Philly Dentistry

Gum disease is also known as periodontists or periodontal disease and is very common with adults. You may be wondering now what is it? How do I get it? And is it preventable?

Gum disease is formed when plaque isn’t removed from brushing, flossing or seeing your dentist for your regular cleanings and check-ups. Bacteria in plaque produce toxins that can infect gum tissue which causes redness, irritation and bleeding. As gum disease worsens your gums will pull away from your teeth which creates pockets. Over time, these pockets can become deeper and when they become deeper, they fill with bacteria and toxins which then destroys gum tissue and bone. This most likely will result in tooth loss.

The initial stages of gum disease can be painless. This is why it’s so important to visit your dentist regularly because you can have gum disease and not even know it. By visiting your dentist on a regular basis, they will be able to catch any early signs of gum disease and be able to treat it right away so it doesn’t worsen. Early gum disease can be treated by our amazing team of hygienists. At Philly Dentistry we call it a deep cleaning which involves scaling and root planning that will remove the buildup and bacteria below the gum line to begin the healing process. After this treatment the gum disease can be kept in check by brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings with our Philly Dentistry team.

Some causes of gum disease can be from poor oral hygiene by not brushing or flossing daily. Smoking tobacco regularly, hormonal changes, illnesses, medications, family history and even stress can all cause gum disease. The symptoms of gum disease are:

*Redness
*Swelling
*Tenderness
*Bleeding
*Recession
*Painful chewing
*Deep pockets between teeth and gums
*Loose or shifting teeth

Studies suggest that gum disease could be connected to inflammatory conditions such as, Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Kidney Disease and some forms of cancer. Ways to prevent this disease are to brush and floss daily, visit your dentist regularly, reduce the stress in your life, eat a well-balanced nutritious diet and finally stop smoking. Regular cleanings and checkups by our dental team are extremely important to keep your gums healthy. So, give us a call today at 215-568-6222 or send us an email info@phillydentistry.com to get scheduled for your routine cleaning and check-up. While you’re at it give us a follow us on Instagram @PhillyDentistry and don’t forget to brush and floss daily to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.

Are you grinding or clenching your teeth when you sleep? Most people don’t know that they’re doing it until they wake up with a sore jaw or headache. Nearly, 70 percent of people grind or clench their teeth from some type of stress or anxiety in their life. Grinding or clenching your teeth is also known as Bruxism and symptoms can include headaches, muscle aches, TMJ or temporomandibular joint discomfort, stiffness of your shoulders and neck, and sleep disorders.

Stress and anxiety are just two causes of grinding your teeth, but some other causes that you may not have been aware of are smoking, drinking heavy amounts of alcohol, caffeine, and depression. Although, there is little evidence to directly backup any of these causes, the Bruxism Association categorizes these as all possible causes of teeth grinding and clenching. When not treated these causes can damage and eventually lead to the loss of your teeth.

Luckily, for the 70 percent of people that grind and clench Philadelphia Dentistry offers a custom made night guard that protects your teeth from grinding and clenching. A night guard is custom made to fit perfectly on the top of your teeth so your teeth don’t grind or clench with the bottom teeth. By wearing your night guard you will reduce the chances of your teeth falling out from damage. Also any symptoms you may be having due to grinding will be drastically reduced or even completely disappear from wearing your night guard when you sleep.

If wearing a night guard is not the right choice for you, there are other options to consider reducing stress and anxiety. One way is to practice relaxation techniques before going to bed. These relaxation techniques such as, meditation and psychoanalysis can help you manage your stress levels. Even hypnosis is used to stop clenching and grinding and has been found to have positive long term effects. People often use a combination of these relaxation techniques to put an end to teeth grinding.

If you are experiencing any of these problems and you think you may be grinding or clenching your teeth at night, schedule a free new patient consultation with Philly Dentistry. You’ll have the best dentists in Philadelphia give you an evaluation and get you back to being happy and healthy for life! Call us today at 215-568-6222.

