Dental Hygiene

College is a time for new experiences, new friends, and unfortunately – new cavities. A diet high in sugar combined with changes in personal hygiene cause tooth decay and a dramatic increase in dental cavities during college years.

Today’s hectic college lifestyle is filled with fast food, sugar-packed coffees and soft drinks. Even diet sodas increase the likelihood of cavities because bacteria thrive in an acidic environment. Sugar-loving bacteria that are normally present in and around the teeth produce byproducts which cause breakdown of tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay and dental cavities. The Greenbelt Office of McCarl Dental Group is 10 minutes from University of Maryland College Park Campus. Students with dental concerns are often referred to our Greenbelt office directly from the University Health Center. The College Park Shuttle Bus stops right in front of our Greenbelt dental office. McCarl Dentists offer same day emergency dental treatment. We can also help order replacement Invisalign trays and, of course, offer a full range of preventive dental health services. Our new patient visit costs only $45 for a comprehensive dental exam, professional hygiene cleaning and necessary x-rays.

Symptoms of cavities and tooth decay vary depending on the location and depth. Initially, cavities may not cause symptoms. As tooth decay progresses, it may cause tooth sensitivity or a toothache.  A toothache can cause varying degrees of pain when you bite down or when you eat or drink something sweet, hot, or cold. There may be visible holes or pits in your teeth which can also cause discomfort or pain in your mouth or jaw. A dental cavity will not get better on its own. If you’re experiencing one or more cavity symptoms, it’s time to see your dentist at McCarl Dental Group in Greenbelt and Millersville Maryland.

When you have a dental cavity, your dentist will remove the bacteria and decay and fill the cavity to restore strength to the tooth. In deep cavities, the nerve of the tooth may also be infected. This requires additional cleaning of the infected nerve called a “root canal”. Luckily, this only occurs in the deepest of cavities. Usually there are warning signs, such as sensitivity to extreme temperatures and to sweet foods.

“Pit and fissure” cavities are the most common type of cavities. Back teeth or molars have natural grooves, fissures and pits on their chewing surface.  Toothbrush bristles cannot reach inside deep pits, grooves, or fissures, which allows plaque and tartar to accumulate. During college years, flossing is often ignored, leading to tooth decay and cavities in between the teeth. Because of their location, cavities between the teeth or “interproximal” cavities are frequently only seen with an x-ray.

Preventing Dental Cavities
The first step in preventing cavities is to maintain good oral hygiene to minimize bacterial colonization. This includes brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. It is also important to eat well-balanced, nutritious meals with limited snacking. The use of a fluoride rinse also helps strengthen tooth enamel.  Although college schedules are busy, it is very important to maintain regularly scheduled dental visits for teeth cleaning and fluoride treatment.  Dental exams improve the likelihood of early detection of cavities and treatment with a small rather than large filling.

Complete this checklist before you return to college!

1. Schedule a dental check up now. Call 410-987-8800 -we were voted best dentists in Millersville Maryland 21108 and 301-474-4144 for a top dentist in Greenbelt Maryland 20770.

2. Get your wisdom teeth checked. Wisdom teeth often erupt during college years. If they are not correctly aligned or are impacted they can cause pain or get infected requiring emergency dental care.

3. Ask for an NTI nightguard appliance. College students frequently experience stress. Grinding and clenching your teeth can cause chipping and excessive wear to your teeth, NTI dental mouthguards can eliminate the pain and discomfort associated with teeth grinding.

4. Want to dazzle your new friends with your smile? Have your teeth whitened!

5. NOW IS THE TIME TO DEVELOP  EATING HABITS FOR A LIFETIME OF HEALTH!

Best wishes from your dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group!

1.  Smoking or using any tobacco products accelerates the chance for tooth loss.
2.  Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria that are found on the tongue.
3.  You should change your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after a flu or cold.
4.  Oral habits such as cheek and lip biting increase the chance for oral cancer.
5.  The best age to take a child for his/her first visit to the dentist is between 18-24 months.
6.  Periodontitis is inflammation of the supporting structures of a tooth or teeth including
the gum, the periodontal ligament and the jaw bone.
7.  Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums.
8.  Fluoride is useful because it decreases the chance for cavities.
9. As we get older, our chance for cavities increases.
10.  McCarl dentists and hygienists recommend that you brush your teeth twice daily and floss your teeth daily.

Your oral health is connected to many other health conditions beyond your mouth. Sometimes the first sign of a disease shows up in your mouth. In other cases, infections in your mouth, such as gum disease, can cause problems in other areas of your body. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums, and the byproducts of oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream. When oral bacteria escapes into the bloodstream it increases inflammation throughout the body and can injure major organs. Chronic inflammation is recognized as a significant factor in aging and disease. Research links inflammatory periodontal diseases to systemic conditions.

