Never forget: your toothbrush is your most important tool when it comes to maintaining a healthy mouth and a bright, clean smile. Everyone at your dentist office near Forked River will confirm this.
With that in mind, it goes without saying that you have to take good care of your toothbrush in order to be sure your toothbrush takes good care of you. Any dentist near Manahawkin has likely seen countless toothbrushes that after many years of use now look like a complete mess rather than the well-designed cleaning tool they are meant to be.
That’s not good, because brushes that are in bad shape don’t do as good a job of keeping your mouth clean and healthy and helping you maintain good oral hygiene.
And you do want good oral hygiene! That’s the reason why you visit Ocean County dentists, after all – in order to have a healthier mouth!
In order to avoid your toothbrush becoming a mess that does more harm than good, follow these simple tips:
Never share your toothbrush – Your mouth is loaded with bacteria of all types, and brushing can sometimes lead to minor bleeding, usually so minor you can’t even see it. Even a little is enough to help aid the transmission of bacteria from one mouth to another, though, and that’s not a good thing. Remember, your toothbrush is for you and you only. And never use someone else’s and don’t let other people use yours!
Always rinse the brush after you’re done – Residue left behind by toothpaste or your mouth can make your toothbrush a breeding ground for bacteria, plus it can also accelerate the breakdown of your brush’s bristles. Just like your mouth, it’s important to keep your brush clean!
To combat microorganism growth, don’t store your brush in a closed container – Those closed containers are like breeding grounds for bacterial growth. They can be GROSS! It’s fine to use them for a day or so when traveling, but you should never store your toothbrush in a closed container for longer than that. If you do, you’ll actually be making your mouth LESS healthy.
Replace your brush every few months – Modern brushes are tough and resilient, but regardless, you should replace them every few months in order to be sure they are doing the best job possible of keeping your teeth clean. A new brush is much more effective than an old one.
Let the bristles do the work – Aggressive brushing is not only bad for your tooth enamel, it’s bad for your toothbrush, too. It can ruin your bristles and impact the lifespan of your brush. Instead, brush gently and let the bristles do their job. It’s what they are designed for!
Always keep in mind that your toothbrush is an important tool in your regular oral health routine. Treat it badly and it will treat your mouth badly in return. Treat it right and it will treat your mouth right – and that will make your dentist near Manahawkin very happy!
We get it. Flossing just isn’t that fun. In fact, as you’ll read below, up to half of all Americans don’t floss s often as they should.
However, since flossing helps protect you from oral infections, bad breath, gum disease and more, we can’t encourage people to skip the floss. It’s too essential to good oral health!
Take a look at these 12 things you may not know about flossing and maybe you will change your mind about it – and your dentist near Forked River will be glad you did!
Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-wearing-blue-zip-up-jacket-1090387/
- Some dental experts recommend flossing before you brush rather than after, to help the fluoride from your toothpaste get in between your teeth. However, there is still some debate over whether this actually has any impact or not. The most important thing is, most dentists agree that you floss.
- If your gums bleed when you floss, you may be doing it improperly or at irregular intervals. The trick is that regular flossing with a good technique is essential.
- If you are not using a clean stretch of floss for each tooth, you risk moving bacteria from one tooth to another!
- Floss comes in flavors for those who need a little boost to get themselves flossing. You can find all the expected flavors – mint, fruit, and even bacon. Yes, bacon flavored floss!
- If you have bridgework or wider than average spaces in between your teeth, it might be beneficial to use wide floss, also known as dental tape. This will give you better coverage so they remain cleaner and healthier.
- If you have closely spaced teeth, think about using waxed floss, which can be easier to slide between your teeth.
- Listen for the squeak: You can actually tell when unwaxed floss is sliding against clean teeth by the sound. This is your clue that plaque has been removed!
- Only about half of all Americans floss on a daily basis, and 18 percent don’t floss at all, according to the American Dental Association.
- 27 percent of people LIE about how much they floss!
- Any discomfort you experience when flossing usually disappears after the first week or so of regular flossing. It’s normal for it to feel “odd” when you first start, but that quickly goes away as long as you make it part of your routine.
- If using floss feels weird to you, ask your hygienist about other options. There are a number of products that can provide the same sort of cleaning, including rubber-tips cleaners, pre-threaded flossers, tiny brushes, and more.
- Waterpicks are NOT a replacement for dental floss because they do not remove plaque. They are for cleaning braces, but should not be used instead of flossing.
If you want to learn more about the importance of flossing, good flossing techniques, and how we can help, reach out to us at 609-698-1155 to set up an appointment with our hygienist.
