Thanks to preventative medicine, our pets are living longer, healthier lives. With better ways to diagnose and treat many diseases now the most common problem seen in today’s animals are dental problems. To help prevent oral disease, which is the number one health problem diagnosed in pets, it is essential to provide our pets with good dental care. The three most common dental diseases found in dogs and cats are plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease.

Plaque: Cats and dogs rarely get cavities, however they are much more prone to gum disease and excess tartar buildup on the teeth than humans. This is because food particles and bacteria collect along the gumline and form plaque. Now, with routine home dental care this plaque can easily be removed.

Tartar: When the plaque is not removed, the minerals in saliva combine with plaque to form tartar (or calculus), which sticks strongly to the teeth. The plaque will start to mineralize 3-5 days after it forms. Tartar will irritate the gums and cause inflammation, better known as gingivitis. This causes the gums to redden adjacent to the teeth, along with bad breath. Once tartar is formed, it is best to have a professional cleaning done by your veterinarian. They will use special instruments to remove the plaque and then polish the teeth making it more difficult for plaque to stick to them.

Periodontal disease: If the tartar is not removed, it will build up under the gums. It will separate the gums from the teeth and form “pockets”. Pockets encourage even more bacteria to grow. At this point the damage is irreversible, and called periodontal disease. It can be very painful and can lead to the loss teeth, abscesses, and bone loss or infection. As the bacteria continues to grow and increase, the bacteria can even enter the bloodstream. This can lead to infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), liver, and kidneys. If treated by your veterinarian, periodontal disease can be slowed or stopped.

What is included in a good dental care program?
Dental care for your pet does not have to be difficult. Here are four steps that, when performed regularly, will do the most to give your pet good oral health.

1. Have your pet’s teeth and gums evaluated and cleaned by your veterinarian on a regular basis, just like you would your own.

2. Brush your pet’s teeth regularly with toothpaste specifically designed for them.

3. If you cannot brush, use a bacteria-killing dental solution or use a dental cleaning pad daily.

4. Another great way to help keep your pet’s teeth healthy is to give your pet teeth-cleaning toys, such as rawhide and other dental treats.

If you follow these four steps we guarantee that your pet will come home with better oral checkups and come check out Smile Warehouse’s great selection of oral care products for pets!

There are many dental myths floating around today, but Smile Warehouse is here to help you separate fact from fiction so that you can ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth.

The Story: Only the sugar from sweets and desserts are bad for my teeth.

Fact: Natural sugars can be found in most foods. However, both natural and processed sugars can cause tooth decay if they stay on teeth too long. That’s why it is important to limit the amount of sweets you have and that you brush and floss tat least twice a day.

The Story: You don’t have to brush baby teeth; they will just fall out anyways.

Fact: Even though your child will lose all of their baby teeth, they still need to be brushed and flossed daily. By brushing and flossing daily it will establish good habits early on in life. Daily brushing and flossing also helps prevent cavities or tooth decay. Studies have found that cavities in baby teeth can affect the development of the permanent teeth. It is even possible for cavities found in baby teeth to need fillings, root canals, and even crowns.

The Story: Everybody will have false teeth or dentures when they get older.

Fact: Like in every other field we are continuously learning. With daily brushing, flossing and regular professional dental cleanings, examinations and treatment, we have found that it is possible to keep your natural teeth throughout your lifetime.

The Story: You only have bad breath if you don’t brush or floss.

Fact: While part of this is true, poor brushing and flossing leads to gum disease there are other causes of bad breath which include smoking, certain foods, and dental infections or abscesses.

The Story: Whitening toothpastes actually whiten teeth or bleach my teeth.

Fact: Over the counter products are not as effective for whitening teeth or bleaching teeth because they lack the strength and power contained in dentist-prescribed products.

The Story: There is no difference between hard and soft bristled toothbrushes.

