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5 Causes Of Teeth Stains

Thu, 04 May 2023 15:12:23 GMT

Tooth staining is a common dental complaint because it makes people conscious of their smiles in social settings. The good news is that your dentist will whiten your teeth with effective in-office solutions to boost your confidence. But do you know why your teeth are discolored? Explore five causes of tooth discoloration below to help you avoid further staining.

1. Food and Drinks

Your favorite foods and drinks are likely the cause of those persistent teeth stains. Coffee is among the major teeth-staining culprits as it is packed with tannins, which help adhere stains to your teeth.

Tea and red wine also contain tannins, and regular exposure to them discolors your teeth. White wine is no better since it has acids that erode the enamel and expose your teeth to discoloration. Other teeth-staining beverages include soda, juice, and sports drinks.

When it comes to food, curries with deep coloring lead in teeth-staining abilities. The deep pigmentation soaks into your teeth's porous surfaces while spices with strong colors like turmeric adhere to the teeth.

If you love tomato-based sauces with your pizza or spaghetti, you might notice that your teeth get a little less white over time. Dark-pigmented sauces such as soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, and food coloring are also notorious for staining teeth. Lastly, eating too many beets, grapes, berries, and citrus fruits may leave you with discolored teeth.

You don't have to avoid teeth-staining foods altogether to preserve the color of your teeth. Instead, reduce the frequency of consuming these foods and drinks and rinse your mouth as soon as you eat or drink them.

2. Tobacco Use

Tobacco use, either through smoking, vaping, or chewing, is a top cause of teeth stains. The nicotine and tar in tobacco seep into the teeth's tiny pores, leaving yellow and brown stains over time. Also, tobacco use affects your oral health and makes you vulnerable to gum disease, oral cancer, and other issues.

Teeth stains caused by tobacco are hard to remove, which is why your teeth don't seem to change even if you use whitening toothpaste and other home remedies. In-office teeth whitening treatments are the most potent solutions to nicotine stains, but you may need several appointments for the best results.

3. Poor Dental Hygiene

Daily brushing and flossing remove plaque and food stains and protect the natural color of teeth. If you slack on your dental hygiene, plaque builds up on teeth and hardens into a yellow coating called tartar.

The bacteria in plaque also change the characteristics of your teeth due to decay and demineralization. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, keep up with dental cleaning appointments to prevent oral colonization by plaque.

4. Disease and Medications

Any disease that affects the enamel or treatments like radiation and chemotherapy cause brown stains on teeth. Before you undergo cancer therapy, consult your dentist to formulate a plan for oral care to prevent tooth staining. Your dental provider can recommend fluoride supplements and other interventions to prevent tooth decay.

During your dental appointments, talk to your dentist about any medication you are taking since some antihypertensive medications, antipsychotic drugs, and antihistamines cause tooth discoloration. Additionally, some antibiotics, like doxycycline and tetracycline, can interrupt enamel formation in children under eight.

5. Aging

Over time, the dentin or the core tissue of your teeth naturally yellows. On the other hand, the enamel erodes with age, exposing the yellowing dentin and making your teeth look a bit darker. The staining effects of long-time tobacco use also become more apparent as you age.

Luckily, age-related stains are easy to fix in the dentist's office. Your dentist can also use dental veneers to improve the appearance of your smile.

Many patients at New England Dental Health Services want a brighter smile, and we use in-office whitening treatments and take-home whitening kits to help boost our patient’s confidence in their teeth’ appearance. Contact us today to counter the effects of tooth-staining foods, drinks, and habits.

How to Manage Your Anxiety During Dental Emergencies

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:49:47 GMT

Regular visits to the dentist may not be as nerve-wracking as when you experience an emergency. Knocked-out teeth, severe toothaches, and abscesses can make you extremely anxious when you don't understand the remedies.

Explore some tips on how to manage your anxiety during a dental emergency.

Bring Someone With You to the Dentist

Dental emergencies will require a thorough examination to identify the cause and treatment measures. This process can be stressful to handle alone. So, have someone you trust by your side to ease your emotions during these examinations.

If it is a severe issue like an abscess, bring someone naturally reassuring and calm. With such a person by your side, you can feel confident in handling any outcome.

Stay Comfortable While In the Waiting Area

Some dental emergencies, such as cracked tooth and tooth pain, may not be as serious as you think. And even if it is, getting agitated and pacing back and forth while in the waiting area may not help. But, if you sit comfortably, you'll more likely feel calm.

Staying comfortable in the waiting area all lies in your mindset. What you think and feel are two different things. So, take your mind off the pain, and understand that you won’t need to wait a long time before you see the dentist.

Comfort may also come from distracting yourself with the things you find pleasant. For instance, if music calms you down, create a playlist of your favorite songs. You can also try listening to captivating audiobooks and podcasts.

If you like meditating, then breathing exercises will be perfect for you. Starting with your toes, contract and relax your muscles. Then, move all the way up until you relax all the muscles in your body.

Take Deep Breaths

Deep breaths are effective in relieving stress and anxiety. So, when you feel overwhelmed by the pain, try taking deep breaths. Deliberately copying calm breathing patterns relaxes your nervous system.

Deep breaths play the following roles in managing your anxiety:

Lowers your heart rate . An increased heart rate is one of the symptoms of anxiety. When you breathe deeply, your blood pressure reduces and lowers your heart rate.
Increases physical energy . Anxiety can weaken your body because it causes a disruption in the immune system. When you take deep breaths, the immune systems gain a carbon dioxide and oxygen balance, strengthening your physical energy.
Reduces the level of stress hormones in your blood . Anxiety comes from an increased level of stress hormones in your blood, which you can remove by inhaling enough oxygen.

Choose the Best Dentist for Your Condition

With all said and done, your calmness during a dental emergency largely lies in the dentist you choose. An experienced dentist can also do proper dental examinations and treatments.

Staying calm during a dental emergency also depends on the dentist's behavior. Does your dentist acknowledge the awkwardness of the situation? If yes, this simply means they can cultivate open communication.

If you are in extreme pain, go to a dentist who can exercise pain control measures during treatment procedures. They have enough experience to identify your pain relief options. These can be anesthetics that numb the painful area or sedation dentistry.

You should also be comfortable enough with your dentist to share your fears. This way, they will go the extra mile to ensure comfort. For instance, your dentist may put on some of your favorite music during the dental procedure or come up with a hand signal system where you can communicate when the pain becomes unbearable.

You might not completely eliminate your anxiety during a dental emergency since most of these procedures are painful. But you can always take deep breaths, create a positive mindset, and bring friends or relatives with you. At New England Dental Health Services P.C., you will always receive relaxing dentistry services from experienced professionals. Contact us today .

Fluorosis in Kids: Causes & Prevention

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 18:36:46 GMT

Every parent looks forward to seeing their child grow and develop properly. And part of child development is seeing your child grow the first tooth and start dental care.

The excitement may push you to forget about the risks and causes of childhood dental diseases. But unfortunately, fluorosis is one of these problems that can occur if your child's teeth are over-exposed to fluoride. Keep reading to understand fluorosis in children, its causes, and prevention tips.

What Is Fluorosis?

Fluorosis is a dental problem that affects the enamel's appearance. This condition is most prevalent in children of eight years of age and below . Fluorosis is caused by excessive fluoride consumption during the time when teeth develop.

The symptoms of fluorosis vary from mild to severe. In mild cases, you may notice white streaks on your child's teeth. The sports are not easy to see unless you look keenly, are not painful, and do not affect your child's dental function.

On the other hand, severe cases of fluorosis may cause brown stains on your child's teeth. The enamel may also start to pit, leading to permanent teeth damage.

How Do You Prevent Fluorosis in Kids?

You can take some preventative measures to protect your child from fluorosis.

Breastfeed Exclusively

Medical experts recommend that you breastfeed your baby exclusively until you start to wean them at six months unless you are advised otherwise by a medical professional. Besides the nutritional benefits of breastmilk, breastfeeding goes a long way to protect your child's oral health.

First, some baby formulas may contain fluoride. Additionally, you may use water to mix the formula; if the water is not tested, it may have excessive fluoride. As such, when you breastfeed, you are preventing your child from fluoride exposure. But if you must use baby formula, read the labels to understand the fluoride content in each bottle.

Watch Your Child's Toothpaste Usage

Kids below six years have poor swallowing reflexes and may swallow any paste left in their mouth. Swallowing large amounts of fluoride can be dangerous and promote fluorosis.

When your baby is of the right age to brush their teeth, it is essential to monitor the amount of toothpaste they use. Children below three years should only use a tiny smear of toothpaste on their brush, while children between three and eight years old can use a pea-sized drop of paste.

Other than regulating your child's toothpaste usage, be present to supervise them when they are brushing and remind your child to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.

Wait to Introduce Mouthwash

Mouthwashes are not recommended for children below the age of six. Again, due to the child's poor swallowing reflex, your child will likely swallow a large amount of the mouthwash, which can cause fluorosis.

Test Your Water

If you use tap water to brush your child's teeth, it is vital to test the fluoride content in the water. You can purchase a testing kit from home improvement stores or use a lab for more accurate results. If the water has excessive fluoride levels ( greater than 2mg/L ), consider using filtered water for brushing and drinking.

Book Regular Dental Cleaning Appointments

Don't wait until your child shows signs of dental diseases like fluorosis to rush to the dentist. Instead, take your child for regular dental appointments and checkups.

During the checkups, your dentist will spot early signs of fluorosis and take steps to prevent it from worsening. The dentist will also clean your child's teeth to eliminate discolorations. But, most importantly, the specialist will teach you the right way to care for your child's teeth.

You can trust us at New England Dental Health Services PC for quality dental care. We understand the importance of preventive care and hope to help protect your child's teeth from fluorosis. Contact us for a consultation.

Common Causes of Tooth Loss

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:43:50 GMT

As a child, losing teeth feels like a rite of passage into adulthood. However, experiencing tooth loss as an adult can be an emotionally and financially distressing experience that can affect your health and confidence. Luckily, the best way to prevent tooth loss in adulthood is to understand the associated causes and take measures against them.

Tooth loss in adulthood can occur for a variety of reasons. The following are the most common causes of tooth loss and how to prevent them.

Gum disease

In adults, gum disease — also known as periodontal disease — is the leading cause of tooth loss.

Gum disease develops from poor oral hygiene when bacteria accumulate on the surface of the teeth, causing gum inflammation called gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first phase of gum disease, usually reversible with proper care.

Untreated gingivitis, however, leads to gum disease. Consequently, pockets can form between the tooth and gum and fill with harmful bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins that can destroy the supporting structures of your teeth, which can lead to loose or lost teeth.

Maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine and regularly visiting the dentist are the best ways to prevent gum disease.

Cavities

Cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are areas of damage on your teeth's surface where holes form over time. A cavity affects the nerves and roots of the tooth, resulting in tooth pain.

Your dentist can treat cavities effectively if they're caught early. Untreated cavities, on the other hand, worsen and affect the deeper layers of your teeth. As a result, you can suffer severe toothache, infection, and tooth loss.

Regular dental trips for early detection and maintaining a good oral hygiene routine can help combat cavities.

Injury or Trauma

Accidental tooth loss occurs for various reasons, including car and bike accidents, sports injuries, falls, and fights. Most incidents result in partially damaged or chipped teeth. On the other hand, tooth loss may result if the trauma is severe.

Preventing tooth loss from trauma usually comes down to conscientious prevention. Wearing mouthguards and protective headgear during contact sports is a good example. Using a seat belt when driving is also essential.

Certain Diseases

Oral and general health overlap — the problem does not always arise in the mouth. Often, wider health concerns influence tooth loss in a significant way.

Your teeth and gums are susceptible to physical damage when you have diabetes. As your blood sugar level rises, your teeth become exposed to more sugars and starches, which wear them away. Loss of teeth can also result from health conditions such as hypertension and arthritis.

Maintaining a healthy body is key to preventing oral health issues and tooth loss.

Bad Habits

Often, harmful habits and behaviors that develop over time can cause tooth loss. Habits such as smoking, drinking heavily, and grinding your teeth can increase your risk of gum disease.

A chronic grinding habit can loosen or wear down a tooth or even lead to tooth loss. If you suspect you grind your teeth, consult your dentist so that they can examine your mouth and jaw.

Smoking can cause periodontal disease. Tobacco use can also reduce blood circulation in the gums. As a result, smokers often live with unnoticed severe periodontal disease that eventually results in tooth loss.

Smokers can rapidly improve their oral health and prevent tooth loss by quitting smoking. Eliminate bad habits that can cause teeth trauma — do not use your teeth to remove caps or lids, tear off tags or loosen knots.

Your smile communicates your feelings and makes you feel confident. You deserve to have a smile you love and don't have to hide from the world. By visiting your dentist and hygienist regularly, you can prevent minor problems from escalating into tooth-threatening emergencies.

Please contact us if you have questions about tooth loss, dental health issues or have already lost a tooth.

Here Is What Could Cause Your Bad Breath

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 06:25:21 GMT

Bad breath, often known as halitosis, can be unpleasant. It’s no surprise that retail shelves are brimming with mints, sweets, mouthwashes, and other remedies meant to combat bad breath. However, a lot of these items are often merely band-aid fixes since they don't deal with the root of the issue.

Though it may seem simple, the exact cause of bad breath can be much more subtle and complex. Please continue reading to find out the main causes of bad breath and how to quickly get rid of it.

Possible Causes of Bad Breath

Although a vast number of instances of bad breath start in the mouth, there are numerous other probable causes of foul breath. Below is an overview of some of the more well-known causes.

Inadequate Dental Hygiene

Bad breath might be caused by food particles that aren't removed from the mouth with frequent brushing and flossing. These particles then develop to become plaque, which is responsible for bad breath. Furthermore, if plaque isn't removed by brushing, it can negatively affect your gums and inevitably cause pockets of plaque to develop between your gums and teeth.

Food

The decomposition of food particles, mostly around your teeth, can promote the growth of microorganisms and generate an unpleasant smell. Bad breath can also result from eating specific foods, such as garlic. Furthermore, when all these foods have been digested, they enter your circulation and travel to your lungs, where they end up impacting your breath.

Products Containing Tobacco

People who smoke typically have what is generally known as "smoker's breath," which is a foul odor resulting from the cigarette smoke, which is still lurking in your lower airways. Smoking also triggers chemical substances in your mouth to combine with your saliva, resulting in foul breath.

Dry mouth

Saliva assists in maintaining a clean mouth by eliminating food particles that cause bad breath. When saliva production slows or ceases in the mouth, unpleasant breath is certain to ensue. Many individuals discover that their breath is a little foul when they wake up since dry mouth occurs naturally while you sleep.

Medications

Several medications, especially prescription drugs, might contribute to dry mouth, which in turn can produce bad breath. Others can also be metabolized within the body, releasing chemical compounds that are then exhaled through your breath, contributing to bad breath.

Digestive Issues

Poor digestion, bowel problems, or intestinal issues can all result in unpleasant breath odors. If you regularly have acid reflux, it may be simple for odors from previously eaten food to make their way back up into the esophagus and out through the mouth, resulting in foul breath.

