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New Year, New Smile: Dental Resolutions For A Healthier 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:50:05 GMT

As the calendar turns to a new year, it’s an opportune moment to pause, reflect and embark on a journey towards better health and happiness. While resolutions often center around fitness and nutrition, the significance of oral health should not be overlooked. As you consider your dental resolutions for the coming year, why not set the stage for a brighter, healthier smile in 2024?

Understanding the Significance of Dental Resolutions

Beyond the aesthetics of a dazzling smile, oral health is a fundamental pillar of overall well-being. Neglecting dental care can lead to various issues, including gum disease, cavities and even broader health concerns such as heart disease and diabetes. By committing to healthy dental resolutions, you make a promise to prioritize your smile, a decision that can positively impact your holistic health and wellness.

Practical Tips for Upholding Top-Notch Oral Hygiene

Routine Brushing and Flossing: Lay the groundwork for a healthy smile by clearing away food particles and bacterial plaque by brushing, at least twice a day, and flossing once daily. Consider elevating your toothpaste effectiveness by opting for one containing fluoride that helps fortify tooth enamel and thwart cavities.
Regular Dental Check-ups: Prioritize your oral health by scheduling and attending biannual dental check-ups. These routine visits with our dedicated dental team are crucial for detecting developing issues early and preventing more severe complications.
Revamp Your Oral Care Regimen: Consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush for more effective plaque removal. Incorporate an antimicrobial mouthwash into your daily routine to combat bacteria and promote better gum health.
Timely Replacement of Toothbrush: Aim to replace your toothbrush every three to four months (or sooner if the bristles show signs of fraying and losing their shape). A fresh toothbrush ensures the most effective day-to-day cleaning.
Kick the Habit, Quit Smoking: If you’re a smoker, why not make quitting a top priority this year? Smoking not only stains your teeth but also escalates the risk of gum disease and oral cancer, both of which are often preventable.

Understanding the Wider Health Implications

The well-being of your entire body is closely linked to the condition of your oral health. Comprehensive studies have established connections between inadequate oral health and a range of systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections and diabetes. Emphasizing the importance of oral health goes beyond achieving an attractive smile; it represents an investment in the wellness of your entire body.

Nourish Your Smile with a Balanced Diet

In addition to consistent oral hygiene practices, maintaining a balanced diet is instrumental in nurturing a healthy smile. Foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables, contribute to robust teeth and gums. Calcium-rich choices like dairy products and leafy greens also bolster enamel strength.

To mitigate the risk of tooth decay and enamel erosion, limit your intake of sugary and acidic foods. Opt for water as your primary beverage to rinse away oral debris like food particles and bacteria and maintain optimal hydration for a healthy oral environment

Concluding Thoughts

As we enter 2024, let’s not underestimate the power of a radiant smile in fostering overall well-being. Dental resolutions are a small yet impactful commitment on your journey towards better health and a healthier, happier you. We welcome you to call our team to support you on your journey to a new year and a new smile!

How to Keep Your Teeth Safe During the Wintertime

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:55:30 GMT

As the days get shorter and the temperature steadily drops, we instinctively seek to warm up by donning extra layers to stay warm. While we take great care to protect our bodies from the chilly temperatures, we might not give much thought to how winter can affect our oral health. In fact, cold weather can pose unique challenges to our teeth and gums, requiring a bit of extra attention to keep our pearly whites in tip-top shape.

Tooth Sensitivity

One common condition during wintertime is tooth sensitivity. The combination of cold air and hot drinks can be a recipe for discomfort, especially if you already struggle with sensitive teeth. To combat this, consider using a toothpaste specially designed for sensitive teeth. These toothpaste formulas often contain ingredients that help desensitize the nerves in your teeth, providing relief from the sharp pain that cold air or hot beverages can trigger.

Holiday Habits

Winter is also a season of indulgence, with holiday treats and festive goodies tempting us at every turn. While it’s perfectly fine to enjoy these delights in moderation, it’s essential to maintain a consistent oral care routine to combat the effects. Frosted cookies, holiday pies, wassail, hot chocolate and other hot drinks contribute to tooth decay and cavities, so be sure to brush your teeth after indulging and floss regularly to remove any lingering food particles. If you can’t brush after eating, opt for sugar-free gum if you’re craving something sweet but want to avoid the potential impact on your smile.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Hydration is crucial all year round, but it becomes even more critical during wintertime. Cold weather is dehydrating, and a dry mouth can contribute to various oral health issues, including bad breath and amping up your risk of cavities. Make a conscious effort to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of plain water throughout the day. If you find it challenging to consume cold water during winter, try sipping on warm herbal teas or infusing your water with a splash of natural flavors, like a slice of lemon or cucumber.

Protecting Those Pearly Whites

Safeguarding your mouth during sports is always imperative, whether you are surrounded by winter weather or you are traveling to your favorite winter destination. The biting cold, coupled with high speeds and gusty winds, can pose a threat to your oral health. Wearing a protective mouth guard acts as a shield against the elements and minimizes lacerated or bruised lips and cheeks, and other injuries to your teeth and gums. Whether skiing down snow-covered slopes or gliding across icy rinks, this simple precaution ensures a safe and enjoyable winter sports experience, preserving your oral health.

Protect Your Lips

Whether you are indoors with the heater running or outside braving the elements, your lips can become chapped. Constantly licking them exacerbates the problem as the skin is delicate, and the enzymes in the saliva break down the skin’s protective barrier, leading to more dryness. Keep your lips moisturized with a good-quality lip balm, preferably one with added SPF protection to shield them from the sun. Remember, UV rays are higher at higher altitudes and snow can magnify the strength of UV rays.

See Your Dentist

Maintaining your oral health during the wintertime is worth the effort! Simple adjustments, like using sensitive toothpaste, staying hydrated, wearing a protective mouth guard and being mindful of your winter snacking habits, all go a long way in preserving your pearly whites while you enjoy this festive time of year. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated dental team if you have any concerns or issues with your smile!

Do You Know How Diabetes Can Affect Your Smile?

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:58:25 GMT

This November (National Diabetes Month), we are looking at how diabetes impacts your oral health. It’s essential to recognize the interconnectedness of your overall health with your dental health in general and explore how making healthy choices can significantly benefit both areas of your health and well-being.

The Diabetes-Oral Health Connection

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body processes sugar (glucose). High blood sugar levels can lead to various health complications, including issues with your mouth. Here are a few key connections between diabetes and your oral well-being:

Gum Disease (Periodontitis): People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing gum disease. This condition, also known as periodontitis, can cause inflammation and damage to the soft and hard tissues supporting your teeth. It can lead to gum recession, tooth loss and even chronic bad breath (halitosis).
Dental Cavities: Diabetes can affect the flow of saliva in your mouth, which is essential for maintaining good oral health. Reduced saliva production can lead to a dry mouth, making it more prone to dental cavities and infections.
Delayed Healing: Diabetes can slow down the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This means that if you have oral surgery, tooth extractions, or other dental procedures, you may take longer to recover and may also be at a higher risk of complications.
Thrush: Thrush, a fungal infection in the mouth, is more common in people with diabetes. High sugar levels in the mouth provide an ideal environment for the fungus to thrive.

Healthy Choices for Both Diabetes and Oral Health

The good news is that many lifestyle choices that help manage diabetes also promote better oral health. Here are some ways to make healthy choices that benefit both:

Control Blood Sugar Levels: Properly managing elevated blood sugar is the cornerstone of diabetes care. By doing so, you reduce your risk of developing oral health issues. Regular monitoring, medication management and lifestyle adjustments are key.
Stick to a Balanced Diet: A nutrient-rich diet comprised of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains benefits both diabetes management and your oral health. Avoid excessive sugar and limit starchy foods that can contribute to dental problems.
Daily Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. This simple system helps remove plaque and prevent gum disease from invading your smile. Be sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles, as aggressive brushing can harm your gums.
Regular Dental Checkups: Consistent dental checkups are crucial. Our dentist can monitor your oral health, spot issues early, and offer guidance on proper oral care.
Quit Smoking: Just as smoking is harmful to your oral health, it can also exacerbate the complications of diabetes. If you currently smoke, seek support to help you quit.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking lots of water throughout your day helps combat dry mouth, reducing your risk of dental cavities from tooth decay.
Manage Stress Levels: Stress can seriously affect blood sugar levels and your oral health. Look for healthy ways to manage your stress levels by incorporating exercise, mindfulness, or hobbies you enjoy during your week.

Book Your Reservation

National Diabetes Month is a reminder of the importance of taking good care of your body. Making healthy choices benefits both diabetes and your oral health, boosting your quality of life overall. This November, prioritize your oral health for a brighter and healthier future. If it is time for you to see our dentist for a checkup and cleaning, we invite you to give us a call to book a reservation. Your smile and body will thank you!

Unlocking the Secrets of a Healthy Smile: National Dental Hygiene Month

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 20:41:39 GMT

October traditionally starts the fall holiday season by indulging in Halloween treats, but it is also National Dental Hygiene Month! This timely reminder spotlights the unique role dental hygienists play in helping patients maintain better oral health and the importance of practicing consistent daily dental care. Skilled dental hygienists meticulously clean your teeth and gums, removing plaque and tartar buildup, while also providing valuable insights on proper oral care practices. Dental hygienists are passionate advocates for preventative dentistry, emphasizing the importance of regular checkups and cleanings to prevent dental issues down the road.

The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is much more than just having a bright, white smile. It’s a vital aspect of maintaining your overall health and well-being. Your mouth is the entry point for the entire digestive system, making oral health a fundamental part of your overall well-being. Proper oral care can prevent various oral diseases, including cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. Conversely, neglecting oral health care can lead to debilitating pain and discomfort, negatively impacting your quality of life.

The Impact of Oral Diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), oral diseases affect millions of Americans each year, causing pain and suffering that can be avoided with proper care. Cavities, also known as dental caries, are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States. Untreated cavities can lead to severe toothache and, in extreme cases, tooth loss.

Gum disease, another common oral health issue, can result in swollen, bleeding gums, bad breath, and tooth mobility. Left untreated, it can progress to more severe stages, causing tooth loss while increasing the risk of other health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Oral cancer is another concerning issue. It can develop in any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, and throat. For this reason, early detection is crucial for successful treatment, making regular dental check-ups a critical part of your ongoing oral health care.

Protecting Your Oral Health

The good news is that diligently practicing good oral hygiene can greatly increase the likelihood of keeping your teeth for a lifetime. To help you with that, we have some essential tips for maintaining top-notch oral health:

Brush and Floss Regularly: You will want to brush your teeth at least twice a day; consider using toothpaste and dental floss to clean between your teeth and along the gumline. This will ensure the clearing away of stray food particles and tooth-destroying dental plaque.
Visit Your Dentist: Regular dental check-ups are essential for early detection and prevention of oral issues. Our dentist can perform cleanings, X-rays and screenings for oral cancer to protect your smile.
Monitor Your Eating Habits: Restrict the consumption of both sweetened and acidic foods and beverages as they can promote tooth decay. Stick to a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.
Avoid Smoking and Tobacco Products: The use of tobacco and smoking heightens the likelihood of oral cancer, gum ailments and tooth loss. Quitting is among the most beneficial actions you can take for both your oral and general well-being.
Safeguard Your Teeth: When engaging in contact sports, wearing a protective mouthguard can help. If you tend to grind your teeth during sleep, wearing a nightguard can protect your teeth from damage.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking water regularly throughout your day rinses away food particles and oral bacteria that invite cavities and halitosis (bad breath). Maintaining healthy saliva levels is an easy way to protect your teeth and gums.

Conclusion

National Dental Hygiene Month is a reminder that maintaining good oral hygiene is about safeguarding your overall health and well-being for better oral health. By following these essential tips for greater oral health, you can ensure your smile lasts a lifetime while enjoying better overall health and safely indulging in a few Halloween goodies. So, this October, celebrate by taking a step towards better oral care. Your future self will thank you for it!

Gum Care and Age: How to Navigate Oral Health Through the Years

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:46:08 GMT

For the month of September, we welcome National Gum Care Month, a timely reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy gums during every stage of life. Our gum health, like the four seasons, evolves with age, requiring varying degrees of care and attention. From childhood to adulthood and into the senior years, our gums go through transformations, each with their unique challenges and solutions. Let’s explore the ever-changing landscape of gum care, emphasizing the importance of adapting our oral health routines as we grow older.

Childhood: Laying the Foundation

In childhood, our gums are in their early developmental stages. This is a crucial time as parents to guide our children’s dental care. Regular dental checkups, maintaining a balanced diet, and following proper brushing and flossing techniques are also vital to help your child’s smile thrive. Taking the time to teach your child good oral hygiene habits from a young age helps set them on the path to a lifetime of healthy gums.

Adulthood: Balancing Act

As we enter adulthood, our lives become busier, and the challenges to gum health evolve. Stress, dietary choices and lifestyle factors can take a significant toll on our gum health. It’s vital to maintain regular dental checkups and practice consistent oral hygiene routines. Brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash can all help combat the effects of a busy lifestyle on our gum health.

Seniors: Unique Considerations

In our senior years, our gums face unique challenges. Aging can lead to a higher risk of gum disease, tooth loss, and other oral health problems. It doesn’t help that reduced saliva production, medication side effects, and medical conditions can all impact our gum health. Seniors should prioritize regular dental visits, pay attention to denture care (if applicable), and stay vigilant about unusual oral health changes. Soft-bristled toothbrushes and gentle dental floss can help protect those delicate gums.

The Importance of Adaptation

Throughout our lives, our gum care routines will need to be adapted to take into account our ongoing needs. Here are some general tips you will want to consider implementing in your day-to-day oral hygiene regimen.

Regular Dental Checkups: No matter what your age, routine dental visits are essential. Our dentist can detect early signs of developing gum disease and offer effective guidance on maintaining your best gum health.
Proper Nutrition: A balanced diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and calcium is vital for good gum health. Staying away from excessive sugar and acidic foods can help prevent gum issues from gaining a foothold.
Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining healthy gums. Water helps wash away stray food particles and bacteria that can contribute to gum disease formation.
Oral Hygiene Products: Choose oral hygiene products tailored to your age and specific needs. Specialized toothpaste and mouthwash can be beneficial for seniors, while children often benefit from protective fluoride treatments.
Avoid Tobacco: Smoking and chewing tobacco are known to impair gum health. Putting a stop to these habits can seriously improve your gum health.

Conclusion

National Gum Care Month reminds us that gum health is not a one-size-fits-all aspiration. It evolves with age, requiring different forms of care and attention at each stage of your life. Whether you’re a parent guiding your child’s dental care, a busy adult juggling responsibilities, or a senior facing unique oral health considerations, adapting your gum care routine is crucial. By staying proactive and embracing age-appropriate practices, you can ensure a lifetime of healthier, more appealing gums. As you can see, it’s never too early or too late to invest in your gum health!

How To Maintain a Healthy Smile As You Head Back to School

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 20:48:36 GMT

Whether you or your child is a student heading back to classes, we have tips for maintaining a healthy smile while juggling new routines with new classes, extracurricular activities, and social events. Having a healthy smile doesn’t just boost self-confidence but also contributes to one’s overall wellbeing. Let’s look at how to prepare for school by maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits while balancing the demands of academic life.

1. The Power of Regular Dental Checkups

Consistent routine dental checkups are the building block of maintaining a healthy smile. As the school year begins, it’s essential to schedule a dental checkup to address any potential dental issues before they turn into major concerns. Our dental team can spot problems like cavities, gum disease, or misalignments early on, preventing more significant complications later and ensuring a confident and pain-free smile now.

2. Juggling Orthodontic Treatments

If you or your child is undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces or retainers to correct dental misalignments, it is vital to stay on top of treatments in a timely manner to help ensure the best results. Following the orthodontist’s instructions diligently, maintaining regular adjustment appointments, and practicing excellent oral hygiene help prevent issues like plaque buildup or tooth decay around the braces.

Pro Tip: Our dental hygienist is happy to show you or your child in braces how to clean around the orthodontic appliance.

3. Healthy Snacks for Happy Smiles

Balanced nutrition is vital for both academic success and dental health. Packing smile-friendly snacks like fresh fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and cheese can help fuel you or your child throughout the day while minimizing the risk of tooth decay. Avoid sugary snacks and beverages, which can lead to cavities and enamel erosion. Drinking plenty of water helps promote hydration and washes away any lingering food particles in the mouth.

4. Combatting Common Dental Issues

Students may face various dental challenges during the school year, such as bad breath, canker sores, or sensitive teeth. To combat bad breath, make sure to brush your tongue gently and use mouthwash to help lower oral bacteria. For canker sores, over-the-counter ointments or rinses can help relieve discomfort. Sensitive teeth can be managed by using a toothpaste designed for sensitivity and avoiding extremely hot or cold foods and drinks.

5. Managing Time for Dental Care

With busy school schedules and extracurricular commitments, finding time for necessary dental care might seem challenging. Setting a daily routine for oral hygiene and making it a priority can make all the difference. A few minutes spent on brushing, flossing and using mouthwash can save teeth and gums from potential dental issues down the road.

Pro Tip: Using a timer or setting reminders on a phone can help you or your child’s oral health stay on track.

6. Prevention Is Better Than a Cure

Prevention is the key to maintaining a healthy smile. Along with regular dental checkups, it’s important to be proactive in protecting teeth during sports or other physical activities. Wearing a mouthguard can help prevent injuries and dental emergencies, such as chipped or knocked-out teeth.

7. Say “No” to Dental Neglect

With the hectic pace of school life, it can be tempting to neglect one’s dental health. However, dental neglect can lead to serious consequences, including pain, infections, and academic distractions. A healthy smile contributes to overall wellbeing, and investing in dental care will pay off in the long run.

Heading Back to School in Style

If you or your child is heading back to school, maintaining dental health should be a high priority. Regular dental checkups, proper management of orthodontic treatments, healthy snacking, and combating common dental issues are all crucial elements for a happy smile amidst those busy school days. Remember, a healthy, appealing smile is one of your most valuable assets all year round!

Summer Sports and Emergency Dental Care at Home Before Seeing Our Dentist

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 17:16:37 GMT

Summer is an ideal time to participate in outdoor activities and sports. Whether swimming, playing basketball, or cycling, the warmer weather invites us to have fun and stay active. However, accidents can happen, and a dental emergency during your summer outings can put a damper on your plans. Understanding how to handle dental emergencies at home before getting in to see our dentist is crucial to minimize pain, prevent further damage and ensure a speedy recovery. We will explore some common summer sports-related dental injuries and provide essential tips to help you manage them at home.

Common Dental Injuries in Summer Sports

Tooth Fractures: Participating in sports such as football, soccer or skateboarding increases the risk of tooth fractures. A fall, collision, or sudden impact can cause a tooth to crack, chip, or break.
Knocked-Out Teeth: High-impact sports like rugby or martial arts may lead to a tooth being completely knocked out. Quick action is essential to raise your odds of a successful re-implantation.
Soft Tissue Injuries: Sports that involve contact, like basketball or boxing, can cause injuries to the soft tissues in your mouth, including the lips, cheeks, or tongue. These injuries may result in bleeding and require immediate attention.

Emergency Dental Care at Home

Tooth Fractures: If you find yourself with a fractured tooth, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water and apply a cold compress on the affected area to reduce any swelling. Avoid chewing on the broken tooth and contact our dentist as soon as possible for timely evaluation and treatment.
Knocked-Out Teeth: When a tooth is knocked out, you’ll want to gently rinse it under water (without scrubbing or removing any attached tissue). Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket, or if that’s not possible, place it in a clean container of milk or saliva to keep it moist. Time is of the essence, so seek dental care immediately.
Soft Tissue Injuries: If you sustain a soft tissue injury, you will want to rinse your mouth with warm saltwater, followed by applying gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze to control the bleeding. Should your bleeding persist or the injury is severe, please seek immediate medical attention.

Preventing Dental Injuries

Wear Mouthguards: For high-risk sports activities, wearing a properly fitted mouthguard is crucial. Custom-made mouthguards provide the best protection, but even over-the-counter options offer some level of defense for your oral health.
Use Protective Gear: Be sure to utilize helmets, face shields and other appropriate protective gear designed for your particular sport. This extra layer of protection can significantly lower your risk of incurring facial injuries.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine to keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy. Regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups go a long way to preventing dental issues that may increase the likelihood of injuries.

Be Prepared

While summer sports provide ample opportunities for enjoyment and exercise, dental emergencies can occur unexpectedly. Being prepared and knowing how to handle dental injuries at home before needing to see our dentist for an emergency is essential for minimizing pain and ensuring a speedy recovery. Remember, prompt action can make all the difference in saving a tooth and preventing further damage from occurring. Please don’t hesitate to give our team a call if you have any questions or concerns about your dental health or to schedule your next visit!

Tips for Maintaining Oral Hygiene During Your Summer Vacation

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:25:43 GMT

Summer vacations are a time to relax, explore new destinations and create lasting memories. While enjoying your break, it’s essential not to neglect your oral hygiene routine. Ignoring dental care during vacations can potentially lead to oral health issues, which can put a damper on your well-deserved time off. To help you protect your smile while you are away, we have compiled a list of useful reminders that can keep your smile on track!

Pack the Essentials

Before you embark on your summer adventure, ensure you pack all your oral hygiene essentials. Remember to bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash. You can opt for travel-sized products or invest in a travel toothbrush with a protective case for convenience and cleanliness. Either way, your oral hygiene pack is a traveling essential! Bonus: your smile will look its best in person and pictures!

Stick to Your Routine

While vacations are a time to break away from your daily routine, it’s important to maintain consistency with your oral hygiene habits. You’ll still want to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each session. Ensure you brush all surfaces of your teeth (and don’t forget your tongue)! Also, don’t skip flossing, as it actively clears out plaque and stray bits of food lingering between your pearly whites.

Stay Hydrated

Hot summer temperatures, coupled with increased physical activities during your travel excursions, may lead to dehydration. Remember, it’s essential to down lots of water to stay optimally hydrated. Plain water not only helps maintain overall health but actively promotes saliva production, which you need to neutralize harmful acids and protect your teeth against decay.

Limit Sugary Drinks and Snacks

You can still enjoy festive treats while you are away. It can help to rinse your mouth with water wherever you go to help wash away some of the sugar and acids. Then be sure to brush and floss when you can to keep tooth decay and cavities away.

Carry Sugar-Free Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to maintain good oral hygiene during your vacation. It helps stimulate saliva production, which aids in neutralizing acids and washing away bits of oral debris. Look for gum with the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval for added assurance.

Be Mindful of Travel Food Choices

When dining out during your vacation, make conscious food choices that are beneficial for your oral health. Opt for dishes that are less likely to get stuck in between your teeth or leave a sticky residue. Avoid hard candies and chewy snacks that can damage your teeth or lead to dental work complications.

Research Local Dental Care Options

In case of any dental emergencies or unexpected oral health concerns during your vacation, you will want to be prepared. Research and note local dental clinics or emergency dental services available in the area you’re visiting. Having this information readily available can save you stress and time if the need arises.

Schedule a Pre-Vacation Dental Check-up

If you can, get your teeth checked and cleaned before your vacation. We can address any underlying oral health issues and ensure your teeth and gums are in good shape to travel. We can also provide personalized recommendations for maintaining oral hygiene while you are away.

Enjoy Your Vacation and Stay Committed

Follow these simple guidelines and enjoy your time away, exploring new places and creating life-changing memories. Your smile will thrive, and you will look your best, especially in all those photos you will bring home you’ll want to display and share!

Five Ways To Take Good Care of Your Smile During the Summer Months

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 21 May 2023 17:28:52 GMT

Summer is a time for fun, sun, and outdoor activities. However, it’s also a time when people tend to neglect their oral health with all the distractions, like barbecues, ice cream treats, and chilled sugary drinks to stay cool, so it’s all too easy to forget about taking care of your teeth and gums. But good oral health is important all year-round and, unfortunately, neglecting it during the summer months can lead to dental problems down the road.

Summer Oral Health Tips

Here are five tips for maintaining good oral health during those busy summer months!

Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated is important for your overall health, and it’s especially important for your oral health. Drinking plenty of water can help flush away harmful bacteria, food particles, and oral debris that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Water can also help keep your mouth moist, which is necessary to prevent dry mouth, a condition that can lead to bad breath and other oral health problems.
Limit sugary and acidic drinks: Summer is a time for cold drinks, but sugary and acidic drinks, like soda, iced coffees, and tea are harmful to your teeth. Sugary drinks can lead to tooth decay, while acidic drinks can erode your tooth enamel, leading to sensitivity and other problems. Limit your consumption of soda, sports drinks, and other sugary and acidic drinks, and opt for water or unsweetened tea instead whenever possible.
Practice good oral hygiene: Good oral hygiene is important year-round, but it’s especially essential during the summer months when people tend to indulge in sugary treats and acidic foods and drinks (as mentioned). Now, more than ever, it is important to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, and be sure to floss at least once a day to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth. If you’re constantly on the go, you might want to carry a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste with you so you can brush your teeth after meals and sweet drinks.
Wear a mouthguard: Summer is a time for enjoying outdoor sports, but playing sports without a mouth guard can lead to accidental dental injuries. A mouth guard can help protect your teeth and gums from injury, whether you’re playing contact sports like football or non-contact sports like skateboarding. Talk to our dentist about getting a custom-fitted mouth guard that will provide the best protection for your healthy smile.
Schedule a dental checkup: Summer is a great time to schedule your routine dental checkup. These dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health and can help catch dental problems before they become serious. If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, you can schedule one today. Our dental team is ready to examine your teeth and gums, clean your teeth and provide you with tips for maintaining good oral health tailored to your personal needs.

Call Today!

By following these five tips, you can maintain a healthier smile while enjoying all the fun and activities that summer has to offer. Stay hydrated, limit sugary and acidic drinks, practice good oral hygiene, wear a mouth guard, and schedule your next dental checkup. Your teeth and gums will thank you!

Oral Cancer Awareness Month Is a Great Time To Get Your Oral Cancer Screening

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:31:56 GMT

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and it is the perfect time to bring attention to the dangers of oral cancer and the importance of having routine cancer screenings done. Oral cancer is one kind of cancer you can get in the mouth, throat, tongue, or lips, and if left undetected, it can be life-threatening. The Oral Cancer Foundation asserts that around 54,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year alone, with around 10,000 of them likely dying from this terrible disease.

Oral Cancer Screening

According to the American Cancer Society, people who are considered to be at an average risk for oral cancer should undergo a cancer screening every three years, starting at age 20. However, people who use tobacco or alcohol or who have a history of oral cancer in their family may need to be screened more frequently. Additionally, those with HPV-related risk factors may benefit from an HPV-related cancer screening, which can be done through a simple mouthwash test.

When you come in for your cancer screening, our dentist will begin by evaluating your mouth and throat for the telltale signs of cancer. This includes looking for any red or white patches, sores or lumps in the mouth. Should something suspicious be found, a biopsy may be done to confirm or rule out cancer.

Many people are not aware of the importance of cancer screenings or may put them off due to fear or discomfort. However, rest assured that cancer screenings are quick and painless while saving lives. By detecting oral cancer early, our dentist can help you receive prompt treatment to improve your chances of survival.

Oral Cancer Signs and Symptoms

It’s also important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, which can include:

A sore throat that persists for longer than two weeks
A lump or thickening in your cheek or throat
Problems when you swallow or chew
A white or red patch on the tongue or gums
Noticeable unexplained bleeding in the mouth
Numbness or pain in the mouth or lips

Should you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment with our dental team as soon as possible for screening.

Oral Cancer Prevention

Avoiding tobacco use, including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco
Limiting alcohol consumption
Maintaining proper oral hygiene habits like brushing twice a day and flossing daily
Using lip balm with sunscreen to protect your lips from sun damage

As you can see, Oral Cancer Awareness Month is an important reminder of the dangers of oral cancer and the importance of regular cancer screenings. Protect your oral and general health and well-being by watching out for the signs and symptoms of oral cancer and then staying on top of the steps outlined above to reduce your risk of developing this serious disease.

Schedule Your Dental Checkup

Our caring dental team urges you not to put off your cancer screenings as they could very well save your life. We invite you to give us a call today to schedule your dental checkup and oral cancer screening. Your smile will thank you!

Celebrate March’s Dental Holidays With Us!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:35:08 GMT

March is a busy month in the dental community. With National Dentist’s Day on March 6 and Dental Assistants Recognition Week from March 5th to March 11th, we would like to give a huge shoutout to our team and thank them for all their hard work every day! Our dental family loves helping your family’s smiles thrive, and it gives us great joy to be part of your ongoing dental experience.

National Dentist’s Day

Dentists provide the expertise needed to prevent, diagnose and treat oral diseases. They observe the growth of your teeth and jaws and perform surgical treatments like tooth extractions and root canals to keep your mouth and body as healthy as possible. This also means you can smile with confidence!

Dental Assistants Recognition Week

Just like dentists, our dental assistants also keep your smile and body healthier. Recognized by the American Dental Assistants Association, dental assistants are considered multi-talented members of any dental team for providing essential supportive dental care:

Comforting and listening to our patients
Providing an extra set of eyes, ears and hands where needed
Keeping everything running smoothly
Supporting the rest of our dental team
Performing infection control tasks

Our dental team depends on the work of our dentist and assistants so you get the high-quality dental care you and your family need.

National Nutrition Month

March is also National Nutrition Month, and eating better helps you create and maintain healthy teeth and gums for a healthier mouth and body. Did you know calcium, some fatty acids, vitamins C and D, and proteins can help your jaw and teeth function better? Protein fixes tissue and builds bone so you have a healthier bone density. Getting enough protein by eating healthy, whole foods with vital nutrients for optimal oral health can help keep your smile strong.

Build Better Oral Health With Your Food

Eating foods that are good for your teeth are also typically good for your whole body. Think calcium-rich low-fat cheese, fat-free or low-fat milk, plain yogurt, and leafy greens. High-protein foods like eggs, fish, meat and poultry actually protect tooth enamel while boosting bone density. Then there are high water content and fibrous foods like fruits and vegetables that increase saliva production, which effectively rinses away food particles, neutralizes acids and prevents tooth decay.

Fun Fact: Tooth Enamel is one of the strongest and hardest materials in your body! But it can also be weakened, eroded, or destroyed by oral acids and sugars from the foods and beverages you consume. Anything you can do to protect tooth enamel with the foods and drinks you ingest can make a huge difference in your health.

Food and Beverage Tips:

Drink green or black teas to neutralize bad oral bacteria.
Chew sugar-free gum to boost saliva levels.
Eat high-fiber fruits and veggies.
Protect enamel with tooth-strengthening foods or drinks (grapes, apples, strawberries, bananas, peaches, watermelon, cherries, spinach, potatoes, shrimp, crab legs, black tea and coffee).
Consume vitamin C and other antioxidants (grapefruit, oranges, strawberries, cranberries, kiwis and apples).
Eggs, lean meat, nuts, beans, green leafy vegetables, carrots and fish are all good choices as well.

Tend to Your Smile

We hope you enjoy March by focusing on your oral health goals. No matter the dental care (whether you need a routine dental cleaning and exam, better oral hygiene care tips, or cosmetic or dental restoration), our dentist, dental assistants, and our staff are here for you and ready to support your smile! Give us a call today!

Your Gum Health Is As Important as Your Teeth for a Healthy Mouth and Body

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 17:39:00 GMT

February isn’t just the month when we celebrate all things love; it’s also Gum Disease Awareness Month. Why not show your gums some love? Because your gum health is vital for a healthy smile (and body). Gum disease is linked to Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, coronary artery disease, diabetes, liver cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Our goal this month is to promote good gum health and help you feel more motivated to take the best care possible of your gums. Did you know that harmful oral bacteria and germs can attack the supportive bone, leading to tooth loss? Your gums provide a barrier preventing harmful elements from getting through and attacking your teeth. Without healthy gums, you can actually lose your pearly whites!

