The Holidays are upon us and we would like to wish a happy new year filled with health, happiness, and spectacular success.

Our favorite Holiday Carol 
Brush enough to glow,
In an angled-brush open way,
All the Smiles will grow,
Flossing all the way!
Ho - ho - ho!
Happy Holidays from your Belmont Family Dentistry!

​Our ​2017 Holiday Hours
We will be closed December 25 until January 2 to celebrate the holidays with our families.
Our office will be closed at 3 p.m. on December 21, 2017.
We will resume normal business hours January 3, 2018.
BELMONT FAMILY DENTISTRY

Did you know there are five distinct stages of tooth decay? And, that in the first stage of decay, you can actually take steps to reverse the progression of the disease? Indeed, it’s true. In the first stage of decay, whether you’re a child or an adult, the application of fluoride via fluoride treatments, your toothpaste and even the local water supply can stop a cavity from penetrating through the enamel and reaching its second stage. Even the saliva in your mouth and the foods you eat help to re-mineralize a tooth in jeopardy. But that’s just the first stage! What about the rest? Understanding how a cavity progresses can assist you in preventing each successive stage from occurring in your children. There’s always a lot going on in that little mouth!

Stage One: White Spots
In stage one, the tooth begins to show signs of strain from the attack of sugars and acids, and white spots will begin to materialize just below the surface of the enamel. These white spots are representative of the demineralization of the tooth and can be easy to miss because they’re likely to occur on your child’s molars. A dental exam, of course, is designed to catch such cavities! Can you see why regular visits to the dentist are recommended? As mentioned previously, at this stage, the cavity can be repaired without the need to excavate the tooth.  Call us at (617) 484-1760 to make an appointment! 

Stage Two: Enamel Decay
Stage two marks the beginning of the end for the surface enamel that is being attacked. Initially, the tooth erodes from the underside outward, so the outer enamel will still be intact for the first half of this second stage. Once the cavity breaks through the surface of the enamel, there is no turning back, and your child will need to have the cavity corrected with a filling. 

Stage Three: Dentin Decay
If a cavity in your child’s mouth were to progress beyond stage two without you knowing, you’d tend become aware of it when it started to hit stage three because it would probably start to cause some pain. At this level, the cavity begins to eat away at the second level of tooth material that lies beneath the enamel: the dentin. A filling can still be used to stop the onslaught of bacteria assaulting the tooth in order to prevent the cavity from reaching the tooth’s most critical component: the pulp.

Stage Four: Involvement of The Pulp
Once the cavity reaches the pulp, it’s going to hurt. A lot. So if you’ve unfortunately missed all the signs to this point, a screaming child or moaning teenager will certainly let you know there is a big problem. Stage four is serious, and a root canal is the only option of treatment at this stage, save for a complete extraction. Should you have a tooth that has reached this stage, we would work with our endodontist partners to help treat bring you back to good health.

Stage Five: Abscess Formation
In the fifth and final stage of a cavity, the infection has reached the tip of the root and exited the tip of the tooth’s structure. This in turn infects the surrounding tissues and possibly the bone structure. Swelling would be commonplace and pain severe. In children (as well as adults) an abscess can be fatal if not dealt with immediately. Root canal or extraction would be the order of the day should decay reach this stage. Need to see us? Give a call at (617) 484-1760! 

​As you can see, cavities don’t happen overnight. In the early stages, regular visits can stall and reverse the progression of these dastardly little devils, so it really does pay to visit the dentist at pre-selected intervals. You can keep your kids far from stage five their whole lives, and if a little bit of prodding to get them to the dentist accomplishes that, you can rest easy despite the griping.

Summer is coming to an end. Labor day is around the corner and before you know it, winter will be here! I know this is the last thing you want to hear but imagine it’s winter … you’re standing at the door, ready to brave the cold. You’re layered-up with three shirts and a sweatshirt, your heavy winter coat, and two layers of socks underneath your waterproof winter boots. Then you’ve got those awesome jeans with the flannel on the inside, your comfy hat, scarf, and gloves. You’re set! But wait. As you step toward the door, you suddenly realize you have an itch … and it’s deep down … buried beneath all those layers. And, try as you may, every attempt to reach that bugger-of-an-itch fails. Defeated, you realize the only relief you’re ever gonna’ get is to remove each one of those layers. Where are we going with this?!

The Tongue
We’re going inside your mouth, of course, to your tongue – this is a dental article, after all! Because whether you know it or not, like you in the wintertime, your tongue is also “all covered up” – buried beneath layers of bacteria, fungi, and food residue that can inhibit your ability to taste, let alone cause your tongue to appear various shades of yellow, white, or green! Remove the bacteria, though, and your food will once again directly interact with those taste buds, and return to its natural hue. So how does one do that? With a tongue scraper, of course!

WHAT is a tongue scraper?
A tongue scraper is a U-shaped device designed to “scrape” the top layer of scum from your tongue. They have been in use since ancient times, and have been made of everything from wood to whalebone. Nowadays, they are made of more hygienic material, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors.

WHY use a tongue scraper?
The residue on your tongue includes things like the cavity-inducing Streptococcus mutans bacterium, fungi, rotting food (that’s not good), and what’s referred to as “volatile sulfur compounds.” In other words, sulfur – that “rotting egg smell.” Talk about ew! So, as you can see, there are several reasons why you’d want to get rid of this gunk in your mouth. Let’s tackle them one by one:
• Reduce bad breath: ‘nuff said! 
• Reduce your risk of periodontal disease and cavities: Bad bacteria contribute to plaque and tartar on teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities. Bacteria build-up can also lead to inflammation of gum tissue (gingivitis). If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which means a more expensive dental visit (plus other unwanted consequences!). Speaking of avoiding an expensive dental visit, when was the last time you came in to see us? Come see us now if it’s been awhile, by calling in at (617) 484-1760.
• Make room for good bacteria: see our article here on probiotics for your mouth.
• Prevent heart disease? While the debate is still up in the air, some studies suggest there could be a correlation between gum disease and heart disease.

