Why Choose Water To Drink?

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

What is your favorite beverage to drink? Do you love a sugary coffee drink from your local coffee shop? Or perhaps you find yourself reaching for a soft drink in the heat of summer. Even though these choices may be delicious, it’s important to be sure to drink them on occasion and not frequently. You may be surprised at the amount of sugar in popular drinks such as specialty coffees, soft drinks, sports beverages, and even juice. It can be more than eating a candy bar!

Why Aftercare Instructions Are So Important

Caring Dental of Spotswood, Emergency Dentistry, Oral Health, Patient Education

We know that the ultimate goal for our patients is to achieve optimum oral health. As much as we all strive for that, it is not always the reality. Thankfully, we offer a number of dental treatments that can fix any oral health issue you may be experiencing. While it is critical to schedule your treatment appointments on time, it is also critical to follow any care instructions before your treatment and during recovery. Failure to do so can negatively impact the results of the treatment. Read on to learn more.

Help Your Teen Facilitate Positive Oral Health Habits

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Oral Health, Patient Education

At Caring Dental of Spotswood, we encourage our patients of all ages to be proactive about their dental health. This means maintaining an oral hygiene routine at home and visiting our office for routine hygiene examinations. While we know that our young patients need an adult’s help to do this, we want to encourage our teen patients to take more initiative with their oral health. We were once teens too, and we know how difficult this age can be. They are testing their wings and learning how to become functioning adults. Unfortunately, with this learning curve come some difficult times. From time to time, we see our teen patients put their oral health on the back burner, and we do not want to encourage this behavior.

Is It Time?

Caring Dental of Spotswood, General Dentistry, Patient Education

Are you or a loved one due for an oral hygiene examination appointment? Patients with an outstanding oral hygiene routine sometimes feel they don’t need to visit for routine appointments because they are cleaning their teeth thoroughly at home. Unfortunately, that is simply not true. Everyone, no matter how excellent their oral health is, should be visiting our office regularly for a routine examination and cleaning. Read on to learn more about why regular dental appointments are so important.

Now Welcoming Children!

Caring Dental of Spotswood, Patient Education, Pediatric Dentistry

We have exciting news! We are now seeing children ages three and up in our office for their oral health needs. We know that schedules are busy, especially when children are involved, and it can be difficult to schedule appointments for your family at various medical offices. We are thrilled we can take away some of that burden and welcome your entire family to our office for dental care. Read on to learn more about this exciting news and how to help prepare your child for their visit to our office.

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.