Fillings

What Can I Do About Bad Breath?

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Bad breath can really get in the way of your relationships, both professional and personal. If you have bad breath, it’s important to understand the cause and, if needed, address it as quickly as possible. Some people can take care of their bad breath on their own, while others need help from a dentist in Rockville MD. Here’s what you should know about bad breath.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Most of the time, bad breath is something that happens after meals when food debris is still in the mouth. Brushing your teeth (and your tongue!) may help clear it up.

Some people experience bad breath because of the food they eat. Garlic and onions are two foods that can cause bad breath. If you eat these foods, you may experience bad breath even if you brush your teeth. This happens because the food gets into your bloodstream, causing it to affect your breath long after you finish eating.

If bad breath is a chronic problem that won’t go away, you may need to see a dentist. You could have a cavity or gum disease.

What Can I Do About Bad Breath?

If you have bad breath, take these steps to address your problem:

  1. Brush your teeth. For many people, brushing their teeth will resolve the problem.
  2. Consider what you ate. Think back to your last meal. Garlic and onions are common causes of bad breath. If you ate these foods recently, wait for them to digest.
  3. See the dentist. Chronic bad breath is called halitosis. If you have halitosis, see your dentist.

Do you need preventive dental care in Rockville MD? It’s important to see the dentist if you have halitosis. Call today to make an appointment.

When Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth?

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Your baby needs dental care just like adults. As soon as your baby has grown their first tooth, it’s important to take care of their dental health. The dentist in Rockville, MD, can help you with this process. Knowing when to brush your baby’s teeth and how to brush their teeth can help.

When Should I Brush My Baby’s Teeth?

Brush your baby’s teeth as soon as teeth erupt from the gums. Brush your baby’s teeth using a baby-sized toothbrush and baby-safe toothpaste. The dentist can recommend a good toothpaste for your baby if you’re not sure.

When Do Babies Get Teeth?

Babies get teeth at different ages, but many babies get their first tooth when they’re about six months old. If your baby’s first tooth grows in earlier or later, you can ask your baby’s dentist about any concerns you may have.

You’ll be able to tell when your baby is teething because they may become grumpy or have a hard time sleeping. They may also drool on themselves and chew on things to soothe their gums.

What Else Can I Do to Care for My Baby’s Teeth?

Avoid giving your baby a bottle of formula at bedtime. Formula can cause cavities when it sits on your baby’s teeth overnight.

Bring your baby to the dentist for the first time by the time they turn one year old. You should do this even if your baby doesn’t have teeth yet. Taking your baby to the dentist will give the dentist an opportunity to determine whether your baby’s dental health is good.

Is it time for your baby’s first dental exam in Rockville, MD? Call Montgomery Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today to make an appointment.

3 Ways to Fix a Damaged Tooth 

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A damaged tooth can be a painful, unpleasant problem to have. What’s worse is that a damaged tooth can lead to dental infection and even tooth extraction or tooth loss. If you have a damaged or injured tooth, see the dentist in Rockville, MD, as soon as possible. Some dental injuries are emergencies that need to be addressed quickly.

Even if your tooth is unlikely to become infected, a damaged tooth can impact your smile. At Montgomery Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we can help you determine whether your dental injury requires a restorative or cosmetic dentistry procedure like one of the procedures below.

1. Dental Crown

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over the top of your tooth to reinforce the enamel and cover up any cosmetic defects. Dental crowns can be restorative or cosmetic. Some dental crowns are made of porcelain while others are made of metal. Either way, if you have a severe break in your tooth, your dentist may recommend a dental crown.

2. Dental Veneer

A dental veneer is a cover that’s placed over the front of the tooth only. To make room for the veneer, your dentist will shave down some of your tooth enamel.

The purpose of a dental veneer is to hide whatever is underneath, whether that’s a chip, crack, or discoloration. Dental veneers are not intended to fix structural problems with your tooth. If your tooth has a structural problem like weak enamel, your dentist may recommend a dental crown.

3. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is similar to a dental veneer, except it doesn’t require the tooth enamel to be shaved for installation. Bonding is also not permanent. After a few years, dental bonding chips off and must be replaced.

Are you interested in cosmetic or restorative dentistry in Rockville, MD? Call Montgomery Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to make an appointment.

3 Common Dental Problems For Children

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Don’t wait for your older child to get a toothache before visiting the dentist. Children should have their first dental visit no later than the age of one, when their first tooth erupts, or earlier if there may be a potential tooth or gum problem.

1. Tongue-tie or Lip-tie

These are two congenital conditions that may go unnoticed without the help of your pediatric dentist in Rockville, MD. Tongue-tie is when the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short, and restricts range of motion. Lip-tie is when the tissue connecting the upper lip to the upper gums is restrictive. Both can potentially cause problems with breastfeeding, speaking impairments, eating problems and dental alignment issues.

2. Baby Teeth Decay

Many parents are surprised to learn that baby teeth can decay before they even erupt from the gums. Typically, this is at least partially caused by an excess of sugary drinks, such as apple juice. An early visit to your child’s dentist will include helpful tips and advice to help you to avoid the need to extract decayed baby teeth. And, if problems have already developed, your family dentist will offer effective solutions that support your child’s future dental health.

3. Alignment Issues

Alignment problems with children’s teeth are often caused by thumb sucking and/or the use of pacifiers. While pacifiers serve a valuable purpose for parents, their prolonged use can cause teeth to grow in crooked. Unfortunately, thumb sucking can do the same thing. Your family dentist in Rockville, MD has helpful ideas to help your child break the pacifier habit. We can also identify potential alignment issues before they become expensive orthodontic problems later on.

Your Rockville, MD, dentist is here for your whole family, including your children. Contact us now for a child-friendly dentist visit!

How Does Insurance Define Prevention Services?

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A dental insurance policy can be a tricky document to read, and it’s not just because it’s full of legal jargon. Because insurance has to account for a number of different scenarios, the clauses can be interpreted in different ways by different people. If you’re wondering what exactly constitutes preventative dentistry in the eyes of an insurance company, we’ll take you through the basics.

Preventative Dental Care

The vast majority of dental plans will cover dental prevention services in Rockville, MD. The idea is that the more they pay upfront, the less they’ll have to pay if their teeth are severely damaged due to neglect. It’s important to note here that even the most diligent of brushers and flossers aren’t immune to plaque or tartar buildup, which can ultimately cause tooth decay and gum disease if you’re not careful.

What’s Covered Under Insurance?

Every insurance policy is different, but most will cover your exams, cleanings, and X-rays. What’s more important is the portion that’s covered and whether you have any limits under the policy. Because dental care can add up over time, many dental plans have limits as to how much they’ll cover over the course of the year. For instance, they may cap you at $2,000 for the year. Once you hit that limit, prevention work will not be covered under the plan.

Find a General Dentist in Rockville

If you’re looking for a dentist in Rockville who can help you make the most of your oral health, no matter what state it’s in currently, contact Montgomery Family & Cosmetic Dentistry today. Our staff can help you schedule preventative care so it’s as resilient as possible. We can also help you plan your budget around your insurance plan, no matter what it covers.