The foundation of a healthy and happy smile is conditioning yourself to clean your mouth daily the right way. Other than a nice-looking grin, keeping care of your oral health will help keep away a variety of possible painful and annoying health issues (both dental and non-dental related). The main components of a good oral hygiene regimen includes brushing twice daily, flossing, and regular trips to the dentist twice yearly. One more factor that helps dictate a good oral regimen is choosing the right tools for the job. Brushing is a wonderful way to keep your teeth clean and healthy, but flossing is needed to reach the nooks and crannies that the toothbrush bristles just can’t hit.
This brings up the question of which is better: a water pick or regular flossing. The short answer is: flossing has been shown to be more effective at removing hidden plaque in your teeth’ crevices than using a water pick, however, a water pick can be the better choice for your individual needs depending on your specific situation. To find out what’s right for you, let’s break down what a water pick is and who it can be useful for.
What Is A Water Pick?
A Water Pick (otherwise known as a water jet or oral irrigator) is a dental device designed to eject a strong & compact stream of water to wash away loose food particles and bacteria. It is useful for reducing bleeding and cleaning hard-to-reach gum areas. As mentioned earlier, it is not as effective as flossing, this is because it cannot always quite reach the same spaces or same functionality as traditional flossing. Water Picks also tend to be more expensive than traditional dental floss.
Why Use A Water Pick?
The condition of your oral health, along with outside health conditions can make a water pick more suitable and more comfortable for your needs. If you are willing to sacrifice some effectiveness for comfortability, a water pick is probably the choice for you. It is, after all, a better choice than not using any flossing tool at all.
Some reasons you may consider a water pick over traditional flossing:
Received non removable dental work such as dental implants or bridges
Received crown placements on multiple teeth
Easier movement for people with muscle-related issues such as arthritis or carpal tunnel in their hands/arms.
You refuse to use traditional flossing methods for any other reason (maybe you just hate flossing the regular way)
Conclusion: Choosing What’s Best For You
Before making any major change in your dental hygiene routine, we suggest consulting with your dentist so they can help you with anything you are curious about. We highly recommend traditional flossing, but choosing a dental routine that you can stay consistent with is the number one priority to keeping yourself on track to a happy and healthy mouth.
Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to the more serious condition of periodontitis. Gingivitis is very common in children and adults and occurs when plaque accumulates on teeth. A poor oral care routine can lead to plaque buildup on the teeth.
There are four general stages of gum disease:
Stage 1: Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and its symptoms include inflamed or red gums that may bleed when brushed.
Stage 2: In early periodontitis, slight loss of bone that supports the teeth occurs even though other symptoms may not be easily observed.
Stage 3: In moderate periodontitis, more bone and gum tissue is destroyed and loosening of teeth may also occur.
Stage 4: Advanced periodontitis is the most severe stage of the disease. Symptoms become more severe, teeth can become very loose and biting and chewing may hurt. Extensive dental treatment is typically required to try to correct the damage of advanced periodontitis.
Symptoms:
Symptoms include:
Swollen or puffy gums.
Dusky red or dark red gums.
Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss.
Bad breath.
Receding gums.
Tender gums.
There may not be pain associated with gingivitis, which is why the signs may be overlooked.
How Is Gingivitis Treated?
The most crucial step in treating gingivitis is to not ignore symptoms that may seem harmless, such as a little blood in the sink when you floss and brush, and/or irritated gums that look red and/or swollen. If these symptoms appear, make an appointment to check in with your dentist to identify the cause and to get your teeth and gums assessed. Your dentist may recommend an improved daily home-care regimen for your teeth, including adding antiseptic mouthwash to your routine. If pockets of bacteria have formed around the teeth and gums are beginning to pull away from the teeth, a deep cleaning with your dentist or periodontist may be suggested. If ignored, gingivitis can develop into advanced-stage gum disease (periodontitis), which is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults.
If you have any questions about your oral routine, feel free to schedule a visit with Fox Dental and our staff can answer any questions you might have!
Dental implants are a great option for people looking to replace a missing or broken tooth. As dental technological capabilities improve, the look, efficiency, and durability of dental implants have as well. You may be wondering where you can get dental implants in Harrisburg. Our recommendation is our partner specialty center the Dental Implant Center of PA located right off Interstate 81 in Enola.
