Healthy Thanksgiving Snacks for Your Teeth!

I know it’s hard to think about oral health while preparing your holiday meal and celebrating with family and friends, but try to include foods that are beneficial to your teeth. It’s simple! All you have to do is improve your diet to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Vitamins and minerals are essential for excellent oral health. Here are some options to include in your holiday menu that will help keep your smile healthy:

• Turkey: is high in phosphorous. When phosphorus is mixed with calcium and vitamin d it helps create strong bones and teeth. It also rebuilds tooth enamel which is damaged by acid-producing bacteria. 
• Strawberries: act as an astringent and undo stains you may have gotten from a cup of coffee earlier that morning. They’re also bursting with vitamin C, a mineral that is essential for dental health. 
• Dairy: products such as milk and cheese have a mineral called calcium that helps build stronger teeth. 
• Sweet Potatoes: are packed with nutrients like vitamin A, C, and B6, which can contribute to the health of your teeth. Potatoes don’t stick to teeth like other starchy foods who serve as a shelter for oral bacteria.
• Fruits & vegetables: Crispy fruits and vegetables clean your teeth while you eat, like tiny delicious toothbrushes. Vegetables also boost saliva levels in the mouth, which helps conquer acids and enzymes. Vegetables are gushing vitamins A and C. These avoid soft, bleeding gums and protect against oral cancer. 

Many of your favorite foods are also nutritious and vital for great dental health. A balanced diet can help those family members who are more vulnerable to oral health problems, including pregnant women, children and seniors.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to brush and floss! Don't forget to call our dental office for your next dental appointment.

How bad is Halloween candy for your teeth?

Halloween has become a big tradition in the US, the children often look forward to because they can dress-up and eat lots of candy. With this said, Halloween is a good reminder to tend to you and your family’s oral health. Large amounts of candy consumption and lead to numerous health problems. We’re not saying that candy should be prohibited, as this can lead to unhealthy eating habits. We do, however, recommend consuming candy in moderation.

Candy is loaded with sugars and acids that are extremely harmful for teeth. They can create hazardous environments in our mouths that cause bacteria to grow exponentially. This puts our teeth at risk for cavities and other infections. During Halloween and throughout the year, it’s imperative that good oral care habits are practiced in order to maintain a healthy smile. Additionally, after consuming candy, brushing your teeth thoroughly is highly encouraged. If this is not possible, rinse your mouth out or drink a glass of water. This will help flush away any leftover particles until you have access to a toothbrush.

In other words, we won’t give Halloween candy a bad name. It is okay to let your kids indulge on this day and you could even do so yourself. However, we recommend paying close attention to the amount of candy consumed by each individual family member while also making sure that everyone brushes thoroughly afterward.

On behalf of Trunkey Dental, we wish you all a happy and cavity-free Halloween!

How Often Should I See a Dentist?

Previously, it was perfectly normal for someone to go years without seeing a dentist. Examinations completed for individuals entering the military resulted in dentists discovering that most had horrible oral health and detrimental or non-existent oral care habits. In fact, it was not until after World War II that soldiers brought home this military enforced habit of brushing their teeth. Before this, most Americans did not take the time to do it.

As a result, dental and health organizations made it a priority to establish guidelines as to when or how many times a year every American should visit a dentist. This is when the “twice a year” guideline or 6-month rule came into effect.

If you take good care of your teeth and have healthy oral care habits (which means you brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime, while also flossing regularly at least once a day) then you should be okay to visit the dentist every 6 months. However, this guideline does not fit everyone. You should always listen to you dentist’s recommendation as to how often YOU should visit the dental office. The visits are necessary to make sure your oral needs are tended to and to prevent any other developing diseases that can often go unnoticed, like oral cancer.

Patients with the following conditions should visit a dentist more often:

• Chronic Smokers 
• Anyone with diabetes 
• Patients with diagnosed gum disease
• Anyone with a weak immune system 
• Anyone prone to developing cavities 

 These recommendations and guidelines can change throughout a lifetime. In moments of stress or illness, it may be necessary to see your dentist more often. At our Bakersfield dental office, we believe preventative dentistry is key and are committed to help you achieve a lifetime of healthy smiles. Call us today!

Meet our "Fix Your Grill" Contest Winner!

Our very own Bakersfield dentist, Dr. Trunkey, teamed up with the famous BTUFF Magazine to create the fabulous contest wittily titled the "Fix your Grill" contest, where one lucky winner was awarded the absolute chance of a lifetime: a dental makeover! We are proud to say that over 30 contestants entered the contest and it was a very difficult decision to choose a winner with so many high quality applicants. However, Dr. Trunkey was forced to make a decision and chose Chris Cowan, a San Diego native and long-time Tobacco chewer.

(See the interview and Mr. Cowan's before & after shots here!)

Mr. Cowan entered the contest by writing a letter explaining why he was a good candidate for the smile makeover. Cowan, a Tobacco chewer of 30 years, was ready to leave the habit behind and get his dental health back on track. Patients like these are why Dr. Trunkey loves dentistry and why the number one rule at our dental office in Bakersfield is NO GUILT. Regardless of how long it has been since your last dental visit or if you brush and floss regularly, you are always welcome. We are just glad to have you back in the office!

Our pride and joy are our patients. We absolutely love what we do and we love giving back to the community as even the contestants that entered and were not selected were given complimentary memberships to our office. Give us a call, especially if you haven’t been to the dentist in a while.
Remember, at our office it’s all about NO GUILT!

How White Is Too White?

A beautiful, white, bright smile is a dream for a large majority of today’s population. With the current advances, this dream is quite easily achieved. Teeth Whitening in Bakersfield is a common and popular certified cosmetic dental procedures available. 

An essential part for successful teeth whitening treatment is to choose a shade or color for your teeth that looks natural. 

There are many factors to take into consideration when it comes to the new shade of your smile. Your guide can be the white color in your eyes as teeth whiter than the whites of your eyes can make you face look dull or unbalanced. Other things to consider are: 

• color of your skin
• stains and spots on your teeth
• your job or profession (people in TV usually go whiter)
• your age or gender
• life habits such as eating and drinking habits
• color of lipstick you usually wear

Our dentists in Bakersfield can help you choose which color is right for you so that you can smile with confidence. Visit us today to learn more!

Do You Have Recurrent Head or Neck Pain? You May Need Tmj Treatment!

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint which is the area that connects our lower jaw to the temporal bone we have in our skull. These joints, along with the muscles we have, allow us to move our mouths and jaw, talk, chew, etc.  

TMJ disorders can be painful and cause a malfunction in the jaw joint. Be aware if you notice any of the following symptoms as they might be an indication of a TMJ problem. 

Symptoms include:

• pain in jaw joint, head, neck, jaw or chewing muscles
• stiffness in your jaw muscles
• experience limited movement
• changes in the way your upper and lower jaw areas fit together
• clicking/popping sound  

The majority of TMJ treatments do not include surgery, most patients can be treated with non-surgical procedures that help relieve the pain and improve the regular function of your jaw. At our dental office we can offer you a wide variety of dental treatments  and provide you the specialized treatment for your TMJ disorder.