Dr. Richard Real/Bluff Park Dental

12/28/2016

TOP NEW YEAR'S ORAL HEALTH RESOLUTIONS FOR 2017!
* Quit Smoking
Smoking significantly increases your chances of getting gum disease, in fact you are twice as likely to get gum disease as a person that doesn't smoke. The same is true if you use any other to***co products. Chewing to***co contains 28 different chemicals that have been proven to cause cancer, especially oral cancer.
*Eat Less Sugar
Sugar is present in many different foods and drinks, but the one thing they all have in common is that they're bad for your oral health. Weather it's in the form of sodas, cookies, or even alcohol, sugar is consumed by oral bacteria that secrete acids that eat away your protective tooth enamel. Eating less sugar can not only decrease your risk of cavities but can have a positive effect on your entire body.
*Schedule a Consultation for Restorative Dentistry
If you are putting off restorative dental work due to dental anxiety or financial concerns, 2017 is the year to schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Real/Bluffpark Dental to get your smile back. Call and talk to a staff member about what your Insurance covers or plans we provide, you just might be surprised!! Whether you need cavity filled or more involved work such as crowns, bridges or veneers, our dental team can help.Call to set up a consultation.
*Visit Your Dentist
Mark your calendar for your six-month checkup with your dental office. Simple bi-yearly checkups are imperative for maintaining a great smile. Our dental team performs a dental exam on your teeth and gums and can even conduct an oral cancer screening.
Visiting the dentist on a regular basis prevent oral health problems and keeps your smile healthy, so make a pint to schedule every six months in 2017!
Dr. Real and Staff Wishes each and everyone a HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

12/06/2016

Oral Health Tips for a Merry Christmas!!
1. Offer Alternatives to Sweets
Sweet and sugary food and drinks activate the naturally-occuring bacteria that liv in our mouths. These bacteria feed of the sugar and produce the acids that hard teeth.
Instead of weighing down the Christmas table with cookies, candy andother Christmas favorites, balance it out by providing alternatives. Make sure there's a veggie tray with crunchy carrots, celery and broccoli. The natural crunch can help clean teeth in between sugar cookies.
2. Set Time Limit
It's really tempting to graze all day during the Christmas season, but this puts our teeth more at risk of decay. Instead of leaving food out until all hours, set up specific times of the day to set the table for people to eat. These can be sit-down meals or buffet style, but its important that there is a definite beginning and ending to these times. This will keep everyone from reaching for food all day that is high in sugar and fat.
3. Drink A Lot of Water
There are times when we feel hungry in which we just need to drink some water to rehyfrate. Provide family and friends with plenty of water to help balance out all of the food and to wash away any sticky, sugary residue that might remain on teeth. offer different ways to flavor their ice water, such as peppermint leaves or freashly cut lemon wedges for varity.
4.Practice Moderation
Moderation is an important concept that can be hard fro kids to grasp. Set a good example by exhibiting balance, especially on your plates. Christmas treats are great, but done forget to "indulge" in foods that will help absorb all of that sugar. Fill your plate with healthy veggies and som protein, then sit down with famil and friends and ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS SEASON!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

11/28/2016

Dr. Real and his staff hope everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving! Soon to come... Healthy Tips for a Merry Christmas!!

10/17/2016

Halloweeen is around the corner, here are 12 tips for a Healthy Halloween.
1. Time It Right-Eat Halloween candy with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals.
2.Stay Away From Sweet Snacks- Snacking can increase your risk of cavities, and it'd double the trouble if you keep grabbing sugary treats from the candy bowl.
3. Choose Candy Carefully- Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for long periods of time. Aside from how often you snack, the length of time candy stays in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay and increases the risk of decaying multiple areas.
4. Avoid Sticky Situations- Sticky candies cling to your teeth. The sticker candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
5. Have A Plan- It's tempting to keep that candy around, but your teeth will thank you if you limit your stash. Have your family go through the candy and pick favorites then donate the rest.
6. Drink More Water- Drinking fluoriedated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottle water, look for kinds that are fluoridated.
7. Maintain a Healthy Diet- Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.
8. Stay Away from Sugary Beverages- This includes soda, sport drinks and flavored water. When teeth come in frequent contact with sugary drinks, the risk of tooth decay is higher.
9. Chew Gum with the ADA Seal- Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by bacteria. (Sugarless gum w/ ADA seal can be a good Halloween treat)
10. Brush Twice A Day- Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Remeber, replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
11. Clean Between your Teeth- Floss your teeth once a day. Decay-causing bacteria get between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between teeth and under gum line.
12. Visit Your Dentist- Regular visits to your ADA-member dentist can help prevent problems from occuring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to "treat."
HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND BE SAFE!!

09/29/2016

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO VISIT OUR NEW LOOK ON THE WEBSITE. GO TO WWW.BLUFFPARKDENTAL.COM
Please let us know what you think about it!!

Dentist Richard H. Real Jr., DMD is accepting new dental patients in Hoover, AL 35226. Call (205) 823-2577 to request an appointment.

09/29/2016

WHAT CAUSES STAINS???
3 things to avoid so you can keep your teeth pearly white.
1. Chromogens-compounds w/ strong pigments that cling to enamel
2. Tannins-plant-based compounds that make it easier for stains to stick to teeth
3. Acids-these make tooth enamel softer and rougher, so its easier for stains to set in
Most ppl in the U.S think the main cause of darkened teeth is what more than 1/2 Americans drink everyday, COFFEE. Coffee does stain however it is not the worst culprit. TEA causes teeth to stain much worse than coffee. Not only is it full of acid, it also has tannins. To cut down on the amount of stain of teeth, the frequency of intake needs to be limited.
Red wine can be good for your health, but its not ideal for a bright smile. It is high in acid, lots of tannins and its deep in purple color suggest its high in chromogens, which lands on your teeth and stick to them quickly. White wine has both acid and, despite its color, some tannins. It doesn't have its own color to stain teeth, but the tannins and acids make your teeth fair game for other types of stains. Other likely stains come from tomato, a blueberry or a strawberry.

04/25/2016

STRESS..... Grinding or clenching your teeth can be a sign that you're under pressure. These are other signs stress is making you sick. Over time, you can gind down and damage your teeth, causing sensitivity and pain. "You can eventually get to the dentin, under the enamel", says Camargo. "Your bite height can change and you can create TMJ problems. There is also risk of fracture-you can break teeth."
If you are having any of these signs or symptoms, please contact us to help relieve the pressure on your teeth. Days, months and years of grinding, clenching along with daily wear on teeth can lead to problems. BE AWARE and catch it before its a problem or serious pain in teeth or jaw.

04/18/2016

What is Basic Dental Care?
Basic care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a mouth-healthy diet, which means foods high in whole grain, vegetables and fruits, and dairy products.

Please contact our office if you need to make an appointment to have a regular routine cleaning.

03/01/2016

If everyone could take some time and log onto The Hoover Sun main page or page and vote for Dr. Real under the link listed for Best of Hoover 2016. Dr. Real has been nominated for one of the Best Dentist in Hoover.
Thanks to all that have voted and will vote, we appreciate all of our patients and support.

04/03/2014

Did you know that April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month? Our doctor and hygienists perform an oral cancer exam every time you come in for a dental cleaning. Call today to schedule your appointment!

Close to 43,250 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 43,250 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. (Approximately 57%) This is…

04/03/2014

Just a crazy day at the office..

12/11/2013

Avoid missing work by visiting the dentist! Last year alone adults missed over 164 million hours of work and children missed over 51 million hours of school for dental related issues.