If you have a little one at home, you know how difficult it can be to get them to brush their teeth. Or worse, to get them to allow YOU to brush their teeth! We hear stories from many moms and dads about how toddlers won’t allow mom or dad in to brush for them. So, here are some tips to help you to get through it:

Until your little one can spit into the sink, use a training toothpaste which has little to no fluoride in it. There are many different brands of training paste, so choose your favorite and use only a pea size amount on their brush.

Allow your little one to brush their teeth first. Then, tell them its mom (or dads) turn to brush their gums! Gentle brush around the gum line the best that you can. Make a fun song out of it and stay positive. Here is a fun song! Sing it to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle little Star”

“Here’s my toothpaste,Here’s my brush

I won’t hurry, I won’t rush.

Working hard to keep teeth clean

Front and back and in between

When I brush for quite a while

I will have a happy smile.”

For each successful brushing session, use a sticker chart. When they fill up their chart, have a special surprise for them to celebrate. Perhaps a trip to the zoo, a play date with a good friend or maybe a new toy!

Remember, no matter how tough it is, or how long it takes to get a good routine down, you’re not alone and it will all be worth it in the end.

Spring marks the beginning of wedding season. Many brides and grooms say “I Do” between months of April-September, and we are here to make sure their smiles are ready for all of those important photographs! So, if you’re getting married or standing up in a wedding, consider scheduling your regular cleaning and exam before the big day. We can discuss your options at that time. Not due for a cleaning quite yet? That’s ok! Let the front desk staff know what you’re interested in and we can schedule a consultation to discuss options and pricing.

We offer 2 types of whitening for our patients. We have an in office, one time whitening. You spend a couple hours with us and leave with a bright, white smile that day! If you prefer to whiten on your own, we can fabricate custom trays for you to use with whitening gel at home. This process takes an average of 2 weeks of at home treatment. The trays are made specially for you and can be used for a touch ups in the future as well!

Custom veneers or crowns can be a great way to straighten teeth that have mild overlapping, or close small gaps in front teeth. They can even be a great option for deep stain that cannot be resolved with whitening. This can be a 1 or 2 step process that may take 2-3 weeks if the lab is making the veneers or crowns.

Love your smile but just need a touch up? We’ve got you covered! If you are an existing patient who is up to date on your cleaning and exam, we can provide the bride and groom with a complimentary wedding polish. This will remove minor surface stains and give you a shine for your wedding day.

Remember: Our doctors schedules fill up 1 1/2 months or more in advance and our later appointments are even more popular! If you’re thinking of scheduling something, don’t delay! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to all of you who participated in our 5th annual March Madness Tournament! Here are our top 4 winners:

First place with 850 points: Michael M.

Second place with 830 points: Ruchin P.

3rd place with 810 points: Conrad R.

4th place with 800 points: Scott B.

Many of our patients experience dry mouth to some extent, either short or long term. The most common cause of dry mouth is prescription medication. A patient taking drugs such as an anti-anxiety, anti-depressant or blood pressure medications are likely to experience dry mouth. Aside from being uncomfortable when you have a dry mouth, it may make speech more difficult and also puts you at an increased risk for tooth decay. Your dental hygienist and dentist may be able to diagnose if you experience dry mouth at your routine visits, but if you already know you are experiencing dry mouth, take a few simple steps to keep your risk of decay as low as possible.

Drink plenty of water and avoid liquid sugars like soda, juice and energy drinks. Think diet soda or black coffee is a safe alternative to these sugary drinks? Think again! Although these do not contain sugar, they are acidic and can be significant contributors to decay and dry mouth.

Chew xylitol gum or use xylitol mints in between meals. Xylitol is a sugar alternative that will help neutralize the pH in your mouth and increase your salivary flow.

Use a humidifier in your bedroom at night to help keep oral tissues moist.

Talk with your friendly staff at Elmbrook family dental for suggestions on other dry mouth aids. There are many products on the market, and they would be happy to help you find one that is best for you!

We are excited to announce that we are hosting our Fifth Annual March Madness tournament for our current patients! It has been a hit every year, so if you have not participated in the past, we encourage you to join us this year. Here are this years prizes:

1st place: $150 Bartolotta Gift Card

2nd place: 4 Tickets to a Brewers Game (game date to be determined)

3rd place: Custom Whitening Trays and a $25 Bravo Gift Card

4th place: $25 Gift Card to Bravo

Here’s how it works: Go to http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/frontpage and create and account. Once you have logged in, click the “My Groups” link toward the top of the page. Type “Elmbrook Family Dental” into the search box. You can then enter the group password “TEETH” to join. Create your own bracket using your ACTUAL NAME (so we know who you are if you win!) and choose the teams you think will win. For more information, click the “How to play” link.

In order to play, your bracket must be complete by tip-off time of the first game on March 20th. You will not be able to choose your teams until the field is announced on March 16th.

The contest through ESPN is open to anyone, however you must be a current patient (seen within the last 12 months) in order to win prizes through Elmbrook Family Dental.

Good luck!!

