Can Thumbsucking And Pacifier Use Cause Damage To Your Child’s Teeth?

Do you have a young child in your life who is always grabbing for their pacifier or continuously sucking their thumb? These are both common soothing techniques for infants and toddlers. It is also a common coping mechanism as a child gets a little older to help them feel calm and not overwhelmed by a situation. While these behaviors can help ease a tantrum or create a sense of calm on a sleepless night, the longer your child uses a pacifier or sucks their thumb, the more damage they can cause to their teeth and jaw.

What Is A Cavity?

At Joel D. Singer, DMD, we are passionate about helping our patients achieve optimal oral health. One way we encourage this is to have patients visit our office for routine hygiene examinations. During these appointments, we not only thoroughly clean their teeth, but we also look for signs of a problem with their oral health. One common issue that many of our patients experience is dental decay, also commonly referred to as a cavity. You have likely heard of cavities. Maybe you have even had one or two. But do you know how they form and what can happen if treatment is not received?

It’s Mouth Cancer Awareness Month

We are passionate about helping our patients enjoy long-lasting oral health. One way this can be accomplished is with regular, routine oral hygiene examinations. We recommend that our patients visit us every four to six months, depending on their oral health needs. During these appointments, aside from cleaning your teeth, we look for potential oral health problems, including mouth cancer or oral cancer. November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to promoting knowledge of this form of cancer. Mouth cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that can be detected anywhere in the mouth or oral cavity, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, and gums.

Bad Habits That Are Harming Your Child’s Teeth

We frequently speak about the importance of oral health and ways to help you keep your teeth and mouth healthy. One of the best ways to do this is to teach healthy oral habits at a young age. Bad habits that start in childhood can be extremely difficult to change. We would hate for these habits to lead to problems with your children’s oral health now and in the future.

How Beverages Can Negatively Affect Your Oral Health

With the hot summer weather, you have probably been enjoying some nice, cold beverages to keep you hydrated and refreshed. Do you stop every day and get an iced coffee with special syrups and flavoring from your local coffee shop? Or perhaps your child plays sports, and you give them sports drinks to cool off. You may be surprised to learn that your beverage of choice could be damaging to your teeth and mouth. Unfortunately, some beverages, such as sports drinks, flavored iced coffees, juices, and soft drinks, often have more sugar than some candy bars!

Is Your Medication Harming Your Oral Health?

When you visit our office for any reason, whether it be an oral hygiene examination or a recommended dental treatment, we will ask for an update on your medical history. It is important that you share any medical conditions or treatments you may have had since the last time we saw you. It is also necessary that you share any medications you may be taking. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications. Read on to learn more about how medications can affect your dental treatment.

Prepare For Your Child’s Dentist Visit

Did you know that we see children ages four and older at Joel D. Singer, DMD? If you are looking for a new dentist for your children, be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Entrup. It is recommended that children visit the dentist for their first appointment when their teeth start to emerge. Some parents are not aware or have not made an appointment for their children yet, even though they are older. That is no problem at all, because there is no time like the present to schedule an appointment.

Are Your Lifestyle Choices Affecting Your Oral Health

At Joel D. Singer, DMD, we are passionate about our patients’ optimal health and living their best, healthy lives. One of the best ways to do this is to make wise choices in your everyday life that do not negatively affect your oral health. Unfortunately, some patients do not always make the best choices when it comes to their oral health. Here are some ways your lifestyle may be negatively affecting your oral health:

Schedule Your Next Checkup & Learn About DenVantage

When was the last time you visited our office for a routine hygiene examination and cleaning? If it has been longer than four to six months, you are due for a visit. Now that Memorial Day is over, it finally feels like summer in New Jersey. Summer is a time for relaxation and to catch up on what you have postponed in the winter and spring, making it the perfect time to schedule your appointment. Delaying a routine examination can lead to a dental emergency down the road, and we would hate for you to experience that during the summer. If you have been avoiding our office due to insurance and the cost of your appointment, we may have the perfect solution for you! Read on to learn more.

Why Are My Gums Bleeding?

We want to help our patients have excellent oral health. We know that it can be concerning when you experience a problem with your teeth or mouth. One issue we see often is bleeding gums. This can happen because of something as simple as food being stuck between your teeth and irritating the gums, but in other cases it could be a warning that something more serious is occurring with your oral health. Some possible causes of bleeding gums can include: