Dr. Karen Spitzer, DDS | Dr. Elisabeth Dommer, DDS | Neighborhood Smiles | Cosmetic Dentistry | Family Dentist | Dental Braces | Implants General Dentist | La Crosse, WI
Whether you’re at the beach, hanging out in your backyard, or on a hike through a park, you know how important it is to protect yourself and your loved ones from sun damage. You wear sunscreen, sunglasses, maybe even a hat, and you make sure that your family does the same.
But what do you do to keep those ultraviolet rays from damaging the delicate skin on your lips? Dr. Dommer and Dr. Spitzer have tips to make sure you are informed and able to protect you and your family! [Read more...]
Having lipstick on your teeth is not a good look, but new studies show that picking the right shade to accent your pout can actually brighten those pearly whites! Using a dental color guide, scientists have proven that many hues of lipstick can make your teeth instantly look whiter, which Dr. Spitzer and Dr. Dommer think is always a good thing.
So which colors do this? A general rule is to try to stick with those that have blue undertones which will contrast with the yellow tints of your teeth and make them appear brighter and whiter. When looking for a specific color, try in the deeper reds and maroons. Stay away from nudes, peaches, neutral pinks, and frosted lipsticks, which can make your teeth look the same color as the lipstick. [Read more...]
Some people (whether or not they admit it) just love to chew on ice. They can get it from their freezer at home or fill up a cup at the cafeteria or just about anywhere, as long as they can fulfill their craving for that crunchy frozen water. If you’ve ever done this, you probably had a parent or teacher or friend tell you that it was bad for you and you were going to ruin your teeth. This is definitely true, because the hard material chips away at the enamel on your teeth and can cause you to need expensive and painful restoration treatments. However, it turns out [Read more...]
1) Pepto-Bismol. This pink stomach medicine can sometimes have a strange side effect of turning both your tongue and the surface of your teeth black. The weird reaction comes from a chemical compound that changes color if exposed directly to the tongue, instead of with water. If this happens to you, don’t panic! It can be avoided or fixed by simply brushing your teeth or, for serious incidents, getting a cleaning from your dentist.
2) Over-whitening. Some scientists are still debating this phenomenon, but many feel that the harsh chemicals can thin out your enamel and cause your teeth to become more porous, which actually makes them look dingier. Even if this claim turns out to be false, no one likes glow-in-the-dark teeth, so practice moderation. [Read more...]
