Is Your Brushing Routine an Effective One?

When you don’t brush your teeth, all of the food you ate from the night before sticks to them and forms into plaque. Plaque makes teeth feel “fuzzy” to the tongue and over a period of time, if left untreated, develops on the tooth roots under the gum causing breakdown of the bone supporting the tooth. At Southern Cross Dental, we want you to have the healthiest “plaque-free” smile feasibly possible and you can begin by utilizing these effective brushing tips the next time you practice proper oral hygiene.

• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.


• Move the brush back-and-forth gently in short strokes.


• Brush the outer surfaces, the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces of all teeth.


• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh and don’t forget to floss!

If you desire a more effective brushing routine and have any further questions, give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the 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 our office at 719-471-1717.

What is Xylitol and How Does it Help Teeth?

At Southern Cross Dental, we want you to know that the benefits for xylitol are numerous, but here we will explain a few. Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate, which looks and tastes just like regular table sugar and is widely found in nature as well as most of the fruits and vegetables that we eat on a daily basis. Xylitol can benefit dental patients who have dry mouth, and can also help protect teeth from demineralization in patients who are low risk or prefer not to use fluoride.

Xylitol is a natural ingredient in sugar free chewing gums, candies, mints, diabetes friendly foods and oral care products. It also reduces the acidity of saliva, which helps to fight acid-driven degradation of tooth enamel. Xylitol stimulates salivary flow, allowing calcium and phosphate to be deposited into the enamel to keep the enamel strong. Xylitol starves harmful bacteria in the mouth, reducing plaque buildup and tooth decay. This prevents dental cavities and inflammatory gum diseases.

To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour DDS at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

How to Choose the Correct Toothpaste

 

When it comes to selecting toothpaste, there is a large variety of types to choose from, to the point where even shopping in the toothpaste aisle may seem overwhelming. While all of the products on the shelf might seem the same, they are not. At Southern Cross Dental, we can help you determine which toothpaste is best for your specific oral health needs.

No matter the brand, it’s important to always select toothpaste with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. Almost all of the options on the market contain fluoride. Fluoride prevents tooth decay, and actively strengthens tooth enamel. 

If your gums are red and swollen you may have gingivitis. Selecting an anti-gingivitis toothpaste can help reduce oral bacteria and be very effective in reversing this gum condition. If you experience tooth sensitivity on a daily basis, you may want to switch to desensitizing toothpaste. This type of toothpaste reduces pain by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve. For those who have healthy teeth and gums, you may just be looking to whiten your smile. Whitening toothpaste contains chemical agents that remove surface stains that maintain the natural color of your teeth.  

To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour DDS at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

When it comes to selecting toothpaste, there is a large variety of types to choose from, to the point where even shopping in the toothpaste aisle may seem overwhelming. While all of the products on the shelf might seem the same, they are not. At Southern Cross Dental, we can help you determine which toothpaste is best for your specific oral health needs.

No matter the brand, it’s important to always select toothpaste with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. Almost all of the options on the market contain fluoride. Fluoride prevents tooth decay, and actively strengthens tooth enamel. 

If your gums are red and swollen you may have gingivitis. Selecting an anti-gingivitis toothpaste can help reduce oral bacteria and be very effective in reversing this gum condition. If you experience tooth sensitivity on a daily basis, you may want to switch to desensitizing toothpaste. This type of toothpaste reduces pain by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve. For those who have healthy teeth and gums, you may just be looking to whiten your smile. Whitening toothpaste contains chemical agents that remove surface stains that maintain the natural color of your teeth.  

To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour DDS at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

 

What is a Cavity?

Cavities are just about as common as a cold and although they mostly occur in children, adults need to be aware of them too. It isn’t unusual for bacteria to be found in your mouth, however, when bacteria mixes with acid, food pieces and saliva in the mouth it creates a sticky substance called plaque. The acids in plaque damage the enamel covering your teeth, and create holes in the tooth called cavities. Although our doctors at Southern Cross Dental offer a wide variety of filling options for cavities, they would prefer you to avoid them altogether.

Developing cavities is a process and they just don’t appear overnight. In the early stages, tooth decay can be stopped. The best way to prevent cavities is by reducing the amount of plaque and bacteria in the mouth and the best way to do this is by brushing and flossing daily. Cavities caught in the very early stages can be reversed, however, caries that have destroyed enamel cannot. It is important to schedule a professional cleaning with our doctors every six months to reduce your risk of tooth decay.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour DDS at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

Eat Cheese to Keep Your Teeth

At Southern Cross Dental, our staff wants you to know why dairy is beneficial to your dental health. There are thousands of varieties of cheeses in the world, which can come from several different species such as cows, goats, and sheep. Cheese is high in calcium and calcium plays a role in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth as well as milk and yogurt. Because of this, you may want to eat more of these dairy products if you desire strong healthy teeth.

Consuming dairy products is vital to maintaining good overall health, and it’s especially important to bone health. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, cheese protects your pearly whites from acid erosion – the breakdown of enamel brought on by coffee, tea, wine soda, etc. Eating cheese also reduces cavities because it helps maintain a healthy pH level in the mouth that is safe for teeth. So next time you go grocery shopping be sure to pick up some aged cheddar, Swiss, blue, brie or Monterey Jack cheeses to keep your smile healthy.

To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

Brushing and Flossing with Braces

Wearing braces means you need to take a little extra time to take care of your teeth and gums. Good oral care is even more important while wearing braces because of the plaque that they can trap. Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO is here to remind our patients of the proper way to brush and floss with braces.

Taking good care of your teeth with braces will ensure a healthy and good-looking smile when the braces come off. In addition to your normal brushing, make sure to also brush along the tops and bottoms of your brackets with a tooth brush. Then use an interdental toothbrush (the kind that looks like a mini tree) to brush the sides of the brackets. You will know you have done a good job when the brackets are shiny and the edges are visible. If the edges are still covered with plaque, you must brush more carefully.

Buy Superfloss or a floss threader to floss your teeth. These make it easier to get the floss under your wires and back out to floss the next space.

While a little more time may be needed to take care of your oral health while wearing braces, it will be worth it in the end when you show off that beautiful smile! To schedule your dental cleaning with Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

Tooth Sensitivity: Causes and Solutions

Sensitive teeth can make you not want to enjoy your favorite beverages and food. It can also make you want to skip your dental hygiene routine. While sensitive teeth may have a few different causes, there are ways to find out what is causing it and how you can fix it. Here at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, we want our patients to know what causes tooth sensitivity and how they can stop it.

Brushing Too Hard: Many do not know that brushing too hard can actually wear down enamel. If you are bearing down too hard or using a toothbrush with stiff bristles, this can wear down enamel, exposing nerves and causing sensitivity. Use a medium or soft bristled brush and brush lightly.

Brushing Too Soon: You should always wait at least thirty minutes to brush after eating or drinking anything but water. Foods and drinks contain acid that softens the enamel on our teeth. Brushing before giving it a chance to harden could mean brushing away precious enamel.

Grinding Your Teeth: If you wake up with a sore jaw, you may be grinding your teeth at night. This can also lead to worn down enamel. In addition, it can cause your gums to recede, exposing your tooth roots. We can create a custom mouth guard for your protection at night.

Gum Disease: Gum disease can also lead to recession of gums. Keep a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits with us to avoid gum disease.

These are only a few of the different causes and solutions to sensitive teeth. If you are having difficulty figuring out what is causing your sensitive teeth, schedule an appointment with us in our Colorado Springs, CO office. Call us at (719) 471-1717 or visit our Southern Cross Dental website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.