Tag Archives: Apple Valley Dentists

Dakota Dental Helps Children Go Back to School with the Basics of Dental Care

Dakota Dental encourages patients to establish a regular brushing and flossing routine as the school year gets underway.

Apple Valley, MN, USA — With students headed back to school, now is the perfect time to establish healthy habits into a family’s daily routine. If brushing and flossing habits have faded throughout the summer, the structure of a school routine may be just the thing to help build back the habit of taking care of your teeth.

While everyone knows the basics and the importance of dental health, some people may have trouble being consistent in their brushing and flossing. In addition to brushing teeth twice a day, patients should be sure to take their time to do a thorough job. Each brushing session should last about two minutes, but brushing harder does not mean brushing better. The ideal way to brush teeth is to hold the toothbrush at a slight angle and use short, light back-and-forth motions.

Changing out a toothbrush every three to four months is another key to having healthy teeth. If it’s been awhile since you’ve bought a toothbrush, the start of the school year is a good time to get everyone in the family new toothbrushes as well. Rinse out your toothbrush after each use and store it upright to allow it to air-dry to reduce germs.

Flossing every day is another important habit to embrace in order to have a healthy smile. Flossing reduces the likelihood of gingivitis by reducing plaque buildup and strengthening gums. It only takes a minute or two a day and is very inexpensive – making it a worthwhile habit to prevent tooth decay.

The Apple Valley dentists at Dakota Dental specialize in educating their patients about preventive dental care (http://www.dakotadental.com/general-dental-services/preventative-care-program/education) and giving practical advice about good oral health. As everyone gets back into the swing of the school routine, now is an ideal time to put these basics into practice and schedule your next dental appointment.

Dakota Dental offers children’s dental services and can help teach children the importance of regular brushing and flossing. The family dentists at Dakota Dental work with patients of all ages to ensure they have the best smile possible.

To make an appointment or for more information, contact Dakota Dental today.

Media Contact:
Dr. Shelley Wakefield
Dakota Dental
14682 Pennock Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-431-5774
swakefield@dakotadental.com

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Dakota Dental Announces Teeth-Friendly Foods for the Super Bowl

Dakota Dental offers practical tips on how to avoid sugary pitfalls at Super Bowl parties.

Apple Valley, MN, USA — The Apple Valley dentists at Dakota Dental know that maintaining good oral health can be a challenge, especially when surrounded by sweet treats during a big get-together, like at the Super Bowl. To make taking care of your teeth easier, it helps to go in to a gathering like the Super Bowl with a game plan in mind to help make healthy and teeth-friendly choices.

In moderation, these snacks will help maintain healthy teeth and keep football fans away from other, more damaging foods.

Sides like a jalapeño dip or hummus are not only low-sugar simple options, but eating them with vegetables is a smart tooth-friendly solution. Raw vegetables help to build strong teeth and can help prevent gingivitis. Raw veggies, as well as hummus, are also more filling snacks, reducing the temptation to go for those high-sugar snacks.

Meat and cheese trays are another good option. Again, they are filling choices; cheese also contains calcium, which can prevent tooth decay, and casein, a protein which helps protect the surface of your teeth.

However, be careful eating these with breads, crackers, and chips – these foods can stick to teeth, encouraging bacterial growth. Rinsing your mouth with water or brushing your teeth as soon as you can will decrease bacterial growth. If you do indulge in sugary snacks or sodas, even a simple rinse with water afterwards can rid the surface of your teeth of those damaging sugars and acids, diminishing the harm they do to your teeth.

Dakota Dental offers many general dental services to help prevent, or help repair, damage to your teeth. The dentists at Dakota Dental have extensive experience with fillings, sealants, and gum disease treatments. They also have a top-of-the-line dental preventative care program, which includes regular cleanings and checkups, and additional tips and recommendations for keeping your teeth healthy. The dentists at Dakota Dental can also help with teeth whitening or any other dental health issues you may have.

Contact Dakota Dental for more tips to have healthy teeth, or to make an appointment today.

Media Contact:
Dr. Shelley Wakefield
Dakota Dental
14682 Pennock Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-431-5774
swakefield@dakotadental.com
http://www.dakotadental.com

Dakota Dental Announces Teeth Straightening Services For All Ages

Dakota Dental offers teeth straightening services through both Invisalign and traditional braces.

