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. 

Pregnancy and Oral Health

During pregnancy, nearly everything in your body goes through changes and that includes your teeth and gums. Dr. Navid Rahimpour, DDS and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour, DDS of Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO want our pregnant patients to know how to keep good oral health during these changes.

Pregnancy causes a big increase in hormones that can affect your teeth and gums. The extra hormones present can cause your gums to be more sensitive to plaque. Your gums can even become puffy, red, and irritated. This condition is known as “pregnancy gingivitis”. Pregnancy gingivitis should clear up after the baby is born, but left alone, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease. This may be able to be avoided with more frequent home oral care and professional dental cleanings. It’s important to schedule an appointment with us if you think you are developing gum disease.

Cavities are also at an increased risk due to change in behavior during pregnancy. Being pregnant means you will be eating more carbohydrates than normal, which means the teeth are being introduced to a lot more sugar. Also, the increased frequency of acid in the mouth from morning sickness can wear away enamel, making teeth prone to cavities.

If you are pregnant or plan to be pregnant, ask us about what can be done to be proactive about your oral health. It is important for both you and your baby. To schedule an appointment 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. 

Consequences of Missing Teeth

Although tooth loss is typically associated with the elderly, missing teeth can occur in adults for a variety of reasons. Whether you’ve lost a tooth to decay, or injury, tooth loss can rob you of much more than the ability to chew and properly digest food. It can have serious social, psychological and emotional consequences as well. At Southern Cross Dental, we don’t want you to experience the consequences of a toothless grin. This is why we offer a wide variety of restorative and cosmetic options to give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

The most obvious effect of missing teeth is aesthetic. When a tooth is lost, the facial muscles begin to sag, making you appear older than you are. Additionally, missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew and may even affect the way you speak. The more teeth a person is missing, the more challenging the task to replace them can become. It can also be costly. It is important to have regular dental visits with us to prolong the life of your teeth.  

If you have missing teeth, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Details on Dental Emergencies

Any trauma to the mouth that may cause bleeding and lacerations to the gums, dislodge, or fracture teeth, and may require medical attention is defined as a dental emergency. If left untreated, trauma to the teeth and gums can lead to serious complications. At Southern Cross Dental, if an accident occurs, it is important to visit us a call right away. In the meantime, here are some tips for handling common dental emergencies before you visit our office.

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you experience a dental emergency, please give us a call immediately. 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.

Oral Health for Seniors

Advancing age puts many seniors at risk for a number of oral health problems, such as darkened teeth, dry mouth, and a diminished sense of taste, root decay, gum disease, tooth loss, and many more. This is why it’s important to visit our staff at Southern Cross Dental for professional cleanings and dental exams at least twice a year. The goal is to keep your natural teeth for a lifetime, but even if you brush and floss regularly, you may face certain issues in your senior years when it comes to your oral health.

Wearing dentures, taking medications and general health conditions are some of the issues many seniors face. Teeth can also become more sensitive with age because our gums naturally recede over time, exposing areas of the tooth that are not protected by enamel. Unfortunately, as we age, arthritis can play another role in our oral health. For people who have this condition and have trouble using a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush may be easier to use and increase effectiveness. After all, the best way to have a healthy mouth is to prevent oral diseases in the first place.

To learn more 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.