51A Galen Street, Watertown, MA 02472

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The 3 Best Ways to Maintain Your Dental Crown

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Dental Crown in Watertown MA | Many patients get a dental crown due to several reasons. Typically, a tooth that is weakened, severely damaged, or discolored will may need a crown. A dental bridge could be another reason why patients get a dental crown as well. One amazing benefit is that dental crowns can last up to 15 years. However, that depends on how great you care for them. No worries, though. We’ve narrowed the 3 best ways to maintain your dental crown.dental crown in Watertown MA dental crown The 3 Best Ways to Maintain Your Dental Crown shutterstock 163167593 1

Brush and floss.

Yep. This one is easy. Just treat your dental crown like a regular tooth by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. You want to avoid decay and gum disease because the crown can become loose and the underlying tooth can get infected. When possible, brush after meals too. The better you maintain your dental hygiene, the longer your crown will last.

Avoid hard chewing and biting.

Some people enjoy removing bottle caps and opening packages with their teeth. Please refrain from doing that and chewing on hard food and candy. Your dental crown is fixed but hard chewing and biting can loosen or damage it. Instead, use necessary tools to open objects and avoid hard food or at least cut it into smaller pieces.

Come see us.

Your crown is like a real tooth and dental exams and cleanings are still applicable. Your routine visits help us to detect issues early on and regular cleanings help prevent decay and gum disease. Protect the rest of your teeth by maintaining your appointments.

Your crown is a great investment to further protect your oral health. Contact us today to schedule an exam and consultation. Our dental office is conveniently located at 51A Galen Street Watertown, MA 02472. We look forward to servicing you.

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Replace Your Missing Tooth with a Dental Implant

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Dental Implant in Watertown MA

Replacing missing teeth is important, even if it’s just one tooth. Why? Well, for starters, replacing teeth is more than aesthetic. Missing teeth increases the risks of dental issues like decay, gum disease, and more tooth loss. So, if you have a missing tooth, this blog is for you. Read more to learn the benefits of replacing your tooth with a dental implant today.

dental implant in Watertown MA dental implant Replace Your Missing Tooth with a Dental Implant p

Don’t ignore your missing tooth.

Teeth help us to chew better and speak clearly. But, did you know they help define our face too? The tooth root serves as an anchor to support your jaw. However when a tooth is missing, that area of the jaw deteriorates. You’ll notice a weaker jaw frame and sunken cheeks as you begin to lose more teeth. Fortunately, dental implants were created to preserve the jawbone while replacing the tooth. So, what are dental implants? Good question. Let’s find out below.

Dental implants?

A dental implant is a titanium tooth root that is inserted into the jaw. Once the area heals, an abutment is attached to hold a custom-made crown. This process is the final restoration step to replacing the tooth. All of that sounds great but are you ready for the best part? Implants are known to last on average for 25 years! It really depends on your dental hygiene routine, though. Be sure to brush twice a day and floss daily to protect your new smile.

Missing teeth is definitely a reason to see Dr. Ray Hanna of Watertown Dentistry in Watertown MA. Schedule your appointment today for a dental exam and consultation. Remember, oral health is very important and preserving the jaw is too.

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Foods that Damage and Benefit Your Teeth

Foods that Damage and Benefit Your Teeth

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We all have to eat. However, when considering what to dine on for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, dental care is generally not a top priority. What if you could ensure a long lasting smile and improved oral hygiene by selecting foods that will be good for your teeth?

Below we reveal the foods that can be beneficial to your teeth and those you should avoid.

Which Foods Have the Potential to Damage Your Teeth?

  • Citrus Fruits – Full of vitamin C, citrus fruits have some health benefits. But when it comes to your teeth, these bad guys are acidic in nature and will work to erode the enamel of your teeth over time.
  • Candy – Despite the popular reference to a “sweet tooth”, your teeth can do without sweet candy. Candy, especially those that are chewy, provides the perfect feeding environment for the bacteria in your mouth. This can result in the build of plaque, reduces the protective layer of your teeth and can lead to cavities.
  • Sodas and Sweet Juices – Many individuals will avoid these beverages for dietary reasons. But reducing your soda and sugary juices is highly beneficial for your teeth. Other than the sugar content, many sodas contain acid, which has the potential to harm your teeth.
  • Wine – There is a lot of excitement now surrounding the health benefits of wine, in particular, red wine. But both red and white wine contain substances that are sure to discolor your teeth.
  • Coffee – According to the National Coffee Association, over half of the American adult population drink coffee on a daily basis. However, persistent coffee drinking can lead to stains on your teeth and even with whitening treatment, discoloring can return. The same can be said of black tea.

Which Foods Help Your Teeth?

  • Sugarless Gum – Chewing gum is not just an ideal pass time activity, a sugarless gum helps with the production saliva. Why is saliva important? It plays a critical role in your natural dental care to wash away acids and bathe your teeth with the strengthen substances such as calcium and phosphate.
  • Water – Rich with fluoride, drinking water reduces the erosion of your teeth. Water also works to wash away sugars and acids that build up on your teeth.
  • Dairy products – Maintaining strong, healthy teeth requires an ample amount of calcium. You can find the mineral in dairy products, such as milk and cheese, as well as almonds, broccoli, and some fish.
  • Foods with high fiber – You know that vegetables are good for you. But leafy vegetables and other food with fiber content encourage chewing, which helps in the production of saliva.
  • Strawberries – This fruit contains an acid called malic which is great for whitening your enamel. A mixture of baking soda and strawberry pulp is a great at home whitening treatment.