Other Causes

Despite the fact that odor-producing bacteria are the primary cause of most cases of bad breath, there seems to be a host of other health issues that might be a factor. Bad breath may signal the presence of further illnesses or disorders. Bad breath can be caused by postnasal drip, respiratory and nasopharyngeal illnesses, sinus disorders, diabetes, liver and kidney ailments, and more.

Getting Rid of Bad Breath

The most effective way to lessen bad breath is to practice regular dental hygiene. This guarantees the avoidance of cavities and lowers the risk of bad breath. Additionally, it is advised that people go to the dentist a couple of times a year for a checkup and cleanup. The dentist could suggest antimicrobial mouthwash or personal care products.

Likewise, if gum disease is prevalent, specialized cleaning may be required to remove the accumulation of microorganisms in the spaces between your teeth and gums. Additionally, give up smoking and using anything that contains tobacco products. Consult your dentist for advice on how to break the addiction.

Bad breath can sometimes be an indication of a more serious problem. If you've attempted every remedy on this list and still have bad breath, contact New England Dental Health Services to schedule a visit for a check-up to find out what measures you need to take to bring your stinky breath under control.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:52:59 GMT

Dental crowns are one of the most sought after restorative dental procedures. Dental crowns, also called dental caps, are permanent prosthetic teeth that fully cover teeth with structural impairment due to fracture, breakage, or decay. Dental crowns offer extra support to a damaged or weak tooth to preserve the tooth's functionality and appearance. Made of metal, porcelain, resin, or ceramic, dental caps also help improve a tooth's shape and alignment.

Dental crowns are a more viable solution than other dental procedures in some oral cases. Crowns are ideal for severe cavities, root canals, fractured or broken tooth, fractured fillings, or stained and misshapen tooth. If you suffer from any of these oral issues and want a smile makeover, consider dental crowns.

But is this restorative dental treatment the right option for you? Check out the following benefits of dental crowns.

Protect Weak or Damaged Tooth

Enamel is non-living tissue, and it can't grow back after damage. Missing or worn enamel make your teeth more vulnerable to decay, cavities, and infections and can damage your smile. Thus, if your tooth has enamel erosion and damage, you need dental crowns to protect and support the damaged tooth.

Dental crowns protect an already damaged or weak tooth by encasing the entire tooth. The cap works by keeping potential irritants at bay. Without the crown, bacteria, food particles, acids and saliva in the mouth can further erode the enamel, exposing the sensitive tooth parts.

Also, dental crowns strengthen a weak tooth and protect it from the bite forces, preventing worse damage. If a tooth has fragmented parts, the crown will hold the falling parts together and maintain the tooth's functionality.

Relieve Discomfort

A structurally damaged tooth, such as one with eroded enamel, can cause discomfort. Your tooth may be sensitive to temperature or pressure. A broken, fractured, or chipped tooth can also be constantly painful if left unattended.

When the dentist identifies the underlying problem and recommends a treatment such as fillings or root canal treatment, a dental crown will also be necessary. The cap will help to reduce tooth sensitivity. Thus, if your damaged tooth is sensitive to cold or hot foods and drinks, the crown ensures the tooth doesn't come into contact with the food, reducing discomfort.

Also, if you have a broken tooth, it may have sharp edges that might injure your tongue or cheek. A dental crown will cover the entire tooth and ensure the sharp edges don't cut other oral structures.

Fit Your Mouth

One of the outstanding benefits of dental crowns is that the dentist will design them to match the size, shape, and color of your existing teeth. The aim is to ensure the dental crown looks as natural as possible so that people can't tell if you have the cap. And besides the similar appearance to your existing teeth, dental crowns also function as the original teeth.

When doing this restorative procedure, the dentist will make a mold of the damaged tooth and send it to the lab for manufacturing. The technicians will then create a dental crown with exact specifications for your teeth. Your dentist may provide temporary crowns as you wait for the permanent ones to be ready.

Sometimes, you can get a custom crown within a day, and you won't have to wait. Thus, when seeking the treatment, ask your dentist how long it might take for you to get your custom-made crowns.

Also, during this procedure, you can choose the material you want for your dental crowns depending on preference, budget, and needs.

A dental crown can help you achieve a healthier, more beautiful smile and restore your teeth's functionality. To enjoy all the benefits of dental crowns without complications, seek treatment from a reputable dental clinic. If you need dental crowns or other dental services, contact New England Dental Health Services P.C.

Reasons to Brush Your Tongue

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 11:02:05 GMT

Do you scrub your tongue when brushing your teeth? If not, you are missing a crucial part of dental hygiene. Like your teeth, your tongue can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria if you don't brush it regularly.

Thanks to food leftovers, the bacteria in your mouth don't only thrive on the teeth and gum but also on the tongue. Your tongue also has numerous cracks where the bacteria can hide. While most advertisements about oral hygiene won't mention brushing your tongue, dentists recommend brushing your tongue to remove these bacteria.

Below are some reasons why you should brush your tongue.

Fresh Breath

Your tongue surface has microscopic crevices that trap food particles. These food particles attract harmful bacteria that produce odors, leading to bad breath. If you don't remove these bacteria, the bad breath grows worse each day, possibly leading to embarrassment and anxiety in public.

Instead of buying fresh mints and mouthwash to cover your stinky breath, you can fully regain your fresh breath by scraping or brushing your tongue to remove the harmful bacteria.

Improve Your Dental Health

Since your tongue is part of your mouth, any bacteria left on its surface can easily spread to other parts of the mouth. So, if you brush your teeth twice daily but never brush your tongue, some bacteria on your tongue will find their way to your teeth's surface and cause cavities. These bacteria can also spread to your gums and cause periodontal disease.

Regain Your Sense of Taste

If you don't brush your tongue regularly, you'll gradually lose your sense of taste as more bacteria accumulate on your tongue's service. You have thousands of taste buds on your tongue, but they may fail to pick up flavors if the bacteria in your mouth form a plaque coating over the tongue. To remove the plaque and expose more taste bugs, you should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

Reduce Your Risk of Oral Thrush

Oral thrush or oral candidiasis happens when the fungi candida accumulates inside your mouth, causing a yeast infection. Though this condition is uncommon among healthy people, a person with weakened immunity can easily get the infection, especially if they have poor oral hygiene. Therefore, to prevent oral thrush, you should brush your tongue to maintain good oral health, especially when taking antibiotics.

Avoid Black Hairy Tongue

If you don't brush your tongue regularly, the papillae on the surface of your tongue won't shed their dead skin cells, leading to a black tongue with hair-like features. Though not harmless, a black hairy tongue is unattractive. You can also have a metallic taste in your mouth and a bad breath.

Improve Your Overall Health

Good oral hygiene can help prevent numerous health conditions, thus improving your well-being. For example, brushing your tongue regularly will eliminate the bacteria that cause periodontal disease and cavities. If ignored, oral conditions, such as periodontal disease and cavities, can become severe infections, like an abscess, and spread to other body parts.

Now that you know the importance of brushing your tongue, you should include it in your daily oral hygiene routine, either by brushing or scrubbing. Like your teeth, your tongue can be a hiding spot for millions of harmful bacteria if not regularly cleaned. However, due to a lack of enough emphasis on the importance of a clean tongue, some people may fail to brush their tongues, even after strictly brushing their teeth twice every day. Failure to clean your tongue leads to a buildup of bacteria that later spread to other areas of the mouth through your saliva.

At New England Dental Health Services PC, we are dedicated to offering relaxing dental services to our clients. Visit any of our two locations to experience our personalized services.

Top Reasons Why Regular Dental Checkups Are Important

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:05:20 GMT

When did you last visit your dentist? If this was more than six months ago, you are missing a lot of benefits. People who see their dentist regularly have a lower risk of dealing with serious dental issues that may require expensive treatment procedures. According to the American Dental Association , regular dentist visits promote early detection of health problems for simpler and less costly treatment.

Discover some reasons why you should maintain a frequent dental checkup schedule.

Experience Preventive Care

Since your dentist will closely examine your mouth and teeth during a dental checkup, they can spot and treat dental diseases before they get worse. For example, if the dentist notices signs of tooth decay on your tooth, they might recommend fluoride treatment to prevent further decay. A dental checkup can also help diagnose other major diseases like oral cancer.

Keep Your Teeth Clean and Healthy

Even if you brush your teeth twice and floss them every day, you can fail to clean some of the hard-to-reach places in your mouth, leading to plaque — a sticky film of bacteria on the surface of your teeth. Luckily, your dentist will use special tools to clean your teeth and remove plaque and tartar during your dental checkup.

On the other hand, if you miss your dental checkup, the plaque can harden and form tartar, which you cannot remove with a toothbrush. Both plaque and tartar can cause oral diseases like cavities and gingivitis.

Get Advice on Proper Oral Hygiene

During your visit, the dentist can advise you on how to handle your dental hygiene and the best products to use. Simple oral hygiene routines, like brushing and flossing your teeth daily, have a significant impact on your overall dental health. Your dentists will also answer any questions you may have about dental health.

Enjoy Financial Benefits

Failure to go for dental checkups can be costlier than the accumulated cost of regularly seeing your dentist. Most people who miss their dental checkups end up spending more on invasive treatment procedures like tooth implants, extraction, and gum surgery because their dental diseases were not diagnosed in their early stages.

For example, your dentist removes plaque and tartar during your routine dental checkup, which, if not removed, can accumulate and cause serious dental issues like gum diseases and dental decay.

Keep Your Teeth

Since your dentist will always check your teeth during your visit, they can identify cavities in their early stages and recommend effective corrective measures. However, if you rarely see a dentist, tooth decay can go unnoticed until the tooth becomes severely decayed. In most cases, the only solution to severely rotten teeth is removal. Teeth loss can lead to further challenges, including self-esteem issues and discomfort.

Identify Gaps in Oral Hygiene

People who rarely go for dental checkups may never have an opportunity to reflect on their oral health habits. However, if you regularly visit your dentists, they can notice the effects of bad oral habits and advise you accordingly.

Improve Overall Wellbeing

According to a recent study , a connection may exist between oral health and heart diseases, respiratory infections, and diabetes in older people. Therefore, regular dental checkups may help prevent such health issues by promoting proper oral health.

Dentist visits come with numerous advantages to our dental health and overall wellbeing. Therefore, if you do not take your dental checkups seriously, now is the best time to drop that bad habit. At New England Dental Health Services P.C., we are always ready to provide professional dental services to our clients. Contact us today for all your dental care needs. We look forward to helping you.

Take These Steps to Prepare for Your Dental Treatment

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 11:10:29 GMT

You benefit the most from a major dental treatment if you prepare for it well. Thorough preparation means you know what to expect and what to do at every stage of the recovery journey. Below are some steps to help you prepare for any dental treatment you want.

Get a Preliminary Consultation

Major dental treatments typically start with a preliminary consolation. For example, you should not just show up at the dentist and request full mouth reconstructive surgery. Below are some of the areas preliminary consultation may cover.

Diagnosis

Just because you think you need a certain dental treatment doesn't mean that the dentist agrees with you. You need the dentist's professional examination and diagnosis to confirm your suspicions. The dentist may advise you on alternative treatments in some cases.

Treatment Options

After the dentist confirms a diagnosis, they will go over the treatment options. For example, treatment options for missing teeth include dental implants, dentures, and bridges. The cost, durability, and desired results can help you decide your treatment.

Payment Terms and Insurance

You should also know how much the treatment costs and whether dental insurance covers it. Note that dental insurance typically excludes cosmetic dentistry. Arrange payment terms with the dentist if you don't have relevant insurance for the treatment.

Your Questions or Concerns

Use the consultation to get clarifications on your concerns. For example, you can ask the dentist how long your recovery may take and how to prepare for the treatment.

Follow the Dentist's Instructions

Follow the dentist's instructions to the letter as you wait for your treatment day. Below are some of the things pre-treatment instructions typically cover.

Food and Drinks

The dentist may advise you to avoid certain food or drinks before your surgery. For example, some foods might interact with dental drugs on the treatment day.

Alcohol and Tobacco Use

Tobacco use, such as smoking, may affect your oral tissues and delay your healing time. Thus, the dentist may advise you to avoid smoking on the days leading up to your surgery. Your dentist may also advise you to avoid alcohol to reduce the risk of excessive bleeding and drug interactions.

Save the Date

Clear your schedule for the treatment date and time. Set up a reminder if you are forgetful, and incorporate the appointment in your calendar. Leave enough time to arrive early to accommodate last-minute preparations for your treatment, such as paperwork.

Don't cancel your appointment last minute. Many dentists require at least 24-hour cancelation notice. Understand your dentist's requirements and observe them.

Prepare Post-Treatment Help

Lastly, you should also prepare for your post-treatment circumstances. Your dentist will advise you on post-treatment recovery during your initial consultation. Follow the advice thoroughly to speed up your recovery. Below are some of the areas your recovery instructions may cover.

Transportation

Arrange alternative transportation home if you cannot drive after your treatment. Major treatments often involve pain-numbing medication that can make you dizzy. Such medications make driving dangerous.

House Chores

Depending on your treatment, the dentist may advise certain hours or days of bed rest. For example, you may need bed rest to limit bleeding and improve recovery. Arrange for someone to help you with your house chores as you recover.

Special Foods

Hard or tough foods might interfere with your treatment and recovery. Your dentist will advise you on suitable foods if that is the case. You can shop before your treatment, especially if you might not get help with the task after your treatment.

Contact New England Dental Health Services, PC, for all your dental needs. We offer various dental services, including teeth whitening, dental fillings, and endodontic treatments. You can rely on our decades of dental experience to professionally plan and execute your treatment.

All About Dental Abscesses

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 11:17:17 GMT

An abscess is a severe infection. It is a pus pocket that develops within the body tissues, and is typically caused by bacteria. Abscesses are usually accompanied by inflammation, and dental abscesses affect your teeth and nearby jaw tissue. Here is what you need to know about dental abscesses and how they are treated.

Periapical Abscess

A periapical abscess is a type of dental abscess that typically develops in the area of the tooth root. While more common in children, they can develop in adults. Children who have poor dental health are more at risk for developing periapical abscesses than those who practice good dental hygiene.

Poor dental hygiene can cause cavities, which weaken tooth enamel and dentin, allowing infection-causing bacteria to access the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. When this happens, inflammation of the tooth pulp develops, which can cause nerve death inside the tooth.

Since dead tissue is more prone to infection, the risk for an abscess increases. When bacteria gets inside the pulp, it causes an inflammatory response, known as pulpitis. People who have long-standing pulpitis may be at a greater risk for a periapical abscess.

Periodontal Abscess

A periodontal abscess is more common in adults, and may be a complication of gum disease. It typically develops in the alveolar bone and other supporting structures of the teeth, and can cause your teeth to loosen, which triggers inflammation in the surrounding area.

This can cause a pocket to form between the soft tissue and your tooth, which increases your risk for infection and subsequent periodontal abscess. While your general dentist can treat a periodontal abscess, he or she may instead refer you to a periodontist, who specializes in diagnosing and treating gum disease.