Gum Disease Progression

Stage One: Gum Disease

Gum disease, when it invades your mouth, starts with a milder form (gingivitis), which crops up when bad bacteria make their way under the gums, leading to irritation. At this stage, you’ll often notice bleeding, irritated and swollen gums. Timely intervention can often reverse gum disease by taking good daily care of your treated gums as recommended by our dentist. If you ignore your gums at this early stage, they will continue to deteriorate.

Stage Two: Early Periodontitis

The beginnings of bone loss anchoring your teeth start to happen, even though you might not notice serious symptoms. The good news is this gum deterioration can be detected during your regular dental checkups, which is one of the main reasons why these visits are so important to keeping healthy teeth and gums.

Stage Three: Moderate Periodontitis

If periodontitis is left untreated, essential jaw bone and gum tissue are continually whittled away until you feel that your teeth are beginning to feel loose. Dental intervention needs to happen to manage the disease.

Stage Four: Advanced Periodontitis

This is the most severe stage of gum disease. You may notice your teeth feeling even looser, interfering with proper biting and chewing and making eating painful. Not only have the bad bacteria lingering below the gums spread into the soft tissues and jawbone material, but now they have traveled throughout your body via the bloodstream. It wears down your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to the illnesses we mentioned above.

Proactive Gum Care

Now that you are aware of the problems caused by gum disease, show your smile some love to ensure your smile looks, feels, and functions as healthy as possible!

Brush your pearly whites at least twice a day for two minutes each session. Go the extra mile if you can by investing in an electric toothbrush that does a thorough job of removing dental plaque. Use soft bristles that are gentle on your gum tissue and around the gumline, and brush small circles on the front, back and crevices.
Floss between teeth to get rid of food particles and bacteria between teeth under the gum line to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. It’s vital that you swipe the floss up and around the gum line of every tooth to catch any oral debris left behind after brushing.
Schedule routine dental visits. Along with consistent daily oral hygiene maintenance, routine dental cleanings and exams are your main defense against gum disease. Deep cleanings maintain tooth and gum health and spot developing problems early.

This Gum Disease Awareness Month, why not show your smile the love it deserves for healthy teeth and gums? Now is a good time to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam. Our dedicated dental team loves helping patients get healthy, beautiful smiles!

This New Year, Resolve To Limit Your Alcohol Intake and Boost Your Oral Health All Year Round!

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 17:45:30 GMT

January 1st is the beginning of healthy resolutions for many people. And while ringing in the new year with alcohol is often traditional, it’s also no surprise that it is commonly referred to as National Hangover Day after all those New Year’s Eve toasts. While alcohol consumption can make an occasion more festive and enjoyable, much like sugar, it should also be limited.

New Year’s Resolutions

For a healthy body and smile, we recommend the following New Year’s goals to promote better health overall.

Freely indulge in all the fruits and vegetables your heart desires. These will boost your immune system and help protect you from poor oral health like periodontal (gum) disease.
Make this the year you quit using tobacco. Did you know that smokers are nearly twice as likely to lose their pearly whites as those who don’t smoke? This resolution can boost your oral health immeasurably!
Brush (at least) twice daily and floss once per day. While your toothbrush cleans the teeth, flossing will reach between the teeth and under the gumline, ensuring that all tooth surfaces receive the care they need to prevent plaque buildup.
Visit your dental team routinely as recommended by your dentist. Coming in at least twice a year allows our team to spot developing dental issues before they advance.

Why Alcohol Is Bad for Teeth

Did you know that sugar is the primary food for the harmful bacteria in your mouth? Quickly turning into dental plaque, this multiplying oral bacteria film infects your gums and releases enamel-eroding acid that causes gum disease and tooth decay. Since alcohol is often mixed with sodas and energy drinks high in sugar and acids, it can seriously hurt your teeth and gums. While drinking occasionally (just like eating sweets on occasion) won’t damage teeth if you clean well afterward, drinking too much definitely can, as it attacks tooth enamel. And while normal healthy saliva levels will neutralize oral acid, it can’t do that if you are downing multiple drinks after another and exposing your pearly whites to corrosive acid attacks.

Of course, most kinds of alcohol are highly acidic on their own, making them harmful to your enamel and even more so if you forget to brush your teeth before bed after indulging in a night of drinking. Speaking of saliva, alcohol actively dehydrates your mouth and body, diminishing saliva levels, which means insufficient saliva in your mouth. Low levels of saliva leave you vulnerable to tooth sensitivity, increased risk of decay and even oral infection.

How Alcohol Impacts Your Gums

If you consume alcohol frequently, you are exposing yourself to a greater risk of experiencing gum disease. You will also experience more dental plaque that builds up around your gums so they become irritated and diseased. And that’s not all. If you are already battling gum disease, frequent drinking can actually worsen your condition as it prevents your gum tissue from healing properly.

You’ll also be at greater risk of cancer if you are a chronic drinker. In fact, chronic drinking is the second biggest risk factor for oral cancer! Chronic alcohol consumption leads to oral cancer of the lips, cheeks, tongue, and sinuses. While cancer spotted in the early stages can often be successfully treated and pushed into remission, but once it has progressed, it is often life-threatening. The good news is routine dental checkups permit our dentist to perform an oral cancer screening that allows us to spot this insidious disease in its early stages.

Healthy Resolutions

When it comes to your oral and general health, taking good care of yourself can make all the difference to your quality of life. As this new year starts, limiting your alcohol intake to special occasions makes good sense. We applaud your efforts to be mindful of alcohol consumption to protect your smile. Give us a call to schedule your next dental visit!

This Holiday Season, Why Not Give the Gift of a Healthy, More Beautiful Smile?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 17:48:52 GMT

This holiday season, why not celebrate healthy smiles for yourself and your loved ones? Flashing a healthy smile can bring joy to loved ones and strangers alike, boost your self-confidence, and brighten your mood, as well as those you share your smile with. Our wish this holiday season is to help you experience the joys of a healthy, appealing smile.

Keeping your mouth safe means practicing good daily oral hygiene: brushing and flossing without skipping a day, no matter how busy you are or whether you are traveling and celebrating with loved ones. Giving the gift of a healthy smile also has long-lasting, life-altering benefits. Check out these tips for celebrating the holidays in tooth-protecting style!

Drinks on the Naughty List

Drinks with pigments from dark-colored drinks damage and stain teeth (think coffee, tea and red wine). Red wine has enamel-damaging acid and staining tannins. But white wine has even more acid than red wine, causing enamel erosion and leading to tooth discoloration and staining.
Hot chocolate contains chromogens, pigment-producing substances that stick to enamel and stain it and is often loaded with sugar and marshmallows that lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Soda is sugar-laden and highly acidic and holiday punch is hazardous to teeth as they are often made from highly pigmented berries like cherries, pomegranates, blackberries or blueberries with tooth-staining chromogens, as well as sugar and soda. Limit your teeth’s exposure to these beverages and drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated for healthy, cavity-fighting saliva levels.

Foods on the Naughty List

Part of festive holiday traditions includes treats like candy canes, cookies, cakes and pies that are bad for your teeth, not just your waistline. Avoid sticky treats like caramel corn and toffee, as oral bacteria can feed off their sticky residue, creating damaging acids that wear down tooth enamel. All hard candies, including candy canes, peppermints and peppermint sticks, are filled with sugar, and biting into them can crack a filling or weak tooth. Toffee and peanut brittle are both hard and chewy, which can end up chipping a tooth or dislodging a filling. Even candied nuts are risky to your teeth.

Foods on the Nice List

Serve all the turkey and ham you and your family love. Both have healthy protein, and while turkey has phosphorus, ham has potassium that allows your pearly whites to utilize calcium more efficiently.
Cheeses like Monterey Jack, cheddar, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Gorgonzola are loaded with calcium and protein, and they neutralize acidity in your mouth to protect against cavities.
Soft nuts like cashews, walnuts, butternuts, hickory nuts, pecans, pine nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts and Brazil nuts are high in calcium and protein and low in sugar.
Create a colorful raw vegetable platter loaded with vibrant crunchy carrots, celery, radishes, broccoli, bell peppers and jicama or salads made with leafy greens like kale, spinach, chard or collard greens to nurture teeth and gums.
Fruit platters: ‘Tis the season for fresh, colorful fruit like apples, pears, grapes and kiwis that do not stick to teeth.

Gifts and Stocking Stuffers on the Nice List

You can further protect your loved one’s teeth by giving gifts that keep teeth healthy and strong! Some tooth friendly gift-giving ideas include:

Sugar-free chocolates and sugar-free gum that tempt the taste buds.
Floss picks to help that person who needs to floss more.
Electric toothbrush with cartoon characters or fun colors for kids or tasteful aesthetics for teens and adults.
Take-home teeth whitening kit for teens and adults.
Mouth guard for the athletic child, teen or adult in your life.
Fun toothbrush case for traveling or sleepover-loving kids.
Cute toothpaste dispenser that is animal-shaped for kids.
Toys and books for kids or gag gifts and books for grownups.
Gift certificate for orthodontic treatment.

The Gift of a Healthy Smile

This holiday season, why not give gifts that promote a healthy, beautiful smile all year round? Whether it is a state-of-the-art toothbrush or oral irrigator that will make them look forward to brushing and flossing every day, whitening toothpaste or a gift certificate for our in-house teeth whitening treatment, all these presents are sure to create healthier, beautiful smiles!

This American Diabetes Month, We Have Some Tips To Protect Your Teeth and Gums!

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 15:04:42 GMT

November isn’t just Thanksgiving: It’s also National Diabetes Month. This disease affects around 37 million Americans, including adults and young people. Oral health is closely linked to health issues, including diabetes, and vice versa. Along with your primary care doctor and other specialists, your health care team should also include your dentist!

People with diabetes are more prone to cavities and infections of the gums and bones which keep your teeth in place, as diabetes lowers the blood supply to those areas. If you are a diabetic over age 50, your risk will be even greater, mainly because aging alone increases dental problems if you are not taking good care of your smile. If you notice sore or bleeding gums, constantly get infections and have chronic bad breath, you may have diabetes and dental issues that need treatment.

Common Oral Conditions in Diabetics

Dry Mouth: Age isn’t the only factor that causes dry mouth: Diabetes does too. Women in particular are vulnerable to lower saliva levels, which lead to dry mouth (or xerostomia). Healthy saliva levels secrete enzymes that attack harmful oral bacteria.
Gingivitis: This early stage of gum disease arises as oral bacteria make your gums bleed, redden and feel sore. This bacteria thrives on sugar, creating oral acids that damage your teeth. If you have unmanaged diabetes, your saliva will contain more sugar that will mix with saliva and bits of stray food particles, turning into plaque.
Periodontitis: If you leave gingivitis unchecked, it will eventually worsen, ending up as periodontitis, a severe version of gum disease wearing down bone density and oral tissues that hold your teeth in place. Unless you brush and floss diligently, gum pockets will form, a condition where your gums pull away from your teeth. Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis cannot be reversed, only managed.
Oral infections: Fungal yeast infections, referred to as “thrush”, often shows up as white or red patches in the mouth for people with diabetes. Yeast feeds off of excess sugar in your saliva and shows up more in people who wear loose-fitting dentures and smoke.
Wounds taking longer to heal: This is common in people as they age, as well as in diabetics. It also increases your risk of infection. This is bad news if you have gum or tooth issues, as healing takes longer.

Protecting Teeth and Gums in Diabetics

Understanding the link between oral health and diabetes will hopefully help you work to prevent problems from developing to begin with. As with most things, an ounce of prevention is so much easier than a pound of cure!

Tips To Keep Your Mouth Healthier

Manage your blood sugar as recommended by your doctor with diet and exercise.
Practice good daily oral hygiene care, which includes using a soft-bristled toothbrush, flossing twice a day and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Protect the enamel on your teeth by waiting half an hour before brushing to dilute oral acids.
Remove and clean your dentures every night; no sleeping in them!
If you still smoke, now is the time to stop.
Come in for regular professional dental cleanings every six months or as recommended.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mouth

The good news is diabetes-friendly foods are also tooth-friendly, so it’s a win-win. Feel free to consume the following dietary choices. Your doctor and dentist will likely approve!

Avocados
Almonds
Beans and other legumes
Berries
Broccoli
Cabbage and Brussels sprouts
Cottage cheese
Eggs
Fish
Kiwis
Nonfat yogurt
Non-starchy vegetables
Nuts
Oatmeal
Shrimp
Spinach
Wild salmon

This Thanksgiving, we hope to give you something extra to be thankful for with these timely tips. If you have diabetes, we hope this helps you maintain better oral health as simply and effectively as possible. We welcome you to give us a call today if you would like to schedule your next dental visit or speak with our dental team!

This American Diabetes Month, We Have Some Tips To Protect Your Teeth and Gums!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:51:33 GMT

Common Oral Conditions in Diabetics

Dry Mouth: Age isn’t the only factor that causes dry mouth: Diabetes does too. Women in particular are vulnerable to lower saliva levels, which lead to dry mouth (or xerostomia). Healthy saliva levels secrete enzymes that attack harmful oral bacteria.
Gingivitis: This early stage of gum disease arises as oral bacteria make your gums bleed, redden and feel sore. This bacteria thrives on sugar, creating oral acids that damage your teeth. If you have unmanaged diabetes, your saliva will contain more sugar that will mix with saliva and bits of stray food particles, turning into plaque.
Periodontitis: If you leave gingivitis unchecked, it will eventually worsen, ending up as periodontitis, a severe version of gum disease wearing down bone density and oral tissues that hold your teeth in place. Unless you brush and floss diligently, gum pockets will form, a condition where your gums pull away from your teeth. Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis cannot be reversed, only managed.
Oral infections: Fungal yeast infections, referred to as “thrush”, often shows up as white or red patches in the mouth for people with diabetes. Yeast feeds off of excess sugar in your saliva and shows up more in people who wear loose-fitting dentures and smoke.
Wounds taking longer to heal: This is common in people as they age, as well as in diabetics. It also increases your risk of infection. This is bad news if you have gum or tooth issues, as healing takes longer.

Protecting Teeth and Gums in Diabetics

Tips To Keep Your Mouth Healthier

Manage your blood sugar as recommended by your doctor with diet and exercise.
Practice good daily oral hygiene care, which includes using a soft-bristled toothbrush, flossing twice a day and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Protect the enamel on your teeth by waiting half an hour before brushing to dilute oral acids. 
Remove and clean your dentures every night; no sleeping in them! 
If you still smoke, now is the time to stop.
Come in for regular professional dental cleanings every six months or as recommended.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mouth

The good news is diabetes-friendly foods are also tooth-friendly, so it’s a win-win. Feel free to consume the following dietary choices. Your doctor and dentist will likely approve!

Avocados
Almonds
Beans and other legumes
Berries
Broccoli
Cabbage and Brussels sprouts
Cottage cheese
Eggs 
Fish 
Kiwis
Nonfat yogurt
Non-starchy vegetables
Nuts
Oatmeal
Shrimp 
Spinach
Wild salmon

National Dental Hygiene Month Is This October and Our Dental Hygienists Have Some Fang-tastic Tips!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 17:54:19 GMT

A healthy, appealing smile starts with a clean mouth. October is National Dental Hygiene Month, where we honor our hard-working, dedicated dental hygienists and the care they provide to protect your smile! Their goal is simple: helping you achieve greater oral health by helping you keep away cavities and gum disease.

A Dental Hygienist’s Typical Day

A typical day in the life of a dental hygienist may involve any of the following:

Perform dental cleanings: When you come in for your routine dental cleaning, we will clear away harmful dental plaque containing bacterial toxins, including tartar (hardened plaque). If you are having a deep cleaning done, we will smooth the rough areas on your root surfaces to prevent plaque and tartar formation under the gum line. A deep cleaning helps affected gums to heal and will also check for sores, lumps, or swelling in your oral tissue.

Take dental X-rays: We may use X-rays of your teeth, bones, and soft tissues to spot potential dental issues like tooth decay and bone loss. For growing teens, these X-rays can track their jaw and tooth formation to also spot problems early. If you come in experiencing pain, these radiographs can help us see if wisdom teeth might be the issue.

Take dental impressions: We can create impressions of your teeth as models (casts) for our dentist to asses what dental treatments you might need for optimal oral health.

National Dental Hygiene Month

As you can see, our dental hygienists aren’t just here to clean your teeth and make them shine; they are part of your dental team that routinely monitors your dental health to spot developing problems. So what can you do to observe National Dental Hygiene Month? We have some ideas to help you keep your smile on track!

Floss daily. Not just once in a while and especially not just when you have your next dental visit (you know we can tell if you are not flossing regularly)! Flossing is important because it cleans the parts of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t, namely, between teeth and below the gum line. You would never just brush your teeth before a visit to our team, so don’t do that with flossing either! Your teeth, gums and pocketbook may pay the price.2. Brush long enough. Two solid minutes of brushing per session are ideal, not too much, not too little, a strategy Goldilocks would approve! A clean mouth means brighter teeth, healthier gums and better breath!
Don’t skip an oral rinse. Rinsing with an ADA-approved antibacterial mouthwash is a great way to wash away lingering oral bacteria that are destructive to your smile while freshening your breath.

Practice Proper Brushing

One of the things our hygienist can do for you is to help you brush up on your brushing proficiency. First, you want to aim the soft-bristled toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to clean the most effectively. Move the brush gently back and forth in short, tooth-wide strokes. Clean all tooth surfaces: top, bottom, inside and outside surfaces. Your flossing tool will brush away food particles and plaque between teeth and the gumline. Finally, complete your brushing session with a gentle cleaning of your tongue, where bacteria like to collect.

Treat Your Smile Every Day

If you want to recreate the amazing feeling of smooth teeth at home, brush your teeth twice a day following these tips (your “fangs” will thank you). While our hygienists can give you a fresh start during your regular cleanings, the best way to treat your toothy grin is to clean your teeth and gums every day, twice a day. Trust us, you’ll notice the difference at your next dental cleaning, and so will we!

September Is National Gum Care Month and a Great Time To Evaluate Your Gum Health!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:56:27 GMT

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Tips To Help You Feel Calm and Relaxed at Your Next Dental Appointment

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 17:59:07 GMT

Do you put off routine dental care or much-needed dental work because of anxiety? Anxiety is how your body reacts to what you perceive to be stressful or unfamiliar situations. So that sense of distress or dread you have before an event manifests itself as anxiety. While a bit of anxiety can be useful, keeping us alert and aware in certain situations, it can also be debilitating when you are in need of dental care and delaying treatment.

Routine dental appointments allow us to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy, and avoiding this treatment can cause small problems to deteriorate your oral health, leaving you with bigger problems to deal with later.

Signs of Dental Anxiety

Aggressive behavior
Crying
Extreme sweating
Feeling faint
Heart palpitations
Low blood pressure
Panic attacks

Dental anxiety is hard to ignore, so it’s important to recognize and address it. While dental anxiety impacts around 36 percent of the population, we can work together to make your dental visit comfortable and pleasant so you get the care you need!

Working Together

Schedule your visit in the morning as it tends to be the least busy time in the office. Fewer patients being treated mean less noise in the background and spending less time stressing over your upcoming appointment time.
Communicate with our dental team in advance about your dental anxiety. We can make your visit easier, whether by explaining what you can expect during your treatment or discussing dental sedation.
Bring a friend or family member with you to support and distract you and elevate your mood. They can even drive you home afterward so you can decompress and bask in the aftermath of completing a successful dental visit!
Relax when you get here by using noise-canceling headphones (or earbuds) to block out unnecessary stimulation. Listening to music, your favorite podcast or a meditation app can also destress you while you are here.
Speaking of a meditation app, listen to your favorite calming meditation while you wait in the dental chair. Beginning with your head, relax your muscles, one body part at a time, slowly moving down your body until you reach your feet.
Do some slow, deep breathing. Those calming breaths help ease your mind, so you feel more relaxed. Block out external stimulation by closing your eyes, then breathing in slowly through your nose, holding, and slowly breathing out through your mouth. Repeat until you feel the difference.
Practice some guided imagery. It is a good time to picture happy thoughts as you lie back in the dentist’s chair. Enjoy your favorite or funniest memories. Reminiscing about those wonderful moments feels like you’re reliving those moments all over again!
Request a break during your treatment. Work out a signal with our dentist and assistant that means “pause” so you can catch your breath and calm yourself for a moment. Knowing this can help you feel more empowered instead of helpless.

Don’t Delay, Call Today

Dental anxiety interferes with getting the dental care your teeth and gums need to thrive. Whether you’re anxious because of a past traumatic dental experience, fear a loss of control as someone is working over you, or you’re scared it will be painful, we can work together to make your dental visit great. We welcome you to call our team to address your concerns and take a confident leap by scheduling your next dental visit! Your smile will look and feel better, and you’ll be glad you did!

Floss Your Way to a Healthier Mouth and a Healthier Body!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 18:01:44 GMT

If you are brushing your teeth twice a day as recommended but not flossing between them, it’s not just your smile that will pay the price. Your toothbrush can’t reach in between teeth to remove dental plaque (a sticky bacterial biofilm). That’s where flossing comes in, because it can reach between teeth and below the gum line where bacteria accumulates to stop it in its tracks.

Dental Plaque

This harmful bacteria leads to cavities and periodontitis (inflamed, bleeding and receding gums) from bacterial infection. Without flossing those crucial areas around your teeth, your toothbrush will only be cleaning three out of five tooth surfaces! Brushing and flossing work together to clean all tooth surfaces and flossing is the only way to actually scrape plaque away from the teeth.

Bacterial Infection

If you have an infection inside your mouth, it will spread to the rest of your body through your bloodstream. Your teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue are all connected to your bloodstream where they can spread to your organs, potentially leading to diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s.

Flossing is a key part of your daily oral hygiene routine that helps keep your smile and your body healthy. Flossing only needs to take around a minute of your time, so all you need to do is find a flossing tool that you like using and then just do it every day. Here are some flossing ideas to help you make the most out of your flossing efforts.

Flossing with Dental Floss

Take out about 18 to 24 inches of floss and wind it around your middle fingers. Take 1 to 2 inches and hold the floss taut between your thumbs and your index fingers. Next, slide the floss gently between each tooth. Be gentle while flossing to protect your gums. Keep sliding the floss up and down to clean plaque out of those areas. Floss right below your gum line in an up-and-down movement, rubbing it against both sides of each tooth. Avoid gliding the floss into your gums, and after you have cleaned one side of your mouth, pull out a new section of floss so you can clean the other side of your mouth.

Flossing Options

If working with dental floss isn’t your thing, you still have flossing options to choose from!

Tiny interdental brushes clean between your teeth and work really well on removing plaque from dental bridges and are great for people with joint issues or mobility issues.
Pointed rubber tips or wooden plaque removers that you slide back and forth to loosen debris.
Water flossers/irrigators that shoot a thin, pressurized stream of water between your teeth and at the gum line.
Pre-threaded flossing picks to help you scrape away food particles and plaque.

Who Should Floss?

Everyone! But flossing every day is especially important if you have abnormally tight spaces in between your teeth or you have individual dental prostheses like dental implants, bridges, crowns, dentures or dental veneers. Getting your teeth straightened with an orthodontic appliance, whether it’s braces or a clear aligner, also requires diligent flossing. You want to make sure dental plaque doesn’t build up and leave you with tooth and gum issues when the orthodontic treatment is complete.

When to Floss

Ideally, you want to floss before brushing your teeth because flossing helps pick up and release food and plaque that is stuck in between your teeth, while brushing removes these particles from your mouth. If you brush first and floss afterward, the food particles and plaque will remain until your next brushing session.

The American Dental Association encourages everyone to floss at least once a day and brush twice a day. Follow these flossing tips and the next time you come in for a routine dental cleaning and exam, your hygienist will be proud! We look forward to helping you have better oral for better overall health!

Start Your New Year Off With Transformational Dental Goals!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 18:19:07 GMT

If you are like many folks this time of year, making resolutions is probably foremost on your mind. Those resolutions likely have something to do with promoting health and prosperity while giving up unhealthy habits. This year, our dental team highly recommends making some powerful changes to your dental health by implementing healthier dental goals!

Day-to-Day Actions

Remember, it’s important to implement changes and stick to them every day. New habits work as you consistently work them! View your new habits as a positive by changing how you feel about your day-to-day dental care. Instead of thinking of it as another chore, focus on the clean and fresh way your mouth will feel and look after brushing and flossing.

Brush every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush so your enamel stays healthy and your gums stay strong. Brush gently; there’s no need to scour your pearly whites while brushing all of your tooth surfaces and around the gum line.
Boost your brushing power with toothpaste tailored to your needs. Your toothpaste can prevent decay, fight plaque and gingivitis, whiten teeth, and even desensitize them by reducing tooth sensitivity.
Floss once a day using your favorite flossing tool to make the job quick and easy. Check out flossing tapes, oral irrigators, interdental brushes, whatever makes it easy and fun for you.
Swish your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash afterward cleaning to boost your cavity-preventing efforts.

Prevent Dry Mouth

Healthy saliva flow is essential when it comes to creating an oral environment that helps teeth, gums and oral tissue to thrive. Saliva protects tooth enamel by coating it with minerals, rinsing away oral residue and food particles as well as neutralizing your pH levels (so there’s less acidity to weaken tooth enamel). Insufficient saliva levels lead to dry mouth, a condition called xerostomia.

Staying hydrated is good for your body as well as your mouth! Along with drinking plenty of water throughout your day, consider increasing dairy products as those also help. Chewing sugar-free gum is another way to keep your salivary glands active. If your mouth is constantly dry, you may also check with your doctor or dentist to see if your over-the-counter or prescription medications cause dry mouth as a side effect.

Say No to Tobacco

This time of year is a busy one for those wanting to give up their tobacco habit, including smoking or chewing it. Tobacco is bad for your lungs and oral tissues, throat, etc., and stains teeth and dries out the mouth. Fortunately, there are a variety of tobacco cessation programs that can help you quit.

Improve Your Diet

A healthy diet can fuel your body while keeping your mouth vibrant and healthy. Did you know that the food you eat can either feed the bad bacteria in your mouth or support your teeth and gums? You can get essential vitamins and minerals from fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and dairy. Commit to limiting your sugar intake as well as the acidic foods and drinks you indulge in (better choices are water and calcium-rich milk). Limit snacking and brush after meals and when you can’t brush after eating, rinse well with water until you can get to a toothbrush!

Get Necessary Dental Treatments

It’s not just your routine dental visits that maintain healthy teeth and gums. It’s about getting cavities treated with fillings to support your teeth, getting a root canal and or crown to save a tooth, and getting periodontal treatment if you have receding gums or gum pockets that can leave teeth loose. Remember, filling in gaps left behind from missing teeth is vital if you want to keep surrounding teeth from shifting and ruining your bite alignment. Whether you need restorative or cosmetic treatments, our dental team has what your smile needs for an amazing year ahead!

June 17th Is National Teeth Whitening Day, and We Are Here for It!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:04:44 GMT

Join us in celebrating National Teeth Whitening Day on June 17th! We are tempted to observe this innovative dental treatment for the entire month because when it comes to boosting your smile, one of the quickest and easiest ways to accomplish this is through teeth whitening! And while there are a lot of over-the-counter teeth whitening options out there, we are solid proponents of professional teeth whitening for those who love having whiter, brighter teeth. It is mainly because of the effectiveness and safety of the product being used.

Why Whiten Your Teeth?

You might consider whitening your teeth for a variety of reasons:

Attending a wedding, honeymoon or graduation
Going on a summer vacation
Wanting to boost your self-confidence and dating life
Having professional portraits done
Have a job interview coming up and want to make the best first impression
Wanting to put your best face forward every day

Tooth Staining Culprits

Maybe your teeth are less than stellar because it has been a while since you have gotten your teeth cleaned. Perhaps it is from your daily coffee, tea, or wine habit. These beverages can refresh our mood, help us relax, or keep us powering through a busy day, but they can also take a toll on your teeth’s appearance. While tooth enamel is strong and protects your dentin and tooth chambers below it, it is also porous, making it vulnerable to tooth staining agents like chromogens.

These pigment-creating substances are found in red wine along with staining tannins in red wine, coffee and tea. Chromogens are highly pigmented compounds that cling to tooth enamel when they mix with similar stain-causing agents like tannins. Tannins in black tea stain teeth even more than coffee and, to a lesser extent, in white, green, and herbal teas. But even your favorite soda, sports drink, and alcohol are highly acidic, eroding tooth enamel and leading to discoloration. The same goes for the tooth-staining foods you love, like marinara sauce, balsamic vinegar, berries, curry, and citrus.

Your teeth can also stain because of frequent tobacco use, whether it is cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or chewing tobacco. Or maybe you took antibiotics like tetracycline that discolored your teeth with unsightly gray or brown stains. There is also wear and tear on tooth enamel from brushing harshly over the years.

Tip: Brush gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Your teeth and gums will thank you!

Cosmetic Dentistry and Teeth Whitening

So, what can a person do without giving up their favorite foods and beverages? Professional teeth whitening can quickly and effectively get rid of unsightly tooth stains and discoloration. It safely bleaches teeth by targeting the enamel and the dentin layer underneath it. The results are often immediate and dramatic, making your smile look brighter and better than ever.

One of the first things teeth whitening can do is make you feel better about showing off your smile. You will feel like smiling more as whiter-looking teeth make your self-confidence skyrocket! And the more you smile around others, the greater your success. Teeth whitening can even boost your mental health because smiling releases your brain’s endorphins! Teeth whitening makes you want to smile more, so you will likely feel more committed to brushing and flossing diligently. Good oral hygiene habits are a great way to keep your smile healthier and more appealing!

Celebrate Teeth Whitening Day

Now that you know how great your smile can look with professional teeth whitening, you will want to keep them nice after you do. It means getting rid of your worn-out toothbrush (once the bristles fray, it is time to replace it!). Limit the foods and drinks that stain your teeth, and keep up on all routine dental checkups and exams! And if you are inspired to brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening, call to schedule an appointment with our dental team!

Smiling and Laughing Are Good for Your Mouth, Mood, and Body!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 18 May 2022 18:07:30 GMT

Between May 16 and June 16, the Oral Health Foundation raises awareness of important health concerns by celebrating National Smile Month, and our dental team is here for it! We invite you to join us in making a positive difference in the oral health of the people around you. Everyone deserves the chance at a healthy smile, especially since dental health is a crucial part of good overall health. Here are the basic but essential strategies for creating healthy teeth and gums:

Brush teeth for two minutes twice a day using an ADA-approved toothpaste.
Floss between teeth daily to remove cavity-causing dental plaque.
Limit sugary foods and drinks that feed harmful bacteria.
See your dentist twice a year for routine checkups and dental cleanings.

Five Mood Lifting Smile Facts

It takes 62 muscles to frown but only 26 muscles to smile, so enjoy this relaxing and wrinkle-reducing habit!
Babies flash their smiles around 400 times a day, while grown-ups typically smile only around 20 times.
Smiling does so much for your wellbeing; it helps you relax, boosts your immune system, lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins, and relieves stress.
Smiles are contagious, and that’s one contagion you don’t want to hide!
Workers who cheerfully spread smiles are more likely to get a promotion, and if that doesn’t make you want to smile, we don’t know what will!

National Smile Day on May 31

On National Smile Day (celebrated annually on May 31), smile your brightest while boosting your serotonin (a natural stress reliever) and spread good cheer to help those around you smile! Tell jokes, volunteer at your favorite charity and take a moment to feel deep gratitude for something in your life. These are all ways to bring a smile to your face and those around you. Protect your dental health by coming in routinely for cleanings and checkups. Your routine visits make us smile because we love helping you get a healthier, more beautiful smile you will love spreading!

