Here at New Wave Dental Smiles, we are committed to creating healthy smiles that will last a lifetime, through a variety of expert dental services for patients of all ages. Dr. Bajwa and his team strive to educate our patients on how to care for their teeth and gums so that they can achieve optimal oral health. That’s why we’re pleased to provide the following tips and information on cavity prevention.

The High Cost of Cavities

If you neglect to care for your teeth and gums, you leave yourself vulnerable to a host of problems, from terrible pain and toothaches to tooth decay and tooth loss. Tooth decay is an infectious disease that can compromise not just your oral health—but also your health overall. And if you ignore signs of tooth decay, you may end up losing one or more teeth. So, what can you do to prevent this? Read below for cavity prevention tips.

Brush, Brush, Brush

It’s important to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, keeping them free of bacteria, plaque and food particles that accumulate throughout the day. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Use a toothbrush that is the right size for your mouth, and that has soft bristles. Be sure to brush for at least two minutes each time, and use gentle strokes to clean the front and back surfaces of your top and bottom teeth. Floss between each set of teeth daily to remove food and bacteria.

Avoid Sugary Foods & Drinks

Almost everyone knows that sugar causes cavities. That’s why it’s important to keep your sugar intake to a minimum. While you don’t have to cut out sweets completely, be sure to enjoy it in moderation and avoid prolonged contact with the teeth. Avoid drinking sodas and other beverages with high sugar content. Not only is soda full of sugar, but it’s also acidic—which can cause your tooth enamel to wear down over time. Sticky sweets like caramels and chewy candies can get stuck in your teeth, so be sure to brush and floss after consuming these kinds of treats. If you don’t have the ability to brush and floss give your mouth a good swish with water, that’s better than doing nothing!

Drink More Water

Water increases saliva content which helps keep your mouth clean. It also washes away leftover food and residue and dilutes acid that can wear away your tooth enamel. Drinking enough water keeps you hydrated and keeps your mouth at its healthiest. Many people have a hard time drinking plain water, so mix it up by making your water fun. Drop some fresh fruits like oranges or strawberries into your water to give it a fresh, fruity flavor. You can even add in fresh herbs like mint or basil for even more delicious flavor. Invest in a water bottle that you enjoy and can take with you throughout the day.

Contact Your West Seattle Dentist Today!

At New Wave Dental Smiles, we proudly specialize in a variety of dental treatments to keep your smile sparkling and healthy. If you have any questions about cavities, tooth decay, or anything related to dental treatment, we encourage you to contact us. And be sure to schedule an appointment with your West Seattle dentist for a professional cleaning to keep those teeth and gums cavity free. We can’t wait to see you soon!

The popular saying of “you are what you eat” is really true when it comes to the health of your teeth. In order to maintain good oral health and prevent cavities, what you eat and how often you eat are very important components. Sugary foods can lead to tooth decay because the bacteria in your mouth change sugars and carbohydrates into acids which will begin to attack the enamel on your teeth. Your Burien dentist Dr. Kamal Bajwa from New Wave Dental Smiles has some advice on the best foods to eat to keep your teeth healthy and avoid needing teeth whitening treatments!

According to Dr. Bajwa, the more often you drink and snack, the more frequently you are exposing your teeth to the cycle of enamel decay. Check out Dr. Bajwa’s list of healthy foods to improve your diet and the health of your mouth.

Eat Foods High In Calcium

Foods that are high in calcium and phosphorus will help to protect your tooth enamel by remineralizing your teeth. As you eat and drink, minerals from your teeth will be stripped away by acids. The foods listed below will help to redeposit minerals into your tooth enamel. Healthy tooth enamel can help keep your teeth white.

• Cheeses
• Chicken
• Almonds
• Nuts
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Yogurt
• Kale
• Milk, soy milk, almond milk
• Sweet potatoes
• Oranges

Eat Foods With High Water Content

Eating foods that are high in water content will dilute the effects of the sugars contained within the foods. This will then stimulate saliva flow. The saliva flow will help to protect against tooth decay by washing away food particles and defending against acids. Below is a list of some foods that are high in water content.

• Tomatoes
• Watermelon
• Celery
• Peaches
• Eggs
• Cottage Cheese
• Bell Peppers
• Lettuce
• Cucumbers
• Lemons and citrus fruits also contain a high water content but should be eaten as a side to a larger meal in order to minimize the acids from them.

