Back To School Teeth Whitening Tips for College Students and Teens

by Dr. Martin Giniger

It's that time of year for college students or teens finalizing their lists of back-to-school “needs.”  From shopping for school supplies, to picking out that perfect first day outfit, college age students around the country are anxiously awaiting the start of school. If you want your teeth to shine in the school dorms and study halls follow these dos and don'ts from Dr. Martin Giniger, and get ready for your best semester ever:

1. Use Power Swabs intensive 7-Day whitening system in the week leading up to the start of school. You will see a noticeable difference after just 5 minute application. After you’ve finished your week-long regimen, keep your smile white and healthy by using the Power Swabs Maintenance Swabs once a week.

2. Drink dark liquids through a straw and swallow right away, instead of swishing the liquid around in your mouth. You can also use the Power Swabs Quick Stick Stain Remover Pens to keep you teeth as stain-free as possible.

3. Wear bluish-red lipstick or gloss, rather than coral or brown. It will make your teeth look whiter.

4. Be sure to eat lots of crunchy fruits and veggies. They're super healthy, and they help remove stains from your teeth.

5. Carry Power Swabs Quick Stick Stain Remover and Power Swabs Tooth Gloss in your school bag for a quick brush up after lunch!

6. Don’t whiten your teeth if you have untreated broken teeth, cavities, or any other dental issues. This can lead to teeth sensitivity and other health problems.  Visit your dental professional and get your teeth fixed before whitening. The great news is that Power Swabs whitens teeth without any sensitivity, so it the best choice for college students with sensitive teeth.

7. And, of course, always remember, no smoking!

Information You Need to Know About Dental Bonding And Veneers and How To Care For Them

by Dr. Martin Giniger

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 60% of young adults age 20 to 34 have fillings in their teeth, and about half of that are fillings in the front smile teeth. When teeth in the front of your mouth become damaged or decayed, they are repaired with either dental bonding or veneers. 

Dental bonding is a tooth colored (composite) resin material that is light activated and can be placed in one visit. 

Porcelain veneers can mask dark stains better with a more durable porcelain material. They are very thin veneers of porcelain that are bonded to your teeth but they take at least two visits to complete.

Many young adults may find that keeping these aesthetic dental restorations white and beautiful to be challenging. This is especially true because no one really talks about this subject for fear of embarrassment. However you should know that although these bonding and veneers can serve you for many years, they do have limitations that you should keep in mind. One thing to remember is that these dental materials can become stained and discolored over time. Coffee, tea, red wine, and cigarette smoke can stain the material used in dental bonding, making it stand out from the rest of your teeth. To minimize staining, you’ll need to avoid these substances for 24 to 48 hours after the placement of these restorations are first performed. If you’re a smoker, you can especially be sure that the fillings and veneers will yellow from exposure to cigarette smoke.

Maintenance of Dental Bonding and Veneers
Because dental bonding and veneers are susceptible to staining and chipping, special care is required to keep your teeth looking natural. Here are some tips to keep your dental bonding in tip-top shape:

• Cut down on coffee, tea, and red wine.
• If you’re a smoker, this is a good reason to quit — not to mention that smoking also increases your risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
• Since these restorations can chip easily, avoid biting your nails or chewing on hard objects, such as ice, pencils, and raw carrots.
• If your dental bonding and veneers are stained, you should use Power Swabs® to restore their original color.

Teeth whitening with Power Swabs is a great way to instantly enhance your appearance. You will actually see a 2 shade improvement after the very first time that you use it. You should also be aware that recent studies have shown that people with brighter, whiter teeth look younger and have a higher level of confidence. Power Swabs are also very convenient to carry and use anywhere and on-the-go.  A bright, white smile is a major confidence-booster, so keep those bondings and veneers white and beautiful and you will look and feel your best!

New Advances in Pain-Free Dentistry

by Dr. Martin Giniger

Dentistry has always led in the field of anesthesia and pain control. In 1846, Dr. William Morton was the first doctor ever to extract a tooth using “ether” as a general anesthetic. Since then, pain control has come a long way. Before this new method of general anesthesia existed, people would routinely undergo surgery until they lost consciousness from the pain. Happily, today's methods of anesthesia are very effective. So you can thank dentists and dentistry for making all modern surgery possible.

Recently new dental research has focused on giving local anesthetics without needles. These systems aren’t in widespread use yet, but they are promising. One system consists of a patch applied to the gum. The patch contains a local anesthetic. The drug enters the skin directly. After the patch is removed, a dentist can give a virtually painless injection at that spot or perform certain dental procedures without having to give an injection. This can be useful for a small filling or a deep cleaning of the gums.

Another brand new method for delivering pain control is known as "the wand." It uses a computer-controlled delivery system. The source of most discomfort from local anesthesia injections is not the needle. It is the flow of the anesthetic into the tissues of the mouth. The wand controls the flow. This allows the correct amount of anesthetic to be delivered at a painless rate.

Besides local anesthesia, various new medicines have recently been developed used to reduce anxiety. These medicines are useful for people who are fearful or anxious. Sedative drugs may reduce anxiety and fear so that people can have dental treatment. They also can cause short-term memory loss, so people don't remember most of the procedure. Sedatives come in various forms. Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas (commonly called "laughing gas"). Some sedatives may come in pill or liquid form. Others are intravenous medicines, meaning they are injected into a vein.

One other great advancement in pain-free dentistry is the invention of Power Swabs! Power Swabs is the only teeth whitening system capable of delivering true tooth whitening and cleaning for all dental surfaces (yes even caps, crowns, veneers and dental bonding) with absolutely no associated teeth sensitivity or pain.  This is a significant advancement in dental care and oral health, considering that prior to the invention of Power Swabs, most people could not whiten their teeth because it involved too much pain.

Power Swabs is designed to be the world’s most advanced teeth whitening system. Even though it contains whitening agents similar to whitener strips, white strips and whitening trays, only Power Swabs clean teeth and remove the plaque using swabs that are rubbed again the enamel to keep your white smile as beautiful and clean as possible. And because only Power Swabs contain a natural tooth detergent derived from coconut oil and other ingredients that and hydrate teeth enamel, they also have the advantage of working without tooth sensitivity. Considering how many people want to whiten their teeth without pain or sensitivity, Power Swabs may be one of dentistry’s great new pain-free achievements.