Look, we get it. A lot of people just don’t like to floss. In fact, up to half of all Americans don’t floss as often as they should.
But since flossing helps protect you from oral infections, bad breath, gum disease and more, this is really not a good thing!
Take a look at these 10 things you may not know about flossing and perhaps you’ll change your mind about this all-important hygiene habit.
- Some dentists in Southern Ocean County recommend flossing before you brush, not after, to help the fluoride from your toothpaste get between your teeth. However, this advice is not universal. There remains debate over whether or not this actually has any impact. Most dentists agree, though, that the most important thing is that you floss in the first place.
- If your gums bleed when you floss, you may be flossing improperly or at irregular intervals. Flossing on a regular basis with a good technique is essential.
- If you are not using clean floss for each tooth, you risk transferring bacteria around your mouth!
- Floss comes in flavors. You can find all the expected stuff – mint flavors, fruit flavors – and even bacon!
- If you have bridgework or wider spaces between your teeth, it may be best to use wide floss, also known as dental tape. This will give better coverage and ensure they remain cleaner and healthier.
- If you have closely spaced teeth, consider using waxed floss. This can be easier to slide between your teeth.
- Listen for the squeaking sound. You can hear when unwaxed floss is moving against clean teeth. This tells you that plaque has been removed.
- According to the American Dental Association, only about 50% of Americans floss daily, and 18% don’t floss at ALL.
- 27 percent of people LIE about how often they floss!
- If using floss feels weird to you, ask your Barnegat dental hygienist about other options. There are products that can provide the same sort of cleaning, including rubber-tips cleaners, pre-threaded flossers, tiny brushes, and more.
If you want to learn more about the importance of flossing, good flossing techniques, and how we can help, reach out to us at 609-698-1155 to set up an appointment with our hygienist, or contact us on Facebook.
Beach Haven West is one of Southern Ocean County’s most desirable waterfront communities. A sleepy unincorporated community that is part of Stafford Township, it is home to both summer residents and all year residents.
It’s no surprise why. This waterfront community offers easy access to fishing and boating, with the entire Barnegat Bay just seconds away by boat.
For many, Beach Haven West itself is a dream come true. Constructed on over 100 lagoons and located right off Route 72 and just across the bay from Long Beach Island, it’s one of the Jersey Shore’s true hidden gems.
Here are 10 facts you might not know about this hidden gem of a community:
- Beach Haven West was first developed in the 1950s. Herbert and Jerome Shapiro created the 130 lagoons that make up this part of town.
- Beach Haven West began with a series of Cape Cod style homes being built.
- The earliest waterfront homes there cost about $7,000 circa the 1950s.
- The first phase of Beach Haven West opened in 1957 and makes up the area between Morris Boulevard and Jennifer Lane.
- The community’s phase two was finished in the early 1960s and spans the area between Jonathan Drive and Walter Boulevard.
- During the 1950s and 1960s, the Beach Haven West Civic Association was a focal point of the community. They ran a community center and pool off Jonathan Drive. The clubhouse was demolished in the 1980s.
- Beach Haven West was still being built-out as late as 1986, when Colony Lakes was completed.
- The construction of Beach Haven West, as well as Ocean Acres, coincided with the construction of the Garden State Parkway, which finally gave people in North Jersey easier access to the Jersey Shore.
- Today, Beach Haven West’s population is about 4,000 residents.
- One of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa Giudice, once had a summer home in Beach Haven West.
These days, you can ask anyone looking to stay in the Southern Ocean County area and they will all agree: there are few communities that have become as desirable to live in as this one.
Even more important? They get access to a priceless lifestyle of relaxation, boating, fishing, great dentists in Southern Ocean County, and more. And that’s not something you can find just anywhere.
We all have mouths – life would be hard without one – and we all need to take care of them. The thing about oral health is that it’s a diverse area. Some dental problems are minor and some can be simply devastating. What sort of problems? Read along as we count down the five most common dental problems in America and to see just what is making people (and their teeth) suffer out there:
5) Mouth Sores
There are many different types of mouth sores. Among the most common are canker sores, fever blisters, cold sores and ulcers. All of them can be terribly bothersome. The good news is, most mouth sores are never much more than a nuisance. They go away after a few weeks at most. Once in a while one can point to a bigger problem, so if a mouth sore lasts for more than two weeks be sure to see your dentist near Manahawkin. However, in most cases these are pretty low on the priority list of oral health problems to be concerned about.
