Philly Dentistry

It’s the holiday season and that means all of the treats are coming out! Holiday treats are always fun to enjoy. The sugar cookies, cakes, pies…mmm mmm mmm, we can’t get enough. We want you to enjoy all the treats too, but don’t forget to take care of your teeth. It is so important to stay consistent with good oral health. You don’t want to fall into any bad habits and start your new year in the dentist’s office because of cavities, mouth pain, or any infections. To help you stay on track, we made a list of tips to help you maintain your oral health during the holidays!

1. Stick to the normal routine. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss. This is the easiest way to ensure your smile is staying on track.
2. Schedule your post-holiday cleaning now. Prepare in advance and have this one already set. Plus, if you know you have a date with your hygienist, it might influence you to floss more!
3. Drink plenty of that H2O! Drinking water has so many benefits, but particularly for your oral health, water should be your best friend. Drinking water can freshen your breath, and help clean away bacteria in your mouth.
4. Don’t use your teeth for anything besides eating. Your teeth are not bottle opening or present opening tools. You don’t want to crack a tooth doing something like this. Keep your teeth intact and only use them when eating!
5. Make yourself a to-go dental kit. You never know when you’re going to wind up staying out for the night so a to-go dental kit is a great way to stay prepared. Use a Ziplock bag to store a toothbrush, a travel size toothpaste, and a pack of floss. You will be ready for any situation!

Halloween is coming, and if you don’t brush so will the cavities! Halloween is a fun time to enjoy all your favorite candies. However, it is important to eat treats in moderation and to brush right after. National Brush Day is celebrated on November 1st, the day after Halloween, to reinforce the importance of dental health and promote good brushing habits!

How to brush?

Let’s go over the correct way to brush your teeth. First, position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Next, gently move the toothbrush up and down in short strokes. Then, brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Be sure to use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using gentle strokes! Finally, brush your tongue to remove any bacteria and to freshen your breath.

Want more tips? We got you!

• Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes each.
• Use toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Floss daily to remove particles your toothbrush didn’t catch.
• Visit your hygienist every 6 months.

It’s also important to know when it’s time to replace your toothbrush. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store it in an upright position and let it air dry rather than placing it in a closed container. Toothbrush caps only create the growth of bacteria. The general rule of thumb is to replace your toothbrush every 3 months. Replace it sooner if you notice the bristles bending up or if you were recently sick.

All in all, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene in order to take care of yourself. Good oral health reflects good overall health. Give us a call at (215) 568-6222 to book your next cleaning! In the meantime, let’s get connected on social media! We love seeing our patient’s photos throughout their smile journey. Tag us @phillydentistry to be featured on our channels.

Do you think you need a deep cleaning? What does a deep cleaning entail? Deep cleaning involves gum scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is a way that we treat gum infection. The symptoms that someone might experience when they need scaling and root planing could be bad breath, a bad taste in their mouth, bleeding, swelling, tender gums, and unfortunately, sometimes they don’t have any symptoms at all.

What happens?

Scaling and root planing is a procedure we do to clean the bacteria and tartar off the deeper surfaces of the tooth. When we treat a patient with scaling and root planing, we usually start off with a full set of X-rays, also known as a full mouth series. We do this so we can see the roots and all the surfaces were going to be working on.

Then we start by numbing the gums up gently to make the patient extra comfortable during the treatment. Our numbing technique in our office is very nice because most of the time it doesn’t involve needles and the patients love the fact that it doesn’t involve needles. The numbing jelly that we use here is very strong. It gets applied above and below the gum line and then once the jelly is set, we go in and we start working with our ultrasonic cavitron. This is an instrument that our hygienists use to shake and vibrate the heavy tartar off the teeth. The treatment is very satisfying. We are getting rid of all that build-up and leaving our patients with a fresh, healthy mouth. 

Benefits?

• Eliminates the bacteria that’s underneath the gum line
• Prevents any tooth mobility
• Prevents future bone loss
• Reduces or can eliminate risk for severe gum disease and tooth loss
• Prevents gingivitis
• No more bleeding gums
• Less gum recession
• Fewer cavities caused by plaque
• Better oral health

What to expect?

Since there is so much work being done, this treatment is often broken into multiple appointments. More importantly, multiple appointments are essential. It allows the doctor to monitor the healing of your gums and the depth of your pockets. If your pockets grow deeper, more treatment could be needed.

The importance?

All in all, it is important to practice good oral hygiene as it is systemic to our overall health and well-being. No one wants to wind up with gum disease, but unfortunately, it can happen. To help prevent gum disease, it is important to visit your dentist twice a year. During your checkup cleanings, your provider will be able to detect early signs of any problems and nip things in the bud. It is better to maintain oral health, rather than waiting for a big problem. Healthy teeth = a healthy life!