Fact: Studies show that soft bristled toothbrushes clean and do not damage the teeth or the gums during brushing. Hard bristled toothbrushes can cause gum tissue to shrink away and can wear away tooth structure.

The Story: I only have to brush to keep my teeth clean.

Fact: Brushing is an important part of keeping teeth clean but flossing is equally important. Flossing removes the plaque and food debris between your teeth, where a toothbrush is unable to reach.

The Story: You only have to bleach or whiten your teeth once then it will never need to be done again.

Fact: Teeth whitening is not permanent. The amount of time between touch ups depends on the amount of food or beverage consumed that would stain a white t-shirt. Smoking will also increase the need for touch ups.

The Story: Tooth-colored fillings, veneers and crowns will get lighter when I bleach my teeth.

Fact: Teeth whitening only affects natural the tooth structure. Any tooth-colored filling materials, veneers, crowns, bridges and partials will NOT change color with tooth whitening or tooth bleaching.

The Story: Chewing gum after a meal is a great substitute for brushing.

Fact: Chewing gum after a meal, especially sugar free gum, will only freshen your breath and is NO substitute for brushing and flossing.

That’s right folks: you guessed it, Smile Warehouse is going green! Unfortunately, not all the way but we’re committed to giving our customers the products that are not only good for them but good for the planet too. We recently expanded our inventory and are very proud to announce that we will now be carrying Kiss My Face products and have added to our Tom’s of Maine collection.

The Chosen Two:

What led us to Tom’s were these 6 simple rules:

1.       No animal ingredients or testing.

2.       They share every ingredient, purpose, and it’s source.

3.       Sustainable practices are a priority in every aspect of their business.

4.       They use no artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, and preservatives.

5.       They maximize recycled content and recyclability of their packaging.

6.       They donate 10% of their annual profits and each employee donates 12 days a year to volunteer work.

With over 40 years of service on their side, Tom’s of Maine, their good employees, and consumers have brought about positive change, environmentally and socially. From investing in clean energy to supporting communities and employees, good business is the right way to do business and that is something that makes Tom’s of Maine stand out above the rest.

Kiss my Face

With a name that is as great as it’s products, you won’t be able to help but smile when you see why we chose them! Like Tom’s of Maine Kiss my Face believes in a few of the following business practices:

1.      They provide their customers with products that are healthy, so you can feel and be your best.

2.      Their products contain natural and organic ingredients. Quality that you can count on!

3.      These products care for your body and for the environment.

4.      They create effective products with quality, purity, efficacy and responsible production methods, for your everyday lifestyles and needs.

5.      They provide value, great products that benefit us all big and small benefit at a reasonable price.

6.      And lastly, all products contain no artificial colors, animal ingredients, unnecessary chemical, and do no testing on animals.

Kiss My Face all-natural body care company is no newcomer to the “green scene”. It is the baby of two long-time vegetarians searching for healthy body care products. Kiss My Face was founded on a 200-acre organic farm in New York’s beautiful Hudson River Valley. It is still located in the Hudson Valley today. From moisturizers to liquid soaps, shower gels to toothpastes, to deodorants, Kiss My Face has products that are effective and good for you and the environment. So check out our go green section today!

• Tooth discoloration
• Malodor
• Inflammation of salivary glands
• Plaque and tartar build up
• Bone lose within the jaw
• Leukoplakia (white patches in the mouth)
• Delayed healing in the mouth
• Implant failure
• Increased risk of oral cancer
Now you might be wondering if pipe smoking or chewing tobacco has the same effect. Well, the answer is yes. According to results of a 23-year long study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, cigar smokers experience tooth loss and bone loss (within the jawbone that anchors teeth) equivalent to those of cigarette smokers. Pipe smokers also have a similar risk of tooth loss as cigarette smokers. Smokeless tobacco products contain 28 or more chemicals that have been shown to increase the risk of oral cancer as well as cancer of the throat and esophagus. Chewing tobacco contains higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes, making it harder to quit.
Smoking and other tobacco products cause more than just bad breath. It also leads to gum disease, by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. More specifically, smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. This makes smokers more susceptible to infections, like periodontal disease, and also seems to impair blood flow to the gums, which may affect the natural healing process of the mouth.
Tobacco products have also been known irritate your gum tissue, causing it to recede or pull away from your teeth. Once the gum tissue recedes, your teeth roots become exposed, and create an increased risk of tooth decay. Exposed roots are also more sensitive to hot and cold or other irritants, making eating and drinking uncomfortable.
Now that you know some of the other problems associated with smoking and other tobacco products we hope that this information might help you on your road to quitting.

