Brushing your teeth helps prevent cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Experienced general and family dentist, Dr. Medhat Dawoud, at D&G Dental in West Orange, NJ teaches patients that excellent at-home hygiene, include basic brushing techniques, help preserve smiles for a life time.

D&G Dental in West Orange, NJ recommends toothbrushing as the best foundation for healthy smile

While the amazing array of dental services available today are a real blessing to oral and systemic health–and to self-image and confidence, too–the simplest of home hygiene techniques really remains unchanged. It’s toothbrushing. Combined with daily flossing, brushing your teeth correctly promotes disease-free teeth and gums, a sparkling appearance and fresh breath, too.

The staff at D&G Dental enjoy opportunities to teach patients about toothbrushing. Doctors Medhat Dawoud, Paula Gencarelli and Ghobadi recommend these simple techniques to maximize your brushing experience:

Use a soft-bristled brush along with a quality, fluoride paste. Soft bristles are gentle on enamel and gums. Some patients prefer electric toothbrushes, but they are not necessary.  Fluoride is an excellent cavity-fighter. Whitening and anti-tartar toothpastes work well for the short-term but can be too rough on enamel.

Brush a minimum of twice daily for 2 minutes per session. The American Dental Association recommends this schedule as the minimum for good oral health. Floss in between teeth to remove plaque and food residues. Small interdental brushes help individuals with dental implants, fixed bridgework and wire and bracket braces.

Use short brush strokes. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth surface, and move it in a short, back and forth motion. Go slowly and carefully around the teeth, concentrating on the harder to reach back molars. For the back sides of the front teeth, place the brush vertically, and scrub with an up and down motion. Some people divide the mouth into 4 parts and and brush each section for 30 seconds.

Gently clean soft oral tissues, too, including the tongue, cheeks, roof of the mouth, and of course, gums. People often neglect the tongue but should take extra care as its textured surface harbors bacteria and food particles.

Rinse well with water. Mouthwashes are fine but not necessary unless your dentist in West Orange, NJ specifically recommends one.

Change your toothbrush regularly. Dr. Dawoud suggests every 3 months or so in keeping with American Dental Association and American Dental Hygienists’  Association guidelines. Some brushes have color indicators which disappear when the brush is worn out. Also, get a new brush after having a cold or flu as toothbrushes can retain germs.

Keep routine visits with D&G Dental

Home hygiene, coupled with semi-annual exams and cleanings with Dr. M. Davoud and his associate dentists, is the gold standard of preventive dentistry. Why not schedule your check–up today, and ask your West Orange, NJ dentist and hygienist about your personal brushing technique?

When you search for a new dentist, you look for a practitioner with experience and knowledge, as well as someone to whom you can entrust your and your family’s dental health. In addition, you want a dentist who can take care of all of your dental needs, from prevention and restoration to cosmetic dentistry and periodontal therapy. D & G Dental of West Orange is the dentist Montclair, NJ, turns to for professional, caring and trustworthy dentistry.

Preventive and Restorative Dentistry

The number one priority of dentistry is prevention. If your dentist can prevent dental problems for even starting, then you’ll always have a healthier and happier smile. To achieve this goal, the dentists at D & G Dental of West Orange would like to see you and each member of your family at least twice every year for dental checkups. With this regularity, we can carefully monitor your oral health and take note of any changes sooner rather than later, thereby helping you avoid bigger problems and higher costs. And of course, these checkups are for cleaning your teeth, removing plaque, checking for decay and evaluating the health of your gums, too.

If we do happen to find something concerning, then we have a number of restorative treatments that can repair your tooth and help you retain your healthy smile. The restorative dentistry services offered at D&G Dental of West Orange include:

• Tooth-colored fillings
• Porcelain Crowns
• Fixed Bridges
• Dentures and Partials
• Oral Surgery
• Dental Implants
• Full-Mouth Reconstruction

Cosmetic Dentistry

Beyond prevention and restoration, we also provide a number of cosmetic dentistry services to keep you smiling beautifully. Have a dazzlingly bright smile with teeth whitening; cosmetic bonding or porcelain veneers can conceal smile imperfections even as they create a new and attractive smile; and Invisalign® clear plastic braces straighten teeth imperceptibly.

Schedule an Appointment Today

For the dentist, Montclair, NJ, trusts, make the short drive to D & G Dental of West Orange. We conveniently serve patients from West Orange, NJ, Livingston, Verona, and Bloomfield and beyond.

The first and foremost job of a dentist is prevention. If your dentist can prevent dental problems from occurring in the first place, then you are on your way to a smile that is healthy and beautiful for the long run. As general dentists, D & G Dental of West Orange, in West Orange, NJ, offers a long list of services to help you and your family avoid oral health concerns. People in Montclair, NJ, rely on D & G Dental for general dentistry for all of their family’s dental needs.

At the top of the list of services at D & G Dental is regular checkups. Our dentists would like to see you and your family members at least two times each year. With this degree of regularity, we can keep tabs on your dental health and notice any marked changes that might warrant further attention. At these checkups, we’ll:

• Clean your teeth and remove any plaque buildup;
• Assess the health of your gums to find warning signs of periodontal disease;
• Take digital x-rays when necessary to uncover any hidden spots of decay; and
• Conduct an oral cancer screening.

Of course, if we find any developing problems such as tooth decay or gingivitis—the early stage of periodontal disease—then because you’ve regularly scheduled checkups, we can treat any condition early before it gets out of hand.

Other General Dentistry Services for Montclair

D & G Dental wants everyone in your family to enjoy optimal oral health, so we provide special treatment for the youngest citizens in Montclair and beyond. Our children’s dentistry is geared toward providing developing smiles with the added attention they need, including fluoride treatments and dental sealants.

For the athlete in your family, we can design a custom mouthguard to protect their teeth, tongue and gums while they compete. And if there’s someone who snores nightly—a possible sign of a chronic health condition called sleep apnea—then talk to one of our dentists about a custom nightguard.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If it’s time for you and your family to see the dentist, then call D & G Dental in West Orange, NJ. Our general dentistry practice also serves patients from Montclair as well as Livingston, Verona, Bloomfield and beyond.