BCBS Dentist 48081 | Tips for Choosing the Right Dentist in St Clair Shores

Dentist in St Clair ShoresLooking for a good St Clair Shores dentist for you and your family? Finding the right one to meet your needs is not as hard as you might think. Finding a dentist in St Clair Shores starts with considering how well the dentist would be able to accommodate yours and your family’s needs.

Now that you know what you want, the next few steps are simply narrowing down the many choices of dentists that are available. Naturally, you’ll want a dentist who is part of your dental insurance plan, one who is properly licensed and well qualified.

Some of the other things you may want to consider include:

Location
This is a very important factor that often gets overlooked until you actually need to see the dentist. The dental office you choose should be within a convenient driving distance of either your home or work, especially during rush hour or other inconvenient times. You should choose the St Clair Shores MI dentist who is reasonably close and located in an area that is convenient for you and your family to reach.

Hours
There are two considerations that you want to take into account about the dentist you choose:

  • Do they have hours that fit your schedule?
  • Do they have emergency hours or an emergency service?

Today, more dentists are either staying open later in the day or are offering Saturday hours to meet the needs of their patients. If the dentist is only open when you have to be at work that can be of great inconvenience to you. Plus, you’ll want a dentist you can call for an emergency as well. So choose a dentist that will respond or is part of an emergency network so that treatment can come quickly.

Services & Costs
At this point, you should have narrowed your list to just a few. Now you can call or visit the office and ask a few specific questions so that you can finalize your choice.
Does the dentist provide all the services that you and your family require? Most family dentists offer a comprehensive list of services that can serve the needs of you, your partner and children. However, if someone in your family is in need of special work that generally falls outside a family dentist, then you’ll need to look a little further. Ask about the rates that the dentist charges for their services as well insurances they accept.

Recommendations
Lastly, check online or ask friends, neighbors or family members about recommended dental offices. You can also expand your recommendations by asking your doctor or local pharmacist as they often network with the best dentists in your community. Dentists and their team who are highly spoken about, well liked or provide amazing results will contribute to the longevity of your relationship with your dental provider. Of course, even the most trusted of recommendations may not meet the needs of you and your family, but recommendations are still a good place to research.

Our St Clair Shores MI Dentist has provided great service to our patients. If you would like to share your recent experience at our office, we invite you to leave us a review on our G+ page. We would love to hear from you!  https://plus.google.com/101018331940496207209/posts

St Clair Shores Dentist | Tips for Keeping a Fresh Smile while ‘On the Go’

dentist in st clair shoresBrushing in the morning and evening for most people is a daily habit, but how about brushing during the day, or after lunch? For many people, brushing during the day can almost seem impossible and inconvenient at times. Being consumed by work, school or even travel can prevent us from keeping a fresh and healthy smile. However, there are quick and easy solutions that your St Clair Shores Dentist recommends to help keep your smile fresh while on-the-go.

Carry a Travel-Sized Toothbrush
Carrying around a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste that you can quickly use for an after lunch cleaning. Brushing your teeth after a meal is a great way to help maintain optimum oral health. Not only will brushing your teeth keep your mouth healthy from bacteria and decay but it can also help save you from embarrassing bad breath or help to eliminate the fear that something is stuck between your teeth.

Tongue Scrapers
Brushing your tongue should be a part of your routine oral care. In between your taste buds, lie residue build-up which may be contributing to foul breath. At a drugstore, you can purchase a tongue scraper, or you can use your toothbrush to gently brush your tongue. Your St Clair Shores MI Dentist will agree that your oral health can be improved with proper tongue care.

Quick Rinse with Mouth Wash
Don’t have time to brush your teeth? Try mouthwash. Mouthwash is a simple, fast and convenient way to freshen your breath during the day. All that it requires is a simple swish. This simple ‘swish’ will not only freshen your breath, but it will also help prevent the build-up of plaque and cavities as it loosens particles in the mouth. There are many different products of mouthwash available, so be sure to ask your Dentist in St Clair Shores or hygienist about which mouthwash they recommend for you.

Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is a great temporary solution when you need a fresh smile while on the go. If you do not have the time to brush your teeth or use mouthwash after a meal, chewing a piece of sugar-free gum for at least 20 minutes can help ward off bad breath. Also, chewing gum can help stimulate the production of saliva which will help wash away any lingering particles left on your teeth.

Although these simple tips should not replace your at home routine, they will surely help to temporarily improve oral hygiene quickly and conveniently during the day. If you have any questions about how you can improve your oral health, contact your dentist in St Clair Shores MI.

Dentist St. Clair Shores | What You Drink Impacts Your Smile

There are numerous ways to improve your smile in addition to your regular visits to the St. Clair Shores Dentist, and the routine brushing and flossing. What you drink can impact your oral health, so it is important to know which beverages are helpful and which are harmful. The following are beverages that would be helpful in strengthening your smile and maintaining good oral health.

Water

Water is very beneficial to your gum and tooth health. Your St Clair Shores MI dentist recommends mainly drinking water, as it can serve as a rinsing agent to clear your mouth of debris left behind from food you have consumed. Also, fluoride in water can help to strengthen your tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay.

Dairy

Dairy products, such as milk, can help strengthen your teeth. Milk provides calcium and phosphates, which strengthen your teeth and help your smile to stay bright. If you decide to drink enriched milk, it can also serve as a source for Vitamin D, helping your body to use the calcium.

Unsweetened Tea

Unsweetened tea can be helpful to your teeth because green and black teas contain polyphenols. These interact with plaque-causing bacteria to combat cavities and decay. Tea can also prevent bacteria from growing and spreading in your mouth, helping your smile to stay healthy.

Conversely, there are some beverages that can be harmful to your oral health. In order to keep your mouth healthy, your Dentist in St. Clair Shores recommends avoiding the following drinks.

Acidic Beverages

Citrus drinks, such as orange juice, contain acids that can wear on your teeth. If you choose to consume acidic drinks, your Dentist in St. Clair Shores MI recommends rinsing with fluoride after drinking to help prevent tooth decay.

Coffee

Drinking coffee can stain your teeth and dim your smile. In addition, added sugar can linger and produce bacteria that can turn to plaque. If you can, try to avoid coffee. Otherwise, your St. Clair Shores Dentist recommends rinsing after consuming coffee.

If you choose to consume beverages that can be harmful to your teeth, you can still combat these choices. For example, chewing sugar free gum can help to clear away harmful bacteria, preventing tooth staining and decay. Additionally, rinsing with mouth wash can also help to kill germs. However, these are supplements, not substitutes, to your regular oral hygiene regime. You should still continue to brush and floss daily, and you should be visiting your St Clair Shores MI Dentist to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.

St. Clair Shores Dentist

David Renaud

St. Clair Shores Dentist | Is Your Jaw Sore?

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) are issues you experience with your jaw, as well as the joint and facial muscles surrounding your jaw. This can cause stress and discomfort in your daily life. Symptoms of TMD include tension and tenderness in your face or jaw, difficulty with opening your mouth wide, locking or clicking or your jaw, difficulty in chewing, a tired feeling in your face, and swelling on the side of your face.

Your dentist St. Clair Shores can examine your jaw in order to diagnose TMD. Your dentist will check for locking of the jaw while opening and closing your mouth. Additionally, your bite and facial muscle function will be examined, and your dentist will evaluate your jaw pain and tenderness. In some cases, x-rays will be taken to check your jaw, jaw joint, and teeth for irregularities.
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Dentist in St. Clair Shores | Pick Up A Pack (Of Chewing Gum)

If you are in the habit of chewing sugarless gum on a regular basis, you’ll be happy to know that this can have a positive effect on your oral health. It is a simple way to give your oral health a little boost. If you don’t typically chew gum, your dentist in St. Clair Shores recommends picking up a pack. Chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. Your saliva washes away acids, sugars, and food debris in your mouth, preventing tooth decay and cavities. The flow of saliva can help to strengthen your tooth enamel, helping you to maintain strong, beautiful teeth. Your dentist in St. Clair Shores recommends chewing gum right after you eat for about 20 minutes to best fight off cavities caused by food consumption.
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