Why Is It So Important to Have Straight Teeth? - Southcenter Dental

Some people wonder why we work so hard to restore our patients' teeth with CEREC and other technologies. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but straight and even teeth also lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime.

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque – the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are chipped or out of alignment, give us a call at 206.973.8211 to set up a consultation. Dr. Baruffi can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from treatment.

BriteSmile® Whitening

Dr. Baruffi provides professional teeth whitening with BriteSmile®. BriteSmile is a professional teeth whitening treatment that gets teeth an average of 9+ shades whiter — in just one hour!

The treatment is simple, relaxing, and painless! First, you'll meet with the doctor for a complimentary consultation to answer your questions. And if you are interested in the treatment, the doctor will examine your teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy and ready for the treatment. During the procedure, BriteSmile's proprietary gel and blue light treatment whitens your teeth with stunning results.

About the Process:

1. While protecting your gums and mouth with an isolation material, our staff takes a "before" picture.
2. Then, we apply the BriteSmile whitening gel which is activated by the blue light source.
3. After three 20-minute applications during one hour, you rinse and the treatment is complete - it's that simple!


Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Baruffi and get started on a brighter, whiter smile today!

Gum Disease Can Sneak Up on You

It’s easy to tell when you have a cavity; but unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you even knowing. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Since gum disease can be undetectable, it’s important to watch for warning signs in order to prevent the disease from worsening!

Signs to watch for:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position
• Any change in the way partial dentures fit

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, make an appointment right away by calling 206.973.8211. We can diagnose the problem and begin treatment to save your teeth and give you back a healthy mouth!

Are There Teeth Grinders in Your House?

Grind, grind, grind, grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, especially a night grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound. Other symptoms of teeth grinding (technically called “bruxism”) include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

People frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, so taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem. Here are some things you can try to stop grinding:

• Cut back on caffeine and alcohol
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Relax right before bedtime with a warm bath or shower
• Help your jaw learn to relax by quitting any chewing habits (pens, pencils, gum)
• When clenching or grinding happens during the day, place your tongue between your teeth to serve as a reminder to avoid the habit

If grinding goes untreated, it can lead to chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMJ, a painful jaw disorder. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, make an appointment to see us by calling 206.973.8211. Dr. Baruffi can help determine the cause of the problem and possibly even prescribe a custom mouthpiece to help break the habit.

Nifty "Eggs"periment

Winter vacation is drawing near, and the little ones may run out of ideas to keep themselves occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? This one includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

* 1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
* 12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
* 1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
* 1 plastic bowl
* 1 toothbrush
* 1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
* Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.

5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.