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Happy August from Dallas Dental Arts! Though summer has looked a little different this year with social distancing measures in place for our health and safety, there are still plenty of ways to get outside and soak up the sun before fall arrives. 

Most of our staff spend their summer days outside staying active. On a nice day, you can find them bike riding or taking a walk around White Rock Lake. A few other beloved summer activities include beach days, swimming, and cooling down with some ice cream or watermelon. 

Sometimes it can get too hot to cook during the warm summer months. But don’t worry! There are plenty of great meal ideas that don’t require standing over a hot stove. Our favorite easy summer snacks are watermelon and frozen grapes. Or if you’re looking for a quick healthy meal, you can blend some greens and fruits together into a delicious smoothie. Need a new dinner idea? Here’s one of our tried and true favorites for you to try: 

Fresh Summer Roll Noodle Bowl

INGREDIENTS

ALMOND BUTTER LIME DRESSING:

-3 tablespoons smooth almond butter, preferably unsweetened

-3 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil such as avocado or canola

-3 tablespoons agave nectar or honey

-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

-1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar

-1 teaspoon sriracha

-1 teaspoon kosher salt

-2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

-1 plump garlic clove, grated

-8 ounces rice stir fry noodles, I use Thai Kitchen or Annie Chun's cooked according to package directions, drained and rinsed in cold water

NOODLE BOWL

-8 ounces rice stir fry noodles, I use Thai Kitchen or Annie Chun's cooked according to package directions, drained and rinsed in cold water

-2 cups matchstick-cut carrots, about 1/2 pound carrots

-2 cups half-moon sliced seedless cucumber

-4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on the diagonal

-1 shallot, thinly sliced

-1 cup loosely packed each fresh cilantro, mint and basil leaves

-Handful mixed baby greens

GARNISH IDEAS:

-Sesame seeds

-Crushed roasted peanuts or chopped roasted almonds

-Thinly sliced fresh red chili pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

-Whisk all ingredients for the dressing together in a bowl until smooth.

-In another large bowl, toss the drained noodles with the carrots, cucumber, scallions, shallot, herb leaves and 1/2 of the dressing.

-Serve in bowls over mixed greens, with additional dressing spooned over to taste. Garnish with fresh red chili, peanuts and/or sesame seeds. Enjoy! 

In office-related news, this month we celebrate Kristin's 30th anniversary with our office. She's been a hygienist with Dallas Dental Arts since 1990 and we couldn't be happier to have her as part of our team! The next time you’re in our office make sure to wish Kristin a happy work anniversary. 

Times continue to be uncertain but we must all do our part by helping stop the spread of the coronavirus and staying positive. Once we make it through all of this, imagine how strong our country and economy will be! We hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer. 

When was the last time you paid Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin a visit? If you're like many people, chances are it was more than six months ago. We hear the reasons why people neglect regular dental visits all the time: lack of money or quality dental insurance, busy schedules, and fear. However, your twice-yearly checkups are so important for your dental health and for your overall health as well.

You may brush your teeth twice a day and even floss, and your teeth may feel fine, but regular dental checkups with Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin aren’t about addressing problems and reacting — they are about cavity prevention. No matter how much you brush and floss, there is still a chance that food or other debris can get lodged between your teeth, and there is also a chance that food and beverages can wear down your tooth enamel in between visits, making your teeth vulnerable to decay.

In addition to a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing, these regular visits help us detect and prevent the onset of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. During your visit, we’ll check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. We’ll also check old fillings and restorations, as these can wear away over time from constant chewing, grinding, or clenching.

It's important to know that the majority of dental problems do not become visible or painful until they are highly advanced. And, unfortunately, serious oral issues are painful and expensive to treat. A deep cleaning twice a year by our team at Dallas Dental Arts is the best way to hit all the spots you may have missed with brushing and flossing and prevent any problems that may have gone unseen.

Make sure your teeth get the professional attention they deserve! If you’re overdue for your next cleaning, please give us a call to schedule an appointment at our convenient Dallas,TX office!

As adults, we often wish our teeth could be as white as they were when we were small children. Baby teeth have thinner and whiter enamel than adult teeth, and those brilliant smiles are a result! But occasionally, you may be surprised to discover some staining or discoloration on those lovely first teeth. You might be tempted to apply a whitening product to your child’s teeth, but, please—read on!

Causes of Staining

• Improper Brushing—Often, a loss of tooth whiteness means that plaque has built up on the tooth surface. Careful brushing is needed to remove bacteria and plaque, and if your child isn’t brushing at least twice a day for two minutes, discoloration can be the result.
• Medications—When given in liquid form, or when added to formula or food, iron supplements can cause dark grey staining on the teeth. Medications taken by a mother while pregnant or breast feeding, such as tetracycline, can also lead to discoloration.
• Injury—If a tooth suffers a serious injury, the tooth can darken because of changes inside the enamel.
• Health conditions—Certain health problems can cause tooth discoloration, or sometimes children are born with weaker enamel that is more likely to stain.

If you have noticed any staining on your child’s primary teeth, call our Dallas,TX office. Simple stains can often be removed with better brushing techniques, and we can clean other surface stains in the office. Staining caused by an injury or a health condition is something we can discuss in detail with you. We can even use some professional whitening methods if those are indicated.

Why not just buy a home whitening kit for your child? There are several important reasons to leave these products on the shelf while your child is young.

• Whitening kits are designed for adults. They have been tested for adult teeth in adult trials. Check the box for age appropriate use. Most products are not recommended for pre-teen children.
• Remember that thinner enamel we mentioned earlier? Add to that the delicate skin of young children, and it’s sensible to be cautious about using a bleaching agent that can cause mouth and tooth sensitivity even in adults.
• There is no body of evidence available as to the short and long term effects of using these products on children.

If you are concerned about the brightness of your child’s smile, please talk to Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin. We can recommend better ways to brush at home, clean your child’s teeth in the office, or suggest professional methods of whitening if there are physical or psychological reasons that it would be valuable. But while your child is young, those off-the-shelf whitening products can wait a few more years.

Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin and our team at Dallas Dental Arts will tell you that good oral health habits when you are pregnant are very important. A plaque or infectious buildup can affect the baby in gestation, and cause some unforeseen issues during birth. There are a few steps relating to oral health that can help prevent complications and other pregnancy issues. Here are a few things to consider about oral health when you are expecting.

Proper brushing

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is essential when you are pregnant. This will peel away any buildup that you have on your teeth, and help create a shield against future buildup. Swallowing large amounts of plaque or bacterial buildup can and will affect the gestation of the fetus, and can cause certain complications.

Floss

Flossing will also help remove a lot of the buildup in your teeth that can promote infection. Make sure you floss at least once a day. Bacterial infections fester on food buildup, and certain destructive viruses can also breed and grow on these remnants.

Morning sickness

The acidity of vomit can erode the enamel on your teeth, and create buildup of damaging particulates in your teeth. If you are experiencing regular morning sickness, rinse your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and water. This will remove buildup, and alleviate some of the acidity from the vomit.

Alcohol-free, antimicrobial mouthwash

Regardless of whether you are trying to or not, you will swallow small amounts of your mouthwash. Alcohol can affect your gestating baby. Use an antimicrobial, alcohol-free mouthwash.

Visit the dentist

If you have any dental issues, please give us a call at our convenient Dallas,TX office away. We will be able to diagnose and treat any oral health issues immediately, and make sure they do not affect your developing child. Protecting your baby includes protecting your oral health.