Info on Dental Implants
The objective of Dental Implants is to be designed and crafted as a permanent, worry free treatment option for patients who are in need of replacement teeth. Implant teeth are foundations that are fully replicated to make the natural look of your current teeth.
The actual structure which makes up dental implants is broken up into 3 parts:
The implant – The unseen part secured to your jaw.
The Abutment – The connector of the implant and new tooth.
The Crown/Replacement Tooth – The visible part of the implant.
The Dental Implant Center of PA
The Dental Implant Center of PA is Central Pennsylvania’s premier dental implant institute. Recently opened in 2020, its state-of-the-art equipment, board certified surgeon, and other highly experienced and well regarded doctors with decades of experience make it an implant center like no other in the region. The implant center is located only a few minutes away from Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill and Lemoyne. Specialized periodontal treatment and oral & maxillofacial surgery are also available at the dental implant center.
Services The Dental Implant Center of PA are able to provide include:
Single Tooth Implant Replacements
Multiple Tooth Implant Bridge
Full Mouth Treatment
Bone and Soft Tissue Grafting
Emergency Oral Surgery
We highly recommend The Dental Implant Center of PA to our patients because of its revolutionary take on complete dentistry and high-end dentistry. With the technology and knowledge the team at the Dental Implant Center uses, they are able to craft implants fundamentally indistinguishable from natural teeth. If there is any more information you would like to learn about dental implants, we recommend visiting their website and coming into contact with one of their expert dental implant specialists.
Smoking can wreak havoc on your oral health. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 34.1 million people smoke in the United States, which is 14% of the population. Smoking causes many diseases and reduces users’ overall health. Smoking impacts your teeth and gums in several ways including yellow teeth, plaque, receding gums, and more. Keep reading to learn how smoking affects your oral health.
Periodontitis
One of the diseases that smoking causes is periodontitis, a serious gum infection that can cause tooth loss and affect overall health.
Smokers are at higher risk of gum disease because smoking causes the following:
Dry Mouth – Smoking creates a dry environment in the mouth, which makes harmful bacteria more easily attach to your teeth and under your gums.
Weakened Immune Response – Smoking weakens your immune systems, which makes it harder for your body to fight the harmful bacteria that cause gum infections like periodontal disease.
Poor Circulation – Smoking causes vasoconstriction, which is a constriction of the blood vessels. Gum tissue needs good circulation to stay healthy and resist infection and gum recession.
Smokers are three to six times more likely to develop gum disease or periodontal disease, which can attack roots and cause teeth to fall out.
Yellow Teeth (Nicotine Stains)
Similar to your skin, your teeth have pores. These pores absorb the things you eat, drink, or in this case, smoke. Nicotine and tar in tobacco have qualities that allow it to stain materials very easily. Mixed with your saliva, smoking or tobacco use will cause yellow or brown stains to develop quickly. The stains caused by smoking seep deeper into the enamel, making them more difficult to remove. These stains are often too visceral to be removed through drugstore whitening products, and regular professional whitening is needed. Along with the stains, smoking can also cause bad breath.
Plaque and Tartar Buildup
The chemicals in tobacco products affect the way saliva flows through your mouth. One of saliva’s main functions is to protect tooth enamel and prevent decay. If not removed daily, it can harden into tartar, also known as calculus, a substance so hard it requires a professional cleaning to remove.
Oral Cancer
Smoking can cause cancer of the mouth, throat, or lips. About 90% of people who were diagnosed with one of these forms of cancer used tobacco products. Smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.
Do you want to quit smoking?
Smoking and tobacco use has a plethora of negative effects on your health, but your dentist isn’t here to judge your lifestyle habits. Instead, they’ll be happy to offer solutions and helpful advice to assist you in quitting and restoring better oral health! Quitting smoking can significantly reduce your risk of developing gum disease. If you already have periodontal disease, being a non-smoker increases your chances of stability after periodontal treatment.
While 70% of smokers want to quit, only 6% quit on their own. If you are part of the 70%, we can help! Many resources are available to help you become a non-smoker such as various tips from former smokers and state programs such as the PA Free Quitline.
