Changing your at-home oral hygiene habits may be able to lower your risk of COVID-19. We know that the coronavirus is transmitted when infected respiratory droplets are dispersed via coughing, sneezing, or sometimes breathing. Since our mouths play a key role in spreading and receiving these infected droplets, it’s essential that we pay extra attention when we clean our smiles. Here are seven at-home dental habits from your Longmeadow dentist that can help keep you and your smile safe from COVID-19.

If you have a severely damaged, broken, or weakened tooth, a dental crown is a great way to protect it while preserving as much of your natural tooth as possible. As you wait for your custom-made, tooth-shaped cap to be created in a dental lab, your compromised tooth will be protected by a temporary dental crown. While your temporary restoration should stay in place until your next appointment, that’s not always what happens! Here’s what to do if your dental crown falls off.  

Have you ever heard a strange popping or clicking sound when you open or close your jaw? Do you have pain in your jaw? That might be a sign of TMJ/ TMD disorder, or a problem with your temporomandibular joint. That’s the delicate joint that connects your jaw to the rest of your skull. If you place your finger just in front of and below your ear and move your jaw, you can actually feel your TMJ! If you develop TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, does it ever go away on its own? Let’s find out.

Is your tooth damaged as a result of decay or injury? In the past, getting a dental crown has not always been a smooth process. Not only would you need to bite into unpleasant putty-like material just to capture the impression, but you’d also need to wait multiple weeks just to have it placed. With the help of CEREC same-day crowns, however, your restorative treatment doesn’t have to require cumbersome or uncomfortable steps. Instead, you can get a long-term, natural-looking CEREC crown faster than ever before!

In 2019, about 53,000 people will be affected by oral cancer. Of those, over 10,500 will pass away from the disease. Detecting oral cancer in East Longmeadow may not be as difficult as you think though. You may not have known, but every time you visit your dentist for your semi-annual checkup and cleaning, they perform a screening that could help you spot and treat the cancer early. When detected early, the survival rate is 65%. Once the cancer has started to spread, it drops to 39%. This Oral Cancer Awareness Month, ease your mind with an oral cancer screening from your dentist. Read on to learn about signs of the disease and what your screening will look like.

Do you know just how much your nutritional habits affect not only your overall well-being but your oral health as well? Making the right food choices can play a pivotal role in how healthy your teeth and gums are, in addition to practicing good dental hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist. To celebrate National Nutrition Month, let a dentist in East Longmeadow share what you can do to ensure your body and mouth stay healthy for years to come.

Did you know that over 10 million Americans are affected by TMJ disorder? TMJ or temporomandibular joint disfunction occurs when there’s a problem with the alignment of your jaw joint that connects to your skull. This joint is a network of nerves, ligaments, and bones that help your jaw open and close properly. A common symptom is headaches, but how do you know if it’s TMJ disorder? Keep reading to discover how to detect and prevent TMJ disorder in East Long Meadow.

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and dentists around the country are encouraging the public to take a more active role in preventing oral maladies by practicing excellent dental care. As you continue reading, learn how dental cleanings in Longmeadow and other proactive approaches to maintaining your oral care pay dividends down the road!

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