Symptoms

Dental abscesses often cause pain in the tooth and surrounding gum tissue. This pain may also radiate to the jaw, facial area, neck, and cheeks, depending upon where the dental abscess is located. Signs and symptoms of a dental abscess include:

Severe, throbbing toothache
Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold
Tooth sensitivity when chewing or biting
Fever
Facial or cheek swelling
Swollen lymph nodes
Foul-tasting fluid inside your mouth
Bad breath
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty swallowing

If you develop any of the above symptoms, see your dentist as soon as possible. Failure to treat dental abscesses may result in serious complications.

If you develop facial swelling and fever and are unable to see your dentist, seek emergency medical care. Additionally, if you are short of breath or have trouble swallowing, go to the nearest hospital emergency room. The aforementioned symptoms may mean that your abscess infection has spread to other parts of your body.

Treatment

If you suffer from a periapical abscess, a root canal will treat the infection. During a root canal procedure, your dentist will drill a hole into the infected tooth to drain pus and remove any dead tissue contained in the pulp. The hole will then be filled with a special material to prevent future infections.

To treat a periodontal abscess, your dentist will drain the abscess and thoroughly clean the area. The root of the abscessed tooth will then be scaled and planed below your gum line so that the tooth heals.

These procedures will help prevent future abscesses from developing. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove diseased tissue. This type of surgery is performed by an oral surgeon, and is typically reserved for those whose abscesses cause recurring infections. In addition to the surgery, the oral surgeon may need to reshape the gum tissue.

Your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent the spread of infection, and recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to help keep you comfortable.

To learn more about dental abscesses, or to schedule an appointment for an examination or professional dental cleaning, contact us today.

How to Choose the Best Fruits and Veggies for Dental Health

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:23:51 GMT

Which fruits and vegetables can contribute to your dental health - and which ones can cause oral hygiene issues? Fruits and vegetables can reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and possibly prevent some types of cancer, according to the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health. But which ones are best for your teeth?

Take a look at what you need to know about dental health and a fruit- and veggie-rich diet.

Choose Fresh Over Processed
All fruits and vegetables are not equal. Sweetened fruit cups and canned vegetables are not the same as the fresh apples, pears, and spinach you will find in the produce aisle. Processed fruits and veggies have added ingredients and different types of preparations that can affect your oral health.

Fresh picks, such as apples or carrots, have antioxidants that can reduce the risks of gum disease. But this isn't the only way these foods can help to keep your teeth healthy.

These fresh foods can also help to clean the teeth as you eat. This decreases decay development and can help to prevent cavities in combination with regular at-home and in-office dental care. You won't get the hard snap of a fresh carrot, pear, or apple with processed canned or similar preparations. They reduce the fruit's or veggie's ability to remove bacteria and buildup on your teeth as you chew.

Processed produce may have the vitamins and minerals in fresh fruits and vegetables. But these menu options also have added sugar, salt, colors, and chemicals. Most fruits and veggies naturally contain sugar. The additional sugar in the processed version goes above and beyond what your body needs for energy.

Sugar-juice-soaked canned fruit cups and similar options can contribute to dental decay. These produce picks bathe the teeth in a sweet soak. This feeds the bacteria in your mouth, creating an acidic oral environment. The extra acids can eat away at the enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to infection and dental decay.

Balance Vitamin C and Acidic Foods
Vitamin C is a valuable nutrient. Along with the overall body benefits of the vitamin, C can also help oral wounds to heal and improve gum health.

Citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, are rich in vitamin C. While these foods can help your mouth, eat them in moderation. The same is true for healthy vegetables, such as tomatoes. Along with plenty of vitamin C, these foods also contain acids. The acidic effects of citrus and tomato-based picks can result in enamel erosion and dental decay.

Also, reduce the negative effects of acidic fruits and vegetables with a strong oral care routine. Brush and floss after eating these foods. If you don't have a brush handy, rinse your mouth thoroughly with tap water. This removes leftover debris and can help to keep your mouth clean.

Avoid Fruit-Flavored Foods
Fruit flavors and real fruit foods aren't the same. A fruit-flavored option may not have the necessary vitamins or minerals you need from the real food. Unlike processed fruit items, these foods typically don't contain any (or only contain a minimal amount of) the actual fruit. Instead, they have chemical additives such as artificial fruit flavors and colors.

Skip fruit-flavored drinks, treats, and snacks entirely. These will do little to help your dental health. The added sugars in many of these items can cause cavities or lead to gum disease. Get the taste of an apple, pear, strawberry, cherry, or other favorite fruit from the real and fresh source instead.

Along with what you eat, regular visits to the dentist's office can help you to maintain a healthy mouth. Do you need to schedule a dental appointment for a routine cleaning and checkup? Contact New England Dental Health Services P.C. for more information.

Periodontal Disease: An FAQ

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 11:26:15 GMT

The gums inside your mouth serve the important purpose of holding your teeth in place. When these gum tissues become infected, this is known as periodontal disease. According to the CDC, periodontal disease is fairly common.

For example, just over 47 percent of adults over the age of 30 have some degree of periodontal disease. This percentage increases as one ages. Over 70 percent of adults over the age of 65 have periodontal disease.

If you want to know more about this common dental problem, discover the answers to four frequently asked questions about periodontal disease.

1. What Causes Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is also referred to as periodontitis. Poor oral hygiene habits are the most common cause of this gum disease. When one does not brush or floss as they should, this usually results in plaque buildup on the teeth. When a dentist doesn't remove the plaque, it hardens and causes tartar to form under the gumline .

This tartar contains bacteria that works its way underneath the gums. Having a dental hygienist clean the teeth is the only way to remove this tartar. The continual buildup of plaque and tartar eventually causes gum tissue inflammation, also known as gingivitis. Left untreated, gingivitis turns into periodontal disease.

Symptoms of periodontal disease include red or swollen gums, bad breath, loose teeth, and receding gums. Bleeding gums during brushing or flossing is also a sign of periodontal disease.

Some people are at a greater risk of periodontal disease than others. Those who smoke, experience hormonal changes, or take medications that cause dry mouth are more likely to get periodontal disease. Genetics can also increase one's risk of this gum disease.

2. How Do You Treat Periodontal Disease?

Prevention is key with periodontal disease. Most people who practice good oral hygiene will be less likely to get periodontal disease. However, since and tartar can be difficult to remove, have a dentist clean the teeth twice a year. Those with severe cases of tartar buildup may need more frequent cleanings.

When a dental hygienist cleans below the gumline , this is called scaling and debridement. Dentists may also recommend a prescription-strength medicated mouthwash or oral antibiotics to help remove the bacteria. A surgical procedure may be necessary for severe cases of periodontal disease.

Some of these surgical procedures include:

Flap surgery . The dentist lifts the gums back in order to remove the tartar.
Bone and tissue graft . The dentist performs this procedure to encourage regeneration of bone or gum tissue.
Guided tissue regeneration . The dentist uses barrier membranes to help repair defects.

Good oral hygiene increases the chances of success following any type of treatment for periodontal disease.

3. What Complications Result From Periodontal Disease?

Untreated periodontal disease causes different kinds of complications. These complications include damage to the periodontal ligament and to the alveolar bone, which are both important for maintaining good oral health. Tooth loss is another complication of periodontal disease.

When one loses their teeth, they are not able to chew food adequately, which results in poor nutrition. Tooth loss can also cause the other teeth in the mouth to shift out of position.

One of the worse complications of untreated periodontal disease is a painful infection of the gums called acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG). This condition can destroy the gums between the teeth as well as cause large sores to form on the gums. Untreated gum disease can also be linked to cardiovascular disease, preterm labor, and lung infections.

4. Who Treats Periodontal Disease?

A dentist is the best person to see for periodontal disease treatment. If you are at increased risk of periodontal disease, or you think you may already have it, contact New England Dental Health Services P.C. Along with dental cleanings, our dentists provide a wide range of treatments in a comfortable and compassionate environment.

The 6 Steps of a Professional Dental Cleaning Procedure

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:32:14 GMT

Many people do not like going to the dentist. Between the odd noises, poking, and occasional jaw discomfort, this is understandable. However, knowing what happens during the cleaning procedure can often help you have a stress-free experience.

While the cleaning process differs with each dentist, you can reasonably expect the following during a dental cleaning procedure.

1. Oral Exam

Before the hygienist begins the dental cleaning, they physically examine your mouth. During this short examination, the dental hygienist will use a small mirror to examine your teeth, gums, and whole mouth.

The oral exam's purpose is to check for signs of inflammation, decay, or other dental problems. If your hygienist finds a severe problem, they will request that a dentist decide whether the dental cleaning should proceed.

2. Scaling

Next, your dental hygienist removes the tartar around the gumline and between your teeth with a dental scaler and a small mirror to guide them.

You will hear the sound of scraping, but you can rest easy since this is entirely normal. If you have a lot of tartar buildup in your mouth, the dental hygienist will take longer to scrape a single spot.

3. Professional Deep Cleaning and Polishing

Once your teeth are free of tartar, your hygienist will brush your teeth with a powerful electric toothbrush to remove any residual tartar after scaling.

Professional teeth cleanings use a unique toothpaste known as prophylaxis paste. The toothpaste has a grainy consistency, which scrubs and polishes teeth. Prophylaxis paste tastes and smells like any other toothpaste. Your hygienist may let you choose your preferred flavor for the paste.

This step is crucial and lasts the longest. Brace yourself for some annoying noises. You will feel a slow grinding movement on your teeth and a grinding noise from the electrical brush. However, the procedure is painless and straightforward.

4. Professional Flossing

Whether or not you floss, professional flossing has its advantages. Your hygienist will floss your teeth and remove residual paste and plaque.

In this step, your dental hygienist may also point out areas of concern that you should pay more attention to in the future. The hygienist may suggest specific techniques for flossing to help.

5. Rinsing

The next step is rinsing your mouth to remove any tartar residue. Your dental hygienist will either spray water into your mouth or give you a rinsing solution that consists of liquid fluoride to rinse your mouth.

6. Fluoride Treatment

Last in the dental cleaning process is fluoride treatment. The fluoride treatment protects your teeth from cavities until your next dental checkup.

First, your dental hygienist takes a mouthpiece and fits it over your teeth. Next, they smear a foamy gel or a sticky paste on your teeth and leave it there for a minute.

In addition to the foamy gel, your hygienist will apply fluoride varnish to your teeth with a tiny brush. Afterward, rinse out any excessive fluoride with water. Do not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after treatment to allow the fluoride to absorb.

Once the hygienist completes the above steps, your dentist will conduct the final checkup. Conditional to what the dentist sees in your mouth, he or she can opt to perform additional procedures. Return to your dentist for regular teeth cleaning at least twice a year.

Now you know what happens during a dental cleaning procedure, feel free to schedule your next appointment. Also, if you require more information on the process, feel free to contact us . We look forward to seeing you and your entire family and helping you get the smile you deserve.

Common Causes of Bleeding Gums

Thu, 06 May 2021 11:34:32 GMT

Many people experience bleeding gums at one point in their lives. Some people incorrectly believe bleeding gums don't warrant serious attention. However, even though some relatively minor issues can trigger bleeding gums, the condition can also point to a serious health issue. Below are some possible causes of bleeding gums.

Gum Disease

Bleeding gums is one of the earliest forms of gum disease. The problem starts when a film of oral bacteria collects along the gum line. Over time, accumulated plaque will harden into tartar, inflaming the gums and making them tender. Such gums easily bleed when bruising or even on their own.

Overbrushing

Good oral hygiene involves brushing at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes per session. However, the way you brush also affects your oral health. For example, using a hard-bristled toothbrush will erode considerable enamel and bruise your gum line, leading to bleeding. The same thing might happen if you brush too hard or for extremely long periods.

New Flossing Routine

Just like brushing, daily flossing is also necessary for good oral health. In fact, you should start flossing as soon as possible if you haven't been doing it. Just note that your gums might bleed the first time you start bleeding. The initial bleeding is because your gums aren't used to your flossing routine.

Ill-fitting or Faulty Dental Restorations

Ill-fitting dental appliances can also trigger bleeding gums. Consider dentures, which people use to replace missing teeth. If the dentures don't fit you properly, they might press on and bruise your gums, leading to bleeding.

Faulty or damaged dental restorations can also have the same effect. For example, your gums might bleed if you suffer an accident and damage your braces. Such braces might bruise your gums and trigger bleeding.

Medications

Some medications trigger bleeding gums as one of their side effects. For example, blood thinners interfere with the blood clotting process and increase the risk of bleeding. Thus, your gums might bleed without provocation if you are taking blood thinners. Even normal brushing and flossing with the right toothbrush might trigger bleeding from the gums in such cases.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Just like other parts of the body, your gums are likely to bleed upon bruising. Your gums are likely to bruise if they are unhealthy. Nutritional deficiencies, such as lack of vitamin K and C, make your gums susceptible to bleeding. Thus, you might struggle with bleeding gums if you are nutrient deficient or have a medical condition that inhibits nutrient absorption or synthesis.

Non-Oral Diseases

Even diseases that don't directly affect the mouth can trigger bleeding gums. For example:

Diabetes increases your blood sugar levels, delays the healing of oral infections, and increases the risk of bleeding gums.
Leukemia reduces the number of blood platelets in your blood, and you need the platelets to stop bleeding. Thus, leukemia increases the risk of bleeding gums.
Hemophilia interferes with blood-clotting mechanisms and increases the risk of bleeding gums.

The above are just a few examples of diseases that can lead to bleeding gums; the list isn't exhaustive.

Hormonal Changes

Lastly, you might also struggle with bleeding gums if you are experiencing hormonal changes. Hormonal imbalance can make your gums swollen, tender, and easily bruised. Such gums are more likely to bruise than others. Many people experience hormonal imbalance during pregnancy.

As you can see, you shouldn't ignore bleeding gums at any point in your life. Consult New England Dental Health Services P.C. to diagnose the bleeding and offer you a professional solution. We have been in the dental industry for years. We can help you prevent and deal with dental problems before they trigger serious complications.

3 Common Sweeteners and Your Teeth

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:01:24 GMT

If you have heard plenty of warnings over the years about sugar's potential to damage your teeth, you may find yourself wondering what kind of sweetening agent, if any, you can safely consume or serve to your family with any regularity. The many kinds of sweeteners currently available in grocery stores may only add to your confusion.

The more you understand how different sweeteners affect your dental health, the more easily you can make wise decisions about this aspect of your household meal, snack, and beverage consumption. Take a look at some key pros and cons of these three common kinds of sweetening agents.

1. Sucrose and Fructose

When many people think of sugar, either sucrose or fructose comes to mind. Sucrose, a natural product derived from sugar cane, finds its way into countless homes in syrup, cube, and granulated forms. Manufacturers add fructose, an even sweeter-tasting natural sugar found in fruits and vegetables, to a wide range of foods and beverages.

Dentists widely consider these naturally occurring sugars (along with nearly identical variations such as beet sugar and brown sugar) as the most damaging kind of sweetener to your dental health. When oral bacteria eat these sugars, they produce acids that erode tooth enamel and produce the holes in your teeth known as cavities.

Sucrose and fructose can prove especially harmful if you consume them in sticky candies. The longer these products adhere to your tooth surfaces, the more time bacteria have to produce destructive acids. If you must use products containing these sugars, get into the habit of rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water afterward.

