Dentist 20852

Dentist 20852 | Guarding against tooth decay and gum disease can be deceptively simple, but it is not always easy. Although most people are aware of the basics of oral care, protecting your healthy smile involves willpower and diligence.

For those wanting to avoid unnecessary visits to the dental office, contact our dentist 20852  are advised to arm themselves with knowledge to keep tooth decay and periodontal disease at bay.

Avoiding Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

To begin, let’s look at what we are trying to prevent. Tooth decay and gum disease are serious conditions that can lead to expensive and complicated dental procedures. If they progress unchecked, they can even cause the loss of your teeth.

The main threat to your teeth and gums is the presence of sugar in your mouth. The sugar gets there through the consumption of sugary foods and beverages like simple carbohydrates and sugars. Some common foods and beverages that fall into this category include:

• Sugary and acidic sodas
• Chips, cake and cookies
• Many fruit juices
• Candy

As sugar remains in contact with your teeth, it produces something called plaque. Plaque is a film that sticks to your teeth and creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Plaque produces acids that eat away at your tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay. It can also irritate the gums surrounding and supporting your teeth, leading to periodontal disease. Left undetected and untreated, gum disease can eventually cause your teeth to loosen and fall out.

Eating a Balanced Diet

It is essential to eat a balanced diet so that your body has all of the nutrients available to support your teeth and gums, which includes a healthy immune system.

Two particularly important minerals for your teeth and gums are calcium and phosphorus. They are both essential in supporting healthy tooth structure. Rich food sources of phosphorus include fish, eggs, red meat, Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds. Good calcium sources include cheese, spinach, yogurt, low-fat milk, spinach and tofu.

Stay Hydrated

Water is so ubiquitous that it is easy to forget how important it is to a healthy diet, and your teeth and gums. Water makes a good alternative to sugary beverages that can harm your smile. It helps you in two ways: For one, it helps to rinse away any sugar or food debris in your mouth. Secondly, it allows your body to flush out toxins and boost your immune system.

The Bottom Line

The key takeaway is that most foods and drinks are fine in moderation. Do you remember studying the food pyramid from when you were in school? Balanced diets are the healthiest for your teeth and smile. It is okay to have an occasional indulgence. Just remember that eating a healthy diet, combined with brushing and flossing at home, is critical in maintaining a healthy, happy smile. And don’t forget to keep up with your regular dental exam and cleaning appointments.

Contact Our Dentist 20852

To receive more information about protecting your teeth and smile, reach out to our dentist 20852 today. New patients welcome.

Family Dentistry Bethesda

When it comes to family dentistry Bethesda patients expect the very best care. Family dentistry is concerned with many of the same treatments and procedures as general dentistry. This includes a focus on providing dental care for every age group.

Your family dentist is also a trusted custodian of your family dental records so that everything is available conveniently under one roof.

Let’s take a look at some common types of dental treatments offered by your family dentistry Bethesda.

Pediatric Dental Sealants

According to the American Dental Association, young children who receive dental sealants are 80% less likely to develop cavities. Sealants are applied to molars. They act as a sort of shield to prevent the teeth from coming into contact with oral bacteria and the damaging acids that they produce.

These back teeth are the most succeptible to developing tooth decay because they are sometimes hard to reach when brushing and flossing. For this reason, your family dentistry Bethesda offers sealants along with other treatments to protect your child’s smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Another commonly offered treatment at your family dentistry Bethesda, are veneers. A dental veneer is a thin sheet of material that your dentist applies to the outer surface of your teeth to correct minor aesthetic issues like chips and discoloration.

Porcelain is a type of dental veneer that is extremely durable and closely matches the appearance of natural teeth. Also, they are stain-resistant.

Receiving your new porcelain veneers takes place in two trips to your family dentistry Bethesda. First, the teeth are filed. Impressions are taken and sent to the dental lab. You are given temporary veneers to wear until your next appointment.

During your final appointment is when you will actually have your porcelain veneers placed on your teeth and cemented into place. Veneers require removal of the tooth enamel. So this is a permanent treatment, and there is no going back.

Dental Implants

Although dentures and bridges work for many people, it is hard to beat implants as a durable and aesthetically appealing replacement for natural teeth.

If you are receiving a dental implant, your dentist will place a metal post into your jawbone, which will naturally fuse around it over the following months.

Next, the abutment and crown are attached. So there is no slippage with implants, as sometimes is the case with dentures.

Dental Implant Benefits:

• Long-lasting results
• No slippage as with dentures
• Replicates both the appearance and function of natural teeth

Contact your family dentistry Bethesda

Contact Pike District Smiles, your family dentistry Bethesda. Our dental office offers a variety of dental services designed for patients of all ages. Learn more with an exam and consultation. New patients are welcome. Call 301-979-9071 or book online. We’ll see you soon.

Cosmetic Dental Implants

Cosmetic Dental Implants | If you asked a dentist or oral surgeon what type of tooth replacement option they would have themselves if needed, what would you expect their answer to be? Hint: dental implants.