Smiling makes you and those around you feel good. If you’re at work, smiling can increase productivity and creativity in you and your colleagues while making you look more competent and trustworthy. Enjoy the health benefits of smiling, which makes your brain healthier by lowering stress, blood pressure, heart rate, and pain. Smiling also increases endurance, strengthens your immune system and even helps keep the cells in your body healthy. Some might even say a smile is your best accessory and doesn’t cost a cent! Do you feel moody? Try a smile. You will not only feel happier but more confident, too!

World Laughter Day on May 1, 2022

Smiling isn’t the only way to feel better. Did you know that both spontaneous and self-induced laughter increases your body chemistry and brain function? Laughing more can help you live longer by boosting your immune system while reducing stress, anxiety and brain fog.

Boost Your Smile

By taking good care of your smile, you can improve your dental health. This month, we encourage you to make the most of your dental and overall health with good oral health habits. If you feel self-conscious about your teeth, our dental team is always here to help you create your best smile! Give us a call to schedule a visit to care for your smile, so you can laugh and smile more!

Spring Is a Great Time To Replace Missing Teeth With Dental Implants and Complete Your Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:10:30 GMT

If you have missing teeth or tooth issues, opting for a dental implant is one of the best tooth replacement options you can choose – whether you have lost teeth due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury. Now is a great time to spring into action with a dental implant restoration to complete your smile and put your tax refund to good use!

Bridges and Dentures Make Way for Dental Implants

Before implants, bridges and dentures were the only tooth restoration choices you had. Thanks to today’s advances in dental technology and techniques, you can opt for a dental implant restoration to complete your smile! Did we mention that dental implants generally have a success rate of up to 98%?

One of the biggest dental implant advantages is it becomes a part of you. It replaces not just the top of the tooth (crown) but your tooth roots as well. It means you get a solid foundation to hold your fixed (permanent) tooth or removable tooth replacement that blends in naturally with your teeth.

Why Choose Dental Implants

Aesthetics: They look and feel like your natural teeth in size, shape, and color and work the same way, being fused within your bone to give you exceptional strength and sturdiness.Better speech: If you wear dentures and they constantly shift when you speak, that worry will be eliminated with a dental implant.
Comfortable: Once your implant has fused in your mouth, you will never need to worry again about uncomfortable removable dentures, feel embarrassed about removing your dentures, or apply messy denture adhesives to hold them in place.
Easy to chew: Your implant works like the rest of your natural teeth, so it doesn’t slide around like dentures often do. Your implants allow you to bite and chew your favorite foods without worrying about slippage.
Greater self-confidence: With dental implants, you can, once again, smile with confidence!
Better dental health: With bridges, you tend to need to have some surrounding teeth worn down, but with implants, you don’t. Instead, the teeth can stay the same size, and the dental implant allows access between your teeth so you can floss them more easily.
Longevity: Your implants can last many years (sometimes a lifetime) if you take proper care of them like you do your own and keep gum disease away.

What To Expect With a Dental Implant

Once approved for an implant, your treatment plan will be created involving oral surgery and restorative dentistry.
Next comes the biocompatible titanium tooth root implant that is surgically placed into the bone socket of your former tooth.
Then, healing must take place in a process called osseointegration. It can take up to three months while the jawbone fuses with the metal implant post so it will sit solidly in your jaw, just like your natural teeth.
After that, an abutment (or small connector post) will be attached to the post, anchoring the new tooth securely.
Impressions will then be made to create your new tooth (or teeth) with a model of your bite so the tooth replacement can be created.
Finally, your replacement tooth or crown will be attached to the abutment, and the tooth will be made to match your surrounding teeth.

Call for Consultation

Once your dental implants are in place, taking good care of them is no different than your usual daily oral hygiene to protect your natural teeth. Simply brush, floss, rinse with a good antibacterial mouthwash and see our dentist regularly for exams and cleanings. If you are thinking about replacing a tooth with a dental implant, there’s no better time than tax season if you’re expecting a refund! Give us a call to learn more!

March Is National Dentist Day and Dental Assistants Recognition Week

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:12:39 GMT

Taking the time to recognize your dental team once a year is important because they seek to go above and beyond to take the best care possible of you and your family’s smiles. Our dentist works hard all year to improve your quality of life so you can eat, smile and speak with confidence.

Recognizing Dentists

March 6 is National Dentist’s Day, a day we celebrate these dedicated dental professionals whose goal is to protect your smile and help it flourish. We love raising awareness about how important it is to practice better daily oral hygiene for healthy teeth and gums in-between routine dental cleanings and exams!

The Origin of Dentists

There is a rich history of when dentists started to be acknowledged. The first recognized dentist was Hesy-Re, an Egyptian scribe who lived around 2600 B.C. While Chinese dentists were the first to use fillings made of amalgam as early as 700 A.D., it was in medieval Europe that texts on performing and regulating dental surgery were first identified. By 1210 in France, dental surgeries were fairly routine. In 1859, 26 dentists officially formed the ADA and had developed anesthesia for oral surgery. Dr. Lucy Beaman Hobbs became the first woman to graduate from an American dental school in 1866. In 1869, Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman was the first African American man to earn a dental degree.

Dentists Today

Today’s dentists work hard all year round to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy and strong. They help you prevent smile-destroying cavities and gum disease, fix or replace problem teeth, check for developing conditions to treat early, and generally give you things to smile about when you are in treatment. We not only do our best to help your chairside experience be as positive as possible, but we also protect your general health. It is because oral health is closely tied to the rest of your body. Thanks to oral bacteria, untreated tooth decay and periodontal disease can lead to serious health issues like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Celebrate Your Dentist

You can celebrate National Dentist’s Day with us by sending a thank you note to our dentist or taking a photo with them to post on your social media with the #NationalDentistsDay hashtag. You can also recommit to better dental habits like brushing at least two minutes twice a day, flossing daily, consuming a balanced diet and scheduling your next dental check-up. These would all make our dentist smile for days!

Recognizing Dental Assistants

March 6-12 is Dental Assistants Recognition Week (or DARW) and is celebrated annually during the first full week in March. This year’s theme is Dental Assistants: Passionate About Our Patients, Dedicated to Our Profession. The American Dental Assistants Association encourages everyone to acknowledge and recognize their hardworking dental assistants! They come in every day ready to perform a variety of duties to help patients get the quality care they deserve for a healthier, more attractive smile.

Our dental assistants support the practice by helping you improve your oral daily hygiene habits, preparing you for your dental treatment, taking dental impressions and X-rays, maintaining infection control, recording patient notes, and scheduling your next appointment. That is a lot of responsibility, and they work hard to make sure you get the quality care your smile deserves!

The Origin of Dental Assistants

Historically, dental assistants officially date back to 1885, when Dr. Edmund Kells, a dentist in New Orleans, pioneered the dental assistant profession by having his wife assist him. He then expanded his practice by hiring another woman, Malvina Cueria, as a full-time assistant. By 1917, the first dental assistant society was founded in Nebraska, and another was established in New York in 1921. The American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) was founded in 1925. Eventually, the ADAA created Dental Assistants Recognition Week, proudly recognizing the contributions of dental assistants to dentistry and the health of people’s smiles!

Celebrate Your Dental Assistants

Help your dental assistants feel valued the next time you come in by telling them how well you practice your oral hygiene routine. It helps them know you listen to their advice when you come in for cleanings. You can also thank them for their diligent help and advice on how to keep your smile healthy in between visits! We welcome you to celebrate our dental assistants! We are thankful for the vital role they play in supporting our practice and helping us better patient satisfaction. Call us today to schedule your next visit!

Why You Should Tune Into Gum Disease Awareness Month This February

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 18:16:39 GMT

The purpose of Gum Disease Awareness Month in February is to raise awareness of what causes it and to encourage you to adhere to better oral health habits to keep it from developing in your smile. Sadly, periodontal disease affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the U.S. and at an even higher rate (70.1%) for adults over 65 years! Gum disease doesn’t just affect your smile; it can also impact your general health. It can link to health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature births or low-birth-weight babies.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection of your soft oral tissues that become inflamed. Often this is caused by poor oral hygiene care. You want to brush and floss your teeth and gumline each day to remove harmful dental plaque. While gum disease typically starts slow, if the conditions causing are not addressed, it will generally worsen over time.

In the beginning, you may notice red, swollen gums, but unless treated, it can eventually cause the gums to pull away from your teeth. When this happens, you have advanced gum disease (periodontitis). At this stage, vital bone is lost, making your teeth become loose and even fall out!

The problem with poor oral hygiene habits is that plaque quickly hardens and spreads underneath your gums, where you can’t easily remove it. This is when our dental team has to remove this tartar accumulation and take additional steps to keep periodontitis from permanently damaging your smile.

What You Can Do to Keep Gum Disease Away

Like most things, the best approach is prevention and then tackling gum disease in the early stage (gingivitis). All you need to do is brush and floss consistently every day as recommended by our dentist and follow up with our office for routine dental cleanings and exams. Once the disease has progressed to periodontitis, you will need more invasive treatments like cleaning the tooth roots under the gums (scaling) and root planing. Sometimes medication or gum surgery can help with treatment.

Recognizing the Stages of Gum Disease

Stage 1: It is easy to spot because your gums will look red, swollen, and inflamed, often bleeding when you brush and floss your teeth.
Stage 2: You start to lose bone density around the teeth.
Stage 3: Untreated, advancing periodontitis results in further bone loss and diminishing gum tissue (receding gums) and damage connective tissue around teeth, causing the teeth to feel loose.
Stage 4: If you ignore periodontitis, your symptoms worsen as well. Your teeth feel loose, and it might hurt to bite and chew your food. You may have the loose teeth extracted and replaced with a dental restoration at this stage.

Preventing gum disease is essential to keeping your smile healthy and beautiful! Thankfully, treating gum disease in the early stage can often reverse gingivitis altogether! Once it progresses, however, it won’t be reversible. Be sure to brush and floss every day as recommended by our dentist and hygienist, and stay on top of your routine dental cleanings and exams. Delaying professional dental care invites trouble with your teeth and gums and potentially harms your overall health.

Call Our Team Today!

Our team is ready to help you keep your teeth and gums as healthy as can be! We welcome you to join us in recognizing Gum disease awareness on social media and by helping your family realize how important daily dental care is to their confident smile and oral health. Call us today to schedule dental cleanings and exams for your best gum health!

Protect Your Smile From Dental Trauma During the Holidays!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:21:15 GMT

Winter is coming, and if you are anything like us, you are likely busy preparing for the holidays to celebrate with family and friends.

Because this time of year is so busy, it’s easy to overindulge in your favorite annual treats while tempted to slack on your daily oral hygiene care. But that’s a bad combination, and you really don’t want to start the new year with poor teeth and gums! We have two tips to help you take advantage of the goodness of this special season while protecting those precious pearly whites!

Watch Your Sweets!

Whether you love sipping hot cocoa, apple cider, red wine, or eggnog, and dining on delicious cakes, pies, and cookies, your mouth can take a big hit this time of year. Sugar is actually a double whammy as it feeds your sweet tooth (and waistline) but also feeds harmful cavity-causing oral bacteria! We recommend limiting the following indulgences:

Chewy and sticky candy: Caramels, peanut brittle, divinity and toffee, candy canes, peppermint bark, chocolate, fudge, and truffles all cling to teeth and are extra hard to remove from tooth surfaces.Dried fruit: Healthy-seeming apricots, figs, raisins and prunes take a toll on teeth as they stick in the grooves of back teeth.
Alcohol: While tempting, liquor is often high in sugar as well as dehydrating, lessening healthy saliva production, and drying out the mouth.

If you aren’t careful, you can end up fighting cavities in the new year and spending time in a dental chair to remove hardened plaque and tartar. And if you have a dental crown, filling, or bridge, eating gummy and sticky treats can sometimes loosen a restoration and affect its performance. You can still enjoy limited amounts of your favorite goodies as long as you follow up by rinsing your mouth well and brushing and flossing thoroughly. The holidays are not the time to skip your daily oral hygiene care, no matter how tired you are or how busy your day is. Trust us; your teeth will thank you!

Oral Protection While Playing Sports

No matter what time of year, keeping your mouth safe from harm is crucial (especially when you are participating in recreational activities). A mouthguard covers your teeth and gums to prevent and lessen potential injury to your teeth, arches, lips, and gums. They work by distributing force over all of your teeth, so one or more teeth don’t end up bearing the brunt of an impact. Wearing a sports guard can help you prevent these mishaps:

Cracked, broken or knocked-out teeth
Cuts or bites in soft oral tissues
Jaw fracture or break
Limit the effects of a concussion as mouth guards pad the upper and lower rows of teeth

The easiest way to protect your mouth is to always wear any protective gear recommended for your sport and wear an athletic guard during your participation in said sport. Whether you’re enjoying indoor activities like wall rock climbing or ice skating at a rink or the great outdoors skiing, snowboarding or sledding down a hill (whatever your holiday sport of choice), remember to protect your smile!

You can get a simple boil and bite mouthguard at any sporting goods store or an over-the-counter version from a drugstore. You can also choose a custom-made mouth guard that offers optimal protection, comfort and ease of breathing. The most important thing is to wear your guard whenever you are participating in your activity, indoors or outdoors!

The Gift of a Healthy Smile

Your smile is so important. It’s the gateway to good overall health as it allows you to chew healthy food, sing carols and kiss your loved ones under the mistletoe! With the right precautions, you can enjoy the holidays while keeping your mouth healthy and strong so you can smile well into the new year. From our family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones all the very best this holiday season! Please call us if you have any concerns about your smile!

Thanking You and Your Families This Season

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 18:22:52 GMT

Thanksgiving will soon be here, and once again, we will be reminiscing about all the things we are grateful for. For our dental team, that means letting our patients know how thankful we are to get to care for you and your loved ones’ smiles all year round! We work hard to provide consistent, excellent dental care so you and your family’s smiles can thrive. Without you, we would not be here, helping people love and care for their smiles.

National Brush Day

November 1st is also National Brush Day, which was initially recognized in 2013 as a continuation of the Kids’ Healthy Mouths PSA campaign in August 2012. Being observed right after Halloween on October 31st, this day is designed to help parents remember to cultivate the proper brushing habits in their children for better overall dental and general health.

Remember, eating sweets is the number one contributor to cavities from tooth decay. Halloween is a time when we relax the rules and allow more sweets than normal. The same can be said for Thanksgiving pies and Christmas goodies. Most of our holidays are laden with some form of indulgence in everyone’s sweet tooth! National Brush Day is a great time to remind your children to brush and floss every day. Make it fun so their teeth can stay nice and healthy, and remind them brushing doesn’t have to be a chore. It just has two be done two minutes twice a day to get that healthy smile.

Make it fun by dancing along with a fun song while brushing. Make sure they brush around the gum line gently (their gums will thank you), and do not forget to brush in the back of their mouth. Two minutes is all it takes to make a positive difference in their oral health. You can make teeth brushing a family brushing contest, tracking results on a chart. The family member who finishes the competition with the most brushing days gets a prize!

Healthy Teeth, Healthy Body

Walt Disney may have said it best when he said, “I am rarely sick because I brush my teeth.” Indeed, daily, consistent tooth brushing removes harmful bacteria along with stray food particles from your mouth. This essential practice helps maintain healthier teeth and stronger bones, too! Tooth loss affects one in three adults over age 65, and if you have osteoporosis, you are at risk for tooth loss as the jawbone becomes less dense, resulting in tooth loss.

Eating a healthy diet with enough calcium and Vitamin D (along with taking good daily care of teeth and gums) supports strong teeth and bones. Brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush twice a day and daily flossing is a winning combo in addition to seeing the dentist regularly during the year. This Thanksgiving, help your family be thankful for their smiles and remember that they are brushing (and flossing) their way to a healthier mouth! Better oral health means less time for children missing school and parents from missing work due to problems.

Thanksgiving Blessings

We love seeing our work reflected in your family’s oral health and helping their smiles stay healthy and strong for an even better quality of life. We are grateful to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients by providing quality dental care and giving you something to smile about! We are here for your family’s smiles and are thankful to you for allowing us to take care of your smiles and appreciate your confidence in our dental team! May you and your loved ones have a healthy, happy, and smile-filled Thanksgiving!

Protect Your Family’s Smiles During Spooky Season!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 18:24:44 GMT

Halloween will be here before you know it, and your family will have delicious confections in buckets! You might as well call it candy season because of the number of treats offered at every event this season. Everyone is in the mood to celebrate the change of season and indulge in their favorite spooky treats like candy corn, caramel apples, taffy, and more!

With some careful planning, you can help your family enjoy traditional ghoulish goodies without permanently damaging their teeth. Unfortunately, consuming a lot of candy often leads to cavities because sugar creates an environment in your mouth that is actively conducive to cavity formation, thanks to oral bacteria.

While some bacteria in the mouth are good and promote a healthy oral ecosystem, the rest are bad for you because they increase in number and thrive when you eat sugar. These bacteria then release harmful oral acids that weaken tooth enamel, allowing cavities to form.

Worst Candies for Teeth

While none of them are particularly good for you, some are worse than others. Avoid hard or chewy, sticky candy like the plague they are as these break down the protective tooth enamel layer:

Taffy
Hard-to-chew, sticky candy
Jawbreakers
Gummy candies
Caramels and caramel apples
Sour candies that are extra acidic

These sweets can also get trapped in between teeth. It makes it harder to clear this bacterial residue away. Normally, saliva works to wash away food particles except for between the teeth, so that is why you need to floss those spaces daily, especially after eating sweets. Fortunately, you have healthier options to protect your child’s teeth during the Halloween season!

Protecting Your Child’s Teeth

Go through your child’s candy with them, take out the ones they can’t have (see list above), and donate those to your local fire department, homeless shelter, hospital, or senior citizen center. Giving also boosts your child’s self-esteem, makes them feel good about themselves while helping out their community and makes you feel better by protecting their smiles.
Do not let your child graze on candies throughout the day. Offer them a particular time to enjoy their fun treats, and limit them to three pieces a day.
Do not give your kids candy for their daily snacks. Stick to fruits and cheeses that are better for their teeth, and then allow some candy later.
Soft candies that melt quickly are your kids’ (sort of) best friend. The fewer sugars and acids linger on their teeth, the better their teeth fare.
October is not the time for your child to become lax on their daily oral hygiene habits. Now more than ever, they need to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once (preferably before bed, so no sugary residue sets up camp on their teeth while they sleep).
Have your child wait half an hour before brushing after eating acidic foods and drinks. It allows the acid to wash away before brushing the enamel surface.
Get sealants when your child sees the dentist. Sealants help the molars do much better by preventing cavities on those hard-to-reach and clean areas.
Give your child access to plenty of water to refresh their mouth and body. Even rinsing with water after indulging in sweets can help wash away some sugar, so it doesn’t stick around on tooth surfaces.
Limit candy treats to have with meals instead of randomly throughout the day. Chewing increases saliva production, which helps neutralize some of the oral acids, helping to wash away sugary food particles around their teeth.
This Halloween, consider handing out fun toys instead of candy such as plastic spider rings, mini play-doh, stickers, or glow sticks.
If your child has not seen the dentist yet for their next biannual dental cleaning and exam, fall is a great time to get their teeth cleaned and checked for potential developing problems.

Festive Family Halloween Fun

We hope these tooth-friendly tips help you and your child enjoy the frightful festivities while still taking good care of their “fangs.” Halloween is just the start of the holiday season. Dressing up in fun costumes, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, and decorating your home with skeletons, ghosts, bats, and witches hats are a fun time for everyone to enjoy Halloween!

September Is National Gum Care Month. Do You Know How To Protect Your Gums for a Healthier Smile?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 18:27:42 GMT

September is National Gum Care Month, and it is a big deal for your oral health. Good oral health is the foundation to a healthy-looking, self-confident appearance when it comes to your smile. By ensuring healthy teeth and gums – because when it comes to tooth loss, it is not just from tooth decay and cavities – periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults! It is why your daily oral hygiene care (combined with regular dental checkups) is crucial to getting the healthy, beautiful smile you want and deserve.

Progressive Disease

As National Gum Care Month gets into full swing this month, we want to encourage you to get your biannual checkup and cleaning. If you have not already, book an appointment today. We can spot and stop gum disease in its tracks.

Gingivitis

Gum disease starts as gingivitis as bacterial infection sets into your gums. It happens if you don’t brush and floss that harmful oral bacteria away, so it builds up into plaque, a sticky bacterial film you can feel when running your tongue across your teeth. If left unchecked, gingivitis continues to thrive until it forms deep gum pockets where it deteriorates gum tissue from inflammation, bleeding, and pain. When gingivitis is found, treatment can be done, and your gums can heal. You might have gum disease if you see the following:

Red, bleeding gums
Gum pain
Sour taste in your mouth
Mouth sores that won’t heal

Periodontitis

If your gum is aggressive, your gum tissue recession steadily worsens. It can also happen in young people because of vitamin deficiency (rather than just bacterial infection). Any advancing gum disease needs treatment as early as possible to avoid losing your teeth to periodontitis. And it is not just because unhealthy teeth and gums make you look older or because replacing teeth is costly; it is because it affects your smile and your body! Gum inflammation travels through your bloodstream to cause additional inflammatory conditions in your body, including heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune issues.

So what can you do to ensure healthy gums?

Address oral bacteria build-up

Daily brushing, flossing and using an antibacterial mouthwash help minimize germs. Otherwise, they collect and harden from plaque into tartar or calculus. Do not neglect to brush or scrape your tongue every day because it is a large surface that can hold onto bacteria. Your routine dental checkups and cleanings help get rid of tartar and calculus using special instruments. We can even recommend some devices you can use to remove oral bacteria from your teeth and tongue.

Build up your body’s immune system

Help your body resist infection so it can’t strengthen and spread. You will need vitamin C to lower inflammation (which can cause red, bleeding gums). Eat fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, berries, and leafy greens. You can get Vitamin B12 from milk, eggs, and meat, as well as B12 from fortified bread, pasta, and cereals. Omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed oil and fish are great sources) also fight inflammation and boost gum health. If your diet is restricted, you can also take supplements for vitamin C, B12, and Omega 3.

Seeking Help

If you have noticed that your gums are bleeding and regular, gentle flossing around the gum line and between teeth is not helping, you may need treatment. Depending on the stage of gum disease you are fighting, you may need to visit a dentist, periodontist, or endodontist to stop the bleeding and make sure your gums are not receding or leading to bone loss and tooth loss.

This year, do not let gum disease cause tooth loss in your smile. You can achieve healthy teeth and gums. Our experienced team is here to help ensure your smile and overall health are as healthy as possible!

Celebrate National Fresh Breath Day With These Breath Enhancing Tips!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 18:30:26 GMT

Did you know that August 6th heralds National Fresh Breath Day? Every year on this date, we take the opportunity to create awareness by celebrating the virtues of fresh breath! Falling on Friday this year, we want you to know that good breath is a sign of good oral health, and we are always down to promote that as you start the weekend on a fresh note.

To achieve your best breath means practicing good daily oral hygiene to reap its benefits. As dental professionals, we can vouch for fighting bad breath every day by establishing good daily oral habits and sticking to them. Your smile (and those around you) will thank you!

What Causes Bad Breath?

If you’ve ever had dental decay or gum disease, you will likely be familiar with the odor of bad breath. Conversely, a healthy mouth smells fresher! Of course, sometimes the strong-smelling foods we regularly enjoy (like garlic and onions) can interfere with good-smelling breath, even though your teeth and gums are healthy.

National Fresh Breath Day is a good day to think about ways you can keep your breath smelling fresh, clean and healthy. Here’s what you can do to ensure your best breath:

Brush after eating
Floss right before bed
Regularly gargle and rinse with a minty mouthwash
Keep your saliva at optimal healthy levels by chewing sugar-free gum to keep your mouth moist and drink plenty of water
Visit your dentist routinely

Taming Oral Bacteria

Brushing at least twice a day with minty toothpaste and flossing once a day can keep dental plaque to a minimum. The bacteria in plaque is what causes your breath to smell, so take a few minutes every day to get rid of it. And don’t forget the bacteria coating your tongue! You can use a tongue scraper or toothbrush to clear away the bacteria once a day. First thing in the morning is a great time since bacteria thrive while you sleep! And don’t forget to rinse afterward with a good smelling mouthwash before starting your day.

Healthy Saliva Levels

You can also freshen up your breath by chewing some sugar-free gum during the day to stimulate saliva production. Dry mouth creates stinky breath, and chewing can keep the mouth moist and smelling fresher. It also means drinking plenty of water to hydrate the mouth (and body) so you feel better and your smile smells better. It is especially helpful if you suffer from post-nasal drip, which can cause bad breath. Hydrating dilutes oral secretions, and you’ll find yourself with better breath.

Dental Hygiene

Along with your daily oral care, you want to keep all scheduled dental cleanings and exams. Only your hygienist’s special instruments can remove hardened plaque, known as tartar or calculus, made for the task. Getting rid of this hard substance will bring you better breath! And if you still smoke or use tobacco, consider quitting. It’s hard to get good-smelling breath if your mouth is frequently exposed to tobacco and its chemicals. Also, smoking dries out the mouth, which only serves to allow bacteria to flourish. Alcohol consumption should be limited, as it, unfortunately, dries out the body.

If (despite all your best efforts) you still experience unpleasant breath, you might have a medical condition or even be reacting to certain medications. In that case, checking in with your general physician to see what is going on can help.

Spread the Word

This August 6th, consider giving a shout-out to your dental team for helping you achieve your best breath, and use the hashtag #NationalFreshBreathDay when you’re on social media to spread the word about better oral health and fresher breath. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call if you need help with your breath; we love helping your smile thrive!

What Happens to Your Health and Smile When Putting Off Your Biannual Dental Cleanings and Exams?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 18:33:19 GMT

Because of the pandemic (and occasionally dental anxiety just from going to the dentist), patients may find themselves tempted to skip a dental appointment or two, especially if they are not currently having any acute dental problems. But skipping those routine dental cleanings can also put one’s oral health and overall health at risk!

It is because tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious issues like abscesses and infections, potentially requiring root canals. In particular, gum disease has been connected to rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, bruxism often arises from stress, and an unhealthy smile leads to poor self-confidence. Your mouth and body are intricately connected and require regular care for optimal health.

Bacterial Infection

The greatest oral issue stems from oral bacteria, which starts to form as soon as you eat or drink anything besides water. Brushing and flossing after you consume sugary and acidic foods and beverages – like sodas, juices, sports or energy drinks, tea, coffee, and alcohol – can help manage plaque formation and buildup but very few people take the time to do that.

And even if you do, brushing and flossing alone can’t reach and clean every surface in your mouth. It is where your professional dental cleanings come to the rescue. With the help of special tools, our hygienist removes hardened, calcified plaque (tartar or calculus) that you can’t clear away at home, especially in between teeth and around the gum line.

Removing calculus and bacteria protects your smile from cavities and gingivitis (gum disease), so you don’t suffer from bacterial infections like gum disease, which puts you at greater risk of tooth loss, heart conditions, and complications from diabetes. Oral bacteria also makes your breath smell bad and is off-putting to people in close contact.

What Happens at Your Biannual Dental Checkups?

Our skilled team’s goal is to catch and treat developing problems sooner rather than later, so they are easier, less invasive, and less costly to remedy. When you come in for your dental cleaning and exam, you can look forward to the following:

Dental X-rays as needed
Oral cancer screening
Sticky plaque buildup and tartar removal
Tooth stain removal by polishing enamel
Screening for tooth decay and gum disease
Checking every tooth for chips, cracks, cavities
Evaluating your jaw and bite for abnormalities
Ensuring that your current tooth restorations are in good shape
Scheduling to treat any current issues
Reviewing your at-home care if needed and recommending helpful products
Giving you answers to your questions and concerns

Why Biannual Dental Exams?

Cavities mean the following and should not be ignored:

Toothaches
Tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink hot, cold, acidic, or sweet foods and beverages
Pitting or a hole in a tooth
Painful abscess around a tooth

As tooth enamel weakens, cavities can accelerate from infection, whether it is inside the tooth, at the tooth root, or in the jawbone. The problem is an infection that spreads to nearby teeth. A cracked or fractured tooth can worsen whenever you bite down or chew hard food, and if the tooth completely breaks, you will know it from the pain. Your routine dental exams allow us to spot these kinds of issues early and treat them before they turn painful or expensive!

Daily Oral Hygiene Between Dental Cleanings

Your best protection in between dental cleanings and exams is to brush twice a day, floss at least once daily, and use an antibacterial mouthwash to kill germs if you want to keep tooth decay and gum disease from gaining a foothold. Drink plenty of water every day, eat a balanced diet, and limit unhealthy drinks and foods as much as you can.

While we are seeing more problems with patients coming back after skipping dental cleanings this past year, know that we will never make you feel bad about missing your dental appointments! Our team can expertly clean your teeth and check for developing problems so we can fix them early. We will also go over your daily routine to make sure you have the best tools possible to fill in any gaps so you can get back on track to a healthier, happier smile! Call now to schedule a dental cleaning and exam for yourself or your family members!

Smile With Us on National Smile Power Day on June 15th!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 31 May 2021 18:35:24 GMT

Did you know that a big investment you can make in your overall health and self-confidence is to make sure you have a healthy smile? June 15th is National Smile Power Day, and it’s a great time to become more aware of the many benefits of having a healthy, confident smile wherever you go!

The Psychology and Physiology of Smiling

Did you know that when you smile, it can trigger your autonomic nervous system to release endorphins into your blood? It triggers your body to release dopamine and serotonin, which act as natural pain relievers. Smiling also reduces your blood pressure levels (thank the happy hormone for that), so it has the power to relieve stress, help you relax, boost your immune system, and, when done habitually, even increase your odds of living longer!

In addition, it also helps whoever sees it to feel that same “happy hormone!” Smiling can make whoever you smile at feel better while also boosting their morale and helping them feel more confident. Smiling can be contagious, and at least half of the folks you smile at will reward you with one back. Who knew a simple smile which can produce anywhere and anytime was this powerful? We agree with the Buddhist author, Thich Nhat Hanh, that “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

Did You Know?

There are many different smiles, including the closed-lip smile, smirk smile, lop-sided smile, flirtatious smile, and open mouth smile.
When it comes to learning facial expressions, a baby’s smile is one of the first ones they master!
Smiling means the same thing anywhere you go in the world, which is why you often hear the familiar phrase, “When you smile, the world smiles with you!”
Smiling people come across more confident and looking younger as the smiling facial muscles raise the face, making the cheeks, jowls, and neck look smoother.
Women tend to smile more than 60 times a day while their male counterparts smile less than ten times a day!
Most people think that having a bad-looking smile can harm their career goals.

Smile For Your Health and Success

No wonder smiling is such a good thing for your mental and physical well-being! It’s good for your social and career life, so smile more often. After all, it’s free so why not give the gift of a smile to others, brightening your day as well as theirs. This National Smile Power Day, why not share the hashtag #NationalSmilePowerDay in your online communications and tell a good joke or two. If you’re just not feeling the smile bug, try writing down some of the things you are grateful for onto some sticky notes and placing them around your home or office. Before you know it, you might catch yourself smiling!

Smile Boosting Tips

Your oral health is the first step to a more confident smile as it impacts your overall health. If not taken care of, you are at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and bruxism (where you grind your teeth while you sleep). You will also want to brush with a good toothbrush, floss daily and visit our team twice a year for cleanings. Limit sugary foods and beverages, especially tooth-staining drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine. Drink enough water throughout the day to protect your smile and follow a balanced, nutritious diet so your teeth and gums get the nutrients they need to thrive.

We also recommend giving yourself the gift of a confident smile if you don’t already have one. Your dentist can be one of your best friends when it comes to reaching your smile goals. Give us a call if your smile needs some love, whether it’s just getting your next dental cleaning, a teeth whitening treatment, or a smile makeover. Our team is excited to help you smile!

