Softly Brushing your way to Clean Teeth with New Image Dentistry

Just as there are so many different types of toothbrushes to choose from, each brush also has a different type of bristle! There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. We always recommend that our patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Using a hard and medium bristled brush can actually harm your teeth and gums by stripping the enamel from the teeth and irritating the gums so that they become red and sore, and can even cause gum recession. If you do use a hard or medium bristled brush as a personal preference, we recommend using an electric toothbrush.

Soft bristles are much gentler on your teeth and gums, and while patients of all ages are recommended to use soft bristled brushes, they are particularly great for children, seniors, patients recovering from a dental procedure, and patients wearing braces.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, if you currently use a hard or medium bristled brush, try a soft bristled brush next time you buy a toothbrush and we bet you won’t even notice a difference!

--Dr. Blourchian

Bottled Water May Be Behind Tooth Troubles, by Dr. Blourchian

We at New Image Dentistry want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

As of 2005, bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the United States, beating out milk, juice, and – more significantly – tap water. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health.

If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at New Image Dentistry regularly.

--Dr. Blourchian

Is Invisalign® Really Customized for Each Patient? Dr. Blourchian Explains

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.


Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Blourchian is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at (615) 656-3534.

Make Your Best First Impression With an Invisalign Smile -- New Image Dentistry

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

This age-old aphorism has been used to describe situations in business, in Hollywood, in the classroom, as well as in simple everyday life. A recent piece of research confirms the sentiment, with a particular emphasis on the impression made by the quality of your smile – and the teeth it reveals.

According to a study conducted by Beall Research & Training of Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, your smile has quite a lot to say about you to strangers.

Researchers showed hundreds of Americans photos of eight individuals. Some of the photos showed the individuals before undergoing dental improvements, and some showed them after. The “before” photos all showed people within in a normal range of dental quality: there were no rotten or missing teeth, for example. The level of improvement displayed in the “after” photos ranged from mild, to moderate, to major. Those viewing the photos were not told that the subjects of the images had undergone dental improvements.

The results were telling. Across the board, respondents indicated that the people in the “after” photos were more attractive, intelligent, successful in their career, friendly, interesting, sensitive to other people, happy, kind, popular with the opposite sex, and wealthy than the people in the “before” photos.

If something is bothering you about your smile, give us a call at New Image Dentistry. We are certified Invisalign practitioners. Time-tested by over half a million people, Invisalign allows you to improve your smile invisibly, with no metal wires or bands. Adults and teenagers alike opt to straighten their teeth with a series of clear aligners, which can be removed for meals and cleaning, as well as on special occasions.

Your new, improved first impression could be right around the corner. Call us today at New Image Dentistry!