Drink These Best Beverages For Healthy Teeth

We’ve covered the best foods to eat to maintain a healthy smile, so now Dr. Bajwa has a list of the best beverages for maintaining healthy teeth. As a general rule, he recommends that you limit your consumption of very sugary drinks like soda, lemonade, and coffee or tea with a lot of added sugar or sweet creamer. If you can’t give up these drinks, avoid sipping on them for day-long periods of time. Each time you take a drink, your teeth are re-exposed to the sugar, which wears down your enamel so your teeth are in a constant state of decay. Below is a list of beverages that are low in sugar and best to drink for a healthy smile.

• Unsweetened tea
• Milk
• Water
• Real fruit juice

See The Best Burien Dentist Now!

Dr. Kamal Bajwa at New Wave Dental Smiles is dedicated to his patients and their overall health. Dr. Bajwa has been practicing dentistry for over 11 years, offering the best possible experiences for any kind of dental needs. From dental cleanings to teeth whitening, Dr. Bajwa is the experienced professional you can count on to care for your teeth. Set up an appointment to see Dr. Bajwa by calling New Wave Dental Smiles at (206) 242-8080!

Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping your teeth and mouth healthy is quite important. Its equally important to find a reliable and qualified dentist. A great dentist treats each patient individually, cares for their needs, and finds suitable treatments to solve any dental problem. At New Wave Dental Smiles in Burien, we understand that you have a lot of dental options to choose from and it can be difficult to find the best option for you. For this reason, we’ve put together some important things to consider when choosing a dentist for yourself or your family!

Use Your Friends & Family

Recommendations are a great way to learn which dentists are in your community and more importantly, which dentists are reliable. Personal testimonies and reviews from the people you trust most can go a long way. Your friends and family will be able to tell their experience about the staff, the dentist, and their treatment process. You are also able to ask specific questions about their treatment, if their experience was positive or negative, and if they would return for more dental care. Or, if you are moving to a new location, we recommend you ask your current dentist if they have any recommendations for dentists in your new town. Your friends and family can be your best resource when looking for a dentist in your community.

Cost & Benefits

Of course, cost and your insurance will play a large role in choosing a dentist. If you have an HMO dental plan, your choices are most likely limited and you will need to choose from your HMO network. If you are part of a PPO plan, you will have more freedom when it comes to choosing a dentist. Before your first consultation, confirm with the dentist office that they will accept your insurance. We also recommend asking which procedures are covered under your insurance plan and which are not. For example, if your insurance will not cover fillings, crowns, or root canals at a particular dentist, it could be quite expensive.

Visit The Office Prior To Your First Consultation

Once you have a list of prospective dentists, check them out in person! A majority of dental offices will accomodate consultation meetings. This way, you can meet the dentist and the office staff, survey the office environment, ask about consultation processes, billing, and availability, and determine if you are comfortable in their dental office. Comfortability and likability is very important when choosing a dentist. By meeting the dental team in person, you will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you have or voice any concerns about yourself or your family.

Contact Your Burien Family Dentistry Today!

We know it’s difficult to find a good dentist. At New Wave Dental Smiles, we are committed to providing the highest quality care and treating each individual patient to the best of our ability. Our team prides itself on being warm, welcoming, and friendly while offering personalized dental treatments for your entire family! For questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to come by our office in Burien, just outside Seattle. We will be more than happy to ease your concerns and answer any questions you may have. Contact our office to schedule an appointment for your family today! We look forward to meeting you!

At our Burien, WA dentistry office, it’s very important to us that we educate our patients (especially the younger ones) about the importance of good oral health. After all, when you take good care of your teeth and gums, you can go through life with a confident smile that’s healthy and beautiful!

Recently, we were asked by one of our patients who teaches 4th grade at Seahurst Elementary School if we could visit the 4th grade classrooms to talk about dental health. Of course, we jumped at the opportunity!

On Feb 28, Dr. Bajwa and Krystal, our office manager, went to Seahurst Elementary to meet with three 4th grade classrooms. We had a lot of fun! We held a 30-minute presentation in each of the three classrooms talking about oral health, the oral cavity, plaque, braces, and home dental care. The kids were the most curious about wisdom teeth so we spent some time talking about the third set of molars and why Our West Seattle dentist sometimes needs to remove these teeth from patients’ mouths.

Dr. Bajwa answered many great questions and the kids shared the experiences they’ve had while visiting their family dentists. It was a great day for everyone involved and we’re very glad we were asked to visit the school and talk to the 4th graders!

Don’t Forget To Schedule Routine Exams & Cleanings!

This is the perfect time for us to remind all you parents to schedule routine exams and teeth cleanings for your kids every six months or so. During this type of routine visit to our Burien dentistry office, we’ll examine your child’s mouth to look for any problems like cavities, and thoroughly clean and polish your child’s teeth. If it’s time for your child to visit us, give us a call at (206) 242-8080 or book an appointment online!