Protect Your Teeth During Spring Training
The weather is warming up! This is the time of year many sports and physical activities begin. Spring training is a fun time for parents and kids of all ages. Whether you are out there joining a local league yourself or cheering for your child, remember that playing sports comes with certain risks. Make sure you know what to do to prevent and treat dental injuries and protect your teeth during spring training this season.
Staying Hydrated
Sports drinks have become a popular source of hydration for athletes during intense physical training. They are supposed to supply the athlete with much needed hydration. The problem is, along with the much needed electrolytes and carbohydrates, they also have high amounts of sugar and acid that are harmful to tooth enamel. Try drinking through a straw to keep the sugars and acid from coating your teeth. Also, rinsing with water helps dilute the sugar. Without dilution, bacteria that are left in the mouth have fuel in sugars. The best choice is to choose water every time.
Protect Your Teeth Against Injury
There is always the risk of getting hit with an elbow or equipment during competitions and practices. We recommend using mouth guards for protection against losing or chipping your teeth during physical activities. Most sporting goods stores have mouth guards in stock that are easy to fit. Mouth guards are there to protect your teeth from injury. However, if a permanent tooth does get knocked out, locate it quickly and see a dentist immediately. That tooth can survive if it is replaced in the socket within an hour. For more information about what to do in a dental emergency, read our article “What is Considered a Dental Emergency?”.
Whether you are a current patient of ours, or you are new to our Tampa office, South Tampa Smiles is available to help should you require emergency dental care. We will be happy to work you into our schedule the same day. If you have a dental emergency outside of our regular business hours, please call at (813) 289 – 0560 and leave us a message. We will return your call as quickly as possible.
Spring Cleaning for Your Dental Health
Spring has arrived! This is the time of year that many people enjoy getting things in order and the tedious cleaning that often gets put on the back burner. Along with cleaning out your garage and tidying up the cupboards, add a dental visit to your spring cleaning list. Professional dental cleanings every six months are strongly recommended to keep your smile sparkling and keep dental problems at bay.
Why do we need a cleaning versus simple routine brushing and flossing? Diligent flossing and brushing can remove most plaque that accumulate on teeth. Overtime, plaque can harden into calculus and due to its strength and ability to tightly adhere to teeth, calculus will not come off from brushing and flossing at home. This is why your dentist or dental hygienist have many different tools used to clean those hard-to-reach areas that bacteria, plaque, and calculus like to hide. The ultimate goal of a professional cleaning is to remove these substances from the teeth to prevent the onset of gingivitis and periodontitis.
What can you expect during your dental cleaning visit to our office? Our dental hygienist will begin your cleaning by removing any tartar that has built up on your teeth. If the build-up is extensive, a deeper cleaning could be required and split into several visits to completely remove the tartar from your teeth. Next, your hygienist will polish your teeth. Your hygienist will also provide you with helpful advice so you can maintain proper dental habits at home and keep your teeth tartar, stain and cavity-free between regular dental visits.
Scheduling your spring cleaning for your dental health is as simple as giving us a call at (813) 289 – 0560. So give South Tampa Smiles a call today and give your smile a fresh start for this spring season!
Honoring National Dentists Day
March 6th is a day that really makes us smile! Today the Team at South Tampa Smiles is honoring National Dentists Day. We would like to celebrate this day by sending a special thank you to our dentists, Dr. John Cannariato and Dr. Rebecca Benedict. Their dedication to providing the highest quality in the South Tampa area keeps happy dental patients smiling and committed to keeping their teeth healthy and bright.
Services provided by Dr. Cannariato and Dr. Benedict include the latest techniques in dentistry:
- Single Visit Crowns
- Veneers & Bonding
- 6 Month Braces
- All Porcelain Crowns
- Teeth Whitening
- Dental Sedation
One of the best ways of honoring National Dentists Day is by staying committed to keeping your oral health a priority. This is sure to make your dentist smile! To keep your dental health in top shape, follow a rigorous home dental hygiene routine. Be sure to brush for at least two minutes twice daily and floss every day. Make sure you keep up with your regular dental visits every 6 months. Professional dental cleanings and checkups will lessen the potential of any dental problems from becoming more severe and costly.
A great way to show your commitment to keeping your smile healthy is to pick up the phone and schedule your next dental checkup. If you are due for a dental visit, give us a call at (813) 289 – 0560 to schedule an appointment. The South Tampa Smiles team encourages our patients to stay on top of their dental checkups and cleanings. We look forward to seeing you!
For more information about our services, team and location, visit our website to read more about Dr. John Cannariato and Dr. Rebecca Benedict.
Another way of honoring National Dentists Day is by sharing on social media using #NationalDentistsDay.
