Soft Food Diet for TMJ/TMD

If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, you may notice a clicking or a popping in your jaw when you try to eat your favorite foods. This is because symptoms of TMJ disorder can include jaw discomfort and tenderness or pain when opening or closing the mouth. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, we don’t want you to live on a soft diet, but incorporating soft foods into your diet may alleviate your discomfort.

Soft foods give your jaw and temporomandibular joints the opportunity to rest and heal. Some excellent (and healthy) foods to eat include cooked vegetables and fruits, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies, soup, and yogurt. If you must eat food that requires a heavy amount of chewing, we recommended chopping it up into small pieces. If you have a sweet tooth, soft cakes, cobblers and cheesecake are good things to choose from.

If you suffer from any facial pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, 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.

Make Sure You Are Spending Enough Time Brushing!

It takes about two minutes to hit every spot in your mouth effectively while brushing. How do you keep track of the two minutes? At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we want to be sure our patients are keeping up with their dental hygiene. Check out some great ways to ensure you are brushing long enough!

Song and Dance

Play your favorite tune while brushing your teeth. Most music players have a timer on it as the song plays, so just make sure you brush at least until the two-minute mark.  Every thirty seconds brush a different quadrant of your mouth. Also, do not forget your tongue, the inside of your cheeks, and the roof of your mouth! Dancing is optional.

 

Your Cell Phone

Phones are so much more than just phones now. They are music players, entertainment, the Internet, and they are clocks for a lot of people! Set your phone’s timer for two minutes for an easy way to keep track.

 

Old-school Timers

Consider getting an hourglass to use as a timer! In this case, you would get a minute glass and flip it twice. You can even look into getting a fancy one to add to your bathroom décor!

 

Electric Toothbrushes

Many electric toothbrushes also have timers on them. They pause the vibrations a couple of times or beep when the two minutes mark has been reached.

 

A good at-home oral care plan is vital to your overall health. To schedule your next appointment with Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in our Philadelphia, PA office, call us at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com.

 

Healthy Foods for Teeth and Gums

Food is what fuels our bodies. It is well-known that we need to eat the right things so we get the proper nutrients, but did you know that it also counts for your oral health? At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we want our patients to the proper nutrition can lead to better oral health. Keep reading to learn more!

Probably the most well-known nutrition needed for your smile is calcium. Foods rich in calcium like milk, cheese, and yogurt are great for building and keeping strong teeth. There are also benefits from yogurt which has good bacteria that fight off odor-causing bacteria and from milk which lowers acid levels in your mouth. Acid leads to erosion of enamel, so keeping the levels low is important!

There are also foods that actually help clean your teeth. Crunchy, fibrous foods like carrots and cucumbers actually help clean your teeth as you eat them. They remove plaque as you bite into them and chew them. If you ever find yourself in need of a brushing without a toothbrush around, look for the veggies!

Gum health is also vital for complete oral health. For good gum health, citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits can help out. They strengthen the blood vessels and connective tissues that hold your teeth to your jaw. They can also help reduce any inflammation.

Remember your teeth and gums when getting your daily vitamins and minerals in! To set up your next cleaning and examination at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call our office at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

 

 

 

 

Congrtulations to our patients Jeannie Kim and Daniel Kim on their beautiful wedding.#BridalSmile #TeethWhitening #DrShireenMalik

 

 

 

 

 

Avoid Theses Habits While Wearing Braces

Just as there are bad habits that can harm your teeth, there are also bad habits that can hinder the effectiveness of braces. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we want our patients wearing braces to facilitate the best oral environment possible for braces. The end result will be a beautiful, healthy smile.

Hard Objects                                                        

Even without braces, it is known that biting hard objects like fingernails, ice, pens, etc. can be bad for teeth. It can cause weakening, worn down enamel, and it can cause chips and fractures. While wearing braces, this is even truer. Due to the pressure that braces apply to the teeth, they are even more sensitive. The pressure from biting hard objects can also slow down the progression of braces, making your treatment longer. In addition to hard non-food objects, you should also avoid hard food like raw carrots and popcorn.

 

Sugary Foods and Drinks

Sugary foods and drinks can cause cavities in teeth when consumed too frequently; however, with braces, there are even more places for sugar to hide. Avoid making candies and pops staples of your diet. In addition, make a point to rinse your mouth after consuming them.

 

To learn more about the orthodontic options here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call our office at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

Your Brushing and Flossing Routine While Wearing Braces

While wearing braces, there are a few changes that should happen in your dental care routine. A little extra protection is needed so when the braces come off, your teeth are healthy, strong, and beautifully straight. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, we think it is important that patients are aware of these changes.

Brushing the chewing and inside surfaces of your teeth will be like normal; however, to brush the fronts of your teeth, you will need some extra supplies and techniques. When you go to brush around your braces, angle the toothbrush and brush along the tops and bottoms of the brackets. To get the sides, take an interdental toothbrush and scrub. These are tiny, tree-shaped brushes that allow you to get underneath the wires. You can find them where most dental supplies are sold.

Flossing may also take some extra time but it is still very important for avoiding cavities and keeping teeth stain-free. Floss with a threader attached to it will help you get the floss over and under the wires easier to speed up the process. There are also separate threaders you can buy.

Braces can add some extra effort in your daily dental care but do not forget, when the braces come off you will have a smile you can be proud of! To schedule your next appointment at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, call our office at (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

Senior Teeth Care

No matter what age you are, teeth can last a lifetime with proper home care and regular dental checkups. However, as we grow older, certain health concerns earn our full attention, especially the importance of oral health for seniors. It’s easy to slip up on your oral hygiene habits, especially if you are distracted by other ailments such as arthritis which may make it difficult to hold a toothbrush. But know that our staff at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center is always here to assist you and help keep your gums healthy for years to come.

Advancing age puts many seniors at risk for a number of oral health problems, such as darkened teeth, dry mouth, root decay, gum disease, tooth loss, and even a diminished sense of taste. If you wear dentures or other oral appliances, they may cause irritation to the gums can lead to abscesses and sores if left untreated. If you have noticed any recent changes in your mouth, are experiencing tooth sensitivity, or notice any difficulty tasting, chewing, or swallowing your food, please give us a call immediately.

If you have questions about dental health and oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to contact us. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, 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.