Over 75 percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some form of gingivitis or gum disease.

Inflammation from periodontal disease is associated with a number of serious health problems including:
•    Heart disease
•    Diabetes
•    Dementia
•    Rheumatoid arthritis
•    Premature birth

Do you notice any of these signs of gum disease – bleeding gums (even when you brush); red, swollen or tender gums; loose teeth; persistent bad breath; or receding gums? Sometimes there are NO obvious signs of gum disease.

Dental plaque is a sticky film with bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth and gums. When plaque isn’t removed by daily brushing/flossing and routine dental hygiene cleanings, it not only causes tooth decay, but also leads to gum or periodontal disease. Gum disease ranges from simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis, to a more serious disease, called periodontitis, that causes gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and form pockets that are infected. Periodontitis can result in damage to the underlying bone supporting the teeth. The American Dental Association recommends prevention by proper diet, brushing, flossing and dental visits. If you have symptoms of gum disease, please call our Millersville Dental Office at 410-987-8800 or Greenbelt Office at 301-474-4144 to schedule an appointment!

Drs. Clayton, Jay and David McCarl of McCarl Dental Group, www.mccarldental.com, are third-generation dentists with two dental offices in Greenbelt, Maryland and Shipley’s Choice Medical Park in Millersville adjacent to Severna Park fifteen minutes from  Annapolis. They are graduates of the University of Maryland Dental School and participate regularly in continuing education programs. Drs. McCarl are listed in America’s Top Dentists selected by the Consumers Research Council of America, Top Dentists as voted by Dental Specialists and Best Dentist in the Capital Reader’s Choice 2010 Poll.

For more information on the latest news in dentistry or the McCarl Dental Group, visit www.McCarlDental.com.

Every day we hear lots of creative (and sometimes lame) excuses for not flossing.

“The cat unraveled my floss.”

“I used it to hang my pictures.”

“I couldn’t find white thread and needed it to reattach a button.”

“Went fishing and used floss as fishing line.”

“Emergency shoe lace.”

“Ponytail holder.” Yada, yada, yada…

The excuse we hear most often is, “My gums bleed when I floss – it must be bad for me.”

If this is your excuse, we have great news! Gums only bleed for a day or two when you start flossing daily. The reason for bleeding is that the gums are inflamed from food and plaque trapped between your teeth and gums. Once the plaque is removed, your gums will no longer be inflamed and will stop bleeding.  To keep your gums healthy, you must maintain regular brushing, flossing and routine professional cleaning to prevent build up of bacteria-harboring plaque and tartar.

At McCarl Dental Group, we give floss to every patient after their dental hygiene visits. If you have your teeth cleaned regularly according to your dentists’ recommendations, and run out of floss between visits, please come see us. We are happy to give you more floss!

According to Dr. Steven Offenbacher, professor of periodontology at UNC’s School of Dentistry and Dental Research, “Poor dental health is so prevalent that the number of lives saved by eliminating gum disease worldwide would definitely be in the hundreds of thousands.” The first sign of gum disease or gingivitis is red or swollen gums that bleed easily. If gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, the gums recede and pockets form between the gums and teeth, potentially leading to tooth loss.

A substance produced in the body called high-sensitivity C-reactive-protein or hs-CRP is suspected to play a role in the link between gum disease and heart disease. Inflammation from acute gum disease increases the amount of hs-CRP. The American Heart Association says hs-CRP is linked to an increased risk for heart attacks.

Here are a few pointers – just in case you have forgotten how to floss.
•    Hold an 18-inch piece of floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers.

•    Guide the floss between the teeth, gently hugging the side of each tooth.

•    When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against the side of the tooth and slide it in between the gum and the tooth.

•    Move the floss away from the gum with up and down motions and repeat this method between all of your teeth. Don’t forget the back of your last tooth!

It is not uncommon to see a dramatic increase in dental cavities during college years. A diet high in sugar coupled with changes in personal hygiene are often to blame for the increase in tooth decay.

Tooth decay and dental cavities are caused by bacteria that are normally present in and around the teeth. These bacteria feed off the food you put in your mouth and love sugar. Today’s fast-paced college lifestyle is filled with fast food, sugar-packed coffees and sugary soft drinks. Even diet-sodas are very acidic and increase the predisposition toward cavities because bacteria thrive in an acidic environment. Byproducts of the bacteria in your mouth cause a breakdown of the adjacent enamel, starting a “cavity.”  Another risk factor for cavities are the changes in personal hygiene that often occur during college years.