Brushing can become such an ingrained habit that you might not always think about when the last time you replaced your toothbrush. If you’ve been using the same one for several months it may be time to replace it with a new one. Staying on top of replacing your toothbrush when it’s necessary can help to prevent you from getting sick and ensure that your teeth are being cleaned as well as they possibly can.
When to replace your toothbrush
Both dentists and manufacturers of toothbrushes recommend that you replace your toothbrush with a new one every three to four months. If you’re abiding by the recommendation that you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, this is the amount of time that you’ll want to stick to. One of the major reasons why it’s important to replace your toothbrush after this amount of time is the bristles begin to lose their rigidity and become frayed. If you’re brushing with a toothbrush that has frayed bristles, your teeth aren’t getting as clean as they can. These frayed bristles have a hard time reaching between your teeth and cleaning along the gum line effectively.
Additionally, germs can hang out on your toothbrush. Bacteria can stick around on the bristles and can even transfer to your toothpaste, making it possible to get others who share the toothpaste to become sick.
When you should replace your toothbrush more frequently
For some people, brushing is something that they do more than twice a day. Perhaps you feel the need to do so after a sugary food or after each meal, which can be a great thing for your oral health. However, this may mean that your toothbrush will deteriorate more rapidly due to the added use.
Further, if you use an electric toothbrush, the manufacturer may have specific replacement times for their toothbrush. It’s important to read all of the instructions for your electric toothbrush before use. Since electric toothbrush heads can be a special design and may cost more as a result, it’s still very important to abide by the recommended lifespan. These may also see added wear and tear due to the vibrating or rotating motion of the toothbrush as well.
Another situation which might warrant throwing away and replacing toothbrushes is if someone in the family becomes sick. It isn’t likely that you’ll infect yourself with the same virus, but it is possible for that virus to transfer if your toothbrush is stored in close proximity to your family’s toothbrushes.
Conclusion
Using a toothbrush that’s clean and functioning properly can help promote your overall oral health. Beyond replacing it every 3-4 months depending on your habits, it’s also important to keep an eye on the bristles after you brush. They can be the biggest sign of deterioration if they’re frayed. Bristles should be springy and resilient. If you have any questions about your oral routine, feel free to schedule a visit with us and we can answer any questions you might have!
Regular dental visits are extremely important for maintaining healthy teeth and a perfect smile. Choosing a dentist can be tough. Many people will stick to the same dentist for large portions of their life. They are usually more than just someone looking at your teeth. Good dentists can forge lasting bonds with their patients. If you have been going to the same dentist for a while, when they retire, you move to a new area, or for any other reason, there is a pretty big hole that needs to be filled. It can be rough searching for a new person to feel comfortable in entrusting your dental health too. Good communication is the key to a healthy relationship. Your connection with your dentist depends on how effectively you communicate with them.
Convenienece:
Before even starting to look for a dentist, be sure to keep these 4 pieces of information in mind. They will be the biggest factors in finding the perfect dentist match for your needs.
How close are they to where you live? Your place of work?
Check to see if the dentist is within your dental benefits network if you have benefits.
What are their office hours? How do they match up with your availability?
What questions to ask:
How Can We Improve My Dental Health?: Dental health can be improved when you and your dentists work together towards the same goal. Share your routine with your new dentist and get the necessary guidelines about brushing and flossing.
How Is My Current Dental Health?: A new dentist will examine your entire oral cavity, including teeth, gums, jaws, tongue, and throat. This is a good time to ask your dentist any questions about your current oral health, and ways you can improve your oral health.
Your overall health can be greatly affected by your oral health and care. A good dentist should be a trusted guide you can look to in times of health needs. If you’re looking for a dentist you can trust to care for you and your family, please call our office and make an appointment. We would be glad to help you have a healthy happy smile!
Daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are essential to a healthy smile, but did you know nutrition has an effect on your dental health, too? Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups promotes healthy teeth and gums.
Healthy Nutrition for Healthy Teeth
Calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, and cheese help promote strong teeth and bones. Other sources of calcium include tofu, canned salmon, almonds, and some dark green leafy vegetables.
