Professional Teeth Whitening, Professional Results.

If you’re considering having your teeth professionally whitened, you’re in luck.  Professional teeth whitening has improved over the years to become a safe and highly effective means of improving your smile.  Professional whitening means professional results.

A good dentist has access to the latest, state-of-the-art treatment options, as well as the most current information on which products and procedures work best, and just as importantly, which ones to avoid.

Your dentist also understands the nuances of what make teeth whitening safe and effective.  For example, if your teeth have areas of decay or restoration, they could require special treatment or they may not whiten like healthy teeth.  Your dentist can examine your teeth and find these problem areas before your teeth are whitened, so your results aren’t a surprise to you.

Your dentist should guide you through the ins and outs of achieving maximum results.  During the bleaching process, it is crucial to stay away from any foods or drinks that stain your teeth.  This is important because while the whitening agent opens your dental tubules in order to remove stains, it also allows stains to set in easier.  You should continue to avoid these staining foods hours after your appointment, as well.  Other things to avoid during the whitening process are smoking and mouth wash.

If you want a professionally whitened smile, consult with a good dentist, and follow his or her advice throughout the process.  You’ll absolutely love your results!

Teeth Whitening: Think coffee is the biggest stain culprit? Think again.

Coffee can stain your teeth, but it isn’t the biggest offender!  Here are some of the foods and drinks most likely to stain or erode your tooth enamel.

1. Soda (cola).  This acidic beverage opens your tooth’s “pores” allowing the dark color to really penetrate and stain.  Stay away from this drink if possible, and if you indulge every so often, or you’re a die-hard fan, use a straw and rinse with water afterwards.

2. Sports drinks and fitness “water.” Sports drinks, despite their seemingly harmless clear-ish color, contain additives and acids that erode tooth enamel, and break down calcium. Drink water instead if possible.

3. Tea. Particularly dark varieties, like black tea.  Black tea’s tannins promote stains, making it more potent than coffee, which doesn’t contain as many tannins.  Go for a lighter variety, like a green or rooibos tea.

4. Red wine.  If it stains your shirt, mouth, or carpet, there’s a good chance it stains your teeth.  Red wine is rich with tannins and chromogens, both of which stain your teeth.

5. Lemonade.  The combination of acid and sugar with the bacteria in your mouth is a formula for cavities and enamel erosion.

5. Berries and beets (and other deeply colored plants).  See above. Their rich color indicates staining potential.  These foods are so good for you that their benefits outweigh any effects on the color of your teeth.  Brush your teeth after eating them, and just don’t soak your teeth in beet juice. J

6. Rich-colored sauces such as turmeric-seasoned curries, marinara, and other sauces. They’re delicious and healthy, so we won’t dare tell you to abstain – just floss and brush.

7. Sweets.  Again, the combination of sugar and artificial colorings (like that lollipop that stains your tongue) are not good for your teeth.

Next post… why it’s important to visit your dentist before whitening your teeth.

What does a smile do?

A smile let others know you’re happy.  It produces a chemical reaction in your body that actually makes you happier.

A smile lets others know you’re friendly.  It puts complete strangers at ease, and causes them to smile too! A smile is contagious.

A smile shows love.  We smile to let others know it’s okay, we smile at our babies and children, we smile our forgiveness, approval, and love for people we care for.

A smile shows savvy.  People who smile often and whose teeth are white and aligned are perceived as smart, confident, and financially secure.

A smile belongs to a youthful spirit.  Babies smile freely because they’re uninhibited, and people playing with babies wear wide, joyful smiles because we feel an intimate freedom in our souls during those interactions.

A smile is universal.  No matter your age, race, gender, or culture, we all smile, and we all interpret a smile to be a positive sign.  We gravitate towards those who smile, and others gravitate towards us if we smile.

A smile can change!  Just as our bodies, minds, and hearts are continuous works in progress, so can be our smiles.  They can become straighter, whiter, and healthier. We then become more inclined to show them off.

Are you ready to more fully experience the power of your smile?  Make an appointment with your dentist, and you’ll have taken the first step towards your most beautiful, powerful smile.

MI Paste™. A New Product for Your Smile!

We at Crabapple Dental excited about a new product for your teeth!  We’ve seen it produce excellent results for people who’ve experienced tooth discoloration.

