The Importance of Flossing

CENTER CITY EMERGENCY DENTIST OCT. 16 BLOG PHOTO

Brushing your teeth two times a day for two minutes can be hard enough. Then, when you factor in flossing, it can really start to feel like an inconvenience. But you have to keep in mind that dentists aren’t telling you to floss for their own health; instead, they’re trying to help you hang onto your teeth for as long as possible! Here are some details about flossing that should encourage you to do it more often:

How to floss:

● Cut off about 18 inches of dental floss.
● Wrap most of the floss around your middle fingers, so you can have an inch or two to work with.
● Slide the floss between each tooth and move it up and down to make sure that you cover the whole area.
● Curve the floss around the base of every tooth. You can go all the way down to your gum line, but don’t force it, or else you’ll hurt your gums.
● Use clean sections of the floss every time you work on a different tooth, otherwise you’ll be spreading plaque and food from one tooth to the next.

Here are a few reasons why you should supplement your brushing regimen with flossing:

● Keep your teeth extra clean! Although brushing removes the sticky plaque on your teeth that leads to cavities, flossing is necessary to clear away the small food particles that get stuck in between. Not only will they look and feel cleaner after flossing, but your breath will also smell a whole lot fresher, too!

● Protect Your Gums. When debris gets stuck in the tissue between your teeth, plaque can build up and eventually harden into tartar; which can only be removed by a dentist or dental assistant. If the accumulation continues, though, tartar and plaque can spread bacteria below the gum line and lead to gingivitis. This can quickly give way to periodontal disease or tooth decay. Avoid having to look for dental implants in Philadelphia by staying consistent with flossing.

● Save money. Practicing good oral hygiene will help you to avoid expensive, time-consuming dental procedures. As long as you floss regularly, go to your dentist’s office every six months for a cleaning, and take advantage of the procedures that your insurance company covers, you’ll keep your teeth in great condition!

● Keep your entire body healthy. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and even respiratory disease are all conditions associated with gum disease. This information should change your perspective on flossing and, as a result, motivate you to do it more often.

Brush and floss regularly to keep your mouth feeling fresh and your teeth shining bright!

Even if you practice good oral hygiene, there are still some issues that a professional dentist must address. Visit Center City Emergency Dentist’s website to learn about procedures relating to cosmetic dentistry in Center City Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

6 Reasons to Switch to an Electric Toothbrush

CENTER CITY EMERGENCY DENTIST SEPT.16 BLOG PHOTO

Brushing your teeth two times a day for two minutes is critical to your oral health. Since it’s important to brush regularly, it’s best to find a toothbrush that effectively cleans your teeth and is easy to use. Although you might have used a manual toothbrush your entire life, it might be time to switch things up a little bit. Electric toothbrushes make cleaning your teeth something that you look forward to. Here are six reasons why you should start using an electric toothbrush:

  1. Better clean. When brushing your teeth manually, you’ll average about 300 strokes each minute. Electric toothbrushes, on the other hand, can average thousands or even tens of thousands of strokes each minute. This means that after brushing with an electric toothbrush your teeth will be much cleaner and you’ll have a brighter smile!
  1. Ideal for people with dexterity problems. If you’re dealing with arthritis, limited mobility or involuntary tremors problems, especially with your hands, an electric toothbrush will make brushing a much easier process. Not only do they have larger handles that are easier to grip, but the power-driven toothbrush heads don’t require nearly as much effort as manual brushes.
  1. Promote healthier brushing habits. Most electric toothbrushes have built-in timers and pressure sensors. These features help you to brush for two minutes, as well as prevent you from brushing too hard so you don’t injure your inner cheeks or cause gum recession. If you continue brushing aggressively, you might eventually need to seek services relating to implant dentistry in Philadelphia or any other city.
  1. Rotating heads. Electric toothbrushes can remove more plaque and tartar from your teeth, gums and tongue. Since the rotating heads move in opposite directions, you’ll have healthier teeth that feel and look cleaner.
  1. Different brushing modes. Many electric toothbrushes are designed specifically for sensitive teeth, teeth whitening and gum massaging action. The versatility of these brushes allows you to customize the settings according to your preferences.
  1. Clean hard-to-reach areas. Certain electric toothbrush models have special attachments designed to clean around braces. Even if you don’t have braces though, they’ll help you reach and clean areas where manual toothbrushes just really can’t go.

