Tongue Tie Lingual Stretches

What Are Sealants?

Who Should Get Sealants?

Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.

Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.

In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child's baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it's important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.

How Are Sealants Applied?

Applying sealant is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth. The application steps are as follows:

First the teeth that are to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned.

Each tooth is then dried, and cotton or another absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry.

An acid solution is put on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up, which helps the sealant bond to the teeth.

The teeth are then rinsed and dried.

Sealant is then painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens.

Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

Sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can replace sealants as necessary.

Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Sealants?

Many insurance companies cover the cost of sealants. Check with your dental insurance carrier to determine if sealants are covered under your plan.

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Quick Nutrition Tips

Nutrition Tips
Following a proper and nutritious diet not only helps keep your body healthy, but your mouth as well. Nutrition plays an important role in the health and cleanliness of your teeth, gums and mouth.

Limit Soda, Coffee and Alcohol
Although these beverages contain a high level of phosphorous, which is a necessary mineral for a healthy mouth, too much phosphorous can deplete the body's level of calcium. This causes dental hygiene problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Beverages containing additives such as corn syrup and food dye can make pearly white teeth appear dull and discolored. Therefore, it is best to choose beverages like milk, which helps strengthen teeth and build stronger enamel, giving you a healthy, beautiful smile.

Drink Tap Water When Possible
If bottled water is your main source of drinking water, you could be missing the decay-preventive benefits of fluoride.

Monitor Your Low-Carb Lifestyle
Despite their popularity, low-carb diets can cause bad breath. A balanced, dental-healthy diet can help reduce tooth decay.

Increase Your Calcium Intake
After age 20, both men and women lose more bone mass than they form so it is important to restore lost calcium with a daily supplement and by eating fruits and vegetables high in calcium, such as dark leafy greens. These foods will also help to lower the acid buildup in the saliva that can lead to breakdown of tooth enamel.

Take a Daily Dose of Vitamins C and D
These vitamins help support the absorption of healthy mouth minerals such as calcium and phosphorous, which support the bone and gum tissue, keeping it healthy. This is an easy way to maintain dental hygiene and fight gum disease.

Put Out the Cigarette
Smoking cigarettes is one of the greatest contributors to the aging mouth. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 22 million women in the United States smoke cigarettes. In addition to staining teeth, smoking interrupts calcium absorption in the body and can also cause potentially life-threatening diseases such as oral cancer. So stop smoking and enjoy the health benefits as well as a healthy, beautiful smile.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Dentist Alexandria VA 
Bradlee Dental Care
3690 King Street, Suite KL
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 820-0809

Dental Plans

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about dental plans.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist Alexandria VA 
Bradlee Dental Care
3690 King Street, Suite KL
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 820-0809

Oral Health for Senior Citizens

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about dental care for senior citizens.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist Alexandria VA 
Bradlee Dental Care
3690 King Street, Suite KL
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 820-0809

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A New Smile - Dental Treatment Alexandria VA

Dental Grills: The Bad Things

Bad Effects Of Dental Grills
Dental grills, also known as “grillz,” have become popular among some teens and adults due to their popularity among celebrities, especially rap musicians. Grills are decorative covers that snap over one or more teeth. They are usually made of gold, silver or other precious metals. But less expensive grills are often made from base metals that can cause irritation or an allergic reaction.

There are no long-term studies of dental grills, so there are no data about long-term safety or about problems resulting from long-term wear.

Grills can promote plaque buildup and tooth decay because food particles and bacteria may build up between the teeth and the grill. A grill may also cause abrasion of the teeth that border it. Excessive wearing of grills may discolor teeth, too, so grill fans may need to whiten teeth when they decide to stop wearing the grill.

Anyone who wears a dental grill should be especially attentive to dental hygiene, and follow a consistent routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. Also, be sure to remove the grill before eating and rinse it often to remove bacteria and food particles. Talk to your dentist before getting a dental grill and be sure to find out how best to reduce the risk of bacterial buildup and other complications.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Dentist Alexandria VA 
Bradlee Dental Care
3690 King Street, Suite KL
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 820-0809

What College Students Need to Know About Their Oral Health

What College Students Need to Know About Their Oral Health

Our teeth are with us for our entire lives and it’s important that you do your best to preserve your oral health throughout your younger years so you’ll still have all of your original teeth when you’re 80! College students got a lot on their minds and even more on their plates, but that doesn’t mean you can let your oral health slip to the back-burner. Here are four things college students need to know about their oral health:

Those energy drinks are ruining your teeth!

