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Celebrating the Holidays with Your Smile | Schnecksville Dentist

As we rapidly approach the holiday season, it is important to know that while we love to indulge in all of our favorite holiday treats, we need to make sure not to forgot about our smiles in the process. After all, we couldn’t enjoy these holidays without it. This may not be the holiday season we are used to, but we can’t let our dental hygiene fall to the wayside. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to celebrate this holiday season:

Avoid grazing. There are just so many delicious foods to overindulge in, but it is best to stay focused on the matter at hand – try to limit snacking throughout the day. Not only will it allow for bacteria to constantly cling to your teeth, but you will be too full to enjoy the meal itself.

Maintain a balance. We all know there are loads of foods that are bad for us available, but there are also lots of great foods. So, enjoy everything, just make sure to balance it out with foods that contain calcium and/or protein, and fruits and vegetables.

Stay hydrated. Tis the season for seasonal drinks, but it is important that you try to remain hydrated. Not only will you keep some type of composure from too much egg nog, but it will also increase saliva production, which helps to keep bad bacteria away from your teeth.

Practice proper dental hygiene. It’s a busy time of year for everyone, but that’s no excuse to let your dental hygiene slip. Brush twice a day, floss and rinse with fluoride mouthwash. And after the holidays are done, visit your dentist to make sure you’ve done a good job.

For more information about dental hygiene during the holidays, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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10 Tips for a Healthy Smile | Schnecksville Dentist

We all want a healthy smile, but are you doing your best to keep that smile healthy? After all, we at Extraordinary Smiles will do our best to treat your dental issues, but most of the work falls in your hands. Do your job well and our job is easy. But how do you know if you are doing the best possible job for your smile? Here is a quick rundown:

Brush properly. Maintaining a healthy smile means brushing, flossing and rinsing on a daily basis. Brush for at least two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day – all four quadrants.

Even your tongue. You may not think this is necessary, but your tongue holds tons of bacteria and can lead to bad breath.

Swish, swish. Using mouthwash will not only improve your breath, but it can also strengthen your teeth, prevent plaque and gum disease. Rinsing fits anywhere in the sequence as mouthwash will dislodge debris in your mouth, making it easier for you to clean your mouth well.

Flossing. Flossing is very similar to mouthwash – it loosens particles in places your toothbrush can’t reach.

Choose your weapon. Picking out a toothbrush may seem daunting with all of the variations available. Choose soft-bristles and a small enough head to reach your back molars, electric or manual is up to you.

Keep it clean. Thoroughly rinsing your toothbrush after each use will help keep bacteria from entering your mouth. Allow it to air dry for optimal cleanliness – no toothbrush covers.

Swap it out. Toothbrushes need to be replaced every three months, or after having a cold.

Midnight snacks. Unless you plan on brushing and flossing after your snack, food before bedtime isn’t a good idea.

Tobacco-free. We all know smoking is bad for your health, but it’s also terrible for your smile. If you use tobacco products, try quitting.

Keep your appointments. Finally, make sure to call us for regular checkups. We are the only ones that can tell you if you’re doing a great job. It’s all about teamwork!

For more information about dental hygiene, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Protecting Your Smile During the Pandemic | Schnecksville Dentist

Young woman with toothache and ice bag.

During this rather unpredictable time, one thing we can predict is the way we take care of ourselves. Sure, your dental professionals have tools to keep our smiles healthy, but it is really our jobs to look after ourselves in between our visits. This is why it is important to keep our daily dental routines in place while we stay home and keep ourselves healthy.

Unfortunately, accidents will happen, and we will need to seek professional help. Typically, is would be simple to access a dental professional but during these quarantine times, it is important to know how to identify and soothe yourself until it can be professionally looked at.

When a toothache arises, there are a couple of options that may help. Gargling with warm saltwater will help relieve pain in the affected area by clearing out any bacteria within. If it’s swelling, you may need a cold compress and some over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen.

When you’ve chipped or cracked your tooth, it is likely that it will need to be looked at. If it gets jammed or loosened, gently try to straighten it. Wrap it with some gauze or tissue to stabilize it until you can get it looked at. If it is knocked out, don’t touch the root and give it a quick rinse with cold water or milk. All of these are considered dental emergencies and your dentist will be the best advice as to what actions need to take place immediately.

