Waterford Family Dental Care

Doctor Spotlight: Dr. David Kamen

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Doctor Spotlight: Dr. David Kamen

At Waterford Family Dental Care, we do everything we can to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. For us, that starts with the people we bring on board to join our team of experts. Today we shine a spotlight on one of our favorites, Dr. David Kamen.

Dr. Kamen joined the Waterford team in 2012. His interest in dentistry began as a patient; as Dr. Kamen puts it, “I was on the receiving end of a lot of dentistry, which got me interested in it.” His favorite part of being a dentist is seeing a patient’s reaction to their new look. The best part is “creating a new smile and look that brings tears to a person’s eyes,” he said. His patient-centered attitude is exactly why we love having him on our team.

While you only know Dr. Kamen as your dentist, he has a full life outside of the office. He enjoys listening to comedy, music, and even motivational speakers. He also plays ice hockey and exercises when he can. If he ever gets a break from his busy life, he would like to travel to Thailand.

Regardless of how he spends his time, Dr. Kamen is there for his patients around the clock. He offers the following words of wisdom to the patients of Waterford Family Dental Care: “Learn to clean your mouth well so you can keep your own teeth!”

Dr. Kamen is just one of the people who make our office so great. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with him or Dr. Shlom, contact our office today. We know the experience you have at Waterford Family Dental Care will bring a smile to your face.

Look Out: Gum Disease Ahead

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Look Out: Gum Disease Ahead

Do you take risks with your dental health? Do you avoid warning signs, hoping they’ll go away? If you do, you’d better look out: you could be on the road to gum disease! As the leading cause of tooth loss, everyone should be concerned when they see the warning signs. So are you going to race to the finish line with all of your teeth intact or will your smile be as checkered as the flag waving in the distance? Click here to read more.

The Warning Signs

At onset, gum disease is known as gingivitis. If your gums are tender, bright red, and bleed when you brush or floss, you need to seek treatment immediately in order to prevent the infection from becoming worse.
If it does get worse, you’re heading directly into gum disease territory. The signs are often more extreme than just tender gums and include the following:

  • Gums that have visibly pulled away from the teeth
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Loose teeth
  • A change in your bite

How I Can Help

In order to keep your teeth, it is imperative that you visit my office for treatment. Only a professional has the skills and tools required to completely remove the infection from beneath the gum line. After you’ve been treated, you’ll need to be diligent about your home dental care routine and coming for cleanings regularly.

If you have any of the symptoms of gingivitis or advanced gum disease, please don’t wait for the symptoms to go away. Let’s work together to keep your teeth where they belong. Ready? Set? GO!

What To Do When You Damage a Front Tooth

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What To Do When You Damage a Front Tooth

Summer is a time for adventure, to get outside and do the things we don’t get to do during the other three seasons: we hike, ride bikes, maybe enjoy a little pickup basketball game with the kids. We try to be careful, but sometimes even the most cautious of summer sports enthusiasts can have a moment of clumsiness and do the unthinkable: damage a front tooth. When anything is wrong with one of your front teeth, eating (say goodbye to solids) and talking (“say goodbye to solids” would become “thay goodbye to tholidth”) become problematic. If your front tooth gets broken or knocked out completely, you also have to deal with having the smile of a professional hockey player or boxer. The good news is, Waterford Family Dental Care is here to help.

The course of action you take depends on the type of damage to your front tooth or teeth. If it is:

Broken – We’re not just talking about a little chip, in this case. If a sizeable piece of your tooth breaks off, it can expose the roots and pulp, leaving you in some serious pain. You will need to see us as soon as possible to prevent further damage and total tooth loss.

Knocked Out – Expect to experience pain and a fair amount of bleeding. As you would with other injuries resulting in blood, apply pressure to your gums until the bleeding subsides. As you’re doing so, have someone help you find your tooth and place it in milk (if milk isn’t available, water or saliva will also do the trick) in case it can be saved. Contact us for emergency treatment.

Loose – Don’t get too excited; your tooth may still be in your mouth, but that doesn’t mean it’s not damaged. The tooth roots and your jaw can be affected by this type of injury, which can only be detected by a dentist. To avoid further damage (including losing the tooth), seek emergency dental care as soon as possible.

