dr tim verwest pediatric dentistry of fort myers

Are You Brushing Too Much?

All you smile lovers out there strive to keep your teeth healthy and bacteria-free, am I right? But how much cleaning is too much cleaning? We have the answers on when to clean, how much to clean, and if you need to lessen your teeth cleaning schedules.

First, lets establish some downfalls of brushing too much:

  1. Over-brushing can cause tooth enamel to wear down, which can cause higher risks of tooth decay
  2. It can cause damage to your gums, exposing the root area
  3. Teeth become more sensitive and prone to cavities when being brushed more than they should

 

So now to avoid these problems, how often should you brush every day? The answer: Two times a day for two minutes each time. Preferably one time in the morning and one time before heading to bed. That’s it! Simple as that. Be sure to use gentle strokes and not vigorously brush off the enamel that acts as a shield for tooth decay. So no worries, you and your smile will have brighter and brighter days yet to come!

Bad Breath, Be Gone!

So how do you keep good smelling breath to stick around longer? We have a few tips to keep you and your mouth smelling fresh throughout the day.

  • Chow down on some veggies! These guys will balance out the bad-breath-causing acid in your body.
  • Consuming hard texture foods like apples and celery are beneficial for rubbing away any bacteria or residue left on your teeth.
  • Stay hydrated! Drink 48 oz – or about 6 cups – of water a day to keep bacteria under control by lubricating your mouth without any acidic chemicals involved.
  • Like we went over in previous posts, brush, floss, and clean your tongue as well as rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash. Chewing sugarless gum also helps!
  • Tea anyone? Having a cup of tea can wash away smelly germs while preventing any bad-breath-bacteria from forming
  • Having some yogurt keeps your mouth smelling nice and sweet from its probiotics

How to Get The Best out of Retainers

So the day has finally come to get your braces off and you can’t wait to show the world your new smile. But did you think of the important role retainers play afterwards? They avoid any shifting and maintain the position of your straight teeth for your perfect smile to last. We have a few tips to properly care for your smile savers that can last you a lifetime:

  • Keep a close eye on them!– Retainers can be very easy to misplace or lose. With that being said, it’s always easier to store them in your case and keep them in a place where you know you can always find them. One common mistake is wrapping them up in a napkin and accidentally disposing of them!
  • Avoid any damaging to your retainer– Keep retainers in a place that’s not too hot or not too dry. The plastic can warp from the heat or crack from the dryness. You should also insert and remove your retainers without flipping it with your tongue to avoid it from breaking.
  • Regularly give them a cleaning– Your teeth get exposed to bacteria and plaque and so do your retainers. To keep them squeaky clean, simply give them a soft brushing as you would with your teeth. To freshen them up even more, give them a soaking in a cleanser that’ll keep them fresh and germ-free. Remember to avoid hot water!
  • Wear as prescribed– If you don’t wear your retainers regularly, your retainers may not properly fit anymore since your teeth have tried moving back to their original position. If gone without them for too long, you may be needing braces again!

Dr. Verwest Sponsors Energy for Life Walkathon

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD will sponsor the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation’s Energy for Life Walkathon. The walkathon will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015. UMDF will be reaching out to the community to bring awareness to mitochondrial diseases and disorders.

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“Not only as a parent, but as a member of society I believe it is of utmost importance to help raise awareness for any type of disease or disorder. At the end of the day every little bit counts,” said Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD of Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers.

The Southwest Florida Group of the UMDF will be hosting the Inaugural Energy for Life Walkathon. This event will be held at 8:30 am on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at the Estero Recreation Center located at 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero, Florida 33928. Funds raised help bring awareness for those fighting mitochondrial diseases in our area.

The mission of the Walk and UMDF is to promote research, education, treatment, and cure of the mitochondrial disorders and to provide support to individuals and families affected by this disease. The effects of the disease vary: some suffer total debilitation where as others lose the ability to see and hear. It can be linked to Parkinson’s, Diabetes, and some cancers.

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, continues to provide pediatric dental care to children for the last 25 years. Areas of service include comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, composite fillings, dental hygiene education, extractions, fluoride treatments, sealants, sedation dentistry, space maintainers, x-rays and tooth nerve treatment. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers Ante’s Up For Autism

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 11, 2015) – Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD will be the wild card sponsor at the 4th annual Ante Up for Autism Casino Night on Friday, April 10, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. All proceeds collected will benefit Peace by Piece Center for Children with Autism in Ft. Myers.

peace by piece

“After visiting with the children from Peace by Piece for a dental presentation we were made aware of how autism effects our community. We knew right away that we wanted to help support this wonderful cause,” said Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD of Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers.

The mission of Peace by Piece is to provide research based behavior analytic and educational services to children with autism and other developmental disabilities, in an environment that is surrounded with unconditional love, patience, support, and respect. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please call Peace by Piece Center for Children with Autism at (239) 245-8301 or (239) 850-0802.

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, continues to provide pediatric dental care to children for over 25 years. Areas of service include comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, composite fillings, dental hygiene education, extractions, fluoride treatments, sealants, sedation dentistry, space maintainers, x-rays and tooth nerve treatment. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.