Graduation and Wedding Days Are the Perfect Occasion to Whitening Your Smile!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 26 May 2021 18:37:08 GMT

Did you know that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, leaving them with first impressions about your health, intelligence, societal status, and attractiveness? Making sure your smile looks its best is a quick way to boost your self-confidence and stand out from the crowd, whether interacting with others or smiling for close-up photos to post on social media. If you are getting ready to graduate or get married, now is the time to make your smile shine so you can dazzle on your big day while brightening your future!

Your Smile Makes a Big Difference

Having regular teeth cleanings is important to keep your smile healthy and bright, and after that, one of the easiest ways to improve your smile is with a teeth whitening treatment. Getting rid of unsightly tooth stains and discoloration go a long way in revitalizing your appearance. In fact, we would go so far as to say that your smile is the most important thing you can wear, as donning expensive clothes or even jewelry doesn’t impress people as much as flashing a stellar smile!

Graduates going off to college or entering the workforce benefit from a healthy-looking smile as much as brides and grooms do on their big day. Most cosmetic dentists can tell you that teeth whitening is easily one of the most popular treatments for someone celebrating a special occasion. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to brighten your smile and, consequently, your life!

How Much Time Do You Have?

In-Office Teeth Whitening: One teeth whitening option is to go to a dentist for treatment. It is worth every cent because you are paying for expertise as well as product effectiveness with a peroxide gel and controlling the outcome. Professionally whitened teeth are the safest, quickest, and highest quality route to whiter teeth to brighten your special day after having your teeth scaled and polished. That is also a good time for the dentist to make sure your teeth are in good enough shape to handle a teeth whitening treatment.At-Home Bleaching Kit: This is also a popular way to whiten teeth, and you can often purchase the gel over the counter or from a dentist. Depending on whether the gel and whitening trays came from a dentist or over-the-counter, the desired results can be achieved in one to four weeks. That’s because professional teeth whitening products are customized to your teeth as they have higher concentrations of the whitening gel. You’ll still want to clean your teeth every day and avoid enamel-damaging foods and drinks as they can affect shade and color.
At-Home Whitening Strips: You can find these affordable strips easily over the counter. They also use hydrogen peroxide to whiten stains by penetrating tooth pores, so you get the results in about a week or two.
Teeth Whitening Toothpaste: This process is the most affordable approach, but it can take up to a month for you to get the results you want. Because the bleaching concentrations only affect the tooth for a short time, you’ll want to be especially mindful of the foods and drinks you consume as well as brush and floss every day as staining can set you back.
Not everyone is a good candidate for having teeth whitening done, which is why seeing the dentist is a good way to find out. People suffering from cavities, receding gums, or are currently wearing braces can be affected by how well or if their teeth can be whitened.

Call Today!

Whether you are walking down the aisle with your significant other or walking across the stage with your fellow graduates, choosing to brighten your smile with the help of teeth whitening may be the ideal choice for you! If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health or want to schedule your next visit, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Your smile deserves the best possible care and treatment available!

Spring Has Sprung! Call Today To Schedule Your Spring Dental Cleaning!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 18:38:54 GMT

Spring is officially here! Along with the shifting, warmer weather and blossoming trees and bushes (hello, allergies!), spring feels like a time of change, growth, and prosperity. Spring is a time when many of us are excited to clean out our closets, get rid of old clutter and cobwebs in the home, and start some fun projects around the house.

Do your teeth and gums need a spring cleaning?

Just like your home, your smile also benefits from making some improvement, especially after indulging in not always healthy comfort foods and beverages and celebrating Valentine’s and Easter holidays often throughout the month. Spring is a good time to get your smile in order, not just your home!

The first signs of spring mean it is time for some dental housekeeping. First, you need to replace old or fraying toothbrushes to give your teeth the cleaning and polish they deserve. Replacing your toothbrush (or toothbrush head if it is electric or battery-operated) can also help prevent bacterial or viral infections if you’ve been sick in the past few months. Check your mouthwash for the expiration date, and check out your flossing supplies if you use dental floss, tape, or floss picks. If you use a water flosser, this is a good time for a thorough cleaning.

The next item on your spring dental checklist is your routine biannual dental cleaning! The Academy of General Dentistry has confirmed that having a professional dental cleaning twice a year boosts the quality of your long-term oral health. Getting a deep dental cleaning and exam every six months keeps your teeth and gums cleaner and healthier. It can also get you ready for summer when you might be spending more time outdoors and enjoying the warmer weather, vacationing, and sharing more candid photos on your social media. The healthier your mouth, the more radiant and confident your smile!

What does your spring dental cleaning do for your smile?

Routine professional checkups and exams help us spot developing oral problems like tooth decay and gum disease in their early stages. It is the best time to treat problems because they are smaller and less costly to fix, and least invasive to treat when they are just developing. Comparing a small filling to a dental crown or root canal can make a big difference in your budget! Treating problems early also means less pain for you later, both with your mouth and your wallet.

What can you expect at your spring dental cleaning?

Our dentist will check your teeth, gums and mouth to spot any potential problems as soon as possible.
Your exam might include dental X-rays to see what’s going on inside your teeth and gums.
Remove dental plaque and tartar (mineralized plaque) that has settled onto your teeth and around the gum line.
Scale and polish your teeth with special tools, ultrasonic sound waves, and specialty toothpaste.
Floss in between your pearly whites and gum line.
Recommendations to help boost or restore your tooth enamel.

Coming in for your routine professional dental cleanings and exams is the perfect complement to your daily oral care. Alone, they can’t fully protect your smile, but together they fill in the missing pieces. Both are needed to keep harmful plaque and bacteria from taking over your smile! Our dentist and dental team are always happy to give you tips for your at-home dental routine, lifestyle habits, showing you how to brush and floss, and even recommending dental products tailored to your unique oral needs.

Spring is the perfect time to schedule your next dental cleaning. Treat your teeth to the care they deserve by taking time out for your teeth and smile. A healthier and brighter smile awaits you, and we welcome you to call us today!

Celebrate Our Dentists and Dental Assistants the Month of March!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:41:43 GMT

March is the month for the dental community. Every year at this time, we honor National Dentist’s Day (March 6th) and Dental Assistants Recognition Week in the first full week in March (March 7-13, 2021). These days recognize and say thank you to our fellow dentists and dental assistants for helping people take great care of their teeth. Spring is also the perfect time to invite our patients to come in for their biannual checkup if they have been putting it off.

Dental History of National Dentist’s Day

5000 B.C. – The ancient Sumerians thought that tooth decay and cavities were a result of tooth worms.
2600 B.C. – One of the earliest dentists was Hesy-Ra from ancient Egypt.
1530 – The first dental book was written by Artzney Buchlein called “Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth.”
1990 – Cosmetic dentistry became popular with the help of colorful braces, dental veneers, dental implants, and teeth bleaching.

As dentists, we are doctors for your smile! Our goal is to help you keep your mouth healthy for a lifetime of smiles because, with proper care, most people can keep their teeth throughout their lives. We work hard to help you prevent problems in their early stages by diagnosing and treating any developing oral conditions so your teeth and gums can remain healthy and strong for you. A healthy smile protects your overall health as well since the mouth and body are intrinsically connected.

How to Support National Dentist’s Day (and Your Smile):

Take a few extra minutes to brush and floss your pearly whites today.
Show our dentist how your smile is improving by brushing and flossing daily.
Teach your child a fun song to help them brush longer.
Schedule your family’s routine dental checkups and exams.
Snap a photo of yourself with your dentist and post it on your social media platforms and add the #NationalDentistsDay hashtag.
Drop off a thank you note to our dentist. We love to see your smiling face under your mask!

Dental Assistant Week

The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages us to recognize our dental assistants’ crucial role in keeping our patients smile and body healthy throughout the year. It all starts inside the mouth, where harmful oral bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to hurt our bodies. Good dental care is the first step of taking care of the rest of your body.

This year’s theme is ‘Dental Assistants — Our Heart Goes Into Every Smile.’ Our dental assistants are just as important as our dentists for the work that they do on behalf of patients. Before you even show up for your dental appointment, our dental assistant is preparing for your time in the chair, pulling your dental file, and sterilizing and setting out any instruments that will be needed for your treatment.

Our dental assistant also makes sure that you are comfortable and relaxed during your treatment and supporting our dentist by handing instruments over during your procedure. They also take patients’ dental X-rays, help out our office managers, and help bring a smile to everyone they come into contact with (you might not see that smile under a mask, but it is there somewhere!).

Right now, there are over 300,000 dental assistants around the country who are hard at work to create happy smiles. Overall, dental assistants are good at what they do because they genuinely care about their patients and the dental team. They want to make a difference in the lives of those around them no matter their age; children, adults, and senior citizens alike. Compassion is a trait you will generally see in great dental assistants. They are good listeners, quick thinkers and eager to solve problems. Without their daily efforts, dental offices like ours would not function as efficiently and effectively. We hope you take a moment to thank our dental assistant the next time you come in for your appointment!

Call Us Today!

As dentists and dental assistants, we love to help you put your best face forward so that whoever you see can appreciate your smile. We are here to help you keep your mouth and body healthier all year round. With proper dental care – daily brushing and flossing and twice-a-year dental cleanings and exams – we can help you keep cavities and gum disease away. This teamwork truly makes your smile dreams work!

For National Gum Disease Awareness Month, Commit To Healthier Teeth and Gums!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 18:44:11 GMT

February is National Gum Disease Awareness Month, and we are here for it! Working daily with gums makes us excited about creating awareness on how best to keep your gums healthy no matter what your age. When we say your smile thrives on good oral care, most patients typically think of their teeth, but the gums are just as crucial because, without them, your teeth would loosen and fall out!

The problem with gum disease (the infection of the gum tissue) is that it also is linked to general health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy issues. Taking good care of your gums means your overall health will improve. Gum disease develops when oral bacteria thrive in the mouth. It does not take a lot of time for the bacteria to inflame the oral tissues and spread via the bloodstream, affecting the organs and other areas of your body. You can make a big difference in your tooth and gum health by brushing and flossing daily to remove this harmful bacterial film (plaque) from your teeth and gum line.

Are Your Gums in Good Shape?

In the early stages, gum disease is referred to as gingivitis. Left unchecked, it will continually advance until you are at the stage called periodontal disease. To protect your gum health, you will need to practice effective oral hygiene care every day, followed by periodic professional dental cleanings and exams. Your biannual dental cleanings remove hardened plaque (known as tartar or calculus), which can only be removed using special dental instruments. In between visits, keep an eye out for the signs of gum disease.

How To Spot Gum Disease

Look for any swollen or puffy gum tissue
Notice if your gums are bright red or bleeding
Watch for tooth sensitivity or pain
Don’t ignore chronic bad breath
If your teeth feel loose or separating
If you notice pus or sores in the mouth
Watch for receding gums

What Causes Gum Disease?

Probably the most common cause of this insidious disease is chronic poor oral hygiene. Without daily intervention, oral bacteria thrive, harming your gums, teeth, and body. But neglecting your oral hygiene care is only partly responsible for inviting gum disease into your mouth. There are a variety of other conditions that can lead to disease:

Using tobacco in any form
Excessive use of alcohol
Having crowded or overlapping teeth that are hard to brush and floss correctly
Experiencing hormonal changes
Having oral cancer
Breathing via the mouth, leading to dry mouth by reducing saliva production
Constant, unrelieved stress
Consuming a non-nutritious diet of high sugar or starches
Poor diabetes control
Insufficient dental care from skipped dental visits
Your gums turning white (they should be pink)

So, what can you do to prevent gum disease or keep it from worsening? It is where improvements to your daily habits can make have the biggest impact:

Brush: Brush at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Wait about half an hour after eating so that you don’t wear down enamel from food particles.
Floss: Flossing cleans areas of the teeth and gum line that brushing alone can’t effectively clean. Floss at least once a day to remove debris between the teeth and near the gums. Be sure to floss between each tooth individually.
Keep your dental appointments: Your teeth and gums can suffer if you go too long without having a dental checkup and cleaning. Six-month checkups are important to get rid of tartar. If you have signs of gum disease, feel pain or discomfort, please don’t wait! Call our team as soon as possible, and we will help you get the treatment you need.
Eat healthier: Your teeth, gums, and body thrive when you eat a balanced diet with nutritious essentials. Even drinking healthy smoothies or other beverages good for you can make the difference between a healthy or unhealthy smile. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks that build up sticky bacteria. Rinse your mouth out with water after you eat and drink if you are not brushing right away.

What if You Have Gum Disease?

Depending on the state of your gums, there are several solutions to get your smile back on track:

A professional dental cleaning and exam
A scaling and root planing
A gum pocket reduction
A gum graft or soft tissue graft
Take prescribed medication
Use medicated toothpaste or mouthwash
Have root canal therapy performed

Your smile needs daily care and good habits, especially if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy (and in place). We welcome you to call our office if you have any issues or concerns about your gums. This National Gum Disease Awareness Month, resolve to take the best care of your teeth and gums!

Start the New Year off With a Bang by Creating a Healthier, More Beautiful Smile!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 18:46:02 GMT

Whenever we begin a new year, we often feel like making resolutions for better habits and better health. Along with better general health, striving for better oral health can make a huge difference in our happiness. That is because the smile and the body are intricately linked, and a healthier smile makes for a more attractive and confident smile. In fact, with proper care, a new year can bring a new smile. Here are some changes you can make to create your best smile for a healthier, happier 2021!

Brush at Least Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth removes harmful oral plaque, protecting your smile against gum disease and tooth decay. Brushing removes oral debris from the front, top and back surfaces of your teeth. It is essential to brush your teeth at least twice a day every day for two minutes each time. Skipping out on daily brushing can quickly harm your teeth as dental plaque wears down the tooth enamel needed to keep your teeth healthy, strong and cavity-free.

Floss Teeth at Least Once Daily

Brushing by itself can’t remove plaque and food particles between your teeth, especially where two teeth touch. Plaque also collects and builds up around the gum line. It doesn’t matter when you floss, morning, or evening, just as long as it is within a 24-hour period. It takes 24 hours for oral plaque to build up around your teeth, and you need to clean those areas where your toothbrush isn’t designed to clean so harmful bacterial buildup can’t harm your smile.

A good choice for flossing is using an interdental brush that fits between the teeth or a water flosser that can easily rinse those areas where your toothbrush can’t. People who floss have healthier gums, which are vital for supporting your teeth. Without flossing, oral bacteria can quickly lead to inflamed gums, bad breath, and gum disease.

Eat and Drink Healthier

A healthier diet is often on the menu during the New Year, and a smile-healthy diet is similar to a healthier diet. Avoiding sugary foods and drinks benefits your teeth, gums, and waistline. Sugar feeds the bad oral bacteria that lead to cavities, not just empty calories. Consuming more fresh vegetables and fruits high in antioxidants benefits your body, teeth, and gums. Drinking more water hydrates your mouth and your body, boosting saliva production, and washing away oral debris, and preventing dry mouth.

Give Up Smoking

Smoking is bad for your body and your smile! Smoking promotes bad breath, stains teeth, leads to cavities, gum recession, gum disease, and tooth loss, not to mention oral cancers. The new year is a wonderful time for a fresh start and a healthier body and smile! You might also enlist the help of a cessation support program if needed. Your body, lungs and smile will thank you!

Visit the Dentist

For a better smile, you need to supplement your daily at-home dental care with biannual dental checkups. In addition to removing hardened plaque from your teeth and around the gumline, our dental team will check for any dental issues you might be experiencing before it grows into something bigger. Starting 2021 with a clean bill of dental health can boost your smile and your wellbeing, setting the tone for a healthier year.

Not only can dental checkups protect teeth and gums, but this is also a time to get needed dental work done. Whether you want to brighten your smile with professional whitening treatments or replace missing teeth, a dental checkup is a great way to start making improvements.

Missing teeth can affect the appearance of your face and cheeks, inflame the gum pockets that are used to hold teeth and leave you feeling self-conscious of your smile. Feeling good about your smile is as important as feeling good about your body, and our smile-friendly habits can help you accomplish both!

Call Today!

Our dental team is excited to help you reach your smile goals and invite you to give us a call today to schedule your next dental visit. We are excited to help you create the healthy, beautiful smile you have always wanted. Call today!

Don’t Let a Preventable Dental Emergency Sideline Your Oral Health

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 18:48:05 GMT

Winter is almost here, and sports activities can find a way to bring a dental emergency into your life during the busy holiday season. Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, swimming, or surfing, accidents can happen. It can mean running into a tree while sledding, falling on your face at an ice skating rink, or knocking a tooth out on your surfboard. Your mouth can sustain a dental emergency all year round!

Protecting Your Smile

Whether you are out having fun hitting the snow-covered hills, playing hockey with friends, or even celebrating the season with friends, you usually are not thinking about how you can prevent a dental emergency. It’s what you can do beforehand that will really count! Protecting your smile is as easy as wearing the right gear for your recreational activity, whether that’s a mouth guard, face cage, or helmet.

So, what happens when the unthinkable happens? Seeking help right away can help stop your oral pain and lower the risk of having permanent oral damage. During business hours, calling our office is simple, but what if you have an accident on a holiday, weekend, or in the middle of the night that can’t wait? It might require getting help from an emergency room visit. But first, let’s look at what constitutes a dental emergency.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

Some emergencies can wait until the next morning, but others could result in a lost adult tooth if treatment is not sought out immediately. Ask yourself the following to make that assessment:

Do you have severe pain along with bleeding?
Do you have a partially dislodged or knocked-out adult tooth?
Do you have a loose permanent tooth (but no pain)?
Do you have an oral abscess or infection combined with swelling in the mouth or face?
Do you have a severely bitten tongue or lip?
Do you have a cracked or broken tooth?
Have you lost a dental crown or filling?
Do you have an object stuck between your teeth that shouldn’t be?
Have you broken your jaw from trauma/injury?

Please call us right away if you have any of those conditions, and if you can’t reach us for emergency dental care, visiting the ER is your next best option.

What Is Not a Dental Emergency?

The easiest question you can ask yourself here is, “Can you wait to see your dentist in the next day or so?” It means that a chipped tooth that isn’t causing you pain can be delayed, but a chipped or cracked tooth that hurts or has sharp bits that hurt cannot wait. Sometimes, even a painful toothache can safely wait if it is not accompanied by an abscess or facial swelling, bumps on your gum tissue, or a rising fever. Losing a filling or crown can typically wait several days if necessary.

Dental emergencies benefit from remembering to stay calm. Knowing what to do beforehand can help facilitate that needed self-control, especially when pain is combined with stress, making it harder to think clearly. When should you visit an emergency room if you can’t reach our dentist?

Visiting Your Nearest Emergency Room

You’ve sustained an injury to your head or eye
You’ve suffered a concussion and are experiencing confusion
You’ve broken a bone or dislocated a joint in your jaw
You have a cut or facial laceration likely to require multiple stitches

When it comes to your oral health, remember to never ignore dental injuries, illnesses, or conditions. Sometimes a problem can wait until you see your dentist, but many times, early intervention is necessary. When in doubt, call our office to make sure! And if you can’t reach us after hours, please seek help at your local ER.

In between dental visits, stay on top of your oral hygiene habits to help keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong throughout the year. And if you are participating in recreational activities this winter, wear a mouth guard and helmet as needed. Speak to our team about what you can do today to prevent a dental accident. Your smile deserves your best care!

Are You Thankful for Dental Care That Makes Your Smile Look and Feel Its Best?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:50:27 GMT

Autumn is in full swing, and that means the cold weather is fast approaching (if it isn’t already here)! You may be tempted to hunker down with holiday goodies and snacks, but you do not want to ignore your health or even your dental health. Even if you are busy during this season, you might be overindulging in sweet and starchy treats for the next couple of months. It can spell disaster for your teeth and gums if you are not brushing and flossing daily. Besides, who wants to start the new year with cavities or gingivitis?

Now is the perfect time to feel gratitude for your teeth and gums because they work hard for us every single day. Your mouth helps you speak, chew and smile with confidence. While seasonal treats can be enjoyed, it will help if you stay on top of your daily oral hygiene routine. But that is not the only reason your smile is your ally!

Improved General Health

Healthy teeth allow you to get the nutrition your body needs. You can do this by eating fresh, crisp produce, grains, and protein that your body needs. Poor oral health, especially periodontal disease, can also lead to general health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Clear Speech

When teeth are missing – whether from poor oral hygiene or injury – your teeth help you to speak clearly so you can converse with others each day. Unless replaced, missing teeth can harm your smile, affecting your speech and the alignment of your jaw.

Strong Self Esteem

A healthy smile is a beautiful smile, and when you can smile with confidence, the world seems brighter. Conversely, damaged or unsightly teeth can make you feel self-conscious and reluctant to smile. It can affect relationships with loved ones, friends, coworkers and other public interactions.

Better Breath

Healthy teeth and good breath allow you to smile, speak, kiss, and eat with ease and joy. Poor dental hygiene allows bacterial plaque to collect around teeth and under the gum line, leaving your mouth with tooth decay and bad breath. During the holiday season, take the time to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss once daily, and, if needed, follow up with an antibacterial mouthwash to keep your mouth sparkling and clean.

Save Money

When teeth deteriorate, they can be expensive to treat. It starts with fillings, but neglect can lead to decay and extraction, requiring a root canal or dental restoration. Since your dental insurance encourages and pays for your routine dental cleanings, be sure to take advantage of the benefits before they run out and resets in January.

Don’t Skip Routine Dental Cleaning

At the minimum, dental cleanings should happen twice a year unless you have a problem such as gum disease. While brushing and flossing protect your smile every day, they can’t quite remove hardened plaque or tartar. Using a dental instrument, your hygienist removes tartar and polishes your teeth. Another thing your dental team does is take X-rays to spot potential problems while they are still small. It allows them to be treated and fixed while still being economical and less invasive to repair. Preventative care is key to a healthy smile!

When you do need a dentist to address problems with your smile, you can count on us to provide you with everything from cosmetic dentistry to fix stained teeth and remove excess gum tissue. Preventative care may also include dental sealants, mouth guards for sports or night guards for bruxism. With restorative dentistry, we can replace one or more teeth with fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, or implants.

Top-Notch Dental Care

Be sure to use your dental insurance benefits for 2020 before it resets at the beginning of the new year. Remember, if you don’t use it, you lose it! This season, express your gratitude for your smile and how hard it works for you (and for your dentist!). Together, we can make a great team and make sure your smile is healthy and beautiful all year round. Now that’s something to smile about!

Healthy Dental Tips For the Spooky Season!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 18:52:43 GMT

Halloween is lurking around the corner, but so is the coronavirus, making traditional Halloween parties trickier. This year, big parties and parades, creepy haunted houses, and gathering in crowds to trick-or-treat are off the table for many, or at the very least, downsized and held outdoors while social distancing. While the traditional ways of celebrating Halloween may look different this year, your family can still stock up on Halloween candy and dress up for some squeamishly spooky fun.

Treat Your Teeth

The problem with sweets is that all that sugary goodness can wreak havoc on teeth and gums. When you snack on sugary treats, be sure to rinse your mouth well with water afterward or brush your teeth if possible. Avoid hard, chewy, or extra sticky candies like the plague to avoid damaging dental plaque!

Eerie Count Chocula

Chocolate is a better choice when getting your sweets on, as it melts quickly and doesn’t stress the chompers like taffy, caramel, or other hard, sticky candies typically do. It’s easier to clean chocolate off the teeth unless they are filled with caramel or nougat fillings. Candy season can also be made more tooth-friendly by drinking plenty of water to keep saliva levels optimal. Saliva helps wash away oral debris to reduce harmful plaque. Supply your child with mini water bottles and sugar-free gum when brushing their teeth is not possible. Help your family stick to a healthy diet in general, so teeth and gums stay strong during the treat-laden holiday season for the next three months.

Frightful Family Fun

To protect your child’s wickedly cute smile during this pumpkin season, you can do what some parents do and limit daily candy consumption! Some spread out a trick-or-treating haul throughout the month and make sure they clean their teeth after eating sugary goodies. Others limit treats to a few days around Halloween itself. Having your family eat their candy right after a meal can help minimize plaque and tartar. Whatever works best for you and your family’s traditions, remember to instill in them the lifelong habit of cleaning their teeth after enjoying sweet treats.

Creating Safe Halloween Smiles

Here are some spooktacular ideas to enjoy scaring your loved ones with some wicked good fun!

Tip: If a costume comes with a mask, consider wearing a safety mask under it. Double the mask, double the protection!

Go all out this year by making or buying fun costumes for your family and taking lots of pictures to share on social media, send to extended family, or display in an album or on the wall!
Join friends and extended family in a “virtual costume contest” and award prizes and treats that can be dropped off or delivered by your favorite delivery company (Instacart, Walmart or Amazon).
Host a cool Zoom Halloween party, complete with scary music, games, or dance party for older kids.
Buy your child’s favorite Halloween candy, plastic spiders and bats, spooky stickers, Halloween-themed pencils, and mini tubes of toothpaste and flosses and let them trick-or-treat door-to-door INSIDE your house!
Check out your neighbors’ Halloween decorations while driving around, or masking up and walking around to wave at them from the sidewalk. If the neighbors are game, you can use Facebook or NextDoor to vote on the best decorations.
Paint scary pumpkins and place them around the house or by your doorstep. For extra spooky fun, paint teeth on them and practice “brushing” with your little ones armed with a new superhero or other character-inspired children’s toothbrush just for them.
Have a Rotten Witch Teeth guessing contest! Fill a clear jar with candy corn and have your kids guess how many wicked witch “rotten teeth” there are!
Take your family to a drive-thru Halloween haunt! Instead of Christmas lights, you’re getting spooked from frightful Halloween decorations.
Have a haunted skull glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt! Fill plastic skulls with mini dental floss and toothpaste, sugar-free candy or gum, glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces, vampire teeth, or plastic spider rings to hunt for in the yard. If you can’t find skulls, mini plastic pumpkins or mummies are also fun!
Decorate a Halloween candy tree (artificial or real) with creepy lights and treats, including travel-sized dental floss, glow sticks, toothpaste, and more (see ideas above), so kids can grab their own goodies from your porch or yard.
Parade your child through the neighborhood to show off their cool costume and wave at your neighbors. When you come home, treat your child to a Halloween toy or goody bag instead of trick-or-treating.
Have some scary family movie nights or a Halloween night macabre marathon with healthy treats. Spooky apple smiles (cored and quartered apples decorated with blanched slivered almond “teeth”), Clementine pumpkins (peeled and topped with a celery stick stalk), and banana ghosts (peeled bananas with chocolate chips for eyes and mouth) are a fun way to enjoy sweet treats safely!
Anonymously drop off a Halloween goodie bag or decorated pumpkin on the doorsteps of a few friends, family or neighbors to spread some spooky cheer, contact-free! After dark, tip-toe silently to the front door, ring the doorbell, and then “ghost” them by dropping off a ghoulish goodie and hiding or running away.

Harrowing Halloween Fun for Families

Download one of these fun pumpkin carving stencils like Billy the Bicuspid, Count Bicuspid, Frankentooth’s molar, and more as well as Activity Sheets or Coloring Sheets:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/resources/activity-sheets/halloween

From our dental family to yours, no matter how you celebrate Halloween this year, make it safe, healthy, and fun for all!

National Gum Care Month Is a Good Reminder for You To Prevent Gum Disease

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 18:56:03 GMT

September is National Gum Care Month, so let’s talk about everything related to gums. This month is a good time to reflect on your dental health and commit to taking better care of your gums. Sometimes, we forget your gums help keep your teeth in their place and functioning at top capacity. When your gums are damaged, you risk losing your teeth!

Protecting your gums is simple; brushing and flossing every day is part of a personal dental hygiene practice as well as keeping routine dental cleanings. This way, tartar can be removed and your teeth polished. Your gums can also be checked for signs of trouble and to treat problems early. Stick to a balanced diet to give your gums the nutrients they need to fight disease.

The Problem With Gum Disease

Treating gum disease is most effective when done in the early stage of gum disease because treatment can reverse the progress of gum disease. Once your gums are fighting serious infection, it’s harder to treat and progressively worsens. Like most things medically related, preventative care supports your oral and general health most effectively. When teeth are lost (other than teeth that are pulled for a purpose like wisdom teeth or tooth extraction procedures), the cause is often progressive gum disease. Gum disease is a common problem in our country, affecting around 67 million Americans.

Two Types of Gum Disease

Gum disease is broken down into two types. The mild version is the early stage, called gingivitis. Over time it progresses into periodontitis, a more dangerous phase. Both are caused by bacterial toxins leading to infection. In the gingivitis stage, you’ll see your gums as red, swollen, painful, and bleeding. In the later stage, you’ll see infection from inflammation in the gums, ligaments, and bone surrounding the teeth loosening teeth that either fall out or need to be removed from bone loss.

Gingivitis

We urge you to tell your dentist right away if you notice that your gums are bleeding, find sores in your mouth, have gum pain or find yourself with an unpleasant taste in your mouth along with bad breath. Having your gums checked and treated right away will help them stay healthier, longer, and with minimal damage.

Periodontitis

Advancing periodontitis involves rapid gum recession. This version often appears with young people having a growth spurt. They may be deficient in vitamins that protect the gums, rather than being overrun by bad oral bacteria. Once gum disease advances because of periodontitis, you may see spurts of infection mingled with improvement as you receive treatment. But gum disease affects the rest of your health, not just your mouth. As a systemic disease, gum disease will spread through your bloodstream to other organs in the body, resulting in inflammation related to diabetes, heart disease and even autoimmune issues.

Preventing Gum Disease

Avoiding gum disease means stopping bacterial plaque in the mouth that leaves a sticky film coating your teeth that you can feel when you run your tongue across them. Brushing twice a day for two minutes each session – followed by flossing – removes harmful bacteria to keep it from building up and hardening into tartar. Some tartar buildup is inevitable around the gum line, and this is one of the main reasons you see your dentist for a professional cleaning every six months. As gingivitis progresses and the gums start to recede from the teeth, bacterial plaque hardens into tartar inside the pockets around the teeth. Without intervention, the bone and ligaments keeping your teeth in position continue to deteriorate until they loosen.

Keep your gums pink and healthy by using a soft-bristled toothbrush (replacing when the bristles start to fray) and enamel strengthening toothpaste. Don’t forget to floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash. Fend off dry mouth by staying hydrated throughout your day and chewing sugar-free gum or lozenges. Be sure to control diabetes if you have it, and quit tobacco use. Limit the sugar in your diet, and incorporate more nutrient-dense and vitamin-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and calcium.

Treating Gum Disease

National Gum Care Month is a great time to see your dentist if you have any concerns about your gums. Once gum disease is a problem for you, you may also need to see a periodontist, endodontist or oral surgeon who can help reverse gum disease. Your smile deserves the best care, so contact our team today!

Recognize National Fresh Breath Day With Fresh Breath!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 18:58:11 GMT

The mouth is home to millions of bacteria, some of them good and some bad. In fact, half of the bacteria in your mouth can lead to bad breath! National Fresh Breath Day is observed every year on August 6th to create awareness of oral hygiene in the fight against bad breath. It is a daily battle, and how you handle it makes all the difference in the world of healthy smiles.

How Halitosis Thrives

Halitosis, or bad breath, has quite a few causes, and it’s not those garlicky, oniony foods you like so much. Eating pungent food, dry mouth, gum disease and tobacco use are frequent contributors to why your breath is less than stellar. Halitosis also shows up if you have underlying medical conditions and as a medication side effect.

Thankfully, daily brushing and flossing lessen the bacterial activity in the mouth, so your breath smells better. Cleaning your mouth is especially helpful when wearing braces because they can harbor food particles and oral residue. If you’re out and about and can’t clean your mouth after eating, you can also chew sugarless gum or sugar-free mints. These boost your mouth’s natural bacteria-fighting resource, saliva, which helps rinse away bacteria and bits of food particles. So, what can you do to keep your breath fresh?