4) Oral Cancer
Many other types of cancer get a lot more spotlight, but the truth is, some 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. In fact, at any given time millions are affected by it. Like all types of cancer, it can be deadly if left untreated. It can also lead to severe damage to the mouth, lips and throat. The good news is that oral cancer is highly treatable if caught early – and the best way to catch it early is with regular visits to your dentist.
3) Gum Disease
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is when your gums become infected. This can start with simple gingivitis, but when gum disease progresses it can lead to tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is cited as the biggest cause of tooth loss among adults in America. The best way to combat this malady is by following the daily oral health routine suggested by your dentist near Manahawkin.
2) Cavities
Cavities, also known as tooth decay, is not just one of the most common oral health problems in the country, it’s actually one of the most common health problems overall, affecting about as many people as the common cold. Brushing twice a day, flossing, and watching what you eat are your best defenses against this common problem. Tooth decay is caused when plaque buildup and sugars combine to eat away at your tooth enamel and the teeth themselves. This is a problem where prevention is the best approach, because once it progresses too far there is no reversing it. It will take major dentistry to fix the issue.
1) Bad Breath
There is no oral health problem more common than bad breath, also known as halitosis. Bad breath can be caused by many things, but in the majority of cases – more than 4 out of 5 cases, in fact – a simple dental condition is to blame. They can include dry mouth, cavities, gum disease, bacteria on the tongue and others. All of these can all be causes of bad breath. If you have persistent bad breath, you should visit your dental office, because mouth wash only covers the problem, it doesn’t cure it.
There is a reason why real estate is in demand in our area: Because the Jersey Shore is a fantastic place to live!
From easy access to some of the best beaches on the East Coast to New York City and Philadelphia being a short drive away and much more, people are eager to live in towns like Long Beach Island, Manahawkin, and Forked River.
But house hunting can be a chore. It doesn’t need to be if you follow these simple house hunting tips, though. With these in mind, you’ll have your perfect home in Southern Ocean County in no time.
Location, Location, Location – It’s not a cliché, it’s a fact of life! When it comes to real estate, location is everything, so be sure to look at more than the house. Check out the neighborhood, its access to local shopping and highways, and the school system.
Get Pre-approved – It’s rarely a bad idea to go to the bank BEFORE you start shopping for homes. A preapproval will not only give you peace of mind during the often stressful process of home shopping, it will also give you a clear idea of your budget limitations. Being equipped with this information will make the entire process smoother for you.
Create A Checklist – When you’re touring multiple homes during your survey of real estate, it can be easy to get a little overwhelmed. The best way to keep things straight is to create a simple checklist of features you want (or want to avoid). As you tour each home, mark off the checklist. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it will be there to jog your memory when you’re trying to remember which home had what.
Know What You Want – It’s surprising how many home buyers don’t really know what they want when they go out looking. This can only make the entire process harder for you. Before you start shopping for homes, make a list of what you want from your purchase. This will make it much easier to zero in on the perfect home for you.
Do Your Research – The days of letting your real estate agent do all the work are long over. These days, it is incumbent upon the buyer to do their research as well. The Internet is a big place full of tools that can help you get the background you need on potential houses and neighborhoods to make a decision you won’t regret.
Be Ready To Make An Offer – When the moment finally comes to claim the Jersey Shore home they’ve been after, a surprising number of people find themselves paralyzed. It’s not altogether surprising. Buying a home is a major investment, after all. But if you’re out there shopping for a new home, you have to be prepared to make an offer the moment you know this is the home for you, otherwise you risk someone else sweeping the home out from under you. It happens!
These days, few dental procedures are becoming more commonplace than getting dental implants.
To put it in the most basic terms, a dental implant is an artificial root used to support various dental prosthesis, such as dentures, crowns, and so on. They are a part of a wide array of procedures, from some types of false teeth to full dental reconstruction.
Our doctors at Bayside work with experienced surgeons and coordinate your care through each phase of treatment. Once the surgeon has placed the implant or implants, our doctors can finish your case with beautifully fabricated restorations, whether it is a single crown (“cap”), bridge or even a full denture.
What kinds of people get dental implants?
- Those who have lost a tooth or teeth in an accident
- Those facing major tooth replacement due to decay
- Athletes who lost teeth during competition
- Actors and models seeking to improve their smile
- Older patients who do not want traditional dentures
- Anyone who is missing teeth
As you can see, dental implants cover a wide range of people and a wide variety of needs. With such a broad demographic, you might assume that the reasons people get dental implants are just as varied.
That assumption would be correct. Here are just a few of the reasons why patients seek out dental implants from their dentist in Southern Ocean County:
- Prevent Jawbone Loss – Choosing a fixed bridge over a dental implant means your jawbone will begin to deteriorate. A root tooth is required to adequately stimulate the bone. A dental implant supplies that stimulation.