Symptoms of cavities and tooth decay vary depending on the location and depth of the cavity. When a cavity is in its early stages, there may not be any symptoms. As tooth decay increases, it may cause tooth sensitivity or a toothache, varying degrees of pain when you bite down or when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold, visible holes or pits in your teeth, or generalized discomfort or pain in the mouth or jaw. A dental cavity will not get better on its own. If you’re experiencing one or more cavity symptoms, it’s time to see a dentist. At McCarl Dental Group we offer our new dental patients a discount of more than two hundred dollars for their initial dental cleaning , dental exam and necessary x-rays.

“Pit and fissure” cavities are the most common type of cavities. Back teeth or molars have natural grooves, fissures and “pits” on their chewing surface. Pronounced pits, grooves, or fissures retain plaque. Toothbrush bristles cannot reach inside to clean these deep pits and fissures further allowing plaque and tartar to accumulate. During college years, in young adults who do not floss their teeth regularly, we see an increase in interproximal tooth decay causing cavities in-between the teeth. Because of their location, most of the time interproximal cavities can only be seen with an x-ray.
Once a dental cavity is detected, the dentist removes bacteria and decay and fills the cavity to restore strength to the tooth.  In deep cavities, the nerve of the tooth may be affected by the bacteria, requiring additional cleaning of the infected nerve called a “root canal”.  Luckily, this occurs only in the deepest of cavities. Usually there are warning signs, such as a sensitivity to extreme temperatures or to sweet foods.

Preventing Dental Cavities
The first step in preventing cavities is to maintain good oral hygiene to minimize bacterial colonization. It is important to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. The use of a fluoride rinse also helps by strengthening tooth enamel. You can also help prevent cavities by eating well-balanced, nutritious meals and limiting snacking. Maintaining your regularly scheduled dental visits for teeth cleaning and fluoride treatment by a dental hygienist not only helps prevent tooth decay, but the dental exam improves the likelihood of early detection of cavities and treatment with a small rather than large filling.

At McCarl Dental Group we recommend college students have dental exams with teeth cleaning by a professional hygienist every six months. We also recommend that young adults use a prescription strength flouride toothpaste. McCarl dentists recommend Colgate PreviDent 5000 Plus prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste.

Dr. Oz, health expert for the Oprah Winfrey Show and your McCarl dentists believe that health and beauty start with your teeth.

In the book, You: Being Beautiful: The Owner’s Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen write “Beauty reflects inner health – and teeth do it better than anything else.”

When interviewed on Dr. Oz on ABC News, Dr. Oz said, “The health of your gums is a more important predictor of whether you are going to have a heart attack than your cholesterol level.”

If your gums are inflamed, your teeth are falling out, or your teeth are getting ground down from wear and tear it will affect and reflect the health and beauty of your entire body.

Gum disease also called gingivitis is a much more common cause of tooth loss than tooth decay or cavities. The tooth is anchored in place by the gums which act like a suction cup. When the gum gets inflamed and swollen by gingivitis, the muscle and tissue in the gums and the bone beneath it pull away from the tooth.  The suction loosens and you are at risk of losing teeth. Cavities are a problem too. Bacteria eats its way through the tooth and gets into the pulp which has nerves that carry the pain all the way down into the jaw bone. Your jawbone supports your teeth. If you loose your teeth whether through trauma or decay, your jaw bone will eventually erode.

To keep your teeth healthy and prevent both gum infections and cavities, follow Dr. Oz’s Rule of Two’s: Brush your teeth for two minutes with a soft brush, change your toothbrush after two months. Flossing is critical – flossing cleans 40 percent more of the tooth than brushing alone.  You should also eat foods that are healthy for your teeth and make sure you follow your dentist’s recommendations for routine dental cleanings and exams.

McCarl Dental Group offers a New Patient Discount. Teeth cleaning, dental exam and necessary x-rays are only $45.  Click here to see other special discounts for dental care at McCarl Dental Group.

See Dr. Oz on ABC

Over 75 percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some form of gingivitis or gum disease.

Gum disease and gingivitis are associated with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, respiratory disease and pregnancy complications. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums is caused by an accumulation of plaque (soft, sticky, colorless bacteria) above the gum line which often causes red, swollen and tender gums that may bleed when you brush. Some symptoms of gingivitis are not painful, so if you do not visit your dentist at least every six months, gingivitis may remain undiagnosed and untreated. At this early stage of gum disease, damage can be reversed because gingivitis does not affect the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place.

During the earliest stage of Periodontitis, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are already irreversibly damaged. “Pockets” which trap food and plaque form below your gum line. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage. When periodontitis advances, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which causes teeth to shift and loosen. At this stage, even aggressive treatment may not be able to save your teeth and they may need to be removed.

