teeth whitening products.  But there are ways we can help whiten our smiles with the right diet.  There are certain “toothbrush foods” such as fresh apples, fresh green beans, celery, carrots, cauliflower and other crunchy fruits and veggies when sliced and eaten raw, gently “scrub” the teeth. They are also high in nutrients and low in calories and gently massage the gums and promote blood flow helping to keep gum tissue healthy.  They also increase saliva flow which protects our oral health.  You can stay away from the big stainmakers:  tea, coffee, blueberries, red wines, soy sauce, and colas.  There are also some surprises:  white wine, and sport drinks which contain high stain promoting acids.  If you can’t give up your favorite stainmakers, drink water with meals and rinse after eating.  You don’t have to rinse and spit, but just a simple sip and swish and swallow after your meal.  Or visit Remmers Dental for a complete at home whitening kit which at our office runs about $340, and watch for specials offered at certain times throughout the year.

FYI:  Remmers Dental Group is on FB!!!  We started up recently to provide information and have better communication with our patients.  There are blogs on a variety of topics, as well as, any special contests, events or announcements in the office.  So… Go to Remmers Dental Group and “LIKE” us to be in the loop!

If you are someone who has lost or are going to lose all of your teeth then the “All on four” might be something for you. The “all on four” replaces all of your missing teeth with a denture that is supported by implants. The “all on four” is the next best thing to having all of your teeth back. If you are someone who is wearing a regular denture then you probably have problems with it not fitting right, sore spots and not being able to eat and chew that well. If you get the “all on four” all of those problems will go away, you will no longer have to worry about a denture moving around on you when your trying to eat or talk because the “all on four” is non- removable. If the “all on four” sounds like something you are interested in, call us and set up a consult with Dr.Steve to learn more about the amazing “All-on-4” restoration.

February was Dental Health Month and two of our hygienists, Sandy and Angie, took this opportunity to educate school age children on dental health.  They described to kindergarten and first graders what a dental visit would be like to help alleviate any fears they may have about visiting their dentist.  They gave them important tips on how to take care of their teeth and how important it is to start early to help keep their pearly whites healthy!  They also highlighted the difference between good and bad snacks and how these affect their teeth.  Thanks to Sandy and Angie, students at St. Gabriel and St. Michael learned some fun and helpful tips for keeping their teeth in good health.

Speaking of dental education, Dr. Steve has been very busy on the lecture circuit talking about the amazing “All-on-4″ dental implant restoration for people who have lost their teeth.  Dr. Steve has travelled and will be travelling to many different cities educating other dentists.

Some interesting facts about Dr. Steve Remmers you may or may not know: 

• He has traveled and trained with the same dentists that have been on the T.V. show “Extreme Makeover”
• He is one of the top Invisalign providers in the state of Kentucky
• He travels nationally teaching other dentists about implants/implant restorations
• He takes about 5 to 10 times more hours in continuing education than is required by the Board of Dentistry
• He has been the President of the Louisville Dental Society
• He participates in “Smile KY”.  This is where he donates his time & talent to help underprivileged children receive dental care
• He is an active member and past president of the Buechel/Fern Creek Rotary Club 

Aren’t you glad he is YOUR dentist?  I know I am!

Rebecca Blogs: 

I have always loved to smile!  It’s never been a difficult thing for me to do.  That’s why working at Remmers Dental Group is the perfect place for me.   I have realized over the years that my smile is my favorite facial feature.  It is something that is consistent about me.  I may grow older, get bigger, show wrinkles or stress in my face but I hope that my smile never changes.  People can always understand a smile.  In fact, I think that it’s the best way to start a conversation with someone.  It’s also a universal sign of happiness. While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.  So, if you’re not happy with your smile, come talk to us!  A smile is a gift that you can keep giving to your loved ones…it never grows old, never goes out of style, and is actually contagious!    

So, try it…Smile!  You will instantly feel better and so will everyone else around you.