Personal dental care isn’t limited to brushing and flossing. The foods that you eat can help or damage your teeth or make them strong, white, and healthy. The choice is yours. To learn more about improving your dental health call us today.

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Which is the Right Way to Brush Your Teeth – Manual vs. Electric?

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Brushing is critical to overall dental care. Since its invention in the 1930s, the toothbrush has evolved extensively to meet consumer preference. In the 1990s, the use of electric toothbrushes grew in popularity compared to the more traditional manual form of brushing.

There are many who believe that manual brushing is more effective while others feel that electric brushes have more to shutterstock_96550669 toothbrush Which is the Right Way to Brush Your Teeth – Manual vs. Electric? shutterstock 96550669offer in dental care. So which is the right way to brush your teeth? In this blog, we discuss the pros and cons associated with manual and electric brushing.

What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Manual Brushing?

There are several options to choose from in the manual toothbrush category. Manual brushing offers the following advantages:

  • Manual brushes come in nearly every shape and size imaginable. So no matter the situation, you’re almost certain to find a toothbrush to suit your needs.
  • Manual brushes are easy to maintain. There’s no batteries or charging, which makes them the perfect “anytime brush”.
  • It’s difficult to beat manual toothbrush pricing. In fact, many dentists will offer toothbrushes free to their clients.

But there are some drawbacks to a manual toothbrush, namely:

  • They require ample dexterity and physical exertion. So they’re not suitable for everyone.
  • Since manual brushes don’t have built-in timers, it’s easy to fall far short of the two-minute brushing time that most dentists recommend.

Now that you know the pros and cons of manual brushing, here are the pluses and minuses of using an electric toothbrush.

What are the Pros and Cons of Electric Brushing?

Despite knowing the importance of brushing, children and adults alike find it dull and boring. Electric brushes help make brushing much more exciting. Here are a few more advantages:

  • Electric toothbrushes are easy to use. The electric technology does most of the work for you.
  • You can achieve great results with an electric toothbrush. In fact, there are many studies that indicate that electric brushes remove more plaque and bacteria than manual toothbrushes. Additionally, the built-in timers can help users ensure that you spend the right amount of time cleaning your teeth.

But just like manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes have several disadvantages:

  • These brushes require charging or a continuous investment in batteries. Without power, your electric toothbrush loses its functionality.
  • Electrical toothbrushes are costly. Additionally, their electrical parts make them much more delicate to the extent that a simple fall can render your electric toothbrush inoperable.

The bottom line is that whether manual or electric – there is no right or wrong way to brush your teeth. As you can see, each option comes with several pros and cons. Whatever your choice, the key is to ensure that you devote quality time to brushing twice a day.

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Dentures QnA

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We can answer your questions about dentures!

How can I minimize my chance of needing dentures as I age?

Newton dentures brighton cambridge ma dentures Dentures QnA Newton dentures brighton cambridge maTake care of your teeth NOW! Proper preventive dental care is key to maintaining an attractive and healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is necessary for good home dental care, as is flossing daily. Plaque begins accumulating 20 minutes after you eat, regardless of your age. When it is not brushed away, this sticky mix of food and bacteria will harden into tartar. Plaque and tartar can cause many problems including cavities, periodontitis and abscesses, which can lead to tooth loss. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy begins at home, but is incomplete without regular professional care. You should visit your dentist at least once every six months for a full dental exam and professional cleaning. According to a survey of older adults by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, more people are keeping their natural teeth longer. Since 1960, the rate of toothlessness among people between the ages of 55 and 65 has dropped 60%. This is in part a result of greater awareness and understanding of good dental care habits.

Are dental implants a good alternative to dentures?

Your dentist can tell you whether or not you are a candidate for implants, and help you decide if they are right for you.

I already have dentures; they don’t feel as comfortable as they used to. Can a dentist fix my dentures?

Dentures are made to fit perfectly. If yours feel loose, your dentist can help. You should never try to adjust the shape of your dentures to make them fit better, as you can damage them beyond repair. As you age, your gums and the bone supporting them change shape. Over time, these changes can cause your formerly well-fitted denture set to fit poorly.

How should I take care of my dentures?

Whether you have partial or full dentures, you should always handle them carefully. They should be removed and rinsed after eating, and thoroughly brushed at least once a day. When they are removed, clean your mouth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush on any natural teeth. You can also use a soft toothbrush, or gauze, to clean your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the inside of your cheeks. Most types of dentures need to be kept moist to retain their shape, so must be soaked overnight. Follow manufacturer’s instructions. Always rinse them before putting them back in your mouth, especially if they require soaking in solution. When cleaning them, avoid stiff-bristled brushes and other abrasive cleaning materials, and avoid all whitening products.

My dentures are old and I’m afraid they don’t look natural; can you help?

Yes! Thanks to many advances, the modern dentures Watertown Dentistry can offer you look much more natural than older ones. If they are wearing out, they can make you look older if they are not supporting your facial muscles as they used to. Older dentures are also more likely to cause pain.

If you are in need of new set, a consult to see if dentures are the best option for you, a denture adjustment, or in need of the best dental care in the Watertown, MA area, call us today for an appointment. We will be happy to help.

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