Phosphorus, a mineral found in eggs, fish, lean meat, dairy, nuts, and beans is good for strong teeth.
Vitamin C promotes gum health, so eat plenty of sources, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, potatoes, and spinach.
Smart snacking also can keep your mouth in good shape. Resist the urge to snack frequently — the more often you eat, especially between meals, the more likely you are to introduce acid attacks on your teeth. If you do snack, choose wisely and opt for nutritious choices such as raw vegetables, fruits, and plain yogurt. Remember to brush after snacking to help prevent cavities. If you can’t brush, rinse your mouth with water to get rid of food particles.
Drink Water
Water, especially fluoridated water, is the best beverage for maintaining your oral health. Fluoride helps to make teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that can cause cavities. As of 2012, nearly 75% of the U.S. population had access to fluoridated water, so drinking water from your own kitchen sink can help prevent dental problems.
What foods are good for strengthening enamel?
Enamel is the thin, hard mineral coating that covers the teeth, protecting them from decay and the daily stress of chewing, biting, grinding, and crunching. Although enamel is one of the strongest and hardest materials in your body, it can become weakened, eroded, or destroyed by the acids and sugars in certain food and drinks and, once gone, cannot be regenerated.
However, even if you are experiencing some enamel erosion, some foods and habits can help you preserve and strengthen what you have.
Green or black teas neutralize plaque-causing bacteria
Sugar-free chewing gum helps promote saliva production
Fruits and vegetables high in fiber
Food or beverages with fluoride help repair eroded enamel
Foods high in protein help promote stronger teeth
Fat-free or low-fat dairy products like milk and cheese
In addition to healthful eating, oral health problems can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene, such as brushing teeth with fluoridated toothpaste twice a day, flossing once a day, drinking fluoridated water, and seeking regular oral health care.
Ensuring you are able to reach your oral health needs begins with a good oral hygiene regimen. We’ve laid out information for you below to help guide you in the right direction to find the perfect regimen for you.
Setting Up Your Hygiene Goals:
While there are recommended tips that everyone should apply to their oral hygiene regimen, there may be specific actions you can take to cater to your own needs/wants.
Conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy, heart disease, and cancer all have the possibility of impacting your oral health. These conditions may require extra care in your routine and we recommend consulting with your dental provider if you feel you meet special requirements.
The Basics:
There are a few basic routine tasks you can do daily to have a good regimen.
Brush Twice Daily – Brushing when you first wake up and before you go to bed are the optimal times of day for you to clean your teeth. We recommend brushing for about 2 minutes. Try to give some time between when you eat and when you brush for a more effective cleaning.
Floss At Least Once A Day – Get out the extra food particles and bacteria left over from brushing by flossing every day as well. The culprit for cavities is usually these types of hidden molecules that people miss. If you absolutely hate flossing with normal floss, try to opt for a pick or water floss to reach those pesky unseen particles. Avoid toothpicks.
Use The Right Tools – The right tools for brushing success are:
A soft bristled toothbrush – medium and hard bristled brushes can damage your gums and enamel if used too vigorously or improperly.
Consider an electric toothbrush, which has a higher probability of plaque reduction than a manual brush.
Fluoride Toothpaste – Fluoride is a natural regenerative and protective element in a large amount of toothpaste. Its prevention of tooth decay is an integral part of the brushing process.
The Right Floss – There are many different types of floss/flossing-like products out there that all relatively have the same benefits. It is important that you find the one that you find the most comfortable and efficient. Be sure to be gentle with your gums to help prevent bleeding. Take it one crevice at a time.
Staying Sanitary – As you use your toothbrush over time it will become more susceptible to bacteria and the bristles will be altered to an unusable state. We recommend replacing the toothbrush or toothbrush head at the most every 3 months. You can gauge yourself when it seems like your brush may be corroded. Always rinse after use and be sure to store the brush in an area where it can dry without attracting molds.
Other Things To Consider
Fluoride – Children and adults can both benefit exponentially from a fluoride mouthwash. Its defensive and regenerative benefits give an edge on top of brushing and flossing for extra position.