It’s called MI Paste™.  It’s designed to replenish the minerals in your teeth, improving the strength and color of your smile.  Just as you might take a vitamin to ensure your body doesn’t become deficient, you use MI Paste™ as a supplement for your teeth.

The most well known mineral for teeth is fluoride.  That’s why we see it in our toothpaste and water.  However, other minerals are important as well, including calcium and phosphate.  Over time, acid in our foods causes our teeth to lose these minerals.  This demineralization makes our teeth more susceptible to cavities and discoloration.

After flossing and brushing, you simply apply a small amount of MI Paste™ and go to bed.  Over time, your teeth will become healthier and prettier as the paste replenishes their minerals.

What many people don’t realize is that the health of your teeth is connected to and reflective of the health of your entire body.  We think this product is definitely worth mentioning to you!

You can’t get MI Paste™ over the counter, so ask us next time you come in!

Natural, Comfortable Tooth Replacement

Dental implants are excellent options for people who may have lost a tooth or teeth, due to periodontal disease, injuries, or other reasons.  Dental implants are substitute for the roots of missing teeth.  They act as an anchor for a replacement tooth or a set of replacement teeth. The benefit of implants is they do not rely on other teeth for support, so your dentist can replace a tooth with or without supporting teeth in place.  Dental implants are also very natural-looking and feeling, so you may forget you ever lost a tooth!

In a 2009 medical breakthrough, dental surgeons developed a way to use stem cells to rebuild teeth.  As technology continues to improve, so will your experiences at the dentist’s office… and so will your smile!

Teach Your Kids About Dental Health: Fun Activity Sheets for Kids!

The following are great materials and resources from the American Dental Association to aid you in teaching children proper dental care. Go ahead and download mazes, coloring sheets, and more!  Use them at home, in your dentist's waiting room, in the classroom, or in any other learning environment.  Remember, education from an early age is key to healthy teeth and a healthy, happy life!

The following coloring sheets, mazes, and activity sheets are downloadable below in English, and here in Spanish.

Have fun!


Math Maze Activity
Tooth Anatomy
How to Floss
How to Brush
Connect Four Board Game
Crossword Puzzle
Finish the Picture Activity
A Wacky Visit to the Dentist Activity
Secret Message Activity
Finish the Sentence Activity
Buck McGrinn and Gen Smiley Coloring Sheet
Gen Smiley Coloring Sheet
Buck McGrinn Calendar
Healthy Smile Certificate

Happy coloring, and happy National Children's Dental Health Month!

Eight Creative Ways to Get Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Did you know February is National Children’s Dental Health Month?  Appropriately, we want to address a few issues related to children’s dental health.

Kids aren’t always enthusiastic about dental hygiene.  Yet, it’s crucial to their entire health that they take care of their teeth and gums.  Helping them develop good oral hygiene habits from the get-go will ensure they enjoy healthy smiles throughout their lives.

Here are a few ideas for how to help your kids become life-long flossers and teeth brushers!

1.  The first step is the most important.  Be a model.  Your kids imitate you and develop many of your own habits.  So why not make brushing your teeth a family affair?  Floss and brush your teeth in the morning and at night with your children.

2. Buy small hand-held flossers in fun colors.  Hand-held flossers are easier for kids to use than traditional spool dental floss.

3. Since kids tend to give their teeth a couple of swipes with the brush, then call it a day, it’s a good idea to set an egg timer for two minutes.

4. Let your child pick out his or her own toothbrush (as long as it’s a soft-bristle brush appropriate for children).  Children often get excited about using their very own “dinosaur” or “princess” brush.

5. Get your children their very own (this is key J) cute stepping stool to make it easy for them to reach the sink.  They’ll love using their little stool and make excuses to do so – like brushing their teeth!

6. Use a sticker chart to reward each tooth brushing session.  Once your children have earned a set number of stars, they get a prize!

7. Make it fun!  Sing a goofy “tooth-brushing” song every day when it’s “tooth-brushing time.”  Do what it takes to convince your child that this is a fun activity, not a mundane chore!

8. Be consistent and persistent – and upbeat!  Don’t be deterred if your children cause a scene every time you tell them to brush their teeth.  You are the parent – insist on it.  Eventually, they will understand that we brush our teeth every day, cease to resist, and develop the habit.