Tips on Dealing with Dry Mouth

October 14, 2016

Dry mouth leads to decay and other oral health problems. The dentists at Central Dental Associates in Whiting give tips to alleviate this condition.

Xerostomia, or dry mouth as it is commonly called, comes from several sources: anxiety and stress, cancer treatment, immunosuppression plus others. More than annoying, dry mouth contributes to worrisome dental issues, such as cavities. Learn more about xerostomia and how to deal with it from Central Dental Associates, your caring dentists in Whiting.

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Repair and Restore Damaged Teeth with Dental Bonding Norwood Loves

October 8, 2015

Woman with beautiful smile thanks to dental bonding Norwood lovesIf you’ve ever owned a brand new car, you probably remember the first scratch or chip in the paint, but what about the 5th or the 10th? Most people stop paying attention to minor flaws after the first few, but overtime, even tiny scrapes and chips add up and the car looks worn and old. The same thing happens to teeth as we age. Tiny chips and stains seem to multiply leaving teeth looking worn and faded. You can trade in your old car for a brand new model, but it’s more difficult to trade in your worn teeth. At Central Dental Associates, we work closely with patients to prevent even minor damage keeping teeth looking and feeling beautiful for life. For those who haven’t been as careful with their smiles through the years, cosmetic bonding may just be your smile’s reset button. At Central Dental Associates, our Norwood, MA dental team helps patients renew their smiles with one visit, no prep cosmetic dental bonding.
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Central Dental Associates: Your Trusted Norwood Dentist

September 14, 2015

Family with healthy smiles from the trusted Norwood Dentist1965 was a big year for the world — and, on a somewhat smaller scale (we suppose), it was a big year for Norwood. That was the year Central Dental Associates first opened its doors to our community. We’ve been providing excellent general and family dentistry ever since — and we were so proud to celebrate our 50th anniversary in our newly renovated office.

If you’re looking for a reliable, compassionate and skilled dentist, look no further than your trusted dentists at Central Dental Associates. We’ve helped countless Norwood neighbors achieve excellent oral health over the years — and we’d love to help you, too.
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Cosmetic and Other Dentistry Services Can Transform Your Smile

May 30, 2015

Cosmetic services can get your teeth looking gorgeous.Your health is very important to us at Central Dental Associates. We provide comprehensive care from our practice for all of our current and prospective patients. Cosmetic dentistry is one of the most popular areas of dentistry. Changing the appearance of your smile can pay dividends. If you’re needing to nail that next job interview, a teeth whitening session could help you get the job. If you’re wanting to ask someone out on a date, a white smile can work wonders. Basically, anything that has to do with perfecting your smile from an appearance standpoint, we have the tools and team to make it happen. Our Norwood, MA office is ready to help you get the smile of your dreams. Our dental team consists of some of the best dentists in our area: Dr. Robert Viventi, Dr. John Maheu, Dr. Maryam Shomali, Dr. Caroline Faris and Dr. Thomas Parsi. No matter what cosmetic issues you’re dealing with, our dental team can get your smile looking beautiful.
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Healthy Gums and Healthy You with Periodontal Treatment in Norwood, MA

February 25, 2015

185846113The oral-systemic connection is undeniable. What happens in your mouth doesn’t just stay in your mouth—and that’s not even considering the foods and beverages that nourish the rest of your body. The bacteria that lives in your mouth can spread to other organs, causing disease. More often than not, these bacteria gain entrance to the blood stream via your gums, which is why gum health is so important. Central Dental Associates in Norwood, MA, provides periodontal treatment to help you maintain healthy gums for a healthier you.

What is Gum or Periodontal Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammatory condition of the soft tissue surrounding teeth that occurs when tartar and plaque buildup spread beneath your gum line. This disease has both an early and a late stage condition.

The early stage is called gingivitis, as is marked by red or swollen gums that tend to bleed when you brush or floss. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene, but is reversible with professional periodontal treatment and improved oral hygiene. The dentists and dental hygienists at Central Dental will show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth, so you can avoid gingivitis.

The latter stage of gum disease is called periodontitis. This more advanced condition occurs when plaque buildup goes unchecked and the toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate your gums and eventually begin to destroy the tissues and bone that support your teeth. Your gums may even separate from your teeth, forming deep pockets that are susceptible to infection. As the infection progresses, the pockets deepen further and even more gum tissue and bone are destroyed.

At Central Dental, we perform scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and the periodontal pockets that may have developed in the gums.

Call Our Office Today

If your gums are in need of a checkup for signs of periodontal disease, schedule an appointment at Central Dental Associates in Norwood, MA. We also conveniently serve patients in Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham and the surrounding areas.

Holiday Dental Care Advice

November 25, 2014

170083078The approaching holiday season can be a double dose of danger for your dental care. While most people tend to eat more sugary foods and drink more alcohol, they also get so busy with holiday preparations that they forget to keep up with their normal oral hygiene routine. You can protect your teeth and make dental care a priority this season by contacting Central Dental Associates today for an appointment. The experienced dentists of Central Dental Associates proudly serve all of Norwood, MA, Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham  and nearby communities.