HOW does one use a tongue scraper?
In general, make sure to rinse your tongue scraper before and after use. Apply the tongue scraper to the back of your tongue and drag it forward. Then, rinse and repeat. Make sure to get the sides of your tongue as well, not just the center! Make sure not to press too hard or you can cause yourself to bleed. And, if you’re wondering if you should scrape your tongue while recovering from a dental procedure, that’s a good question … ask your dentist for the best advice particular to your situation. Still not sure how this thing really works? The next time you’re in ask us for a quick tutorial!

WHERE do I buy one?
Tongue scrapers are relatively inexpensive, and can also be found at any local drugstore. It doesn’t matter the material, color, or brand – just find the one you like and get scraping!

You may have heard the word 'sealants' before; but you are unsure of what they are? Think of a white material that goes on the chewing surfaces of those back teeth sealing all the crevices and grooves on them. Sometimes toothbrushes fail to clean these grooves and as you know kids are notoriously bad brushes! Sealants prevent food from accumulating in these grooves and forming tooth decay. They are quick, painless and easy to apply. Talk to us if you have any questions, we will be happy to help!

“Luminous beings are we.” – Yoda
Let your true luminosity shine through your smile! Summer is almost here! Your oral hygiene is probably the last thing that comes to mind when you watch Star Wars. However, it’s always on our minds and we thought of sharing today some great dental wisdom to keep you motivated:
1)       “Do or do not, there is no Try!” – Yoda
Get into the habit of brushing, then brushing in the morning and at night. Also, commit to flossing every night, no exceptions. It takes about 3 weeks to create a habit so stick with it and it will become second nature. Storm that plaque, trooper!
2)      “Your eyes can deceive you; don’t trust them.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Your teeth may look clean. But if you are only brushing your teeth, you are only cleaning 60% of the teeth’s surfaces. That’s if you are brushing them correctly! Don’t leave your oral hygiene to chance. Make sure you are brushing and flossing correctly. May the floss be with you!
3)      “It’s a trap!” – Admiral Ackbar
Food can get stuck in between your teeth causing a food trap. This can be caused if you have an open contact between two adjacent teeth, periodontal disease or a cavity. If you have a food trap, floss! Food trap can lead to sore gums, and bad breath. Call us if you run into trouble.
4)      “The force is strong with you.” – Darth Sidious
We like to see you twice a year for your dental check-up exams and cleaning! This gives us an opportunity to educate you on areas of improvement and empower you to do your best at home.
5)      “Ahhh, hard to see, the Dark Side is.” – Yoda
Taking care of your back molar teeth isn’t easy. You have your cheeks, your tongue, and if you managed to keep your wisdom teeth you may find yourself struggling to see back there. Consider brushing in front of the mirror and make sure the toothbrush is reaching those molars when you are brushing.

Following these tips and you can enjoy teeth whiter and brighter than a Storm Trooper’s uniform!  If your smile is leaning towards the dark side call us to book an appointment right away at 617 - 484-1768.

​RED SOX Opening Day!

 April 3rd is opening day for the Red Sox, if you have an appointment on this day or during week; we invite you to show your team pride by wearing Red Sox gear!

April showers bring May flowers!
  
 Spring is here.  New green life is starting to pop up through the wet cold ground.  Spring sports are starting and it’s a great time to talk about wearing a mouthguard.  Five million teeth are knocked out each year during sport activities.  Yikes!  We can help keep that smile intact with a custom made mouthguard.   Our office offers PlaySafe  mouthguards which come in six levels of protection and can be customized with stickers, team logos and variety of colors.  ​

Emergency dental visits go up 64% the day after St. Patrick's Day! 
 ​Here are some tips to help you deal with a dental emergency:

- If you have a toothache: Call us! Don't assume the pain will go away. There are many reasons why you can experience a toothache. You can even experience pain if you have something wedged in between your teeth or gums! Try flossing and rinsing your mouth with warm water. Flossing helps dislodge anything that might be in the wrong place. Also, remember to never place any aspirin directly on the gums as this will burn the tissues around it.

- If you have a broken or cracked tooth: Clean the area with warm water and apply a cold compress to the face to minimize swelling. Call us right away. We have an emergency line that you will be directed to. 
- If you have a knocked-out tooth: Are you able to find the tooth? Check the socket area. Sometimes if the tooth looks knocked out, it might be pushed into the gums.  If you were able to find the tooth keep it moist and don't touch the root. The best way to do this is to place it back into the socket. Otherwise, you can keep in between you cheek and gums or place it in a cup with some of your saliva. Don't wait and make sure to call us right away!

To prevent dental emergencies in the future...

- Remember to have your dental exam and cleanings done twice a year.
- If you're playing sports, wear your mouth guard. If you would like a custom fitting mouth guard, we can take impressions in the office.
- Avoid chewing on hard candy, ice or popcorn kernels. These three are the most commons causes of broken teeth.
- If you are out of town, take with you an updated list of all the medications, vitamins and herbals that you are currently taking. Call us or if you are overseas, send us an email at belmontdental@gmail.com.
 Don't hesitate to call us, when it comes to a dental emergency, we are here to help! If you find yourself dealing with a bad toothache or a broken tooth, call the office right away: (617) 484-1760.