How to Keep Your Breath Fresh

Brush twice a day and floss daily to get rid of bacterial plaque. Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months.
Upgrade your toothpaste to one that fights oral bacteria on your tongue, cheeks and gums.
Keep routine dental cleanings and checkups to remove bacteria buildup under the gum line and tartar that can’t be removed with a toothbrush and dental floss alone.
Clean your dental appliances daily; this includes cleaning dentures, retainers and mouth guards daily to remove plaque.
Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to kill bad bacteria.
Since sugar causes bad breath, only chew sugar-free gum, and limit your intake of sweetened drinks like soda.
Tuck some breath mints into your pocket or bag when you are on the go.
Prevent dry mouth and wash out the mouth by drinking lots of water throughout your day.
Snack on raw, crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, celery, or carrots that scrape away bad breath causing bacteria.
Give up smoking!
Take a vitamin C supplement since a deficiency can lead to bad breath.

If you are struggling with bad breath, add a tongue scraper to your daily brushing and flossing routine to remove bacterial plaque. If you wake up in the morning and see a coating on your tongue when looking into the mirror, scraping it off can do wonders for your breath.

Drinking plenty of water throughout your busy day isn’t just good for your body and waistline. Staying hydrated promotes saliva production! Saliva is your mouth’s natural line of defense against oral bacteria leading to halitosis. Conversely, alcohol dries out the mouth, so limiting your consumption is a good idea.

Fun fact: Eating parsley with your meal has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help your breath smell cleaner. Basil, mint, or cilantro also neutralize odors with their chlorophyll. Eat more plain yogurt since it fights oral bacteria, and chew sugar-free gum with Xylitol to keep your saliva flowing.

Observing #NationalFreshBreathDay

Take this month to check in on your breath to see if it’s as fresh as it can be. If you find that you have chronic bad breath, it may be time to schedule a visit with our dental team to make sure you don’t have an underlying condition like gum disease. Treating the causes of bad breath will help your mouth stay healthier, fresher and more appealing

Dental Implants Are a Solution to Replacing Lost Teeth

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 19:00:04 GMT

When it comes to your smile, taking care of your teeth is an investment in your oral health that pays many dividends. With tooth loss, missing teeth can affect you in multiple ways. Even losing just one tooth can cause problems. Some of that is emotional, as people often feel self-conscious and embarrassed to smile if a prominent tooth is missing, but losing a tooth can also impact your oral health. There are a variety of reasons that a tooth may be lost.

What Causes Tooth Loss?

Tooth decay
Gum disease
Dental injury
Family history/genetics
Poor diet
Lax oral hygiene

Replacing a missing tooth early on is important, and it’s not just about how you look. It also impacts your mouth, jaw and body as they work together to keep you functioning. Anyone can lose teeth, not just the elderly. It often happens gradually, starting when you are younger and worsening over time if left untreated or there are no changes made.

What Happens When a Tooth Is Lost?

Each tooth is a placeholder and exists for a reason. When you lose one tooth, the rest of your teeth must work harder, placing stress on them and wearing them out sooner. As the remaining teeth shift to fill the tooth gap, it can make cleaning between them much more difficult because you can’t get in to remove harmful plaque and developing tartar. The extra space left behind from the missing tooth tends to harbor bacteria that can spread to nearby teeth. Proper brushing and flossing are essential to prevent gum disease that could lead to more tooth loss.

If a tooth is lost, you may find yourself experiencing the following:

An altered bite alignment as the upper and lower jaws don’t meet correctly, causing problems with your jaw joint and tooth sensitivity.
The jawbone deteriorates when the tooth root structure is gone, leaving your facial profile sunken and misshapen.
Losing teeth can impact your diet, making it difficult to eat healthy foods when it hurts to chew and cause problems digesting your food if you’re unable to break down the foods more with your mouth.
Pronunciation is affected, leading to slurred words, lisping, or spitting when talking.
You can have lower confidence because of problems such as incorrect speech, chewing and appearance.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

If you have lost one or more teeth, it is important to replace them for your dental and general health. Common tooth replacement options include a fixed dental bridge, removable partial dentures and dental implants. Thanks to advances in dentistry, dental implants are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. In particular, implants are rooted in the jaw, preserving jaw bone health by replacing the lost tooth root.

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that replaces and integrates the tooth root. While dental bridges and dentures can give you a beautiful smile, your jawbone will keep deteriorating and will require adjustment or replacement in the years ahead. It is where dental implants shine as they maintain jawbone health along with your youthful appearance by preventing the facial sagging effect that can occur with other dental options.

Dental Implants Benefits:

They are the most stable tooth replacement because they are anchored into the jawbone.
Won’t shift around in the mouth or fall out.
Don’t require daily attachment with a dental adhesive like dentures do.
Your diet stays the same with 100% bite capacity.
Dental implants don’t require a change in brushing and flossing.
Look and feel natural in your mouth.
Don’t take time getting used to since they look, feel and function like your own teeth.

Implants are a three-part restoration:

1. A biocompatible titanium post is placed into the jawbone (acting as a tooth root for stability).
2. An abutment piece is attached to the top of the post (acting as a connector).
3. It is then topped with a dental crown, dental bridge or denture for optimal security.

As you can see, dental implants are most like your natural teeth. If you want help replacing the missing teeth in your smile, dental implants are a proven dental restoration that can have you speaking, eating, and looking your best once again. Give our team a call to learn more!

Bad Habits to Avoid If You Want Healthy Teeth and Gums

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 19:08:52 GMT

As humans, we are regularly developing habits throughout our lifetime, and they aren’t always good ones. Bad habits are quite common, and a lot of them are formed unintentionally. Many times we develop habits that aren’t good for us without being aware of it, but bad oral habits can cause problems, pain, and cost a lot of money to correct.

Being proactive is the best approach if you want to keep your teeth for your lifetime, so make it your mission to practice excellent oral hygiene, routine dental visits, and good oral habits. Here are eight habits to avoid if you want a healthier smile.

1. Biting Your Nails

If you are always biting your nails, your oral health will pay the price. Not only are you spreading harmful bacteria that hang out under your nails, biting non-edible items like fingernails can crack, fracture, or chip your teeth, and even hurt your jaw over time.

Instead: Apply some bitter-tasting nail polishes and work on lowering your stress levels. Awareness and calming your anxiety can keep your nails (and teeth) looking their best!

2. Brushing Harshly

Scouring your chompers with harsh strokes can leave them hurting instead of clean and healthy. Rough handling can wear down tooth enamel and irritate the gums, which can end up receding the gums, exposing the layer of dentin below.

Instead: Brush at least twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and massage the teeth gently. It will clean the teeth surfaces without damaging them in the process.

3. Clenching and Grinding

If you are constantly clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth (awake or asleep), it can damage your teeth and jaw. This habit is called bruxism, and it often arises from unrelieved stress. It wears down enamel leaving teeth and makes them vulnerable to decay. You may also find yourself with painful jaw or joint pain, or even fractured or chipped teeth.

Instead: Practice relaxation techniques to relieve jaw stress and wear a custom night guard while you sleep.

4. Chronic Snacking

Whether you continually snack or sip sweetened beverages throughout the day, both can hurt your teeth. And it’s not just bathing your teeth in sugary pools that can lead to cavities. Snacking on chips and carbohydrate-filled goodies feed your mouth’s harmful oral bacteria, resulting in plaque buildup and tartar that can harm your gums.

Instead: Quench your thirst and protect your teeth with good, clean water. In fact, hydrating with water will also prevent dry mouth by giving your saliva the solution it needs to clear out oral debris and bacteria during the day.

5. Heavy Drinking

Regularly drinking alcohol increases plaque levels in your mouth that ultimately leads to tooth loss. Since alcohol acts as a diuretic, it can reduce saliva flow (which can result in dry mouth).

Instead: Limit your alcohol intake and drink plenty of water in between to hydrate.

6. Ice Chewing

Chomping on ice cubes might feel good on a hot day, but your teeth are not designed for it (especially when it is habitual and leads to cracks and chips). Both your teeth and ice are crystals, so the effect of rubbing them together can cause tooth damage, even potentially damaging dental fillings.

Instead: Consume your beverages through a straw to keep you from accidentally munching on ice. Be sure not to chew on the straw! Also, try chilling your drinks in the refrigerator beforehand.

7. Kick the Tobacco Habit

A tobacco habit not only stains your teeth but inflames your salivary glands so they can’t perform correctly. As if that wasn’t bad enough, smoking leads to bad breath, gum disease, increased loss of jaw bone density, and oral cancer.

Instead: Find a smoking cessation support program that works for you. Your lungs, teeth and gums will thank you!

8. Teeth Are For Chewing

Your teeth are not tools! Do not use them to tear off tags, open a bag of chips or hold your pen.

Instead: Stick to biting and chewing your food with your teeth, and use the correct tools to handle everything else.

When it comes to your habits, we encourage you to take extra care of your smile so it will take good care of you! You will reap the benefits of healthier teeth, longer-lasting dental work and a more beautiful smile!

Your Toothbrush Has Come a Long Way to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 19:11:16 GMT

Your toothbrush is one of the most important tools you have in your home to keep your pearly whites healthy and beautiful. Used properly twice a day, your toothbrush will help you ward off tooth decay, gum disease and even bad breath. Its job in your daily oral hygiene kit is vital because unchecked gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss for adults.

While toothbrushes today have come a long way, your forebears recognized the importance of brushing your teeth. Early predecessors to the common toothbrush include tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones and porcupine quills.

Toothbrushes Throughout the Ages

Ancient Egyptians invented the first toothbrushes (or chew sticks) around 3000 B.C., from frayed ends of wooden twigs.
Ancient Greeks and Romans used toothpicks, and the Greeks also used rough cloths.
Ancient Chinese made proto-toothbrushes by attaching rough hog bristles to bamboo or bone, and in the Middle Ages, travelers brought these to Europe.
Late 18th century Englishman William Addis used his time in prison to carve a bone handle, drill holes and stick boar bristles into it with glue to create a toothbrush. He went on to mass-produce his invention after his release.
In 1938, the DuPont company manufactured the first “toothbrush” using nylon fibers.
Did you know? Toothbrushing became a widespread practice throughout the United States when soldiers came back from World War II, thanks to hygiene habits in the military.

To Brush or Not to Brush

Keeping your teeth clean is about removing plaque from settling on your teeth. Plaque is fed by the sugars and starches you eat, releasing acids that break down tooth enamel and irritate the gums, which become swollen, tender and red. Cleaning teeth properly can reverse gum disease in the early stages (gingivitis) so that the gums don’t pull away from the teeth. Otherwise, gum pockets can form, allowing bacteria and their byproducts to destroy the supportive bone holding the teeth in place, until they fall out or need to be extracted.

Breaking Down the Toothbrush

You have three main kinds: soft, medium and firm. The No. 1 dentist-recommended version is the soft-bristled brush, as it protects tooth enamel and sensitive gum tissue. Smaller brush heads fit into your mouth better than large ones do so you can maneuver easily around the molars in the back. There are all kinds of bristle designs, such as flat bristles, angled bristles, dome bristles or rippled bristles, so pick one that feels right for you.

Toothbrush handles can be thick or thin, so try both and just make sure it’s comfortable to use. You might enjoy using one that has non-slip grip areas or a flexible brush neck. Whatever you choose, we recommend a toothbrush carrying the American Dental Association® (ADA) Seal of Acceptance on the packaging, showing they have been tested and proven to be safe and effective at cleaning your teeth and gums.

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes are simple and effective, but some people prefer an electric version for ease of use. Children don’t always have the manual dexterity or discipline to use a manual toothbrush effectively, so an electric version can help them. Adults, including seniors, who have compromised dexterity can effectively clean their teeth using an electric toothbrush. Making your daily oral hygiene routine easier helps you do it consistently for better oral health.

Caring for Your Toothbrush

Keep your toothbrush upright in an open container so it can dry out between uses. Never allow it to touch another toothbrush to avoid germs (this also means never sharing your toothbrush, even with healthy family members). Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after every use. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) advises replacing your toothbrush (or toothbrush head, if using an electric one) every three to four months, or when the bristles are frayed, to brush away food particles and plaque effectively.

Your toothbrush is truly your gateway to a healthy smile; just be sure to brush your front, side and back teeth for at least two to three minutes each session. Your smile will thank you! Call us today if you have any questions or to schedule a visit with our dentist.

Good Oral Health Starts in the Home and Continues With Great Dental Care

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:13:02 GMT

Good oral health is essential for a healthy smile. The mouth is home to colonies of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, and when controlled by daily brushing and flossing, your oral health can thrive. Conversely, consuming a high sugar diet that feeds the bad bacteria creates harmful acids that erode your tooth enamel and lead to cavities. It also happens when you neglect your daily oral hygiene routine.

Gum Disease

But it’s not just your teeth that can suffer. This sticky, bacterial film (plaque) congregates around the gum line. If it isn’t removed daily, it hardens into tartar, irritating gum tissue, and leaving you with gingivitis (the early stage of gum disease). If tartar isn’t removed by a professional dental cleaning using special tools, your gums can recede or pull away from the teeth, causing gum pockets (periodontitis) that allow your teeth to loosen and possibly fall out.

Other factors leaving you more susceptible to gum disease include having a medical condition like diabetes, using medications that leave you with a chronic dry mouth or having a family history of gum disease.

Six-month dental checkups and cleanings are vital since treating dental and oral diseases early can give our team time to spot problems before they grow. We can examine your mouth, teeth, gum pockets, tongue, cheeks, throat, jaw, and neck with the help of X-rays so problems can be addressed quickly and efficiently. What kind of dental diseases are we looking to find?

Dental Diseases

Cavities: Damage to a tooth from plaque that can leave a hole in enamel that allows decay to spread.
Gingivitis: Gum disease that makes your inflamed gums bleed and become swollen that can worsen without intervention.
Periodontitis: Untreated gum disease from an infection that can spread to the bone supporting the teeth and throughout your body.
Tooth sensitivity: Pain from consuming hot or cold food and beverages, often arising from worn dental fillings or crowns, gum recession, cracks in a tooth, or having thin enamel.
Oral cancer: Chronic tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption places you at higher risk for this disease.

Poor oral health is also connected to health problems in the body like heart disease, stroke, low birth rate babies and premature birth. Treating dental problems with fillings, crowns and dental sealants to protect molars are effective methods of treating tooth problems. A root canal can often save a damaged tooth from extraction while dental implants, bridges or dentures can replace teeth that are extracted. No matter what stage a dental problem exists, treatment is available.

What You Can Do at Home

Just as you eat right and exercise to take care of your body, you want to brush and floss daily to care for your mouth. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing once removes harmful bacterial plaque and helps preserve teeth and gums.

Dental Tools

You can boost your hygiene routine with an antibacterial mouthwash, upgrade to an electric or battery-powered toothbrush or use a water flosser to get rid of trapped food particles where brushing can’t. Follow up this daily care with biannual dental cleanings to remove plaque and detect dental problems early.

Nutrition

Follow a balanced diet that gives your body the disease-fighting tools it needs. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, lean proteins, and dairies (like cheese, milk and plain yogurt) provide essential vitamins and minerals. Drink plenty of water during the day, and add green or black teas rich in polyphenols to help get rid of bad bacteria in the mouth.

Boost healthy saliva production by limiting caffeinated drinks and alcohol and staying hydrated throughout the day. Saliva washes away harmful bacteria, and with its traces of calcium and phosphate, it replenishes minerals to parts of your teeth that have lost them from plaque. Chewing sugarless gum can also ramp up healthy saliva flow.

The bottom line is good oral health depends on doing everything you can do to prevent tooth decay and cavities from taking over your smile. Give our team a call if you have any concerns about your oral health or schedule a visit. Together we can create your healthiest smile!

Aging and Dental Health: Don’t Let Time Rob You of the Healthy, Beautiful Smile You Deserve!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:15:28 GMT

More and more people are keeping their natural teeth healthy for a lifetime of beautiful smiles. At any age, a healthy mouth is a valuable asset when it comes to looking and feeling your best. Getting older means taking care of yourself to continue feeling great. Like your body, your dental health requires daily attention to protect teeth and gums. Exercising, eating right, and practicing good daily oral hygiene habits will help you maintain a healthy body and smile so you can live your best life!

Oral Health Conditions

Aging tends to affect the mouth along with the body. Nerves located inside the teeth can narrow, preventing you from feeling cavities. Routine checkups will ensure developing cavities are spotted and treated early so you can keep your teeth healthy without losing them to disease.

Dry Mouth

Since health issues requiring prescription medications tend to crop up over time, you can end up with dry mouth from a lack of saliva production as a drug’s side effect. Healthy saliva flow is needed to rinse away bacteria and oral debris while neutralizing harmful acids. A chronic dry mouth condition can lead to root and coronal cavities and gum disease. It can be combated by staying hydrated with water while limiting alcohol, sweetened or caffeinated drinks.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is more prevalent as you age if you are not practicing good daily oral hygiene. This infection of the gum tissue, which holds the teeth in place, is the most common reason adults lose their teeth, thanks to harmful bacteria prevalent in plaque.

Gingivitis

The early stage of gum disease is gingivitis, and you might notice red, swollen, or bleeding gums when you clean your teeth. At this stage, the disease is reversible with daily oral hygiene and professional dental treatment. If you neglect to treat gingivitis, it will only worsen.

Periodontitis

The more advanced and severe stage of gingivitis is periodontitis. Unfortunately, it tends to affect over half of adults between 65 and 74. It can lead to the breakdown of the gums and bone material holding the teeth in place. The affected gum tissue can pull back from the teeth, revealing the root surfaces of the tooth. Once the root surfaces of the teeth are exposed because of gum recession, they are now more vulnerable to tooth decay. If enough supportive bone is lost, the tooth will fall out.

Oral Cancer

Adults over 40 are more susceptible to oral cancer. If you notice patches of red or white on the tongue, gums, inner cheeks, or other oral tissues, you should have an oral cancer check. Oral cancer can often be successfully treated if detected in the early stages.

What You Can Do at Home

Brush your teeth with an electric or battery-operated toothbrush along with a cavity-fighting toothpaste and oral rinse to protect those pearly whites (this kind of toothbrush is especially useful if you have a condition such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis which prevents ease of movement).
Floss between teeth with a flossing tool or interdental cleaner/brush to keep teeth and gums healthy.
Clean full or partial dentures daily and remove them at least four hours a day to let the gums rest.
Give up tobacco products as they can cause dry mouth, gum disease and tooth decay leading to tooth loss.
Consume a diet rich in nutrients that support your body, teeth and gums.
See your dentist regularly to spot developing problems early when they are least invasively treated.
Taking good care of your oral health as you age can help you keep your smile beautiful and strong for a lifetime! Give our team a call if you have any questions or concerns about your teeth and dental health.

National Gum Disease Awareness Month: How You Can Keep Your Gums Vibrant and Healthy!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 19:18:14 GMT

In honor of February’s Gum Disease Awareness Month – a global public awareness campaign for preventing gum disease – our practice wants to help spread the word about this insidious disease. That’s because it can destroy your smile if it is left untreated. Fortunately, you can take action to help prevent this from happening!

Gum disease is caused by the ongoing attacks of the bacteria that live in dental plaque. Plaque is that sticky, colorless coating you can feel on your teeth before you brush them. The reason you need to brush and floss every day is to remove this bacterial film, which otherwise attacks tooth enamel and gum tissue to break them down. Plaque that isn’t removed daily quickly hardens into tartar, which then needs to be removed at your six-month dental checkup using special tools.

Factors Leading to Gum Disease

As you may have guessed by now, the leading cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. However, additional factors can speed up the development of this disease, including:

Stress
A high sugar diet
Chronic tobacco use
Regular alcohol consumption
Misaligned teeth (prevents you from cleaning your teeth effectively)
Fluctuating hormone levels
Cancer & diabetes mellitus
Breathing through the mouth which dries out oral tissues

Symptoms of Gum Disease

How do you know if you have gum disease, especially since it’s often painless in the early stage? Watch out for these symptoms:

Bleeding gums when you brush and floss
Red, tender or swollen gums
Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
Tooth sensitivity to hot/cold temperatures
Gum tissue pulling away from the teeth
Loose-feeling teeth
Altered bite pattern
Loose-fitting partial dentures
Pus around teeth and gums
Pain when chewing

All of these are signs that you are dealing with some form of gum disease.

3 Stages of Gum Disease

1. Gingivitis

This beginning stage is when you might start noticing gum inflammation, swelling, redness, and bleeding, especially when you go to brush and floss. The good news is that this stage of gum disease can be reversed since it hasn’t yet reached the supportive bone and connective tissue.

2. Periodontitis

This intermediate stage irreversibly destroys supportive bone and connective tissue. You may feel pockets forming below the gum line. Gum pockets allow the formation of plaque buildup under the gum line, which often requires interventive periodontal treatment, like scaling and root planing coupled with a stepped-up daily oral hygiene routine.

3. Advanced Periodontitis

Should there be no periodontal intervention at stage two, you will likely find yourself in this final stage of the disease. Now the connective tissue and bone material will have been destroyed. It causes your teeth to loosen and shift out of position, altering your bite, speech, and ability to chew properly. Without periodontal treatment, the teeth will likely require extraction.

Gum Disease Prevention: Be Proactive!

Thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to prevent gum disease from attacking your smile!

Stick to a diligent daily oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing at least twice a day.
Keep all scheduled biannual dental checkups and cleanings.
After eating (especially snacks), drink water to rinse away food particles and oral debris.
Limit bacteria-feeding sugars in your diet, and when you do indulge, chew sugarless gum to increase saliva flow that helps rinse away bacteria.
If you still use tobacco, there’s no better time than now to give it up. Your gums will thank you!

We hope spreading information about this disease in support of Gum Disease Awareness Month inspires you to be more proactive when it comes to protecting your oral health. After all, healthy teeth and gums are essential for a vibrant, beautiful smile!

New Year’s Resolution: Address Your Bad Breath and Boost Your Self-Confidence Levels!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:20:42 GMT

If you find yourself with bad breath or have had someone remark on your breath, you might be experiencing halitosis. Bad breath may come and go depending on what food you are eating or if you have “morning breath,” common in those who tend to breathe through the mouth. Still, the most common culprit is neglecting your daily oral hygiene care.

The number one reason for halitosis is the unchecked millions of bacteria in your mouth (especially on your tongue) that release bacterial acids (plaque). The sulfur byproducts released by oral bacteria as waste are known as volatile sulfur compounds (VSC’s). Other causes include “fruity” breath that arises in those with uncontrolled diabetes, respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, tooth decay and gum disease.

Proper Diagnosis and Treatment

When you visit our dental office for help with bad breath, our dentist will perform a thorough evaluation of your oral cavity. It includes an inspection of your teeth and gums, salivary glands and tongue. Your medical history will be reviewed, including any medications that might leave you with dry mouth. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, leads to bad breath from the reduction of saliva flow – a vital function when it comes to keeping your mouth healthy.

Other causes of chronic halitosis might involve dietary habits like consuming garlic or onions, drinking coffee or alcohol, practicing intermittent fasting, or adhering to low-carb or ketogenic diets, which leaves you with bad breath. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, like smoking or chewing tobacco, also leave your breath smelling unpleasant.

Improve Your Breath and Boost Your Confidence

Start by stepping up your daily oral hygiene game. Brush and floss at least twice a day for two minutes, and don’t skip cleaning your tongue! Use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to clean the surface of your tongue. An antibacterial toothpaste and mouthwash can also help, and our dentist is happy to recommend the best one for your needs.
Prevent dry mouth by staying hydrated. Drink drinking plenty of water to maintain healthy saliva levels and even chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva production.
Rinse your mouth after eating to flush away oral debris and prevent food particles from lingering.
Eat a nutritious diet and stick with healthy snacks like apples, celery and carrots, which scrub the teeth and promote saliva flow.

Address Health Issues or Medical Conditions

Beyond your daily care, you’ll need to address any health issues you might have. Our dentist can determine whether you have oral infections stemming from tooth decay, gum inflammation (gum or periodontal disease) or poorly fitting dentures.

Seeing your primary physician will allow you to address other medical conditions such as respiratory tract infections in the sinuses, throat or lungs. Other conditions could include liver or kidney disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, diabetes, etc.

NOW Is the Time!

When it comes to your oral health, taking good care of your mouth and addressing lingering health issues can effectively improve both! The New Year is a good time to renew your resolve to better care for your smile and your body by addressing bad breath issues. This can boost your self-confidence in social interactions, including your co-workers, family and friends!

If you need help alleviating your chronic bad breath, please reach out to our dental practice and schedule a visit with our dentist. Regular dental visits can detect problems early and allow us to remove hardened plaque leading to halitosis. Let us help you identify the cause of your bad breath and implement effective solutions for a healthier smile!

Safeguard Your Mouth This Winter by Limiting Cavity-Causing Sugar, Eating Healthy and Wearing an Athletic Guard

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:23:24 GMT

Winter is here and if you are exposed to the harsher weather, you could find yourself experiencing more cold and canker sores, chapped lips and dry mouth from the colder, drier conditions of the season. The good news is, there are steps you can take to protect your mouth, teeth, and gums during this time.

1. Cold and Canker Sore Protection

When your smile is exposed to the winter sun you can find yourself with cold sore breakouts. Stress is another trigger for mouth sores, so all the holiday shopping, decorating, baking, entertaining, and extra socializing can bring on stress. Mouth sores can show up as red, fluid-filled blisters on the mouth and lips, or as ulcers on your cheeks, lips, gums, tongue, the bottom of your mouth, or soft palate, and even be accompanied by pain.

Getting plenty of sleep and eating a nutrient-rich diet with vitamins and minerals can build up your immune system. This is important as a weakened immune system are more vulnerable to viral infection.

Canker sores can also arise because of overindulgence in wintery treats if the food is high in acid (hello hot cider and spicy treats)! These are generally small and painful ulcers in the mouth that look red, white, or yellow.

Tip: Treat oral sores and help speed up healing by gargling with salt water and applying a paste of baking soda and water to the ulcer. Over-the-counter medications can help soothe any pain.

2. Limiting Sweets

Another way your smile takes a hit in the winter is from all the excess sugar consumed during the holidays, like hot cocoa and sugary treats. Be mindful of how much sugar you expose your pearly whites to on a daily basis. It doesn’t just feed your sweet tooth but also feeds cavity-causing oral bacteria!

We recommend limiting your consumption of these sugary treats:

Holiday candy: Candy canes, peppermint bark, chocolate, fudge, truffles
Chewy, sticky candy: Caramel, jellybeans, divinity, toffee
Dried fruit: Trail mix, apricots, figs, raisins and prunes
Alcohol: A double whammy, alcohol is high in sugar and dries out your mouth

Notice we’re not saying to avoid sugar altogether, just limit your consumption. When you do indulge, take a moment to rinse your mouth well with water or brush your teeth to clear any sugary residue.

Tip: Hydration provides a healthier oral environment, so drink plenty of water! Since winter is cold-and-flu season, stick to sugar-free cold/fever medicines and sugar-free cough drops and lozenges for your throat. Your mouth will thank you!

3. Oral Protection During Sports

Protecting your smile from injury is a big deal when you participate in sports that can result in cracked, broken or knocked-out teeth, lacerated oral tissues or even jaw injury. The best protection for teeth and gums and to prevent oral injury is wearing an athletic guard (and a helmet) during sporting activities.

Along with winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and ice skating which can lead to mouth, head and jaw injuries,, an athletic guard can safeguard your smile when you engage in the following:

Biking
Skateboarding
Rollerblading
Football
Hockey
Boxing
Basketball
Volleyball
Baseball
Softball
Martial arts
Lacrosse
Wrestling

Tip: The main reason people forgo wearing mouth guards is that they can be uncomfortable, and that is often true for the stock and bite-and-boil or over-the-counter versions. However, a customized athletic guard from the dentist can solve that problem as it will be made to fit comfortably in the mouth while letting you breathe with ease.

Winter is a fun-filled time of year, but it can also bring elements that harm your teeth and gums. Call our team if you have any questions or concerns about protecting your smile. Take extra care of your mouth this season and ring in the New Year with a beautiful smile all-year-round!

Celebrate Healthy Teeth and Gums With Healthy Foods and Drinks

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 19:27:36 GMT

Upcoming holidays are around the corner, and you’re probably already thinking of all the foodie goodness coming your way. November is Good Nutrition Month, so you might want to consider adding healthy options to your meals to maintain good oral and general health and wellbeing. The goal of our dental practice is to help you keep your teeth healthy, strong and bright!

Nutritionally-Rich Foods

A healthy smile starts with eating a balanced diet to protect teeth and gums. Not only do healthy teeth allow you to chew (and digest) the nutritious foods that your body needs, but if your diet is poor, your mouth’s resistance to infection is lowered. Mouth-healthy foods include fresh fruits, leafy greens, vegetables and lean meat and dairy, all giving you the nutrients you need to thrive.

Sugar Attacks

Modern diets can’t seem to get away from sugar because manufacturers add it to nearly everything. If you read the packaging on processed foods, it’s often added for flavor and as a preservative. The problem is sugar feeds the oral bacteria, which then attacks tooth enamel and creates harmful plaque and tartar.

If you love soda, you should know that it is one of the biggest “bad guys” when it comes to sugar (and acid). Sucrose is a major culprit in tooth decay, so regular consumption of soda, candy, cakes, pies and cookies are top tooth hazards. Even dried fruits harm tooth enamel since they are high in sugar and often sticky, so they cling to enamel. Sugar is also derived from starches like bread, chips, cereals, and pretzels, leading to tooth decay when consumed regularly.

Sticking to fresh fruits like raw apples can safely satisfy sweet cravings and protect your pearly whites. Raw fruits require lots of chewing, which stimulates saliva production that lowers oral acidity, rinses away food particles, and diminishes cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Acid Attacks

Permanent damage to teeth and gums also arises from acidic foods and drinks as they erode precious tooth enamel, and unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to begin the erosion process.

Highly acidic liquids:

Citrus juice (lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange)
Fruit juices (apple, grape, cranberry)
Wine
Soda
Tonic water
Iced tea
Sports drinks

Highly acidic foods:

Fruits (such as pineapple, berries, oranges and lemons)
Tomatoes
Pickles (such as cucumbers, artichokes, beets and sauerkraut)

Protect your teeth from an acid attack by waiting half an hour after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth. You can rinse food particles and oral debris out of your mouth after consuming these items by swishing with plain water for 30 seconds. When you do brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently at a 45-degree angle.

Oral Care Tips

When you are away from home and can’t brush, try chewing sugarless gum. The act of chewing stimulates saliva production and flushes away food particles while lowering your oral acids.
Avoid dry mouth (insufficient saliva production), which increases your risk of tooth decay. Stay well hydrated, and be sure to brush your teeth before bedtime. Saliva production slows down while you sleep, so don’t skip your nightly brushing routine!
Don’t skip your biannual dental checkups. These are crucial to a healthy smile as we remove hardened dental plaque and check teeth and gums for potential problems.

This November, we hope you enjoy the sweetness of being with loved ones, consuming tasty, healthy foods and beverages and remember all the things you are thankful for! We are here to help you take good care of your teeth and gums so you can be grateful for your healthy smile and body!

October is National Dental Hygiene Month: Brushing, Flossing and More!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:30:37 GMT

Happy October, everyone! It’s one of the spookiest seasons of the year, and one of the scariest things we can think of is having problems with our teeth and gums. Since October is National Dental Hygiene Month, we want to promote a healthy mouth for everyone by acknowledging the importance of your daily hygiene efforts. Healthy teeth and gums are the foundation of a healthy, beautiful smile!

