While mouthwash is not an alternative to regular brushing and flossing, it can help keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. There are several different types of mouthwashes available, and all of them will help do different things for your smile. The most common types of mouthwashes are:

• Fluoride – fluoride is the most used type of mouthwash available, and is used to strengthen the enamel of the teeth while preventing cavities and tooth decay.

• Antiseptic – an antiseptic mouthwash is used to kill bacteria and germs in the mouth. Most commonly used before and after a dental surgery, antiseptic mouthwashes can also help to fight gum disease, and halitosis (chronic bad breath). Antiseptic mouthwashes can affect your sense of taste and may stain the teeth, so it is recommended that you consult your dentist before using this type of mouthwash.

• Combination – a combination mouthwash is designed to help prevent tooth decay, freshen the breath, and maintain the health of your smile.

• Prescription – for patients with gum disease, or any signs of gum disease, you may need a prescription mouthwash. Prescription mouthwashes, like Peridex of PerioGard, are used to treat gingivitis, and other forms of decay.

There are also many different brands of mouthwash. Some common brands include:

• Scope
• Listerine
• Act
• Crest
• Tom’s of Maine (all-natural)
• Plax (anti-plaque rinse)
• Breath Rx
• Orajel
• Targon (special mouthwash made for smokers)
• Rembrandt (whitening mouthwash)

If you are curious about which kind of mouthwash would work best for you, be sure to ask Dr. Renee Corbitt during your next dental appointment. If you have a favorite mouthwash, let us know by posting a comment for others to try!

At the office of Dr. Corbitt, we believe a child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable and positive. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. And that’s precisely why Dr. Corbitt and our team make a practice of using pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe your child’s first dental visit and treatment. We want you to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should visit Dr. Renee Corbitt by their first birthday. It is important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. For more information on the advantages of pediatric dentistry at our Fort Worth office, please give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Visiting the office of Dr. Renee Corbitt on a regular basis will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy as well. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

As your dentist, Dr. Corbitt is a specialist who works to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Spring is here, and with it comes the dreaded cold season (yes, it’s still here through the month of May!). After recovering from your cold, Dr. Renee Corbitt will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart – keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at (682) 200-3198 f you have any questions or ask Dr. Corbitt on Facebook.

Happy Monday!

In a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were recently asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Please feel free to contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Corbitt, new patients are always welcome! Your first visit will help Dr. Corbitt and team understand your dental goals and create a treatment plan just for you. Call today!

Dr. Corbitt and team hope you are not a part of the 51 percent of Americans who don’t floss every day. And we definitely hope you’re not part of the 10 percent who never floss at all. Dr. Corbitt and team will always tell you that proper flossing is just as important for your dental health as brushing regularly. Flossing, you see, cleans food and plaque that build up between teeth and below the gumline, key areas that brushing simply cannot reach.

Flossing 3-to-5 minutes each day is recommended, but even 60 seconds of flossing has a great benefit over not flossing at all. Also, make sure to always brush your teeth after you floss, and to rinse with water or mouthwash. When you begin flossing you may experience gum pain or bleeding, but with daily flossing and brushing this should stop within a week or so.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup at Dr. Corbitt’s Fort Worth, TX office? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to schedule an appointment!

Dr. Renee Corbitt and our staff will tell you that at our Fort Worth office, patients get two dentists for one. You get the care and attention to your oral health that any good general dentist provides. But on top of that, you get dentist in Dr. Corbitt who understands the impact of a beautiful, bright smile and straight teeth.

Cosmetic dentists undergo extra training to stay on the leading edge of restorative techniques. We can whiten teeth, perform implants, add veneers and much more. All the while, we’re keeping an eye on your dental health. Your teeth will be in great shape, and your smile will be stunning! Our practice offers professional individualized dental care to make your smile beautiful and healthy. Dr. Corbitt, along with our personable staff, are committed to providing a clean and comfortable atmosphere for up-to-date preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental care.

As a patient of Dr. Corbitt, you can relax knowing that your smile is in good hands! His commitment to individualized patient care is what our practice was built on, and it shows on the faces of all our happy patients.

Have a wonderful week, and look forward to seeing you soon!

You may remember our post from a few weeks ago, when Dr. Corbitt discussed February being “National Dental Health Month.” But did you know February is also American Heart Month?

It’s a great time to take notice of the health of your heart, says Dr. Corbitt. Cardiovascular disease remains American’s number one killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our Fort Worth office regularly can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. And because people with dental insurance are more likely to visit their dentist when they should, a healthy mouth begins with a visit to our office.

In observance of Heart Month, it’s also important to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25). If you have any questions about heart health, or about your treatment at our office, please give us a call.

To recognize those who “Like” us on Facebook, we will be having a Facebook Easter drawing on April 21, where one of our “fans” will win dinner for two – on us!

Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ReneeCorbittDDS and you’ll be entered into our drawing.

Facebook exclusive offers will be posted for our Facebook fans – head to our FB page to learn more!

Photo courtesy: Star-Telegram 2011

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone survived last week and are happy to see drier roads again. Since we may get more bad weather this week, I wanted to review our office “bad weather” policy.

Our general policy is to follow the FWISD schedule. If they close we would most likely be closed, if they are on a delay so would we. We post if the office is open, closed or delayed on our Facebook Wall page. You do not have to like Facebook or have a Facebook account nor do you have to login at all. A Facebook business page is treated like any other website page, everyone can access it. This information is in real time and can be very helpful.

Here’s the link to our Facebook page. I will start calling patients early any morning there is a change in the schedule. I would also send emails & text info for those patients on that day as well. If you have any questions, as always please contact the emergency number that morning.

Thank you,

Dr. Renee Corbitt