What made you want to become a dentist?
Dr. Neff: “My father was a dentist and I always performed well in Science and Math. Two of my uncles were physicians and seemed to be married to their pagers, so it seemed like my dad had more free time.”
What’s your favorite part about dentistry?
Dr. Neff: “I love getting to know families and watching them grow and change. I have been seeing some of my patients since they were 3 years old and now I’m seeing their three year olds. I also love seeing patients faces as I completely change their smile.”
What foods can I eat to promote oral health?
Dr. Neff: “Really eating a balanced diet is what it’s all about, for our health and our teeth. The number one killer of teeth is sugar in any form. Most people just think about sucrose, but there’s galactose, maltose, and fructose, all are cariogenic.
What are the three best oral health habits I can implement to improve my oral health?
Dr. Neff: “The three best oral habits to improve people’s oral health would be: control sugar intake, get a electric toothbrush and when brushing angle it 45 degrees into your gums either up or down depending on the arch, make sure you take care of the spaces in between your teeth with floss and interdental brushes – I love soft picks!”
What type of toothpaste do you use at home?
Dr. Neff: “ I use Colgate and Crest but as long as the toothpaste has fluoride in it, it works for me!”
Is chewing gum ok for your teeth?
Dr. Neff: “I personally don’t like chewing gum at all. If you do it once and a while it’s no big deal, but regular heavy gum chewers always turn into grinders of their teeth and that destroys the TMJ long term and severely wears down patients teeth.”
Do you recommend using mouthwash daily?
Dr. Neff: “Yes! I do recommend mouthwash daily it helps reduce bacterial counts but it doesn’t remove plaque well you need friction or physical agitation to remove plaque it is extremely sticky.”
What is your favorite activity outside of work?
Dr. Neff: “My absolute favorite activity outside of work is Alpine skiing. Something about being outdoors and using nature and my own natural abilities to propel me. Plus the scenery is spectacular.”
If you weren’t a dentist, what else would you be?
Dr. Neff: “ I think I could have been a surgeon, I have always done well in stressful situations and once again it’s that math and science thing.”