Nervous About Your Next Visit? Try These Relaxation Tips

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

Is there an upcoming dental treatment or hygiene examination, and you feel nervous or uneasy about your visit? If so, you are not alone. There are many people who experience some degree of anxiety before they visit the dentist. We never want your nervous feelings to keep you from getting the dental care you need and deserve. Dr. Vargas and the entire team at Vargas Dental Associates, want you to feel comfortable and relaxed while in our care. We want to share some tips to help you relax before and during your next appointment:

It Pays To Be Proactive

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

The start of a new year is a time for reflection on experiences you had in the prior year as well as changes you may like to see in the new year. We encourage our patients to think about the state of their oral health over the past year and any changes or improvements they would like to see. We encourage our patients to be proactive with their dental health as a way to prevent dental complications from arising in the near future.

How To Keep Your Teeth Healthy For The Holidays

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is upon us. This is a busy season for many that is full of events with the family and holiday parties and get-togethers. One aspect of the holidays that most people love is the treats that are only available during this time of year. While special treats are nostalgic and enjoyable, it is important not to overindulge. Overdoing the food and sweet treats during this time of year can wreak havoc on your teeth in the new year. Read on to learn some helpful tips to keep your teeth healthy during the holiday season.

Teeth Are Strong But Not Indestructible

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

When you think of the strongest substance in your body you might guess one of your bones, perhaps the tibia. The actual strongest substance in the body is your tooth enamel, which is the outer covering of your teeth. Your tooth enamel is even stronger than your bones and is designed to protect the inside of your tooth. Although your tooth enamel is strong and can withstand you chewing multiple times each day, it is not indestructible and can become damaged. Read on to learn more about what can damage your enamel.

Bad Oral Health Habits

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

At Vargas Dental Associates, our team works hard to ensure our patients have optimal oral health. Aside from treating our patients, we want to be sure that our patients of every age know how to properly care for their teeth. We see our patients so infrequently during the year, the majority of oral health care is in the hands of the patients. Unfortunately, there are some patients who have habits that may be negatively affecting the state of their oral health and can lead to serious issues in the future. We wanted to share some of the bad habits that you might want to change:

Importance Of After Care

Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

Do you or a loved one have an upcoming treatment appointment that I recommended during your last visit? Or did I maybe recommend a treatment, but you have postponed scheduling your appointment? If so, this is your gentle reminder to schedule your appointment today. I would hate for you to experience a dental emergency. Whether you have a treatment appointment scheduled relatively soon or you are expecting to need treatment in the near future, I want to share the importance of following our post-treatment care instructions. Continue reading to learn more.

Teens And Oral Health

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

Each stage of parenthood seems to come with not only exciting milestones, but with challenges as well. In terms of your young loved ones’ dental health, each age comes with some challenges. Young children are learning how to properly care for their teeth and often need parental reinforcement to ensure they are removing all lingering bacteria. Teenagers come with a different set of dilemmas. Many teenagers are testing the boundaries of adulthood and have a tendency to push back on certain areas they feel are not important. Being that we were all teenagers at one point, we are sure you can remember doing the same. No matter what is going on in a teenager’s life, it is important for them to be mindful of their oral health. Decisions they make in their youth can have a big impact on the state of their oral health in the future.

Healthy Food For Healthy Teeth

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Vargas Dental Associates

We don’t know about you but we are loving the arrival of summer. There is so much to enjoy between the hot weather, longer days and nights, vacation plans, plans with family and friends, and the list can go on and on. No matter what plans you have this summer, we are sure there is going to be plenty of delicious food and drink to enjoy. Unfortunately, many of the delicious foods and drinks to enjoy at your festivities may not be the best for your oral health. We want to share some healthy foods that you should include in your diet that will help your oral health.

Make Gum Health A Priority

General Dentistry, Patient Education, Periodontics, Vargas Dental Associates

When patients mention visiting the dentist, the thought on most patients’ minds is about the state of their teeth and finding out whether they have decay and need a treatment, like a filling. It is very rare that we see a patient and their first question is about the state of their gums. From the time we are young, there is such an emphasis on how to properly care for our teeth that most of us don’t realize the importance of properly caring for our gums. You may be surprised to learn that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, occurs when harmful bacteria infect and inflame the gum tissue.