Dental Sealants to Seal Out Cavities

Kids go through cavity-prone years, which means they are at a time in their life where they may develop more cavities than any other time in their life. To protect their molars from cavities, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS utilizes dental sealants. Here in our Holmdel, NJ office, we can provide sealants for kids and adults who have never had a cavity or filling in their molars.

Sealants literally seal out bacteria and other debris from the grooves and pits in molars. Since these areas can be hard to reach, protecting them during the years where a cavity is more likely is a smart idea.

To begin, the molars are cleaned and dried. An acidic solution is then placed on the teeth to roughen up the surface. This aids a strong bond between the sealant and the tooth. The acidic solution is rinsed off, the teeth are dried, and Dr. Shah paints the sealant onto the surfaces. A light is then used to harden the sealant. 

Sealants are great for kids between the ages of six to fourteen; the cavity-prone years and they can last for up to ten years, depending on chewing patterns. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS for sealants, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

The Psychological Research Behind Keeping New Habits

How are those New Year resolutions going? It’s February and studies show that by this time, many of us start to fall back into old habits. Starting oral health-related habits can be difficult, but good hygiene is vital to your oral and overall health. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to let her patients in on the secrets that help them start and keep healthy habits.

According to recent research, about fifty percent of the population make New Year resolutions. However, most people end up right where they started or further behind by the next New Year. This is mainly because people set unrealistic goals and expect unrealistic outcomes. Then, when they become discouraged, they slip back into their old ways.

Psychology researchers instead suggest making more specific goals with realistic expectations and smaller steps. For instance, if you want to make it a goal to have better oral health, create a more specific goal you can focus on like starting to floss every day. This is a small goal you can focus on daily that will, in turn, lead to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

In addition, brain scientists Antonio Damasio and Joseph LeDoux and psychotherapist Stephen Hayes have discovered that habitual behavioral changes are made through creating new neural pathways and memories. These can be established with new thinking patterns. These new neural pathways will become your default thinking when you come face to face with a decision.

That being said, the next time you want to skip part of your oral hygiene routine, think of the short-term and long-term positive effects of doing it. Day by day, change your thought process!

Remember to brush twice per day and floss once per day. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Are You Brushing for Two Minutes?

Brushing your teeth is a standard part of your day by now. However, could it be so mundane in your daily activities, that you aren’t really aware of what you’re doing. It’s sort of like being on auto-pilot. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to remind our patients that proper brushing, cleaning between teeth and cleaning tongue with a tongue cleaner at least twice a day  after breakfast and after dinner) will keep dentist and doctors away. 

It has been proven that inflamation of gum can cause many other diseases like stroke, heart attack, diabetes, cancer to name a few. Visiting your dentist as recommended to take out bacterial plaque that you missed along with routine oral care will help you  keep your oral  and overall health. 

 

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile with Dr. Dipika Shah

Regular checkups and dental cleanings are a part of any good oral hygiene routine, and at our office in Holmdel, NJ, we provide dental care services of the highest quality to ensure that our patients’ smiles stay healthy year after year.

Plaque is a soft and sticky film of bacteria that can build up on your teeth despite regular brushing and flossing. Because teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, which contains calcium and other substances to strengthen and protect teeth, tartar or calcium deposits can also build up over time. Dental cleanings work to remove both plaque and tartar from the teeth. If it is not removed and is allowed to accumulate, bacteria will be provided a perfect environment and thrive on the gums and teeth, which can cause cavities, infection and gum disease.

While good for maintaining oral health between dentist visits, at-home brushing and cleaning are not enough to make sure teeth stay clean; regular dental cleanings are required. We will clean and polish your teeth, leaving the surface clean and smooth. The smoother the teeth, the more difficult it is for bacteria to stick to them and the more effective at-home brushing will be.

We recommend checkups and dental cleanings every six months for optimum oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, call 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

Dr. Dipika Shah Tips for a Healthier Smile

Regular exams and cleanings with Dr. Dipika Shah are only a small part of a good oral hygiene routine. Everyday oral care habits also play a vital role in a healthy smile, and if you want to improve your oral health, here are some simple changes you can make.

1.            Brush better. Good technique and proper duration are essential for effective brushing. To maximize your brushing, hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and make sweeping circular motions away from the gums. You should brush for at least two minutes or for the length of a song. Electric brush that spins 360 degree or oscilates is better than hand brush as it can produce lot more vibration to detach the sticky plaque. 

2.            Floss. Dr. Shah has probably already told you how important this is. This is because flossing can actually do a better job of removing harmful plaque than brushing, and it only needs to be done once a day. So why aren’t you doing it already? It’s the key to healthier teeth and fresher breath.

3.           Use waterpik. It not only removes food from your teeth and gum, it also removes harmful bacterial byproducts and keeps your gums healthy. 

4.            Replace your toothbrush. How long have you been brushing with your toothbrush? As your toothbrush ages, the bristles will fray and lose their cleaning ability. Extremely frayed bristles can even hurt your gums. Bacteria can also build up in the bristles of toothbrushes, so make sure you are replacing yours ever three to four months.

5.            Switch to tap water. Tap water is treated with fluoride, which is a safe and effective technique for lowering tooth decay across the nation. Plus, it’s basically free.

For more ways to keep your smile healthy, turn to Dr. Dipika Shah in Holmdel, NJ. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.