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.

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.

Reduce Tooth Sensitivity

When you consume hot and cold beverages do you try to avoid touching your teeth? Have you stopped eating apples because you just can’t take the pain of biting into one? If you’ve answered yes to one or both of these questions, your teeth are sensitive for a reason. Most commonly, teeth become sensitive due to a lack of proper oral hygiene. But in other cases, you may be brushing just a little too hard. Fortunately, our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. have several solutions for reducing tooth sensitivity.

Proper oral hygiene is ideal for preventing sensitive teeth. However, if you already brush twice a day for at least two minutes and floss at least once a day, possible causes of sensitive teeth may include tooth decay (cavities), fractured teeth, gum disease, or an exposed tooth root. The type of treatment that is recommended will depend on the cause of the tooth sensitivity. Some methods include desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride gel, and/or a dental crown.

If you have questions or concerns about dental technology, 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.

Caries in Seniors

We’re proud at Bridge Smiles Dental Group that many of our patients choose us for life-long care. Oral hygiene never stops being important, and seniors especially need to watch out for tooth decay. Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control indicated that one in five seniors suffered from untreated caries.

Dental caries often occurs in adults who previously had good oral health. There are a number of risk factors seniors face, including difficulty with brushing and flossing due to declining motor control, dry mouth resulting from medications, lack of access to dental insurance to cover regular cleanings, and changes in diet to focus more on foods that are softer, but leave more sugary debris caught between their teeth. And then, there is also forgetfulness and lack of motivation. That seniors developed their permanent teeth before widespread access to fluoridated water means any decline in oral hygiene will have much worse effects on them.

The good news is that all of these problems are fixable, and we can help with some of them, including by recommending home products suited for each of our patient’s needs. The cleanings we provide also go a long way toward ensuring that seniors can keep their natural teeth and are spared toothaches and decay.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.

 

Drink More Water

Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter and you can get your daily dose of it through drinking water. Our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., understand that patients need their daily sugar fix, but those sugary beverages you’re washing down your meals with are doing more harm to your smile than good.  Staying hydrated with H2O is not only beneficial to your overall health, but to your smile as well, allow us to explain why.

Saliva is made of 99% percent water and in order to keep it flowing, you have to drink more! When the mouth is low on saliva, dry mouth will occur. Dry mouth increases the risk of developing tooth decay because saliva is our primary defense against it. Additionally, water cleans the mouth with every sip, so if you aren’t able to brush and floss after a meal, water will wash away the food particles that cause bad breath and plaque buildup. By drinking more water you can maintain a healthier smile and save yourself from needing invasive dental procedures down the line.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral hygiene, 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.

Air-Abrasion Technology

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., our doctors utilize the latest advances in dental technology, such as air abrasion. Air abrasion allows our doctors to prepare teeth for composite fillings and bonding procedures. It also works best to repair chipped or fractured teeth and to remove stains and spots caused by discoloration. Additionally, air abrasion is a drill-less technique, which is beneficial to patients because there is little to no pain associated with this technique.

Patients don’t need to fear the dental drill with air abrasion technology. This is because the air abrasion technique uses a stream of particles that are aimed at the stained or decayed portion of the tooth. During air abrasion, our doctor will use an instrument that works like a mini sandblaster to wash away small areas of tooth decay. The procedure is safe and generates no heat, pressure, or vibration, so there is less discomfort for the patient.

If you have questions or concerns regarding air abrasion, 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.

Cosmetic White Fillings

If you have tooth decay that has caused a cavity (hole) in your tooth, then you are likely to benefit from a cosmetic filling. However, decay is not the only reason you may need a filling. Other reasons include: cracked or broken teeth, teeth that are worn from habits such as nail-biting, as well as tooth grinding. When you schedule a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., he or she will check for these problems, and decide whether a filling is right for you.

The type of fillings we provide at the office is called composite resin, or tooth-colored (white) filling. This type of filling provides good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing. They can be used on both the front or back teeth and supply the patient with a more natural looking appearance.

If you think you may benefit from white fillings, 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.