Even if you value a beautiful smile in La Mesa, it’s easy to become somewhat neglectful about smile-friendly lifestyle choices. In today’s post, our goal is for you to analyze where you stand and think about whether you could step it up a notch. Committing to oral health best practices can prevent future problems and help you maintain a beautiful smile in La Mesa.

Best Practice for Brushing

Good: Brush teeth once a day.
Better: Brush teeth thoroughly after each meal.
Best: Brush after each meal and floss thoroughly before bed.

Best Practice for Dental Checkups

Good: See your dentist if you get a toothache.
Better: See Dr. Gray once a year even if you don’t notice any dental troubles.
Best: Twice-yearly, have a comprehensive dental exam and professional dental cleaning at Jeff Gray DDS – Sedation & Cosmetic Dentistry.

Best Practice for a White Smile

Good: Use a whitening toothpaste.
Better: Use a whitening product at home.
Best: Schedule an in-office tooth bleaching procedure.

Best Practice for Smile-Friendly Nutrition

Good: Eat a wholesome diet.
Better: Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary snacks and beverages.
Best: Eat a nutritious diet, limit between-meal snacking, eat lots of calcium-rich foods, limit sugar-filled foods, abstain from energy drinks and soda, and sip water throughout the day to keep acid at bay.

Best Practice for For Young Smiles

Good: Never put your child to bed with a bottle. When your toddler starts drinking from sippy-cup, don’t let them sip juice or milk all day.
Better: Follow the previous guidance and schedule his/her first dental checkup before the first birthday.
Best: In addition, communicate with Dr. Gray about dental sealants when your child is young. When your little athlete starts participating in sports, make sure they wear a protective mouth guard. Set a good example of daily dental hygiene and healthy lifestyle choices.

At Jeff Gray DDS – Sedation & Cosmetic Dentistry, we are dedicated to helping our patients achieve a beautiful smile in La Mesa. We invite you to call 619-821-0034 to schedule an appointment. Our practice offers services such as dental crowns, TMJ treatment, and dental implants. We look forward to meeting you.