Ephrata Family Dentistry Blog

There are two keys to keeping your teeth happy and healthy for the long-haul — the first is taking care of them at home, and the second is visiting your dentist routinely for a checkup and cleaning. Your dentist has the last part under control, but when it comes to at-home hygiene, are you really doing enough to keep your teeth clean? Keep reading to learn more about what you should do daily to prevent plaque buildup and help to ensure you leave your dentist in Ephrata with a clean bill of health every time!

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For years, the only way to correct misaligned, crooked, gapped or crowded teeth was with traditional braces. Thankfully, the world of dentistry is continuously evolving, a result of which is Invisalign in Ephrata. It offers a completely new type of experience, but your dentist says you should be aware of the lifestyle changes that come along with it. As you read on, you’ll learn about some of them, so you can be fully prepared for this form of treatment.

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When it comes to your oral health, gum disease is not something to scoff at. Without healthy gums, you won’t be able to chew, smile, or protect the rest of your body from harmful bacteria and infections. It’s the number one cause of tooth loss and a majority of Americans have some form of it to this day.

If you notice your gums bleeding, it’s a sign that you may have gum disease in Ephrata. Here are the six most common causes.

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Did you know that restorative and emergency care is far more expensive than simply visiting your dentist and receiving preventive dental care? In fact, an overwhelming majority of dental issues can be avoided by practicing regular oral care and visiting your dentist in Ephrata. The last thing they want is for you to experience dental woes that could have easily been prevented.

With regular dental visits, you’ll be doing your oral health, overall health, and wallet a big favor. Here’s what you can prevent.

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Not all dental issues require a trip to your emergency dentist in Ephrata. Alternatively, not all medical emergencies require a trip to the emergency room. That’s why it’s always important to know how to recognize a dental emergency when you see one, especially if you have an active family or lifestyle yourself. It could save you a ton of money on an ambulance ride and you’ll be getting care from a dental professional.

Here are the situations your dentist considers to be a dental emergency.

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If you have noticed subtle discoloration in your smile, it’s likely just your dentin becoming exposed as your enamel starts eroding over time. This sort of discoloration is common and is often treated by improving your at-home oral care and pursuing teeth whitening treatments. However, in cases where teeth are turning significantly darker, it’s a sign of something much more sinister: a dead tooth.

Dead teeth are not in any way cosmetic and need to be examined by your dentist in Ephrata. Here are the main causes.

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Your dentist in Ephrata is always pleased to answer any questions you have about your oral health, but did you know that your dental hygienist is also a treasure trove of information? Hygienists have spent a lot of time learning about the human mouth and how to keep it clean and healthy. Next time you go in for a routine dental appointment, please be sure to take advantage of your hygienist’s knowledge! Here are a few questions you can ask to get the conversation rolling:

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The human body is an amazing creation; it seems like science is always discovering some new, mind-boggling fact about the way we’re built. While we could easily spend hours discussing all the cool things that make us function, today we’re just going to focus on the part of the body that we know best — the mouth. Your dentist in Ephrata is here to take you on a brief tour of this fascinating orifice.

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Ouch! Experiencing some pain in one of your pearly whites? You may say you have a toothache, but “toothache” is just a generic term for any pain that occurs in a tooth. It isn’t an official diagnosis, and it doesn’t describe the problem that is behind the discomfort. Understanding why your tooth hurts is the first step to getting on the road to recovery, and while your emergency dentist in Ephrata is the only one who can make an official diagnosis of the problem, you can make an educated guess about what is wrong based on the nature of your pain. Let’s talk about a few different types of tooth pain and what they mean.

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According to your dentist in Ephrata, keeping your mouth clean is not a particularly difficult task to accomplish. However, there are still several reasons people fail to take proper care of their mouths in between their dentist visits, assuming they go. People will rush out the door thinking about the work they need to do that day and don’t even realize how dental plaque silently eats away at their enamel. They might think “I’ll just brush after work when I get home” but rarely do.

The next time you start your routine, keep these tips from your dentist in mind to confirm hat you’re care is sufficient.

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