Maintaining a good smile, including taking care of your teeth, takes a lifetime of effort. You still need to take the necessary precautions daily to keep your teeth healthy and free from decay, even if you’ve been told that your smile is beautiful. Investing in the correct dental care products and being conscientious about your routine is essential. We have curated six items you should check off your list to keep your teeth in tip-top shape. Here at Hamilton Family Dentistry, we want to help and make sure your dental needs are always taken care of.

1. Bedtime Brush

Always remember to brush your teeth before you head to bed. There’s no hiding the fact that you should clean your teeth twice a day. Many of us still don’t clean our teeth before bed. Plaque and bacteria build up throughout the day, but a good night’s brushing will remove it all.

2. Brush Properly

The technique you use when brushing is just as crucial; cleaning your teeth poorly is just as terrible as not brushing at all. Use a soft, circular motion with the toothbrush to help scrape away plaque. Plaque, if not eliminated, can harden and cause calculus to build up as well as gingivitis (early gum disease).

3. Your Tongue Is Just As Important

The tongue is another common site for the development of plaque. This can cause a number of issues with your mouth and teeth, including foul breath. When you clean your teeth, take a moment to gently scrub your tongue, too.

4. Fluoride Toothpaste

Whitening ability and flavoring aren’t the only things to consider while purchasing toothpaste. Make sure it has fluoride in it no matter which version you choose.

In spite of the fact that fluoride’s potential side effects have been debated, it is still widely used to keep teeth and gums healthy. This is due to the fact that fluoride is one of the best ways to protect teeth from decay. It prevents cavities by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and acting as a barrier to keep harmful substances away from your teeth.

5. Flossing = Brushing

It’s important to remember that flossing every day is just as crucial as brushing. Some people who clean their teeth frequently nonetheless don’t floss. Our dentists at Hamilton Family Dentistry clarifies that flossing has many other benefits besides removing bits of food or vegetables that may have become lodged between your teeth. It’s a great technique to decrease inflammation in the mouth, stimulate your gums, and clean your teeth.

These advantages may often be achieved by flossing once each day.

6. See Us At Least Twice A Year

Your daily routine directly affects your dental health. Yet, frequent visits to the dentist are recommended for everyone, even the most conscientious brushers and flossers. Twice yearly dental exams and cleanings are the very minimum that we recommend. We are trained to recognize possible problems and provide treatment options, in addition to removing calculus and checking for cavities.

Visit us at Hamilton Family Dentistry and we will do everything in our power to ensure that your teeth and gums remain in excellent condition.

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Invisalign® revolutionized the way people look at orthodontic treatment. The clear aligner system from Invisalign® made it possible for people to discreetly improve their smiles. While Invisalign® allows people to love the appearance of their smile and avoids many of the discomforts of braces throughout the process, there should be more to consider when choosing orthodontic treatment. You should consider which treatment option will best treat your individual situation. While you should speak with Dr. Wolfson before making your final decision, we have included issues that Invisalign® can effectively treat.

Crooked Teeth

Invisalign® is very effective at treating crooked teeth. The clear aligners offer a great solution for people to align their teeth and love their smile.

Overbite & Underbite

Invisalign® can be used to treat both an overbite and an underbite. An overbite is when the top front teeth extend beyond the bottom of your bottom front teeth. An underbite is when the lower jaw rests in front of the top jaw when the mouth is closed. Invisalign® can be used to move either the top or bottom teeth into the right place so that they align properly with the mouth closed.

Crossbite

A crossbite occurs when teeth don’t line up properly with the mouth closed. This could be the top teeth in the back of your mouth resting inside your bottom teeth or could be one or more of your top front teeth resting behind your bottom front teeth. Invisalign® can move teeth into the proper positions and treat a crossbite.

Gaps in Teeth & Crowded Teeth

These opposite issues can both be treated by Invisalign®. Gaps in teeth occur when there are large spaces between teeth. Crowded teeth happen when there is not enough room in the jaw for all of the teeth, often causing them to overlap or twist. Crowded teeth can make it easy for food to get stuck or plaque to build up, and should be addressed to keep optimal oral health.

Limitations of Invisalign®

While Invisalign® is an excellent option for many orthodontic issues, it does have its limitations. There are times when it may be best to go with braces. For severe orthodontic issues and intrusion and extrusion, braces often offer the force that is needed. It’s also important to note that Invisalign® continues to get better and better. We can now treat more complex orthodontic situations than we could even a few years ago. If you are interested if Invisalign® is the right treatment option for you, contact our Baltimore office at 410-426-8200.