2. Aspartame and Saccharin

Many people who avoid sugar, either to preserve their dental health or to help control other health problems, turn to aspartame as an alternative. This artificial sweetener contributes no calories to your waistline and doesn't trigger the same production of acids from bacteria, making it appear more toothfriendly at first glance.

Saccharin remains on the market as a popular artificial sweetener, despite early controversy over its ability to cause cancer (on lab rats, and in large quantities). Like aspartame, saccharin registers on the taste buds as much sweeter than sugar without creating lots of acid that might lead to cavities.

Many people add saccharin to their drinks or use it as a sugar replacement when baking, while aspartame sees common use both for these purposes and as a sweetener for dandies and drinks. However, these candies and drinks can still do considerable damage to your teeth because they contain high levels of enamel-eroding citric acid.

4. Sugar Alcohols

Sweeteners such as sucralose, mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, and xylitol belong to the family known as sugar alcohols. These hybrids of sugar and alcohol molecules typically come from natural sources. Sugar alcohols see widespread use in sugarless candies, mints, and chewing gum.

Like aspartame and saccharin, sugar alcohols don't contribute to acid production in your mouth. Unlike those products, however, some sugar alcohols may actually provide dental benefits. Xylitol, in particular, appears to kill oral bacteria that might otherwise cause cavities, possibly aiding your efforts to maintain healthy teeth.

The main downside of sugar alcohols involves their potential impact on the digestive system. Since these products don't get completely absorbed by the intestines, they can act like fiber to produce a laxative effect. If you choose this kind of sweetener, you may need to limit your consumption or supplement with a probiotic.

New England Dental Health Services P.C. can provide valuable preventative recommendations to help you and your loved ones protect your teeth, from dietary choices to home hygiene practices. Contact our Orange or Meriden location today to schedule a consultation.

5 Things to Do Before You Have Your Teeth Whitened

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 12:10:19 GMT

The teeth whitening procedure is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments today. With the help of a skilled cosmetic dentist, you can whiten your teeth by several shades. But if you haven't been to the dentist for a while, you might need to do so before you whiten your teeth because your teeth might not be ready for the whitening treatment just yet.

Learn how you need to prepare your teeth before you whiten them to get the best results.

1. Book a Dental Exam

A dental exam can help you identify any issues that might interfere with the whitening process. This is an especially important step if you haven't had a dental exam in a while. Some dental issues are difficult to spot without the assistance of a dentist.

If you have any dental issues, such as gum disease, tooth sensitivity, or cavities, then a dentist can identify these issues before you whiten your teeth. If you whiten your teeth while you have existing dental problems, complications could arise. For instance, if you have gum disease, the whitening treatment may irritate your gums.

2. Fill Your Cavities

If you whiten your teeth while you have untreated cavities, you will likely experience pain during the whitening treatment. The hydrogen or carbamide peroxide bleaching solution needs to penetrate teeth in order to whiten them. But if you have cavities, the bleach will penetrate more deeply than usual, and this could create discomfort.

The bleach may even irritate the nerve in the center of a tooth if a cavity is large. If that happens, you could need a root canal to remove the nerve if it dies. If you have cavities, get them filled before you whiten your teeth.

3. Get Your Teeth Cleaned

The whitening agent cannot penetrate tartar in the same way that it can penetrate teeth. And a thick layer of tartar will only prevent the whitening agent from reaching every part of your teeth. The result will be that your teeth won't appear uniformly white after the whitening procedure.

This is why dentists always recommend that you go for a dental cleaning before you whiten your teeth. Sometimes, you can whiten your teeth on the same day as your dental cleaning. But if your gums are sensitive after a cleaning, your dentist will recommend that you wait a few days or more for your gums to heal.

4. Use Desensitizing Toothpaste

If you know your teeth are prone to sensitivity, then prepare them before you whiten them. Speak to your dentist about desensitizing toothpastes that can help to lower sensitivity. Many dentists provide desensitizing toothpaste to patients with sensitive teeth. This will allow you to prepare your teeth first for a week or two so that you don't experience extreme sensitivity during your treatment.

5. Schedule Restorations After the Whitening Appointment

If you plan to have some restorations done on your teeth before your whitening treatment, postpone those treatments until after your whitening treatment. The whitening agent cannot penetrate porcelain in the way that it can penetrate enamel. The best thing to do is to whiten your teeth first, and then have restorations like veneers or crowns fashioned and placed.

If you do your tooth restorations after your whitening treatment, this will allow your dentist to match the shade of your restorations to the shade of your newly whitened teeth.

Are you ready to whiten your teeth ? Then get in touch with New England Dental Health Services P.C. With the help of one of our highly trained and qualified dentists, you can achieve the shade of white that best suits your smile.

Dispelling Common Myths About Cavities and Fillings

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 12:20:37 GMT

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Cavities are often the first thing that comes to mind when you mention dental health. For conditions as common as cavities, rumors and misinformation can easily start to circulate regarding treatment. Discover a few common myths related to cavities and fillings.

1. Snacking More Helps Prevent Cavities

Saliva plays an important role in oral health by rinsing bacteria and food particles off the teeth. You may have heard that chewing stimulates the production of saliva, and some people have taken this to mean that several small snacks throughout the day will help to protect the teeth. In truth, what you eat is much more important for oral health than how often you eat.

Additional saliva production from chewing is not enough to counteract the increased bacterial activity that eating starchy and sugary foods can cause. Exposing dental bacteria to carbohydrates increases the amount of enamel-wearing acid that these bacteria produce. If you snack to improve oral health, try foods like celery, baby carrots, string cheese, and others low in sugar.

2. Cavities Always Cause Pain

The popular conception is that cavities are painful and that toothaches and sensitivity are early warning signs that you may have a cavity. In reality, you may have cavities you aren't aware of without any pain or discomfort at all. Cavities start at the outer surface of the dental enamel and won't cause pain until they are deep enough to affect the inner layers of the tooth.

In fact, waiting until you experience pain or sensitivity to get a cavity checkup is ill-advised. By the time you feel pain, bacteria could already have infiltrated the nerve-dense dentin and pulp inside the tooth. Bacteria in the tooth pulp increases the risk of tooth loss, and in some cases, a root canal may be required before a filling can go on the cavity.

3. Cavities Can't Be Reversed

You may have heard that the human body can't regrow enamel, and on a large enough scale, this is true. However, regenerating smaller amounts of enamel in the early stages of tooth decay is possible. Acids from dental bacteria break down minerals in the enamel, but these minerals are present and can be absorbed by the body from saliva and fluoride-containing oral health products.

This raises the question of when is too late for your dental enamel to regenerate. Once bacteria breaches the dentin, the rate of decay can accelerate much too quickly for the body to regenerate the tooth on its own, even with the help of fluoride. Maintaining good oral hygiene allows your body to heal micro cavities in the enamel and prevent more serious damage to the tooth.

4. Silver Fillings Should Be Removed

Silver fillings are from a product called dental amalgam. Dental amalgam is a blend of various metals, but some people have raised concerns about the mercury present in silver fillings. Mercury toxicity is very real, but the mercury present in silver fillings has no negative effects. This is liquid elemental mercury, and as the filling sets, the metals react in such a way that mercury is no longer present at all.

The most dangerous form of mercury is methylmercury, which is elemental mercury combined with certain other organic molecules. Methylmercury is not present at all in silver implants. Several studies have shown that dental amalgam is a safe option for fillings and does not cause harmful levels of mercury exposure.

Separating fact from myth is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene and protecting your teeth from cavities. Keep these tips in mind, and count on New England Dental Health Services P.C. for your comprehensive oral health solution.

3 Dental Issues That Can Cause Headache Symptoms

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:35:35 GMT

Approximately 50 percent of adults worldwide experience some form of headache at least once a year, with up to 4 percent of the global population suffering from headaches at least 15 days out of each month. Many of these sufferers may never realize, however, that their dental health may cause or worsen their headache symptoms.

If you find yourself struggling with unexplained headaches, you may need to evaluate your teeth or jaw for any underlying conditions that might factor into your pain. Discover three such issues that can play a role in acute or chronic headaches.

1. Tooth Damage

Any tooth damage that exposes sensitive nerve tissue can cause pain. However, this pain may not limit itself to the affected tooth. Pain in the tooth's nerve pulp can travel along the trigeminal nerve to other parts of the head, resulting in what feels like a classic tension headache.

In some unlucky individuals, nerve pain from tooth damage can trigger an even more severe form of headache known as migraine. Migraines can cause intense, throbbing pain on one side of the head. They may also produce such diverse symptoms as light or sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.

A cracked, broken, or severely worn tooth should receive prompt professional care, not only to guard against infection and improve function but also to prevent or relieve pain. Permanent crowns can cover and protect damaged enamel, safeguarding the nerve tissue against unwelcome stimuli and preventing additional damage.

2. Infections and Abscesses

In addition to triggering nerve pain, a fractured or decayed tooth can also develop a painful bacterial infection. The bacteria invades and destroys the sensitive pulp chamber of the tooth, causing symptoms such as pain, fever, and swelling. It can also invade the jaw, resulting in an abscess.

Diseased nerve tissue can transfer pain to the face or head just as easily as acute damage to the tooth enamel. An abscess in the upper jaw can also produce an acute sinus infection, causing debilitating sinus or migraine headaches. Other complications may range from major organ infections to meningitis.

Fortunately, you can avoid the worst of these complications by treating that nagging toothache as quickly as possible. Root canal therapy can often save even a seriously infected tooth, while antibiotics can clear up any infection in surrounding tissues. As the infection recedes, so will your headaches.

3. Bruxism

The unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth can produce chronic headaches. This problem, known as bruxism, typically occurs during sleep. Emotional stress and alignment problems between the top and bottom teeth can fatigue the jaw muscles, wear down the enamel, or even lead to tooth fractures.

The tooth damage from bruxism can transfer nerve pain from the teeth into the face and head. Meanwhile, strain on the jaw muscles can cause pain that spreads from these muscles to your head, resulting in a TMJ-related tension headache.

Bruxism can also contribute to sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing for brief periods multiple times per night during sleep. Sleep apnea may create oxygen deprivation and changes in blood vessel diameter that lead to morning headaches, a common problem among the condition's sufferers.

Your dentist can help you ward off bruxism-related headaches. You may need to have a custom night guard fitted to reduce overnight jaw tension and enamel wear. Night guards that keep your jaws in a healthier alignment may also reduce sleep apnea, helping you avoid troublesome morning headaches.

If you suspect that your headache problem might actually stem from a dental problem, start your search for solutions at New England Dental Health Services P.C. Contact our Orange or Meriden office to schedule an evaluation and learn more about dental treatment for headaches.

5 Things You Should Know About Dentures

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 13:01:13 GMT

Has tooth decay, gum disease, or some type of injury caused you to lose some or all of your teeth? If so, you will need to think about replacing those teeth. Dentures are a great option for tooth replacement. Dentures are prosthetic devices that will help you maintain your ability to speak and eat normally, and they will help you maintain your normal appearance.

If you are thinking about getting dentures, here are five things you should know about them.

1. Know About the Different Types of Dentures

The two primary types of dentures are partial and complete dentures. If you still have some of your natural teeth, you may be able to wear partial dentures. If most of your teeth are missing, however, you will need complete dentures.

Partial Dentures

A removable partial denture is made with the replacement teeth attached to a pink plastic base. The color of the base is meant to resemble your natural gums as closely as possible. The plastic base sometimes has a metal framework. This metal piece holds the partial dentures in place inside your mouth.

Complete Dentures

If all of your teeth are missing, you will need to have complete dentures. If you need to have your teeth removed, you will then wait six to eight weeks for the gum tissue to heal. After your gums have healed, the dentist will make an impression of your mouth. It takes anywhere from six weeks to three months to make your dentures and get them fitted just right inside your mouth.

If you don't want to wait that long, you can get immediate dentures. These dentures are made in advance so you can wear them the same day the teeth are extracted.

2. Know How Much Dentures Cost

Both partial and complete dentures cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 . Immediate dentures are a little bit more expensive and range from $1,000 to $3,500. If dentures are medically necessary, your dental insurance may cover some of the cost.

In most cases, however, you will need to cover part of the cost of your dentures. Talk to your dental insurance company before you get dentures to see if and how much they will cover.

3. Know How to Care for Your Dentures

Even though your dentures might look like natural teeth, you need to care for them differently. If you want to keep them free of stains and looking their best, remove your dentures after you eat, and rinse them off with water. At least once a day, you should brush your dentures with a nonabrasive denture cleanser.

While your dentures are out, clean your mouth with either a piece of gauze or a soft toothbrush. At night, soak the dentures in water or a denture-soaking solution. The moisture will help them retain their shape. If you use a denture-soaking solution, remember to rinse the dentures off before you put them back in your mouth.

4. Know What Foods to Avoid With Dentures

Your dentist may recommend that you avoid eating foods that are hard or sticky. Hard foods can crack dentures, while sticky foods can pull the dentures out of your mouth. You might also need to avoid foods with small particles. Some foods you may want to avoid with dentures include popcorn, corn on the cob, raw vegetables, chewing gum, and tough meats.

5. Know Where to Go for Dentures

Are you thinking about getting dentures? If you live in Orange, Meriden, or any of the surrounding cities in Connecticut, contact New England Dental Health Services P.C. We can help you find affordable dentures that best suits your needs.

4 Possible Causes of Frequent Toothaches

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 13:12:13 GMT

Because of the high concentration of nerves in our teeth and gums, tooth pain can be some of the worst to deal with. If you deal with frequent toothaches, understanding what could cause them can help you take the first step toward a solution. Discover four possible causes of frequent toothaches.

1. Cavities or Broken Teeth

Your dental enamel plays an important role in protecting the sensitive roots and pulp of your teeth. Any damage to the enamel can expose these parts of your teeth and lead to frequent or even continuous toothaches. This is often accompanied by acute sensitivity to hot, cold, and acidic foods.

You can do a few things to manage pain from a cavity or broken tooth until you can see your dentist. Naturally, over-the-counter pain medication is a go-to solution. To avoid making the damage worse, do not eat any especially hard or sticky foods, and try to keep food away from the damaged teeth when you chew. You can also try using temporary dental fillings for short-term protection.

2. Misaligned Teeth

If your teeth do not align properly when you clench them, you likely have a condition known as malocclusion. Malocclusion is more than a cosmetic problem, as it affects the overall health of your mouth. Teeth that do not align properly when you bite are subject to a range of forces that they are not made to handle. Teeth can rub against each other and wear down enamel or even break and chip.

You are likely to feel toothaches from malocclusion all throughout the mouth, gums, and jaw, rather than in only a single tooth. To treat toothaches because of malocclusion, your dentist may employ a wide variety of tools and techniques including braces, tooth reshaping, extraction of crowded teeth, or surgery to reshape the jaw in extreme cases.

3. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a behavior that presents itself differently among different individuals. Some people will grind their teeth as a response to stress, while others will do so in their sleep without even realizing it. Grinding your teeth places extreme pressure on them that can easily result in frequent toothaches and jaw pain.

Your toothaches may be from teeth grinding if you notice that your teeth appear flat or worn down or if you often wake up with headaches or pain in your jaw. Your dentist can provide mouth guards or dental splints to protect your teeth from bruxism and may recommend medication or therapy for anxiety to help alleviate the causes behind your teeth grinding.

