Month: February 2019

Balance is key. And when it comes to our body’s pH levels, it’s the key to life! With our fast paced lives it’s easy to fall into the habit of grabbing

some fast food, or preparing quick and easy processed foods. But before you do, it’s important to think about not only the horrible ingredients that go into all that stuff, but also what that food is doing to our pH levels.

For the body to be healthy, it needs to maintain a pH balance between 7.35 and 7.45, which is on the alkaline side. Processed and fast foods, or ones that are high in sugar, have harmful acidic levels. This will affect the immune system and make us more susceptible to disease. Petaluma Dental Group asks that you do not eat or drink one hour prior to your appointment so that we can accurately check your pH level at the beginning of your visit.

Even if you have a healthy diet and are not worried about your pH levels, these alkaline foods will help your body for many other reasons and can add to your overall well being.

Top Alkaline Foods Spinach, Kale & Swiss Chard

Leafy green vegetables contain lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and are rich in alkaline. They also have the ability to rid the body of free radicals.

Melons

All kinds of melons are a great choice because of their high fiber and water content. It’s a delicious and refreshing fruit that cleanses the colon and detoxifies the entire body.

Lemons

Lemons are acidic in nature, but become alkaline after digestion. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and electrolytes and can also aid in cold, cough and flu relief.

Apples

Apples are super digestible and high in fiber. They are also rich in enzymes that are helpful in maintaining the body’s hormonal balance.

Avocado

Avocado contains good fats, which include omega 9 fat. This helps lower bad cholesterol in the body and help keep your heart healthy.

Everyone would love to have a brighter smile, but not everyone knows there are other benefit beyond the obvious ones, to having whiter teeth. Not only do whiter teeth help a person feel more confident, but your bright grin can make others feel more instantly attracted and connected to you.

Your smile is the first thing a person notices about you, and if your teeth are yellow and stained they are likely to be turned off. A bright, shiny smile projects good health and a youthful appearance. It can also open you up to more relationship opportunities, and increase your chances of getting hired, or closing a business deal.

Studies have shown that individuals with whiter teeth are more outgoing and engaging.
 When you know your teeth look brighter and healthier you may smile wider and talk more. This could have a lasting social, business, and even financial impact.

With the confidence gained by a brighter smile, you may find yourself working up the nerve to ask for that date or that promotion. Brighter teeth may also give you the motivation to take better care of your overall oral health, avoid behaviors that may stain your teeth, as well as brush and floss more often.

Petaluma Dental Group offers a variety of in-house whitening treatments, including Zoom! Whitening, and our new Endless Whitening Program. Give us a call today to find out more, (707) 762-0067. In under an hour we will have you on your way with increased confidence and a shiny, white smile that will light up any room!

With the kick off to summer upon us, we need to remember that summertime can bring with it extra risks. People are often more active, travelling on vacation, drinking or eating foods that are popular summertime treats. So here are a few tips to help you breeze through the season!

Drink Plenty of Water and Avoid Sugary Drinks

Staying hydrated is vitally important for your overall health year round, but during the hot summer months our bodies can become dehydrated quickly! Be sure to keep those water bottles on hand and drink regularly. Be sure to avoid consuming drinks with high sugar and acidic content such as sports drinks or fruit juices which increase the chance of dental decay and enamel erosion.

Protect Your Lips

When heading outdoors, we have all become so great with applying the sunscreen to protect our bodies and face from the sun’s harmful rays, but we often forget about our lips. The skin on our lips is very thin and vulnerable due to the lack of melanin, protecting our lips with an SPF lip balm is essential! Prolonged exposure to the sun could lead to forms of oral cancer.

Avoid Chewing Ice

With the hot weather, it’s tempting to pop that ice cube into our mouth to cool us down, but chewing ice wreaks havoc on your tooth enamel and dental work It can also cause your teeth to crack or break. You may not feel or see the damage at first, but you’ll feel the pain in your mouth and wallet later. If you have cravings to chew ice, be sure to check with your doctor as that can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.

Be Cautious of Sporting Injuries

Sporting injuries happen frequently enough, although they tend to be more prevalent during the warm weather months. Lost or cracked teeth when diving into swimming pools or the impact of a ball or bat to the mouth are common accidents that unfortunately happen and there is not much you can to do prevent them. Simply being aware of the potential dangers will perhaps make you think twice when taking part in activities.

It’s good to know that Petaluma Dental Group is available 24 hours a day in case of emergency!

Happy Summer!

If you are like most people, you love to save money! And we all know that health care can be expensive. But, skipping the dentist’s chair, like skipping the doctor’s office when you’re sick, to save money can have major repercussions on both your health and your wallet.

Even if you have dental insurance, your copayments and deductibles can quickly add up. But putting off dental care can lead to bigger problems. Left untreated, a small cavity can eventually lead to tooth loss, an abscess to a major infection. Finding ways to get affordable dental care now will save your mouth and your money in the future.

Our patients often ask us how they can receive the highest quality care in the most cost-efficient manner. Here are some suggestions for you.

Dental Insurance:If you are fortunate enough to have dental insurance, be sure to thank your employer! However, unlike medical insurance, most dental plans are designed to assist in paying for dental treatment, not cover most or all of it.