Waterford Family Dental Care

Why You Should Smile EVERY DAY!

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Why You Should Smile EVERY DAY!

Your smile is your best accessory! Sure, there are days when you don’t feel like smiling, but even a fake smile can make you feel and look better. Best of all, it can make those around you feel like a million bucks. When you’re feeling frowny, just remember the following reasons why you should smile every day:

 

Smiling Is Contagious

Louis Armstrong said it best: “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.” Want a challange? Try to NOT smile at someone who smiles at you. Smiling makes others feel happy and valued. Another perk? A genuine smile can disarm even the most hostile person. In almost any situation, a smile will make others around you do the same.

 

Smiling Makes You Feel Good

Here’s another challenge: Simultaneously try to smile and feel miserable. It’s simply not going to happen! Not that smiling is the cure to everything, but even a fake smile will get those neurotransmitters going and make you feel good. Smiling stimulates the production of serotonin and other endorphins that ward off depression. The next time you’re feeling blue, try smiling!

 

Smiling Is Good For Your Body

In a 2012 study at the University of Kansas, researchers found that smiling influences the body’s ability to recover from stress. Under stress-inducing stimuli, the heart rates of those who smiled recovered faster than those who didn’t. Smiling also retrains your brain. Each time you smile, your brain tracks the activity; as the activity becomes habitual, your brain “rewires” itself to form more positive thought patterns than negative.

 

Smiling Makes You Successful

Okay…there is no guarantee that it will make you successful, but it will create the perception that you are successful – and that’s half the battle. People who smile are often more productive and more creative; both traits lead to enhance problem-solving abilities. Those who can deal with conflict and resolve it with a smile are more likely to be recognized as successful by others.

 

Smiling Makes You Look Good

For some, this may be the single most important reason to smile. When you smile, the corners of your mouth lift, your cheeks lift, your jaw (or jowls, in some cases) lift – all of which make you look vibrant and youthful. If your smile is genuine, then the corners of your eyes lift, as well. Smiling simply makes you look kind, pleasant, and approachable.

 

What’s keeping you from smiling? If you don’t have the smile you desire, Waterford Family Dental Care can help. From Invisalign to implants, we can give you a smile that you’re happy to share with the world. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Doctor Spotlight: Dr. David Kamen

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Doctor Spotlight: Dr. David Kamen

At Waterford Family Dental Care, we do everything we can to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. For us, that starts with the people we bring on board to join our team of experts. Today we shine a spotlight on one of our favorites, Dr. David Kamen.

Dr. Kamen joined the Waterford team in 2012. His interest in dentistry began as a patient; as Dr. Kamen puts it, “I was on the receiving end of a lot of dentistry, which got me interested in it.” His favorite part of being a dentist is seeing a patient’s reaction to their new look. The best part is “creating a new smile and look that brings tears to a person’s eyes,” he said. His patient-centered attitude is exactly why we love having him on our team.

While you only know Dr. Kamen as your dentist, he has a full life outside of the office. He enjoys listening to comedy, music, and even motivational speakers. He also plays ice hockey and exercises when he can. If he ever gets a break from his busy life, he would like to travel to Thailand.

Regardless of how he spends his time, Dr. Kamen is there for his patients around the clock. He offers the following words of wisdom to the patients of Waterford Family Dental Care: “Learn to clean your mouth well so you can keep your own teeth!”

Dr. Kamen is just one of the people who make our office so great. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with him or Dr. Shlom, contact our office today. We know the experience you have at Waterford Family Dental Care will bring a smile to your face.

The Trouble With Tailgating

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The Trouble With Tailgating

It’s football season, sports fans, which means that there is inevitably a tailgate in your future (or at the very least, a watch party in a sports bar or the home of a friend). Tailgates and parties are a great way for like-minded friends and families to support their favorite teams, enjoy each other’s company, and chow down on some tasty-but-not-so-healthy foods. At Waterford Family Dental Care, we want to make sure you’re informed about how your favorite tailgating foods affect your teeth and provide you with alternatives to protect your smile.

Party Fouls

There are definitely some foods that are worse for your teeth than others, and we’re not just talking about Halloween candy. To protect your smile, enjoy these treats in moderation:

  • Starchy Foods — Potato chips, hamburger buns, and crackers all tend to get stuck in your teeth. There, they act just like sugar and feed the plaque bacteria that leads to tooth decay.
  • Acidic Foods and Drinks — Soda is one of the worst culprits when it comes to harming your teeth. Even if you drink sugar-free soft drinks, they are loaded with acids that can damage your enamel. It gets worse: Those chicken wings you love also contain acids.
  • Alcohol — Not only does every kind of alcohol contain acids, it also dehydrates you. When you’re dehydrated, your mouth produces less saliva; without saliva to naturally clean your teeth, food particles tend to stick around where they can harm your teeth.