4. Impacted Teeth

A tooth is said to be impacted when it grows in at the wrong angle and is unable to emerge from the gums or only partially emerges. Any tooth can become impacted, but wisdom teeth most commonly become impacted. Impacted teeth can put pressure on adjacent teeth, leading to continuous pain, swelling or bleeding gums, and difficulty chewing.

Impaction occurs when you simply do not have enough room in the mouth for all of the teeth to emerge. Because of this, the only treatment option for impacted teeth is to extract them. Sometimes, extraction is not necessary right away, especially if the impacted tooth does not currently cause pain or other symptoms. Your dentist will use an X-ray to determine the best course of action for impacted teeth.

Toothaches can be a sign of several different oral health issues, so never ignore them. Contact us at New England Dental Health Services P.C. if you have experienced any tooth pain so we can offer the right treatment to provide relief and keep your mouth healthy.

Drawing the Line Between At-Home and Professional Dental Care

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 13:15:36 GMT

As a dental patient, you're often encouraged to take ownership of your dental health. Responsibility for at-home cleaning twice daily is squarely on you, and you're responsible for scheduling, paying for, and showing up to dental appointments. But many other aspects of your dental health are outside the purview of home cleaning and should be left to professionals.

Here are some specifics on which aspects of dental care should always be left to professionals and why.

Diagnosing Problems

Your dentist has the means, expertise, and experience to figure out what's wrong with your dental health when you start to experience symptoms. In some cases, your symptoms could be an indicator of a more serious or complex issue than you might at first suspect.

For instance, if you experience tooth pain, you may assume it's from a cavity, but that's not always the case. Your dentist has the expertise to capture x-ray depictions of your teeth and examine them to determine whether your teeth have decay.

If you have pain but no decay, the pain could be from a different issue (such as clenching and grinding). Gum disease, a cracked or chipped tooth, and other issues can also cause pain in a tooth.

You could also develop problems so slowly that you don't notice the symptoms at first. For instance, if you're in the initial stages of gingivitis, you may start to develop gum pockets gradually. Your dental hygienist can measure your gum pockets regularly to see if they're worsening (pockets just a millimeter or two deeper could indicate a problem).

Cleaning With Professional Tools

Of course you should always select the best tooth-cleaning tools for your daily oral care routine. However, some of the professional tools dentists and dental hygienists use are stronger and more aggressive, which is necessary to polish stains and remove tartar from teeth but may not be desirable for everyday cleanings.

These stronger, more intense tools should only be used by a dental professional . One reason is because professionals have the experience and skills needed to use just the right amount of force, so they can scrape off tartar without damaging your tooth surface.

In addition, if you used strong, abrasive polishing action daily, you might wear down your enamel faster. The polishing paste your hygienist uses, for instance, actually contains pumice, which is too abrasive for daily use.

Treating Oral Health Conditions

In addition to diagnosis and professional-strength cleanings, oral health treatments are another issue that you typically shouldn't try to handle on your own. Of course you can't drill and fill a cavity on your own, for example, but some dental patients may use a temporary filling until they can get in to see the dentist, but it's nothing more than a short-term patch at best.

And if you have gum disease, you'll need to see your dentist regularly for treatments, deep cleanings, and monitoring. If not treated early and thoroughly by a dentist, gingivitis (mild gum disease) can develop into periodontitis, which can come with jaw bone loss, tooth loss, and pain.

As you can see, professional dental cleanings are different in character than the typical at-home cleanings. You shouldn't try to replicate them at home; they're necessary to remove tartar and stains, which is why you need to schedule regular professional cleanings. And things can get even more complicated if you develop any oral health issues.

So don't forget your regular exam, x-rays, and cleanings with your dental hygienist. They're essential components of keeping your teeth healthy. To schedule your next appointment with your dental hygienist or dentist, call New England Dental Health Services P.C. today. We provide dental services for children and adults.

Avoid Dental Hygiene Mistakes That Could Harm Your Gums

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 13:21:21 GMT

Dentists may spend a lot of time advising patients to brush and floss more often, but over-brushing can also cause issues. Cleaning your teeth and gums too frequently and vigorously can sometimes damage or irritate delicate gum tissues. So erring on the side of extra-hard brushing and flossing efforts isn't always an ideal option.

Here are some dental hygiene mistakes that could irritate or otherwise harm your gums.

1. Brushing Too Long and Hard

Some dental patients may have the feeling that they have to scrub their teeth until they've scrubbed every last speck of plaque away. However, this could actually cause more problems than it solves. Not only does brushing too hard wear away enamel, but it can contribute to gum recession as well. Stick with the recommended amount of cleaning, and use a soft toothbrush.

2. Using an Irritating Floss

If you floss your teeth every day and it still makes your gums swell up and bleed even though you've been doing it for months or years, you may need to find a less irritating way to floss. If this situation happens every day, you're basically keeping your gums in a constant state of inflammation. Inflammation can actually cause your gums to recede, which is bad news.

Your first step should be to talk to your dentist about your technique. If you're slamming the floss into your gums at every stroke, you may need a gentler touch and a floss product designed to be gentle. If you can't floss gently because your teeth are simply too close together and the floss won't go in without a lot of force, you may want to consider a water flosser.

3. Skipping Your Night Guard

Around 20% of people clench their jaw during the day, and about 8% grind their teeth at night. Either issue can lead to jaw pain, extra wear and tear on the enamel, and other symptoms. But grinding your teeth at night (known as bruxism) can be especially tricky since you're not conscious when it occurs so you can't simply train yourself not to do it.

If your dentist has noticed signs of bruxism on your teeth, they probably prescribed or recommended a night guard that you can wear while you're sleeping. Many people don't wear their prescribed guards because they're not always convenient and may make falling asleep more difficult (especially when you're not used to the guard yet).

However, bruxism can actually cause problems not just for your teeth but for your gums as well. For instance, gum recession and deeper gum pockets (which are great homes for bad bacteria) can result as well.

4. Giving Up on Flossing

Even if flossing is difficult and even painful, don't make the mistake of giving up on it just yet. You can try alternative flossing tools, such as floss picks or interdental brushes. And if all else fails, you may still be able to use a water flosser or an air flosser to help remove bacteria and debris from your gumline and between your teeth.

If you suspect you've been making any of these mistakes, talk to your dentist about your daily dental care regime. Your dentist can help you decide if you've been brushing too hard, if you could benefit from a gentler toothpaste, or whether you should make any other adjustments to help protect your gums and avoid gumline cavities.

Keep in mind that if your gums are inflamed or receding, you could have some other issues such as gingivitis going on as well. Don't assume that simply switching toothbrushes will fix all your problems. Be sure to follow the recommendations of your trusted dentist.

New England Dental Health Services P.C. provides a variety of services to optimize your dental health, from preventive treatments to fillings and even some cosmetic treatments such as whitening. For more information, get in touch with our office today.

Exercise Enthusiast? 4 Habits That Can Negatively Impact Your Smile

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:32:49 GMT

Do you play or sport or enjoy exercising to maintain your physical health? While exercise is good for your body, frequent exercise can take a toll on your oral health if you are not careful. In fact, a study has shown that the more time a person spends performing strenuous exercise, such as working out at the gym or playing a sport, the more likely they are to develop tooth decay and cavities.

Read on to learn about four bad habits that often accompany intense physical exercise that you can break now to help keep your exercise routine from negatively impacting your smile.

1. Consuming Pre- and Post-Workout Supplements with Hidden Sugars

If you weight train, then you may consume a protein bar or shake before and/or after your workout to aid in muscle repair or consume other pre- or post-workout supplements that enhance endurance or reduce muscle fatigue.

Beware that many of these supplements contain hidden sugars that are not listed on the label as simply "sugar." Examples include rice syrup, dextrose, fructose, and sucrose. These forms of sugar can contribute to tooth decay just as white sugar and corn syrup can.

If you consume workout supplements, look for versions sweetened with artificial sweeteners or be sure to brush after eating or drinking these supplements.

2. Mouth Breathing During Exercise

Many people who typically breathe through their noses begin to breathe through their mouths while exercising due to the body's increased need for oxygen during strenuous exercise.

Mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth, which can wreak havoc on oral health. Saliva not only lubricates the mouth, but it also contains calcium that helps strengthen teeth, neutralizes cavity-causing acids in your mouth, and helps rinse food particles and oral bacteria from your teeth. When experiencing dry mouth due to mouth breathing, you lose all of these benefits of healthy saliva that help combat tooth decay.

While mouth breathing during exercise can be a difficult habit to break, you may be surprised that breathing through your nose begins to come naturally after just a short period of time.

3. Not Drinking Enough Water

While you may know that it is important to drink water while exercising to prevent dehydration, you may become so engrossed in your workouts from time to time that you forget to drink water. However, drinking water while exercising can not only help you re-hydrate your body efficiently, but it can also help protect your dental health.

When you drink water, you moisten a dry mouth caused by mouth breathing during exercise. This water also helps dilute the saliva produced during exercise that is often much thicker and stickier than saliva produced while at rest. Thick, sticky saliva cannot rinse cavity-causing acids and bacteria from your mouth as efficiently as thinner, more dilute saliva can.

4. Not Cleaning Your Mouth Guard Well

If you play a contact sport, then you know that you should wear a mouth guard that fits well to help avoid dental and mouth trauma. However, you may not realize how important it is to care for your mouth guard properly to keep it from contributing to additional dental problems.

Since the material a mouth guard is made from is porous, oral bacteria penetrate into these pores every time your mouth guard is worn. This bacteria can contribute to tooth decay, gum disease, and many types of oral infections if your mouth guard is not cleaned properly after each and every wear.

To clean your mouth guard, brush it thoroughly with toothpaste and a toothbrush or soak it in 3 percent strength hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes after each wear. Then, let it dry thoroughly and store it in your ventilated mouth guard case until you wear it again.

If you exercise or play a sport on a regular basis, then be sure to break these bad habits before they begin taking a toll on your dental health. Contact the staff at New England Dental Health Services PC to schedule a dental exam today.

Gentle Ways to Clean Your Mouth After Eating or Drinking

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:45:56 GMT

You may have heard conflicting information from different dentists about whether you should brush your teeth after eating. And while getting the extra food residue out of the way is important, it's also true that your teeth can be quite vulnerable to damage if you brush less than 30 minutes after a meal.

The bacteria that dine on sugars and starches start to work almost immediately, producing acids that can soften your enamel. So the time just after you eat or drink, especially something sugary or starchy or acidic, is the most vulnerable time for your teeth. Here are some gentler ways you can clean your teeth and mouth after eating or drinking.

1. Rinse With Water

Just plain water can actually help a lot more than you'd expect. For example, a couple of quick swishes after you finish eating can provide these benefits:

Removing food residue from your tooth surfaces so there's less for bacteria to eat
Rinsing away any acids from your food or beverage that could soften your enamel
Rinsing away some of the bacteria (although not a lot)

After eating or drinking, you should always rinse with water immediately. If you don't have anything else on hand, just swishing water around in your mouth a few times is much better than nothing. Just remember to use plain water, not water with lemon in it.

2. Use PH Neutralizing Mouthwash

Even if what you ate wasn't particularly acidic, the bacteria in your mouth will start to turn the sugars and starches into acid within a few minutes of the time you start eating. A mouthwash with a high (alkaline) PH helps to nullify these acids somewhat.

If you have plaque or tartar in your mouth, the mouthwash won't be able to reach everywhere since the bacteria hide under the plaque. But it will still help reduce the severity of the acid attack on your enamel. And the PH neutralization also helps to reduce the overpopulation of bad bacteria, since they love acids and good bacteria tend to prefer an alkaline PH.

3. Chew Sugar-Free Gum

You may not have previously considered gum to be a method of cleaning your mouth. But as long as the gum is sugar-free, it may actually help. One way it can help is because the action of chewing the gum helps to increase saliva flow and to move saliva around the mouth.

Saliva helps to not only wash away any food residue, but also neutralize PH levels (since healthy saliva is typically around a neutral PH). It also brings minerals to the surface of the enamel that's been attacked by acids.

You can increase the cavity-fighting potential of your gum by choosing one that contains xylitol. Because it's similar enough to sugar that bad bacteria may try to eat it but not similar enough to actually let them digest it, xylitol can help block the production of acids after eating.

4. Use Water Flosser

A water flosser is considered a gentler way to clean your teeth than brushing and string flossing. That's why people whose gums are so sensitive that flossing is a painful and bloody affair often use it. Because it uses a stream of water rather than mechanical brushing, a water flosser won't physically scrape the softened enamel away.

You can also use something like a neutralizing mouthwash in your water flosser to improve the cleaning potential. Check the manufacturer recommendations first, though; some water flossers don't do well with solutions such as saltwater. Remember, a water flosser isn't a substitute for your regularly scheduled daily brushing and flossing, though.

These are some ways you can clean your mouth out directly after eating without running the risk of damaging your enamel. For more information about how to keep your teeth as clean as possible without over brushing, talk to your dentist. Call New England Dental Health Services PC today to make an appointment.

6 Medical Conditions That Can Affect Your Oral Health

Fri, 24 May 2019 13:53:44 GMT

For many patients, keeping their mouth healthy is as easy as brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentists. However, your oral health is connected to your overall health, and many medical conditions can negatively impact your oral health. If you want a healthy body and mouth, check out these six medical conditions that could impact your oral health.

1. Diabetes

Uncontrolled and untreated diabetes can cause havoc throughout your entire body, making it harder to heal from wounds and infections. For this reason, if your blood glucose levels are not controlled, your risk of developing gum disease drastically increases.

Gum disease can eventually destroy your gums, teeth, and jawbone. Plus, uncontrolled gum disease can actually worsen your diabetes by affecting your blood glucose levels. Other complications from diabetes include thrush, dry mouth, fungal infection, and ulcers.

2. GERD

Gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD) can cause you to have an excess of stomach acids. These acids back up into your esophagus and your mouth. Not only can this be extremely uncomfortable by creating a burning sensation in your stomach and throat, it can also destroy your teeth.

Your tooth enamel is the strongest substance in your body, but stomach acid is caustic. The more stomach acid gets on your teeth, the quicker it erodes the enamel, which allows tooth decay and infections to arise.

3. Bulimia

Bulimia is a condition in which patients often force themselves to vomit after a meal. As with GERD, this allows stomach acid to reach the teeth, which can destroy them. However, so much acid in your mouth can cause other problems too.

Many patients with bulimia also have dry mouth, chronic sore throat, bleeding gums, and soft palate damage. Treating the underlying cause is essential to stop the condition, but while you seek recovery, you and your dentist can work together to help protect your teeth and oral health.

4. Anemia

Patients with anemia don't have enough red blood cells, which is a major problem because red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. With fewer red blood cells, less oxygen is reaching your body's tissues, and the gums is one of the first places you may notice signs and complications.

Anemia gums are often pale instead of pink, and with reduced blood flow, fighting off infections and sores can be difficult. If you have anemia gums, you may experience pain in the tongue, redness, or a swollen tongue/glands.

