Senior Dental Health

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., patients of all ages are welcome! This includes our older clients. Dental health grows increasingly important as one grows older. Senior citizens are at a higher risk of developing periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, and requiring extraction. Consistent dental care is a must. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Samuel Meghadri today! Contact our offices in Neshanic Station and Somerville, NJ.

 

Many physical tasks become harder with age. You might find yourself struggling with even brushing your teeth! If this is the case, there are a few tips that can help. First, your Neshanic Station and Somerville, NJ dentist recommends an electric toothbrush. These provide the same amount of care, if not better, than a manual toothbrush. Plus, electric toothbrushes require less physical exertion. It is a great investment for your dental toolkit.

 

Everyone struggles with brushing their back molars, especially our elderly patients. There is a simple trick that helps. Try elongating the toothbrush handle. It’s really simple! Look around your home for materials like foam, rubber, or even tongue depressors. Wrap the handle in these products, making it longer.

 

If you live or take care of an older individual, your involvement is important too. Remind them to brush twice a day and floss daily. Help them with any physical tasks that they struggle with. If they can’t drive, take them to their dental appointments or find someone who can. Many senior patients need more frequent dental appointments. This can get expensive, which is why many communities provide discounted programs. Reach out to your local social services or public health office.

 

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., we believe a healthy mouth equals a healthy life! Talk to our staff in our Neshanic Station and Somerville, NJ offices to schedule an appointment. Dr. Samuel Meghadri is available for scheduling over the phone or through our website. For the Neshanic Station, NJ office, call 908-782-4418. To reach the Somerville, NJ office, dial 908-725-0400.

Dry Mouth

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., Dr. Samuel Meghadri provides quality dental care for all patients. He’s familiar with all oral and dental conditions, including Xerostomia. This is commonly referred to as Dry Mouth. This disorder makes all everyday tasks difficult. From simple things like talking, chewing, and swallowing, your entire quality of life is lowered. We recommend you contact our offices in Neshanic Station and Somerville, NJ, right away.

 

It may seem weird to think about, but your saliva plays an important role in your everyday life! It is necessary for your dental health. Saliva cleans your mouth while also removing any leftover food debris. Without a normal amount of spit, your teeth aren’t properly sanitized. You are at risk for tooth decay and plaque. Scheduling an appointment right away with your Neshanic Station and Somerville, NJ, dentist is the best course of action.

 

The first important step is determining what is causing your dry mouth. Dr. Meghadri will ask you a few precursory questions. Be forthcoming with any relevant medical history and current medications. At the moment, there are over 500 different medications that cause dry mouth. Do your research before taking any medication. Even if it seems harmless, there’s always a chance of a negative reaction. You might want to talk to your prescribing physician about going on an alternative medication. Autoimmune disorders also put you at risk. Certain conditions, like Sjögren's syndrome, are characterized by salivary dysfunction. Medical treatments are also a possible cause. Chemotherapy is known to create dry mouth.

 

Your treatment depends entirely on what is causing the condition to manifest. Regardless, we have a few general tips for reducing your dry mouth symptoms. Start by reducing your sugar intake. Try cutting out things like soda, tea, alcohol, and coffee. Replace these with simple H2O. Water keeps your saliva flowing and your mouth fresh. You can also invest in certain over-the-counter treatments. Look at your local grocery store or supermarket for these products. They provide dry mouth relief in toothpaste, mouthwash, and gel form.

 

Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. is located in Neshanic Station and Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Samuel Meghadri, visit our website or call. For the Neshanic Station office, call 908-782-4418. To reach the Somerville office, dial 908-725-0400.

Choosing the Right Dental Products

Our doctors at Bridges Smile Dental advise patients to ask us what cleaning products work best for their teeth. In order for you to properly clean your teeth, you need to use the right toothpaste and toothbrush. Depending on how healthy your teeth help us to determine what toothbrush and toothpaste work best to clean your teeth with.

When possible, we encourage our patients that have a history of cavities and signs of gum disease to use an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than regular toothbrushes. Traditional toothbrushes work just fine as long as you brush properly for two full minutes. Toothbrushes come in all shapes and sizes so make sure to choose one that fits your mouth and helps you clean your teeth the best.

We want all of our patients to use toothpaste that contains fluoride for the best clean. Fluoride toothpaste helps to strengthen your tooth enamel and keep your teeth clean. In certain cases, our doctors might recommend a toothpaste that doesn’t contain fluoride.

Regardless of the type of dental products you use to clean your teeth with, we want all of our patients to brush twice a day so you have the healthiest teeth!