Prevention is the best strategy!
The key to preventing gingivitis and periodontitis is to remove the plaque and bacteria that accumulate on your teeth. Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are extremely important.

Good at-home oral hygiene is also crucial. You can help prevent gingivitis by brushing teeth twice a day and daily flossing to clean in between teeth where your tooth brush cannot reach.

When necessary our dental hygienists treat periodontitis with scaling or planing techniques to loosen and remove the plaque and bacteria in the pockets. Following scaling or professional cleaning, it is vital to maintain good brushing and flossing habits.  All  of our dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group are experts in the prevention and treatment of gum disease.  McCarl dentists were voted Top Annapolis Dentists!

Please click here to see our fun video featuring McCarl Dental Hygienists.

March is a great month to schedule your dental hygiene visit. As a gift to you, we offer a $45 New Patient Exam, cleaning and necessary x-rays ($295 value). Come see why we were  voted Annapolis Top Dentists.

McCarl Dental Hygiene exams include professional cleaning, tartar, plaque and calculus removal, x-rays as necessary and fluoride treatment. Our highly trained dental hygienists provide the latest procedures and techniques in periodontal care for your oral health. We take great care of your healthy, beautiful smile.

It is very evident to our patients when they meet Christine Stovenour that she is not only a highly skilled dental hygienist, but also an exceptionally caring and wonderful person.  Christine started working at the Greenbelt office of McCarl Dental Group as a dental assistant when she was sixteen. “My older sister Rachel recommended me for the position after she had been working at McCarl Dental Group for a few months.”   The dentists at McCarl Dental Group were immediately impressed with Christine’s maturity.  After working at the dental office for a few years, she decided to become a dental hygienist. “I knew I wanted to have a career in the medical field because I really liked the patient connection.  I enjoy helping my patients feel comfortable and want them to have a positive experience at the dentist.  Christine put herself through school while working full time.  She has always shown tremendous work ethic and perseverance.  Her transition from dental assistant to hygienist was very smooth.

Christine says, “Becoming a Dental Hygienist has been a great career path for me.  Not only do I love meeting, treating and educating patients on their oral health on a daily basis but my great work schedule allows me to be home with my one year old son two days a week.  I love the flexibility with my schedule that Dental Hygiene allows me.  The McCarls have always made family a priority and, therefore, are extremely understanding with their staff about family issues.  I really appreciate this aspect of my job because family is very important to me.”  As mentioned above, Christine and her sister Rachel work together. Their younger sister, Emily, also works with Christine and Rachel at McCarl Dental Group.

Christine enjoys continuing education courses on a variety of dental topics.
She is interested in nutrition and the effects on oral health as well as all of the latest studies on the links between gum disease and the effects on a person’s overall health (diabetes, heart disease, etc.)  “It helps me to educate my patients about how important their oral health is and how it affects their overall health.”  Our patients are very complementary about their hygiene visits with Christine and all of our staff members enjoy working with her.

McCarl Dental Group’s Spectacular Sisters – Rachel, Emily and Christine

Sarah Chisholm has been a hygienist with the McCarl Dental family for 17 years. “I came to the McCarl Dental Group in 1992 as a temporary hygienist and loved it so much I stayed!  The best part is of course our office family. We work so well together and our dentists and staff truly are a source of kindness and support.  It’s what I affectionately call the “McCarl Brain Trust.” Someone at work always knows the answer to a question, or can point you in the right direction.”

Sarah has made significant contributions to McCarl Dental Group over the years. Last November she arranged for a guest speaker to update the entire staff regarding the latest initiatives on infection control so that we meet and exceed required standards. Sarah also regularly attends dental continuing education courses on a variety of topics including advances in periodontal care, nutrition and Invisalign Orthodontics. She always shows initiative and gets jobs done quickly and efficiently. We value Sarah’s high energy and professional demeanor.

Sarah tells us, “One of the many things I enjoy about being a hygienist is building relationships with my patients. Our office is unique in that we have many multi-generational patients. These long term relationships make it comfortable for our patients to share information about medical changes and for the dentists and hygienists to introduce the latest information as well as the newest technologies in dental care and products. In recent years we have been educating our patients about the link between periodontal and cardiovascular disease.  Our patients are very responsive and appreciate the concern we show not just for their dental health, but whole body health as well.”

Sarah also contributes to our office with her fabulous sense of humor.  Where ever she is, a trail of laughter is sure to follow. A big part of that was being the only girl in her family, raised with three hockey playing brothers, one of them her twin! She has an irrepressible smile, and enjoys her job, her patients and a good laugh. Sarah and her husband Pat were high school sweethearts, and live in Rockville with their two sons Nick and Sam. Sarah adds, “When we are not busy with our boys’ sports and activities, we love to golf.”