Seal the Deal with Sealants

Dental sealant may not be something you're familiar with, but get ready to get familiar! Sealant is a wonderful, often underrated defense against tooth decay. It's an option and an opportunity we're brining to a lot of our patients, and today we'll discuss what it is and if it's right for you or your children. 

Brushing and flossing is, of course, the best way to keep teeth clean. But often, there are crevices and crowded spaces towards the back of our mouths that are much harder to get to, and therefore, much harder to clean. Wouldn't it be nice if your teeth were somehow shielded from plaque? Glad you asked! And we definitely agree!

Dental sealant is a coating painted on the surfaces of teeth, particularly the top area of back molars where most chewing is done. The shield of coasting is extremely thin and the process is painless. The sealant creates a protective layer over each tooth seals out plaque for up to 10 years. 

Children and teenagers are great candidates for dental sealant because it's more likely that their teeth are in the best condition for preservation. Adults without cavities are candidates too. Next time your in for a cleaning, feel free to ask us about dental sealant and see if it's right protection for you! :)

Diabetes, Your Mouth, and You

Do you suffer from diabetes? It's a disease many Americans face every single day, and it's one that can really take a toll on your oral hygiene too. We always encourage patients with diabetes to take extra care and see us more regularly, and today we'll explain why.

When you have diabetes, the issue is two fold. The first issue comes into play because having high blood sugar naturally encourages more bacteria growth in your mouth. The second issue exists because you not only are more likely to have more bacteria in your mouth, but you also have less of an ability to fight it off. So therefore, both of these factors contribute to a heightened occurrence of gum disease in patients with diabetes. 

Keeping your mouth at it's healthiest and cleanest is a huge contributor to your overall health, especially in the case of patients with diabetes. Since any infections can make your blood sugar rise, keeping a healthy mouth can be imperative to keeping your diabetes under control. 

When you come to see us, always let us know if you have diabetes and what medications you're taking. Very regular check ups from us and professional cleanings will be imperative to keeping your mouth healthy and your teeth at their peak. We'll also advise the best ways for you to care for your teeth and gums outside of our chair :)

Whitening & Sensitivity

Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you, and with good reason! A beautiful, white smile is a stunning sight indeed. Do you use whitening strips at home to keep your pearly whites their absolute whitest? If so, you're not alone. 

They are VERY popular, and for good reason. They do work, but at what cost? Using whitening strips at home can definitely cause and enhance sensitivity - in fact, all whitening systems can. But exactly how much sensitivity really depends on you and your unique teeth.  

Three real components play a roll in how sensitive your teeth will be from using whitening strips:

1. How naturally thick is your tooth enamel? This factor is purely based on your anatomy. Think of your enamel as a protective layer, so the thinner that layer is the less protection you have against a chemical treatment, and the more sensitive you will be.

2. How much gum recession do you have? Gum recession is caused by brushing too forcefully or can simply occur naturally over time. That exposed area of your teeth where the tooth meets your gums (the root) is already very sensitive, so a whitening product only further irritates that spot. 

3.  How worn down are your teeth are from grinding and clenching? It's a terrible habit to have, but one that we see very often. Grinding and clenching your teeth wears down the natural enamel on the edges of your teeth and exposes that area to enhanced sensitivity. 

Thinking about starting an at-home whitening treatment? We suggest letting us look at the overall condition of your mouth to get a sense of whether or not your an ideal candidate for whitening. So come on in and get ready for your brightest, whitest smile yet :)

Tooth Truths

It's really starting to feel like Fall! Does anyone else agree that Summer really flew by? Well with back to school season upon us, we wanted to share some fun knowledge about your teeth! After all, it is our favorite subject to study. 

Did you know...

1. The hardest part of the human body is the tooth enamel covering the crown of your teeth. 

2. In China, the 20th of September is National 'Love Your Teeth' Day! 

3. Originally, toothbrush bristles were made of cow hair.

4. No two people have the same teeth.

5. Ancient Greeks were the first to invent dental pliers. 

6. People have four different types of teeth. 

7. Tooth decay is the second most common disease, after the cold.

8. An elephant's molar tooth is almost 7 square inches.

9. In the Middle Ages, a common custom to help cure a toothache was to kiss a donkey. 

10. One quarter of adults in the US have lost all of their teeth.

We hope all of our patients are enjoying the gorgeous Fall weather! Stop in to see us soon :)

Stick to Floss Sticks

Today, there are so many inventive options to help our patients better care for their teeth. One of those devices are floss sticks - and we love them! Floss sticks are disposable, Y-shape, hand-held sticks that hold a span of floss between to prongs. These sticks help you floss without dealing with a long, cumbersome thread. They are especially great for people with dexterity problems or people on-the-go. They can easily fit in your purse or your pocket to help loosen plaque wherever you may be!

Here are some things to keep in mind with floss sticks. They are disposable for a reason. After using that one section of floss on your entire mouth, it becomes exposed to enough bacteria that warrants it unhealthy for a second use. So just as your would with regular floss, throw the stick away after each use. Also, we recommend rinsing the floss on the stick as you're using it. As plaque gets dislodged from your mouth, it needs to be removed from the stick with running water.

So pick up floss sticks and give them a try! We think you'll like how you feel and how you look.

Team Appreciation Night!

At Toms River Family Dental, our staff loves spending time together and coming to work each day - and it shows through the care we give to our happy patients. Our positive, hard-working, caring team is what makes the different between our practice and any other, and we know that! That's why we celebrated our First Annual Team Appreciation Night!

What better way to celebrate than with a Lakewood Blue Claws game in Lakewood, New Jersey! Our favorite, local Minor League Baseball team. 

After a great team dinner we watched an incredible ball game - and Dr. Shapiro even threw the ceremonial first pitch!! 

The Blue Claws won and we even got a few pictures with Buster, the team mascot! 

We love our team, and our team loves having fun. In or out of the office we love smiling, and making other people smile. Isn't that what dentistry is all about? It was a special night with our wonderful staff, and we can't wait to do it again next year! 

We hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! Remember to keep flossing, brushing and coming in for your check ups :)

Great Posture: Get in the Habit

Great posture makes a great impact. Not only on how you look, but also how you feel. Confidence, ease, and professionalism are seen in the way you carry yourself, and research shows that standing and sitting up straight can positively affect other areas of your mental and physical health too. One such area your posture can impact is your mouth - and that's what we'll discuss today! 

Posture that doesn't properly position your spine upright can actually put unwanted pressure on your jaw and other facial muscles. Hunching over shifts your bottom jawline forward, and in doing so your teeth are no longer properly aligned. This can lead to larger issues like chronic jaw pain, which is something we see in our practice. 

What can you do about it day-to-day? Being more aware of your posture is the first step. Correcting yourself slouching is an important move towards better posture that will eventually become a natural habit. Keeping your shoulders back and down as much as possible will help. Also, stretching is a wonderful technique to elongate your natural position and relax your muscles. Whether it's through yoga or just standard stretching, every bit helps towards giving you a better, more relaxed stance and smile.