We do not deny that pacifiers are a lifesaver for parents! They bring much comfort to babies in their early months as your child is learning to self soothe. Unfortunately, pacifier can harm the development of the mouth and teeth. Here is what you need to know.

• Excessive use of pacifiers can prevent natural tooth alignment.
• After age 3, pacifiers severely increase the chance of dental malformation, increasing your child’s chances of needing braces. Up to age two, teeth alignment and bone development issues usually correct themselves in a few months once cutting out pacifiers.
• Pacifiers are found to decrease the chances of sudden infant death syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic. To prevent harm to your baby’s oral health and development, limit pacifier use to nap and bed times.

• Learn more by visiting Mayo clinic 

If you have questions or concerns, our staff is here to help! We look forward to treating your entire family!

One common concern of patients of all ages is teeth staining. Stains are caused by certain foods, lifestyles, or the inevitable aging process. You can prevent staining, especially when practicing great oral hygiene and regularly visiting your hygienist. We offer a variety of options for tooth whitening, but here are some tips to maintain your bright smile.

Limit Certain Foods: While they are tasty, foods that are bold in color are most likely to cause stains. Limit red sauces, blueberries, and raspberries.

Kick the Bad Habits: It is no secret that tobacco products are harmful to your oral health and cause staining. Kick the habit and keep your pearly whites!

Drink More Water: Consuming large amounts of red wines, coffee, teas and sodas can not only erode enamel but stain teeth. According to Colgate.com, even white and green teas cause staining.

There are three types of stains: surface stains, under the surface stains, and age related stains. Each type responds to whitening. If you are interested in in-office or at-home whitening treatments, give us a call!