Have You Had A Cleaning This Year?

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group we encourage all our patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for regular professional cleanings.  During the holidays we want everyone looking forward to the New Year and maintaining great oral hygiene.  However much you brush and floss, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional.  Come see us for a cleaning to make a great impression during the holidays, and start the year off with your best smile!

It’s important to see a professional regularly to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be missing a spot or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, a hygienist thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist.

To learn more about teeth cleanings and all the services we provide at the practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Enamel Erosion

Enamel helps the teeth fight against sensitivity and many different chemicals from food that causes the teeth harm. When enamel erodes, a patient may cringe while sipping hot or cold beverages and while brushing and flossing the teeth. To prevent enamel erosion, it’s best to maintain a rigorous oral care routine and visit our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. twice a year for an oral exam and professional cleaning.

Because it’s impossible for your body to produce new enamel, your goal should be to strengthen and repair the enamel you have left. This can be done through a process called “remineralization.” By using dental products that contain fluoride and calcium, you can actually focus on these weak spots to strengthen existing enamel before it wears away for good. Brushing with re-mineralizing toothpaste will help protect enamel while strengthening it.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive dental care, please give us a call. To learn more about 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.

Can You Remineralize Tooth Enamel?

Though tooth enamel isn’t necessarily a bone, it’s one of the strongest substances in the body. Enamel is what helps you chew your food, and plays an important role in periodontal health. When our enamel loses minerals, this can result in white spots on the teeth as well as cavities. Your health, diet, and lifestyle all relate to the status of your enamel, and our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. encourage patients to keep it healthy.

Tooth enamel can’t be restored, therefore once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. However, there are many preventive measures you can take to ensure that your enamel stays strong. It helps to avoid acidic foods that can break down enamel and make it weak, and you should always brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to maintain a healthy oral status.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about 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.

Oral Thrush

If you’ve never heard of oral thrush before, our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. would like to take a minute to explain it. Oral thrush is a mild infection that rarely causes complications, however it can be problematic for those with weakened immune systems. Anyone can develop thrush, but this condition is more frequent in babies, toddlers, and the elderly. Thrush is easy to treat, but it’s also preventable.

Small amounts of the candida fungus are in our mouths, digestive tracts, and skin. They are supposed to be there, but oral thrush occurs when a yeast infection develops on the inside of the mouth and causes the fungus to grow out of control. Thrush can be caused by a number of things, such as uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, dry mouth, or an HIV infection. If you experience pain when you swallow, a feeling of something caught in your throat, or a fever, you should schedule an appointment with us immediately so we can diagnose you and develop a treatment plan. You can reduce your risk of this condition by practicing proper oral hygiene, adding probiotics to your diet, and visiting us for oral checkups twice a year.

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

The Dental Cleaning: Defined

No matter how much you diligently brush or floss your teeth at home, harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that can only be removed by a dental professional. These bacteria can cause gum disease and significantly affect your overall health. Here at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. our hygienists will use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar and bacteria build-up that you are unable to efficiently remove yourself.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, it is recommended that a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. The professional dental cleaning reinforces the home-care oral health regimen of brushing and flossing and gives the dentist an opportunity to locate areas in the mouth that may need special attention. During a teeth cleaning, our dentists will thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. Once the surfaces are smooth, polishing is done using a slow speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins on the end. Last but not least, the dentist flosses every crevice between your teeth.

If you need your teeth cleaned don’t wait any longer, call us today so we can help you maintain a healthy smile! To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Dental Health Basics

Bacteria can live in your mouth in the form of plaque, causing cavities and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. In order to keep your mouth clean, our staff at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. encourage you to practice good oral hygiene every day. In between your six-month dental checkup your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Follow these steps to protect your oral health.

• Spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth two times a day. Use a timer if you have to ensure that you’re spending enough time on your oral care routine.


• Use floss at least once a day every day to clean between your teeth.


• Buy American Dental Association (ADA) approved dental cleaning tools and toothpaste.

If you already notice red, inflamed, swollen gums, the good news is that being diligent about your home dental care routing and getting regular dental checkups can prevent plaque from forming and even reverse early signs of gum disease.

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide 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.