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Why you should have a long-term relationship with your dentist

Dentist phobia is a reality that can stand in the way of regular dental checkups. It might have been the case in the past when dental procedures were uncomfortable and painful. Today, technology has advanced so much that most d ental procedures are convenient and almost painless.

Avoiding dental checkups is a common mistake I see in many people, who ultimately end up with cavities, gum diseases, and other complications. This is where maintaining a long-term patient-dentist relationship can help tremendously.

A good patient-doctor relationship is built on the foundation of trust, openness, knowledge, and understanding. It is a professional and friendly relationship. A strong bond between the patient and doctor is an effective solution for the dental phobia that the patient might have.

In addition to helping with dental phobia, a long-term relationship with your dentist is good for your overall health. Your health isn’t solved with one visit, it’s always changing and evolving. At Cambridge Dental Studio, we adapt, change, and grow with you.

Be it overcoming your dental anxieties, answering any dental query, or finding the right dental treatment plan for you, our dentists at Cambridge Dental Studio are always there to help and support you.

Why Choose a Family Dentist?

Maintaining a long-term relationship with a primary care dentist has many benefits. Let’s look at some of them.

1. Better communication

When you have a regular family dentist, the chances are that there is also better communication between the doctor and you, the patient. You will be more honest with your family dentist and the team. Any anxieties about a dental procedure are better addressed by the dentist.

At Cambridge Dental Studio, our dentists go out of their way to make our patients feel comfortable and trust us with their dental care. Our dentists take the time to listen and fully understand our patient’s dental concerns and challenges and provide them the best treatment plan.

We’ve also noticed that long-term patient-dentist relationships lead to more regularity in dental checkups, follow-ups of dental treatments, better dental care, healthier teeth, and gums.

2. Better patient education and experience

A dentist who has seen you over the years would know your teeth over various life stages and medical history the best. He/ she would be the right person to educate you about your dental problems and chart out a customized dental care plan for you. The treatment plan can include screenings, cleaning, and other dental procedures depending on the individual case.

We’ve noticed at Cambridge Dental Studio that the more our patients know, the more confident and reassured they are to take better care of their teeth and gums. Be it explaining the importance of a mouth guard to the teenager in the family, or explaining night grinding symptoms to an older family member!

Long-term patient-dentist relationships lead to better patient education, experience, and outcome.

3. Better preventive care

A dental care plan provided by your family dentist helps address any early signs of dental trouble and results in better preventive dental care. Routine dental checkups can also catch early symptoms of other health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, sleep disorders, heart disease, or HIV/AIDS.

Our dentists at Cambridge Dental Studio make all efforts to save your natural teeth. We spot the early signs of gum disease, cavities, or fracture during routine visits and recommend treatments such as a crown, root canal, extractions, aligners, and more depending on the dental problem.

Preventive dental care which includes regular dental visits, cleanings, and exams helps prevent minor dental issues from turning into more serious dental conditions, which saves you a lot of time, effort, and money.

4. A more convenient option for your family

An advantage of having a family dentist is the convenience factor. It saves a lot of time and effort, as you can take your entire family for a checkup at one-go. There is no need for a separate pediatric dentist for the younger children in your family. There is also a greater familiarity and a sense of ease and relief for children and adults in the family who might have anxiety over a dental procedure. The dentist is also familiar with the dental history of the family and can get a better grasp on the hereditary dental issues within the family.

5. Safer Community

Family dentists aid in safer communities and the nation. Everyone in the community can visit the family dentist irrespective of age. Family dentists are a crucial part of the overall health and wellness of families and the community.

Final Thoughts

A lot more time and thought should go in before zeroing in on the right dentist for you and your family. Don’t wait for an emergency dental issue to crop up, to look into your list of insurance company’s approved dental providers to randomly pick a dentist. Research the options you have for family dentists, and choose the right one for your family based on patient testimonials, reviews, dentist qualifications and experience, facility infrastructure, and other parameters. Book a few appointments to see how well the dentist and team respond to your dental queries and conditions before finalizing a family dentist to build a long-term relationship with.

Our Palo Alto dentists at Cambridge Dental Studio are keen to be your family dentist because we value providing excellent and affordable dental care to all our patients.

You can check our website for more information, educational blogs on dental health, and book appointments for your family at your convenience. You are always welcome to call us for further queries.

You can also find us on social media to stay updated on the latest clinic updates and patient reviews. You can subscribe to our email newsletters for exclusive updates and reminders on your upcoming dental appointments.

You can count on Cambridge Dental Studio as an excellent, long-term oral health partner for you and your family.

Call us at (650) 382-3068 or book your appointment online.

Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article may be drawn up from multiple public health sources, including:

American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy.org

California Dental Association

American Dental Association’s Action for Dental Health

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Top 12 Dental Tips for a Merry Christmas

palo alto dentists- dental tips for christmas

We’ve grown up on Christmas carols, including the adorable teeth-friendly “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” It’s a good tactic to remind our children and ourselves about dental health during the holidays. To rephrase the Christmas song, all we want for Christmas is our pearly whites to remain so at their shining best.

