Choosing Toothpaste to Meet Your Needs

When stepping foot into the oral hygiene aisle at the drugstore, our staff at Maiden Lane Dental understands that the selections of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control, fluoride, sensitive or whitening toothpaste? When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs. The best way to discover what those are is by scheduling an oral exam with our doctors at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center. In the meantime, here are some options to consider while browsing:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste helps reduce oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exact what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions about dental health or oral care, please give us a call. 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.

Basics of Bruxism

Do you ever wake up from a night’s sleep with sore teeth and jaws? You could be grinding your teeth. The medical term for occasional teeth grinding is called bruxism and although this condition does not usually cause harm, when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise. At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, our doctors can develop an individualized treatment plan to help alleviate this condition.

Stress, anxiety, smoking, heavy alcohol, caffeine, depression and sleep disorders are all possible causes of teeth grinding. Treatment for teeth grinding depends on the cause. In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in fracturing, loosening or loss of teeth. Patients may benefit from a mouth guard to stabilize the jaw and prevent tooth damage that is caused by grinding.

If these bruxism symptoms sound all too familiar, 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.

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.