Regular Checkups for Adults are Essential in Maintaining Good Oral Health

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s great; but, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit us every six months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health.

Drs. Skrapits & Rajan can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam we can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, give us a call at 908-747-4356 to schedule an appointment!

Professional Teeth Whitening in Hackettstown, NJ

You've seen the toothpastes and mouthwashes aimed at giving you a whiter smile. These in-home products can help reduce stains from coffee, tobacco, tea, wine and other heavily pigmented foods, but they will not dramatically change the color of the teeth.

We're sure you have also seen the over the counter whitening strip kits. While these can work well for young adults and teens, their effect for adults is often not as effective. These strips only treat the front six or eight teeth, and cannot whiten your entire smile.

So what is the answer? One of the methods we offer at our office is professional custom whitening trays. These are an easy way to whiten all of your teeth and allow you more control of the whitening process. Once we create your trays in the office, the whitening kit can be used in-home, and comes with custom whitening gel in various strengths depending on the sensitivity of your teeth.

These trays are comfortable to wear, and the application time is only about 15 to 30 minutes. If you have been considering a teeth whitening solution, give us a call at 908-747-4356 today!

June is National Smile Month!

Now that we’re in June, our staff thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to see Drs. Skrapits & Rajan.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
* Visit us regularly (every 6 months)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call!s

Ask Drs. Skrapits & Rajan: Which toothbrush should my child use?

Our doctors will always tell you that brushing your teeth is one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. But which type of toothbrush should your child use? When choosing a toothbrush, look for round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Choose one that is specifically designed for children's smaller mouths and hands. Also, look for large handles that can help children control the toothbrush. Lastly, throw out a toothbrush after three months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles can harm your gums, and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.

As far as which toothpaste is best? It doesn't matter as long as it has fluoride in it. However, for small children who tend to swallow toothpaste, do not use fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to touch each tooth and every side of that tooth. Also, you do need to gently brush on your gums.

To learn more about choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your child, we encourage you to read this helpful article from Parenthood.com. Or, you may give us a call at 908-852-5060 and Drs. Skrapits or Rajan will try to answer any question you may have about keeping your child's mouth as healthy as possible!