The reminder holds good, even more so, during the pandemic holiday season. As we get ready to celebrate the holidays this year, the CDC recommends celebrating the holiday season at home with the ones who live with you. Holiday-related gatherings and travel are not advisable to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

With the country registering 15M COVID-19 cases and counting, the holiday season comes as a welcome break to dispel the gloom. In this article, we bring you 12 dental tips to keep you smiling throughout the holiday season and after.

Tip 1: Eat more vegetables

Skip or limit the cookies and cakes, which are a regular feature of the Christmas fare. Pile on and eat more vegetables and leafy greens on your plate.

Carrot and broccoli are rich in Vitamin A, which strengthens your tooth enamel. Make leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens your best dental friends. They make natural teeth lubricants, as the high fiber content in them aids more chewing and saliva production, which helps wash the teeth. When thoroughly washed and eaten raw, they massage the gums, stimulating blood flow. Opt for more vegetables and leafy greens for your holiday meals.

Tip 2: More calcium foods, please

Dairy foods such as yogurt, ice cream, and cheese are rich in calcium, which are good for teeth development and lessen the harmful effects of acidic beverages by balancing the PH in the mouth. Cheese is also high in the protein casein, which fights off cavities and phosphorus, which aids in teeth remineralization and helps prevent cavities.

Tip 3: Limit sugar

The holiday season is marked for its traditional sugary treats, such as peppermint candies, cakes, cookies, chewy toffees, and caramel. The sweet treats leave an acidic biofilm that dissolves the essential teeth minerals, leading to decay. The sugar also feeds the bacteria that cause teeth decay. Limit your sugar intake, and follow with drinking water, brushing, and flossing your teeth.

Tip 4: Have more fruit

A safer option for those with a sweet tooth is fresh fruit. Fresh fruit makes a much better choice than the sticky, dried fruits, which are part of the holiday fare.

Fresh berries are a good option for their nutrients and antioxidants. Remember that ’tis the season for cranberries, too! Berries and cream don’t just make delicious desserts but are good for your teeth as well. Be aware that berries can be acidic, so follow with drinking water or brush after thirty minutes of eating them.

A good strategy is to have one main sweet course like a cake or pie and have a platter of various kinds of fruit and cheese as sides.

Tip 5: Go Nuts

You do not have to avoid nuts in fear of breaking or chipping your teeth. Nuts fill in our natural urge for some crunch. They are fun and healthy as they have high vitamins, minerals, phosphorus, and calcium content. However, crack nuts with a nutcracker, and not your teeth!

Tip 6: Think lean

Lean meat is a good healthy option. Lean white meat, such as chicken, turkey, and fish, is even better as it is an excellent source of protein and phosphorus. Include lean meat in your holiday meal as the high protein content keeps your teeth strong and healthy and helps prevent tooth decay.

Tip 7: Be cautious with drinks

It’s not just the foods, but beverages can be problematic for your teeth as well. The fizzy, carbonated drinks tend to be high on sugar. The diet or sugar-free versions are highly acidic, leading to enamel erosion. One way to minimize the damage is to sip with a straw if you must drink a fizzy beverage.

Wines are highly acidic as well, and cause enamel erosion. Red wine can also stain the teeth. So combine the wine with tooth-friendly foods such as cheese or vegetables. Brush teeth at least half an hour after consuming the acidic drinks. Be sure to brush well if you indulge in red wine, and pair it with tooth-friendly foods like vegetables and cheese.

Never open bottles with your teeth as you risk damaging it.

Tip 8: Hydrate well

Water is your best bet for healthy teeth and gums. Practice drinking one glass of water every hour. It will help wash away all the harmful bacteria and keep your gut healthy as well.

Tip 9: Eat candy the right way

The hard candies can break your teeth if you aren’t careful. Instead of biting them, let them dissolve and melt away in your mouth. Wash away the harmful bacteria which feed on the sugar by drinking water and brushing your teeth later.

Tip 10: Carol and brush

Brush your teeth for two minutes at least to get the desired result. Your favorite Christmas carol can come in handy when you play it in the background and brush for one full song. Try it as it will make teeth brushing an enjoyable affair.

Tip 11: Focus on non-food-related activities

Try to shift the focus from food to meaningful events this Holiday season. You can try several non-food-related activities such as games, conversations, song and dance, crafts, movies, or virtual meets. It means well for your teeth as well when the emphasis is less on the food during the holidays.

Tip 12: Consult your dentist

Holiday dental care is essential, and you have to stay on track with your oral hygiene throughout the holidays. Good oral hygiene includes seeing your dentist regularly. It’s a wise idea to consult your dentist before the holiday season and schedule an appointment right after as well.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons to be grateful and smile this Holiday season amid the pandemic. Follow our listed twelve dental tips in this article, and you’re all set for the season.

At Cambridge Dental Studio, we ensure that your smile is healthy and shining brightly for the holiday season. On a side note, at-home whitening strips work great. For our patients, we suggest that they whiten with us first to get to their brightest possible shade and then maintain with the whitening strips after.

Our Palo Alto dentists are always a call away to give you and your loved ones the best smile at an affordable price during this time of the year. The holiday season is usually one of the busiest times at Cambridge Dental Studio. So schedule your dental visit at the earliest.

For the holiday season, we will be open 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM on 12/22 and then closed for regular hours until 2021. If you have an emergency, please call or text us at (650) 382-3068. We will reopen on January 4th!