No more waiting!

Book your free new patient consultation with Philly Dentistry today to check whether you are a candidate for a deep cleaning! Call today (215) 607-6350 to speak with one of our awesome team members and we can get you all set up.

You know that icky feeling on your teeth when you first wake up in the morning? That’s plaque! Plaque is a clear, sticky bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. When it’s not cleaned regularly, the plaque hardens and creates calculus, which is also known as tartar. Calculus cannot be removed with before-bed and in-the-morning brushing. When this occurs, you need to visit the dentist for a professional cleaning. 

To take care of regular plaque, you need a good oral hygiene routine. Your routine should include three things. 

1. Thoroughly brush your teeth twice a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush in gentle circular motions to ensure proper cleaning. Also, it is important to pay special attention to your gum line when brushing. 
2. Floss at least once a day. Flossing isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to do, but hear us out. By flossing daily, you are removing plaque and other debris in your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. It’s quite satisfying after you make it a habit! You can also try other flossing methods by using other cleaning tools like water flossers or interdental brushes. 
3. You have to visit your dentist twice a year. Your dental hygienist will be able to give you a deep cleaning twice a year that removes all of the excess buildups on your teeth. Keeping up with these visits regularly will keep your mouth healthy! 

It’s normal to have dental plaque, but by maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, you can prevent plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. When you take care of your oral health, you are taking care of your overall health. Keep your smile healthy and happy!

We have the world’s best patients. Our office has been open for over 18 years and throughout time, our patients have chosen to come back to us again and again. We take pride in making our patients feel at home in our office. In return, our patients have shared their experiences throughout the years on review sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Our patient’s feedback is very important to us as we are always trying to better ourselves. We appreciate all of the kind words. So much so, that our team starts every morning by reading a new review. Hearing our patient’s feedback gets our team pumped for the next day! In this blog, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite reviews. These reviews, in particular, brought an ear to ear smile to all of our staff’s faces. 

Brandon S. Review

“Philadelphia Dentistry reconceptualizes and resets the paradigm for the holistic practice of dentistry. First and foremost, they operate with an unprecedented level of professionalism, subject matter expertise, compassion, and dedication to their clients’ needs. They put the client first and consciously try to seek an understanding of any issues, fears, or concerns their clients have so they can make them feel as comfortable as possible throughout the entirety of their visit. Further, their clarity of explanation provides the client with education concerning proper dental hygiene and a vision for maintaining healthy practices. They have not only built an environment that is friendly, energetic, comfortable, positive, and beautiful, but they celebrate diversity – of staff, clients, and perspective — since they place love central to their core values.

What I love most about the office (besides their dental expertise and care they provide-) is how they genuinely attempt to create a lasting relationship with the client – they seek understanding of who you are, what you do, and create bonds of friendship that makes you feel like you are an extension of their dental family. Trust me when I say, not only are you going to receive the highest quality of service at this practice, but you are missing out if you don’t make this the home for all your dental needs!” -Brandon S.

Nikki B. Review

“I chose this office after my husband had a pleasant experience. I also had a great experience. All of the staff were welcoming and helpful. I enjoyed chatting with my hygienist, Alyssa! What stood out to me in terms of care was: they did an oral cancer exam. I have only had one other doctor in my life do this for me! This was also the most educational office I have ever been to where they show you exactly what is happening to your teeth and why. Then they have individualized recommendations for improving your oral health. I was impressed by the knowledge of Alyssa, she went over everything the doctor covered with me, so I got it twice!” -Nikki B.

Billy C. Review

“I’ve been a patient for over 2 years now. Always quick and efficient with their work. I had a filling crack in May and was able to get in the very next business day (a Friday). I had the filling replaced that following Monday by Dr. Ridge and the assistant. After fixing that, I realized I would be away for my cleaning date in August. They bumped me up this week with my go-to hygienist Jen. Jen did my Zoom well over a year ago which whitened my teeth 4 shades and the trays and whitening provided have kept my pearly whites nice and bright with light maintenance. Everyone at the office is friendly, helpful, and informative and they handle COVID-19 procedures with ease and care.” -Billy C.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and our office wants to help end oral cancer! According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, mouth cancers are newly diagnosed in about 145 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. These numbers are heartbreaking, especially because the fastest-growing segment of oral cancer patients are young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals. According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide burden of oral cancer is an estimated 657,000 new cases each year, and more than 330,000 deaths. Oral cancer doesn’t stop, but we won’t either. We take oral cancer very seriously. With every cleaning here at Philly Dentistry, our patients are examined for oral cancer. This is something we have always done and will continue to do.

