Love your smile? Then we invite you to review us on Google!

Dr. Patricia Gilleran and Dr. Amy Van Fossen, along with our personable staff, are committed to providing a clean and comfortable atmosphere for up-to-date preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental care in our convenient Chicago Loop office.

Whether you've visited our office once for a cleaning, or have been coming here for years, we encourage you to recommend us on our Google Local page!

After all, your positive reviews and referrals help Drs. Gilleran and Van Fossen create more and more beautiful smiles here in Chicago!

Thank you in advance and enjoy your weekend!

Drs. Gilleran & Van Fossen present: Foods for healthy gums and healthy hearts

Gum disease, known also as periodontal disease, is far more common than you may think in the U.S. Year after year, new studies emerge that link the effect gum disease can have on your heart, and our staff at Bridgeview Dental have taken notice. Now, we're helping spread the word! One of the simplest steps to achieving healthier gums can be your diet. We recently came across a great article in EatingWell that outlines several options for healthier gums. Included among the suggestions were:

*Raisins
*Green Tea
*Whole Grains

In addition to these foods being gum-friendly, they are healthy foods in general, and a great option to begin integrating into your diet more this fall. Hope this helps! Have a wonderful weekend!

National Smile Week!

August 9-13 is National Smile Week, and an ideal time to remind patients of Dr. Gilleran and Dr. Van Fossen to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth shining and happy! This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding foods that can stain your teeth such as tea and coffee and visiting our convenient Chicago Loop office every six months or as recommended.

The American Dental Association, or ADA, recommends the following for good oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.

• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Tooth decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove the sticky film on teeth called plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.

• Visit Drs. Gilleran & Van Fossen regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Lastly, a great reason to smile is this: smiling can actually help you live longer according to a new study! Have you visited our office lately for a cleaning or checkup? If not, give us a call at 312-368-8771 to set up an appointment! Summer is a great time for a visit!

What are you reading this summer?

With summer 2010 in full swing, our staff at Gilleran and Van Fossen DDS want to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. We know it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading during the summer is actually a vital step in brain development. And, it can help you ward off that dreaded “summer slide.”

This week, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites?

Out of ideas for summer reads? Then check out these summer reading ideas that we came across this week, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading, and be sure to share your summer picks with us on our Facebook page! We hope you're having an outstanding summer!!