Show Off Your Smile

With selfies and instant photo sharing taking over the internet, our doctors at Southern Cross Dental want you to have a camera-ready smile at all times. With a variety of cosmetic services to choose from, we can enhance your smile anyway you’d like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we will provide you with these tips that will give you a photogenic smile no matter what.

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.


• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.


• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Breaking Bad Oral Habits

If you avoid eating cold foods or drinking hot beverages because your teeth are a little tender, it may be time to do some oral care habit reflecting. If you have sensitive teeth, our doctors at Southern Cross Dental may recommend dental sealants or fluoride treatments to decrease sensitivity. Sometimes the solution is simply breaking bad habits. If you catch yourself performing any of the following habits, do your best to break them.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will leave you in pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Do You Brush For a Full Two Minutes?

Many patients do not realize the short amount of time they spend brushing their teeth. The recommended time is about two minutes, which may sound long, but if you are brushing all that you need to, it goes by pretty quickly. Dr. Navid Rahimpour, DDS and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour, DDS wants to remind their patients at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO of why the full two minutes is important. In addition, take some tips for making sure you do spend enough time.

Dental plaque is a film of bacteria that form on your teeth from food, drinks, and even our saliva. It is important to remove the bacteria from all areas of your mouth including the fronts of your teeth, the insides, the chewing surfaces, the backs of the back molars, your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the insides of your cheeks. All of this will take about two minutes.

Splitting the mouth into four sections is also a good way to break up the minutes and get an even brushing. Spend thirty seconds on the upper-right section, thirty seconds on the upper-left section, and so on for the two lower sections.  

There are also electric and manual toothbrushes that have timers on them. Or keep track by playing some music while you brush. Most music players have counters on them, so you’ll know when you hit the two-minute mark.

Good at-home dental care is essential for your oral and overall health. To schedule a cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour, DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour, DDS of Southern Cross Dental, call our Colorado Springs, CO office at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.