Coming up with great gift ideas for the holiday season can be tough…especially when trying to find something for those friends and family who already have EVERYTHING. Here at our dental office, we have a few gift items that are always big hits with our patients.

Electric Tooth Brushes: They just make brushing more fun! And studies have shown that most people brush more effectively with an electric toothbrush than with a manual one. For people with sensitive teeth, there are specially designed brush heads with softer bristles, and for those with braces, there are orthodontic heads designed to brush around brackets. Here at Cheek Dental, our favorite electric toothbrush is the Oral B Genius (and we often get good deals from the manufacturer that we pass along to our patients around the holidays!)

Take Home Tooth Whitening: Everyone loves a whiter smile! In just 10-14 days natural teeth can get several shades lighter with a professional strength whitening kit! In our office we carry both the Opalescence GO kit (which is easy, inexpensive, and can be picked up and taken home immediately) and the Opalesence custom tray set. Custom trays, made by taking an impression of the teeth, are designed to fit with precision and comfort. Both methods give excellent, long-lasting results.

In-office tooth whitening: The ultimate tooth whitening “spa” experience! When teeth are whitened by a professional in the dental office, the process typically takes only one hour instead of several days giving immediate gratification! And during that hour, here at Cheek Dental the gift recipient can relax in the dental chair while wearing headphones and listening to music or wearing our Cinemizer glasses and experiencing the feeling of watching an IMAX movie. And once the teeth are whitened, maintaining that bright smile is simple. With our in-office professional whitening experience, the recipient is given custom trays to use for a quick at home touch- up when needed.

Shopping for great gifts for the holidays can be a daunting task. Hopefully one of these dental gift ideas will help you check at least one name off your list!

This article was written by Dr. Cristi Cheek of Cheek Dental and originally appeared in the November issue of EAST COBBER, on page 9. Click here to view the digital edition.