Our Blog

At Blue Spruce Dental, we know most of our patients enjoy a cup of coffee or two throughout the day. But what many of you don’t know is that coffee can be especially tough on your teeth because tannic acid (the substance that makes the dark color) etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel, staining your pearly whites and being generally detrimental to your smile.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with more than 50 percent of people drinking a cup daily. Other foods and drinks such as wine, chocolate-flavored beverages, and soft drinks can all cause tooth enamel discolorations. A hot cup of Joe, however, goes one step farther: extreme temperature changes in your mouth can cause teeth to expand and contract. This allows stains to penetrate deep into the micro-cracks of your tooth enamel.

Additionally, caffeine is considered a diuretic, which means it causes the body to lose fluids. So when you enjoy coffee or any kind of caffeinated beverage, it slows the production of saliva and causes dry mouth, which can potentially lead to bad breath and even tooth decay.

If you just can't make it through the day without a cup of java, we encourage you to consider these tips to help make sure your teeth stay in tip-top shape:

• Drink a glass of water with your coffee or rinse with a glass of water after every cup. Not only does it help neutralize and rinse away the acid left behind from the coffee, but it also helps replenish fluids drawn out of your body by caffeine.
• Chew gum after you drink coffee. Chewing gum will help keep your saliva production up and prevent dry mouth.
• Enjoy your beverage with a straw so that tannins don’t make contact with your front upper and lower teeth.
• Switch to decaf. Each cup of regular coffee you drink has an average of 110 milligrams of caffeine. Decaf has the same great taste with only two to 12 milligrams of caffeine.

Dr. Timm and our team also invite you to visit our convenient Michigan Center, MI office for whitening options. We can help bleach your teeth with proven and professional products. To learn more about whitening options available at Blue Spruce Dental, please give us a call!

Coffee. Blueberries. Red wine. Tomato sauce. They might please our palate, but they are notorious for staining our teeth. Luckily, nature has balanced the scales for us! Here are just some of the foods that could actually help whiten your smile.

Apples

The crunchy texture of an apple makes it perfect for scrubbing your teeth as you chew. The more you chew, the more saliva you produce. And saliva helps lower the amount of the bacteria in our mouths that cause decay, while washing away food particles that can stain our teeth.

Broccoli

Raw broccoli florets look—and act—like tiny toothbrushes. Broccoli also contains high levels of iron which help protect our enamel from stains and erosion.

Carrots and Celery

More crunchy vegetables that scrub teeth. These are high in fiber, which acts as a gentle abrasive, and water, which stimulates healthy saliva production.

Nuts and Seeds

These are nutritious snacks that both act as abrasives and increase saliva production.

Pineapple

Pineapple is that rare fruit that produces bromelain, enzymes that help in digestion. These enzymes are also believed to help remove staining.

Strawberries

Malic acid considered by many to be a natural whitener which helps break down stains, and strawberries are a great source for this organic compound. But don’t overdo, because too much acid is hard on your enamel.

Of course, the real benefit of eating a balanced diet containing fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds is nutritional, and any whitening that takes place is an added bonus. And eating healthy foods won’t take the place of brushing to keep your teeth clean and bright, especially if you are relying on sugary fruits for their whitening effect. If you want help whitening your smile, and diet and brushing alone aren’t the answer, give our Michigan Center, MI office a call and we’ll be happy to suggest other options. Until then, bon appétit!

Hello again from Blue Spruce Dental! Practicing social distancing means we all have a little more time on our hands. In today’s blog we discuss how Dr. Timm is staying busy and active!

When Dr. Timm is not spending time at the Blue Spruce Dental office handling patient concerns and business matters; he enjoys working in the yard, both at the office and at home. He recently has turned on the waterfall feature at his home, to hear the flowing water makes him so happy! Dr. Timm has also turned on the waterfall at the office and was very happy to see so many koi fish in the pond that had survived the winter. When he isn’t working outside, Dr Timm is transferring VHS family/home videos to digital and YouTube. He has also been staying up-to-date by online webinars and continuing education regarding Covid-19 and other dental topics.

With the lovely spring weather in the 70s last week Dr. Timm and his wife Jennifer decided to uncover their pool! The day after, however, it snowed! At least they could see the nice pool water instead of the ugly pool cover. Dr Timm definitely already has summer on the mind - after the COVID-19 crisis leaves us they are hoping to enjoy a pool party.

Share with us in the comment section below how you are staying busy at home. We hope everyone stays home and stays safe! Though this time is challenging, take time to enjoy being with your family and be reassured that our dental team is missing all of our patients and are looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Happy April from Blue Spruce Dental! We hope all our patients are staying safe and healthy.

Due to our current Covid-19 State of Emergency Declaration, our office is temporarily closed until at least May 1, 2020. We are keeping patients scheduled in the month of May until further notice. If a patient is experiencing a Dental Emergency please contact our office at 517-764-3870 and be directed to Dr. Timm, which is option #4 when prompted.

Unfortunately, our office has had to cancel about 6 weeks of patient appointments that were already scheduled for hygiene. Dr. Timm is doing his best to call all of his patients to cancel appointments if needed and reschedule them to future dates.

We understand that this time contains a lot of stress and uncertainty. With that being said we hope our patients keep up their oral health routines! Dr. Timm and our team recommends brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Looking for more oral health tips? We have you covered! Here are some things you can do to maintain a healthy mouth and strong teeth:

-Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste.
-Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque.
-When we are open - visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures.
-Do not use any tobacco products. If you smoke, quit.
-Limit alcoholic drinks.

Besides oral health it’s important to factor in other areas of health as well. If you have diabetes, work to maintain control of the disease. This will decrease risk for other complications, including gum disease. Treating gum disease may help lower your blood sugar level. If your medication causes dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may not cause this condition. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, avoid tobacco products as well as alcohol. If you have sudden changes in taste and smell see your doctor or a dentist. If you have a role as a caregiver, help older individuals brush and floss their teeth if they are not able to perform these activities independently.

We hope you found our health tips helpful. Until we see you again, stay safe everyone.