5. Thyroid Conditions

Even if your thyroid isn't working correctly, it can negatively impact your oral health. One of the leading complications with thyroid conditions is an elevated risk of gum disease. Dry mouth can further exacerbate the issue and cause cavities.

Some patients may also experience an enlarged tongue, which can affect how you speak, and it may pose a choking risk when sleeping. Finally, some patients experience distorted tastes, such as losing their sense of taste completely.

6. HIV/AIDS

HIV and AIDS impact the immune system, making it less effective at fighting infections. As with diabetes, HIV/AIDS can affect nearly every part of your body, including the mouth. First, you may notice dry mouth or thrush, which can be irritating and lead to gum disease.

However, many HIV/AIDS patients also experience white lesions, red band gingivitis, ulcerative periodontist, outbreaks of herpes simplex, canker sores, and mouth ulcers. Because HIV/AIDS slows the immune system, your oral conditions may take longer to heal.

While brushing and flossing is imperative to keep a healthy smile, many conditions can increase your risk of oral complications. If you would like to know more information about oral health and your overall health, contact us at New England Dental Health Services today.

Sticky-Food Taste Testers Must Work Hard to Avoid Dental Issues

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:58:43 GMT

Taste testers have a unique job, one that requires them to regularly eat a lot of food. For example, an individual may taste test sticky foods, such as taffy, to gauge the quality of their flavor. Unfortunately, dental decay may be a common issue for those in this position. Thankfully, oral health maintenance techniques minimize this risk.

Taste Testers Often Suffer From Dental Issues

Every day, taste testers eat various types of foods, many of which contain high concentrations of sugar and other destructive ingredients that could affect their oral health. For example, one study discussed an individual who spent eight months eating frozen fried foods, including French fries. Unfortunately, this person developed huge blisters on their mouth and severe dental cavities.

This problem gets worse when potentially destructive foods are involved. For example, sticky foods - like gum, toffee, and certain types of candy - sticky to the teeth and are tough to remove. This problem is bad enough when a person simply snacks on a few bites during the day, and the damage of sticky foods only increases when a person eats them repeatedly.

An individual taste testing sticky foods may not notice particles sticking between their teeth, around their gums, and in other hard-to-reach areas. As a result, their oral health may suffer and cause other health concerns. Thankfully, simple dental maintenance techniques can prevent this issue from becoming too dangerous.

Steps to Avoid Serious Concerns

Taste testers who eat sticky food on their job need to take several steps to minimize the danger of serious dental problems. For example, these individuals can eat smaller samples to avoid getting too much food stuck to their teeth. This approach is wise because it prevents not only excessive sticky materials on a person's teeth, but also avoids high volumes of sugar or other acidic materials.

Smaller samples are also easier to chew and may minimize how long a person needs to eat sticky foods. And while chewing, try to pull the sticky foods away from the teeth using the tongue. This step requires careful concentration but rewards a taste tester by focusing more of the food on the taste buds. In this way, the tester can get a more accurate understanding of the flavors of their foods.

While on the job, a taste tester should make sure to perform simple dental maintenance techniques after a set period of taste testing. Simply setting a half-hour or one-hour limit to taste testing is a wise decision. Set an alarm to go off after this period and then go to the bathroom to wash out the mouth and brush the teeth. This step ensures that excessively sticky food doesn't stick around too long in the mouth.

When brushing the teeth, taste testers need to brush the tongue to prevent bacteria spread. The tongue contains a large concentration of bacteria and may be ignored by people when cleaning the mouth. Swish the tongue around in mouthwash as well to destroy bacteria and keep the mouth healthy. Mouthwash application schedules will vary, depending on how much sticky food a person eats at their job.

Professional Help Is Necessary

The food-intensive nature of a taste tester job means that more frequent professional dental visits may be a wise decision. The increased schedule will vary depending on what the taste tester and their dentist decides is best. For example, trips every three months may be wise for certain individuals.

If you are a taste tester who wants to avoid severe dental decay due to sticky foods, please call or visit us at New England Dental Health Services PC right away. Our specialists will examine your oral health and work hard to ensure that your teeth remain strong.

Tips To Prevent Cracked Teeth

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:05:39 GMT

A crack to your tooth not only weakens your teeth, but it also leaves the door open for germs to attack the affected teeth. Take the measures below to avoid cracks to your teeth.

Don't Chew on Hard Objects

Your teeth are not indestructible. Hard objects such as ice, bones, or popcorn kernels can easily crack your teeth. Therefore, avoid using your mouth or teeth as a tool; for example, don't use your teeth to open beer bottles or strip the insulation off electrical wires. You might not notice the cracks at first, but with time, they will get more serious and cause further damage.

Treat Your Bruxism

Bruxism is a chronic dental condition where you can't help but grind and/or clench your teeth all the time. With bruxism, you can grind your teeth both when you are asleep and when you are awake. Bruxism causes tiny wear and tear on your teeth that eventually accumulate and cause your teeth to crack.

Here are some of the common causes of bruxism:

Sleep disorders
Crooked teeth
Stress and anxiety

Consult a dentist to diagnose and treat your bruxism. In addition to treatment for the root cause of bruxism, here are other measures that may help you manage the condition:

Limit alcohol intake
Limit intake of stimulants such as coffee
Train yourself to stop when you start to grind your teeth
Don't chew on hard objects

A combined approach, which includes the tips above and dental treatment, will help you manage your bruxism and avoid teeth damage.

Protect Your Teeth During Contact Sports

Accidental blows to your mouth may also crack your teeth. Automobile accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and even accidental knocks during contact sports can all crack your teeth. You can't do much about most of these accidents, but you can prevent teeth damage during contact sports. Wear a protective device such as a face mask or a mouth guard to prevent knocks to your teeth.

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right mouth guard for sports:

Opt for a custom-made mouth guard if you have braces.
Opt for the highest mouth guard quality possible if you play often.
Ensure good comfort for the mouth guard so that you can wear it regularly
Keep your mouth guard clean so that it doesn't infect your mouth.

Talk to your dentist if you have any special needs that require special mouth guards. An over-the-counter mouth guard might not protect if your mouth has special needs.

Get Orthodontic Treatment

You have a high risk of teeth damage if your teeth don't align properly. Crooked or misaligned teeth are more likely to crack during accidental knock to the teeth because the angle in which a tooth grows determines how strong it is. Therefore, you should get orthodontic treatment if your teeth don't line up properly so that the misaligned teeth don't crack easily in the event of an accident.

Prevent and Treat Dental Ailments

Lastly, you also need to ensure your teeth are always strong to reduce the risk of damage. Dental diseases such as carries or decay weaken your teeth, particularly the outermost or protective layer of the teeth (enamel). Therefore, you should prevent dental diseases and treat any dental disease that strikes before it severely weakens your teeth.

At New England Dental Health Services PC, we hope that the above tips will help prevent cracks on your teeth. If your teeth do crack, however, contact us as soon as possible so that we can deal with the crack and prevent further damage. We will help you whether the treatment calls for dental bonding, tooth extraction, or dental crowning or any other relevant treatment we may advise after examination.

What to Know Before You Get a Dental Bridge

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 14:12:39 GMT

Many Americans have missing teeth, and it can make you want to hide your smile. There are many options for replacing missing teeth, but dental bridges are popular for their many benefits. If you are considering getting a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth, check out these five facts you should know first.

1. Provide a More Durable Solution Then Dentures

Dentures are a common way to replace missing teeth because they are affordable. While a full set of dentures will replace all your teeth, a partial denture can be used to replace a single tooth or more. However, dentures are unstable, and they may move when you speak, laugh or eat. In fact, you may have to avoid certain foods because they may damage or dislodge the dentures.

Dental bridges, however, are bonded to teeth, making the bridge a more durable option, so you don't have to worry about hiding your smile when you laugh or avoiding certain foods.

2. May Affect Healthy Teeth

A traditional bridge works by using healthy teeth to anchor the fake tooth. This process is done by attaching crowns to each side of the fake tooth/teeth. The crowns cover the anchor teeth, and the fake tooth or teeth fill in the gap to make your smile look complete.

However, in order for the bridge to fit, the healthy anchor teeth must be filed down to remove the enamel. This exposes the teeth to sensitivity and decay, but the bridge, bonded to the teeth, protects the teeth. This filing, however, is permanent. Your teeth's enamel will not return.

3. Some Are Removable

One problem with dental bridges is cleaning under the bridge. Food partials, plaque and bacteria can get trapped under the fake tooth. This situation increases the risk of decay to the anchor teeth, but it can also irritate gums, increasing the risk of gum disease. You'll likely need special floss to clean under the bridge.

You can, however, purchase a removable bridge . Many professional services can set you up with a special removable bridge. They use crowns or a metal framework to hold the bridge in place. This type of bridge makes it easier to clean your teeth, gums, and the bridge.

4. Made From Various Materials

Bridges are made from various materials, including metal, composite, and porcelain. Metal bridges are the more durable option, but they are unattractive, making them better for back teeth, which need more strength and durability.

Composite and porcelain crowns are tooth-colored, but porcelain looks more like natural teeth than composite. Porcelain crowns are the more expensive option because they correct structural and cosmetic concerns.

On front teeth, all-porcelain crowns are typically used because of their beauty, but for added strength, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are used on back teeth. Insurance may cover some cost, depending on the location in your mouth and material used.

5. Continue Following Excellent Oral Hygiene Habits

The process of getting a dental bridge permanently alters healthy teeth, but the dental bridge protects these teeth better than tooth enamel. They are almost invulnerable to bacteria and decay.

However, bridges, especially metal bridges, can irritate the gum line. Overtime, this may create small pockets between the teeth and gum, which allow bacteria to enter. The bacteria may attack the tooth's root or even the bridge structure.

For this reason, you must still follow excellent oral hygiene habits to prevent as much gum recession and tartar as possible.

Whether you want a permanent or removable bridge, we can help give you the beautiful smile you've always wanted. At New England Dental Health Services P.C., our caring staff is ready to answer your questions about dental bridges or other procedures. For more information, contact us today.

Back-to-School Tips for Healthy Smiles

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 15:12:24 GMT

The beginning of the school year often leaves parents hurrying to round up school supplies and schedule those last-minute physicals. While all of these preparations are important, you should also be aware that the school season is when students are exposed to new situations that pose a risk for their oral health.

Whether your child plays contact sports or is tempted to snack during a study break with their friends, your influence helps them stay on track with their oral hygiene. As you make your back-to-school checklist, you can use these strategies to help your child maintain a healthy smile even when they have a busy schedule.

Plan Lunches and Snacks With Teeth in Mind

School lunch breaks are often short, and your child may not always have time to brush their teeth before their next class. While your child should always brush their teeth before school, those hours of food debris sitting in their mouth can lead to serious plaque buildup.

Fortunately, you can combat this problem by packing lunches and snacks that are less likely to stick to their teeth. For instance, chips tend to break down into starch and leave a sticky residue. Swap these out for crunchy vegetables that can actually help to clean teeth and are less likely to stay in your kid's mouth.

Limit the Consumption of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are often loaded with sugar and caffeine, which is why older kids and teens sometimes turn to them for a burst of energy. Unfortunately, energy drinks are also highly acidic, and drinking them regularly can wear down the enamel on your kid's teeth.

Talk to your child about the hazards associated with energy drinks, and suggest healthier alternatives. For instance, simply staying hydrated with water helps to keep energy levels up naturally, and the water keeps their mouth from drying out during high-intensity sports.

Enforce Wearing a Mouthguard During Sports

Athletic activities are essential for helping your child stay physically fit. However, your child's favorite sport could be bad for their oral health if you don't take the right precautions. Make it a rule that your child must wear their mouthguard if they want to practice or compete.

Your child should also know how to clean their mouthguard since these devices can build up bacteria, which lead to gum infections and tooth decay. During your child's back-to-school dental visit , we can show them how to properly clean their mouthguard after every use so that it contributes to better oral health.

Take Steps to Reduce Tooth Damage Caused by Stress

Students experience more stress during the school year that may manifest in oral behaviors. For example, your child may grind their teeth at night if they are stressed out about their grades or a social situation. Eventually, this can lead to tooth problems such as cracks or worn-down biting surfaces.

Create an open atmosphere at home so that your child knows that they can talk to you about stress. You should also watch for signs that stress is affecting your child's oral health. For example, a child who complains that their jaw hurts or who has headaches frequently may be clenching their teeth at night.

Put Together a School-Friendly Oral Hygiene Kit

Students who are constantly rushing from one class or extracurricular event to another may forget to brush their teeth even once they get home. Yet seeing a toothbrush in their backpack can make them remember to brush during little pockets of time when they have a break.

As you put together your child's school supplies, create a small hygiene kit that they can stash in their backpack or locker. Just a travel-sized toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste can go a long way toward preventing cavities.

At New England Dental Health Services PC, we love helping students keep up their oral health along with their grades. Give us a call today to make an appointment that fits into your child's new school schedule.

Practical Things You Can Do to Prevent Gum Disease

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:19:10 GMT

Gum disease is a common but potentially devastating disease. It's an infection that's caused by bacteria from plaque buildup. Also called periodontal disease, gum disease can ultimately cause tooth loss and other oral health problems. The good news is that gum disease is mostly preventable. Here are the actions you can take to prevent gum disease.

Make Brushing Your Teeth a Twice-Daily Priority

Be sure to brush your teeth twice every single day. You also need to be certain that you are brushing your teeth correctly. Be sure to brush all surfaces of your teeth. Since you need to brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, try to set a timer or play a song that you know lasts two minutes to ensure that you brush for an adequate length of time.

Take Other Daily Dental Care Habits Seriously

A lot of people think that if they brush their teeth every day, they are taking good enough care of their teeth and gums. However, it's more complicated than that. Flossing and swishing with mouthwash every day further protects your mouth against periodontal disease.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends flossing daily for many good reasons. Flossing or cleaning between your teeth with another interdental cleaning device helps remove bacteria and debris that can be left behind when you brush your teeth. You only need to floss once per day, and you should make this a daily habit.

Swishing with mouthwash is another tool to help you prevent gum disease. Select a mouthwash that has been formulated to kill bacteria. An over-the-counter mouthwash is often sufficient, but you may also discuss possible prescription mouthwashes with your dentist. A high-quality antimicrobial mouthwash can help your overall dental health and prevent bad breath.

Stop Smoking as Soon as Possible

Smoking is bad for you on so many levels. It harms nearly all your body's organs. In fact, it is the most prevalent preventable cause of death in the United States. It can put you at an increased risk for developing gum disease as well as other diseases like cancer. Try to stop smoking and otherwise using tobacco as soon as possible.

If you have a difficult time quitting smoking, you're not alone. Talk to your doctor about recommended ways to quit smoking and things that can make the transition easier for you. It's also important to discuss your smoking with your dentist since it puts you at increased risk for a variety of oral health complications.

Go for Regular Dental Cleanings

Go to your dentist for professional cleanings at least twice per year. Since gum disease can occur when plaque builds up in your mouth, professional cleanings are an important tool for prevention. While the average recommendation is to get a professional dental cleaning once every six months, some people may need to go in more frequently, depending on their unique health or circumstances.