Touchdown!

As alternatives to the aforementioned foods, try to enjoy more of these treats at your next sports soiree:

  • Raw Fruits and Veggies — These foods tend to clean your teeth as you chew, removing some of the plaque that hangs out on your teeth. They also put your digestive system into full gear, including saliva production.
  • Dairy Products — Not only does dairy contain calcium, which strengthens your teeth and bones, it also encourages the production of saliva. If your tailgating treats include a cheese tray and maybe a yogurt-based veggie dip, your teeth and companions will thank you.
  • Water — When saliva is scarce, water is your best friend. Not only does it help to remove debris from your teeth, it also keeps you hydrated. Follow every alcoholic beverage or soda with water to keep the saliva flowing and avoid the ill-effects of the acids found in alcohol and other carbonated beverages.

Whether you support the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, or Pistons, we want you to enjoy your favorite sporting events. Enjoy all things in moderation; if you have any tailgating-related dental concerns, we’ll be here for you. Contact our office to schedule an appointment. We proudly treat fans of all teams in Waterford, Michigan, and beyond.

What Inquiring Minds Want to Know About Porcelain Veneers

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What Inquiring Minds Want to Know About Porcelain Veneers

Have you been considering restoring your smile with porcelain veneers? But, you’re hesitant to proceed with treatment because you don’t understand the process. You have so many questions. Will it work for me? How do they stay on my teeth? It’s okay, I’ve got the answers.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that cover the front surface of your teeth. Veneers allow you to change the shape, color, and size of your teeth. Veneers are stain-resistant and aesthetically pleasing.

Tooth Conditions That Can Benefit From Veneers:

  • Discolored teeth that can’t be whitened
  • Worn, chipped, or broken teeth
  • Uneven, slightly misaligned, or irregularly shaped teeth
  • Teeth with gaps between them

What to Expect When You Get Veneers

Consultation — At your consultation, your teeth will be examined. We will review your x-rays and possibly make impressions of your teeth. You’ll explain to the dentist the results you want to achieve.The dentist takes all of this information to make sure that veneers are appropriate for your needs.You’ll be educated about the procedure and the dentist will plan your treatment.

Preparation — We will remove a small amount of tooth enamel. This is necessary to prepare your tooth for placement of the veneer. Then, impressions are sent to the laboratory along with your tooth shade to make your veneer. Generally, it takes two to four weeks to receive your veneers back from the lab.

Bonding — We will examine and adjust the veneer to get a proper fit and color. To prepare your tooth for bonding of the veneer, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched. Etching roughens the tooth surface to prepare for cementation. Cement is applied to the veneer and placed on your tooth. A special light helps the cement harden. Then adjustments are made.

You may need to return for follow-up in a couple weeks to check your gums and the position of the veneer. Porcelain veneers usually last seven to 15 years with proper care. Follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once daily.

For your smile,

Dr. Shlom

Make Dentistry Kid-Friendly

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Make Dentistry Kid-Friendly

At Waterford Family Dental Care, we treat patients of all ages. From infants to octogenarians, we know exactly what each patient needs. When it comes to your kids, though, no one knows them better than you, which is why it’s so important that you play an active role in helping your little one have a positive relationship with dentistry. Fear of the dentist starts early, so the time to take action is NOW! Here are a few tips to help your child be comfortable with visits to the dentist and all other aspects of dental health:

  1. Bring your child to your dental appointments. They can help “count your teeth,” see the fun chair, and become familiar with the tools of the trade. If you make it more of a field trip than a chore, they’ll start to look forward to visits to the dentist.
  2. Make dentistry part of play. You can read books about going to the dentist, take dolls to imaginary dental appointments, and even make up stories. Not only will this help your child feel comfortable at the dentist, it gives you the opportunity to create memories together, as well.
  3. Model good dental health. Your child will be more likely to take care of their teeth if they see you doing the same. Brush and floss together so your little one knows teeth are important. That also gives you a chance to make sure they’re using the correct techniques.
  4. Reward good behavior at the dentist. This will give your child something to look forward to as they lean back in the chair for their cleaning and exam and further promote positive associations with dentistry.

If you’re in the Waterford, Michigan area and would like to bring your child (or yourself) in for an appointment with our caring team members, contact our office today. We love all of our patients, both young and old!

Waterford Family Dental Care
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