Philly Dentistry

To eat or not to eat?  That is the question you should pose to yourself before you reach for that bag of sour gummy worms!  It’s no secret to any of us that sugar isn’t good for our teeth.  Our parents and dentists have reminded us since childhood not to drink too much soda or suck on lolli-pops.  However, there are other foods to be added to the “Do Not Eat” list and, believe it or not, a whole bunch of delicious foods actually help your teeth.  Read on for some suggestions on what to eat and what to stay away from to keep your teeth nice and strong.

GOOD FOR YOU: vitamins A, D, C, Calcium, Phosphorous are especially good for teeth

Apples, kiwi, tomatoes, lemons, oranges all contain Vitamin C, which is essential to bone (including teeth) health and strength

Cheese, milk, yogurt are high in Calcium and Phosphates, which are good for your teeth

Fish, pork, peanuts, almonds, eggs also have Vitamin D, which helps your body use and absorb Calcium

Carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, beef, potatoes, tofu, leafy green vegetables, beans, whole grains and poultry all contain vitamins and minerals essential for tooth health

Teas contain ingredients that help prevent plaque

Chewing celery produces saliva which helps clean teeth and massage gums

BAD FOR YOU: Sticky, chewy, gummy, sweet foods

Saltines, bread, hamburger buns basically break down to be sugar and can harm your teeth

Dried fruits have a more concentrated sugar content than fresh fruit, they are also chewy

Ketchup contains more sugar than you think!

Soda is not only sugary, but also acidic… think of it as a 1-2-punch to the teeth

Chewable vitamins are acidic and also have sugar additives and when you chew them they get stuck in the grooves of your teeth, making it easier for more bacteria to attach

Chewing hard nuts, popcorn kernels, and ice can actually cause small or large fractures in your teeth, creating a place for sugar to sneak in

Peanut Brittle and candy apples are hard, chewy, and full of sugar – a deadly combo for teeth

Jelly beans, taffy, and gum are very sticky and their sugar content ends up in grooves and pits on tooth surfaces

So next time you reach for that bag of dried aprictos or the biggest icing flower on the birthday cake, take a minute and appreciate your smile.  Other, healthier options are available to you that can keep those chompers nice, bright, free of decay, and strong.

Call us today at (215) 568-6222 to schedule a cleaning with one of our amazing hygienists.  Patients have come through our office and said that the cleaning they had here was the best of their life.  We also provide an exam with Dr. Cirka and cavity detecting x-rays (which are FREE for new patients) so we can make sure that all of our patients are in the best oral and overall health.  We’ll see you soon!

Nowadays there are more than one type of braces that can straighten your teeth.  There are traditional metal brackets, clear metal brackets, invisible tray aligners like Invisalign, and even tiny bars that can be secured behind your teeth so nobody can see them.  All of these options work; there are different solutions for different cases.  The only concern with these is the length of time it takes.

Did you know that there is another way to straighten your teeth?  Cosmetic veneers can do this and make them as white as you like at the same time!  The best part is, it only takes 2 visits and 2 weeks.  In our office, we offer Lumineers by Cerinate.  These are different from traditional veneers because they are thinner, more natural looking, stronger, and they require less removal of natural tooth structure.  If you are a lucky candidate, you couldn’t find a quicker, more painless cure for crooked teeth.

Call us today at (215) 568-6222 to schedule a FREE consultation to discuss your options for straightening your teeth with Dr. Cirka.  He has the BEST results with Lumineers in all of Philadelphia and we can schedule you an appointment that works with your schedule.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Dental fear is not uncommon, and if you find yourself dreading your next dental appointment, you are not alone.  Dr. Cirka, Expanded-Function Dental Assistants Keila and Patrice, and Registered Hygienists Kimberly, Jennifer, Eva, and Laurawork around the clock at Philadelphia Dentistry to provide the most convenient, thorough, and gentle care in a relaxed and soothing environment.

Once you find a dentist and staff that you can trust, it’s also important for you, the patient, to understand your own fear so you can be a part of the solution.  There are different ways that fear of dentistry is experienced:

DENTAL ANXIETY is basically a fear of the unknown.  Anxiety is a common emotion, mainly felt by patients who are about to have a new procedure or treatment they haven’t had or heard of before.

DENTAL FEAR is a reaction to a danger that is known, in which a patient’s anxiety is triggered by an unpleasant past experience.  Dental fear generally occurs when a patient is faced with a similar or the same situation as was unpleasant.

DENTAL PHOBIA is a very intense dental fear.  With a phobia, the person experiences extreme fear just thinking about or being reminded of the threatening situation.  This person may avoid dental care as opposed to being open to it and just afraid to commit.

Once you can identify which type of dental fear best describes your situation, it will be easier to overcome.  We offer a free consultation so you can experience our comfortable, clean, office and kind, gentle staff with no strings attached.

Please call us at (215)568-6222 to set up a time to meet with Dr. Cirka.