Holiday Dental Care Tips

  • Desserts– Drink plenty of water after eating anything sugary. This will help wash away the bacteria.
  • Sticky Treats– Avoid chewy candies and dried fruits such as cranberries. These sticky particles will linger on your teeth and are hard to remove, which increases the risk of developing cavities.
  • Alcohol– Try not to swish wine around in your mouth and drink water between glasses of wine to rinse the acid away from your teeth.
  • Sugar Free– Anytime you can substitute a treat for a sugar- free version you are helping protect your teeth. Sugar- Free treats containing the sugar substitute, Xylitol, can actually help reduce plaque buildup. Also try chewing a piece of sugar-free gum after a meal to un-stick food material from your teeth.
  • Got Milk– Dairy can protect your teeth from acids produced by oral bacteria, decreasing the possibility of tooth decay. Just add a glass of milk or a slice of cheese to your holiday candies and treats.
  • Stress- Holiday stress can cause some people to grind or clench their teeth while sleeping (bruxism). A dentist can provide you with a custom night guard to prevent damage from bruxism.

Holiday Dental Care in Norwood, MA

This time of year can spell disaster for your teeth. Have a healthy holiday season by remembering to keep up with your dental care. Make an appointment with Central Dental Associates for a pre or post holiday cleaning. Central Dental Associates serves patients throughout Norwood, MA, Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham  and surrounding cities.

A Brief History of Toothpaste

October 25, 2014

76945246The average person brushes their teeth over 40,000 times and uses over 80 liters of toothpaste. The tarter build-up fighting, brightening, whitening toothpaste we enjoy today has not been around for very long. In fact, it has only been around in its modern day form for about 60 years. Toothpaste as we now know it has been on a long road of innovation and invention. The experienced team at Central Dental Associates wants to help you learn more about protecting your teeth. Contact Central dental Associates today for your next appointment at their Norwood, MA dental office. The doctors of Central Dental proudly serve Norwood, MA, Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham, and surrounding areas.

Early Toothpaste Formulas

The search for an effective toothpaste formula has gone on for thousands of years. The ancients were constantly seeking prevention and remedy for toothaches, tooth decay and bad breath. This search led to incredibly bizarre concoctions and formulas. As early as 5000 B.C. the Egyptians created a formula for toothpaste that consisted of mint flowers, salt and pepper. Unfortunately, it also had the side effect of making the gums bleed. Today we use baking soda as the abrasive in toothpaste which polishes our teeth.  As early as 500 B.C. in Rome, China and India some of the abrasives used were made from crushed fish bones and egg and snail shells, brushed on with sticks or cloths.

Advances in Toothpaste

It wasn’t until the early 19th century that the modern toothbrush and toothpaste began to take shape. The popular formula for toothpaste at this time consisted of chalk, salt and glycerin sold in jars, not tubes. An American dentist named Dr. Peabody was the first to add soap in 1824. The modern tube toothpaste can be attributed to a father son in Connecticut. Dr. W.W. Sheffield and his son had developed tube toothpaste by 1892, first Inspired by the tubes of paint used by painters. At this time it was known as “crème dentifrice”.

Modern Toothpaste

In 1896, Colgate began marketing metal tubes of toothpaste that wound up with a key. The healthy effect of fluoride on teeth was revealed by accident in 1901 when a dentist in Colorado Springs found that the local population he treated developed significantly fewer cavities than other populations. It was discovered that this was due to naturally elevated levels of fluoride in their local water supply. By 1950, fluoride was added to the general formula. After WWII synthetic detergents replaced the soap in toothpaste.

 

Toothpaste and Cavity Prevention in Norwood, MA

Modern toothpaste is made of an abrasive like baking soda or chalk, a whitener, flavoring, a foaming additive and a binder. You can easily make your own toothpaste at home using a simple recipe. Just mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt, 3 teaspoons of glycerin, a dash of water and one teaspoon of peppermint. To find out more about taking care of your teeth, contact Central Dental Associates today for your twice yearly check up. Central Dental Associates proudly serve patients in Norwood, MA, Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham, and the surrounding communities.

Embrace Healthy Gums in 2014!

January 6, 2014

shutterstock_144914185Did you know that your gums are just as, if not more, important as your teeth are when it comes to having a healthy smile? We are sure you hear your dentist stress the importance of taking care of your gums, and it may go in one ear and out the other. But, really, taking excellent care of your gums is a crucial role in having a great smile, and our experienced doctors are here to make sure you receive top notch treatment!

Believe it or not, over 80% of people are living with some form of gum disease. What’s even scarier is the fact that you’re likely to be living with it yourself, and you are not aware of it. There are many things that cause you to get gum disease, like excessive tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications, genetics, and so on. Though it may not seem like a big deal, if you don’t take care of you gums, a lot more serious things can start to affect your body, like respiratory complications, heart disease, stroke, bone loss, tooth loss, and much more. The good thing, however, is that gum disease is completely reversible if caught early enough.

A couple of things we do to take care of you gum disease is scaling and root planing. We will be able to remove the hardened plaque from your teeth, as well as being able to get to the nitty gritty bacteria on your teeth. We will also educate you on the importance of regular flossing and brushing.

One thing you can do to prevent gum disease occurring in your mouth is to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, though after every meal is ideal. Flossing is a great tool to get the excess food from between your teeth, that way they can’t sit and continue to attract bacteria. Also, you may want to invest in a good mouthwash. Look for a mouthwash that is antibacterial and has fluoride. That way, it can kill the remaining bacteria the toothbrush couldn’t get, while the fluoride helps strengthen your teeth!

With these few and simple tips, as well as regular appointments with our awesome doctors, there is no doubt you will have a beautiful smile you can be proud of! If you’d like to make an appointment to get your gums in the right shape, make an appointment today!

Visit our contemporary practice and learn why Central Dental Associates has been Norwood’s premier choice for family and restorative dentistry since 1965. We’re located in Norwood, MA at Chestnut Green, convenient for patients from Walpole, Westwood, Medfield, Dedham, and surrounding areas. Call us today!