Apple Valley, MN, USA — The Apple Valley dentists at Dakota Dental want patients to have their best possible smile. From regular checkups and teeth cleanings to a total smile makeover, Dakota Dental has many dental services for patients to get a great smile. One of the most dramatic ways to improve a smile is to straighten it, by using traditional metal braces or using Invisalign.

Straightening teeth not only improves a smile cosmetically, but it also helps correct bite issues as well. Traditional braces consist of wire and metal brackets, and are affixed to the front of the teeth. Traditional braces are especially helpful for more complex teeth issues, from large gaps, fixing bites, and fixing crooked or crowded teeth. Traditional braces can also move the teeth faster than Invisalign, though the treatment plans for Invisalign can be shorter.

Invisalign is a set of clear trays that are custom-made for each individual patient. These trays are comfortable, removable, and they are typically changed out every two weeks. A benefit of Invisalign is, as its name implies, that it is virtually invisible. That makes Invisalign a great option for adult patients. Invisalign is typically used for fixing more cosmetic issues versus fixing complex dental problems.

Though knowing the difference between traditional braces and Invisalign, it’s important to discuss these options with your dentist to figure out the best choice for you. The family dentists at Dakota Dental will work with you and discuss your options. All it takes are a few simple steps:

1. Contact Dakota Dental to make a consultation appointment.

2. Discuss your options – Invisalign vs. braces – to see if straightening your teeth is a more simple or more complex fit, and to see which option makes the most sense for you and your teeth. You and your dentist can also discuss cost and what would make the most sense for you.

3. Come up with a treatment plan with your dentist.

4. Start creating a perfect smile!

Dakota Dental offers both traditional braces and Invisalign, and has years of experience helping patients get the perfect teeth they’ve been dreaming of.

Media Contact:
Dr. Shelley Wakefield
Dakota Dental
14682 Pennock Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-431-5774
swakefield@dakotadental.com
http://www.dakotadental.com

Dakota Dental Releases List of Teeth-Damaging Foods to Avoid this Holiday Season

Make sure to take care of your teeth this holiday season with by following Dakota Dental’s recommendations on foods to avoid.

Apple Valley, MN, USA — The holiday season is the time to get together with family and friends, and usually revolves around sharing a meal, meeting up for coffee, or gathering at a holiday party. While it’s a great time of year, it can be a tough season on your teeth. While some sugary treats are well-known culprits, Dakota Dental shares some lesser-known foods that can damage teeth – so when visiting family and friends this holiday season, be sure to avoid or limit these damaging foods.

On the snack trays:
– Apples. Even though apples are a nutritious snack, they are high in acid, which eats away at enamel.
– Pickles. Since the brine is made with vinegar, and oftentimes sugar too, pickles and other pickled vegetables can cause damage to the enamel.

At the dinner table:
– Bread buns, especially white bread. Processed breads have sugar, and can also get stuck in your teeth – keeping all that sugar in your mouth even longer.
– Salad dressings. Many salad dressings contain both acid and sugar, which can break down enamel.

Snacking with friends:
– Diet sodas. Even though diet sodas don’t have sugar, they are extremely high in acid, making this one of the worst products for your teeth.
– Popcorn. Popcorn is notorious for getting stuck between teeth, and trapping and cultivating bacteria because of it. Make sure to have floss handy!
– Hard candies. Yes, they have sugar, but hard candies are especially troublesome because they stay in the mouth longer than other foods.

What makes these foods so tough on your teeth? The two main culprits that attack teeth are sugar and acid. Sugar feeds the bacteria in our mouths, and bacteria produces lactic acid, which erodes teeth enamel. And acidic foods and drinks break down enamel directly.

For healthy teeth and a perfect smile, limit the damage these foods make. The Apple Valley dentists at Dakota Dental can not only help with general dental services during your regular checkups, but they can also talk about more tips and tricks for taking care of your teeth. Dakota Dental is happy to help their patients on all of your dental health issues. Contact Dakota Dental today.

Media Contact:
Dr. Shelley Wakefield
Dakota Dental
14682 Pennock Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-431-5774
swakefield@dakotadental.com
http://www.dakotadental.com