1.      Fluoride. This is the most important ingredient to look for. The great are thing about toothpaste today is that there are so many different kinds, many of which contain fluoride.

1. Consider your needs and the needs of your family members. As long as you select a toothpaste that contains fluoride, the rest is a matter of personal choice. If you’re live an all-natural lifestyle, you may want to go with a toothpaste that contains only natural ingredients. For people with children, why not choose fruit-flavored toothpastes with sparkles to encourage them to brush their teeth? Some people want whiteness while others like a clean feeling and may choose a toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.

The Facts:

Fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally. In the past 50 years, it has lead to a dramatic drop in tooth decay and cavities. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acids that are released from eating and drinking. It does this in two ways. First, by making your tooth enamel stronger and second, it can help reverse the early stages of acid damage by remineralizing the decaying areas.

Tartar Control toothpaste

Everyone has a layer of bacteria on their teeth, this is called plaque. If plaque isn’t removed quickly, it hardens into tartar. It is extremely hard to remove and can build up on your teeth and under your gums, ultimately leading to gum disease. Many tartar control toothpastes contain an antibiotic which kills some of the bacteria in the mouth.

Toothpastes for sensitive teeth

For people who have teeth that experience sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures — they make toothpastes that are specially formulated for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These ingredients, reduce tooth sensitivity by blocking pathways through the teeth that attach to nerves.

Whitening toothpaste

There are many whitening toothpastes on the shelves for everyday use. Most over the counter whitening toothpastes do not usually contain bleaches. Instead, they use abrasive particles or chemicals that polish the teeth or attach themselves to stains to help pull them off the tooth surface. You might be concerned that the abrasiveness of whitening toothpaste could damage your teeth, however studies show that whitening toothpastes are no harder on tooth enamel than other types of toothpaste.

Odor Control toothpaste

Some toothpastes focus on malodor. They use a mix of ingredients that neutralize the odor causing bacteria leaving your mouth clean and your breath fresh. It is important to brush at least twice a day to maintain freshness also another tip for fighting oral malodor is to brush your tongue. They have special devices designed to scrape the tongue, many toothbrushes even have built in ones on the back of the brush head, or you can just use your regular tooth brush.

The great are thing about toothpaste today is that there are so many different kinds, many of which contain fluoride. So you don’t have to pick and chose what you want in toothpaste, you can have it all! So come check out our stock at Smile Warehouse today!

We all know that brushing your teeth is important, but what happens when you are doing it wrong? Can you do it wrong? Well, the answer is yes. There are actually a few different ways this can happen. The first way is over brushing. That’s right, over brushing. Another way that you can damage your teeth is by brushing too hard. Both of these actions can have a serious impact on your overall dental health.

If you visit the dentist regularly, your provider will be able to notice the signs rather easily and point it out to you. Some of the symptoms include:

·         The bristles on your toothbrush become frayed quickly.

·         Increased tooth sensitivity.

·         Receding gums.

·         Bleeding.

·         Exposed dentin.

When you over brush and or brush too hard, it can cause your enamel to wear down and affect your gums. The regular acids in beverages and food add to these problems, causing the teeth to deteriorate quicker. Surveys are also showing that certain toothpastes, mouth rinses, whitening products, broken and or cracked teeth, and different diseases like acid reflux and bulimia are also contributors to tooth sensitivity.