If you’re experiencing any problems with your teeth, contact the professionals at Center City Emergency Dentist. They offer a slew of services including root canals, oral surgery, wisdom teeth removal and dental implants in Center City Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

https://www.centercityemergencydentists.com/

8 Tips on Brushing Your Teeth

It’s no wonder dentists urge their patients to brush their teeth on a regular basis—it helps prevent gum disease, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and much more. Not to mention—if you have good oral hygiene, you’ll be able to keep your teeth and have a beautiful smile for many years to come. Below, we’ve listed eight tips on the correct way to brush your teeth:

  1. Slow it down so you can focus on specific areas of your mouth at a time. And don’t always rush through it or else you’ll end up skipping over the same exact areas every brushing session.
  1. Don’t press too hard or else you might cause irritation or damage to your gums. Brushing aggressively can sometimes lead to a receding gum line, which requires serious dental treatment to correct.
  1. Soft bristles can also prevent any potential damage to your gums and will make gliding the brush over your teeth a much easier process.
  1. Brushing 2-3 times a day for about 2 minutes should give you enough time to effectively remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth and gum line. Divide the time in two and spend about a minute on both your upper and lower teeth. This will protect you from common oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease.
  1. Use small circular or back and forth motions at a forty-degree angle to make sure the gums are protected while brushing and all angles of your teeth are cleared of debris.
  1. Brush your tongue to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. A lot of tooth brushes nowadays have a tongue scrubber on the back side that you can use to eliminate debris. Essentially, if you want fresh breath, brush your tongue.  
  1. Electronic tooth brushes are quite effortless and offer an ideal alternative to those who often find themselves brushing too hard with aggressive motions. They will also help you reach particular areas of your mouth that are frequently neglected.
  1. Floss regularly along with your daily brushing regimen to make sure that nothing gets stuck and stays in between your teeth. This is the second half of the equation that leads to healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.  

Now that you’ve learned more about how to brush your teeth correctly, apply it to your everyday regimen to keep your teeth looking and feeling fresh and healthy all the time.

Whether you’re interested in learning about veneers, root canals, oral surgery, periodontal services or implant dentistry in Philadelphia, visit Center City Dentist’s website today. From emergency services to cosmetic dentistry in Center City Philadelphia, the highly educated professionals have it covered.

https://www.centercityemergencydentists.com/

What’s the Difference Between Lumineers and Veneers?

A veneer is an extraordinarily thin, incredibly durable shell made from porcelain that is bonded to the front of a tooth to enhance its appearance. These products are known to be stain-resistant and appear very natural. Preparing to apply veneers involves modifying your teeth so they can fit the design and will, as a result, lead to some of your enamel being taken away. By shaving away certain parts of your teeth, the shells will be able to fit smoothly on top.

Lumineers, on the other hand, are much thinner than veneers, with a thickness similar to that of a pair of contact lenses. With Lumineers, your teeth won’t have to be shaved down, reshaped or modified in any way to accommodate for the design of the shell. This will allow you to keep the vital enamel that is responsible for safeguarding your teeth for many years to come. The process of applying Lumineers to your teeth is generally considered to be quicker than that of having veneers applied. As expected, the innovative design is able to be applied more easily in a shorter amount of time.

Ultimately, Lumineers can be viewed as the evolved product of veneers. Many patients view them as a more suitable, long-term solution for enhancing their smiles and other components, especially since they don’t require the extensive alterations associated with veneers. You should definitely consider, though, that a huge difference lies in how they feel in the mouth of the person who has had them applied. Lumineers can sometimes feel bulky and awkward since it isn’t necessary that physical changes take place prior to the application.

Whether you choose Lumineers or dental veneers in Philadelphia—you’ll be able to feel more confident about your smile and overall appearance with either product. While veneers require dental modifications before the shell is applied, they will most likely fit smoothly without ever feeling much different than natural teeth. In addition, Lumineers will help you to preserve your natural teeth until later in your life, but have been known to feel uncomfortable in some people’s mouths. Whichever design you choose to go with, your smile, as well as your appearance, will undoubtedly be improved!

Visit Center City Emergency Dentist’s website today to learn more information about their services relating to veneers, Lumineers, root canals, dental implants, dental crowns in Philadelphia and much more:

https://www.centercityemergencydentists.com/

From Dental Stress to Oral Success

Visiting the dentist office might be one of the very last things that you ever want to do. You might hate laying in the chair staring up at the bright light, while the dentist goes inside your mouth and checks out the current condition of your teeth. Sometimes, you probably can’t even stand the thought of your dental hygienist or dentist telling you all about what’s wrong with your mouth—instead of recognizing that you brush two times a day and floss once a week. Maybe you’ve gone to a dentist office once where you had to constantly listen to someone tell you all about their problems, and were forced to listen throughout the entire cleaning or procedure. Perhaps the inability to answer any of their questions because their hands are always stuffed in your mouth is what irks you the most…

Although there might be a whole list of reasons as to why you might hate going to your dentist office, here are eleven reasons why you shouldn’t:

  1. Dentists keep your mouth smelling fresh & clean so that you can make long lasting impressions.
  2. Your smile always looks way better in pictures after they perform a cleaning or procedure.
  3. Regular visits might even help you turn back the hands of time and, as a result, make you appear younger.
  4. If you’re single, clean teeth will only help you to attract someone of the opposite sex.
  5. Coffee stains and other substances that are stuck on your teeth will be removed.
  6. Dentists don’t want you to keep coming in; they want to help you prevent serious cavities and other problems.
  7. They don’t want your teeth to fall out at a young age, or even at all.
  8. Don’t view their constructive criticism as being mean; they’re just giving you valuable advice.
  9. You’ll usually walk out of the dentist office with some goodies that’ll help to enhance your oral hygiene.
  10. Prevent the possibility of gum disease and also heart disease by receiving regular cleanings.
  11. Dental implants in Philadelphia will help you to feel more confident when you’re socializing.

