Dr. Julia Gorelik and our team at Gorelik Holistic Dentistry want to wish our patients in Charlotte, North Carolina, a healthy, happy, holiday season. This Christmas, you can give yourself the gift of a healthy smile. Here are some things to stock up on for yourself, or for anyone on your holiday gift giving list–the gift of oral health!

Three Smile Facts You Should Know

1. Tooth decay affects 60-90% of teenagers and adults (World Health Organization).
2. 75% of adults have some type of gum disease (American Dental Association).
3. Tooth decay is the most common disease among children in the U.S. (The Academy of General Dentistry).

The good news is that these conditions are all preventable. So, this holiday season, while gingerbread cookies, candy canes, and egg nog surround you and your family, take some steps to give yourself and anyone on your list a healthy smile.

Toothbrushes: Stock up on soft-bristled toothbrushes that are gentle on the gum line and tooth enamel. These come in all kinds of fun styles. If you have a large mouth, you can get a full-sized toothbrush head, and if you have a small mouth, a compact head may work better for you. You can even use a youth or child-sized toothbrushes to brush behind your molars in the back of your mouth.

Toothpaste: There are all natural toothpaste available on the market today. For example, Nature’s Gate has ingredients such as bamboo, stevia extracts, baking soda and peppermint oil, and contains no artificial sweeteners or colors. Jason natural toothpaste has no sodium lauryl sulfates, is fluoride-free and contains all natural ingredients like perilla seed extract. It comes in orange/cinnamon/mint flavor among several other choices.

Dental Floss: Dr. Julia Gorelik recommends using Cocofloss for our patients. The filaments are infused with coconut oil in fruity flavors, with a soft, towel-like texture that is gentler on gum tissue (and fingers). Check it out here: Cocofloss

Sugar-Free Mints: Freshen breath and stimulate healthy saliva production which bathes teeth and gums in healthy enzymes and washes away bacteria.

Water Flosser/Oral Irrigator: If you have trouble flossing regularly, consider investing in a water flosser. They will leave your smile feeling clean and fresh in those places that your brush just can’t reach.

Electric Toothbrush: If you don’t enjoy brushing, an electric toothbrush can provide ease of mind for you while effectively cleaning your pearly whites. An electric toothbrush’s rotating head has bristles that can reach further thanks to the combination of motion and equal pressure from the brush itself. At our practice, we only recommend Sonicare electric toothbrushes for our patient’s oral health.

Dr. Julia Gorelik and our team in Charlotte, North Carolina, are pleased to help you and your family achieve excellent oral health throughout the year. Simply call 704-553-1627 to schedule a visit, and give yourself the gift of a healthy smile!