Ask Dr. McDonald: What’s the deal with coffee and tea?

At the office of Dr. Rabee McDonald we know most folks enjoy a hot-brewed coffee or tea in the morning, followed by a cola (or more coffee) in the afternoon. But what many don’t know is that both coffee and tea are especially tough on your teeth, because tannic acid (the substance that makes the dark color) etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel, and can stain your pearly whites brown.

So, if you can’t give up that morning cup o’joe, what can you do? Dr. McDonald and team suggest rinsing with a glass of water after every cup. If you enjoy iced coffee or tea, drink your beverage with a straw so that tannins don’t make contact with your front upper and lower teeth. Even if you’re not a big coffee drinker, we encourage you to swish and swallow some water at the end of each meal. Water, after all, helps neutralize acids left in your mouth after eating and also reduces cavity-causing bacteria.

Dr. McDonald and our staff also invite you to visit our convenient Escondido office for whitening options. We can help bleach your teeth with proven and professional products. To learn more about whitening options at our office, please visit our website, ask us on Facebook or give us a call!

Dental fun facts with Lifetime Smiles!

Everyone loves fun facts and dental tips. Fun, fun, fun! Dr. McDonald and our team at Lifetime Smiles came across these dental fun facts recently and thought you might enjoy!

• The second most common disease in the United States is cavities. The first is the common cold.
• There are almost 9,000 accidental pockings and piercings with toothpicks per year.
• X-rays may be an effective tool in preventing strokes.
• A child will have 20 baby teeth by the time he or she is 2 years old. Through childhood, kids gradually lose baby teeth and grow 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
• According to consumer reports, dentists are among the 5 most trusted professionals in the United States.
• Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products like toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss.
• The average American spends about 38 days brushing teeth over his or her lifetime.
• Kids in North America spend half a billion dollars per year on chewing gum.
• Approximately 94 percent of Americans say they brush nightly while only 81 percent say they brush first thing in the morning.
• Grand Rapids, MI was the first American city to fluoridate its water.
• Earliest record of a toothbrush was found in Chinese literature about 1600 AD
• The natural bristles of early toothbrushes were taken from the necks and shoulders of swine, especially pigs living in colder climates like Siberia and China.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call!

Tell us about your summer!

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for Dr. McDonald and our team at LifetimeSmiles to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited our nation’s capitol, went on a camping trip, visited the state fair or just stayed in Escondodo and the San Diego area and hung out with friends, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as the summer comes to an end soon for a lot of our patients!

We look forward to reading all about your adventures! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

When you need immediate dental care, we’re here for you.

At Lifetime Smiles, we know dental emergencies are never convenient or timely. If you are a patient of record, we are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you.

We are here to help you, any time, any day, and when your dental health is at risk, we’ll do everything we can to make sure that you’re treated as soon as possible. While dental emergencies are rare, we know they can happen at any moment, and it’s important to know how to take care of your teeth no matter what.

Common dental emergencies include:

• A bitten lip or tongue
• Broken or cracked tooth/teeth
• Broken jaw
• Permanent tooth that has been knocked out
• Object caught between teeth
• Severe toothache

If you have a dental emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to contact Dr. Rabee McDonald or Dr. Jeff Prais. We proudly serve patients from Escondido, among other surrounding communities in the San Diego area.

We hope you’re all enjoying your summer.

August featured patient testimonials!

Here they are, our August featured testimonials! Thanks again to everyone who wrote in - we hope everybody is having a great summer!

Wow! Thanks for such quick service. I cracked a tooth and was in San Bernardino. Called and asked for an appointment and was told come on in. Dr McDonald started on the tooth at 1:40 and by 4:10 I was on my way with a new tooth. The only thing that could make it better would be martini's after the work is done. You guys are GREAT!
Mike G.

Dr. McDonald did a fast efficient job of replacing my old filling. She explained each step of the procedure and checked constantly to see if I was having any discomfort.
Mike A.

Dr. McDonald's laser procedure for TMJ was more like a spa treatment than a normal dentist's visit. The laser (far infra-red) was warm and relaxing. Thanks, Dr. McDonald!
Sonia B.