The dentist office might not be your favorite place to go, but the more often you schedule visits, the better your health, appearance and wellbeing will be. Just like everything else in life, there’s always a certain degree of pain before the pleasure. From veneers, root canals and periodontal treatments to implant dentistry in Philadelphia—dentists are committed to making people feel better about themselves.

6 Substances to Avoid in Order to Improve Dental Health

Protecting and promoting the health of your teeth is certainly not something you’ll regret in your later years. By brushing your teeth and flossing regularly, you’ll help avoid getting cavities and experiencing other dentistry complications. There’s other important information, though, regarding what you should avoid eating that will work to enhance the appearance and overall health of your teeth. Below are six types of foods and substances that you should avoid eating, drinking and chewing so that you can keep your natural chompers for as long as possible:      

Chewing hard substances will—over time—cause your teeth to become increasingly vulnerable to serious damage. Every time you chew on a lollipop or chomp down on the ice that should still be chilling in your drink, you are gradually weakening the structure of your teeth. Viciously biting down on hard candy and ice will cause you to develop hairline fractures in your teeth, which will eventually lead to a broken or chipped tooth.

Citric fruit and juices can devastate the enamel of your teeth—which is a thin, translucent covering responsible for providing a level of protection for your teeth and is, in fact, in the hardest tissue in the human body. The fact that acidic foods can deteriorate your enamel says a lot about the destructive nature of particular fruits and juices. Although the sourness of lemons, limes and oranges can be so painfully-pleasing, try to avoid the direct contact of the juices on your teeth. It’s suggested that you limit your overall consumption of critic fruit and juices, or sip those drinks through a straw.

Coffee seems like it can—in only a matter of a few years—make your teeth look as if you’ve been smoking two packs-a-day for about three decades. Coffee in its most organic form is—without all the sugar and cream that you know you love to throw in there—considered to be a fairly healthy beverage. Once it’s loaded up with cream and sugar, though, on top of its evil ability to stain your teeth, it will begin to make your mouth appear and feel incredibly unattractive.

Sticky foods like gummy bears, raisins and dried fruit never like to leave the party. These stubborn candies will cling onto your teeth for dear life and refuse to wash away or get spit out. They want to nestle themselves deeply inside your teeth, so that you sooner or later get a whole bunch of cavities. Every time you’re about to eat chewy or sticky foods, just remember that they’re tough tenants to give the boot to. But if you can’t resist the temptation of sticky foods—make sure you rinse with water, brush and floss after consumption.

Potato chips will eventually lead to chips—of teeth—floating around in your mouth…Potato chips are great foods—they’re fattening and greasy, but hey, who doesn’t enjoy some chips every now and again. If you’re a chip addict and you’re trying to save your teeth from crumbling to pieces, then this is the first step in the teeth-retention process. Potato chips are filled with starch, which usually ends up being held captive in your teeth. Consider an ideal alternative to potato chips such as tomato chips or baked banana chips.

Drinks that contain a lot of sugar include soda, fruit juices and even sports drinks. Carbonated drinks usually contain a lot of sugar and are acidic, while juices and sports drinks are just deceivingly bad for oral health. By drinking water in place of soda, fruit juice and sports drinks, you will improve your dental hygiene and also benefit in other areas of your health. Water is the most natural and harmless liquid that you can use to wash down your meal, so why not choose a glass of cold water instead of a sugar-infested beverage.

Avoid hard substances, acidic and sticky foods, coffee, potato chips and sugary drinks to increase the possibility of not wearing dentures when you’re older. Your future self will absolutely thank you for being more conscious about what you avoid eating to dodge enamel erosion, cavities and the possibility of your teeth becoming brittle. Smile brighter and enjoy your stunning smile while you can by being aware of what foods to avoid.

If you’re currently having any pain or discomfort with your teeth, seek the services of Center City Emergency Dentists to receive urgent dental care in Philadelphia. The highly trained, dentistry professionals are experienced with performing emergency tooth extractions in Philadelphia, as well as emergency root canals and addressing the complications associated with dental trauma, lost or broken fillings, broken crowns, dentures or implants, swelling and more. Learn more about the emergency dental services offered in Philadelphia by visiting https://www.centercityemergencydentists.com/