We are excited to announce that we are hosting our Fifth Annual March Madness tournament for our current patients! It has been a hit every year, so if you have not participated in the past, we encourage you to join us this year. Here are this years prizes:

1st place: $150 Bartolotta Gift Card

2nd place: 4 Tickets to a Brewers Game (game date to be determined)

3rd place: Custom Whitening Trays and a $25 Bravo Gift Card

4th place: $25 Gift Card to Bravo

Here’s how it works: Go to http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/frontpage and create and account. Once you have logged in, click the “My Groups” link toward the top of the page. Type “Elmbrook Family Dental” into the search box. You can then enter the group password “TEETH” to join. Create your own bracket using your ACTUAL NAME (so we know who you are if you win!) and choose the teams you think will win. For more information, click the “How to play” link.

In order to play, your bracket must be complete by tip-off time of the first game on March 20th. You will not be able to choose your teams until the field is announced on March 16th.

The contest through ESPN is open to anyone, however you must be a current patient (seen within the last 12 months) in order to win prizes through Elmbrook Family Dental.

Good luck!!

Gum recession is exposure of the roots of the teeth that occurs as either a loss of gum tissue or when the gum tissue retracts. Many of our patients have recession to some extent. So, if you have cold sensitivity or sensitivity during cleanings, be sure to discuss the possibility that you may have gum recession.

Recession commonly comes from clenching and grinding, brushing too hard, acid reflux or a history of wearing braces. Prevention of further recession may include treatment with a night guard, a change in your brushing technique or treating acid reflux. Unfortunately, once recession occurs, your gums will not “grow” back. So, in minor cases we simply do our best to ensure that it does not get worse. In severe cases, a referral to a gum specialist may be necessary.

Not all patients who have recession experience sensitivity. If you’re one of the lucky ones who is asymptomatic, it is still important to understand that there are risks. Because the root surface is so soft, you can actually start to scrub your roots away over time! Be cautious of heavy handed brushing. The roots are then also more susceptible to decay.

If sensitivity is an issue for you, there are some options! Using a sensitive toothpaste on a daily basis can help to seal up small tubules on your roots. An in-office treatment called a fluoride varnish can also be placed after your cleanings. This varnish protects and restores roots as well as seals them away from cold sensitivity. A varnish treatment twice a year can really decrease your sensitivity! If localized areas have been worn away, your dentist may recommend placing a small white filling in that area. This can also aid in reducing sensitivity and reduce your risk of decay reaching the nerve.

We measure and monitor your recession for you on a yearly basis, so it is important for you to see us for your cleaning and check ups. Together we will work hard at keeping your smile beautiful and pain free!

By now, most of society is aware that use of tobacco has many negative side effects, but have you considered its effects on your teeth and oral health? The most apparent side effect is dry mouth. Smoke inhalation causes salivary ducts and the tissue in your mouth to be dry and sticky. It can even change the consistency of your saliva! Lack of a little quality spit puts you at a higher risk for build up and decay.

It has also been shown that smoking is related to the failure of dental implants. Some oral surgeons may even recommend and patient try to quit smoking before implant placement in order to ensure the best results possible.

Smoking also causes vasoconstriction. This is the narrowing or shrinking of blood vessels which results in less blood flow to the tissues in your mouth such as your gums. A lack of blood flow means it is harder to get an inflammatory response in your gums. Think that it might not be so bad if your gums don’t get inflamed? Think again! Without inflammation, white blood cells cannot function to remove bacteria and control infections like periodontal infection. A healthy blood flow really does help aid in healing.

Using a smokeless tobacco? You’re at a much higher risk to develop oral cancer. If you’re not ready to quit, just be sure that you move your “chew” to a different place in your mouth each use. This will allow some time for your tissue to regenerate.

Quitting use of tobacco is a very personal decision. Be sure that when you decide to quit, you are the one deciding and that you’re ready for the commitment it takes. Your dental staff is trained to help you with this when you are ready!

Many people have mentioned lately that their employers are no longer providing dental insurance. With these comments in mind, we’d like to share a few things with you that may help as your start your search for privately purchased dental insurance.

Many companies offer insurance you can purchase directly rather than through an employer. When you call to discuss available benefits, it is important to weigh the cost of what you will pay for monthly coverage versus paying for care out of pocket. For instance, would your monthly payment cost more than your routine cleaning, exam and x-rays? Are you a higher risk patient needing fillings, crowns or other dental work? If you pay more for your benefits than you receive in services, consider paying out of pocket and receiving a discount for doing so instead. Our practice does offer a discount for those who pay out of pocket. Other important question to ask the insurance agent is if there are waiting periods on the plan. A waiting period is generally a 6 month to 1 year time in which you pay monthly for your benefits, but receive coverage only on cleanings, exams and x-rays until that waiting period is over. During this time frame, fillings, root canals or crowns may not be covered, yet your monthly payment remains the same.

Insurance can be confusing! So, call an insurance agent for options and details, then call our qualified front desk team to discuss any questions you may have. We are happy to help with anything that will keep you wearing a healthy smile!

Did you know that many of you out there are not washing your hands adequately and don’t even know it? The most effective hand wash is done with warm or cold water and for a full 20 seconds. Be sure to focus on your finger tips and around your nail bed as these are great places for germs to hide. Rinse well and dry with paper towel. Use the towel to turn off the faucet in order to avoid touching a dirty handle.

Good hand washing technique is an easy and important step to avoid falling sick with the cold or flu this season. Visit the Center for Disease Control website for more information: www.cdc.gov