October is the month for pink! During the month of October, you will notice everywhere someone is wearing pink whether it be a football player or even a politician, pink is the color for breast cancer awareness during the whole month of October. It all started in 1985 when it was founded that October will be the designated month to increase awareness about this terrible deadly disease. You’re probably wondering how good oral hygiene can help reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. Good oral health matters to your overall health.

Studies have shown that there is a link between breast cancer and your dental health. In fact, someone who has poor oral hygiene or gum disease is eleven more times likely to develop breast cancer! The good news is that you have total control of your oral health habits. With great oral hygiene routines, you and your dentist at Philly Dentistry can monitor and reduce any chances of getting periodontal disease or gum disease and any other health-related issues. Examples of great oral health routines are brushing your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and visit your dentist regularly for your cleanings and checkups.

Luckily, this terrible disease is on the decline, it’s important to use the month of October to educate your friends and family about how they can reduce the risk of developing this awful disease. It’s important to catch this early so make sure you are being checked regularly for this because early detective could save your life.

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while give us a call at 215-568-6222 and schedule a free new patient consultation with one of our great doctors. Send us an email at info@phillydentistry.com or send us a message on social media @PhillyDentistry thanks for reading and don’t forget to wear pink this month!

Metal braces are a thing of the past. Forget those brackets, wires, and rubber bands, there is a faster, easier, invisible way of straightening your teeth. Invisalign is the new and affordable way to get that smile you always wanted. Here are a few things you need to know about the benefits of using Invisalign.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our ONE day offer of $1,000 off your Invisalign treatment on October 22,2019 from 2pm-5pm. You’ll receive $1,000 off your Invisalign treatment, complimentary take home whitening trays ($250 value) and a FREE full set of x-rays! Call today because we are only giving this deal to 10 patients! 215-568-6222.

1. You will become healthier using Invisalign. Heath problems can occur if you have badly positioned teeth. When you have crooked teeth, it causes more food and bacteria to get trapped in between your teeth resulting in more cavities, gum disease, and infections. Patients with misaligned teeth will sometimes grind their teeth at night due to a poor bite, resulting in sensitivity and sore muscles. Studies by the ADA (American Dental Association) proved that oral infections can lead to more serious conditions, such as, diabetes, heart disease, pneumonia, and even a stroke. Which leads me to benefit number two.

2. Easy to clean. One of the most challenging things to do when you have braces is to clean in between the metal brackets and wires. With Invisalign you simply take out your trays to brush and floss as you normally would. This prevents plaque buildup that could result in gum disease, tooth decay, or infections.

3. It’s practically invisible! No more huge metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands sticking out of your mouth. Invisalign is made from clear plastic aligners so they are almost impossible to notice. You don’t have to feel embarrassed anymore to get braces because most people won’t even know you have them on. They’re easily removeable and extremely comfortable to wear. Just ask some of our patients.

4. It’s fast. Invisalign is quicker than traditional braces so you’ll get that smile you always wanted much faster. Every Invisalign case is different, but on average adult cases typically last 12 months.

5. It’s affordable. Invisalign compared to traditional metal braces cost less. With our easy finance options, it makes Invisalign that much easier to get without putting a dent in your pockets and with this one day offer of $1000 off Invisalign, this is our best offer ever!

6. In office scan. At Philadelphia Dentistry we can now scan patients right in our center city office with the iTero Scanner. This allows us to take state-of-the-art digital impressions without using that messy putty in your mouth to take a physical impression. With this technology it is sent instantly to the Invisalign lab and allows our office to start treatment 2-3 weeks faster than other Philadelphia dentists!

So, what are you waiting for? If you want that beautiful smile that is affordable, comfortable, and fast give us a call today 215-568-6222 to schedule an appointment with our amazing doctors. Remember not only are straight teeth beautiful they are healthy too.