- Oral Health and Wellness | Cosmetic Dentistry
- Other than chronic pain or alignment issues, most people go to the dentist for a cleaning, whitening, or other cosmetic dentistry treatment. We all want to be able to look at new/ old photos and think “damn, I look good!” Maintaining a beautiful smile is essential for self-confidence, making a great first impression, and overall health and wellness. This month we wanted to share our points on what oral care products we use and what cosmetic services will take your smile to the next level.
- What does the dentist recommend?
- After most hygiene visits, patients receive a bag likened to the days of childhood birthdays—the goodie bag. We replaced the candy necklace, crazy straw, and sunglasses with a toothbrush, travel toothpaste, and floss. In our opinion, these are the only oral care products (besides mouthwash) one needs between hygiene visits. If you brush regularly, floss often, and use a fresh toothbrush, you will NOT need a fancy Waterpik or other electric gadgets. Leave the deep cleaning and polishing to the pros!
- Which is better, Crest or Colgate?
- Early in Dr. Tomaselli’s career Colgate approached him, the same way they approach all top dentists, and tried to sell him on recommending their products. Little to the sales rep’s knowledge, Dr. Tomaselli was already a big fan of Colgate. There are two reasons for this: the toothpaste leaves your mouth feeling more refreshed and the toothbrush handle provides the best grip for brushing. Who would have thought that the handle was an important feature of the toothbrush? The bristles on the Crest toothbrushes aren’t as durable and for that reason not not my favorite. We do; however, like the floss picks made by Oral-B.
- How often should I change my toothbrush?
- We recommend you change your toothbrush every month for optimum performance. While twelve toothbrushes a year does sound like a lot, it really isn’t bad at all. Amazon has packs of twenty-four Colgate toothbrushes listed for under fifteen dollars. That’s a small investment for a simple solution to prevent bigger oral health issues. If you are hesitant to buy that many toothbrushes, just ask for a few extra at your next hygiene appointment. Mention this article and we will gladly give you more than one. Honestly, the most important thing when brushing and flossing is that your mouth feels clean, no matter what products used. Our goal is to help our patients keep their smile and teeth bright for life.
- What Cosmetic dental services do I need?
- We believe that straighter teeth are easier to take care of than crooked and crowded teeth. If crowded teeth are difficult to floss, plaque build up can occur and decay can ensue, which may result in loss of a tooth. Bottom line, good looking teeth are many times healthier teeth. Don't forget the connect to heart disease, if there is plaque build up on your teeth chances are the same buggers are infiltrating your arteries. Oral wellness comes from good hygiene and regular cleanings, much like changing the oil in your car. One does not need to upgrade to the sports package to get from point A to B, but the car usually looks nicer and drives faster. We find that a beautiful smile adds confidence to so many of the patients we treat. At Chicago Smile Design we offer a wide variety of cosmetic dental services: whitening for life, Invisalign, bonding, veneers, crowns, etc. If you wish to learn more about a specific cosmetic service not listed give us a call at (312) 664-2100 and we can schedule a consultation and help you find a solution.
- What cosmetic dentistry will take my smile to the next level?
- Every smile is unique and there isn’t one specific treatment for the perfect smile. It all depends on your current situation and smile goals. At Chicago Smile Design, we often find that the simpler the process the better. For the convenience of our patients we try to provide all the dental services you need under one roof. We usually recommend Invisalign to straighten your teeth and following up with regular whitening and cleaning appointments. If you feel your smile needs a gum contouring treatment, tooth bleaching, or would like veneers we do offer those services and have had great results. The main thing to remember is no matter what cosmetic treatments we provide, if one does not practice the simple brush and floss routines the cosmetic effects will begin to fade.
