1. SMILES BY DESIGN
DENTAL HEALTH NEWS & VIEWSNEWSLETTER NOV/DEC ‘15
NO MORE UGLY
BRACES WITH
TEETH WHITENING
WHAT SYSTEM IS
BEST WITH YOU?
NORTH COUNTY’S REASON TO SMILE
RESTORING YOUR TEETH
TO A PERFECT SMILE…
LUMINEERS
START 2016
WITH A BRIGHT WHITE
CONFIDENT SMILE
WAYS TO QUELL DENTAL ANXIETY AND
MAKE YOUR DENTAL EXPERIENCE A LOT
MORE TOLERABLE
740 GARDEN VIEW CT #215 | ENCINITAS, CA
HAVING ANXIETY IN THE
DENTIST’S CHAIR?
CALL US FOR A CONSULT
ARE YOU BRUSHING YOUR
TEETH THE WRONG WAY?
Top brushing mistakes inside
CALL US (760) 547-7608
WEBSITE WWW.DRMCELROY.COM

2. ARE YOU BRUSHING
YOUR TEETH THE
WRONG WAY?
BRUSHING YOUR TEETH MAY SEEM SIMPLE, BUT A
VARIETY OF PROBLEMS ARE TIED TO INCORRECT
BRUSHING TECHNIQUE. CHECK OUT THESE TOP
MISTAKES AND GET TIPS TO BRUSH CORRECTLY.
It’s something we all learned as kids, and we do it twice
(or more) a day. So when it comes time to brush teeth,
surely we’re not making any toothbrush mistakes… or are
we? Actually, dental health experts say that improper
brushing technique is more common than most people
realize. And the result is that healthy teeth are not as
common as they should be.
Here are the top toothbrush mistakes people make:
1. Using the wrong style of brush
“Some people still like medium or hard toothbrushes,
but soft, round-ended bristles are the way to go,” says
Matthew Hyde, D.D.S. “When the plaque is soft, it will
come off with a soft brush. Once it hardens into tartar or
calculus, it won’t come off with brushing no matter how
hard the brush, but you can damage the delicate gum
tissue by using those types of brushes.”
2. Not replacing an old brush
You should replace your toothbrush every three to four
months for dental health, but many people let it go way
3. Brushing back and forth
Often, the brushing mistake has to do with brushing
technique itself. “You should brush in a circular motion,
angling the bristles of the brush at a 45-degree angle to
the gum line and focus on a couple teeth at a time,” says
Dr. Frawley. “This enables you to clean under the gums,
where most plaque is present and causes the most harm.”
4. Brushing too aggressively
Not a lot of force is needed to do a good job brushing,
especially with an electronic toothbrush. “Most people
forget that bacteria and food particles that remain on the
teeth after eating a meal are very soft in texture,” Dr.
Keen says. “Therefore, gentle brushing is all that is
needed to remove the bacteria and food.”
5. Not brushing long enough
“Most people, when asked how long they brush, typically
say about one to two minutes, when in reality they
typically brush for only 30 seconds,” Dr. Keen says. “It is
important to access all the areas of the mouth and all
surfaces of the teeth to effectively clean the tooth
surfaces of bacteria and food.”
SMILES BY DESIGN ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA
(760) 547-7608 OFFICE@DRMCELROY.COM
beyond this point. “When the bristles become splayed
out, they cannot properly clean the various surfaces of
your teeth,” says Shawn Frawley, D.D.S.
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3. ANXIETY IN THE
DENTIST'S CHAIR
IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF GOING TO THE DENTIST, YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO QUELL
DENTAL ANXIETY AND MAKE YOUR DENTAL CARE
EXPERIENCE A LOT MORE TOLERABLE.
How to Overcome Dental Anxiety
1. Communicate with your dentist
Some people's fear of going to the dentist or getting
dental procedures done is so severe that they lose sleep
at night and worry excessively about what might happen
at the dentist's office, says Kimberly Harms, DDS,
consumer advisor and spokesperson for the American
Dental Association.
Dental anxiety is common, with up to 15 percent of
Americans avoiding seeing a dentist due to fear.
Dr. Harms says that dental anxiety is more common in
older people, who may have experienced dental care
when technologies were not as advanced as they are
today.
procedure about how you will communicate should you
have any discomfort or pain.
3. Get distracted
If you are having a dental procedure that requires
anesthesia, rest assured that anesthesia is much more
effective today than it was in the past. For some patients,
a sedative or nitrous oxide can also help calm their
nerves, says Harms.
4. Consider medication
It can be difficult to speak when you have a mouth full of
dental tools, so talk with your dentist before your
Harms says that the best thing you can do to get over
your dental anxiety is to talk to your dentist about it. "A
lot of patients don't feel comfortable talking with their
dentists on a one-on-one level," she says. But remember
that your dentist is a patient, too. In fact, Harms herself
has dental anxiety that stems from her childhood dentist
not using anesthesia when filling cavities. "If you are
anxious about something," she says, "come right out
and talk to the dentist about it."
SMILES BY DESIGN ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA
(760) 547-7608 OFFICE@DRMCELROY.COM
2. "Talk" with your hands
In Harms' office, patients are provided with video glasses
so that they can watch movies during dental procedures.
Watching television, listening to the radio, or just letting
your mind wander can help ease some of your anxiety.
There are dentists who practice sedation dentistry, which
is where you get dental care under partial or full loss of
consciousness.
Dr. McElroy here, at Smiles by Design, was among
the first few doctors in California to be certified to
administer conscious sedation.
For those whose dental anxiety is severe that they refuse
to get dental care any other way, sedation is the best
option for them.
5. Ask about sedation dentistry
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4. SMILES BY DESIGN ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA
(760) 547-7608 OFFICE@DRMCELROY.COM
Greg McElroy, D.D.S.
740 Garden View Court, #215
Encinitas, CA 92024
Dear Patients,
I am dedicated to providing you with the best possible oral health in dentistry today.
We have a solution for virtually every dental procedure.
Please call us today and we’ll come up with a scheduled plan that fits your needs
and your budget.
Yours for Dental Health,
Dr. Greg McElroy
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