Our Blog

Dr. Kelly Peterson and our team at Northwest Smile Design are happy to announce we now offer Snap-on Smile at our Marysville, WA office. Snap-On Smile is a comfortable, removable dental appliance that involves no drilling, filing down of existing tooth structure, injections, cementation, or adhesives. It fits right over your own teeth to give you a beautiful, natural-looking smile—and can hide stains, chips, gaps, or missing teeth.

Snap-On Smile is also non-invasive and easily removable. During your visit, Dr. Kelly Peterson will examine your teeth and decide if you are a candidate for Snap-on Smile. If that is the case, Dr. Kelly Peterson will discuss whether you would like to have Snap-On Smile for your upper or lower arch.

Next, you get to pick the style and shade you’d like. Our team will then take an impression of your teeth, and in a matter of three weeks you return for a final fitting.

Give us a call at our Marysville, WA office to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Kelly Peterson to learn if Snap-on Smile is right for you. We look forward to working with you!

Sometimes food that’s good for your body isn’t necessarily the best for your teeth. Dr. Kelly Peterson and our team want you to know which healthy foods can harm your teeth and gums, and what steps you can take to continue enjoying these foods, even when you’re dieting.

When you begin to substitute empty calories with whole foods, make sure you also remember to focus on your dental health. The majority of people tend to switch out sugary foods in favor of fruits and vegetables when they diet.

It’s worth knowing that most fruits are highly acidic and composed of natural sugars. Some of the highly acidic fruits to watch out for include apples, grapes, strawberries, pineapples, blueberries, oranges, and grapefruit. Moderation is key here, as with all other things. Fruits can be a great source of energy to help you through your day, but try not to overdo them.

Often, people also incorporate more leafy greens into their diets, which mean plenty of salads. Salad dressing is another item you’ll want to watch out for. Many dressings are filled with vinegars and sweeteners that include harmful acids, which change the pH of your mouth. When your mouth shifts from alkaline to acidic, your smile also turns to a higher risk for erosion and decay.

Rather than get rid of these foods altogether, simply change what you do after you eat them. Rinse your mouth out with water, brush your teeth, or eat alkalizing foods after consuming these acidic foods. Healthy alkalizing foods include dairy products such as eggs and yogurt, or any type of vegetable.

If you have questions regarding your current diet and its effect on your oral health, please contact our Marysville, WA office and speak with a member of our staff. If you’ve begun to make changes in your diet toward a healthier lifestyle, we hope these tips can help your make positive changes to your oral health. Our team at Northwest Smile Design wants a healthy lifestyle to be a top priority in your life.

Because babies’ teeth don’t appear until around six to eight months of age, it’s a natural misconception that they don’t need dental care. But the steps you take as the parent of an infant can help your baby maintain good oral health and develop healthy dental habits in the future.

It’s easy to take care of a baby’s teeth and gums, especially when oral hygiene for your infant becomes part of the normal daily routine. Learn more about how you can promote good dental health for your baby with these tips and considerations.

Taking Care of Baby’s Oral Hygiene

• Dental Hygiene for Birth to Six Months. Cleaning your infant’s gums is as important as cleaning teeth will be later. Hold your baby in your arms, and with a clean, moistened washcloth wrapped around your index finger, gently massage his or her gums.
• Dental Hygiene for Six to 12 Months. After teeth begin to appear, it’s time to switch to a soft, children’s toothbrush for teeth cleaning. New research has shown that fluoride toothpaste is safe and recommended for use once your baby’s first tooth arrives. Gently brush your baby’s teeth after each feeding, in the morning, and before bedtime, just as you did before teeth appeared.
• Good Bedtime Habits. One of the most important things you can do to protect your infant from tooth decay is to avoid the habit of putting baby to bed with a bottle. Use other soothing bedtime activities, such as rocking and lullabies, to help your baby drift off to sleep.
• A Note about Dental Decay. Many people are unaware that dental decay is transmissible. Avoid placing your baby’s bottle, sippy cup, or pacifier in your own mouth to test the temperature. Likewise, don’t share utensils with your baby.

Partner With Your Dentist

Your baby should receive his or her first dental health checkup by the age of six months. Even though your infant may not have teeth yet, Dr. Kelly Peterson can assess the risk your baby might face for oral diseases that affect hard or soft tissues. Dr. Kelly Peterson can also provide you with instructions for infant oral hygiene, and explain what steps to add as your baby grows and develops.

Northwest Smile Design is your partner for good oral health, and we’re here to make caring for your baby’s dental hygiene and health easier and more enjoyable for you.

Today, we thought we’d talk a little about Philips Zoom whitening at Northwest Smile Design. Philips Zoom, a professional teeth whitening treatment, gets your teeth an average of eight shades whiter in just one hour at our convenient Marysville, WA office. It is a great way to enhance the appearance of your smile.

With Dr. Kelly Peterson, Philips Zoom is safe, simple, and relaxing! Not only that, but Philips Zoom is championed by dentists and patients from coast-to-coast as a pain-free process.

After three 15-minute applications within one hour, your treatment is complete, leaving you with a brighter, whiter smile. It’s that easy!

Please give us a call to schedule an appointment for Philips Zoom whitening.