Plenty of college students turn to coffee and energy drinks for the all-nighters and last minute study sessions. And while the caffeine and sugar might give you that extra kick to get you through the night the sugars and acids in energy drinks can wreck havoc on your teeth! Researcher Poonam Jain at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine conducted a study back in 2012 that found energy drinks were twice as bad as sports drinkswhen it comes to causing tooth damage. The researcher suggested that if you NEED that energy drink to make it through the day dilute it with water so it’s not quite the acid attack on your enamel. You could also drink it out of a straw to limit how much contact the liquid has with your teeth. And be sure to brush your teeth an hour later (so the enamel has time to re-harden) to remove the leftover sugars an acids.

Late night snacks can do long-term damage.

Falling asleep without brushing your teeth (a crime many college students are guilty of!) means the sugars and acids in your late night snack have all night to eat away at the enamel on your teeth. Leftover food particles are also the perfect breeding ground for gingivitis causing bacteria, which also causes bad breath. You should be brushing your teeth for a solid two minutes, a time limit plenty of adults don’t meet, but even 45 seconds before you call it a night is better than nothing at all. Be sure to brush and floss properly when you do finally wake up in the morning!

Red wine can really stain your teeth.

Red wine contains chromogens and tannins and is notorious for staining teeth. Most people don’t like drinking wine out of a straw, but the next time your graduate department hosts a wine and cheese party don’t despair! Cheese actually helps coat your teeth with calcium, which can prevent discoloration. Hard cheeses like cheddar and havarti are the best for fighting stains because they help close micro pores in your teeth, making them slightly more stain resistant.

You still need to have regular checkups with your dentist.

During the college year your “normal” routine is anything but normal, especially if you are going to an out-of-state school and are really on your own. But no matter where you go to school your teeth come with you and they still need a regular checkup and cleaning! Look for a new, local dentist in your area so you can get your normal 6 month checkup and keep your teeth in fighting shape.

Great American Smokeout

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about about quitting smoking.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist Alexandria VA 
Bradlee Dental Care
3690 King Street, Suite KL
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 820-0809

Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal

Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the insides of teeth) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.

Causes of an infected pulp could include:

·         a deep cavity

·         repeated dental procedures

·         a cracked or broken tooth

·         injury to the tooth (even if there’s not a visible crack or chip)

If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.

The Importance of Daily Flossing

Daily flossing is an important component of plaque removal, but it’s one that many people avoid because they find flossing painful. But the right flossing products can make flossing easy and painless.

Many people think that standard dental floss is the only effective product for tooth flossing. But there are many products to meet the needs of people of all ages with any type of dental condition. If one of these conditions applies to you, consider some specialized flossing options:

• You have sensitive gums. If you have sensitive teeth and gums that bleed easily, choose a soft floss, such as Oral-B’s Satin Floss, that slides easily and comfortably between the teeth
• You have braces. If you wear braces or have dentures, that doesn’t mean that you can’t floss. Try a specialized floss, such as Oral-B’s Super Floss, which has a stiff end that you can thread beneath the main wire of your braces and a spongy component that slides easily between the teeth
• You have a child. It’s important to teach children the benefits of flossing at a young age. You can start teaching children to floss their teeth at about age 5-7 years, but many children are less than enthusiastic, and they may complain that flossing hurts or is difficult. Try a kid-friendly flossing tool, such as the Oral-B Stages flossers, which are designed to be easy for children to handle and feature kid-friendly characters
• You have difficulty manipulating floss. Try an electric flosser, such as the Oral-B Hummingbird. An electric flosser is neat and easy, especially if you don’t like reaching into the back of your mouth. And an electric flosser provides the right amount of pressure to leave your gums feeling pleasantly stimulated.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Dentist Alexandria VA 
Bradlee Dental Care
3690 King Street, Suite KL
Alexandria, VA 22302
(703) 820-0809