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Jun 25

7 Tips for a Wedding-Worthy Smile

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Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and with all eyes on you, a beautiful smile can make a world of difference in your photos and your confidence. At Naperville Dental Specialists, we’re here to help you achieve that wedding-worthy smile with our dental expertise and comprehensive range of general and cosmetic dentistry. Here, prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca and the team offer seven tips to ensure your smile is perfect for your big day.

1. Teeth Whitening for the Wedding Day

Teeth whitening is popular for brides and grooms looking to brighten their smiles — and you want it done right! At your award-winning Naperville dentist, professional teeth whitening treatments will make your teeth several shades whiter, giving you a radiant yet natural-looking smile.

So when should you start before the wedding day? Choosing when to get your teeth whitened before your wedding can depend on the number of sessions you need to achieve your desired shade. But if your pre-wedding schedule is packed and you don’t have the time for appointments, you’ll be glad to know that even one, one-hour session results in instant and lasting results with our high-tech laser teeth whitening treatment. We recommend scheduling your teeth whitening for the wedding at least a month in advance to allow any sensitivity to subside — so you can have your wedding cake and eat it, too!

2. Consider Cosmetic Dentistry

If you’re looking for more than just a whitening boost for the aesthetics of your wedding-day smile, cosmetic dentistry offers a range of options. Veneers can mask certain aesthetic imperfections like small spaces between teeth, broken or chipped teeth, or stained teeth. Start your wedding beauty prep early by consulting with one of our expert dentists to discuss how cosmetic dentistry can refresh your smile for your wedding day and beyond.

3. Teeth Straightening

If you have misaligned teeth, consider teeth straightening options like Invisalign®. Invisalign discreetly straightens teeth, often in less time than traditional braces, depending on your case. Start your treatment well in advance to ensure your smile is wedding-ready: One, book the venue, two, book your teeth straightening! Straight teeth not only look great for your wedding but also contribute to better oral health, making it an excellent investment in smile overall. As the #1 Invisalign Provider in Illinois, the team at our orthodontics partner — Innovative Orthodontic Centers — is more than happy to chat with you about working towards a straight and healthy wedding day smile.

4. Pack a Wedding Day Dental Emergency Kit

Getting ready for your wedding day means being prepared for a long day of talking and smiling. Having a dental emergency kit on your wedding day can be a lifesaver. What to put in a wedding day dental emergency kit? Include the following:

  • Dental floss or floss picks
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Xylitol mints or gum
  • Alcohol-free mouthwash
  • Small mirror

This kit will help you maintain your perfect wedding smile from the ceremony to the last dance.

5. Schedule a Dental Cleaning and Exam

Paired with an excellent oral hygiene routine, a dental cleaning and exam before your wedding day is crucial for a healthy, worry-free smile. A professional cleaning from Naperville Dental Specialists will remove any plaque and tartar buildup, and polish up your teeth — refreshing your teeth and giving them a smooth feel.

We recommend scheduling your dental cleaning and exam at least two weeks in advance. If you suspect cavities or tooth decay, you may want to schedule even earlier to fit in time for fillings you’d want to address before the big day. Who wants to worry about cavities on their honeymoon?

6. Pack Xylitol Mints or Gum

We’ve mentioned including them in your wedding day dental emergency kit, but we’ll say it again: have xylitol mints or gum on hand for your wedding day. Xylitol helps neutralize acids in your mouth, reduces plaque formation, and keeps your breath fresh. It’s a simple yet effective way to maintain fresh breath while talking with all your loved ones and well-wishers on your big day. Plus, you can hand out your xylitol breath fresheners to your wedding party for all the chatting they’ll be doing.

Now, if you have chronic bad breath, you may feel mints are not enough for all the talking you’ll be doing on your wedding day. At Naperville Dental Specialists, we offer bad breath treatment that can help. After a professional cleaning, we’ll get to the root of the problem and help you with at-home care and products that will banish your bad breath.

7. Practicing Your Smile

Practicing your brighter, whiter, maybe even straighter smile might sound silly, but it can help you feel more confident and look more natural in your wedding photos. Spend time in front of a mirror finding the look that will best show off your stunning smile. This can make a big difference in how natural and happy you look on your wedding day.

