How Pregnancy Can Affect Oral Health

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Are you thinking about starting a family, are you pregnant, or have you recently given birth? It is such an exciting time to experience any of these stages. Whether you are planning out the future of your family, growing a new life, or adjusting to a life with a newborn, we know you probably aren’t thinking about your oral health. You may be surprised to learn that pregnancy can greatly impact the state of your oral health. Pregnancy hormones can make you more susceptible to decay and gum disease. Below are recommendations for dealing with your oral health during all stages of pregnancy.

How To Protect Your Teeth

Bruxism, Caring Dental of Spotswood, Oral Health, Patient Education

Do you live a stressful life? Many things in your daily life can cause stress, such as your work schedule, activities with children, volunteer obligations, home projects… the list goes on. Each person handles stress differently. For some, it affects their bodies. They might overeat, experience weight gain, or have health complications such as high blood pressure. For others, it affects their oral health. Stress often comes out through clenching and grinding your teeth. This is known as bruxism. Read on to learn more about this condition, how to spot the signs, and treatment.

What Is Dental Plaque And How Do We Clean It Off the Teeth?

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Do you often find that your teeth feel slimy or fuzzy and not very clean? If so, you may have plaque buildup on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that coats the teeth and is caused by the bacteria from food and beverages that are introduced into the mouth. Plaque is easy to remove, but failure to do so properly can lead to a number of problems. When plaque is not removed from your mouth, it will continue to accumulate and turn into tartar. Tartar can lead to issues such as decay and gum disease.

Lifestyle And Oral Health

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

At Caring Dental of Spotswood, we care greatly about your oral and overall health. We see each patient for such a short time over the span of a year, and we want them to be able to care for their oral health properly. When a patient maintains their routine appointments and has an effective oral hygiene routine, it eliminates the likelihood of experiencing a dental emergency or the need for restorative treatments. There are certain lifestyle choices that can negatively impact your oral health, and while these habits might not be affecting your oral health now, they will most certainly lead to problems in the future. Here are lifestyle choices that can negatively affect your oral health:

Medications And Oral Health

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Patients are often surprised to learn that, many times, there is a link between your oral and overall health. This is one of the reasons we request that patients update us on their medical history each time they visit the office. There are many conditions and medications that can affect your oral health and lead to complications in the future. The more we know about your overall health, the more we can prepare for the way we care for your oral health. For example, patients with certain heart conditions will need to take an antibiotic before treatment. Other medications may increase your likelihood of developing decay and other issues.

Are Bad Dental Habits Harming Your Teeth?

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

At Caring Dental of Spotswood, we do everything we can to keep your teeth and mouth in optimal health; however, we can only do so much in the short time that we see you each year. For the remainder of the year, your dental habits have the biggest effect on the state of your overall oral health. You may be surprised to learn that certain things you do on a daily basis are having a negative effect on your oral health and can lead to serious and expensive complications in the future. We want to share some bad dental habits that could be causing damage to your oral health:

Why After-Care Is Just As Important As The Treatment Itself

Caring Dental of Spotswood, Patient Education

Do you have an upcoming appointment for a treatment we recommended? Or have you been meaning to call to schedule but you keep forgetting? If you have been postponing treatment, now is the perfect time to schedule your appointment. With spring and summer right around the corner, there is no better time to make sure your oral health is in top shape. For any patient with an upcoming treatment, we want to take a moment to stress the importance of following our post-treatment care instructions. Failure to follow these instructions can lead to serious discomfort, not to mention complications related to treatment. Continue reading to learn more.

What’s That Smell? What Your Bad Breath is Trying to Tell You

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Do you find yourself constantly reaching for a mint or gum to mask your breath? It is common to experience bad breath after enjoying certain foods such as coffee or an Italian feast full of garlic, but after you thoroughly brush your teeth, your breath should be fresh again. Bad breath can be a problem when you find yourself constantly dealing with the issue. It can be embarrassing and cause anxiety. Persistent bad breath is a sign that you are experiencing an issue with your oral health.

Caring For Your Oral Health When You Are Under the Weather

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Since we are in the middle of December, we know that many of our patients are in the thick of their holiday celebrations and plans. Whether you are enjoying traditions with family and friends that you didn’t get to experience last year or you are taking a much needed trip or vacation, the winter sniffles and other illnesses can crop up at any moment. While we hope all of our patients remain healthy during this time, occasional illnesses are always possible. If you should happen to fall ill, there are certain changes that you should be making to help your oral health and help improve your overall health.

How To Stay Smiling Bright All Summer Long

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Summer in NJ is a magical time. Whether you head to the shore, hang poolside, head outdoors to enjoy your favorite outdoor spot, or take a quick train ride to the city, there is much to do and see. We are lucky that we have so many close destinations available to enjoy without needing to take a long road trip or vacation. This year, we are finally able to enjoy many of the activities that we missed out on last summer. While you are having summer fun, we encourage you to remember some important tips to ensure that your mouth remains healthy and emergency free. Continue reading to learn more.