Our cosmetic dentists offer patients, young and old, excellent general, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments, including dental crowns, composite fillings, and dental implants. We are especially proud to offer the Invisalign® teeth straightening system, Zoom!® teeth whitening and LUMINEERS® porcelain veneers. These treatments can beautifully remedy cooked, stained or flawed teeth. https://images.plurk.com/2jaxiyizMdKFwkQtY7kvcC.jpg

SMILE !!

Basic dental care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a mouth-healthy diet, which means foods high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and dairy products. https://images.plurk.com/5YPjdz7ODH8vPolsg2KZ5n.jpg

Keep Smiling!!

Give yourself a big hug!

Keep calm and keep on brushing!

Dr. Shrager & Associates Serving Central Florida With a Walk-In, One Stop Dental Experience!

At Orange Dental Associates, Dr. Joe Shrager and our entire team believe strongly in offering all our patients superior care and an unmatched standard of personal attention. Our entire dental staff is committed to treating each patient in as complete and customized a manner as possible.

Our cosmetic dentists – serving Orlando, Kissimmee and Central Florida patients – offer general and restorative dental treatments, including dental crowns, composite fillings, and dental implants. We are especially proud to offer the Invisalign® teeth straightening system, Zoom!® teeth whitening and LUMINEERS® porcelain veneers. These treatments can beautifully remedy cooked, stained or flawed teeth. Indeed, we can dramatically improve the appearance and health of your smile.

To learn more about how you can achieve a smile makeover, contact a cosmetic dentist at Orange Dental Associates’ Orlando office today. We can help you obtain the brilliant smile that you deserve.

Preventing Tooth Decay in Children

Take the following steps to prevent tooth decay:

• Take good care of your own oral health.
• Take good care of your baby's teeth.
• Birth to 12 months. Keep your baby's mouth clean by gently wiping the gums with a clean baby washcloth. 
  After the first tooth appears, ask your child’s doctor if your baby is getting enough fluoride. Use a just a smear of fluoride toothpaste (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice).
• 12 to 24 months. Brush your child's teeth at least 2 times a day. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste on the brush (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice). The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bed. Since the fluoride found in toothpaste is clearly meant to be swished but not swallowed, make sure to help or watch the child while brushing. When she is old enough, tell her to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.​
• Never put your child to bed with a bottle or food. Not only does this expose your child's teeth to sugars, it can also put your child at risk for ear infections and choking.
• Give your child a bottle only during meals. Do not use a bottle or sippy cup as a pacifier or let your child walk around with or drink from them for long periods.
• Check to see if your water is fluoridated. If your tap water comes from a well, your child's doctor or dentist may want to have a water sample tested for natural fluoride content. If your tap water does not have enough fluoride, your child's doctor or dentist will prescribe an appropriate fluoride supplement if your child is at increased risk for tooth decay.
• Teach your child to drink from a regular cup as soon as possible, preferably by 12 to 15 months of age. Drinking from a cup is less likely to cause the liquid to collect around the teeth. Also, a cup cannot be taken to bed.
• If your child must have a bottle or sippy cup for long periods, fill it with water only. During car rides, offer only water if your child is thirsty.
• Don't let your child eat sweet or sticky foods, like candy, gummies, cookies, or fruit roll-ups. There is sugar in foods like crackers and chips too. These foods are especially bad if your child snacks on them a lot. They should only be eaten at mealtime. Teach your child to use his or her tongue to clean food immediately off the teeth.
• Serve juice only during meals and limit it to 4 to 6 ounces per day. Also, juice is not recommended for babies younger than 6 months.
• Make an appointment to have your child see the dentist before age 1 if you have any concerns, see any problems, or need more information.

 http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/Preventing-Tooth-Decay-in-Children.aspx

Invisalign® Teeth Straightening System

Invisalign® is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment system that works to straighten teeth through the use of a series of virtually unperceivable aligners. Invisalign® clear braces eliminate the metallic smile that is characteristic of traditional orthodontic braces.
Treatment consists of a series of aligners, switched out about every two weeks. Each aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place. And since your Invisalign® system is custom-made for your teeth and your teeth only, with a plan devised by you and your dentist or orthodontist, you know you’ll end up with a smile that truly fits.