Eat a Healthy, Teeth-Friendly Diet

Getting adequate nutrition from eating a healthy, balanced diet is also an important way to prevent gum disease. This helps support your immune system and keep your gum tissue healthy. Keep your consumption of sugar to a minimum since the bacteria in your mouth thrive on it. Skipping sugary sodas and sweetened fruit drinks is especially important.

Finally, don't ignore any changes in your teeth and gums. Call your dentist if you have any concerns. You may be at a greater risk for contracting gum disease if you are getting inadequate nutrition or have health conditions that decrease your immunity. Contact New England Dental Health Services PC for your next dental checkup and be proactive about all areas of your dental health.

Prepare Your College-Bound Child for Great Oral Health

Thu, 31 May 2018 15:23:10 GMT

The finish line is in view. In the next several weeks, your child will walk across the stage and earn their high school diploma, and shortly after that, head away to college. Is your teen ready to take control of their dental health? Although this topic probably has not come up, it is an important one.

Between the stresses of a full-time course load and outside peer pressures, your child could face a lot of oral health risks while away. Learn what you can do now to protect your child's mouth, teeth, and gums.

Schedule a Checkup

Make an appointment with a dental provider at least a couple of months before the teen departs for college. The average person will have their wisdom teeth fully develop somewhere between 17 and 25 years old.

Some people go years without any problems, and others have serious issues, including impacted wisdom teeth, cysts, and infections. Most important, a dental provider can often tell whether a wisdom tooth will be problematic even before the onset of a problem.

The worst-case scenario is for your teen to be in the middle of midterms dealing with an infected wisdom tooth that could throw them off their study game or send them home with a dental emergency. Making an appointment a couple of months before they leave provides ample time for your child to recover from oral surgery, if necessary.

Have the Alcohol Talk

Many parents don't want to think about their child consuming alcohol, but the reality is that around 80% of all college students drink alcohol. And while underage drinking is illegal, it's also detrimental to oral health and adequate hydration.

When a person consumes these types of beverages, saliva production slows. The result of this decrease is dry mouth. Dry mouth can lead to foul breath, but it also creates a safe space for bacteria. Without healthy saliva levels, bacteria stay on the teeth and gums.

The stresses and peer pressure of college may also increase your child's propensity to substance abuse, which could lead to their neglecting their needs, including basic daily oral hygiene practices. Alcohol abuse also heightens your risk for oral cancer, so all parents need to educate their children about the risks.

Buy Extra Tools

If your teen is anything like the average child, you probably don't expect them to search the aisles of big box stores for bulk toiletries. So take the next step and help your teen plan by stocking up on extra tools before they head off.

First, Buy about five extra toothbrushes. You only need to change your toothbrush about once every three months. However, whenever you're sick, you should also get a new toothbrush; the extra brushes come in handy in this instance.

Since it's hard to gauge exactly how much floss your child will need, consider investing in a water flosser instead. Next, to save space, you might want to send bottles of mouthwash with your care packages. However you decide to send oral health tools, if you give the child all the tools they need, they're more likely to maintain a solid oral hygiene regimen.

You may also want to teach your teen the most effective ways to shop for hygiene tools. You can use the college years to provide your teen with supplies and guidance so that they use their independence wisely and sustain healthy habits throughout their life.

Good oral health begins with education. The more you know how to care for your oral health, the better off you are. At New England Dental Health Services PC , we are committed to working with our patients. Whether by answering questions or scheduling appointments around school breaks, we want to keep your family's smiles bright and healthy.

Why Dental Visits Are Especially Important If You Use Tobacco

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 15:28:32 GMT

Tobacco use affects your oral health in many ways. Regular tobacco use can cause serious damage to your overall health (including cardiovascular and lung disease), which you likely already know about, but it also can cause serious oral health issues.

You should see the dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings. When you use tobacco, this practice is extra important; here are just a few reasons why.

You Require More Intensive Oral Cleaning

Tobacco use exposes your mouth to harmful chemicals and bacteria that a non-tobacco user doesn't have to worry about. For ideal oral health, you should use a toothpaste and mouthwash designed for tobacco users. These products contain harsher cleaning agents to whisk away the bacteria and chemical residue that can lead to jaw bone density loss and tooth decay.

Everyone should floss and brush their teeth twice a day, but as a tobacco user, you require more intensive monitoring by your dentist to ensure you are caring for your teeth. Your dentist will prescribe a special mouthwash or toothpaste to battle bad breath and bone density loss caused by tobacco use and may require more than two cleanings a year to keep your oral health in check.

You Are At Higher Risk for Gum Disease

Tobacco users are at least three more likely to develop gum disease than non-tobacco users. Chemicals found in tobacco smoke or chewing tobacco juices cause inflammation of the gums and can even cause them to recede.

Signs of gum disease include:

Bleeding gums
Swollen or retracting gums
Painful gums
Dark red, purple, or black gums

Flossing regularly will help delay or prevent gum disease in addition to your regular teeth brushing habits.

You Are At Higher Risk of Oral Cancer

Although people who have never used tobacco can get an oral cancer diagnosis, the use of the substance increases your chances of the disease. Your dentist will check your mouth for signs of oral cancer, which often come in the form of mouth sores, white patches inside the mouth, or swollen tongue or lymph nodes.

Caught early, oral cancer is very treatable and often has a positive recovery rate. Without regular dental visits, however, if you develop mouth cancers, you may not know the signs to watch out for and may not be diagnosed with tobacco-related mouth cancers until the disease has progressed.

You Are At Greater Risk for Tooth Loss

Tobacco users are at a higher risk for tooth loss because of two main factors. The first is gum disease, which you now know tobacco users are more prone to get. Gum disease causes your gums to pull away from your jaw bone, which exposes tooth nerves (which can lead to tooth loss).

The second reason is loss of bone density. Your jaw bone holds all of your teeth in place, but the chemicals in tobacco leech your body of the nutrients it needs to keep your overall bone structure healthy. Weak bone density in your jaw makes you more susceptible to tooth loss.

Quitting the use of tobacco has almost immediate effects; if you are a smoker, for example, your heart rate returns to near normal after 20 minutes of non-tobacco use. Speak to your dentist about the oral benefits of quitting tobacco.

Taking care of your teeth is essential to having a fuller, healthier smile. When you use tobacco, you have to be extra careful to ensure the health of your teeth and gums to prevent tooth loss and other serious issues.

Your dentist will give you advice on how to properly take care of your oral health. See our team of dental experts at New England Dental Health Services PC today.

5 Reasons To Prioritize Professional Teeth Cleanings

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 15:35:50 GMT

You know that dental professionals recommend scheduling teeth cleanings every six months. But if you're consistent and proactive with your oral hygiene routine, you may wonder if these regular routine teeth cleanings are truly necessary.

In this blog, we discuss five reasons why you should prioritize your standard teeth cleaning appointments, regardless of the oral care steps you take at home.

1. Bolstered Oral Hygiene

You brush and floss daily as recommended, so why take the extra step of having your teeth cleaned by a hygienist? No matter how efficient you are with your at-home oral hygiene routine, some steps will always be missing.

For example, many patients have spots where plaque and tartar build up because their toothbrush doesn't effectively reach that area. Your dentist's staff has the tools and expertise necessary to clean your teeth completely.

This boost in your oral hygiene every six months can further improve the steps you take on a daily basis. Additionally, these cleanings take care of persistent issues that can't be addressed at home, like foodrelated discoloration.

2. Early Disease Detection

Many serious diseases first appear in the mouth. When you come in for a dental cleaning, you're also submitting to routine screenings for several diseases, including oral cancer.

Your dentist may also discuss your symptoms to determine whether or not you're experiencing periodontitis, sleep apnea, bone loss, and other conditions. These regular trips to the dentist ensure that potentially serious diseases are detected and treated as early as possible to minimize their effects.

Even if you don't yet have an oral health condition, cleanings are an opportunity for your dentist to evaluate your risk factors and provide up-to-date patient education materials for your use. To maximize this benefit, always update your medical history and medication list when something changes.

3. Lower Long-Term Dental Costs

You know after you've missed several cleanings that you can expect to schedule one or two fillings and other secondary procedures afterward. But what if you didn't end up needing those secondary procedures?

When you prioritize regular cleanings, you reduce the effects of tooth decay and give yourself the opportunity to optimize the oral hygiene methods you already use, as we'll discuss in the next section. When you go in for cleanings as recommended, you decrease your overall dental costs in the long run.

4. Optimized Oral Care

As mentioned in section one, many patients have problem areas in their mouths. Your problem area could be a physical portion of your teeth that need better or different care, or even a product you use that does more harm than good.

When you come in for a cleaning, you have the opportunity to discuss your current oral hygiene routine and its effects with an experienced dental professional. Your dentist may recommend different products, tools, or techniques to make your oral hygiene even more effective.

5. Reduced Oral Health Risks

All of the other reasons to prioritize teeth cleanings listed here contribute to one persuasive fact: people who have more regular cleanings are less likely to experience serious oral health problems over the course of their lives.

Specifically, studies used by the American Dental Association (ADA) show a correlation between tooth retention and teeth cleanings. You are less likely to deal with tooth loss in the future if you have regular cleanings now.

Make regular professional teeth cleanings part of the oral health care routine for every member of your family to ensure that you all have your brightest, healthiest possible smiles.

For expert routine and specialized dental care for patients of all ages, trust the experienced team at New England Dental Health Services PC.

Are They Tricks or Treats? 4 Halloween Treats and Your Teeth

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 15:40:05 GMT

During the Halloween season, many of us eat foods we don't eat at other times of the year. While these foods can taste great, we need to think about how they may affect the health of our teeth.

Some of these foods are treats because they are both tasty and good for the health of our teeth. However, others are considered more of a trick than a treat because while they look tempting, they can cause problems for our dental health. Here are just a few examples of seasonal treats and how they affect your teeth.

1. Candy

Halloween is everyone's favorite time of year to binge on Halloween candy. While a few pieces here and there can be okay, significantly increasing your candy intake can have a negative impact on your dental health.

When you eat candy that contains sugar, harmful bacteria in your mouth will try to eat that sugar. As a result of eating sugar, the bacteria create acids. These acids can cause cavities to form in your teeth, which can weaken your teeth and cause you pain.

If you minimize your sugar intake, your teeth can take care of themselves. Your saliva adds new minerals to your teeth to reverse the effects of acid damage. However, the more candy you eat, the harder it is for your teeth to keep up with protecting themselves - and that's when cavities and decay appear.

2. Pumpkin

Pumpkin can actually be a treat for your teeth because it contains healthy minerals that strengthen them. Pumpkin is high in zinc, which can improve the health of your gums and teeth. In fact, being low in zinc weakens your teeth and other bones in your body.

Pumpkin is also high in vitamin A and vitamin C, which protect your immune system from diseases, including oral infections. And it contains magnesium, which can help strengthen tooth enamel.

Foods like pumpkin soup can be delicious and nutritious. But be careful about eating too many pumpkin treats like pumpkin cookies, muffins and bread - they often contain a lot of sugar.

3. Pumpkin-Flavored Drinks

While pumpkin itself can boost your dental health, pumpkin-flavored drinks trick us by appearing healthy when they're not. They typically contain a lot of sugar (pumpkin spice lattes have around 12 teaspoons of sugar), which can lead to cavities and decay. Plus, pumpkin-flavored drinks can stain and discolor your teeth.

Keep in mind that pumpkin-themed drinks may not even contain pumpkin. For example, pumpkin spice-flavored drinks feature spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. If a pumpkin-flavored drink does contain pumpkin, the health benefits of the pumpkin are swallowed by the other sugary ingredients. So while pumpkin-flavored drinks can be tasty treats, they shouldn't be viewed as healthy drink choices.

4. Donuts

Donuts are many people's treat of choice during the Halloween season. Many people even eat donuts for breakfast. But this really isn't a good idea. Eating a sugary donut first thing in the morning floods your teeth and mouth in sugar.

The American Heart Association recommends that women eat no more than 25 grams of sugar a day and men eat no more than 36 grams of sugar a day. One glazed donut contains 10 grams of sugar, which is almost half of your daily sugar allotment if you're a woman.

Halloween involves all kinds of tempting foods that you don't eat as often as other times during the year. But while these foods seem like delicious treats, they quickly turn into tricks by slyly damaging your teeth, mouth and gums.

An occasional Halloween treat is okay, but eating too many Halloween treats can damage your dental health. Protect your teeth from damage by getting a thorough cleaning by dental professionals. Call New England Dental Health Services PC today to set an appointment.

The Dangers of Grinding Your Teeth

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:45:25 GMT

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, affects about 10 percent of people. This habit might be common, but that does not make it any less harmful to your oral health. The more often you grind your teeth, the more damage you can do. Whether you grind your teeth because of stress or boredom, it is best to quit the habit as soon as possible. Let's take a look at some of the dangers of teeth grinding.

Tooth Damage

If you constantly grind your teeth, you're likely causing significant damage to your teeth. Putting all that pressure on your teeth can wear down the enamel, which can flatten and loosen the teeth. With no enamel, your teeth can also become more susceptible to bacteria and experience decay.

Migraines

When you grind down on your teeth, it can cause tightness to the masseter and temporalis muscles. Because these muscles are connected to the fifth cranial nerve, they can lead to migraines. Migraines lead to several unpleasant symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and throbbing pain in the head.

Jaw Pain

If you suffer from bruxism, you may also experience pain and soreness in your jaw in the morning. You may even experience this pain and discomfort throughout the entire rest of your day and have trouble opening and closing your mouth.

Tips for Stopping Teeth Grinding

Now that you are more aware of the harmful side effects of teeth grinding, you might have more motivation to quit. However, as with most habits, stopping teeth grinding can be quite difficult at first. Here are a few tips on how to quit this habit once and for all:

• Learn how to manage your stress . Stress is one of the most common causes of bruxism. When you feel overwhelmed, you may use teeth grinding as a coping mechanism. Instead of doing this, try healthier stress reduction exercises, such as meditation or yoga. These activities can help calm your mind and make you feel less stressed. If you engage in these relaxation techniques when you feel stressed, you might not feel the need to grind your teeth anymore.

• Avoid alcohol before bedtime . It is not a good idea to drink alcoholic beverages too close to bedtime because they can affect your quality of sleep. If you are not resting properly, you may be more likely to grind your teeth.

• Relax your jaw . Another effective way to stop grinding your teeth is to relax your jaw muscles before you go to bed. Just place a damp washcloth over your jaw for a few minutes.

• Correct a misaligned bite . If you have a misaligned bite, you may unintentionally grind your teeth. Consider making an appointment with your dentist and talking about correcting the issue. Your dentist may suggest several treatments for a misaligned bite, like braces or bridges .

• Do not chew on non-food items . If you often chew on non-food items, such as pens or pencils, your jaw will get used to clamping. Avoid chewing on these items to help relax your jaw.

• Get a custom mouth guard . If you are not able to stop grinding your teeth while you sleep, you may want to talk to your dentist about getting a custom mouth guard. This device fits comfortably into your mouth and can prevent you from clenching down on your teeth at night.

Teeth grinding is a harmful habit, but you have the power to stop it. If you want to learn more information about teeth grinding and its effects on your health, you may want to contact the professionals at New England Dental Health Services PC.