Most people neglect oral cancer and don’t realize how deadly it is. That is why it is important to catch it early. Biyearly visits to the dentist are imperative for maintaining good health. In addition to your bi-yearly visits, you can perform self-examinations at home too! These self-examinations should be done once a month to ensure everything is looking healthy. Check out Oral Cancer Foundation’s website that explains step by step how to examine yourself for oral cancer. They even include a video demonstration and photos of what to look out for.

If you are seeing anything in your mouth that resembles these photos, give us a call immediately. From there, we will have you come in for a professional examination. The doctors are trained to determine what is cancerous or dangerous to your health. Your job is to check in on yourself regularly and refer yourself to our team if anything seems off. We are here to help keep you healthy!

To stay connected, follow us on social media!

Before we get into the signs of gum disease, let’s talk about what gum disease even is. The clinical term for gum disease is “periodontitis.” Bacteria grows in your mouth and causes destruction in your teeth and gums. There could be a loss of bone supporting your teeth caused by an immune response to the bacteria below the gum line. Gum disease is common but also preventable for the most part. The most common cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. Below is a list of five signs that point to gum disease.

1. No cleaning for 2+ years

This takes the cake for number one! The most common cause of gum disease is poor oral health, so if you aren’t coming to the dentist, this applies. It is so important to visit your dentist twice a year. Dentists are teeth professionals and have all the tools to keep your mouth healthy. They will also keep you informed about what you can do at home to ensure a healthy mouth.

2. Bleeding gums

Before your gums bleed, they could appear bright red. This bright red color usually means that the gums are irritated. If your gums are irritated, there is something wrong. What’s happening is your gums are inflamed and infected and start pulling away from the roots of your teeth. As a result, your gums could start bleeding.

3. Bad breath

If you do not brush and floss your teeth, your mouth isn’t receiving proper cleaning. This can result in food and other particles getting stuck in your mouth. This results in bacteria growth in your teeth. It is important to practice good oral hygiene so your mouth stays healthy and your breath stays fresh!

4. Smoking

Smoking is obviously not healthy, but how does it affect your gums? Smoking weakens your body’s immune system. So, if your immune system is being weakened, it will be more difficult for your body to fight off gum infections. If you already have gum damage, smoking will make it even harder for your gums to heal.

5. Visible plaque around your teeth

Plaque is always forming on our teeth. When we eat and drink sugary treats, sticky plaque coats our teeth. If not properly cared for, this plaque can damage your tooth enamel and gums. It is important to practice good oral care to fight back against plaque buildup.

Our center city office is ready to help you improve your oral health. Give us a call at (215) 568-6222 to book your appointment to get healthy and learn more about how you can spot and prevent gum disease. To stay connected with us online, follow us on social media. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

We love our patients! There are hundreds of dental offices in center city Philadelphia, yet our patients continue to show their loyalty to us year after year. We take pride in creating long-lasting relationships with our patients. To spread the word, our patients have left reviews about their experiences with us on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Our patient’s feedback is very important to us as we are always trying to better ourselves. We appreciate all of the feedback, suggestions, and kind words. Seriously, our team starts every morning by reading a new online review. Hearing our patient’s reviews gets our team pumped for the next day! In this blog, we wanted to highlight some of our favorites. These reviews, in particular, brought big smiles to our team’s faces.

5 Stars

“I think I share the same sentiments with most of you…that dental work is one of the highest forms of torture this planet has to offer. The sounds of drilling, hands ceaselessly probing in your mouth, the smell and taste of fluoride, and all the while you’re sitting under the brightest most intrusive fluorescent lights. It’s like the 8th circle of hell.

However, I must tell you I have never felt more comfortable in my life than I have sitting in this Dentist office. A chipped tooth necessitated a crown and lead me to meet Dr. Ridge, Stephen, Jenaya, and the wonderful ladies at the front desk. They were so pleasant, so concerned about my level of comfortability, and as I’m sure you all want to hear most, were very fast and efficient. The two hours I was there flew right by…Jenaya and Dr. Ridge seriously killed it.

I NEVER leave reviews, but they gave me such a good feeling I’m not even dreading having to go back to get the actual crown put onto my tooth. This Office is comprised of nothing but dedicated and amazing professionals, who truly go out of their way to make sure you feel taken care of (even if you’re in your own version of hell).”

