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Cavity Fighting Chewing Gum For Our Comstock Park Patients?
Categories: General Dentistry
Our Comstock Park and Rockford area patients often ask us if chewing xylitol gum is an effective substitute for tooth brushing and regular dental exams.
Before we answer that question, let us tell you about xylitol:
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch tree bark but is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Unlike most other sweeteners (natural or synthetic), xylitol is actually good for your teeth. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that xylitol prevents the growth of the bacteria that initiates decay. It also reduces plaque and strengthens tooth enamel.
Xylitol has other benefits, as well. Because it is low on the glycemic index, many of our Grand Rapids diabetic patients enjoy it as a healthy alternative to sugar. If our Rockford MI cosmetic dentistry patients complain about frequent dry mouth, we recommend Xylitol gum or mints to stimulate saliva production without promoting tooth decay.
Now, is xylitol gum just as effective as brushing your teeth and seeing your Rockford MI family dentist regularly? Absolutely not! If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chewing xylitol gum for five or ten minutes is probably a good idea. However, you should still brush your teeth thoroughly (with a soft brush) after meals and get regular oral exams and deep cleanings at your Comstock Park dentistry office to take care of your dental health.
At Stewart & Hull, our goal is to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life by preventing dental problems before they start. If you postpone Comstock Park dental visits until you feel pain, you risk losing teeth and most certainly will require more extensive treatment than if the problem was caught earlier. Is it time for a dental exam? Call us at 616-827-7019 to book an appointment. Our very friendly and thorough staff is waiting to take care of all your general and cosmetic dental needs.
Tooth Whitening and Your Dentist
Categories: Teeth Whitening
Tooth whitening has become one of the most popular dental procedures in Michigan. It seems that everyone in Comstock Park is whitening their teeth to help their smiles look younger and brighter. Many consumers in the Rockford MI area are turning to over-the-counter solutions to whiten their teeth; however, there can be risks to this approach.
Here is some basic advice on tooth whitening that Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull would like to share with you.
Tooth whitening is not for everyone, and depends on your dental history. We encourage you to visit our office in Comstock Park prior to starting a tooth whitening system for a thorough evaluation of your teeth and gums. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull can help you determine whether your teeth can be whitened safely and effectively. We can also recommend teeth whitening solutions that will work best for you. Stewart & Hull is a good place to start for this important decision.
There are many dangers to be aware of when whitening your teeth. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products available in the Comstock Park area will provide varying degrees of effectiveness on your teeth. If used improperly, tooth whitening solutions can cause problems including tooth sensitivity, over whitening, damage to your tooth enamel, and irregular coloration. Whitening too much can even have a reverse effect, making your teeth look gray. Most tooth whitening product manufacturers recommend that you visit your local Comstock Park dentist when things go wrong with your over-the-counter tooth whitening solution.
Our office is located at 769 York Creek Dr NW, Comstock Park, Michigan 49321. Please call or stop by to make an appointment to discuss your tooth whitening options. We are eager to help you make the best decision for your smile.Our staff is available to discuss tooth whitening solutions, explain tooth whitening options, and check your teeth to make sure you will get the tooth whitening results you want.
We look forward to seeing your beautiful bright smile.
—Dr. Bruce Stewart & Dr. Eric Hull, tooth whitening for the Comstock Park community. Please call us at 616-827-7019.
Comstock Park and Rockford MI Area Cosmetic Dentistry
Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry not only perfects your smile, it helps to improve the health of your teeth. Using cosmetic dentistry, your face and smile can be more attractive, TMJ issues can be helped, and your self-esteem can be increased.
Regardless of the number of teeth affected, Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull re-invent smiles and correct problems by skillfully performing cosmetic dental treatments. With your input, they can design the smile of your choosing.
Invisalign and Six Month Smile Orthodontics can be the answer for misaligned teeth. We have Grand Rapids area and Comstock Park orthodontic clients of all ages. It’s never too late to straighten your teeth! Not only are straight teeth attractive, they are easier to keep clean, they function better and can make chewing more comfortable.
If you have teeth that are decayed or otherwise damaged, there are several remedies. Porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, dental bonding, inlays and onlays are some of the effective procedures.
What if a tooth is missing entirely? A dental implant is a complete restoration, including a new root! It replaces missing teeth and helps to maintain the bone levels in that area.
Please call 616-827-7019 to schedule a smile analysis consultation today. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull will explain how your smile can be transformed both esthetically and functionally.
Love Your Smile in Comstock Park
Categories: Teeth Whitening
There is nothing like bright white teeth that light up a person’s whole face when they smile and laugh. No one has to settle for dull, yellow teeth.