Get Your Dream Wedding Day Smile with Your Naperville Dentists

Ready to start your wedding smile journey? Book an appointment at Naperville Dental Specialists for your general or cosmetic dentistry needs. Our expert dentists can help you achieve a picture-perfect smile for your wedding day and beyond.

Jan 06

Should You Brush Your Teeth Before or After Coffee?

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Should You Brush Your Teeth Before or After Your Morning Coffee?

Your alarm sounds, you roll out of bed and, if you’re like a lot of people, one of the first things you do is enjoy a cup of coffee (or two). And while coffee smells and tastes amazing when it’s straight from your mug in the morning, the same doesn’t hold true when it comes to your breath. So, understandably, your natural instinct might be to brush your teeth after having your coffee to ensure your mouth is fresh and clean as you go about your day. But there’s some debate about whether or not this is the right move. Well, the team at Naperville Dental Specialists is here to help. We’ll be weighing in on whether you should brush your teeth before or after coffee.

Should I Brush My Teeth Before or After Coffee?

Drumroll please….you should brush your teeth before having coffee, according to our Naperville dentists. We know, we know, it feels like that goes against all logic. After all, doesn’t coffee stain teeth? Won’t you be stuck with coffee breath? 

Yes, coffee does stain teeth and, sure, it can cause bad breath. However, there are two main reasons behind the recommendation for brushing your teeth before coffee:

  • Brushing your teeth eliminates plaque and gives your teeth a smooth surface. This makes it more difficult for the liquid to adhere to your enamel, which will prevent or reduce coffee stains on your teeth. It will also make lifting any superficial stains easier when you brush later. 
  • Coffee is acidic. Whenever you eat or drink something acidic, including coffee, it leaves your enamel vulnerable for about 30 to 60 minutes until your saliva neutralizes the acidity and the pH in your mouth returns to normal. If you brush when your enamel is temporarily weakened, it can cause erosion. As your enamel erodes, the underlying dentin becomes exposed. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, increase your risk of cavities and make your teeth look yellow. 

Wait, is coffee bad for your teeth?

The good news is, coffee (as long as you’re not adding sugar) doesn’t directly cause tooth decay and it’s no worse than any other drink that’s not water. However, the acidity, especially if you consistently brush your teeth right after your coffee, can eventually lead to enamel erosion, which will make you more susceptible to sensitivity and decay. Aside from the acid, coffee stains teeth too. It’s pigmented and, over time, it’s notorious for causing discoloration. 

But, overall, coffee may actually have some beneficial properties that can boost your oral health. For example, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry found that black coffee without any additives like sugar or cream helped prevent cavities thanks to its antibacterial effect. It’s thought the polyphenols in coffee are responsible for zapping bacteria. The bottom line: stick with black coffee and hold off on brushing your teeth afterwards. As long as you maintain good oral hygiene, you should be perfectly fine drinking it. 

brush your teeth before or after coffee

How Can I Prevent Coffee Breath and ‘Stains While Keeping My Enamel Safe?

Thoroughly rinsing your mouth with water after having a cup of coffee will go a long way in warding off coffee breath, keeping stains at bay and giving your mouth a clean sensation. Even better, rinse your mouth and then chew a piece of sugarless gum. (Bonus points if the gum contains xylitol since xylitol prevents bacteria buildup.) Chewing sugarless gum after any meal or beverage is a good practice for getting your saliva flowing and helping to prevent cavities. Having a piece after coffee has the added benefit of freshening your breath. 

If you drink a lot of coffee and other acidic beverages, you might also want to consider using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth that contains fluoride. The fluoride will help to remineralize your teeth and strengthen your enamel. Ingredients like potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride will reduce sensitivity by shielding the dentin and soothing the nerves inside of your teeth. 

The other thing to keep in mind is that the debate about whether you should brush your teeth before or after coffee refers to brushing soon after drinking it. The American Dental Association recommends waiting 60 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth. So, if you’re not in a rush, you can wait an hour until your oral pH is back to normal and then brush your teeth without any negative effects. 

Schedule a Visit With a Naperville Dentist Today

Do you have more questions about your oral health? Schedule a visit with a Naperville dentist today. We can fill you in on everything you need to know about caring for your teeth and gums, including how to develop a smile-friendly morning routine. If you’ve been brushing right after your coffee for years and now have sensitivity or discoloration, we can help with that too! 

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