Benefits of Invisalign®

The most obvious benefit of orthodontic treatment with Invisalign® is that patients can straighten their teeth without anyone knowing. Most adults would rather live with crooked teeth than spend two or more years with unsightly metal braces.
The Invisalign® system also boasts improved hygiene over traditional braces. Because the aligners are removable, patients can brush and floss as they normally would. Food and drink choices are less restrictive, as well. If patients wish to eat sticky candy or drink soda, they can simply remove their aligners and enjoy.

Is Invisalign® for Me?

Invisalign® treatment can help to correct a broad range of dental and orthodontic issues. Several common issues below that an experienced Invisalign® doctor can work with you to correct include:

• Overly crowded teeth
• Widely spaced teeth
• Crossbite
• Overbite
• Underbite

Smile More, Feel More Confident

A white smile doesn’t just indicate healthy teeth and gums; your dental health also plays a significant role in how confident you feel. Think about it -- if you’re self conscious about your smile you’re not going to feel very good about interacting with others. With that in mind, we turned to psychologist Ann Demarais, Ph.D., and dental hygienist Kristy Menage Bernie, to get the scoop on why having a great smile matters – and how to get your pearly whites looking their brightest.

Great smile = confidence

Research shows that the better you feel about your looks, the better you feel about yourself, explains Demarais. "When your teeth look white and sparkly, you can relax, be in the moment and laugh. You are more confident and radiant," she says, adding that the mere act of putting your mouth in the shape of a smile changes the blood flow to the brain and actually makes you feel happier. The fact that smiling itself boosts your mood has a further positive impact because smiling has a contagious effect. "When you smile, others are more likely to smile back, and are more drawn to you, thereby increasing your confidence and happiness even more."

Smiles and perception

You might not realize it but whether or not you're smiling can have a significant impact how others perceive you. Having a radiant smile sends a huge positive message to those around you, Demarais explains. It tells people that you are happy to be in their presence, and it creates an optimistic feeling in others. When you smile, people are more likely to assume you have positive qualities -- they perceive you as more sociable, trustworthy and intelligent, compared to when you aren't smiling. So whether you're at a party, in a job interview or simply walking down the street, the fact that you're smiling will work to your advantage.

Poor smile confidence

Being unhappy with your smile usually means you don't do it very often – which means you aren't reaping the benefits outlined above. People who avoid smiling usually do so because they are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth. They may feel that their teeth aren't as white as they'd like, or that their teeth have lost their youthful sheen, which can make them feel ashamed about the appearance of their smile. When this happens people fall out of the habit of smiling or they do a closed-lip grin, which comes across as awkward or not genuine. "Most people are not aware of how important a smile is in how others perceive them or in how they feel about themselves," says Demarais.

Best whitening options

There are really only two options for optimal, long-lasting tooth whitening – and both are achieved by seeing a dental professional, explains Bernie. The two options are in-office whitening with a light (such as Zoom!) or laser treatment, or professionally dispensed whitening gels for use in custom trays. It is critical to consult a dental professional before any whitening process, for a few reasons. Whitening agents can only work when external stains, plaque and tartar have been thoroughly removed (which your hygienist can do), and a visit to your dental hygienist and an examination by your dentist will assure that your teeth and gums are healthy, as well as provide you the best options to whiten your smile.

Daily smile care

Research has shown that using sonic power toothbrushes can maintain whitening results and keep surface staining from forming, Bernie says. And it turns out we need all the help we can get. Studies have confirmed that we tend to spend 24 to 60 seconds on our oral hygiene and a mere 10 to 20 percent of us floss regularly and effectively. "With those statistics, it is clear that power brushes will dramatically improve daily plaque removal," she says.
It's also important to avoid habits that will stain your teeth such as tobacco use and consumption of coffee, cola or other foods and liquids that cause the teeth to pick up stain. Bernie also stresses the importance of routine visits to your dental hygienist to remove hard tartar or stains, which will ensure that you not only have a white smile but also a healthy smile. Your hygienist will also be able to recommend an optimal whitening option for you.
http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/838185/a-healthy-smile-means-healthy-self-esteem

How much FLUORIDE should your child get?