This is a great time for Rockford MI men, women and teens to get a thorough cleaning and teeth whitening at the office of Dr. Bruce A. Stewart and Dr. Eric D. Hull in Comstock Park. Teeth whitening is safe and incredibly effective. A thorough cleaning followed by whitening will allow your teeth to feel as good as they look.
Whitening before an important event such as a wedding, party or formal family portrait sitting, will give you extra confidence as you pose for photos (even close-ups).
Rockford MI tooth bleaching following twice-yearly cleanings is the most affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth bleaching in Comstock Park is comparable to the cost of a professional hair color and cut, but when you consider the transformation; there is no comparison! Flash your gorgeous, sparkling smile, and no one will even notice your hair.
- Stewart & Hull
- 616-827-7019
- 769 York Creek Dr NW
- Comstock Park, Michigan
Beware Of Hidden Sugar
Categories: General Dentistry
We advise our Comstock Park dental clients at Stewart & Hull to watch their sugar intake to prevent cavities and other health problems.
If you are trying to unsweeten your diet, you are probably skipping the usual suspects: candy, soda, and baked treats. But not all sugar is as obvious as the frosting on a piece of chocolate cake or the powdery stuff in pixie stix.
Here are some foods found in Comstock Park grocery stores and Grand Rapids school cafeterias with a surprisingly high sugar content:
- Ketchup
- Low Fat versions of snack foods (Manufacturers often replace fat with sugar.)
- Salad Dressing
- Breads, buns, rolls
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Protein Bars
- Granola
- Canned soup
- Peanut Butter
- Yogurt
- Fast food meals (Hamburgers, fries, sandwiches, and salads are often loaded with sugar, not to mention the dessert items.)
- Antacids
- Cough drops
- Fruit smoothies (Even a small serving has a whopping amount of sugar.)
Reading the fine print on labels is a must. The following terms are all types of sugar:
raw sugar, cane sugar, glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, dextrose, honey, sorghum, molasses, cane sugar, confectioner’s sugar, crystallized cane juice, invert sugar, maltodextrin (or dextrin), maple syrup, concentrated fruit juices, evaporated cane juice (what kind of cane do you think we are talking about?)
Do the math: when shopping at Comstock Park grocery or health food stores, carefully decipher food labels before you buy. Four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon. Add up all the grams of every type of sugar listed and divide by four to truly understand how much sugar an item contains.
At Stewart & Hull, we advocate and practice preventative care for lifelong dental health. For more information on how your diet affects your dental health, please contact Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull at 616-827-7019. If you have a toddler or child who has not yet visited a family dentist, call us today for a pediatric oral examination and information on fluoride and sealants.
We are located at 769 York Creek Dr NW in Comstock Park.
Looking to Improve Your Smile? Get a Cosmetic Dentist
Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry
Would you go to a motorcycle mechanic to get your car fixed? The answer is probably not. When you have a tooth that is in the front of your mouth that needs dental work, you don’t want to horse around. It is very important to find a dentist who has a lot of experience with cosmetic dental cases. Here are some examples of what can go wrong if you don’t choose an experienced cosmetic dentist.
Shading: It’s important to select the right color of porcelain veneer or crown to make sure it matches the rest of the teeth. This is why it is important to choose a dentist with extensive education and abundant experience in cosmetic dentistry and one that uses a quality lab that considers shape, shade, and translucency.
Staining: There are times when simple teeth bleaching will not take away the stains in your teeth. This can sometimes require more extensive work with a combination of teeth whitening and porcelain veneers or crowns.
Soft Tissue: Many times we forget about the importance of the gum as part of a beautiful smile, but it is very important. If you lose a tooth, the gum tissue can recede. Consequently, simply placing a dental implant or bridge may not fix the aesthetic concern. Tissue grafts and other methods may need to be performed.
Whatever the concern you may have with your mouth, there is usually a universal consensus—it should look great and natural when it is finished. Please call Dr. Bruce A. Stewart and Dr. Eric D.Hull today to set up a consultation. They will happy to discuss your concerns and options to improve your smile.
Keep Teeth Healthy During Pregnancy
Categories: Oral Health
If you are pregnant, your dental health may be the last thing on your mind. However, many Rockford area women experience an increase in dental problems during pregnancy. This article contains important information for expectant Comstock Park and Grand Rapids area mothers and those planning to become pregnant.
Dr. Stewart & Dr. Hull recommend having a thorough dental cleaning early in your pregnancy. Lying in a dentist’s chair can be uncomfortable during the last trimester. A professional cleaning performed by one of the skilled dental hygienists at Stewart & Hull, along with diligent brushing and flossing, helps prevent gum disease that is often triggered by hormonal changes. The American Dental Association has found a positive correlation between periodontal disease and preterm deliveries and low birth weight.