If you happen to experience front tooth or any type of tooth damage, Waterford Family Dental Care can help; we have helped countless patients preserve or restore their smiles. To schedule an appointment, contact our office today. We look forward to seeing your smile.

Have Happy Teeth This Halloween

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Have Happy Teeth This Halloween

Halloween is an amazing opportunity for families to create memories. The television specials, the costumes, the spooky music, the decorations, and that sweet sugary candy are all things kids (and their parents) look forward to. As your dentist, I would be remiss if I skipped out on this opportunity to tell you how to keep your teeth happy this Halloween. To keep your grin from looking like that of a jack-o-lantern, continue reading.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Not all treats are created equal, so to help you figure out which are the best for your teeth, I’ve divided them into three categories:

  • The Good – No matter what you eat, all candy should be enjoyed in moderation, but if I were pressed to name a candy that is good for you, I’d suggest dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has less sugar than other candies plus it contains flavanols and polyphenols that benefit your body. It melts as it’s eaten, so it’s not hard on teeth or dental work. It does have more caffeine than other chocolate, however, so you might consider limiting your consumption late at night.
  • The Bad – If it’s sticky (like Swedish Fish or gummy candies) or semi-hard (like Now and Laters or Mary Janes), it can damage your teeth. The sticky stuff gets stuck on your teeth where the sugar feeds the bacteria that causes tooth decay. The semi-hard candies can actually chip your teeth and damage dental work such as veneers and crowns. If you do indulge in any of these candies but can’t immediately access a toothbrush and floss, be sure to rinse your mouth out with water to minimize the effects of the sugars.
  • The Ugly – Kids LOVE sour candies, but they have the potential to cause the most damage. The sugary outer layer of sour candies is partially made from citric acid; like any other acidic food or drink, citric acid weakens tooth enamel. The gummy layer beneath is sticky (see above), but it doesn’t just stick to your teeth, it sticks to teeth with a compromised protective layer. If your kids (or you) can’t say no to sour treats, make sure they wait a while before brushing to give the enamel time to recover.

May you and your family have a happy Halloween! If you do have a candy-related tooth incident, I am here to help. Contact my office any time to schedule an appointment.

Are Your Food Choices Damaging Your Teeth?

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Are Your Food Choices Damaging Your Teeth?

We’re all fairly well-informed about how food affects our overall health. Sugars, processed foods, and starches are on the “limited” list. But have you considered how your food affects your dental health? Well, we are here to help you discern which foods you might want to pass on. The following list can help you make informed decisions about what you eat or drink and how your choices affect your teeth.

  1. Citrus – Citrus is natural and healthy, right? Yes. Unless we’re talking about dental health. Citric acids erode your enamel, making you more susceptible to tooth decay. We’re not saying you shouldn’t enjoy an orange every now and then, we just want you to exercise caution. When you’re offered a drink with lemon or lime, turn down the citrus. If you do enjoy a glass of water or cocktail with lemon or lime, rinse your mouth out with water when you finish your drink. The same goes for eating fresh citrus or any other food that might contain citric acids. Rinse (don’t immediately brush) your teeth to preserve your enamel.
  2. Coffee and Tea – Press the pause button on that outrage, everyone. We know that coffee and tea both have health benefits, but what you add to them negates the perks. Adding sweeteners, creamers, or other flavor enhancers does more harm than good. Furthermore, if you’re drinking one cup after another, coffee and tea are bound to stain your teeth. If you add sugary substances to your morning cup, be sure to brush your teeth afterwards so the sugar doesn’t have the chance to do damage. If you take your coffee or tea black, rinse your teeth with water after each cup to minimize the likelihood of staining.
  3. Alcohol – Please see the first sentence from item number two. We’re not trying to stand between you and your daily imbibement. We just want you to understand how cocktails affect your teeth. Most alcohols are acidic, which means that they can harm your enamel (see item one). Additionally, alcohol is a dehydrant. Saliva is crucial to the health of your teeth. When your mouth is dry and saliva production slows, your teeth are more vulnerable to tooth decay and infection.

There are many other foods that are harmful to your teeth, but we don’t want to frighten you. If you are concerned that your diet may be detrimental to your dental health, contact Waterford Family Dental Care today. We will provide you with all of the necessary information to keep your smile healthy and happy.

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