Plaque

The mouth is full of living bacteria, some of which feed and thrive on carbohydrates and sugary drinks. These can release acids mixed with saliva and food particles to create a sticky bacterial film (plaque). As plaque builds up, it attacks and weakens tooth enamel, working its way through the softer dentin and tooth pulp below it to create decay and cavities.

Teeth with extensive decay often require a root canal treatment to save the tooth from the severe infection that has taken root. A root canal removes the bad bacteria and dead tissue that might otherwise require extracting the tooth.

Signs You Might Need a Root Canal

Tooth pain or pain when chewing
Sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks
Sensitive gums
Gum infection
Darkened or chipped teeth
Swollen lymph nodes
Oral trauma

What You Can Do

Did you know that the first known bristle toothbrush was invented in China in 1948? Unlike the smooth nylon-bristled brushes we use today, the original toothbrush used boar hairs attached to bamboo or bone handles. We don’t know about you, but we’re grateful for today’s toothbrushes!

To prevent damaged teeth, you’ll want to start by protecting your mouth from plaque. For example, drinks like soda, fruit juices, sports drinks, carbonated water and other acidic and sweetened beverages are pretty much a lifeline for oral bacteria that attach your teeth. To lessen plaque, limit these beverages, and when you drink them, use a straw to reduce contact on tooth enamel. Better choices include water, milk, low-sugar vegetable juice, and unsweetened green and black tea.

This year’s National Dental Hygiene Awareness Month focuses on four habits you need to practice daily:

Brush

Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each session with a soft-bristled toothbrush (no boars hair!). You want to gently clean them without harming the enamel or soft gum tissues. Make sure the head and shape of the brush fit comfortable in your mouth so you can get to the back areas to remove bacteria and food particles. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Using short strokes, move your toothbrush back and forth to clean all tooth surfaces – outside, inside and the top of the molars – where the food is chewed. Make sure to clean those grooves and crevices. Use up-and-down-strokes to clean the inside of your front teeth.

Tip: Don’t forget to brush your tongue to get rid of plaque and freshen your breath.

Floss

Clean between your teeth once a day using a flossing tool of choice (one that makes you want to floss every day) to get rid of dental plaque your toothbrush can’t reach. Plaque buildup will cause it to harden into tartar or calculus, which has to be removed by a dental hygienist using special tools.

Rinse

Some areas of the mouth can’t get rid of plaque by brushing and flossing alone. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash daily destroys bacteria to prevent tooth decay and gum disease (infection of the oral tissue) from gaining hold. Your dentist can recommend a non-alcoholic antimicrobial rinse that is right for your needs.

Chew

Speaking of dry mouth, did you know that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after you eat lessens the chances of tooth decay? That’s because chewing stimulates saliva glands to promote healthy saliva flow. Your saliva plays a vital role by rinsing away food particles and bacterial debris and neutralizes the acids from oral bacteria.

This month is a good time to toss out your old worn-out toothbrush and find a flossing method you will enjoy using every day. You’ll also want to thank your dental hygienist the next time you see them for all their efforts to make your smile the best it can be!

It’s National Gum Care Month!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 19:32:49 GMT

September brings the month of National Gum Care, a time to raise awareness for healthy gums everywhere. No matter your age, you should always be striving for great oral care, and this doesn’t just mean your teeth. Your gums are just as important when it comes to maintaining a great smile.

As new research develops, we see a rise in medical conditions related to infected gums – such as heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications and more – and how preventing gum (periodontal) disease is vital for both your oral and overall health. It is believed that the inflammation caused by bacteria can destroy gum tissue and then invade the bloodstream, eventually affecting other parts of your body. You can help prevent this invasion by taking excellent care of your teeth and gums.

Healthy Gums vs. Diseased Gums

Do you know what healthy gums look like? Gums should be firm and pink with no bleeding and no discomfort. Signs of bad gums include loose or shifting teeth, chronic bad breath, a bad taste in your mouth, bleeding gums, redness, swelling, pus around teeth and gums, receding gums, and gum tenderness. If you have dentures, they may not fit correctly.

If your gums become paler than they usually are, contact your dentist right away. It is important to get treatment at the first sign of gum disease.

Preventing Gum Disease

You can help take care of your gums by following these guidelines:
Healthy Brushing: Be sure to brush at least twice a day, waiting to brush for at least 30 minutes after your meal (brushing right away can cause corrosion from leftover food).
Flossing Correctly: Floss at least once a day to remove debris between the teeth and near the gums. It is recommended you floss before brushing so your toothbrush can wipe away leftover bacteria and debris. Gently floss between each tooth, using clean sections of floss each time. Avoid snapping the floss down onto the gums.
Seeing Your Dentist: You should receive a dental exam and cleaning every six months if not more often. Notify your dentist if you have concerns about your teeth and gums or you are experiencing pain or discomfort.
Healthy Diet: Consume a regular diet of healthy foods and liquids. More sugar in your diet tends to lead to more lingering and sticky bacteria. Rinse your mouth with water after eating and drinking other beverages.
Avoiding Substances: A great way to help your teeth and gums stay healthy is avoiding tobacco and limiting your alcohol intake. This includes smoking and vaping. Try to avoid drinking too much soda and energy beverages, candies, sugary snacks, and fast food.
Other Tips: Replace your toothbrush every two to three months, depending on the wear. Exercise regularly to increase blood flow and encourage saliva flow. Choose a toothpaste that is best for your dental needs.

Treatments for Healthier Gums

Even if you haven’t had a cavity in your life, you are still vulnerable to gum disease. If your home dental care isn’t enough, there are alternative treatments to help rid your mouth of infection. These include the following options:

Professional dental cleaning
Scaling and root planing
Pocket reduction
Gum graft
Soft tissue graft
Prescribed medication, toothpaste or mouthwash
Root canal therapy (if needed)

These options can help keep you and your smile in optimal health. Your gums are important in keeping your teeth in place. We invite you to consult with our team about what treatment may be best for you.

If you have questions or concerns about your gum health, feel free to give our experienced team a call. We will be happy to help you get the gum care you deserve, so reach out today and get your dental health where it deserves to be!

How Do Dental Checkups Impact Your Oral Health?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:34:39 GMT

We learn at a young age that brushing and flossing are vital to keeping your smile healthy. We need to continue these daily habits in our ongoing quest to maintain healthy smiles for strong teeth and gums. Seeing your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups at least twice a year is another habit you should incorporate. Together with our dental team, you are creating an optimal oral environment for a lifetime of smiles in great condition.

Professional dental cleanings are typically recommended twice a year, but if you are in treatment for dental illnesses or are at high risk for disease – such as gum disease – you may need to come in more frequently. Of course, dental cleanings are just one aspect of these visits. Our dentist will also conduct an oral exam, which may include taking dental X-rays to assess the condition of your teeth, jaw and gums.

We will be looking for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer. If this is your first visit, we will want to know about your health history, what medications you take, current allergies or adverse reactions you have had to medications in the past. And if you have dental anxiety that kept you from seeing your dentist before, please let us know so we can discuss ways to minimize your discomfort and help you feel more relaxed and comfortable during your time with us. We are happy to work with you to make your experience safe, relaxing and convenient for you.

Professional Dental Cleanings

Regular professional dental cleanings remove calcified plaque, known as tartar, that accumulates in the hard-to-clean areas of the mouth. These are not easily accessible by your daily brushing and flossing efforts. To do this, our dentist or hygienist may use a special dental instrument – either a hand scaler or ultrasonic dental instrument – to remove tartar from around and below the gum line. Once this calcified plaque has been removed, your teeth will be polished with a mildly abrasive paste to clear away leftover plaque and tooth stains. After a final floss and evaluation from our experienced team, we will send you on your way.

If you run your tongue along your tooth surfaces, you should be able to feel the clean, smooth surface of the enamel. When the surface is smooth, it is harder for plaque to attach. We will also be happy to review whatever hygiene issues you may be experiencing as well as go over brushing and flossing techniques to help you better care for your teeth at home. We will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have concerning your oral care.

If you would like to know more about how dental checkups can help your oral health, feel free to give us a call or schedule to come into our office for your next exam! Our goal is to help you attain your best smile and have a great dental experience, so call us today to set up an appointment.

A Dental Crown Can Beautifully Restore Your Tooth

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 19:36:28 GMT

If you have recently learned that you have a badly broken, damaged, or infected tooth, our dentist may recommend having a dental crown placed. A crown or tooth-shaped “cap” is a fixed prosthetic cemented onto a tooth to restore its appearance, form and function as well as strengthen the tooth. Dental crowns cover a tooth’s entire surface, and when treatment is completed, it will look like your surrounding teeth.

When Crowns are Used

While dental veneers are used to correct small chips or cracks in the teeth and a dental implant is used to replace a missing tooth, dental crowns are used for fixing teeth with severe decay or a dental filling that is compromised and doesn’t protect the tooth anymore.

Crowns are also placed after a root canal, wisdom tooth extraction or to secure a dental bridge restoration by anchoring the adjacent natural teeth. When a dental crown is used after a root canal, it gives extra support to the tooth and lessens the risk of retreatment. There are various types of dental crown materials. The sealing ability is dependent on the filling materials used and the quality of the tooth that is used.

Ceramic crowns: These are popular as they blend in with the surrounding natural teeth and are highly resistant to wear.
Crowns made from porcelain fused to metal: These are highly durable and offer a strong seal because of their attachment to the metal.
Crown made of gold alloys: These are made of a blend of gold, copper and other metals, ensuring a strong bond to the tooth that cannot fracture or wear away the tooth.
Crowns made of base metal alloys: These are strongly resistant to corrosion and are very strong in general. They require the least amount of healthy tooth removal before placement.

The Making of Your Crown

Unless you are having a crown made on the same day, the making of a dental crown typically requires two visits. The tooth will need to be reduced in size so the crown will fit correctly, and then an impression will be made of the crown. While waiting for your crown to be made, a temporary crown is put in place. When the dental crown is ready, at your followup visit the crown will be cemented onto the affected tooth.

Caring For Your Crown

Since your crown is created to blend into your smile naturally, people around you will likely not even notice you have had a tooth replacement done. If you take good care of your crown by practicing consistent, daily oral hygiene habits, you can avoid the crown becoming loose or falling out. Brushing and flossing twice a day along with regular professional dental cleanings and checkups can keep your teeth (particularly the back molars) healthy and strong so your crown can last a lifetime!

If you would like to know if a crown is right for you, we invite you to give us a call and schedule a consultation with our dentist. We will be happy to help you and your smile today!

What Happens When I Forget to Floss?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 19:39:35 GMT

Our team strongly encourages everyone to floss daily, but do you ever wonder why? Well, flossing is vital for top-notch oral health and smiles. It can help you and your oral health in more ways than you might realize. This means that if you forget to floss, your smile can also suffer. Forgetting to floss can:

Leave your smile vulnerable to developing cavities: If you don’t remove food particles, plaque, bacteria and other harmful substances from between teeth, they can attack the tooth enamel and create a hole in the surface, creating what is known as a cavity. The cavity can affect one or more teeth and can spread, infecting multiple layers of the teeth. If you’re not careful, it can affect the tooth nerve, tooth pulp and even the root canal.
Make you fall victim to gum disease: If you don’t remove plaque from the surfaces of the teeth as well as from the gumline, it can severely affect the gums. In fact, it can irritate and infect the gums to make them swell and bleed. It can also turn into tartar and make the gums recede from the base of the teeth. As time passes, that tartar can spread to the jawbone and deteriorate it, causing loose and even lost teeth. It’s very important to remove plaque daily before it affects the gums.
Compromise the entire health of your body: If you don’t treat your gum disease quickly, it can contribute to serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, respiratory disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
When it comes to proper flossing, some tips we have include the following:
Use about 16-18 inches of floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers
Using your thumbs and index fingers, gently use back-and-forth motions to slide the floss between your teeth (avoid snapping the floss onto your gums)
Following the curves of your teeth, gently floss between each tooth and along the gums
As you move between each tooth, use a clean area of the floss
Keep floss or travel floss picks on hand for when you get food particles stuck during the day

Proper flossing helps you not only achieve better oral and overall health but can help avoid costly treatments. If you do need a specific treatment, our team will help you find the most cost-effective solution.

Make sure to floss regularly and at least once a day! That way, you can have the top-notch smile and oral health you deserve. To learn more about flossing, please reach out and talk to a member of our team. We will be more than happy to give you and your family the answers and information that you need for a great smile!

Enjoy Mother’s Day with a Healthy Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 05 May 2019 19:40:56 GMT

This is the month where we recognize our mothers for all their efforts and take the opportunity to thank them for all they have done, which may also include them teaching us how to brush and floss. As a mother, your oral health is important to both you and your family. When your teeth are strong and your gums healthy, you’ll feel better and be able to take care of your family. Mother’s Day is a reminder your smile is just as important, so now is the time to focus on your dental care needs.

Women face some unique oral health concerns that require routine oral care with the help of the dentist and at your own hand. Some of these circumstances include the following:

Menstrual cycle: During the course of your menstrual cycle, your hormones can fluctuate and result in red, swollen and bleeding gums, as well as canker sores and cold sores.
Hormonal birth control: If you use a pill, shot, UID or vaginal ring, your body may have increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which can make your gums red and sensitive. Furthermore, changes in hormones can complicate tooth extraction by resulting in clotting failure. If you need to have a tooth removed, we encourage you to notify our dentist of your birth control method as well as any other medicine you take.
Pregnancy gingivitis: Whether you are just starting a family or adding a wonderful little addition, pregnancy makes proper oral care more important than ever. During this time, many women develop pregnancy gingivitis, which can increase dental plaque due to hormonal changes as well as inflame and irritate the gums, even causing them to bleed.
Menopause: Menopause causes estrogen levels to plummet, and this causes some women to experience a burning sensation in their mouths, a decreased saliva flow that causes dry mouth and an increased risk of osteoporosis that can lead to gum disease.

To prevent and manage these conditions so that you can have the healthy and beautiful smile you deserve, we encourage you to brush for two minutes twice a day as well as floss daily and reduce your intake of sugary snacks. It’s also important to visit your dentist every six months for dental checkups, or sooner if you feel something is not right in your mouth. If you are pregnant, we recommend getting a dental exam and cleaning more often.

Be sure to celebrate your mothers and grandmothers this month, and encourage them to take the time to attend to their own needs, especially their dental health. Our team welcomes the hardworking and loving mothers of our community to contact our dental office and schedule a consultation today!

Spring Into Summer With a Confident Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 19:42:35 GMT

Spring has sprung, and summer is almost here! The sun shouldn’t be the only thing shining bright this season. Your smile is a great feature to show off to friends, family, coworkers, social media, a date and everyone else! Need help to show off your smile confidently? Our team can help you achieve the look you desire.

The American Dental Association (ADA) found in a study that 28-29% of the people they surveyed said the appearance of their mouth and teeth affected their abilities to effectively interview for a job. In the same study, one in four adults (and 35% of young adults) said they avoid smiling because they are unhappy with their mouth and teeth, and one in five adults (and 33% of young adults) said they experience anxiety when it comes to showing off their smile.

A few insecurities people typically feel about their teeth include gaps, crookedness, discoloration (yellowing) and chips in the teeth. With modern technology and encouragement from all of us here, you have options to create a smile to be proud of and show off to the world. Some treatment options include the following:

Teeth Whitening: Do you have yellowing teeth or want your teeth to have a brighter shine? Professional teeth whitening can help you achieve the desired whiteness that will last longer than an over-the-counter option.
Chip Repair: Dental veneers and dental crowns are both options to repair that chip or crack in your tooth.
Orthodontic Treatment: Orthodontics not only improve your look by straightening your teeth but can benefit you healthwise. The better alignment of your teeth allows more secure gums and correct jaw alignment as well as better speech and chewing. A popular option is clear aligners for those who don’t want to wear metal braces.
Dental Implant: Missing tooth? You can fill in the space with an implant, which not only helps your smile aesthetically but also improves your oral health.
Be sure to take care of your smile as well with the following tips:
Dental Care: Brush twice a day, floss once a day, use mouthwash to get rid of bacteria and avoid smoking or using tobacco.
Eat Healthy and Drink Lots of Water: By eating right and drinking water, you can help your teeth get the needed nutrients they need to be strong. Drinking water throughout the day helps flush out food particles that lead to unwanted bacteria.
Visit the Dentist: Be sure to visit your dentist twice a year to get a dental cleaning and exam. We check for cavities and any signs of oral cancer.
Mouthguards: If you are playing a contact sport or doing something that may cause a fall, be sure to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from chips or losing a tooth.

If you’re having trouble being confident with your teeth and mouth, give our office a call. Our team will be happy to help you find the answers to a better smile and the look you want. It’s time to be confident in your healthy smile! Schedule a consultation today, so we can answer any questions you may have about treatments. We look forward to seeing you soon!

The Scoop on Cavities and How to Prevent Them

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 14:12:36 GMT

Although we are turning back the clock for daylight savings, you can’t turn back time on your teeth. Studies have shown that one in five Americans has untreated cavities, which is decay that has damaged a tooth’s hard, outer enamel layer and created small holes. Cavities can arise in people of all ages, including children and infants. Factors can include how well you take care of your teeth each day, what foods and beverages you regularly consume, and your family’s dental history. These can all play a role in developing cavities.

Dry mouth, or insufficient saliva production, is a common oral condition that places you at higher risk of cavity formation and is often accompanied by bad breath. Tobacco and alcohol users are prone to dry mouth as are those taking certain medications, aging, or undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Cavities form when sugary, starchy foods feed the oral bacteria that thrive in the sticky bacterial film you know as plaque. The bacteria produce acids that wear down the tooth enamel until they reach the softer dentin layer underneath protecting the tooth pulp. Cavities tend to form in the back of the mouth within the grooves of the molars, between the teeth and around the gum line, which are also areas that are harder to clean and get rid of plaque.

Signs You May Have a Cavity:

– Experience tenderness in the gums
– Tooth sensitivity when consuming hot or cold items
– Painful sensitivity in or around your teeth
– Having tooth pain that interferes with your sleep
– Dark stains
– Small holes
– Pain when you bite down
– Soft areas on your teeth

What You Can Do

The good news is, preventing cavities is very simple if you follow some of these basic rules:

Limit your intake of sweets and sodas
Brush at least twice a day
Floss at least once daily
Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash
See your dentist for routine dental cleanings at least twice a year
If you are cavity-prone, use products with fluoride that protect tooth enamel or consider having dental sealants placed.

Detecting cavities in the earliest stage – when they can be treated easily and less invasively – can save you pain, time and money. For example, cavities found early on can be treated with a simple dental filling. For bigger or deeper cavities, a root canal treatment may be necessary to remove damaged pulp or treat an abscessed tooth. A badly broken tooth may be fixed with a crown at the gum line. If a tooth is lost, a dental crown, bridge or implant may be needed to keep the surrounding teeth from shifting into the gap left behind.

The best way to prevent cavities is to take daily care of your pearly whites and to visit your dentist twice a year to support those daily efforts. To find out if you have any cavities or need to treat an existing one, please give our team a call, and we will be happy to set up an exam with our skilled team. We look forward to helping you keep your smile healthy, beautiful and cavity-free!

National Children’s Dental Health Month is Here!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:15:21 GMT

February brings National Children’s Dental Health Month! This is brought to you by the American Dental Association to create child awareness of the benefits of good oral health. This year’s month-long campaign is, “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.”

First Dental Visit

Around their first birthday, or within six months after their first tooth emerges, visit our dentist to make sure the teeth of your child are developing properly. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, over 50 percent of children will have some kind of tooth decay before they turn five, so it is important for your child to attend early dental visits. We can address any oral hygiene questions you have and let you know when it is time to start using a toothbrush.

Let them see you brushing and flossing, and help them brush and floss their teeth. By following the 2-2-2 Rule (seeing the dentist twice a year and brushing and flossing twice a day for two minutes), you will develop healthy oral hygiene habits.

Brushing Technique

Hold the toothbrush at a 45° angle and brush along the gum line.
Brush each tooth in a back and forth, up and down motion.
Clean the inside, outside, back and top surfaces of each tooth.
Gently wipe the tongue to remove bacteria.
Brush twice a day for two minutes each, giving the molars some extra attention. If your little one wants to help, you can take turns brushing or let them start and you finish. Don not let them share their toothbrush, and replace it when the bristles start to fray.

Flossing

When your child’s teeth touch, it is time to start flossing the areas that the toothbrush can’t clean. Whether it is dental floss, floss sticks/picks or oral irrigators, find a flossing tool that works best and use it!

Flossing Technique

-Using about 18 inches of floss, you can wrap an end around each of your middle fingers.
-Slide the floss between two teeth gently
-At the gum line, create a C-shape around each tooth
-Pull the floss tight to scrape against each tooth and repeat until all have been cleaned.

When your child’s manual dexterity and coordination is developed around six or seven years old, you can let them start brushing on their own. At this time, our dentist can also speak with you about fluoride and dental sealants to prevent cavities. Your child can usually floss by themselves by the time they are nine or ten.

Teen Care

High schoolers are often busy with school, sports and extracurricular activities, work and socializing, so you want to help them stick to their daily oral hygiene habits. They may be wearing braces, having wisdom teeth removed and feeling self-conscious about their smile (and their breath), so good oral hygiene habits can support their goals.

Encourage them to use a timer, listen to their favorite song while brushing and flossing for two minutes, or switch to an electric toothbrush with a timer.
Keep plenty of dental hygiene supplies in stock such as soft toothbrushes, flavored flosses, toothpaste and a toothbrush for their backpack when they are on the go.
Keep fruits and vegetables handy instead of junk food for healthier snacking.
If they are active in sports, supply them with an athletic guard to protect teeth from being chipped, cracked or lost.
Talk to your teen about peer-pressure activities that can damage his or her smile like smoking, drinking or getting an oral piercing.

Your teens want to look and feel their best, so support their efforts for maintaining those oral habits instilled in their childhood. This month is a good time to reinforce good habits and provide your children and teens with the tools and support they need for a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Start off the New Year With a Whiter Smile!

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 14:24:19 GMT

Have you been waiting for the right time to get teeth whitening treatment? There’s no better time than the New Year! In 2019, you are setting all kinds of new goals, and one goal you can shoot for is a whiter and brighter smile. Teeth whitening lightens teeth, helping remove discoloration and stains that have taken place over time.

The primary target of a teeth whitening is the tooth enamel, which results from the natural color combined with the color of the dentin underneath. The reflecting light off the dentin gives you the overall color of your smile. Other defining factors are the smoothness and thickness of the enamel, which is usually the result of inherited genes as well as the overall wear of the enamel over time. Some reasons your smile might not be not so bright may include:

Poor dental care (not brushing and flossing every single day or not attending your biannual dental visits)
Natural aging (wear and tear; dentin starts to yellow over time)
Smoking or tobacco stains
Dark-colored liquids (coffee, tea, soda, wine)
Dental trauma (if the dentin is damaged, it can create a darker layer underneath the enamel)
Medications (certain medications or medical care can cause discoloration or dental damage)

If these sound like reasons you have yellowing teeth, then we can help find the solution to give you a whiter smile. The teeth whitening process is simple; whitening products contain a safe tooth bleach that breaks up stains and targets your tooth enamel. There are three common options:

Stain Removal Toothpastes: These usually contain mild abrasives and polishing agents, which remove stains on the enamel surface.
At-Home Teeth Whitening: Our team can provide you with trays for at-home teeth whitening with instructions on how to whiten, for how long and how much solution to place in the trays. You can also purchase an over-the-counter bleaching product, but be sure to discuss options with our team.
In-Office Teeth Whitening: Typically only requiring one to two visits, chairside bleaching is quickly done. A protective gel or rubber shield protects your gums, and then the bleaching treatment is applied to your teeth.

Before you get teeth whitening, there are a few factors to consider:

If you have sensitive teeth
White spots
Tooth decay
Infected gums
Dental work (dental bridges, crowns, veneers, etc.)
Previous tooth injuries
Current medications

We invite you to speak to our team about whether you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. We will work with you to figure out your best options. Of course, one of the best and simplest ways to keep your smile white and bright is to maintain excellent dental care. This includes brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day and seeing your dentist at least twice a year (preferably every 6 months). Also, you should consume healthy, non-staining foods and drinks as much as possible.

To find which teeth whitening option is best for you or to schedule your next dental appointment, please give us a call. We will be happy to schedule a time for you and help you achieve your best smile today!

Gift Yourself and Your Loved Ones With a Healthier Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 14:26:16 GMT

Your daily brushing and flossing routine is crucial to thwarting dreaded cavities and gum disease from invading your smile, but by itself, it’s still not enough to maintain top-notch oral health. There is a reason we recommend regular dental cleanings and exams!

Seeing our dental team for routine dental checkups and cleanings supports your daily oral hygiene efforts by taking care of those things you can’t at home, like removing tartar (that hardened plaque of sticky film which destroys gum tissue and tooth enamel) as well as detecting problems early when they are the least invasive and costly to treat. Surprisingly, plaque and tartar can build up in a short period of time making your mouth vulnerable to all kinds of dental issues.

When you come in for a routine dental cleaning, our experienced team will scrape the tartar off of the gum line and below it, as well as give your pearly whites a thorough polish and flossing. Polishing removes stains on tooth enamel that builds up from the food and beverages consumed.

You will also receive a thorough examination of your oral tissues, including the gums and the throat along with your teeth. With the help of dental X-rays, we can detect problems that may not be noticeable to you right now, such as cavity formation, gum disease, oral cancer, jawbone issues, bite issues, impacted teeth, abscesses, diabetes and more.

Why You Should Come in Twice Yearly for Dental Cleanings

Save tooth enamel from the destructive acids in plaque and tartar as well as the effects of bruxism (teeth grinding).
Keep gum disease from inflaming your oral tissues and preventing tooth and bone loss.
Make sure your jaw bone is healthy and supportive to prevent tooth and bone loss.
Keep your teeth whiter and brighter by removing stains and discoloration.
Keep your breath fresher and prevent halitosis.
Detect oral cancer in the early and most successfully treated stages.
Keep your body healthier as your mouth is free of disease, including heart disease and stroke.
Maintain previous dental restorations such as fillings, crowns, dentures, etc.

If you are at increased risk for dental issues, it is crucial that you don’t skip annual dental cleanings and checkups. High risks include being 55 and older, male, a woman experiencing hormonal changes like menopause or pregnancy, being a regular tobacco user or regularly drinking alcohol. You are also at greater risk if you have diabetes or cancer, take medications that result in dry mouth, have poor oral hygiene, are excessively stressed or have a family history of poor oral health.

In addition to preventing oral issues, seeing our dentist for preventative maintenance can reduce the amount you spend on extensive dental work down the road, including lower dental insurance. Preventative maintenance is a wise investment in your oral health and overall health as well as your bank account. With the holidays in full swing, gift your loved ones and yourself with end-of-year dental cleanings and start your new year off with better dental health!

The Difference Between Full and Partial Dentures

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 14:27:38 GMT

Do you know the important differences between full and partial dentures? Our team is happy to review both versions for optimal tooth replacement to help you better understand how they can restore your smile. Below we will review the main types of dentures, which are full and partial dentures, and the benefits they have to offer.

Dentures replace missing teeth in your smile to keep other teeth from changing their position. Dentures are customized for your mouth to fit comfortably and can be removed for cleaning. Today’s dentures are more natural-looking than ever so that your appearance and smile remain natural. Without dentures, missing teeth can cause the facial muscles to droop and you may appear to age prematurely. Dentures also help you chew comfortably and speak clearly again when they restore missing teeth in your smile.

Full Dentures

Full dentures are designed to offer full tooth replacement by filling a full arch of missing teeth with a beautiful and natural-looking appliance. To place full dentures, it may be necessary to perform a tooth extraction to make space for this appliance if there are still teeth lingering in your smile. The conventional denture is made after your teeth have been extracted and after the gum tissue has started healing. These are typically ready to be worn about eight to 12 weeks after your teeth are removed. Your oral appliance is placed over your gums and held securely using suction to attach to the roof of your mouth. Full dentures are removable and can be taken out at night and for cleanings.

Partial Dentures

If you have a few missing teeth in a row, partial dentures can restore your beautiful smile. This removable oral appliance is used to fill the gap from missing teeth so that you can have a beautiful and functional smile again. These partial appliances clasp to the neighboring teeth in your smile to help you speak, smile and chew properly. These replacement teeth are attached to a colored plastic base that looks like your natural gums. If you have a fixed bridge to replace one or more of your teeth, crowns are placed on the teeth that border the space with artificial teeth and are cemented into place.

In addition to full and partial dentures, there is a third option for some. Implant-supported dentures are an overdenture which is attached to dental implants for support and are most often made for the lower jaw. These are often done if there are no teeth in the jaw but there is sufficient jaw bone material to support implants. These have special attachments that snap them onto the implant.

No matter which type of denture you wear, you want to take good care of your oral health to keep your gum tissue healthy by practicing good oral hygiene habits. You will also want to make sure you see our dentist regularly to make sure your dentures fit correctly and ensure they are comfortable and that your gums are healthy.

Both full and partial dentures can be very functional and make excellent choices when it comes to tooth loss and tooth replacement. If you would like to learn more about your options for the types of dentures, please feel free to call today for a consultation with our team!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Dental Hygiene Month

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 14:30:14 GMT

October is here and fall has officially begun, bringing with it Breast Cancer Awareness Month as well as National Dental Hygiene Month. This is a time to raise awareness for both and help to prevent problems by monitoring your health and being mindful of your lifestyle choices. Whether you are fighting cancer or dental problems, catching problems in their early stages helps stack the success rate in your favor.

When it comes to breast cancer awareness, you can find out about local and national outreach to educate yourself about steps you can take to help prevent and fight this disease. In addition, your overall health can have an impact on your oral health, and vice versa. According to the American Cancer Society, all women should have a breast exam by a physician every three years from the age of 20-39, and after that, yearly at age 40. The ACS also advises conducting breast self-exams every month. When it comes to your day to day habits, eating a balanced diet, limiting alcohol intake and avoiding smoking can help you tip the balance in your favor to prevent this deadly disease.

October is also when we celebrate the work dental hygienists do to protect your oral health and prevent dental problems. It allows us to stress the importance of regularly monitoring your oral health to catch problems in their early stage when they are most easily and least invasively treated. As with breast cancer, avoiding smoking (or tobacco in any form) and limiting alcohol can help you prevent oral cancer. There are also steps you can take to keep oral cancer away:

What You Can Do:

Avoid smoking and tobacco in all its forms.
Limit alcohol use or avoid altogether.
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, particularly between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use sunscreen to help protect your skin.
Shield your lips with a lip balm containing SPF 30 or more when you are outside.
A daily diet rich in cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables for their phytonutrients and other unique compounds. Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes and garlic, and fruits like berries, red grapes and citrus.
Keep up with all routine dental checkups.

When you see our dentist for routine cleanings and exams, we will also be checking for oral cancer. Cancer can show up on the lips, inside your mouth, on the salivary glands, your tonsils, the back of the throat, on your tongue or esophagus. If you are being treated for cancer anywhere in your body using radiation or chemotherapy, your dental health can be impacted so it’s especially important to check for problems.

When it comes to your daily oral hygiene habits, you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums to avoid oral cancer and other dental problems. As part of Dental Hygiene awareness month, we encourage you to follow the advice of the American Dental Association which promotes your best dental health.

Dental Hygiene Tips

Brush at least twice a day with a toothbrush that fits into your mouth easily. Brush the surfaces of all your teeth – the front, back, and tops – and don’t forget the ones in the back. Also, brush your tongue to reduce bacteria in the mouth and fight halitosis.
Floss between the teeth and around the gum line at least once a day with a flossing method of your choice. Be sure you clean between your pearly whites daily to avoid harmful build-up or the hardening of plaque.
Rinse with a non-alcohol microbial mouthwash to remove bacteria and biofilm that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after meals can stimulate healthy saliva production which neutralizes harmful acids and washes away bacterial debris.