Brushing Your Tongue – Brushing your tongue as well as your teeth is important to keep away bad breath and get rid of food particles that may be hanging around in your mouth. You can use your toothbrush or purchase a tongue scraper.
Eating A Balanced Diet – Eating less foods containing starches will help prevent the level of acidicness in your mouth. Watch out for potato chips, soft drinks, sweets, and even dried fruits. We all cave in to these foods sometime, so when you do consume them just brush sometime after to prevent the tooth decay process.
Conclusion: Consistency Is Key
The key to proper upkeep of your oral health is staying consistent in a well-thought-out regimen. Everyone falters here and there but as long as brushing and flossing become a daily routine then you can expect to have stellar oral health. Visiting the dentist regularly twice every year consistently will also help you stay in touch with how your oral health progresses. A good dentist loves sharing information with patients, so don’t hesitate to ask them for advice or to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t have a dentist, we’d be happy to answer any of your questions.
Pregnancy is always an incredibly busy time in any woman’s life. Between the doctor’s visits, planning for baby showers, shopping for cribs, and classes you also have to fit in many different doctor’s appointments to track your baby’s growth. It can therefore be very easy to overlook your oral health during this time. Practicing good oral hygiene and maintaining regular visits to your dentist is beneficial for both you and your baby. However, you remember all the different imaging that’s done and might wonder if it’s safe to visit your dentist. The good news is your dentist is more than equipped to handle pregnant patients. Here are the details on why it’s not only safe but crucial to see your dentist while you’re pregnant.
Are dentist visits safe while you’re pregnant?
The short answer is yes. It’s very important to continue your regular visits while you’re expecting. Research has shown that women who don’t get their teeth cleaned regularly before becoming pregnant don’t prioritize going to the dentist while pregnant. There are several very real benefits to visiting the dentist. First, it’s important to prevent tooth decay. While pregnant you’re at a greater risk of tooth decay from extra snacking to morning sickness exposing your teeth to harsh acids. Your dentist will look for signs of tooth decay at each of your visits. They’ll also keep an eye out for gingivitis. Pregnancy leads to a higher risk of this mild form of gum disease. Gingivitis makes the gums red, sore and could make them more susceptible to bleeding. If gingivitis is left untreated it’s possible that it could lead to more serious forms of gum disease. Gum diseases have been connected to pre-term births and low birth weights.
Are X-rays safe while you’re pregnant?
X-rays that are used to examine your teeth aren’t harmful, but to stay on the safe side your dentist will probably not opt to use them unless it’s absolutely necessary for treatment, such as in the case of a dental emergency. If an X-ray is necessary, your dentist will ensure your abdomen is covered in a special lead apron to protect your baby. The X-rays you might be used to at your regular visits will be postponed until after you have your baby.
Can you receive anesthesia during pregnancy?
Simple and routine procedures like fillings, root canals, or having teeth pulled will probably still go ahead while you’re pregnant. Procedures such as these are necessary to reduce the risk of infection and other problems that can cause issues with your pregnancy. The local anesthetics that just numb the area where the procedure is taking place usually okay to receive during pregnancy. Your dentist will make sure to go over all the available options to you.
Keeping your teeth healthy at home:
As we’ve seen, good oral hygiene is one of the many things that can help support a healthy pregnancy. In addition to continuing your regular visits with your dentist, it’s important to keep up a good routine at home. It’s important to brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss once daily. As tempting as they may be, it’s good to limit sugary foods and drinks and much as possible. If you do have something that’s sugary, it may be a good idea to brush right after. It’s something you probably don’t want to think about, but it’s important to avoid brushing your teeth right after vomiting. This exposes your teeth to harsh stomach acids. You can rinse your mouth out with a cup of water and one teaspoon of baking soda to neutralize the acid.
Every pregnancy can be a mix of astonishment and stress and each one is different. One thing that links them together is the need to keep up good oral hygiene both for your benefit and the well-being of your baby. If you’d like to talk to a dentist about your unique concerns and questions, feel free to schedule a visit with us and we’ll work with you to make sure your oral health is in good shape while you’re expecting.
