Author: Dr. Eric Hull

There probably isn’t a dentist in the world who would say eating candy is a good thing. That includes those of us at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

To put it plainly, candy is loaded with sugar. The bacteria in your mouth uses any sugar that comes its way to produce the acids that cause tooth decay.

You’re better off avoiding candy entirely. But we’re realists, and know that is not an easy thing to do. (Most of us here don’t mind the occasional sweet, too!)

The trick, in part, is moderation. It’s also choosing your candy wisely. Some kinds are worse for your teeth than others. (Be sure to read this entire post: there’s a surprise ending!)

THE WORST

The worst types of candy are the sticky ones, like gummi bears, taffy, and even those chewy fruit snacks. They attach to your teeth and stick there, and don’t rinse or brush away very easily.

• Sticky candy can also cause problems with dental work, like fillings and crowns.
• Dried fruit has the same effect. Admittedly, raisins or cranberries have more nutrition than a gummi bear. But they also have a lot of sugar and cling to the teeth.
• Hard candy like lollipops are also really rough on teeth. They’re meant to melt in your mouth, so they’re in there a long time. That’s a sugar bath your teeth definitely don’t need.

SURPRISE!

Here’s the surprise: some candy isn’t all that bad. Chocolate melts quickly and rinses or brushes out easily. We like dark chocolate in particular, because it’s yummy and also tends to have less sugar than milk chocolate. It’s made from cocoa beans, which contain substances that help to harden enamel and even fight bacteria. Just remember to brush and floss!

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we want all our patients to have the best possible dental health, and staying away from candy, especially sticky candy, is always a good strategy. People from Ada, Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to us for Invisalign clear braces, cosmetic dentistry, and family dentistry. Call our office to schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Here’s a suggestion from Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park: when you go to the store for dental products, be sure that what you choose has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

Here are four ways the ADA seal can help you make good oral care choices for you and your family.

1. Products with the seal have to be safe and effective, so you won’t waste your dollars on something that won’t work, or worse, can harm you.
2. The ADA only places its seal on a product after serious scientific testing. This usually means that manufacturers have to meet higher standards than those required by law.
3. When you purchase products with the ADA seal, it’s practically like shopping with us right by your side! Who wouldn’t want that extra knowledge and information?
4. The ADA seal is not the organization’s endorsement of one particular product or another, but a verification of the claims made about that product.

At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we want all our patients to enjoy good dental health, and one of the ways you maintain it is using quality dental care products. People from Ada, Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to us for our Invisalign clear braces, cosmetic dentistry, and family dentistry. Call for an appointment today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Flossing is one of the best things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Doing it is simple enough, but as in most things there is usually room for improvement. At Eric Hull, DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we think trying out different types of floss is a good idea, and can help you do a better job.

The reason flossing is so important is that it removes plaque and food debris from between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. Left on the teeth, plaque hardens  and contributes to tooth decay. The Academy of General Dentistry goes so far as to call flossing the most important thing you can do to fight plaque.

WHAT KIND IS BEST?

When it comes to what dental floss to use, there is a lot to choose from. Flavored or unflavored? Waxed or unwaxed? Wide or thin?

No single type of floss is right for everyone. You might even benefit from having more than one kind in your medicine cabinet. With a little trial and error, you can narrow down your choices to find what works best for you.

Here are some things to bear in mind:

• Waxed floss fits more easily into tight spaces
• Unwaxed floss tends to squeak against clean teeth, an indicator that plaque is gone
• Wider dental tape may work better in gaps between teeth, and on bridgework

We recommend traditional string floss that you can pull out in a long strand, as opposed to a flossing pick. Those little picks are popular, but with only a tight strand of floss it’s all but impossible to wrap any around your teeth – and flossing is far more effective when you do that. The picks fine for when you’re on the go. Just be sure to use regular floss as part of your dental hygiene routine before bedtime.

Whatever your preference, the important thing is to floss at least once each day.

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we like to see you for a checkup every six months. People from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to our office for general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, and much more. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Eric Hull DDS:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

A smile can reflect a good heart and your best intentions. It’s one of your most valuable assets, and at Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we remind you to do whatever you can to protect it.

We’ve drawn up a list of five things we call “smile wreckers.”

• Sports Injuries. Nothing can wreck your smile faster than a knocked-out tooth, and playing sports can really put yours at risk. Even sports we think of as non-contact, like basketball, can get you an accidental elbow to the mouth. We’d never say don’t play; it’s too much fun. But always – repeat, always – wear a mouth guard when you play.
• Ice Chomping. Who isn’t tempted to crunch that ice at the bottom of your cup? There’s no sugar and no calories, so it may seem harmless enough. But biting down on something hard and frozen can chip or crack one or more teeth.
• Too Much Coffee. A lot of people rely on that morning cup to jump start the day. But coffee is a notorious stainer, and can give your teeth an unsightly brown tint. We’re realistic enough to not recommend giving it up. But try to drink some water afterward to rinse out any residue.
• Sticky Candy. First of all, we’ll never say that any candy is okay, since it’s all loaded with cavity-causing sugar. But the stickier the candy, the worse it is for teeth. That’s because, well, it’s sticky, and stays on your teeth a long time. If there’s such a thing as good candy, it’s chocolate. Yes, chocolate! We mean the kind without nuts or a sticky center. It washes off the teeth quickly and easily. (Pro tip: dark chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate.)
• Overbrushing. Yes, it is possible to brush your teeth too hard. We recommend brushing twice a day. But we also recommend a light touch: brushing harder and longer won’t get your teeth any cleaner, and you really can hurt tooth enamel and your gums. Two minutes is enough. Use a soft-bristle brush and replace it every few months.

At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we want you to have the best smile possible, and that means doing everything you can to protect it. Our services include family and restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Patients throughout Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI also love our Invisalign clear braces. Call us to schedule your next checkup today!

Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321