Since prevention is the best medicine, there are a number of precautions one can take to brush properly and protect their teeth on any kind of budget.

·         Use a soft or extra soft toothbrush. Look for the American Dental Association seal of approval.

·         Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, brush gently, in a circular motion, and hold the toothbrush in your fingertips — not in the palm of your hand.

·         Use an electric toothbrush with a timer. Most have that feature to ensure that you brush for the recommended brushing time, which is two minutes.

·         Practice good oral hygiene, which means flossing regularly and brushing at least twice a day.

·         Avoid acidic foods and drinks (like soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and citrus foods).

·         Some electric toothbrushes have indicators that will alert you when you are brushing too hard.

If you are wondering about the correct technique for brushing, here are 3 simple steps to remember.

1.       Place your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. Applying gentle pressure, move the bristles in a small circular motion, carefully guiding the brush along the gum line. A 45-degree angle may be achieved on the inside of the upper and lower teeth by placing the brush straight into the mouth, on the inside gum line.

2.       Maintain the same angle on the inside gum line of the back teeth.

3.       Brush the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

Lastly, make sure to replace your toothbrush at least every 3-4 months.

UV light is constantly getting a bad rap but more and more researchers are finding a way to harness the light source and put it to good use.

Did you know more than 10,000,000 bacteria have been found living on a single toothbrush?

Did you also know that the viruses that cause, colds, fever blister, and the flu can survive days on a tooth brush?

More and more oral health has been linked to overall health, such as gum disease, heart disease, diabetes, and strokes.  We have also recently learned that tooth decay is caused by the harmful bacteria that can be found living on toothbrushes. This is why Violight has created the ultimate line of UV sanitizers clinically proven to kill 99% of bacteria and germs that live on your toothbrush! It is a fast, easy, and chemically safe way to clean your tooth brush. What makes Violight so special is that they use a special germicidal UV Light bulb, which is the same technology used to kill germs in hospitals.

We carry four of Violight’s innovative products The Dental Spa, The Counter Unit, iZap, and Zapi. These great gadgets not only kill germs and bacteria that can grow on your toothbrush, but they are also stylish and compact. This makes them great for any health conscious traveler on the go.

The Dental Spa is great for cleaning and sanitizing dentures, invisible braces, mouth guards, retainers and whitening trays!  Say good bye to scrubbing because the Dental Spa helps you eliminate stains and food particles in as little as five minutes a day and is easy to use with its one touch button and automatic shut off.

The Counter Toothbrush Sanitizer that holds up to four toothbrushes and is great for the whole family! Like the Dental Spa it kills up to 99% of all harmful germs and bacteria like Streptococcus, e.coli, and salmonella. It has an attractive design and shape that will compliment any bathroom decor and will fully clean your toothbrush heads as well as electric tooth brush heads in as little as ten minutes. This unit also has the auto shut off feature for easy use.

The iZap is for a single toothbrush and is great for travel or everyday adventures. With its compact design, it is small enough to go with you anywhere: your purse, briefcase, overnight bag, etc. And it even comes with a free toothbrush!

Lastly, we have the Zapi. This egg shaped counter unit also includes a free toothbrush and is great if you don’t have a ton of space but want to keep those pesky germs at bay.

So order yours today!

You may think your children are the only ones that you have to force and bribe to brush their teeth twice a day; but I don’t think you are alone. It is such a hassle, even for ourselves, who know about oral hygiene, to brush all the time. But now, we can worry less about whether or not our children are telling the truth about brushing, because they really will want to with the new Sonicare Electric toothbrush for Kids! 

            Why is it important to get our kids started on an electric toothbrush? You may be asking yourself this question because we all grew up with good old manual brushes right? Clinical studies done by the research team at Sonicare have shown that an electric toothbrush can remove up to 50% more plaque than a non electric toothbrush. This is great because with the attention span most kids have, this extra plaque is probably left to sit on their teeth, which leads to further decay.

