The Proper Brushing Technique

At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, our staff wants you to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime and this begins with brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day helps you remove plaque which can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Many of our patients don’t realize that there are a number of proper techniques for effective tooth brushing so here is one we’d like to share.

• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.


• Move the brush back-and-forth gently in short strokes.


• Brush the outer surfaces, the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces of all teeth.


• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh and don’t forget to floss!

If you have questions about how to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine, give us a call. For more information about the services we provide at the office, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.

How to Make Oral Care Fun for Kids

Brushing and flossing is a good habit to get into at a young age, however it is sometimes hard to get kids to brush and floss routinely. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center of Philadelphia, PA, we want to stress the importance of taking care of those baby teeth.

Baby teeth are the place-holders for adult teeth, so even though they will fall out eventually, it is important to keep them healthy and present for as long as they will be there. A good oral care routine is great to start at a young age, as well. Take some tips on how to make brushing and flossing fun for kids!

Let your child pick out their own toothbrush. There are so many different colors and even cartoon characters on toothbrushes. This is a good way to get them excited to brush. Let them pick the flavor of toothpaste they would like to use, too. Just make sure the toothpaste has fluoride in it for cavity fighting.

Another way to get them to brush is to make the actual task fun and exciting. Brush and floss your teeth at the same time and turn on some music. Play their favorite song for two minutes so you both know you are brushing for the right amount of time.

For questions about a good oral hygiene routine, contact Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center. To schedule a cleaning at our Philadelphia, PA office, call us at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

When a tooth goes missing, the rest of the mouth begins to change. In order to keep the health of your mouth and jaw, the tooth must be replaced as soon as possible. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, we are informing our patients at our Philadelphia, PA dental practice why it is so important to replace missing teeth.

When a tooth goes missing, the other teeth along that jaw line will begin to shift towards the open space. This creates spacing in the teeth that may allow injury to the gums and places for bacteria to hide. It can also create noticeable spaces in your smile.

When a tooth is not replaced quickly after it goes missing, the jawbone in the area begins to deteriorate. It has nothing holding it in its place anymore, so the bone disintegrates along with the gum tissue. This is why it is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more complications there will be with replacement.

For tooth replacement options here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, we offer dentures, bridges, and dental implants. We also have mini dental implants available for smaller spaces or more stable bases for dentures.

Do not let a missing tooth affect your oral health. To schedule a tooth replacement consultation in our Philadelphia, PA office, call us at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

How to Keep Teeth White and Bright

A white smile can really be a confidence booster. Whether you just had your teeth whitened, or you are looking to whiten them now, it is nice to know how to preserve a white and bright smile! Here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we want to give our patients tips for avoiding staining!

The first rule for having white teeth is really sticking to a good oral hygiene routine. Plaque and tartar can stain teeth as well as hold in other stain-causers. Remember to brush two or three times per day, and floss once per day. It helps if you keep a travel-sized toothbrush at work or school. Make sure to brush your tongue, too!

Brushing more often will help lift and keep away stains, however if you cannot brush soon after a meal, try including some foods that help clean your teeth as you eat them. Foods like apples and celery scrub the surface of your teeth as you bite and chew them.

When consuming dark foods and liquids, try to minimize the contact the food has with your teeth. For instance, when drinking cola or coffee, drink it through straw. After eating dark foods like blueberries or beets, rinse your mouth out with water.

 There are ways to whiten and keep your teeth white right at home. For a kick-start on whitening, ask us about our custom teeth whitening trays. To schedule an appointment, call Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center of Philadelphia, PA at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

VIP Amenities at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center

Going to the dentist can be a stressful experience for some. For others, a little VIP treatment is never a bad thing! This is why here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we like to offer our patients luxury amenities.

For those looking for a little more comfort, we offer head rest pillows and blankets. These will keep you comfortable and warm while in our dental chair. For those who would like a little entertainment, we have iPads available so you can browse the internet as you please. We also have flat screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. Whether it is for entertainment, or an aid to keep you distracted from the appointment, we have these amenities ready for you.

For our patients who would like a more relaxing, spa-like dental appointment, we have music to calm you, soothing eye masks, and aromatherapy massage.

We truly desire to provide every one of our patients with a relaxing and positive environment. To schedule your examination or consultation at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center here in Philadelphia, PA, give our office a call at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

Do Pacifiers Affect Baby Teeth?

It’s one of the hardest habits to break and can require a great deal of persuasion – parents often struggle with weaning their child off a pacifier. Yes pacifiers provide a sense of security and a method of self-relaxation for infants, but the downside of pacifiers is the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center we always welcome new patients, including pediatric patients who have yet to wean off of the pacifier.

Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth and create problems with tooth alignment. Long-term pacifier use can lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that children stop using pacifiers by the age of two. Up until that age, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.

If you have questions about pacifiers and teeth development, give us a call. To learn more about pediatric services we offer at our practice visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shireen Malik, or Dr. James Cavalancia at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193. 

Why Do My Teeth and Gums Hurt?

At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center we want you to understand that taking care of your mouth is very important, not only for your teeth and gums, but for your overall health. Neglecting your teeth and gums can make them susceptible to problems such as cavities, gum disease as well as bacterial infections. These problems can also compromise your oral well-being and cause your teeth and gums to hurt.

If your teeth hurt, a cavity could be the culprit. Cavities occur when plaque buildup on your teeth creates tooth decay. Plaque contains harmful acids that eat away at your tooth enamel and create tiny holes. Therefore, if you do not regularly remove plaque deposits from your teeth, your cavities will grow and begin to hurt. If left untreated, lingering plaque deposits can also affect your gums. If not removed daily, plaque hardens into a substance called tartar that can irritate your gums and lead to gum disease.

If you are experiencing pain with your mouth or gums don’t delay, give us a call. To learn more about services we offer at our practice visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shireen Malik, or Dr. James Cavalancia at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call 215-279-1193.