Easing Your Dental Fears

Posted on February 20, 2012 by nrvdental

Are you one of the 30 percent of people who avoids going to the dentist due to fear or anxiety? If your nerves prevent you from visiting the dentist, you won’t be getting the professional treatment you need to keep your mouth healthy. Dr. Atherton is one of only a few general dentists in Virginia who is certified to administer IV sedation to keep your dental visit relaxing. Here are the most common dental fears that can be avoided with sedation dentistry.

Sights, Sounds, and Smells

IV sedation can help relieve your phobias associated with dentists and dental tools. The sight of needles and the sound of drills can be very frightening for some people. Our sedation techniques will help drown out the background noise of what’s happening around you. In addition, we encourage you to bring headphones and music to help distract you and lower your blood pressure.

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Posted in General Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry | Leave a comment

What’s in Your Toothpaste?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by nrvdental

You know that you need to brush your teeth every day to keep your smile healthy and clean. We’ve already discussed the effectiveness of your toothbrush, but the toothpaste you use also plays a major role in successful brushing and cleaning. There are so many types of pastes and gels available to suit your preferences, but all toothpastes should have the same general ingredients to work properly. Ask Dr. Atherton what your toothpaste needs to effectively clean your teeth.

Cleaning and Protection

The first main ingredient in toothpaste is an abrasive agent. Abrasives help remove solid food particles and scrub away bacteria on your teeth. They can also polish the surface of your teeth and remove surface stains. Check your toothpaste label for common abrasives, including calcium carbonate, phosphate salts, magnesium carbonate, silica gels, and aluminum oxides.

Toothpaste also contains antiseptics to keep your mouth clean. Antibacterial agents like Xylitol and triclosan can help inhibit the growth of bacteria that causes plaque, thereby fighting cavities and gum disease.

Fluoride is another very important ingredient to keep your teeth strong. Your enamel absorbs fluoride to make it stronger and resistant to bacterial acid attack. Fluoride helps fight cavities by re-mineralizing your enamel and hardening your tooth’s surface.

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Posted in Family Dentistry, General Dentistry | Leave a comment

Red and Pink Healthy Valentine Treats

Posted on February 7, 2012 by nrvdental

Valentine’s Day is all about candy, chocolate, cookies, and other sweet treats to show your sweetheart how much you care. Dr. Atherton recommends avoiding the sugary gifts this year. Instead of giving your valentine a mouth full of decay, try these red, pink, and heart-shaped healthy food tips to keep you smiling.

Healthy Reds and Pinks

Many fresh fruits, like apples, watermelon, strawberries, cherries, grapefruit, and raspberries, are naturally red in color. These fruits are a great source of vitamin C to help strengthen your gums. Crisp fruits like apples help stimulate saliva production to keep your mouth moist and clean. Watermelon and grapefruit have a high water content to help you feel full without the calories. Furthermore, strawberries have tooth-whitening agents and grapefruit has bacteria-killing properties. Additionally, seafood like salmon, tuna, and shrimp are natural pink foods full of omega-3s and B vitamins. Try using your favorite colored foods, or red or pink food coloring, to make some healthy Valentine snacks.

You can also spice up the romance by creating heart-shaped muffins, sandwiches, or fruit cutouts.

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Posted in General Dentistry, Healthy Living | Leave a comment