Patients are lucky nowadays to have so many great options for their all-important dental care. Our patients in Richmond, VA have a variety of great practices to choose from, but even with so many good options it’s still important to know what questions you should ask when choosing a dentist. All practices are not the same, and it’s worth it to do a little research when searching for your forever dental home. To assist you, we have put together a …
Every October the American Dental Hygiene Association celebrates National Dental Hygiene Month in an effort to raise awareness about the important work that dental hygienists do. The month is dedicated to educating people about the importance of good oral health, and the effect that good oral health has on the overall health of the body. Our team of licensed dental hygienists at River Run Dental frequently treat patients who do not fully understand the value of preventive dental care. Many people …
Did you know your dental visits can be covered without having a dental plan through your employer? While some are lucky enough to have the benefit of dental insurance through their employer or their spouse’s employer, not everyone is as fortunate. Affordable alternatives to dental insurance that still enable you to get the dental care and services you need do exist – a lot of people, unfortunately, aren’t aware of it though. Dental practices have started to provide patients with …
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, which means it’s time to be reminded of the importance of caring for your pet’s teeth. Did you know that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some sign of gum disease by their third birthday? The fact that gum disease can be prevented makes this an especially unfortunate statistic. The oral health of your dog or cat directly relates to their overall health, just as it does for humans. If they develop …
There are an abundance of reasons why many people dread Old Man Winter. For some it may be because they hate scraping ice off their windshields in the morning. For others it’s the earlier sunsets, snow shoveling, frigid temperatures, or the fact that their teeth hurt every time they step outside. If you are one of the many Americans who experiences tooth sensitivity during cold weather, you are not alone! Colder temperatures can cause your teeth to hurt. It’s important to understand why this happens …
While the practice of oil pulling may be thousands of years old, oil pulling for improving oral health has only become a widespread trend in the past few years. Advocates of oil pulling claim that by swishing coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil around in the mouth for 10-20 minutes each day, you can remove plaque and prevent, or even cure, caries (commonly called cavities). How much of this claim is true? A lack of thorough clinical studies stops experts from …
If you think that fluoride treatments are only important during adolescence, you are probably not alone. In the past, fluoride was used primarily to protect teeth during their initial eruption and development which is why you probably remember fluoride treatments when you visited the dentist as a child. However, fluoride is still important as we age and should not be forgotten about after the age of 18. One reason that many patients stop receiving fluoride treatments as adults is because they are …
If you aren’t currently brushing with an electric toothbrush, we highly recommend that you give it a try. Electric toothbrushes (sometimes referred to as power brushes) have a number of benefits and many patients report that once they start using an electric brush they never want to switch back to a manual brush! Even though power brushes are typically more expensive and must be recharged, we believe that the benefits of power toothbrushes far outweigh the negatives. 1. Electric Toothbrushes …
For most of us, we tend to keep our oral hygiene rituals relatively simple. Often we stop at brushing and flossing our teeth, making it easy to overlook key steps we could be missing. One important addition that gets overlooked is mouthwash. By routinely using mouthwash, you can greatly improve your oral health and smile. But for such a simple step, there are many questions people have on how to best use it. Should you rinse before or after you …
Night guards can be a valuable tool when it comes to protecting your teeth from the harsh effects of grinding or clenching. If your dentist suspects that you are grinding or clenching in your sleep, a night guard may be recommended in order to prevent future damage. Once you get a night guard, it’s important that it’s cared for properly so that it can continue protecting your teeth for as long as possible. Your daily oral health routine should include …