Creating Natural Beauty With Extraordinary Smiles
Serving families in the communities of Camp Hill and Mechanicsburg since 1974 with excellent Dental Care
Thinking about visiting the dentist doesn’t have to cause anxiety! At Verber Family Dentistry we make it our priority to give you the best experience possible.
From fillings, bonding, chipped and cracked tooth repair, dental crowns, inlays and onlays and more, our restorative care team can get your smile back in shape!
We want our patients to be comfortable and free of TMJ pain, and Sleep Apnea Complications. We can offer these services as well as dental implants, bridges, and dentures to offer you better dental comfort.
"Very friendly and very clean office. The setting is very relaxing for those who might have a bit of anxiety about dental visits. The waiting room has huge windows over looking the river and trees and it’s just really nice while waiting to be seen. The staff is also extremely friendly and answered any questions we had and made sure there was no confusion of services needed. I recommend this practice 100%."
Norma
"Everyone at Verber is pleasant and looks to take good care of patients. Danny was my hygienist and she did a very thorough cleaning and observed a developing issue. Dr. Alfano did a nice job of explaining the issue and treatment recommended. The front desk assistant was very helpful in scheduling the next appointment and discussing insurance coverage. They schedule appointments for my husband and I at the same time, which is very convenient. We are very pleased with the Verber practice."
Linda
"My experience at Verber Family Dentistry was very good. My hygienist was very thorough with my exam and cleaning, and was quite personable as well. I had two minor issues that were resolved quickly by my dentist and her assistant. Both were very pleasant to deal with. I highly recommend Verber Family Dentistry!"
Michael
"Love this place! They make you feel really comfortable. Best dentist experience I've had. I feel like they actually pay attention to the questionnaire you fill out as a new patient. I am a "big picture" type of patient and I believe they honor that."
Richard
"I have never had a bad experience, and have never been so excited about a dentist office — ha! Personable & professional staff, beautiful views, comfortable environment. I’d recommend to anyone & everyone! Even my husband who avoided the dentist for 7 years had a SMILE on his face after his appointment! And my 2 year old daughter enjoys the pediatric office. Very thankful to have found Verber!"
Brooke
"I am beyond grateful for my experience today with the Verber team. I have been apprehensive to visit a dentist for years due to personal insecurities and worries about my smile. From the first few minutes in the chair, Ashley made sure I understood the process and reassured me that it was a safe space. She walked me through each step and checked in frequently to make sure that I was okay. Her grace and patience was appreciated beyond measure, in an especially vulnerable time. We even shared some real laughs together! Thank you, Verber. Looking forward to working with you further. Every employee made a difference. From check in to check out."
Kimberly
"Verber by far is the best dentist I have been to. From the amazingly clean facility, compassionate and friendly staff, and the techs and dentist explain all the options you have for your dental health. Your smile is the 1st thing people see, why not let the profesional staff at Verber Family Dentistry help you preserve that smile!!"
Anthony
Truly a great experience. I hate the dentist, but everyone from the receptionist to the hygienist and the Dentist were all wonderful and made me feel at ease explaining everything that was happening. Highly recommend!
Lora
"Very nice staff, from arrival until my appt was over. Every employee I dealt with was super nice & very knowledgable. I was very nervous about this appt and they put me at ease every step of the way. I need extensive dental work & was really worried about having it done & they calmed my nerves and I know that they will work with me to help keep my nervousness low. I would 100% recommend this dental practice to anyone looking for a new dentist."
Peggy
"I have been a client/patient at the Verber Family Denistry for 15+ years. The quality of care and service is beyond fantastic. I am thankful to all the staff and doctors that provide such kind and caring attention to how they accomodate and treat their clients. This is pinnacle service and it should be noted and shared. Please accept my sincere thank you to you and all the staff that have made your office the best and a one of a kind facility. Keep up the good work, because it matters. You guys are much appreciated. #clientforlife."
From the very moment you contact our team at our Camp Hill dentist office for a dentist appointment, we will make sure you receive a dental experience that’s unmatched in Central PA. Our team is dedicated to providing extraordinary care that is personalized to every patient, so you will feel the full benefits of stress-free and custom-tailored dental treatment during every visit to our Camp Hill dental office.
