More happy patients at Gustafson & Morningstar Family Dentistry!

Gustafson & Morningstar Family Dentistry, serving Royal Oak and surrounding areas, has been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients are saying about Dr. Gustafson, Dr. Morningstar and team!

"Outstanding performance to my hygienist. She did a wonderful job and made me feel very comfortable. I really enjoyed meeting her for the first time."

"Whatever my dental needs are/were, you have maintained my teeth in great shape; and if I needed you in an emergency for any problem with my teeth, you made time for me regardless of your schedule."

"I absolutely love your office. Everyone there is friendly, courteous and knowledgeable. Michelle even called me ahead of time when their appointments were running 20 minutes behind."

"ALL of the staff is exceptional"

"I absolutely love your office. Everyone there is friendly, courteous and knowledgeable."

"Keep doing what your doing, I am very satisfied."

Summer reading with Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar

With summer in full swing, some of us at Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide.” Plus, it's fun!

This summer, Dr. Steve is reading Mark Twain's autobiography. Dr. Shari is reading two different David Baldacci books, The Whole Truth and Divine Justice. Dr. Steve likes historical novels and Dr. Shari enjoys murder mysteries.

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? You may also ask our Royal Oak librarian for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

"Hey Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Morningstar! What's the Deal with Flossing?"

At Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry, Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Morningstar will always tell you that proper flossing is the best way to clean the food and plaque that builds up between your teeth and below the gum line.

There are many different types and brands of flossers available. Choosing the one that works the best for you is a matter of personal preference. Easier and more effective than flossing with string, the Waterpik Classic Water Flosser WP-60 powers away plaque and debris between teeth and below the gumline. Six water pressure settings let you customize gentle-to-deep cleansing. Three unique tips clean in specialized ways, while a spacious reservoir reduces the need for refills.

While brushing does not replace flossing, Sonicare claims that the IntelliClean system is one step closer to flossing because the high speed motion of the toothbrush bristles actually dispense the toothpaste with fluoride deep between the teeth and below the gum line to enable cleaning those hard to reach places.

Please let Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar know if you have any questions about these products or your oral hygiene. It is always our goal to provide personalized dental care to help our patients develop good oral hygiene habits. After all, it only takes 3-to-5 minutes to floss!

Show off your pearly whites—June is National Smile Month!

According to the American Dental Association, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry to support National Smile Month this June.

So that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come, Drs. Gustafson and Morngingstar recommend that patients plan ahead to maintain their normal oral hygiene routines even while on-the-go. When traveling, people tend to not to pack their power toothbrushes, especially if they carry on their luggage. It is important for our patients to maintain optimum oral care even when they travel. We recommend that patients purchase a travel Spinbrush. These can easily fit in carry on luggage, and allow for you to continue good dental habits even when traveling.

Please let us know if you have any questions about your oral hygiene, or on-the-go dental care! You can always comment here on let us know by posting on our Facebook page.

Happy National Smile Month!

Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry, easing your fears of the dentist

While we strive to offer the very best dental experience for all our patients, our office realizes that many people still suffer from dental phobia. Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Morningstar have the experience and expertise to treat patients from various dental backgrounds.

We recently had a patient refer his girlfriend to our practice. The referral came with a warning, "she does not like the dentist". Having heard that statement many times over the years, our team thought we knew what to expect. Of course—the moment that she entered the door—we made sure to welcome her to our practice. Being left alone with your thoughts can allow for you to conjure up all kinds of scary stuff, so it's important to maintain a constant conversation. When I took her back to the operatory, she started to cry. This was unexpected.

In this situation, the assistant and Dr. Gustafson sat down with the patient to explain that we would not leave her alone for a minute. We reassured her that we wanted this experience to be a good one and that whatever it took, we were "in" for the long haul. A few jokes later, her tears were gone and she was laughing with our team! When she left, she said her visit was not just a good experience, but a great one.

We have seen this patient for restorative work since then, and she now goes back to the room without a tear! She has thanked us over and over again for helping her overcome her fear of the dentist—and making her feel like she she is visiting friends.

Your summer smile questions, answered!

Summer is just around the corner, which for many people means vacations, baseball season, days spent at the beach, and fun in the sun. It’s important to take special precautions to prevent facial injuries and preserve your healthy smile for a lifetime. That’s why Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Morningstar wanted to answer a few of the common questions that we often receive from patients and their parents during the summer months.

How can I help prevent my teeth from becoming chipped or broken while I play sports this summer?

We recommend the use of mouth guards, even if you're just playing a pickup game in your own driveway or yard.

Are sports drinks bad for my teeth? What can I drink to stay hydrated and keep my teeth healthy?

We see many patients in their early 20's with cavities as a result of use of high sugar content "energy" drinks. Sugar can quickly turn to acid, which will eat away at your tooth's natural enamel and cause a cavity!

We recommend staying away from high sugar drinks and using water to stay hydrated while playing sports or exercising. If you do consume sugary beverages, please remember to drink with a straw and brush your teeth soon after to prevent cavities.

What on-the-go snacks are best for my teeth?

Eating dairy is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack all stimulate the body's salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal.

Drs. Gustafson and Morningstar featured in the Royal Oak Patch

At Gustafson and Morningstar Dentistry we make every effort to serve our patients and community. We enjoy giving back to Royal Oak, MI by participating in fundraisers, programs and events for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Oakland County, such as our annual Smiles for Life teeth whitening program. We are proud to share that Dr. Gustafson recently received President Barack Obama's Lifetime Volunteer Service Award.

Be sure to check out Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Morningstar's recent feature in the Royal Oak Patch article and pay it forward!