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Preparing for Your Next Dental Visit | Henderson Dentist

woman in pain with a toothache

It’s important to remember that your dentist is on your team; they are open to answering your questions with knowledge and experience. If you have any concerns about your teeth, gums, jaw, or are experiencing any pain it is important to share them during your next dental visit. It’s easy to turn to the internet for answers to these concerns, but lifestyle habits among other things are factors your dentist can consider with you.

Many people are timid about regular cleanings and check-ins, but they help you notice warning signs sooner. Here are some ways you can prepare for your next dental visit to get the most out of it.

If any of the following apply to you, it is important to discuss them with your dentist before they potentially get worse:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Sores in the mouth that do not heal
  • Sensitivity or pain
  • Clenching your jaws
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Problems with brushing or flossing

It’s also important to share medical and lifestyle changes. For example, the reduction or increase in medication use or consumption of coffee or nicotine, are important to let your dentist know about. These seemingly nominal changes can have a huge impact on your oral health over time. The acid in coffee may weaken your enamel over time, where as reducing consumption may allow it to remain in tact. The potential impact of nicotine from cigarettes or chewing tobacco on your oral health is another important thing to share so your dentist can look for signs of change.

To schedule an appointment, or discuss any concerns you may have, call us at 702-735-2755 or visit us online at www.patricksimonedds.com today.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Flossing is Important for Oral Care | Henderson Dentist

general dentistry, woman flossing

Flossing is a very important step for any oral care routine, and it’s usually one of the first questions posed during a visit. Routine flossing helps to ensure that the granules of residual food left after meals are removed to prevent cavities. When traces of food remain tucked away between our teeth, it becomes a source of food for corrosive sugars to feed on; over time, this becomes the source of pockets in the teeth for bacteria to settle and the problem to compound. Here are three ways you can make a habit of flossing a routine addition to your care routine.

  1. Find floss you enjoy

Waxed, non-waxed, plush, disposable picks, threaders, and water flossers are all available options. If one type of floss doesn’t make you want to floss, it’s less likely you will do it. It’s important to find a way to floss that suits your tastes. The tried-and-true thin waxed threads may irritate your gums, so trying a plush thread may alleviate your disregard. If the notion of putting thread between your teeth is off-putting, a water flosser that shoots a stream of high-pressure water may do the trick.

2. Set a reminder

If it’s not currently part of your routine, or you have so much going on it’s hard to remember, setting a reminder on your phone or a notecard by your sink may help you begin to incorporate this practice until its second nature. If the technique of flossing is something you struggle with, employ this practice as a means to check in with helpful guides that walk you through the proper steps until you get the hang of it.

3. Reward yourself

Marking off days on a calendar, watching an episode of your favorite show or brewing a cup of your favorite tea are all great ways to reward yourself for remembering to floss. As you go along, allow yourself a special treat once a week, every two weeks or once a month to reinforce the good hygiene habit you are forming. It takes about 21 days to form a habit, so whatever you do to encourage yourself to keep practicing for at least that long, will go a long way towards a lifetime of proper oral care.

If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, call us at 702-735-2755 or visit us online at www.patricksimonedds.com today.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Chocolate Candy Tastes the Best | Henderson Dentist

One of the yummiest treats we have during the holiday season is the chocolate. So, it’s rather apropos that December 28 is the perfect day to enjoy those chocolatey treats. It’s National Chocolate Candy Day – an entire day devoted to the yummiest of confections! Sure, maybe not the greatest thing for our dental health, but who doesn’t love a bit of chocolate?

According to the American Dental Association, we should be brushing two times a day for at least two minutes. After brushing, use dental floss to get in between and hard to reach areas to remove any extra food particles left in between teeth, gently scrubbing the spaces between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Finally, rinse your mouth with an ADA-approved mouthwash to seal the cleanliness in. And in the new year, check in with your dentist to make sure the holiday season hasn’t thrown your dental health off track.

But in the spirit of the season, here are some fun facts about your chocolate candy:

In 1828, Dutch chemist Coenraad Van Houten invented the hydraulic press that makes it possible to remove the cocoa butter from the cacao, producing a powder and making way for the first chocolate confections.

In 1847, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and sugar were combined by British chocolate company J.S. Fry & Sons to produce the first edible chocolate bar.

Whitman’s produced the first box of chocolate.

Hershey Chocolate company designed a specific chocolate bar for the U.S. Army. The D ration bar was included in the emergency rations and in the packs of soldiers when the Allied troops stormed the beach of Normandy on D-Day.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Let’s Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month | Las Vegas Dentist

It is important to know that our dental health doesn’t just affect our smiles. In fact, our dental health is the first line of defense for many of our illnesses, so keeping our mouths as healthy as possible is important. If our dental hygiene is subpar, it could lead to various health issues down the line. One way you can ensure that you are doing your best to prevent dental health issues is to make sure you are taking care of your teeth properly.

This October, the American Dentist Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company are teaming up during National Dental Hygiene Month for the eighth straight year. Both the ADHA and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) are motivated to increase public awareness about the important of maintaining good oral health. The focus of this year’s National Dental Hygiene Month is the Daily 4, a program centered on the four components of good oral health maintenance. These four components are made up of:

  • Brush twice a day, for at least two minutes
  • Floss every day
  • Rinse with anti-microbial mouthwash
  • Chew sugar-free gum

During National Dental Hygiene Month, the ADHA, WOHP and more allied partners will work to help dental hygienists all over the country make a difference in their communities. They will offer valuable resources and product samples to dental hygienist community outreach. Make sure to visit your dentist regularly to make sure you’re in good oral health. Keeping your smile healthy is plenty of reason to smile.

Schedule an appointment today with cosmetic and general dentist Dr. Simone at 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricsimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Las Vegas, Henderson, Silverado Ranch, Enterprise, Whitney, Spring Valley and all surrounding areas.