Living in this pandemic is a crazy time, but we don’t need to become overwhelmed by things we can control. Taking the time to brush, floss and rinse every day will prevent long-term issues, but having some DIY tips will help when accidents arise.

For more information about dental emergencies, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Why We Need Straight Teeth | Schnecksville Dentist

In our culture, we associate straight teeth with beauty, vitality, health and even status. But being born with perfectly straight teeth is very rare. Unfortunately, many believe that straight teeth are a cosmetic choice, but that simply isn’t true. Having straight teeth have multiple advantages beyond a great smile.

Straight teeth provide the correct foundation for chewing. When your bite doesn’t align properly, it can cause pain along with dental problems. Misaligned teeth (crooked or crowded teeth) can cause issues from chronic jaw or tooth pain to excessive wear on tooth enamel. A poor bite increases stress on teeth and contributes to a shortened “life span” where teeth begin to crack and develop other signs of fatigue.

Another bonus? Cleaning straight teeth is much easier than cleaning crooked teeth, which have lots of hiding places for plaque and tiny bits of food. Not cleaning these hiding spots properly will begin to cause cavities. The next stage may be gingivitis, or an inflammation between the teeth and gums. If not taken care of with proper dental hygiene, science links chronic inflammation with a variety of health disorders, including heart disease and cancer.

Now to remedy the situation. Traditional braces were one of the few treatment options you could take in order to remedy the situation. But today, there is another option – an option that no one would even notice. Invisalign is a set of invisible aligners used to move your teeth into the correct places discretely and efficiently.

Have we gotten you intrigued? We thought so. Why not call Extraordinary Smiles and set up a consultation with Dr. Ladani to see if Invisalign is the best choice for you.

For more information about Invisalign, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Have Sleep Apnea? | Schnecksville Dentist

Getting a good night’s sleep is important – it gives our bodies enough time to heal and improve, our minds to settle and reset, and time out of the stressors of our everyday lives. But for 20% of Americans, sleep apnea is causing them to have very poor sleep conditions. What’s worse? There are plenty more that are undiagnosed.

If you are unaware of what sleep apnea is, it is essentially a sleep disorder that causes your body to choke on itself repeatedly while you sleep. Obviously, this is as dangerous as it sounds, especially is the episodes last for longer than a minute. The problem is, we’re sleeping so we don’t necessarily know if we snore or have restless sleep unless a significant other is affected.

Believe it or not, a simple dentist appointment can give you the answers you seek. During a typical checkup, your dental professional will look for the following:

  • Acid reflux disease
  • Macroglossia, or a large tongue
  • Bruxism, or teeth grinding

At Extraordinary Smiles, we have special equipment that can help to efficiently measure the size, structure and collapsibility of your oral and nasal airway – the Eccovision Acoustic Diagnostic Imaging System. Don’t worry – it isn’t as scary as those technical words sound.

With both the Acoustic Pharyngometer and the Acoustic Rhinometer, sleep dentists can measure the size of your airways with sound waves in order to diagnose if they are too narrow or have obstructions that are causing you to have sleep apnea. But these fancy machines don’t make this testing a long, arduous process. They both take less than five minutes – no more reason to have another night of restless sleep!

For more information about sleep apnea, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Relax Your Way to a Healthy Smile | Schnecksville Dentist

Now that the holiday season is over and we are all into our resolutions for a healthier, happier new year, it’s time to focus on not only our physical health, but our dental health as well. After all, having a healthy smile will also help prevent many other physical ailments, so it’s a two bird, one stone combo. Unfortunately, for many of us, it isn’t as easy as one may think. Many patients have dental anxiety, so it makes them nervous just thinking about going to the dentist. But for those patients, we have good news. We at Extraordinary Smiles are proud to introduce our Comfort Menu.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have the cure for your dental blues. During your dental visit, you will receive a menu of options that will help you relax and set your mind at ease. Not only will you feel like you’re in a day spa, but you will also be improving your dental health. Because the best way to keep a healthy smile is preventive care – maintaining a health dental hygiene routine and keep regular dental checkups.

Are you curious about what this magical menu contains? Here’s a quick rundown to get you excited:

  • Lavender aromatherapy
  • Heated neck wrap
  • Weighted and warm blankets, eye pillows and towelettes
  • Lavender hand lotion and paraffin hand mask
  • 24 karat gold eye treatment mask
  • Stress balls
  • Support pillows
  • Noise-cancelling headphones with your favorite tunes
  • Local anesthesia
  • Nitrous oxide for the more nervous patients

Can you believe this is all at the dentist? You will go in for a checkup and come out feeling fresh and new! How’s that for a start to a happy, healthy new year?