- Maintain Your Appearance – No dental reconstruction procedure goes further in maintaining your appearance than dental implants in Barnegat. This is because other procedures can result in a “sunken” appearance around your jaw, among other issues.
- Help You Speak Better – Unlike other procedures, dental implants effectively recreate the condition your jaw should be in. Other procedures can impact the way you speak, forcing you to relearn certain ways of speaking. This is not the case with dental implants.
- Longer Lasting – Most other dental restoration procedures do not last nearly as long as dental implants do.
- More Permanent Than Traditional Dentures – Traditional dentures have been a necessity for some people, but no one likes them. Dental implants can replace traditional dentures with a more permanent, more comfortable option.
- Prevent Shifting Of Your Teeth – When there is an empty space in your jaw, your teeth have a natural tendency to shift into that space. In time, this will result in crooked teeth. Dental implants will prevent this.
Based on the above, the reasons why people in Southern Ocean County get dental implants should be obvious. No matter how you look at them, they are superior to traditional dentures and tooth replacement.
They are catching on nationwide, too. Consider these facts:
- 3 million Americans now have dental implants
- 10 percent of dentists now perform the procedure
- Dental implants are a $1 billion market in the United States
- The success rate for dental implants is 98 percent
- Only modern materials, such as titanium alloys, are used in dental implants
- The surgery is painless
- Dental implants cannot get cavities
We pride ourselves in having educated, knowledgeable patients. That is why it comes as little surprise to us that when people from Southern Ocean County visit, many are quick to ask about dental implants.
Because the bottom line is that dental implants work better than the other options.
Don’t let the show “Jersey Shore” fool you. The coastal areas of New Jersey are a beautiful, relaxing place where people enjoy the beach lifestyle in friendly, down to Earth communities. As anyone who lives here will tell you, once you live at the shore you never want to live anywhere else!
Don’t believe us? Go visit these fantastic Jersey Shore communities for a taste of what life is like here:
Manahawkin / Stafford
Manahawkin is the gateway to Long Beach Island, a beautiful little community that is technically a part of Stafford Township. It’s a warm, pleasant place to live filled with great people and excellent access to local beaches and attractions such as Long Beach Island, Atlantic City, and Seaside Heights. That’s why we are proud to be a dentist serving Manahawkin!
Lavallette
Located just north of Toms River, this sleepy little beachfront community is nestled between the Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It enjoys a close proximity to shore hotspots like Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights, but is itself a quiet town with plenty of local shops and neighbors who know one another. It’s a beautiful place to relax.
Ocean Beach
Technically part of Toms River, the quaint bungalows that make up most of Ocean Beach make this the perfect community for summer rentals or affordable retirements.
Beach Haven
This subdued community on Long Beach Island is as beautiful as it is quiet. It’s a small town in which everyone knows their neighbor. Longtime residents are common. It’s the ideal place to live if you like to have good friends nearby. Even better, it boasts easy access to the attractions in places like Barnegat and other nearby LBI communities.
Cape May
This historic town is filled with old inns, bed and breakfasts, and romantic getaways. Many of these home have been here since the 19th Century. This is a fantastic place to get away from it all, with great boat tours, secluded places to eat, and more.
Asbury Park
Asbury Park is back and in a big way. Once run down and decrepit, this town is now thriving with great restraints, shops, art galleries and more. It’s a town ideal for hip young people. The bar scene is excellent, the music scene even better, and there are good apartments available. If ever there was a welcome return to form at the shore, it’s the return of Asbury Park.
Wildwood
Sometimes called “The Wildwoods,” though that actually refers to several towns, Wildwood and the surrounding towns showcase the fun side of the Jersey Shore. With a lengthy boardwalk packed with games and rides and places to eat, and a town filled with things to do, eat, drink, see and enjoy, Wildwood is a weekender’s perfect getaway. No wonder it’s such a popular destination!
As you can see, the Jersey Shore is more than night clubs and boardwalks. It’s varied and interesting enough for almost anyone!
Don’t the show of the same name fool you. The Jersey Shore is a terrific place to live. This is especially true in Southern Ocean County around Barnegat, Manahawkin, and Forked River, where there are a wealth of benefits that will quickly have you living the good life.
Don’t believe us? Just take a look at these five great reasons to live at the shore:
1) Watersports
For those who like their life to be on the exciting side, the Jersey coast offers some of the best areas for jet skiing, water skiing, surfing, and much more.
Whether you already own equipment or just want to rent it, shops and rentals places are so numerous you’ll be tripping over them.