It wouldn’t even be close. Although treatment options like dentures and bridges are fine choices for many people, the benefits of cosmetic dental implants are undeniable.

Cosmetic dental implants benefits:

• Avoid bone loss
• Prevents shifting of teeth into gaps in your smile
• Also prevents unpleasant facial changes due to bone loss
• Extremely durable and expected to last for a lifetime when properly cared for
• Provides both the appearance and function of actual teeth

When it comes to cosmetic dental implants, the only real drawback is that a greater upfront expense is involved.

However, you may actually come out ahead in the long run, because dentures and bridges require replacement every few years. And they can also compromise the integrity of surrounding teeth, representing additional expense.

What is a dental implant?

Cosmetic dental implants consist of a structure used to replace one or more missing teeth. Each implant consists of three basic parts: a titanium metal screw, an abutment and a crown.

Why is titanium used in implants?

When mixed with other metals, known as an alloy, titanium is an extremely strong metal that works very well with organic materials, like the soft tissues in your mouth.

Titanium should not cause any type of allergic response from your body. Your jawbone will treat your new titanium implant as a natural tooth root and naturally fuse around it to provide a firm foundation for your cosmetic dental implants.

What can I expect when receiving a dental implant?

Unless you require a bone graft procedure, your cosmetic dental implants can be placed with just two dental visits. At your first appointment, your dentist or oral surgeon will place a titanium screw into your jawbone to encourage it to grow around it and serve as a firm anchor for the entire structure.

Once your jawbone has grown around this metal post, an abutment will be placed onto it so that a dental crown can cap the entire structure. Your crown will provide both the appearance and function of a natural tooth so that you can both chew your food and proudly display your smile.

When is a bone graft necessary?

Some patients may have gone a long time with missing teeth before getting an implant. A process known as resorption tends to occur in these instances, resulting in jawbone loss.

Since an implant needs sufficient bone material to be firmly anchored within your mouth, a bone graft would be needed in this case to shore up the area so that it can receive the implant.

Learn More Today

Find out if dental implants are right for your smile! At Pike District Smiles, we offer a variety of dental services to help patients and their unique smiles. New patients are welcome! Call 301-979-9071 or book online.

Best Dentist in Bethesda MD

Best Dentist in Bethesda MD | Maintaining healthy teeth and gums helps you eat correctly and enjoy good nutritious food. Although there are a number of conditions that can have a negative impact on your oral health, proper oral hygiene should ensure that your teeth and gums remain strong and healthy as you grow older.

And if you should run into problems, your best dentist in Bethesda MD stands ready with the appropriate treatment or procedure.

Learn more about proper dental care and schedule an appointment with our best dentist in Bethesda MD!

Tooth Decay

Decay is a common issue seen by our best dentist in Bethesda MD. In brief, tooth enamel is the hard outer coat of your teeth. It helps to prevent damage to the soft interior of your tooth that could result in its loss.

A thin bacterial film called plaque is always trying to accumulate on your teeth and around your gums. This harmful plaque produces acidic substances that damage your tooth enamel, leading to the development of cavities.

Although brushing and flossing can help to prevent tooth decay, once a cavity has actually formed, your best dentist in Bethesda MD must repair it with a filling to prevent further damage.

One way to help prevent cavities is to use a good fluoride toothpaste. Certain individuals who are more prone to developing tooth decay may require more fluoride in their toothpaste.

And don’t be afraid to try toothpastes that incorporate safe antibacterial substances as an additional layer of protection in preventing tooth decay.

Gum Disease

Gum disease develops due to the buildup of plaque around your gum line. The presence of plaque leads to a gum infection that can damage the gums, ultimately harming the bone that keeps your teeth in place.

For this reason, maintaining your dental appointments with our best dentist in Bethesda MD is recommended.

A mild form of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can make your gums tender, red, and more prone to bleeding. Gingivitis can normally be handled by brushing and flossing on a daily basis.

Periodontitis is a more serious form of gum disease that requires treatment. Left untreated, you would have severe gum problems and possibly lose your teeth.

To prevent gum disease:

• Brush your teeth twice daily.
• Floss your teeth regularly.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• If you are a smoker, stop.
• Visit your dentist regularly for an exam and cleaning.

Dry Mouth

Your best dentist in Bethesda MD will highlight the importance of saliva to help wash away food debris and oral bacteria. Having a dry mouth makes it more difficult to taste, eat, and swallow your food.

For instance, dry mouth increases the odds that you will develop problems like tooth decay and fungal infections.

Certain medications are known to cause dry mouth.

Some other ways to prevent dry mouth include drinking plenty of water, refraining from smoking and the over consumption of alcohol, and limiting your consumption of soft drinks.

Schedule Your Appointment

Contact our best dentist in Bethesda MD to learn more about dental care. New patients are welcome. Call 301-979-9071 or request an appointment online. Visit us soon!