For more information about dental health, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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There’s Nowhere to Hide | Schnecksville Dentist

While cavities and plaque build-up may be what’s on your mind before a teeth cleaning, your dentist is looking for a whole lot more. Diseases like cancer, anemia and diabetes will first be identified by the dentist in a regular examination, and this can save lives. So, before you try to think that you can pull a fast one on your dentist, think again…

Flossing only before appointments. Sorry, but you can’t fool your dentist into thinking you floss daily by doing so the night before or morning of your visit.

You’re pregnant. Nearly 40% of women will develop gingivitis during their pregnancy because of an increase of progesterone, which facilitates the growth of bacteria, causing gingivitis.

Thumb sucking. Most children that suck their thumbs or a finger have no long-term effects from the habit, but prolonged activity may show significant changes to their bite or the position of their teeth.

Bad breath issues. Dentists are trained to identify “fruity” smells (uncontrolled diabetes) and “fishy” smells (kidney or liver failure). If the smell is very foul it could be a major health issue.

Eating disorders. Bulimia exhibits a very distinct pattern of tooth wear that your dentist can easily identify. Other possibilities include acid reflux and the use of antidepressants or mood-elevating drugs.

Oral cancer. The first signs of oral cancer can be seen from the following: unexplained bleeding in the mouth, white, red, or speckled patches, swellings or eroded areas on areas inside the mouth.

Soda and energy drinks. Teeth can be softened by sodas and energy beverages over time, which may make a tooth more susceptible to chipping.

For more information about dental health, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Are You Brushing Correctly? | Schnecksville Dentist

In the age of social media, physical appearance has become a focus on everyone’s mind. And what is a selfie without a great smile? Unfortunately, we can’t rely solely on our dentist to give us the smile we want – we also play a major role in how healthy our smiles are. We need to look after our smiles in between dental visits. So, it is important that we are doing a proper job cleaning our teeth daily. We know the basics, but you may be surprised to know you may have picked up a habit or two that aren’t kosher with optimum dental care.

In general, proper oral care involves these four steps:

  • Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each session
  • Flossing once a day, ideally before bed
  • Limiting the amount of sugar consumed
  • Visiting the dentist every 3-6 months for regular checkups and professional cleanings

The idea of having to brush your teeth for two whole minutes may come as a surprise, but it is the suggested timeframe you should be aiming for in order to properly maintain your bright grin. When brushing your teeth, use short, gentle strokes with a soft-bristled toothbrush, paying extra attention to your gums, the back teeth and areas around dental work.

When flossing, hold about 18 inches of floss between your thumbs and index fingers, then gently slide it in between the gaps of your teeth. Remember, brushing and flossing are two of the most important things in making sure that you have a beautiful and healthy smile, so proper technique is a definite must.

For more information about dental health, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.

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Holiday Dental Tips for the Little Ones | Schnecksville Dentist

It’s no question – children love the holiday season. Not only do they get lots of presents and no school in sight, but everywhere they go there is another delicious treat waiting for them to eat. It’s like a smorgasbord of cakes, candies and other tasty sweets – it’s a veritable sugar plum dream. What isn’t dreamlike is trying to keep a healthy smile during this exciting time. In fact, it can be downright tough to keep a healthy smile on their child’s face. It’s like pulling teeth trying to get them to brush their teeth, but a healthy smile starts with a good foundation.

Here are some tips to start your tiny humans on the right path to a lifetime of dental health:

Daily routines. Repetition is the best way to start a good habit, so make sure your child brushes their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Get them really excited by having them choose their toothbrush. Supervise their work until they can thoroughly do it themselves. Once teeth coming in begin to touch, introduce flossing.

First dental visit. The AAPD suggests baby’s first dental visit occur when their first tooth comes in, or around the age of one. Keeping them on a six-month dental schedule will not only ensure they keep a healthy smile but will also help prevent dental anxiety as they grow.

You are what you eat. We can instill all the dental knowledge we can, but if you have a bad diet, it won’t help. Same goes for your little one. Keep things in moderation. Limit the sugary snacks, cooked starches and sweetened drinks.

For more information about dental health, call Dr. Sandip Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.

Dr. Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.