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Many people wish that their teeth were whiter. One thing that you may not realize is causing your teeth to be discolored is the things that you eat. The foods you eat can actually have a significant effect on the color of your teeth. Join Hamilton Family Dentistry as we dive into some of the most common foods that can stain your teeth. 

Coffees & Teas

Tea and coffee are both highly acidic, which can weaken the surface of your teeth, making them more susceptible to staining. Tea and coffee also both contain tannins, which help their coloring stick to your teeth. There is some evidence that having milk in your tea or coffee can help reduce the amount of staining.

Sauces

Dark-colored sauces such as soy sauce, tomato sauce, and curries also cause staining. Switching to lighter or creamy sauces can help mitigate some of the staining.

Fruits & Berries

There are many vibrant fruits that can stain your teeth. Think of the fruits that can stain your clothes – pomegranates, cherries, blueberries, and blackberries just to name a few. In the same way that they can stain your clothes, they can stain your teeth.

Sodas

Sodas are highly acidic thanks to their carbonation. In addition, the dyes in these drinks – including light-colored ones – can cause staining. There are also chemicals in the drink that eat away at your enamel.

How to Mitigate Staining

There are several things you can do to mitigate the effects of food on the color of your teeth. While cutting out the food listed above would be the number one way to reduce their effect, even we enjoy having them so we’ve included things you can do to reduce the staining while still enjoying your favorite foods.

• Use a straw. Using a straw when drinking your favorite beverage helps reduce the amount that the acidity and coloring of the drink comes in contact with your teeth.
• Brush after you eat. Brush your teeth about 30 minutes after you eat food that can stain. It’s important to wait a little bit of time to allow the acidity in your mouth to get balanced out so you don’t cause additional damage.
• Rinse your mouth. If you cannot brush your teeth after eating, rinsing your mouth with water can help reduce the acidity of your mouth and remove some of the staining agents from your mouth.
• Visit your dentist. Having regular checkups and teeth cleanings at your dentist is a great way to help your smile stay beautiful.

In addition to providing teeth cleanings, we also proudly offer teeth whitening services in the Baltimore area. Please give our dental office a call at 410-426-8200 or use the link below to schedule an appointment for teeth cleaning or whitening.

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A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth. Toothaches can be caused by simple issues like a popcorn kernel stuck in your gum to more serious dental problems like an abscess or broken tooth. Some tooth pains won’t get better on their own and you will need to see a dentist for treatment. If you’re suffering from a toothache, Hamilton Family Dentistry in Baltimore, MD can help!

Toothache Causes

Toothache causes—and treatment options—can vary. Depending on your symptoms, you could have one of the following issues:

• Tooth decay or untreated cavities
• A tooth abscess (a bacterial infection inside the tooth)
• Tooth crack
• Broken tooth
• Damaged filling
• Gum infection or damage

Toothache Symptoms

Toothache pain can range from mild to severe, and it may be constant or intermittent. Pain in your tooth and mouth is the primary symptom of a toothache, but the type of pain can vary from:

• Sharp, throbbing, or constant pain on or around an infected/damaged tooth
• Pain that only occurs when pressure is applied to a tooth, gums, or jaw
• Swollen or painful gums
• Bad taste in the mouth (likely from an infection in a tooth)
• Fever or headache

Home Remedies for Toothaches

If you’re hoping to minimize pain from a toothache, you can try the following home remedies. Please talk with your dentist before using any of the home remedies listed below if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical condition that may be impacted by herbal ingredients.

• Saltwater rinse. Use 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water then use a mouthwash.
• Apply a cold compress on/near the area of pain.
• Use over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or Advil to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Teabags. Apply a cold or warm tea bag to your tooth—but tea can stain teeth so don’t use this method often.

When to See the Dentist

If your pain is severe or has persisted for more than a day or two, it’s time to see your dentist. They can provide guidance on how to relieve your symptoms and prevent future pain. You should also see a dentist if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• fever
• trouble swallowing
• general pain that lasts more than one or two days
• swelling
• pain when you bite or chew 
• abnormally red gums
• foul-tasting discharge, or pus

If you’re experiencing tooth pain and need to see a dentist in Baltimore, MD, and contact Hamilton Family Dentistry today.