-Savannah S. 5 Stars on Google

“Philly Dentistry has been AMAZING! Their staff has made my visits friendly, comfortable, and worry-free. I have been lucky to get to work with Dr. Ridge, Jenaya, Jessica, and Rach while figuring out a plan to get my teeth looking healthy and great again! They have made the anxieties of dentist visits disappear for an enjoyable experience. While completing the work I have the need they have been great in care and education to help give a better understanding of future care.  In addition, Rich has been a great financial/ insurance resource answering all my questions to make sure money stresses are non-existing! Kiya and Jess at the front desk are always warm, welcoming, and helpful with any scheduling needs, and make sure all my check-in information is where it needs to be! Together this Group makes my Dentistry Dream Team! Can’t wait for my next visit!”

-Rocio C. 5 Stars on Google

“Today was my first visit at the office. The ladies at the front desk are very kind and welcoming!  Dr. Ridge was very nice and explained my treatment plan very thoroughly. He also answered all of my questions and made me feel comfortable and excited to move forward with treatment. Stephen Ruiz, the treatment coordinator, is funny and has a great personality! He thoroughly explained my financing options and answered all my questions.

I love the fact that I don’t have to wait long for appointments. I can be seen within a week or two and those multiple appointments can be set on the day of your visit. Other offices make you wait until you come back to set the next appointment, which results in longer treatment times. I also was seen quickly and wasn’t sitting in the waiting room forever. Great music in the office as well. I’m very happy I found this office!”

-Tiffany S. 5 Stars on Google

Millions of people suffer from bad breath. In most cases, this problem stems from the tongue and gums. Bad breath can cause you to feel embarrassed, but it is a more common problem than you think. We are here to give you some tips about how to prevent bad breath. We want you to feel confident!

1. Make sure you are brushing.

It is imperative to make sure you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day! You should brush in the morning when you wake up, and at night time before you go to bed. By doing this, you are ensuring the proper removal of plaque and debris stuck in your teeth. Getting rid of the yucky stuff will make it difficult for bacteria to grow in your mouth, which would eliminate bad breath.

2. Floss daily.

Flossing on a daily basis will remove the debris that your toothbrush can’t reach. Now, the toothbrush does a great job, but sometimes it just needs some extra help with floss. Flossing gets into the deeper parts of your smile, allowing you to remove all leftover debris.

3. Don’t forget the tongue.

Most people brush their teeth and think they are done. However, your teeth are only one part of your mouth. Scraping or brushing your tongue will remove any built-up residue that is hiding in the taste buds. Don’t forget to brush your tongue!

4. Rinse your mouth.

Remember that if a dental issue is a reason for constant bad breath, a mouth wash will just cover the smell and not fix it. However, it does help to use a mouth wash when completing your oral hygiene routine. Mouth wash gives you an instant fresh breath smell!

5. Visit your dentist.

You need to be visiting your dentist twice a year to maintain good oral health. When dealing with chronic bad breath, you should visit your dentist first to rule out any other dental issues. It is better to catch things early! Give us a call at (215) 568-6222 to schedule your FREE new patient consultation.

It’s a brand-new year, which is the perfect time to reinvent yourself. Do you want to quit your bad smoking habit? If this sounds like you, then keep reading. In this article, we will be talking about dental hygiene tips for smokers that can help you turn your smoker’s teeth into healthy teeth!

1. Stop smoking

It might not be exactly what you want to hear, but this is something you need to do in order to get the best results for your teeth. Smoking causes a number of health problems, but a lot of time the effects it can have on your mouth are overlooked. When you are a smoker, you are twice as likely to get mouth infections compared to non-smokers. Additionally, as you know, smoking causes damage to your enamel and staining.

2. See your dentist

It is imperative for you to stay on top of your dental visits. Since being a smoker makes you more susceptible to oral health issues, you need to keep up with your bi-yearly dental visits. These visits are important because it will allow your dentist to scope out any issues earlier rather than later. These visits will also help possible staining and keeping your breath fresh.

3. Brushing and flossing twice a day

Brush and floss your teeth when you wake up in the morning and again before you go to sleep at night. By doing this, you are removing any debris that could wedge itself in your teeth throughout the day. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day is the rule of thumb, but if you can squeeze in brush and floss time after any meal, that would be ideal!

4. Healthy eating

Smoking isn’t the only thing that causes staining. Different foods and drinks cause teeth discoloration as well. To reduce the chance of staining, take up a healthy eating lifestyle. Eat and drink in moderation, but watch out for acidic treats like coffee, soda, and candy, as they can do the most damage.

We want you to make 2021 the year you turn your smoker teeth into a brighter, healthier smile! Here at Philadelphia Dentistry, we will provide you with the best care and education to ensure that you optimize your oral health care. Check us out on social media to see all of our photos! We are on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.