If you are currently pregnant and have sore, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment today by calling 616-827-7019. Once the baby is here, it will probably be harder for you to make time for a dental visit.
If you receive dental treatment at Stewart & Hull during your pregnancy, be sure to inform Drs. Drs. Stewart & Hull that you are expecting. This will affect decisions about X-rays, pain relievers, antibiotics, and elective cosmetic dental procedures.
Hormonal changes cause an increase in plaque production which can lead to decay. If you are eating many small meals during the day, take care to brush after eating. If you avoid sweet snacks, your teeth will be less likely to develop cavities.
Remember, your oral care, nutrition and lifestyle affect your baby. It is essential that you eat a healthy diet with a variety of foods. A poor diet can harm your baby’s tooth and bone development. Be sure to get enough calcium, iron, vitamins A, D and C, protein, and phosphorus. Your Rockford MI Ob/Gyn can give you specific recommendations for your age, height, weight and medical conditions.
At Stewart & Hull, we take special care of our clients who are expecting.
Smokeless Is Not Harmless For Comstock Park Tobacco Chewers
Categories: Oral Health
Today’s topic is ‘The Dangers of Smokeless Tobacco’
Cigarette sales at most Comstock Park stores have decreased in the past decade, but some Comstock Park tobacco consumers have switched to smokeless products. This can cause irritation, gum disease, and in many cases, chronic use will lead to oral cancer.
There is a common misconception in the Rockford MI area (especially among teens) that smokeless tobacco is harmless. This is absolutely not true. Regardless of the specific type: spit tobacco, snuff, chew, or pinch; this form of tobacco is as deadly as conventional cigarettes.
At Stewart & Hull, we encounter serious consequences of smokeless tobacco use because many occur in the mouth. Oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease and tooth decay are the most common dental problems caused by smokeless tobacco in Michigan.
Keeping a pinch between your cheek and gum all day is worse than keeping a sucker in your mouth all day. The tobacco contains almost as much sugar as the candy but delivers harmful chemicals as an added bonus. The dangers are two-fold: the tobacco erodes the teeth and causes the gums to pull away from teeth.
Precancerous Mouth Lesion Screening in Michigan: Mouth Lesions are painful sores that could eventually become cancer. If smokeless tobacco use is stopped, the lesions often disappear within a year for Michigan cosmetic dental patients.
Oral Cancer in Comstock Park: Smokeless tobacco use in the Comstock Park and Rockford increases the risk for several types of life-threatening cancers including those of the mouth, gums, lips, tongue, and throat.
Oral cancers can be as deadly as lung cancer and usually require surgery. If the Michigan patient is fortunate and the cancer is successfully removed with surgery, the collateral damage to the face, neck, or jaw is often significant.
At Stewart & Hull in Comstock Park, we perform oral cancer screenings and mouth lesion examinations. To schedule an appointment, call 616-827-7019.
If you want to quit using smokeless tobacco products, we recommend that you consult Dr. Stewart & Dr. Hull at Stewart & Hull, your Comstock Park primary care dentist, or your Comstock Park pharmacist.
Stewart & Hull https://www.greatmismiles.com/
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan 49321
Oral cancer screenings, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry
Straighten Your Smile with Invisalign In Comstock Park
Categories: Orthodontic Treatment
Remember when Rockford MI adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment were mortified by their metal mouth? Thankfully, those days are over. With the new and innovative methods braces can be very descrete. At the office of Bruce A. Stewart and Eric Hull there are two great options–Invisalign and Six Month Smile. Both are very unnoticeable.
There are some kids (and many adults!) that are not thrilled about having metallic fuchsia bands and neon yellow wires adorning their teeth. Discrete Invisalign aligners are virtually undetectable and straighten teeth just as quickly and effectively as metal braces. Another benefit of the Invisalign system is that the aligners are not permanently attached to the teeth. Invisalign aligners are easily slipped out for brushing, flossing, meals, and sports. If your Comstock Park child plays a musical instrument that defies traditional braces, removable aligners may be the best option.
Six Months Smiles uses traditional orthodontic methods but with modern materials. The brackets and wires are nearly invisible and better yet the average treatment time is only six months long. You should talk to your family dentist to find out if this innovative procedure will work for your smile.
If you or one of your children need orthodontic treatment in the Rockford MI area, call Stewart & Hull at 616-827-7019 to schedule a consultation with Bruce Stewart. Stewart & Hull is located at 769 York Creek Dr NW in Comstock Park. We also provide comprehensive restorative and cosmetic dentistry. If you need affordable state-of-the-art dental care in Comstock Park, let us tell you about our financing options.
Whatever your age, if you want to straighten your teeth, we have wires and bands to match every outfit in your closet!