If you have any questions or concerns about what teeth toothbrush and toothpaste are right for you, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Avoid Drinking Soda for Healthier Teeth

At Bridges Smile Dental, we encourage our patients to avoid drinking soda when possible. Soda is damaging to your teeth since the bacteria in your mouth feeds off of sugar to create acids.  When acid is created it feeds off your tooth enamel which is there to protect your teeth and leads to tooth decay.

When possible, we want our patients to drink healthier alternatives such as water and milk which strengthens your teeth. When you consume soda, we advise our patients to use a straw if to limit the amount of sugar that is resting on your teeth. If possible, you should brush your teeth after drinking soda, if you are unable to, rinse your mouth out with water to wash away the acid. The best time to brush your teeth and rinse is 20-30 minutes after drinking soda to remove the acid.

To maintain healthy teeth, our doctors at Alta Loma Dental encourage you to be mindful of what you eat and drink. Don’t forget to get your teeth cleaned at our office twice a year to maintain good dental hygiene!

If you have any questions or concerns about what teeth toothbrush and toothpaste are right for you, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Importance of Flossing

At Bridges Smile Group P.A., we advise our patients to floss daily for good oral hygiene. Flossing helps you clean the areas of your teeth that a toothbrush can't’ reach. Brushing daily will help to fight gum disease and prevent cavities.

A lot of patients don’t floss because they think it is too time-consuming. While brushing is important, flossing does the dirty work and gets rid of 40% of debris in your mouth. When food gets stuck in between your teeth, it allows plaque to build up if you don't floss.

Remember to use floss that is 15-18 inches long and curb the floss around each tooth while rubbing it up and down to scrape away any plaque. It is normal for your gums to bleed because they are inflamed from poor dental hygiene. There will be less bleeding the more you consistently floss. 

We want all of our patients to floss daily to prevent cavities and have a greater chance of healthier teeth and gums.

If you have any questions or concerns about flossing, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Electric vs Traditional Toothbrushes

There are a lot of options to choose from when deciding what toothbrush to clean your teeth with. At Bridges Smile Dental, we encourage our patients to change toothbrushes every 3-4 months or after their bristles are worn down. If your bristles begin to get splayed and distorted, it means you are no longer effectively brushing your teeth.

We advise wanting our patients to ask our doctors what kind of toothbrush works best for their teeth, electric or a traditional toothbrush. If your teeth are in good shape and you brush your teeth and gums thoroughly for a full two minutes, a traditional toothbrush works perfectly fine. We recommend electric toothbrushes for our patients who need to clean better and are at risk of gum disease and cavities. Electric toothbrushes have bristles that rotate and help you to clean more areas on your teeth effectively by removing plaque

The most important thing to us is that you are brushing and flossing consistently. We advise our patients to visit us twice a year for cleaning to make sure your teeth are healthy.

If you have any questions or concerns about what toothbrush works best for you, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Choosing the Right Dental Products

At Bridges Smile Group P.A., we advise our patients on how to practice good oral hygiene. In order for you to properly clean your teeth, you need to use the right toothpaste and toothbrush. Our doctors can help recommend the right cleaning products based on your teeth and gums after a cleaning.

When possible, we encourage our patients with more cavities to use an electric toothbrush. Traditional toothbrushes work just fine as long as you brush properly for two full minutes, but people who regularly get cavities often do not and many are unable to. Toothbrushes come in all shapes and sizes so make sure to choose one that is soft bristled, fits your mouth, and that you can grip easily.

Don’t forget to use toothpaste that contains fluoride unless our doctors recommend otherwise. Fluoride toothpaste helps to strengthen your tooth enamel and keep your teeth clean.

Regardless of the type of toothbrush and toothpaste you use, we want all of our patients to brush twice a day so you have the healthiest teeth!

If you have any questions or concerns about what teeth toothbrush and toothpaste are right for you, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Sealants

At Bridge Dental Group P.A., we advise our patients to get sealants to protect their permanent molars. Sealants are a plastic coating that goes on the chewing surface of the molar to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. It can be difficult for your children to brush their molars effectively because they are located in the back of their mouth.

When applying sealants to molars, an adhesive is used with a liquid that is painted right on your tooth. The liquid then hardens and creates a barrier between your tooth and any plaque or bacteria that can be damaging to your teeth. After sealants are applied, they last for about 10 years and can be replaced when necessary.

Don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day and floss to prevent tooth decay even with sealants!

If you have any questions or concerns about what teeth toothbrush and toothpaste are right for you, please give us a call. To learn more about all of the services we provide at our office, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.