Even better, the waters here are made for activities like this. Our bays, waterways and oceans are perfect for waverunners, paddle boarding, and much more.
2) Boating and Fishing
New Jersey has some of the best boating and fishing on the East Coast (and anyone who follows our Facebook knows our doctors take full advantage of it!).
Whether you like relaxing on a bay and enjoying the sun with friends, or like to take a boat out on the Atlantic and engage in some serious fishing, the opportunities to both are endless here. The Garden State has a thriving fishing and boating community that dates back hundreds of years, with a wealth of fishing clubs, charter boats, yacht clubs, and much more available. If you live someplace like Renaissance on The Ocean, it’s easy to access this great aspect of the shore.
3) Beautiful Beaches
There is a reason why so many people come to the Jersey Shore each summer: because it’s beautiful! No matter the type of experience you want, New Jersey offers it. We have quaint, quiet communities with relaxing beaches, party towns with thriving nightclub scenes, towns that specialize in historic inns and bed and breakfasts, fishing towns, communities geared towards families, towns that focus on boardwalks and amusements, and much more. New Jersey beaches in Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island, and elsewhere are the place to be!
4) The Outdoors
In addition to watersports, beaches and more, the Jersey coast has something a lot of people don’t realize: some gorgeous state and federal parks featuring pristine coastland. These preserves boast great hiking trails, lush dunes, and abundant wildlife. You can see a side of New Jersey you never imagined!
5) Easy Access To NYC and Philly
Being at the Jersey Shore doesn’t mean you always have to STAY at the Jersey Shore. Thanks to 195 and the Parkway, access to New York City and Philadelphia is incredibly easy, making day trips into the city a breeze. Even Baltimore is an easy three-hour drive away, a perfect way to catch Phillies, Yankees and Mets games without having to deal with the home town crowds. It’s just one more thing that makes living at the shore so desirable!
With these things in mind, it’s hard to ignore how great the Jersey Shore can be!
Your mouth is a funny place. Your body is fairly easy to keep clean and healthy when compared to your mouth. As long as you shower daily, eat right and get some exercise, generally speaking your body is going to treat you fairly well. Your mouth is another story. Your mouth is a place that is warm and wet, and that makes it a great place for germs and bacteria to thrive. It’s also filled with tiny little nooks and crannies that create perfect places for oral problems to begin. And finally, it acts as the gateway to your insides.
That’s why taking good care of your mouth requires some work on your part – just as your Southern Ocean County dental office tells you!
And make no mistake, it’s a relatively small effort that you’ll want to make, because your oral health is closely tied to your overall health. Here’s how:
Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-people-having-fun-together-under-the-sun-708392/
Periodontal Disease
Some recent studies now prove there are links between periodontal disease and other oral afflictions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. dentists have found that they can often diagnose those conditions early in part by your oral health.
Good Digestion
Your every bodily function begins and ends with your body’s ability to turn food into energy, and that entire process begins in your mouth.
Heart Disease
It might seem to be counterintuitive that these two things would be linked, but a study from 2008 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine suggested that periodontal disease was a risk factor for heart disease. A few follow-up studies also appear to show that treating periodontal disease can also lower’s a person’s risk for heart disease.
Diabetes
Diabetes shows itself in a number of ways, among them in gum inflammation. This is something your dentist might notice, allowing you to spot early warning signs of the disease.
Preterm Labor
This is another that may surprise you. We now know that pregnancy increases the risk of gum disease and other oral maladies, and further, gum disease increases the risk of low birth weight and preterm labor. So these things are linked!
Pneumonia
Earlier when we said your mouth was a good place for bacteria and germs to gather, we weren’t kidding. Under some conditions, breathing in germs may put you at an increased risk of developing pneumonia thanks to those factors. That’s a good reason to have good oral hygiene!
Osteoporosis
Current studies are still looking into this, but a few researchers believe that suffering from both osteoporosis and periodontal disease could lead to faster bone loss. That’s not really a risk you want to take then, is it?
Arthritis
This link still being studied, but it’s worth noting. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology is one of several trying to establish a connection between these two inflammatory disorders.
With all of the above in mind, it appears that a good idea is to follow the advice of your dentist in Ocean County when they tell you to do better at care of your mouth. Wouldn’t you agree?
By now you know what to do: Brush at least twice daily, ever day! Floss daily. Be sure to use mouthwash. Go for regular checkups with your dentist. Avoid food and drinks high in sugar. And so on.
Why? Because these things may seem minor, so small that sometimes you can’t be bothered to follow through, but they can play a role in protecting a much bigger, interconnected system – you body.