Tooth Friendly Drinks

Most kids can’t resist a cold can of sparkling drink; and the occasional one isn’t going to do too much harm. However, most kids drink more than the occasional can of soft drink and what’s more, they drink it throughout the day, which makes it more damaging.

Drinking soft drinks, sports drinks and even fruit juice coats your mouth with sugar for bacteria to feed on and produce acid that attacks tooth enamel.

Limiting these acid plaque attacks during the day is a great way to give your teeth a break. This means only drinking these drinks at meal times when your saliva is working at its hardest to wash away food particles and bacteria. Or, better still, drinking tap water which not only rinses out your mouth, but doesn’t contain any acid and, in many parts of Australia, has the added benefit of containing fluoride.
Teach Your Child Tooth-Friendly Eating and Drinking

Remember these simple guidelines and maybe even choose a day to devote to tooth-friendly eating and drinking.

•     Cut out all snack foods between meals. If your child has to have a snack to keep them going before dinner, make sure they eat only foods that will be kind to their teeth like cheese, nuts or fruit and get them to wash it down with a glass of water immediately after eating. Acid plaque attacks can last up to 20 minutes after you’ve eaten (even if you’ve just had a nibble). The more times you eat during the day the longer your teeth are going to be exposed to acid plaque.
•     Also try and cut out all fizzy, sugary and sports drinks, at least between meals during the day. Even better, try and cut them out completely and drink tap water instead.
•     Only eat sweet things at the end of a meal when your saliva is working at its best to wash away food particles and bacteria. Better still, stick to cheese or fruit after a meal.
•     After every meal wash food down with water (not sugary carbonated or sports drinks) and chew sugar free gum for 10 minutes to stimulate saliva flow. All this will help to quickly get rid of food particles and bacteria instead of allowing them to sit there causing damage to teeth.

- See more at: http://www.dentalhealthweek.com.au/Parents/Kids/tooth-friendly-drinks.html#sthash.Ejv3edZS.dpuf

Most kids can’t resist a cold can of sparkling drink; and the occasional one isn’t going to do too much harm. However, most kids drink more than the occasional can of soft drink and what’s more, they drink it throughout the day, which makes it more damaging.
Drinking soft drinks, sports drinks and even fruit juice coats your mouth with sugar for bacteria to feed on and produce acid that attacks tooth enamel.
Limiting these acid plaque attacks during the day is a great way to give your teeth a break. This means only drinking these drinks at meal times when your saliva is working at its hardest to wash away food particles and bacteria. Or, better still, drinking tap water which not only rinses out your mouth, but doesn’t contain any acid and, in many parts of Australia, has the added benefit of containing fluoride.

Teach Your Child Tooth-Friendly Eating and Drinking

Remember these simple guidelines and maybe even choose a day to devote to tooth-friendly eating and drinking.

• Cut out all snack foods between meals. If your child has to have a snack to keep them going before dinner, make sure they eat only foods that will be kind to their teeth like cheese, nuts or fruit and get them to wash it down with a glass of water immediately after eating. Acid plaque attacks can last up to 20 minutes after you’ve eaten (even if you’ve just had a nibble). The more times you eat during the day the longer your teeth are going to be exposed to acid plaque.
• Also try and cut out all fizzy, sugary and sports drinks, at least between meals during the day. Even better, try and cut them out completely and drink tap water instead.
• Only eat sweet things at the end of a meal when your saliva is working at its best to wash away food particles and bacteria. Better still, stick to cheese or fruit after a meal.
• After every meal wash food down with water (not sugary carbonated or sports drinks) and chew sugar free gum for 10 minutes to stimulate saliva flow. All this will help to quickly get rid of food particles and bacteria instead of allowing them to sit there causing damage to teeth.

- See more at: http://www.dentalhealthweek.com.au/Parents/Kids/tooth-friendly-drinks.html#sthash.Ejv3edZS.dpuf