             This new Sonicare for Kids uses the same patented technology as with the Sonicare you may be using yourself. Except Kid’s Sonicare has kept the idea of “kid-friendly” in mind when designing every feature. First, what kid wouldn’t want to use a brush that is colorful and looks like a toy? It comes with three different interchangeable face plates to allow your child to let their toothbrush be as individual as they are. The brush includes safe power modes to protect the gums of our young ones, and even lets the kids know when they have brushed for the recommended two minutes. The great thing about the brushing timer is it gradually increases the time to work up to the recommended two minutes over a 90 day period. It also alerts them through song when it is time to move onto the next quadrant of the mouth to ensure an all over clean. This new brush is designed especially for children ages 4-10 years old and even comes with two different sized brush heads, specific to the age group. It has an anti-roll brush design so that the tooth paste won’t roll of your child’s brush as well as a multi aerodynamic brush handle that will easily allow you and your child to brush together or on their own.

You should strongly think about getting your child started on this electric toothbrush. It will not only benefit them now, but will implement efficient brushing habits to last them a lifetime. Think about the advantages kids using this electric toothbrush will have. Less dental work for you to pay for and less dental work for them to pay for later in life will be the outcome.

Sugar plays a significant role in tooth decay and enamel destruction. The mouth contains a great number and wide variety of bacteria, which coats the surface of the mouth. Some intraoral bacteria form lactic acid, which decreases the pH in the mouth. This is when the hydroxylapatite crystals of enamel demineralize. When that happens, it allows a greater bacterial invasion to sink deeper into the tooth. Tooth morphology shows that the most common place for dental caries to develop is in the deep grooves, pits, and fissures of enamel. This is because these places are impossible to reach with a toothbrush and let the bacteria live there. As the enamel continues to demineralize, it becomes unable to prevent the takeover of bacteria, and then the underlying dentin becomes affected too. When dentin is destroyed by decay, the enamel can no longer compensate for its brittleness and breaks away from the tooth easily.

But now restoring your teeth’s enamel has never been easier thanks to MI Paste and MI Paste Plus. MI Paste is an all water-based and sugar-free crème that contains Recaldent, which infuses calcium and phosphate with a natural milk protein that attaches to dental plaque. The plaque that forms on teeth can cause decay and tooth loss, allowing bacteria from food and drinks to produce acid that stays in the mouth and eats away at tooth enamel in a process known as demineralization. Now with this great product it’s possible to help restore the enamel that has been lost or damaged through decay.

Demineralization is a natural process that can occur from taking medications that cause dry mouth, drinking too many acidic drinks like coffee and soda, poor oral hygiene habits, and/or stress. Over time these things break down the enamel and cause teeth to decay. MI Paste not only helps restore the enamel lost during demineralization, but also helps with dry mouth, tooth sensitivity, white spots and other oral health problems. It strengthens and remineralizes leaving you with stronger, healthier, and glossier teeth by helping maintain a normal pH level in the mouth. Who can use MI Paste you ask? Almost everyone, it is even safe to use while pregnant, breastfeeding, and on children ages six and up. This revolutionary dental product helps keep the mouth lubricated so plaque has a harder time sticking to the teeth and provides essential minerals while helping restore the natural enamel. And for an extra boost there is MI Paste Plus, which also contains fluoride that will help fight against cavities.

MI Paste’s application is simple. You just brush your teeth regularly and apply the paste on the tooth’s surface, then let it set for three to five minutes. MI paste can even be applied into your custom trays. Within two to three months you will see and feel a difference in your overall oral health. It also comes in five tasty flavors, melon, mint, strawberry, tutti-fruitti, and vanilla and is available now at Smile Warehouse! We also carry a few other enamel boosting products such as Sensodyne ProNamel toothpaste for adults as well as children, Nite and Day White with ACP, which also contain enamel restoring agents. Making it possible to brush, condition, and whiten your teeth while repairing them. Swing by Smile ware house today and order yours now!