Daily brushing, flossing, eating healthy and checking your mouth monthly for signs of unusual activity can all go a long way in protecting your health for a lifetime of healthy smiles. For October, we encourage you to take stock of your overall health as well as your dental health and do what you can to live your healthiest life. You hold the keys to better health by detecting problems early on when the success rate is highest. We wish you the best of health and are here to support your daily efforts!

Dental Implant Placement Basics as a Step-by-Step Process

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 14:34:15 GMT

If you have ever lost a tooth, you might have more than just a gap between your teeth. If a lost tooth is not replaced, the bone in the jaw that supported the lost tooth starts to deteriorate. That’s because when you chew your food, there’s no more stimulation to the bone from the missing tooth’s chewing action. Over time, the gaps in your mouth change as the surrounding teeth shift into the empty space, causing your bite alignment to shift with it. When this happens, missing teeth can not only affect how you look but can cause problems when you chew and even when you speak.

What can you do to prevent this from happening to your smile? You want something to take that missing tooth’s place, and one of the best options available today is a dental implant. Acting like a tooth, implants stimulate your jawbone from the pressure they exert when you chew by acting as the base of a regular tooth. Because of this, they keep the jaw healthy and strong and your bite alignment intact. You can have a single implant done or multiple implants to replace as many teeth as you need.

The implant itself is a titanium post used to act like a tooth root. Once it is surgically placed into the jawbone under the gumline, it can hold a tooth replacement (or a dental bridge). Once the implant fuses to your jawbone it is sturdy and durable. It won’t shift in the mouth, so you can speak and chew without worry. A dental implant can be used to secure dentures, bridges, and crowns to replace your teeth to help them feel natural in the mouth.

To have an implant done for your missing teeth requires healthy gums and enough jawbone material to support the implant. You’re also going to need to keep up excellent daily oral hygiene, including routine dental visits to support the ongoing function of the implant. If you are considering dental implant placement, we are pleased to offer some insight into what you can expect from the procedure.

Many patients are concerned that the process will be painful, and while any surgical procedure has some degree of discomfort as the mouth heals, our team can provide a local anesthesia or another form of sedation to ensure you are comfortable during the implant placement process.

When it’s time to place your dental implant after you’ve been given the appropriate anesthesia, our team of professionals typically perform the following basic steps:

Create an access point in the gum line to reach the underlying jawbone area.
Create some space in the jawbone to create an anchor point for the dental implant to support a new tooth.
Attach the titanium screw to the jawbone, which forms the base of the dental implant.
Allow the jawbone time to grow around the metal base and fuse naturally with the implant, which can take a few months.
Attach an abutment to the titanium screw after the bone has completed its regrowth process, which serves to keep the final dental crown or other tooth restoration in place.
Allow your gums to heal and improve their health for a few weeks prior to placing the dental restoration.
Create a detailed impression of your smile to serve as a guide for the creation of the restoration.
Place it on the implant so that it looks natural and matches well with your surrounding teeth.

Depending on the number of teeth that need to be replaced, the overall process can take a few weeks or months to achieve final completion. To learn more about dental implants and how they can replace missing teeth, contact our team today for more information!

Enamel-Friendly Foods for Your Teeth

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:44:45 GMT

When it comes to protecting your teeth, your first line of defense against tooth decay and cavities is tooth enamel, as it is the outermost covering that protects the more vulnerable dentin and tooth pulp below. Your enamel comes equipped for the job as the hardest substance in your body. However, because it doesn’t have living cells it can’t grow back once it is lost.

The number one enemy of tooth enamel is acid. It eats away at the enamel leaving it vulnerable to decay as it weakens. Because tooth enamel protects the lower layers from acids and plaque, protecting it is vital to your oral health. Be sure to limit these harmful items as much as possible, and be sure to clean your teeth at least twice a day. Here are some items to avoid:

Soda
Fruit juice
Flavored water (has citric acid and other additives)
Sugary snacks like cakes, cookies and candies
Starchy snacks like chips, crackers, pretzels and bread
Citrus fruit

Of course, it’s not just about what you leave out of your diet that protects tooth enamel. There are foods that can help strengthen tooth enamel, so let’s take a look at them.

Probably the number one food choice for healthy teeth is rich in calcium which helps form strong teeth and bones. Cheese, which is high in calcium, also helps balance your oral pH which lowers the acids that attack the enamel. Besides cheese and other low-fat dairy items like yogurt, you can find calcium in fortified rice and soy milk, sardines and salmon in the can, almonds, and dark leafy greens like kale, broccoli and spinach.
Foods rich in vitamin D help your body absorb calcium. Vitamin D is abundant in milk, salmon, margarine, as well as soy and rice beverages which are fortified.
Your teeth also need phosphorus which you can find in eggs, meat and fish.
Vitamin A, found in sweet potatoes, red peppers, mangoes and kale.
Beta-carotene in fruits and vegetables which are orange.
Magnesium rich foods like bananas, whole grains, and spinach.

For healthy tooth enamel, you also want to make sure are hydrated throughout the day. Water helps support saliva flow and keeps your mouth debris-free while helping all the bodily tissues.

Healthy eating habits, combined with daily tooth brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups and cleanings can help your teeth and gums stay strong for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

If you would like to have our team provide you with a thorough dental cleaning and exam, we invite you to call and schedule an appointment today. We look forward to providing you with the quality care you deserve.

How Routine Dental Checkups Help Your Smile in the Long Run

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 14:45:51 GMT

When you come in for dental exams and we have cleaned your teeth and gum line and removed any hardened plaque, our dentist can look at them for any signs of trouble, such as cavities, loose or broken teeth, damaged fillings, and evaluate your risk rate of certain diseases which might also take into account your family history. We will look for swelling in the gums or redness and bleeding and even measure the depth of gingival pockets signaling gum disease. We will evaluate your bite, determine if you have bruxism (a sign of teeth grinding), check the contact between teeth and examine the lower jaw joints for problems. We will also examine the soft tissues in your head, mouth and neck, including the lymph nodes, for any indications of cancer or infection. If problems are detected, you may require further diagnostics followed up with recommended treatment options.

As you can see, this is one of the biggest reasons why dental checkups are so important, because spotting problems early on is crucial for providing effective, minimally invasive, and economical treatment. Using x-rays and other diagnostic tools, we can detect problems early when you may not even be aware of them, especially since tooth decay isn’t usually obvious or painful in the early stages. By the time you do notice problems, the condition has often already advanced.

While most of the time you may need to see your dentist twice a year, there are circumstances that might require coming in more often, particularly since your oral health is directly related to your overall health and vice versa. For example, if you have a disease such as diabetes or heart disease you may be at greater risk of gum disease. If you have a weakened immune system, you will likely have a diminished ability to ward off infections and diseases. If you regularly use tobacco or are a heavy drinker, you are at greater risk of oral problems. Taking medications that result in dry mouth – a reduction in saliva production – puts you at higher risk of developing cavities. So be sure to let our dentist know what medications and supplements you are currently taking when you come in for your routine checkups. You can also let us know if you are noticing signs of tooth sensitivity, pain or an unusual lump. Again, the earlier a problem is addressed, the better the treatment success rate.

If you would like to have our dentist and team provide you with a thorough dental cleaning and exam, we invite you to call our office to schedule an appointment. Our goal is to help you create the healthiest oral environment for your teeth and gums and we look forward to providing you with the quality care you deserve.

Halitosis: The Bad Breath You Despise

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 21 May 2018 14:46:48 GMT

Halitosis is the technical term for bad breath that just won’t go away, no matter how many mints you eat, how many times you rinse with mouthwash and how many times you scrub your tongue with your toothbrush. If you’re a victim of halitosis, you’re likely inconvenienced in many ways. To help you deal with halitosis, our dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, would like to tell you all about the problem. The more you know, the better chance you have of eliminating it.

The causes of halitosis include many. Some are cavities, gum disease, infections (in the mouth, nose or throat), dry mouth, smoking, tobacco use and health conditions, like diabetes, gastric reflux and liver or kidney disease. If you suffer from halitosis, it’s best to visit our office when you can. The sooner you come, the sooner our dentist can determine the cause and provide the treatment you need. With his help, you can have the fresh and pristine breath you deserve!

The treatments for halitosis include a proper oral hygiene routine, which should include brushing twice a day and flossing once a day; drinking water throughout the day; chewing sugar-free gum after each meal and snack; cutting back on caffeine; and any dental treatments that can help with the problems causing the bad breath.

Do you have any questions about halitosis in Madison, Connecticut? If so, please reach out to Madison Dental Spa and talk to a member of our dental team. When you dial 203.245.5101, we will be more than happy to give you the answers you seek. We look forward to your phone call!

Oral Health Advancements: Dental Crowns

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:49:05 GMT

In situations where you have extremely damaged or broken teeth, a superstar treatment to consider is dental crowns. Dental crowns are cosmetic dentistry restorations that are designed to dramatically enhance the look of your smile and protect teeth that are extremely worn down. Even if you have teeth that have shattered into bits or are extensively decayed, a dental crown can often help.

In situations where you have the need for a dental filling, but not enough tooth remains, the filling and the tooth can be held together through the use of a dental crown. Dental crowns can even be used on previous restoration treatments such as root canals, implants and dental bridges. With a dental crown in place, a tooth can be protected for decades to come.

Dental crowns are often used as the last line of defense for extremely damaged teeth that otherwise would need to be extracted. A dental crown can be customized to provide a tooth any look that you require and can be adjusted to ensure the crown will fit comfortably in your mouth. They are tooth-colored in appearance, as they will blend in seamlessly with your other teeth.

If you require aid with dental crowns, you are welcome to book an appointment with Madison Dental Spa by calling 203.245.5101. Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our entire team at our dental office in Madison, Connecticut, look forward to enhancing your smile with dental crowns.

Oral Cancer Screenings Can Save Your Oral Health

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 14:50:07 GMT

Have you considered the possibility that your dental checkups could save your oral health? Many people understand a dental checkup can check for cavities and gum disease, but did you know your dentist provides you with an oral cancer screening too during your checkup? Yes, it’s true! Oral cancer screenings are part of every dental checkup, which is another reason why to keep up with your six-month checkup with your dentist.

Our dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn with Madison Dental Spa in Madison, Connecticut, believes in caring for your oral health and is happy to share with you some information on identifying oral cancer between dental visits.

Oral cancer will develop in thousands of Americans this year alone. In most cases, oral cancer can appear on the tongue, in the mouth, and even within the throat. Traditionally, smoking and any tobacco use are commonly linked to oral cancer. However, even those who have never used tobacco in any form can still suffer from oral cancers deadly effects.

To help you identify oral cancer between your cancer screenings, here are some signs or conditions to watch out for:

Inflammation: Swelling can occur from within your mouth or throat.
Bumps and Lumps: Any unexplained growths in your mouth or throat need to be treated.
Spots or patches: White and red spots could be a mark of cancer or a severe infection.
Bleeding: Unsolved bleeding can occur from your mouth, gums, or throat.
Jaw Movement: Trouble with talking, chewing, or moving your jaw needs to be assessed.
A sore throat: A tenacious sore throat could be a sign that should not be ignored.
Change in your voice: If your voice changes as an adult or feels strained, get checked quickly.
Ear pain: Your jawbone is near your ears, so ear pain could be an indicator of oral cancer.
Dramatic weight loss: Dramatic weight loss is a sign of many types of cancer in the body.
Pain in the mouth or jaw: Mysterious pain in your mouth or throat could be from a small tumor.
Numbness: Numbness in your throat, tongue, or mouth could be a tumor striking a nerve.
Sensitivity: An increase in sensitivity should be looked at right away.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, remember to seek professional help and treatment as soon as possible. Our dental team is happy to give you a dental checkup and see to any oral health questions or concerns you may have. So, call us today at 203.245.5101 to make an appointment. We look forward to helping you and your smile.

Denture Adhesive Can Help Secure a Partial Denture in Place

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:51:31 GMT

A dentist often sometimes provides a partial denture to replicate the basic function and physical presence of multiple missing teeth. The dental appliance is mounted onto a pink material that mimics the appearance of your natural gums.

The base of the partial denture will be designed to closely match the curves and contours of the underlying gum structure. Some units also include small hardware components to help connect them to the teeth on each side of the void.

Even with this very firm fit many people with a partial denture also like to apply a small amount of denture adhesive when installing the unit each morning. It helps to bond the denture to the gums while also reducing helping to block out the presence of stray food particles.

As the day goes on the natural chewing motion of eating tough or hard foods can start to weaken the firm hold provided by the denture adhesive. This might allow a food particle or two to invade the area.

In a moment like this, it’s best to remove the denture at your earliest possible convenience. You can then give it a thorough rinse under running water and dry it with a paper towel. Once this is done you can reapply a fresh bead denture adhesive and install the partial denture back into your mouth.

If you are in the Madison, Connecticut, area and you have a question about how to properly maintain your denture, you can call 203.245.5101 to speak to Dr. Moumen Almouzayn or a member of Madison Dental Spa’s staff.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a Wonderful Way to Improve Your Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 14:52:36 GMT

Cosmetic dentistry is a wonderful way to improve the appearance of your teeth. Thanks to the success cosmetic dentistry has provided in recent years, more people are looking to improve the appearance of their teeth than ever before.

Our dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn with Madison Dental Spa in Madison, Connecticut, offers cosmetic dentistry and is happy to give you some information on how it can improve your smile.

Cosmetic dentistry covers a wide variety of procedures that can be done to improve your smile. For example, a dental crown can be used to correct a cavity or protect a tooth, but it can also be used to enhance the appearance of a discolored or cracked tooth. Dental veneers are an extremely popular option for improving your smile because they are made with incredible materials that are durable and appear flawless. Other procedures can include something simple like a teeth-whitening treatment to brighten the shade of your teeth.

The first step with cosmetic dentistry begins talking to your dentist about what goals you have for your smile. Your dentist will be able to give you an evaluation of how to accomplish your goals and set you on the right path for you to get the smile of your dreams.

If you have questions about how to improve your smile, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with our staff, please call us today at 203.245.5101 to make an appointment. Our dental team is happy to assist you and help you take the path you need to achieve your dream smile.

Oral Health for the New Age: Plaque Buildup Prevention

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:56:01 GMT

Plaque is one of those nasty substances that no matter how much we try to wash it away, it always ends up showing back up, which is a problem because plaque can lead to several problems with your oral health including dental erosion and cavities. Fortunately, several tools are available to always help you minimize the risk of plaque buildup. The following is a list of the health risks associated with plaque buildup and tools you can use to keep your smile safe:

Plaque buildup typically arises due to poor oral hygiene. To help eliminate plaque, always make sure you are cleaning your mouth effectively.'
If left untreated, plaque buildup can lead to serious oral health risks including tooth death.
Underlying ailments such as gum disease can arise due to plaque.
In the case of cavities, plaque is often one of the number one causes of their existence due to the fact they can convert substances in your mouth into harmful acids that will chew through your tooth enamel.
If plaque is not treated in time, it will harden into a material known as tartar, which can be difficult to wash away without professional help.
To help ensure plaque buildup is not occurring, visit your dentist for routine checkups.

If you are ready to take the next step to achieve a fantastic smile with plaque prevention and treatment, schedule an appointment with Madison Dental Spa at our dental office in Madison, Connecticut, by calling 203.245.5101. Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and the rest of our team look forward to seeing you.

Dentistry: A History

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:57:05 GMT

The earliest known evidence of dental work goes back as far as 12,000 BC. Archeologists have found an ancient tooth which contains remnants of a dental cleaning with flint tools.

The first written text that has been discovered that mentions dentistry, however, is dated thousands of years later in 5000 BC. This Sumerian manuscript cites “tooth worms” as the origin of dental decay. This theory wasn’t actually proved wrong until the 1700s.

In the Middle Ages in France, a group of “barbers” gathered. They didn’t just cut hair—they treated teeth and even various medical conditions. Eventually, the guild evolved into two groups. Barber-surgeons with education and training did the operations while lay surgeons helped with teeth cleanings and checkups.

In the 1700s, Pierre Fauchard, the Father of Modern Dentistry, wrote a book called “The Surgeon Dentist: A Treatise on Teeth,” which outlined the first comprehensive dental system. With this knowledge, dentistry began to grow and spread throughout the world, including the United States.

In 1840, the first dental college formed in Baltimore, Maryland. A few decades later, Colgate began producing toothpaste and toothbrushes. However, caring for teeth regularly didn’t really catch on in America until after World War II when U.S. soldiers brought their dental habits that they had learned.

Since then, new inventions and techniques have developed to make dental care better than ever. We encourage you to call Madison Dental Spa in Madison, Connecticut, at 203.245.5101 to schedule a visit with Dr. Moumen Almouzayn.

Dental Crowns and Veneers, Compared

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 14:58:49 GMT

Are you looking to improve your smile? So many options for cosmetic dentistry can be overwhelming. Two of the best options available for improving the aesthetics of your smile are dental crowns and dental veneers. Let’s look at some advantages of each.

First, basic differences: dental crowns fully conceal unsightly or damaged teeth by capping the entire tooth, down to the gum line. Dental veneers, on the other hand, conceal damaged or unsightly teeth by fastening a small shell to the front of teeth for a visually pleasing result. With proper care, either option can last for a decade or more.

Dental Veneers:

Tooth Strength: Dental veneers require very little tooth enamel removal, even less than dental crowns.This keeps your natural teeth strong.

Customizable: Dental veneers can be customized and designed to exactly fit the color, size, shape, and curvature of your smile.

Prestige: Dental veneers can give you a superstar smile–they are often used by wealthy individuals and celebrities alike.

Dental Crowns:

Versatility: Dental crowns can protect teeth that have fillings, that have had root canals, and even implants.

Customizable: Dental crowns can also be customized and designed based on color, size, shape, and curvature of your smile.

Functionality: Crowns improve the functionality and durability of a tooth, extending its lifespan.

Consulting with your dentist will help you make the best decision for your personal oral health. If you would like to schedule an oral exam at Madison Dental Spa, simply call our dentist office in Madison, Connecticut, at our number 203.245.5101. Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our entire team look forward to making your smile shine!

Tooth Hazard Prevention and Why It Is Needed

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 15:00:29 GMT

If you wish to keep your smile flaws, it is important to prepare for any oral health hazards that could occur. By planning for any avoiding common dental hazards and risks that seek to destroy your smile, you can greatly increase your chances for a long-lasting safe smile that can continue to function effectively. For some tooth hazard prevention tips and tricks, see below:

Protect your smile against teeth-grinding disorders including bruxism by wearing night plates and bite guards.
Unhealthy habits such as smoking and chewing tobacco greatly increase your risk for oral health disorders including tooth discoloration, gum disease, and oral cancer.
If you are involved in any contact sports, make sure to use the appropriate safety equipment to protect your mouth and jaw from damage.
Be mindful of any hazardous objects that may find their way into your mouth, including inadvertently chewing on pens and pen caps, as well as chewing on your nails.
Sugar is a key contributor to tooth decay, so avoid or limit your intake as much as possible.
Avoid opening objects with your mouth, as this is an easy way to break your teeth or damage your gums.
Be mindful of the dangers of mouth jewelry. Numerous types of lip and mouth piercings are made of hard substances that can easily crack or chip
our teeth. Furthermore, they can break off and cause infections, gum damage, and even become choking hazards.

If you would like to experience the life-changing transformation that our oral health care treatments can provide, please stop by Madison Dental Spa for an oral exam from Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our team at our amazing dentist facility in Madison, Connecticut. Schedule your visit by calling us at 203.245.5101. We look forward to seeing you smile bright this season!

Dental Bonding is the Way to Go to Restore Your Tooth

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:02:31 GMT

You may ask yourself what simple and inexpensive option is there to correct a small flaw in your teeth. It could simply be some decay, discoloration, or even a stain. The answer to your question is dental bonding! This is a favorable procedure due to its simplicity and cost-efficient method. Here at Madison Dental Spa, we want to give you the comfortability of this procedure.

The first thing you need to do when considering dental bonding is speaking to your dentist if this option is best for your smile. Once they have determined this is the right process for you, they will start with comparing your tooth color to a color swatch. This will help determine what type of composite resin to pick to match your teeth.

After this has been decided, the resin will be made to match your tooth while your dentist coarsens the tooth surface to prepare for the bonding material to be attached. Conditioning liquid will first be put on the tooth and then the tooth-colored resin will be applied, shaped, and smoothed. A special ultraviolet light will cure the tooth for a minute, then your tooth will be trimmed of any excess material and polished by your dentist.

Once you’ve had your dental bonding done, you can go back to your daily lifestyle of eating and speaking! Confirm a checkup appointment to ensure the tooth is comfortable and solid. Call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our wonderful staff here in Madison, Connecticut, at 203.245.5101 to make an appointment or simply meet for a consultation about dental bonding today!

Dental Health Care Focus: Laser Dentistry

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 15:03:31 GMT

Did you know that ultra-powerful lasers are used in dental procedures ranging from cancer screenings to tooth whitening? For over two decades, lasers have found their way into a variation of dental procedures and are quickly becoming more and more widely used and accepted.

Focus your oral health care on laser dentistry. Save your smile with laser dentistry and these important facts:

Lasers can be used as a light source to help clean deep stains and discolorations when used in teeth whiteners.
Lasers can clean the decay and excess gum tissue surrounding a tooth before a dental filling is used to treat a cavity.
Lasers can be used to clean and cut away the tissue area in and around a tooth before a root canal treatment is performed.
Lasers can remove infected and decayed gum tissue as a result of periodontal disease.

If you would like to discuss a laser dentistry treatment with Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and the rest of our team here at Madison Dental Spa, please schedule an appointment to come see us at our dentist office in Madison, Connecticut. Our number is 203.245.5101. We want to ensure your smile is shining for years to come.

Stop Bad Breath in its Tracks

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:04:46 GMT

There’s never a great time to have bad breath (halitosis). If you’re tired of dealing with it, try the following five steps:

Brush at least twice per day. Did you know that the American Dental Association (ADA) suggest that you should brush your teeth twice daily? Brushing your teeth will help you improve your breath by removing food debris that can create odors and plaque.

Floss daily. In addition to the recommendation to brush at least twice per day, the ADA suggests flossing at least once per day. Flossing removes difficult-to-reach debris that can lead to bacteria formation, which creates bad breath.

Scrape or brush your tongue. Have you ever tried using tongue scrapers? Tongue scrapers are inexpensive tools that remove smell-causing build-up from your mouth. We recommend tongue scrapers, but brushing your tongue using your toothbrush may create similar effects.

Rinse using ADA-approved mouthwash. Mouthwashes help freshen your breath by killing bacteria, but they mask your breath only temporarily. Because mouthwash is a quick and impermanent fix, you will still need to brush and floss if you are trying to fix the problem’s true cause.

Visit Madison Dental Spa! Our dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, specializes in treating bad breath. If you have been experiencing halitosis in Madison, Connecticut, then we are ready to help you. You can schedule your next appointment with the team at Madison Dental Spa by dialing 203.245.5101.

A Small Cavity Typically Can Be Repaired by a Simple Filling

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sat, 27 May 2017 15:07:59 GMT

There are several things that can compromise an area of tooth enamel. Small chips and enamel erosion from poor oral hygiene are two of the more common culprits that allow bacteria to exploit a tooth. If it’s detected and diagnosed early on, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn might be able to treat a small cavity by applying a filling at his Madison, Connecticut clinic.

Typical symptoms of a problem like this can include increased sensitivity and a change in texture, color or discomfort when biting down. Should you experience any of these symptoms you should not delay in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Moumen Almouzayn.

After examining the tooth, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will numb the area gums with an injection of Novocain in the gums. A drill will then be used to remove any decayed enamel to provide a clean healthy surface to cement a filling in place.

The filling material the Dr. Moumen Almouzayn uses for the filling will depend on both the tooth’s primary function and location.

Tooth decay that afflicts a back tooth can often be repaired by an amalgam filling. This is a blend of special dental-grade metals. It has the durability to handle the daily work of chewing and grinding. For a filling that will be visible in your smile, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn might use a composite filling. This is a special plastic resin material that can be shaped to perfectly match the surrounding tooth enamel.

If you live in the Madison, Connecticut area and you suspect a cavity has formed on one of your teeth, you should call 203.245.5101 to have it examined and treated at Dr. Moumen Almouzayn’s clinic.

A Bridge That Feels Loose Requires Immediate Care

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 15:09:07 GMT

Dental bridges are always installed in place using a very strong dental-grade adhesive. This will give the dental restorations the strength to last for many long years ahead. Yet there are still some times when complications from periodontal disease or a dental trauma can come to affect this strong bond. Should any part of your dental bridge feel loose or become damaged, you should not delay in seeking immediate care at Madison Dental Spa.

While waiting for your appointment at our clinic, you should avoid playing with the dental bridge. If you have blood or debris in your mouth from a dental trauma, you can rinse them away with lukewarm saltwater. Any other cleaning procedures should be left to Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our highly trained staff.

If periodontal disease has caused a failure in the dental adhesive, your dentist might be able to cement it back into place. If an abutment has been damaged in any way, or if it has suffered a fracture at the gumline, more advanced treatment might be called for. This could potentially include performing a root canal.

If you live in the Madison, Connecticut, area and you have a dental bridge that is in distress, you should call 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment at Madison Dental Spa.

Complications from a Missing Tooth Can Be Prevented by a Bridge Restoration

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:10:22 GMT

When you lose a tooth to severe decay, dental avulsion or a treatment-based extraction, the ramifications to your oral health and function can be significant. Even if you adapt to the decreased ability to chew, the missing tooth can still affect the clarity of your speech as well as your physical appearance.

As time goes by, you could potentially suffer orthodontic complications. The loss of structure from the tooth can cause the neighboring teeth to alter their positions, leading to potential chips and dental fractures.

One easy method of preventing these complications is to have Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and the restoration specialists at his Madison, Connecticut, dental clinic install a dental bridge into the void. This is single piece of dental work that is designed to mimic the appearance and function of the original tooth. It is a replacement tooth fused to a pair of crowns that are anchored on abutments formed out of the two closest teeth.

Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will use a drill to remove the tooth enamel from each tooth to form a pair of post-like abutments. This creates a small protective sheath that houses the healthy pulp, root and nerve of each tooth. Temporary crowns will then be secured over each abutment to protect them.

A large impression will be made of the two abutments as well as any other corresponding teeth. This will be sent to a dental lab to help guide the technicians as they produce your new bridge.

You will need to come in for a brief follow-up appointment when your bridge is ready to have it cemented onto the two abutments. With good oral hygiene, the restoration should serve you well for many years into the future.

If you live in the Madison, Connecticut, area and you are missing a tooth, you should call 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment at Madison Dental Spa.

Tales About the Tooth Fairy

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:11:51 GMT

Think back on the days that you believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Do you remember the excitement the prospect of losing a baby tooth brought? Knowing that the Tooth Fairy was going to come to take the tooth and leave money, whether it was a dime, quarter, or dollar, is a highlight of childhood.

As the Tooth Fairy once again becomes a part of your life through your children, you may wonder how the Tooth Fairy came to be. The legend of the Tooth Fairy has evolved over time from myths that are hundreds of years old. Long ago in Europe, when a child lost a baby tooth, they were supposed to bury it. Tradition stated that this would save the child from hardships in the afterlife. The Vikings used children’s teeth to bring them good luck in battle.

There are many traditions relating to the loss of baby teeth going back thousands of years. When a child lost a baby tooth, they would do one or more of the following:

Throw it into the sun
Throw it into the fire
Throw it onto or over the roof of a dwelling
Place it in a mouse hole
Bury it in the ground
Hide it out of sight of animals
Put it inside a tree or on the wall
Swallow it, or have their mother or pet swallow it

There are many versions of the tooth deity. In some countries, a mouse would enter children’s rooms and remove baby teeth. In other cultures, the tooth deity varies to include beavers, dogs, cats, and squirrels. The tooth deity would take the lost baby tooth that was “buried” under a pillow and replace it with gifts like money.

Our beloved Tooth Fairy was inspired by the legend of the mouse combined with legends from Europe of a good fairy that originated in fairy tales. In about 1927, a book made our current idea of the Tooth Fairy popular in America.

For more information and to schedule your child’s next visit with our dentist in Madison, Connecticut, please contact Madison Dental Spa today. Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our team are dedicated to serving you and your family.

Which Type of Floss Should You Pick?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:13:23 GMT

You probably know that there are a number of things you can do to protect your teeth. Similarly, you know that brushing and flossing are vital to your oral health. However, do you know how to determine the type of floss that’s best for your teeth?

There are a variety of different flosses you could consider using. For example, if you struggle to get floss between your teeth, you should contemplate waxed floss. If you have larger gaps in your pearly whites, you may need dental tape or super floss. Individuals who have braces could clean their teeth most effectively with spongy floss.

Of course, once you have the right type of floss for your teeth, you should remember to floss at least once every day. We recommend using about a foot and a half of floss every time to make sure you get all of your teeth with clean pieces of floss. You should also curve your floss into a c-shape and glide it up and down each side of your tooth. Finally, if you floss first, please remember to brush well afterwards. If you brush your teeth first, please rinse your mouth after you floss.

If you’re interested in learning more about the types of floss or about how you should floss, please don’t hesitate to give Madison Dental Spa a call at 203.245.5101. Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and the rest of our team will be happy to answer any questions you have. We’re eager to hear from you soon!

Porcelain Dental Veneers Can Restore the Appearance of Your Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:14:31 GMT

If your smile suffers from chips, stains or other cosmetic imperfections, it can leave you feeling self-conscious about your appearance. This drives many people to contact Madison Dental Spa to understand their options for enhancing the appearance of their smiles. One of the most effective methods for doing this is to fit each tooth with porcelain dental veneers.

These custom-shaped porcelain shells are shaped to fit over the faces of each tooth in your smile. Since the porcelain material is far less receptive to staining compounds than tooth enamel, your white smile will be easier to maintain.

Your dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, will start the process of installing dental veneers by examining each tooth in your smile. It’s important to determine the overall health of each tooth and depth of the available enamel. Should one or more teeth be compromised, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will likely recommend replacing the entire enamel layer of the tooth with a porcelain dental crown.

Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will then make a detailed impression of each tooth in your smile. This will be sent to a dental lab to serve as a guide while the technicians work to produce your final veneers.

When the veneers are ready, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will call you back in for a follow-up appointment. Then, he will remove a small amount of enamel from the face of each tooth before cementing the porcelain shell into place.

If you would like to improve the overall appearance of your smile, you should call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 to ask about porcelain dental veneers in Madison, Connecticut.

Cosmetic Dentistry for the Holidays

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 15:16:01 GMT

The holidays are right around the corner. Hopefully that means there will be plenty of joys and toys, meats and cheeses, and ice creams and root beer dreams to keep everyone in your family happy. With all the excitement brewing for the festive times to come, it’s important to remember your oral health care. Thanks to cosmetic dentistry, you can start your season with a smile.

If you suffer from any of the following defects, cosmetic dentistry may be right for you:

Teeth that have been cracked, chipped, or broken.
Teeth that are missing.
Teeth that are misaligned or uneven.
Teeth that are well-worn.
Teeth that are misshapen and irregular.
Irregular gaps and spaces between teeth.

If you suffer from any of the above abnormalities, here are a few of the amazing cosmetic services Madison Dental Spa can provide to fix them:

Invisalign®
Teeth Whitening
Dental Veneers

It’s never too late to get you the smile you deserve. If you would like more information, or to book an appointment with Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, please call us at 203.245.5101 to speak with a member of our fantastic staff. You can also visit our office in Madison, Connecticut. Start this holiday with your dream smile!

