Let's work together to keep your smile healthy and beautiful, with good care in the dental office and smart daily habits at home. At Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA, we look at every goal from both angles, so you know what we can do and what you can do to make it last.
Two sides of every smile
Some things only a dental office can do, like removing tartar, repairing a cavity or whitening teeth by several shades. Other things only you can do, like brushing every morning and night and choosing what you eat and drink. When both sides work together, results last longer and problems stay small.
Neither side has to be perfect. Small, steady habits at home and regular visits add up over the years to a smile that stays strong.
That is why advice is part of every visit. Cleanings at Southern York Smile Care are a full 60 minutes, which leaves time to talk about your goals and your routine, not just to clean.
Your side of the partnership
A good home routine does not need to be complicated:
- Brush for two minutes, morning and night, with a soft brush.
- Clean between your teeth once a day.
- Replace your toothbrush about every three months.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Keep your cleaning and checkup appointments, about every six months for most people.
- Call when something changes, like new sensitivity, bleeding or a chipped tooth.
Our side of the partnership
The team cleans what you cannot reach, checks for problems early with tools like digital X-rays and the intraoral camera, and gives you honest advice about what is worth doing now and what can wait. If a cavity is found, it is repaired with a tooth-colored filling. If enamel needs strengthening, you can choose remineralization varnish or fluoride.
Whitening: in the office and at home
Whitening is a good example of teamwork. Yellowed or stained enamel can be brightened in the office, and the result can be kept bright at home.
In the office
Professional whitening is safe and effective when it is done or supervised by a dentist. Before whitening, your teeth and gums are checked, since whitening gel on a cavity or exposed root can cause pain. Our laser whitening is done in the office, and our teeth whitening page explains all of the options.
At home
At-home whitening can also be safe and effective, especially for touch-ups. Ask which home products suit your teeth, and follow the directions closely. Overusing them can make teeth sensitive. Whitening toothpaste helps with surface stains but does not change the natural shade of your teeth.
Know your stains
Not every stain responds the same way. Surface stains from coffee and tea lift easily. Deeper stains from injury or certain medicines are harder. Our article All Tooth Stains Are Not Created Equal explains the difference.
Food and drink choices that protect your smile
What you eat and drink affects both the color and the health of your teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine, cola and tobacco are common staining agents. Sugary and acidic drinks feed the bacteria that cause decay and soften enamel.
We know that cutting these out completely is not an easy lifestyle change, and we do not expect it. Small steps make a big difference.
Simple habits that help
- Rinse with water after a dark or sugary drink. It cuts down on contact time and helps wash away acid.
- Use a straw for iced coffee, tea and soda to keep them off your front teeth.
- Enjoy sweets with meals rather than snacking or sipping all day.
- Wait about 30 minutes to brush after acidic food or drink, so you do not scrub softened enamel.
- Choose tooth-friendly snacks like cheese, plain yogurt, nuts and crunchy vegetables.
- Avoid tobacco. It stains teeth and raises the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
Long contact with sugar leads to plaque and tartar. Long contact with staining drinks can undo the results of whitening. Education and a few precautions protect both your health and your investment.
Keeping gums healthy together
Healthy gums are the frame for a beautiful smile, and gum care is very much a team effort. Gum disease often starts quietly, with gums that are a little red, puffy or bleed when you floss.
What we do
Professional cleanings remove tartar above and below the gumline. Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, checks your gums for pockets and signs of infection at every exam. If gum disease is found, treatment may include deep cleaning, Picasso laser therapy and an oral DNA test that shows which bacteria are present. See our gum disease treatments page.
What you do
Brush twice a day with a soft brush, angled toward the gumline. Floss once a day, or use small between-teeth brushes or a water flosser. Do not ignore bleeding. It is usually a sign that the gums need more attention, not less.
A smile that helps you every day
A healthy, confident smile can help in your professional career and in your personal life. When you feel good about your teeth, you smile more, speak up more and enjoy photos again.
If you would like to improve your smile, there are many options to talk through together:
- Cosmetic bonding for chips and small gaps
- Porcelain veneers for a bigger change in shape and color
- Invisalign clear aligners to straighten teeth without metal braces
- Tooth-colored, BPA-free white fillings to replace old silver ones in our mercury-free office
Dr. Haywood completed the NYU Aesthetic Continuum cosmetic training, is an Elite Invisalign Provider and has 35+ years in practice. Cosmetic imaging can show you a preview of your new smile before you begin. See our cosmetic dentistry page for more.
Your team at Southern York Smile Care
Working together means you have a team behind you. Madi Backel, our Expanded Functions Dental Assistant, helps with your care in the chair. Kelley Fisher, our Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, helps with treatment plans, insurance questions and financing. Scott Hittie, our Business Manager, keeps the office running smoothly.
Southern York Smile Care is out of network with every insurer. You pay at the visit, and the office files your claim for reimbursement. Payment plans through CareCredit and Cherry are available, and Invisalign can be paid monthly after a down payment. See our financing page.
Let's get started
If you are ready to make your smile healthier, brighter or more confident, pick up the phone and talk with the team. Call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment. We are at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA, and welcome patients from York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
Meet Dr. Haywood →
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