Searching For a Brighter Smile? 4 Reasons to Have Your Teeth Whitened Professionally

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:50:10 GMT

Many patients who wish to beautify their smiles start by using whitening to correct discoloration from age, diet and other factors. Once you've decided to try whitening, you may feel tempted to pick up an at-home kit the next time you go grocery shopping.

While at-home whitening can work for some people, you should always check with your dentist before starting a new oral health regimen. It's particularly important to discuss your tooth whitening options with a dentist because improper whitening can have lasting effects on your smile.

In this blog, we discuss four reasons that professional whitening is usually a better choice than at-home whitening.

1. Alternative Options

Tooth discoloration can occur for numerous reasons. When you receive whitening from a dentist, you know you're getting the treatment that works best for the discoloration you're combating.

For example, at-home kits cannot treat internal discoloration that can occur after a root canal, but your dentist can use a cosmetic veneer on your teeth instead.

Additionally, your dentist can provide you with a range of different options to ensure that the whitening method you use fits into your lifestyle. For example, if you would rather not take the time to have the full procedure done at the dentist’s office, he may give you whitening trays to use at home instead.

2. Brighter Results

The equipment, bleaching solutions and personalized insight used in a dentist's office mean that professional whitening almost always provides brighter, whiter results. Dental equipment provides more even, effective solution application, while medical-grade bleaching solutions work harder and faster.

Additionally, as mentioned in the section above, your dentist factors in your health, dental history and personal concerns to specifically treat the problem areas you're most worried about.

3. Cost-Effective Treatment

Many patients who turn to at-home whitening do so because they assume that it's a more affordable option than professional treatment. While the initial cost of at-home whitening is lower than the cost of an in-office procedure, the overall cost of buying multiple at-home products over time can add up.

At-home treatments can become particularly expensive because they often take several weeks or even months before you know if the whitening is working. You may end up trying multiple solutions before finding one that makes a difference in the appearance of your teeth.

Additionally, at-home whitening treatment comes with certain risks, discussed in the next section, which could result in more dental costs later on.

When you have your teeth whitened professionally, the results are predictable, and therefore more cost-effective in the long run.

4. Fewer Risks

While tooth whitening is generally not dangerous, patients can experience unpleasant side effects during and after the procedure. One of the most common side effects of whitening is increased tooth sensitivity.

Your tooth sensitivity is highly likely to increase after using at-home whitening treatments, including whitening toothpaste, because these solutions often use strong abrasives to remove residue from tooth enamel.

Incorrect application of at-home whitening solutions can result in staining that may be difficult to correct. Additionally, at-home whitening treatment can increase your risk of oral infections, especially if the bleaching solution is stored in improper conditions.

Having your whitening procedure handled by an experienced professional minimizes the risks involved and gives you ready access to aftercare when needed, such as prescription sensitivity toothpaste to counterbalance the whitening process.

Your dentist can help you decide whether professional or at-home whitening is a better choice for your budget, health and smile goals.

Ready to start achieving your best smile? Talk to a dentist at New England Health Services PC about professional tooth whitening today.

Routine Dental Exams: A Tool for Detecting Celiac Disease in Children

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 15:55:00 GMT

Celiac disease is a progressive autoimmune disorder that usually develops slowly over time. In simpler terms, celiac disease is when's the body is unable to tolerate the protein gluten, which is found in cereal grains such as wheat, rye, graham flour, barley, and oats. The disease causes common symptoms like chronic diarrhea or constipation, cramps, abdominal bloating, and weight loss.

Symptoms in children may also include vomiting, irritability, changes in behavior, growth delays, and problems with tooth enamel. Although your family dentist can't diagnose the disorder, dental screening helps detect early signs of celiac disease in children, particularly if there is a family history of the disease.

Early Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

While the diagnosis of celiac disease is based on blood tests that check for high levels of certain antibodies in the blood and an endoscopic biopsy of the small intestine, oral health issues in young children are often an early clue to the disease. Celiac disease in children often comes on during enamel formation, causing weakened dental enamel. Celiac disease can affect a child's oral health in a variety of ways, including the following:

Dental enamel defects in permanent teeth
Slow loss of baby teeth
Delayed eruption of permanent teeth
Aphthous ulcers, more commonly known as canker sores, inside the mouth
Atrophic glossitis—smooth, shiny tongue
Higher risk of dental cavities

Not all children suffer digestive or bowel-related symptoms at first, so you need to look for other signs of celiac disease. Damage to tooth enamel that causes grooves or pits may be a sign that something more than a dental problem is occurring.

Dental Enamel Defects

Although defects in dental enamel can be caused by certain antibiotics, too much fluoride, or genetic disease, celiac disease is another potential cause that your dentist should not overlook. The teeth of children with celiac disease may look discolored with white, brown, or yellow spots; be shaped abnormally; or appear translucent.

Adults with celiac disease suffer dental enamel defects less often than children if onset of the disease occurs after tooth development is complete. However, if celiac disease goes undiagnosed or untreated until adulthood, damage to dental enamel may lead to cosmetic dental treatments or tooth extractions in severe cases.

Treatment for Celiac Disease

Following the diagnosis of the disease, treatment involves eliminating gluten from your child's diet. Although there is no cure for the disease, a gluten-free diet prevents additional damage to the villi in the small intestine, which absorb nutrients.

Since ingesting just small amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms, even routine dental care requires the use of gluten-free dental products, including the fluoride, polishing paste, and fluoride varnish your child's dentist uses during treatment. Your child should also use gluten-free toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash for his or her daily dental care.

Some over-the-counter and prescription medications or vitamins your child takes may contain gluten as well. Because wheat flour, which contains varying levels of gluten, is often used as a binding agent in the manufacture of tablets and capsules, look for labels that read gluten-free.

Once your child consumes a gluten-free diet, his or her celiac disease symptoms should begin going away as the intestines recover. As a result, he or she will be able to absorb nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, and magnesium—nutrients that contribute to the formation of strong teeth and bones.

Screening for Celiac Disease

It is important to s creen for celiac disease if your child shows any symptoms of the disease, has a parent or sibling with celiac disease, or suffers another autoimmune disorder such as Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or autoimmune thyroid disease.

The disease isn't always easy to diagnose, but digestive symptoms and dental enamel defects are common in children, which can be signs of celiac disease, so you should be aware of these symptoms. Early detection and diagnosis help prevent long-term health complications, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, iron deficiency anemia, low bone density, nerve problems, and oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers later in life.

If celiac disease runs in your family and you are concerned about your child's dental health, the experienced dental staff at New England Dental Health Services PC can keep a watchful eye out for common oral indications of the disease.

How to Keep Your Gums Healthy

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:59:38 GMT

Gum tissue is highly intricate and susceptible to various types of damage and disease. Taking care of your gums involves more than just brushing and flossing every day. However, those are important activities you should make sure you do routinely.

Quit Smoking

Tobacco has the potential to seriously damage gum tissue. If you currently smoke, you should start taking steps to quit. Quitting smoking will do a lot more good for your body than only giving you healthy gums .

Be Aware of Symptoms

Even if your gums start developing gingivitis, you should still be proactive. Addressing the issue early on will allow you to circumvent much more serious issues down the road. Some of the early warning signs include:

Loose teeth
Overly sensitive teeth
Swollen or red gum tissue
Halitosis

Store Toothbrush Properly

You want to ensure your toothbrush remains as germ-free as can be. This means leaving it out in the open as opposed to keeping it in a stored container. Closing your toothbrush off from the environment will only encourage the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms.

If your gums are healthy, then you can be confident your teeth will be healthy as well. Another way to protect your gums is to see a dentist regularly, call New England Dental Health Services PC in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

The Benefits Of Teeth Whitening

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 16:09:07 GMT

A smile can radiate health and vitality, especially if that smile involves bright and white teeth. If you have been thinking about whitening your teeth but haven’t yet taken the plunge, here are three benefits that may help you decide to get your teeth whitened.

Better Smile

Professional teeth whitening can help your smile to look better overall. Even teeth that are not perfectly straight can look less crooked when they are whitened. A straighter, brighter smile is simply a better smile.

Increased Self Confidence

Whitening your teeth can help you to feel better about yourself and your appearance. You won’t need to worry about stained and discolored teeth when you are smiling and talking, and there will be no need to concern yourself with wondering whether or not people are judging you for your yellow smile.

Easy Procedure

Whitening your teeth can help you to smile easily and without thought, leading to a better mood as well as plenty of pictures that showcase your pearly whites. Smiling easier can also make you appear more approachable and attractive to others.

Don’t let a yellow smile get in the way of your happiness. You can gain a better, brighter smile along with improved confidence when you choose to whiten your teeth. To learn more about the benefits of teeth whitening, call New England Dental Health Services PC in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

What to Expect Before Getting a Root Canal Procedure

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 16:08:20 GMT

A root canal is an innovative procedure that can preserve your smile and improve your overall oral health. Knowing what to expect before and during this dental process is an important factor in choosing your treatment plan, and in selecting a reliable dental professional to complete your procedure.

Removal of the Infection

When the interior or pulp of your tooth becomes infected, the tooth begins to die. Without intervention, there is no way to save your natural tooth. During the procedure, the tooth is drilled, exposing the interior where soft tissue is located. This diseased tissue is then removed, and the area is thoroughly cleaned to eliminate infection and bacteria.

You Will Keep Your Natural Tooth

Once the infection is removed, the tooth must be crowned or capped to seal out bacteria and to ensure a strong structure. Chewing, talking, laughing and oral hygiene are the same as before the procedure because your natural tooth is still firmly secured in your jawbone. Bone structure and density remain healthy because the tooth remains in place.

Relief From Pain

Before the procedure, you probably felt discomfort and oral pain. Once successfully completed, your root canal provides permanent relief from any discomfort, allowing you to enjoy talking, eating and drinking normally. To learn more about how to save your tooth with a root canal, call New England Dental Health Services PC in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

Five Signs You May Have a Cavity

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:13:42 GMT

Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may still develop a cavity in or between your teeth at some point in your life. Sometimes, cavities occur with no warning, but other times, you may have an idea that something is not quite right. Here are 5 signs that you may need to see your dentist about a cavity.

Sensitivity: Teeth can become sensitive to extreme hot or cold temperatures if a cavity is present.
Aches and Pains: A dull tooth ache is a pretty clear indication you need to see a dentist. Sharp pain when you bite on something hard or when you chew can also mean a cavity has formed.
Pitfalls: If you notice any pitting or small holes on your teeth, including between teeth or on the chewing surface, you may indeed need a filling.
Stains and spots: Stains or discolorations on teeth can be due to food and beverages, such as coffee, tea and blueberries. If the stains or dark spots persist, it could be that you have a cavity.
Oral Odor: Bad breath is a less obvious sign of a cavity, but it can still point to tooth decay, and if left untreated, can turn into a cavity.

Cavities no longer mean a mouth full of silver amalgams, as dentists can use a variety of materials, including gold and natural composite, depending on where the cavity is located. If you would like more information about treating cavities, call New England Dental Health Services PC in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

How Dentures Help get Your Smile Back

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 16:33:00 GMT

When you have lost a significant number of your teeth, it is in your best interest to get them replaced so that you can eat and talk like before. Dentures are a viable restorative method that many people have already benefited from.

Getting Used to Them

For the first few days you have your dentures, they may feel a little funny. This is completely normal. Once you have used them for a little bit, they will feel much better.

Eating and Speaking

Once you get used to wearing your new dentures, you will be ready to eat and talk with them. Your dentures will allow you to accomplish these tasks with ease. Pronouncing certain words might take some practice, but after more time, you will be talking just like you used to.

Taking Care of Oral Health

Even with dentures, you still need to brush your gums and tongue in order to remove any harmful bacteria. This will reduce your likelihood of developing periodontal disease. You will also want to brush your dentures with the proper tools.

Dentures look completely natural, so you have nothing to worry about if your dentist recommends getting them as a restoration. If you want to learn more about dentures or other dental options available to you, call New England Dental Health Services PC in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 16:42:14 GMT

It can be a real inconvenience to lose a tooth. However, you have nothing to fear. Dental crowns are available, and there are some great advantages associated with them.

Smile Looks Good as New

Dental crowns are constructed to look just like natural teeth, so your smile will look brand new once the crown is in place. You will not have to deal with any unattractive gaps in your smile with a crown.

Resistant Against Stains

Most crowns are made out of porcelain. This material does not develop stains, so your restoration will look amazing for quite a while.

A Durable Solution

As long as you take care of your teeth, you can expect your crown to last up to 15 years. If you have a tendency to grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about getting a mouth guard to protect your crown.

Renewed Speaking and Eating Capabilities

Your teeth play an important role in how you talk. Losing a tooth affects that, but a crown restores your speech to normal. A crown also makes it easier to eat, whereas a gap would make it difficult to chew certain foods.

To see if a crown is right for your dental situation, contact New England Dental Health Center in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

Three Tips for Whiter Teeth

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 16:51:49 GMT

A whiter smile makes you happier, more confident and more willing to show your smile off to the world. Over time, however, teeth can look dull or even yellow. Use the following tips to help you keep a whiter smile.

Eat Crisp Foods

Firm, crisp foods, sometimes known as detergent foods, help your smile stay white by rubbing away bacteria and light staining as you chew. Apples are the best food for this purpose, but raw carrots and popcorn are other popular choices. Detergent foods are especially helpful if you eat them as the last part of your meal when you can't brush your teeth directly after eating.

Avoid Dark Food and Drinks

Dark soda, coffee, juice and wine can all cause permanent staining to your teeth, especially if you drink them often. When drinking dark drinks, use a straw to help prevent staining. It is also important to avoid dark berries unless you can brush right after eating them.

Add Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Regimen

Baking soda and apple cider vinegar have properties that work to remove stains from your teeth. Gargle apple cider vinegar in the morning before brushing your teeth to help remove stains and kill bacteria. Use baking soda instead of regular toothpaste once per week to further whiten teeth.

Home remedies are a good start to a whiter smile, but it is also important to have regular cleaning appointments at your dentist's office. To learn more about teeth whitening , contact New England Dental Health Center in Orange at 203-799-3311 .

Three Ways to Promote Your Child’s Healthy Dental Habits

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 16:58:18 GMT

A healthy smile promotes general health and helps to turn a bad day upside down. Teaching your child healthy dental habits ensures that her smile will be healthy and beautiful throughout her life.

Promote Healthy Smiles From the Beginning

Even before children have teeth, they should be taught to be proactive for dental health. Using an infant brush to gently clean gums can help establish a healthy pattern and can be especially comforting for children who are teething.

Make Oral Hygiene a Treat

One of the biggest mistakes parents make with young children is rewarding them with candy but treating oral hygiene like a chore. Guide children to embrace healthy habits by including great oral hygiene products whenever treats are given, especially at holidays when candy abounds.

Make Going to the Dentist an Adventure

Affirm the value of a trip to the dentist by making it into a family adventure or special day for just you and your child. Associating a trip to the dentist with family fun helps make healthy teeth a reality rather than just a dream.

Many adults have very fond memories of their pediatric dentists. Perhaps those adults had parents who understood how to offset the foibles of childhood that lead to poor dental habits. Visit New England Dental Health Services PC in Orange or Meriden to find a comforting dentist for your whole family.