Worried About Your Child Having a Scary Smile This Halloween? Try These Tricks

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 15:17:15 GMT

Tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental issues can make your child’s smile very scary, especially during Halloween. So, it’s best to help your child have the best and most successful oral health in Madison, Connecticut, so they can enjoy this Halloween holiday without having to worry about toothaches and dental issues.

To help you, our Madison Dental Spa team recommends doing the following things:

Encourage your child to avoid choosing hard, sticky candies out of the many trick-or-treating baskets. These types of candy can stick to the teeth and increase your child’s chances of having dental cavities.
Have your child eat their candy at specific times. It’s best to have them eat their treats during or shortly after a meal. This is helpful because the saliva produced while eating will wash away the harmful candy particles.
Take advantage of fluoride as much as possible. Have your child drink fluoridated water and use fluoride toothpaste. Doing these things will strengthen your child’s tooth enamel so it can fight the effects of sugar.
Make sure your child keeps up on their oral hygiene routine. Deeply cleaning the teeth and gums will help them maintain a strong and healthy smile this Halloween.
Encourage your child to chew sugarless gum that has been approved by the American Dental Association after eating candy. Chewing this gum will help produce saliva and wash away the harmful bacteria in the mouth.

To learn more about maintaining a healthy smile this Halloween, please feel free to call our office today at 203.245.5101. Your dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, and our dental team are here to help you in any way we can, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Home vs. In-Office Teeth Whitening

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 15:18:41 GMT

You can buy nearly countless products to whiten your teeth with at the supermarket. With that widespread availability, it probably seems superfluous to have your dentist whiten your teeth for you.

Over-the-counter whitening options serve a purpose and have a place in cosmetic dentistry, but the services offered here at Madison Dental Spa should also be considered by anyone who is looking to whiten their teeth.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the difference between home and in-office whitening solutions.

At-home whitening

If your teeth are already in great shape from a cosmetic standpoint, and you don’t have any issues with gum sensitivity, at-home whitening is great option. You can choose from rinses, toothpaste, gel strips, and trays to name just a few options. However, none of these options are custom-made, so you may not get the fit or results you’re looking for.

Additionally, if you have sensitive gums and use any kind of gel or rinse, you risk irritating your gums and making the process painful.

In-office whitening

The biggest benefit to teeth whitening in our office here in Madison, Connecticut is that Dr. Moumen Almouzayn is able to custom-fit whitening trays to your teeth. This ensures a more even whitening on your teeth, and Dr. Moumen Almouzayn is able to make sure your gums aren’t irritated by the whitening products.

Also, here at Madison Dental Spa, we have access to more powerful whitening solutions than what you can buy over the counter. This means your teeth will whiten faster.

If you’re interested in teeth whitening but want more information before deciding on a course of action, or you’re ready to schedule a whitening appointment with us, call today at 203.245.5101.

Restore a Tooth with a Bad Filling by Installing a Crown

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:19:45 GMT

Our Madison Dental Spa dentist commonly uses fillings to repair modest-sized cavities. While fillings are meant to last for a long time, they rarely last forever. The bigger and older a filling is, the more likely it is to fail. If a filling goes bad, it might allow bacteria to cause further decay in the enamel of the tooth.

If the tooth lacks sufficient enamel to be repaired with a new filling, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn might recommend having the tooth restored with a crown. A dental crown in Madison, Connecticut, basically replaces the enamel layer of a tooth while leaving the healthy internal structures intact.

The industry’s standard materials for a dental crown include gold, base metals or porcelain. The material your Madison Dental Spa dentist recommends for your crown will be influenced by the tooth’s primary function in your mouth and its appearance in your smile.

At your first appointment, your dentist will use a drill to remove the majority of the enamel of the tooth to form an abutment. An impression will then be made of the smile and will be sent to a dental lab. The impression will serve as a guide for dental lab technicians who prepare your permanent crown. While you wait, you will be given a temporary crown.

After the technicians have completed your permanent crown, we will call you back in for a short second appointment. During this appointment, your temporary crown will be carefully removed and your new permanent crown will be cemented in place.

If you’re missing a filling on one of your teeth, you should call Madison Dental Spa as soon as possible at 203.245.5101 to explore your treatment options.

Being Fitted for a Custom Pair of Dentures

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:20:45 GMT

Chronic problems with periodontal disease or a pronounced history of tooth decay issues can severely compromise your mouth. Beyond simply impairing your ability to chew food, these compromised teeth can also have a negative effect on your speech and overall quality of life. In a situation like this Dr. Moumen Almouzayn might recommend having most or all of your remaining teeth extracted in preparation for fitting you for a custom set of dentures.

Dentures are designed to look like real teeth that have been set into a pink material that mimics the appearance of your gums. This effectively restores the full function and appearance of your teeth. Certain individuals might only need their upper teeth or lower teeth replaced, while others might need both their upper and lower teeth replaced by dentures.

Once any remaining teeth have been addressed or extracted, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will cast an impression of your mouth. This is sent to a dental lab where your new permanent dentures are custom crafted.

Many people with dentures like to secure them in place with denture adhesive. This can also help to block food particles from getting between the dentures and your gums.

If you have several compromised teeth or you have questions about being fitted for a set of dentures, you should call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

Reshaping Your Smile

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:21:41 GMT

Welcome to Madison Dental Spa! Here, we want to help you have the smile you’ve always dreamed of. To that end, we offer a full complement of cosmetic dental services and treatments. Some involve covering or removing stains, others filling gaps or straightening teeth. But what about when a tooth is irregularly shaped? One option is cosmetic tooth recontouring.

Although teeth have some fairly standard forms (molars, canines, etc) there is actually quite a bit of variation within those forms. They can differ in size, length, and shape, and position. For people who want a more uniform appearance, tooth recontouring can solve superficial issues with their teeth. Tooth recontouring can actually remove superfluous tooth material to standardize appearance.

During tooth recontouring, only parts of the outer enamel are removed. To start the procedure off, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn will take some digital dental x-rays to be sure that enough enamel is present to be able to proceed. Assuming there is enough and the tooth is healthy enough, he will carefully remove enamel in accordance with your cosmetic goals. Anesthesia is not necessary, because the sensitive inner portion of the tooth is not affected. Recontouring is also more affordable than many other cosmetic dental procedures. You can walk out of our office with a new, improved smile.

Tooth recontouring is just one option available to our patients looking for a better smile. To learn more about all of our treatments or schedule a consultation, please call our Madison, CT, office today.

The Reasons Why an Aligned Smile is Healthy for You

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:41:12 GMT

Your oral health is extremely important to your dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, and our entire Madison Dental Spa team, which is why we strongly recommend Invisalign in Madison, Connecticut, if you have a crooked, unattractive smile. Treatment can do wonders for your oral health, but more specifically, it can:

Help you chew better
Clear aligners can align your teeth and adjust your jaw. These movements can help you chew easily, and they can finally give you the effective bite you deserve.

Improve your oral health
Having straight teeth can extremely improve your oral health because it eliminates the hard-to-clean areas of your smile that harbor germs, bacteria, plaque, and other harmful substances. Because these areas disappear after treatment, your chances of falling victim to tooth decay and gum disease decrease.

Boost your self-esteem
The best part about orthodontic treatment is that it finally gives you the smile of your dreams. Once your teeth are aligned, your self-esteem will be boosted and you will no longer feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk, sing, laugh, or show your teeth.

Invisalign can improve your oral health as well as beautify your smile. Once you’re done with the treatment, you’ll have the attractive and healthy smile you deserve! If you have questions about Invisalign or any of our other services, please call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 and schedule an appointment. Our team looks forward to helping you reach your dream smile!

Is Dental Anxiety Keeping You Away From the Dentist?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 15:42:15 GMT

Does the thought of going to the dentist fill you with total dread? Most people don’t enjoy going to the dentist, but some actually put off visits because of anxiety related to dental visits or procedures. Up to 15% of Americans, in fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If you suffer from a dental phobia, we want to be a helpful resource.

One of the best things you can do is to simply tell us you are experiencing anxiety. Once we know what is troubling to you, we can accommodate you better in treatment. Many people feel a lack of control once they are in the dentist’s chair. If that is your case, we can have an active conversation throughout your procedure or cleaning to explain each step. Understanding a given process can help you be mentally prepared. If you need to pause in the procedure, just say so. You are a patient, not a subject.

Some people have deep trauma stemming from painful memories at the dentist. Some have not been in many years. Know that dental equipment and technology has advanced incredibly, and procedures that used to be quite invasive are now much less so. Even so, some people require nitrous oxide even for a standard cleaning, and that is okay. As the patient, your comfort is our priority.

At Madison Dental Spa we want to help you have the best experience possible. We will work with you to find the best path to dental health, as well as to relieve any anxiety you have. Please call us to schedule a consultation.

Dealing with Chronic Gingivitis

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:44:15 GMT

Tartar buildup at the gum line is the leading cause of gum disease. The CDC estimates that nearly half of all adults over the age of 30 have some degree of gum disease. The earliest stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. Early symptoms include inflamed gums that often bleed easily during brushing and flossing. This might also include chronic bad breath.

Prevention through an effective oral hygiene routine is the best defense against developing gingivitis. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush and abrasive toothpaste followed by flossing between your teeth and along the gum line.

Tartar at the gum line can be very hard for you to remove at home. It usually requires the techniques and training of the dental professionals at your regular dental checkup and cleaning.

If gingivitis is left unchecked, it can advance into a more serious condition known as periodontitis. This stage of gum disease often causes the gums to pull back from your teeth creating pockets of infection. The infection even has the potential to cause a loss of bone material in your jaw where your teeth are anchored.

If you are concerned that you might be developing gum disease or you are overdue for your regular dental cleaning, please call us at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

Your Teeth and Your Nightly Routine

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:46:07 GMT

You probably know how important it is to brush your teeth every morning and night, but did you know that many people don’t brush as effectively as they could? In fact, some people consistently miss parts of their mouth altogether. This lets plaque and bacteria work in their mouth overnight. Fortunately, by establishing a few solid oral hygiene habits you can enjoy a healthy smile while you sleep.

One of the most important parts of brushing your teeth is having the right toothbrush. Specifically, you want a toothbrush with a head that isn’t too big for your mouth. In fact, you should be able to navigate your toothbrush easily while brushing. Similarly, you should also have bristles that aren’t too hard. If you do, you could accidentally damage your teeth.

You should also brush for at least two minutes at a time, but not for more than two minutes. If you do, you could damage your teeth. Also, please remember to brush up and down in circular motions, not side to side. Brushing side to side can scrape your gums and cause problems.

You should also remember to brush before you go to bed and after you wake up. While it takes several hours for tartar to form, it’s still a good idea to brush in the morning even though you haven’t eaten for several hours.

If you follow these steps—and remember to use mouthwash and floss—you can rest assured knowing your smile is well cared for.

Would you like to learn more about what you can do to keep your smile healthy and strong? Are you interested in learning more about any of the tips we mentioned? Are you just interested in scheduling an appointment with our team? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you could have.

What to Expect from a Teeth-Bleaching Procedure

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 15:46:59 GMT

Many people find that a bright, white smile says a lot about them. Unfortunately, age, tobacco use as well as certain foods and dark beverages can stain your teeth or dull your smile. If you haven’t been satisfied with your results from using whitening toothpaste, strips or bleaching gel, you might want to consider an in-office tooth-bleaching procedure. The concentration of peroxide or other bleaching agents simply can’t compare to the strength and effectiveness of tooth bleaching.

The dentist will usually clean your teeth to remove any built up plaque or tartar, which might impede maximum results. Before the bleaching begins, your dentist might apply a protective gel or rubber dam to your gums. This helps protect sensitive gum tissue.

The dentist will then place the bleaching agent in a tray, which is held in your mouth for a set amount of time. How long you have to hold the tray in your mouth will depend on how stained your teeth are and the concentration required to meet your tooth-whitening goals. In some instances, the dentist might also use a laser light to help enhance the whitening process.

If you have questions about teeth-whitening products or if you would like to know more about our in-office tooth bleaching procedure, please feel free to call us at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

The Difference Between Dental Veneers and Dental Crowns

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:48:17 GMT

There are many options to choose from when it comes to restoring your smile. With so many cosmetic ways to enhance your smile, it is understandable that it can be stressful when choosing between them all. That is why our team is here to help you learn the differences between a dental veneer and a dental crown.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are designed to cover the front surfaces of your teeth, covering the flaws in your smile. These flaws include discolored teeth, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, slightly misaligned teeth, and more. Dental veneers need to be replaced every 5-10 years and they require strong teeth and enamel in order to successfully improve your appearance. If you have weak enamel, week gums, or week teeth, this may not be the perfect option for you.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are artificial caps that are placed over a damaged tooth to improve its health and condition. The crown starts at the gumline and covers the entire tooth, providing a natural look and strengthening your tooth. Dental crowns are made with many different kinds of materials. However, your dentist can match your crown to your teeth so it does not stand out.

No matter which option you choose, both offer a variety of benefits that can restore your smile. If you have questions about which option is best for you, call your dentist. Your dentist can answer any questions you have about your smile. Restore your smile by calling us at 203.245.5101 and by scheduling an appointment today.

How Missing Teeth Effects Your Oral Health

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:38:40 GMT

What would you do if you lost a tooth? Does the answer to that question depend on where the tooth was? Usually, if one of someone’s front teeth is knocked out, an appointment is set as quickly as possible. But, if the missing teeth are towards the back of a mouth, and don’t have a significant impact on the aesthetics of a smile, people tend to wait. Sadly, missing teeth are more common than you may think. Actually, most Americans between 20 and 64 years old have at least three missing or decayed teeth.

Sadly, missing teeth can lead to a number of problems that are completely unrelated to how your smile looks. For example, people who are missing a tooth may struggle to chew. In response, they may switch to chewing on the other side of their mouth. However, uneven chewing can lead to a sore jaw. Another problem is that when a tooth is missing, the supporting bone beneath weakens. This lets your other teeth shift towards the gap, eventually resulting in a crooked smile.

Another potential problem is gum disease. As you may know, the best thing you can do to prevent gum disease is keep your smile clean. Unfortunately, chunks of food are more likely to get lodged between your teeth if you have a hole in your smile. This can promote bacteria and promote gum disease.

Luckily, a dentist can evaluate your unique circumstances and offer you a solution, such as a bridge or an implant. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon. We are excited to hear from you.

Why Should I Help My Smile With a Dental Crown?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 15:34:41 GMT

There are many reasons why you should improve your oral health and smile with a dental crown, and our Madison Dental Spa team is here to tell you what some of those reasons are! A dental crown is a great dental restoration that can give you the results you are looking for in just a short amount of time. Your dentist, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn, frequently recommends this restoration because:

It can fix many issues
There are hardly any dental issues that a dental crown can’t fix. It can:

Restore a broken tooth
Repair a tooth that has been worn down
Protect a weak tooth from breaking
Hold together parts of a cracked tooth
Support a tooth that has a large filling
Keep a dental bridge in place
Improve the appearance of a misshapen or discolored tooth
Cover a dental implant
Improve the overall appearance of your smile

It can help adults and children
Kids can also benefit from dental crowns. The crown can save a tooth that has been extremely damaged by decay and the crown can also protect a tooth from cavities. This is a great option for children who tend to fall behind on oral hygiene practices.

It can last many years

Typically, a dental crown can last up to 15 years. However, if you refuse to take good care of your crown by keeping up on oral hygiene and avoiding teeth-harming habits, your dental crown can become worn down and will only last about 5 years.

Dental crowns in Madison, Connecticut are beneficial, reliable, and successful, and we encourage you to call 203.245.5101 today and schedule an appointment if you’re interested in knowing more about them! We are more than happy to give you the information and details you need to make the best decision possible for your smile. We look forward to hearing from you!

Dental Implant Surgery and What You Can Expect

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:49:54 GMT

It’s difficult to connect surgery to the dentist right? Well sometimes our teeth require surgery to restore the health or appearance of them. If you are going to the dentist for an implant surgery there are a few things you may want to know so you feel prepared before the big day.

Your first preparation you will make before your appointment is having a thorough dental and medical examination. These examinations are typically done by your dentist and family physician to ensure your body and mouth are healthy enough to handle the surgery.

The surgery itself is performed in stages and is considered an outpatient surgery.

The damaged tooth will be removed, if one exists.
Your jawbone will then be prepared, sometimes involving bone grafting.
Once your jawbone is healed, your surgeon will then place the dental implant metal post into your jawbone.
After the procedure, you will be sent home for healing, which may take several months. During this time, the bone in your jaw will grow around the implant, securing it into place.
When you come back after the healing process has completed, you will return for the final appointment and receive your new artificial tooth.

The process takes up to several months to complete, but once it is done, you can have a smile to be proud of. Please give our office a call today at 203.245.5101 with any questions of concerns you may have about your dental implant surgery.

Shift Into Your Dream Smile With Invisalign

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:51:06 GMT

Invisalign® is a remarkable, modern-day orthodontic system that consists of a series of virtually invisible plastic retainers which cover the teeth, slowly realigning them into their proper positions. These retainers (also called “aligners”) can be removed for eating, brushing teeth and flossing, posing for photographs, and so forth.

We use a custom-made series of aligners that are specifically designed for your teeth. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable plastic that is worn over your teeth, so it doesn’t irritate your cheeks or gums, like some metal braces do. There are no metal brackets, wires or rubber bands.

Invisalign® works by gently applying a small amount of pressure to specific teeth until your entire smile has shifted into perfect alignment. You get a new aligner to wear approximately every two weeks until the completion of your treatment. We’ll monitor your progress through occasional checkups, usually once every six weeks.

But for the best results and a faster outcome, we recommend that our patients wear their aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day, throughout the treatment.

At every stage of the Invisalign® process, you will be able to see your dream smile coming to fruition. Many of our patients love Invisalign® because it’s barely noticeable, and you don’t have to put your life on hold for this orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign® is a patented, clear braces system that realigns your teeth into an ideal position while helping you to preserve a more natural-looking aesthetic.

So, if you’ve desired to improve your confidence in your appearance, come and talk to us about how Invisalign® can enhance your smile. Feel free to call our office at 203.245.5101 for an appointment.

Preventing Tooth Decay with Dental Sealants

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sat, 30 May 2015 15:23:14 GMT

It’s not uncommon for the biting surface on your back teeth to have deep pits, fissures and contours. This can make these areas quite hard to clean. If plaque and food particles linger in these areas, it increases your chances of developing large cavities. This often requires large fillings that could prove to be problematic later on in life.

Dental sealants are a popular and effective way to protect the biting surface of molars and premolars. If your dentist at Madison Dental Spa notices deep pits or stuck-on plaque and food particles on these teeth, they will often recommend protecting the biting surface with simple dental sealants.

Dental sealants a durable plastic-resin that your dentist can paint onto the biting surface of your molars and premolars. A special ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin. Even if plaque and food particles get stuck in the deep contours, the resin will prevent bacteria from directly attacking the enamel biting surface.

The dentists at Madison Dental Spa can usually apply the sealants after your routine dental checkup. The dental sealants are very durable, and will not be worn away by brushing your teeth. On the average most sealants last for around two years.

If you have any questions about dental sealants for yourself or your child, please call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

How to Properly Remove an Object that Is Stuck in Your Gums

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:24:24 GMT

It’s rather common for pieces of food like popcorn hulls, meat fibers, seeds, and fruit peels to get stuck between your teeth. Your chances of getting something stuck between your teeth increase if you have a habit of chewing on fingernails, pencils, and pens. Small pieces can sometimes break off and get uncomfortably stuck!

If you have something stuck between your teeth and it causes pain and discomfort, you might want to call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn for advice.

If you have an object stuck in your gums, you should never use toothpicks or sharp tools to try to pry the object loose. The last thing you want to do is injure your gums or damage tooth enamel by using wrong tool.

In many cases, waxed dental floss is the tool of choice for removing something that is stuck between in your gums. Its waxy coating allows the strand to slide between teeth easily and can often be worked around the foreign object. A floss threader with wax coated floss might also help you work on the foreign object from a different position.

Rinsing your mouth vigorously with lukewarm salt water can soothe gum tissues and might also help to loosen the object.

If you still can’t remove the object from your gums, you should call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn at 203.245.5101 for advice or to schedule an appointment.

Including Your New Dentures as part of your Oral Hygiene Regimen

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 15:28:20 GMT

The new set of dentures Dr. Moumen Almouzayn fitted you with, represents a serious investment in restoring the full function and appearance of your teeth. Even if you only have dentures replacing your top or bottom teeth, they will still need special focus in your oral hygiene routine to help them last for many years to come.

If you don’t have denture implant anchors you might want to use a denture adhesive to secure your dentures in place and help block out food particles. If some food particles do manage to work their way into the space between the dentures and your gums, you should thoroughly rinse the unit and reapply fresh adhesive. Each night after taking your dentures out, you should through rinse away any residual adhesive. This will give you smooth surface to reapply the denture adhesive the next day.

You should then brush your dentures with a soft bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste or denture polish. You should soak your dentures overnight in water and keep them in a safe place.

Once your dentures are put away, you should then brush and floss your teeth, as part of your regular oral hygiene routine. If you have denture implant anchors you should also give them a light brushing. You can also lightly brush your tongue and gums to remove bacteria, prevent bad breath, and refresh your mouth.

If you have questions about how to take care of your new dentures, please feel free to call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

How to Properly Deal with a Lost Filling

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 15:25:16 GMT

Fillings are made from artificial materials that are not subject to normal tooth decay. While a filling is intended to last a long time, it’s not uncommon for one to be lost or fall out. Large fillings and old fillings tend to fail more easily than small fillings. This is often a product of the bacteria in your mouth damaging the cement that holds your filling in place.

If you have recently lost a filling, you need to call Madison Dental Spa as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Early resolution reduces your chances of developing serious complications in the tooth.

In some cases, your dentist might be able to replace the lost filling by simply removing a little more enamel from the area before cementing a new, larger filling in its place.

If a large filling falls out there might not be enough enamel left to properly cement a new filling in place. In a situation like this the dentists at Madison Dental Spa often recommend that the tooth be restored with a crown. Crown material will vary depending on the primary function of the tooth and its appearance in your smile.

If you have recently lost a filling please call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you find a fast and effective solution to the problem.

Brushing 2X a Day

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:52:38 GMT

What happens when you skip brushing?

It might not seem like a big deal if you fall asleep before brushing your teeth from time to time or if you sacrifice brushing your teeth in order to be on time for work in the morning. However, each time you don’t brush your teeth allows more plaque to build up on your teeth. Failing to brush twice a day is providing an opportunity for plaque to start forming cavities in your teeth. If you’ve ever felt a thin film on your teeth, or felt like they are slightly sticky or fuzzy feeling, this is a sign of plaque attacking your teeth. Not only does plaque turn into tartar and cause cavities, but it can also cause inflammation and disease in your gums. Brushing for two minutes twice a day can help keep bacteria and plaque at bay, leading to many health benefits. Not only will you be less at risk of cavities, but it can keep your breath fresher, leave your mouth feeling cleaner, and make your smile shine brighter.

Skipping brushing one time is not going to doom you to a mouthful of cavities, but the more you forget, the more the plaque builds up. Try not to skip brushing if at all possible. If you don’t have access to a toothbrush or toothpaste, chewing sugar free gum can be better than nothing; but remember that chewing gum, using mouthwash, or popping a breath mint is not a substitute for brushing, If you have questions about brushing your teeth or plaque and cavities, you can contact Madison Dental Spa in Madison, Connecticut at (203) 245-5101

How to Properly Deal with a Cracked Tooth

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:26:14 GMT

The enamel layer of your teeth is composed of a microscopic mineral crystal structure that is very hard and durable. Unfortunately, there are still times when something like a fall or a blow to the face can cause a crack in the enamel layer of one or more of your teeth.

A sharp or persistent pain in a cracked tooth is clear evidence that the damage extends down into the dentin, pulp, or root of the tooth. This might require Dr. Moumen Almouzayn to perform a root canal to restore the damaged internal structures and replace the enamel layer with a crown.

Even if the crack doesn’t expose the internal structures of the tooth you should still have Dr. Moumen Almouzayn examine it. The damaged enamel makes the tooth prone to future issues with tooth decay. Sometimes the problem can be addressed with a simple filling.

Once the cracked tooth has been addressed Dr. Moumen Almouzayn might recommend a basic fluoride treatment or fluoride supplements to strengthen the remaining enamel and prevent tooth decay.

If you have cracked tooth you should call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn immediately at 203.245.5101 to assess the situation and schedule an appointment.

How to Effectively Clean Your Tongue

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 15:27:15 GMT

If you have dentures, or you have struggled with chronic bad breath in the past, cleaning your tongue as part of your daily oral hygiene routine can benefit your oral health. Your tongue has a lot of rough surfaces that can harbor bacteria, which might make it easier for plaque to form in your mouth.

After removing your dentures and brushing them, you can give your tongue a light brushing as well. Make sure you brush around the sides of the tongue and use a gentle circular motion to brush the rough surface of the taste buds. This will help clean your tongue of bacteria and refresh your mouth.

You could also try a tongue scraper, which is a device with a small plastic handle with a mildly sharp edge on one end. When using a tongue scraper, you should work from front to back making multiple overlapping sweeps. If you notice a buildup of material on the blade edge, you should rinse it off before making the next sweep.

After you are done cleaning plaque and bacteria from your tongue you should then vigorously rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash to wash away lingering bacteria and debris as well as freshen your breath.

If you have questions about how to clean your tongue and maintain good oral hygiene, you can call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

A Partial Can Restore the Function and Appearance of Multiple Lost Teeth

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:29:49 GMT

If you have multiple teeth in one spot in your mouth that have been lost or compromised due to advanced gum disease, fractures or severe tooth decay, it can have a serious impact on your quality of life. While the loss of function certainly impedes your ability to chew food, it can also cause you to slur your speech and be noticed in certain facial expressions.

In a situation like this the dentists at Madison Dental Spa might recommend fitting you for a partial. Your dentist will usually want to examine your mouth and take a few x-rays to get a clear understanding of your underlying jaw structure and identify any other problematic teeth. If you have other teeth with issues in the area, your dentist might recommend having them extracted before fitting you for a partial.

A partial is like a smaller form of dentures. The artificial teeth, are set into a material that mimics the appearance of your natural gum tissue. To be properly fitted with a partial the dentist will take an impression of your mouth, that is sent to a dental lab where your new partial is custom made to match your mouth.

Many people with a partial like to use denture adhesive to secure it in place. The adhesive also helps to block food particles from getting between the gums and your partial.

If you are interested in being fitted for a partial, please call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

Key Considerations for a Truly Effective Oral Hygiene Routine

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:31:20 GMT

Poor oral hygiene from inadequate oral care promotes tooth decay and increases your chances of developing periodontal disease. There are several key considerations in a truly effective oral hygiene routine. This extends to the quality of oral hygiene products you use, frequency of brushing, the effectiveness of your flossing technique, and attending your regular dental checkups with Dr. Moumen Almouzayn.

Before purchasing a particular oral hygiene product, you should look for American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. This seal signifies that the product has been researched and tested for safety and effectiveness.

Brushing and flossing your teeth twice each day helps to remove plaque and food particles from teeth and along the gum line. When brushing your teeth, you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and an abrasive toothpaste. It’s also nice if the toothpaste has fluoride added to help strengthening tooth enamel.

After you are done brushing you should floss between your teeth and into the gum line to remove food particles and plaque from areas your toothbrush can’t reach. Waxed floss is handy if you have a hard time working floss between your teeth in the past. Make sure you work the floss into a U shape to maximize the cleaning area and floss around the gum line.

If you’d like, you can then rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria and freshen your breath. Just keep in mind that antiseptic mouthwash cannot replace the effectiveness of floss.

Your regular dental checkup with Dr. Moumen Almouzayn helps remove any hardened tartar while also detecting early signs of tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer.

If you have questions about how to improve your oral hygiene routine, please call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn at 203.245.5101 to schedule your next appointment. We look forward to seeing you!

Identifying the Cause of Your Chronic Bad Breath

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 15:32:11 GMT

It’s not uncommon for strong foods and pungent beverages to cause bad breath. Even if you enjoy these things on a regular basis you can still clean your mouth and refresh your breath by brushing, flossing and a vigorous rinse of antiseptic mouthwash.

Halitosis, more commonly thought of as chronic bad breath, can be a different matter altogether. The odor can permeate your mouth with unappealing odors despite your best attempts at good oral hygiene. Chronic bad breath could also be a sign of a more serious medical issues.

Dry mouth is one of the more common causes of chronic bad breath. Some prescription medications can reduce saliva production. Also, consuming alcohol on a regular basis can also dehydrate you and cause a reduction in saliva production. In both of these cases you should talk to your physician about your treatment options. You should continue to keep taking your medications, but their might be alternative options to help increase saliva production in your mouth.

Regular tobacco use can leave strong and pervasive odors in your mouth, and the tar and chemicals can impede saliva glands. Trying to cover up these odors with lozenges and hard candy adds excess sugar to the mouth, which increases the chances of developing tooth decay. If you use tobacco products on a regular basis you should talk to your physician about a cessation program.

People with diabetes or otherwise uncontrolled blood sugar often have sweet smelling breath. Foul odors in the mouth can also be an indicator of an infection in the gums as well as certain liver and kidney problems.

If you suffer from bad breath and need help identifying the cause or treatment, please call Madison Dental Spa at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

Invisalign Can Give You the Appealing Smile You’ve Always Wanted

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 15:33:05 GMT

The Invisalign brand of aligners are popular with many adults that are interested in realigning their smile. The clear, durable plastic makes it hard for the casual observer to even notice you are wearing them.

To effectively realign your teeth, you will need to wear Invisalign for 20 to 22 hours per day. After two weeks you will switch to another set of aligners that are set one step closer to your realignment goal. Generally, people meet their alignment needs in around six to eight weeks. At your initial consultation, Dr. Moumen Almouzayn might take some X-rays to get a better understanding of the structure of your mouth and help you define your alignment goals. Then he will make an impression of your current bite pattern. All of this information is sent to the Invisalign laboratory where your new aligners are produced.

While you are wearing the aligners you can drink normally. However, you will need to remove them before eating. You should also avoid chewing gum, smoking or using other tobacco products while the aligners are in your mouth.

It’s important to maintain your typical oral hygiene regimen of brushing and flossing through the duration of the realignment process. You should rinse the aligners each day with an antiseptic mouthwash to refresh them and remove plaque and food particles.

If you are interested in being fitted for Invisalign braces, please feel free to call Dr. Moumen Almouzayn at 203.245.5101 to schedule an appointment.

Why Should I Fix My Smile With a Dental Crown?

Ruan@develomark.com (Ruan Marinho) — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:36:28 GMT

Dr. Moumen Almouzayn and our Madison Dental Spa dental team care about you and your smile, which is why we ask you to consider the use of a dental crown if you need a strong, beneficial, and reliable dental restoration. Our team believes that this tooth cap can be a great option for your smile because:

It can fix many issues
A dental crown can do many things, like protect a weak tooth from breaking, hold together a cracked tooth, and restore a broken tooth. It can also hold a dental bridge in place, cover a dental implant, and disguise a misshapen or discolored tooth. If needed, it can also support a tooth that has a large filling and improve the overall appearance of your smile.

It can help adults and children
This restoration not only improves the health of a permanent tooth, but it can also improve the health of a baby tooth. A dental crown can save a tooth that has been extremely damaged by decay and it can also protect a smile when it is at a high risk for cavities.

It can last many years
Depending on how well you take care of it, a dental crown can last up to 15 years. As long as you keep up on oral hygiene, attend your dental checkups, and avoid teeth-harming habits, your crown will remain in tip-top shape.

Are you interested in improving your smile with a dental crown? If so, call 203.245.5101 today and schedule an appointment with your dentist! The sooner you call our office, the sooner you’ll finally have the smile results you are looking for. We are so excited to help you achieve the oral health you deserve!