Northern Virginia Dental Associates

The Benefits of Choosing a Family Dental Practice

Choosing a dental care practice is not an easy decision. If you have children, you may want to choose an office that caters to your whole family by offering a wide selection of services. Having one place to go for the whole family is not only convenient, but it is good for your health. Continue reading to learn more about how you can benefit from choosing a family-oriented practice with multiple dentists.

Dentistry for the Whole Family

The main advantage to choosing a family dentist is that your whole family can receive the dental care they need from one office. Most family dental practices employ pediatric dentists, who primarily treat children, and may also offer certain orthodontic treatments, such as Invisalign. Adults can undergo restorative and cosmetic dental treatments while their children undergo routine checkups and cleanings. That’s dental care made easy and convenient!

Comprehensive Dental Care Services

Most family dentists offer a broader selection of services, making it even easier to get the proper oral health care. When looking for the right family dentist, make sure the practice offers cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening, restorative care, and preventative services. You may also want a dentist who offers sedation dentistry, especially if you or your family members suffer from dental anxiety or phobia.

Wide Selection of Dental Health Professionals

Due to the broad selection of dental services available, most family dental practices offer a wider range of dental health professionals. Having access to more experienced and knowledgeable doctors means that you’ll receive thorough and comprehensive care.

When you choose Northern Virginia Dental Associates, you’ll receive high-quality care from each of our dental health specialists. We use the latest in dental technology, offering cosmetic, preventative, and restorative dental care services. We also provide pediatric dentistry for children ages three and up. To learn more or to schedule a consultation appointment, call (703) 451-8332 today. 

Dental Care Tips for All Ages

Good dental care habits are important at any age, but the younger we start the better.  If you are looking for advice on how to teach your children good oral hygiene, or need some dental tips of you own, check out these great resources: 

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention present this factsheet about oral and dental health.
• This article from The New York Times explores what can happen when you experience a toothpaste overdose.
• Do you have young children? Read through this guide to teaching brushing basics from Babble.com.
• HowStuffWorks.com investigates how thumb sucking negatively affects the jaw and teeth of young children.
• Colgate Oral and Dental Health Resource Center provides this article to help you better understand proper brushing techniques.

Serving patients all over Springfield, Northern Virginia Dental Associates specializes in a variety of cosmetic and family dental services. Call (703) 451-8332 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Want a Better Smile? Here Are More Great Resources for You to Check Out!

Have you been considering a professional teeth whitening treatment?  It is important that you know what kind of dental care will be required of you after treatment. Learn more about how to maintain an attractive smile from these resources:

• If you’re interested in Invisalign, check out this informative FAQ page at the official Invisalign website.
• Visit WebMD.com to learn how you can avoid staining your teeth by limiting certain foods.
• This slideshow from EverydayHealth.com guides you through 12 foods that stain your teeth.
• Are you unhappy with the appearance of your teeth? Learn about the effects of whitening toothpaste in this Q&A from the Mayo Clinic.
• Read through this page from the American Academy of Periodontology for detailed information about dental implants.

Serving patients all over Springfield, Northern Virginia Dental Associates specializes in a variety of cosmetic and family dental services. Call (703) 451-8332 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Bad Oral Habits to Break

The habits learned in childhood can persist throughout life. Children are especially prone to picking up bad habits that can negatively impact their teeth for years to come. Be sure to wean your child off the following bad oral habits and instill healthy dental routines.

Thumb and Finger Sucking

Research now shows that thumb or finger sucking can have an impact upon the teeth as early as two to four years of age. The abnormal pressure along the upper jaw and roof of the mouth can cause the jaw to narrow. This in turn forces the teeth into an unnatural position where the two jaws don’t meet properly or buck teeth form. A “thumb hole” can also develop, forcing the teeth in the back of the mouth to perform most of the chewing functions. This inequality across the teeth impacts the mouth and jaw structure and can also cause speech problems such as lisping.

Bottle Sucking

The unnatural pressure in the mouth that accompanies sucking a bottle can also alter a child’s teeth over the course of several years. Remember never to let your child go to bed with a bottle of anything other than water—the sugar in milk and other liquids can build up over the course of the night and cause plaque to form, resulting in cavities.

Chewing Hard Objects

Biting hard, non-edible objects is very damaging to children. The pressure of biting a hard surface can cause stress fractures or broken teeth, and can also damage the jaw and chewing muscles.

Swallowing Toothpaste

Many children find it difficult to brush their teeth without swallowing most of their toothpaste. Yet ingesting too much fluoride can cause digestion problems and eventually result in a condition called fluorosis. Make sure that you’re giving your child an appropriate pea-sized amount of toothpaste, and demonstrating the proper rinsing and spitting techniques.

The family dentists at Northern Virginia Dental Associates can recommend further strategies to improve the health of your child’s teeth and gums. Learn more about our Springfield-area practice by calling (703) 451-8332.

How Long Do You Brush Your Teeth?

One challenge that many parents face is making sure that children continuously brush for the appropriate amount of time. That’s why the Time2Brush app encourages kids to dance and hum their way to healthy teeth.

In this app, a pea-sized squirt of toothpaste called a Nurdle provides brushing tips while a fun timer counts down two minutes. Children are entertained during this time with catchy songs and animations. After brushing for the appropriate length of time, kids can even earn points to accessorize their Nurdle! Interactive and engaging, this app is a perfect tool for teaching children about proper brushing techniques.

Contact Northern Virginia Dental Associates for more tips on your child’s dental care. Our dentists can recommend different strategies to instill healthy habits in your child. Learn more about our family dentistry practice by calling (703) 451-8332.