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March 31, 2019

Spring Clean Your Teeth with Your Dentist in State College

Filed under: Preventive Dentistry — Dr. Donald Marks @ 2:16 am

woman at dental appointmentSpring is here. The flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining as you clean your home for a fresh start to the new season. As you deep clean the carpets and rid your home of clutter, there is something else that deserves a good cleaning – your mouth. There is no better time than now to recommit to your oral health by scheduling an appointment with your dentist in State College for a cleaning and checkup. You will have a healthy, beautiful smile all season long with preventive care from your dentist.
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June 12, 2017

Your Dentist in State College Discusses Oral Health and Heart Disease

Filed under: Preventive Dentistry — Tags: , — Dr. Donald Marks @ 5:41 pm

See the dentist in State College for a healthy smile and a healthy heart. Want to have a healthy heart? Then take care of your teeth and gums. Good oral health practices don’t only benefit your smile and help you avoid tooth decay, but they can also be a key to maintaining your overall health—especially heart health. Read on to learn how oral health and heart disease are linked and how your dentist in State College, Dr. Donald Marks, can help keep you and your smile in great shape.

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September 15, 2015

Tips for Flossing Properly from the Dentist State College, PA, Turns to for Oral Health Care

smiling woman flossing her teethDr. Donald Marks and Dr. John Martin need your help—not for their sake, but for the sake of your dental and oral health. We take the health of your smile very seriously, so we offer a comprehensive selection of general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Nevertheless, we need you to do your part at home with regular oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing at least once a day. Yes, you read that correctly—floss your teeth every day. Flossing is just as important (if not more so some believe) as brushing your teeth.
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July 21, 2015

Proper Tooth Brushing Techniques

ThinkstockPhotos-474108613Brushing your teeth may be a habit that you take for granted. After all, most people begin to brush their own teeth around the age of 2 or 3 (with some adult backup), but what many of us don’t realize is we’ve never updated our tooth brushing techniques. Our teeth require different hygiene and care at different stages of our lives. One of the most essential elements of dental hygiene is proper tooth brushing, but if you’re still brushing the way mom or dad taught you as a child, you may not be cleaning your teeth effectively. Let the skilled staff at Donald Marks Family Dentistry help you make the most out of your daily tooth brushing routine. Call to schedule a dental hygiene appointment with our State Park, PA dental practice today.

Tooth Brushing Recommendations from the Dentist State College, PA Trusts

When it comes to brushing, we recommend double checking the basics:

  • Brush twice a day – brushing once in the morning and once before going to sleep is routine, and a 3rd brushing following your afternoon meal can be beneficial as well. However, all things should be done in moderation, and this includes tooth brushing. Done more than 3 times a day, brushing can damage gums.
  • Check your brush – If you’re using a brush labeled “hard bristled,” one that is not American Dental Association approved, or one that is more than 3 or 4 months old, throw it out and get a new one. The ideal tooth brush should be soft or extra soft bristled to minimize damage to gums and maximize dental cleaning results. Always look for the ADA seal of approval when purchasing dental hygiene items as these have undergone more rigorous testing for effectiveness. Replace toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months to prevent contamination and maintain optimal brushing effectiveness. This includes mechanical tooth brushes. Make sure to purchase a mechanical brush that has replaceable heads.
  • Check the clock – If you’re not brushing for at least two minutes, you are not thoroughly cleaning each tooth. Brushing longer than two minutes is even better. Many people gauge their brushing time using a timer, by brushing for the length of an entire song, or by brushing through a commercial break on television. Whatever trick you use, make sure to set aside at least 2 minutes every morning and evening to brush your teeth.
  • Brush gently – Whether you apply a great deal of pressure while you brush or just a little, you are likely going to remove the same amount of plaque from your teeth and gums. Brush gently to avoid damaging soft tissue or causing gum recession. Holding your toothbrush with only 2 to 3 fingers like a pen, pencil, or paintbrush is a great way to build the habit of brushing with less pressure.

The Bass Method for Brushing

Many people are taught to brush their teeth as children using big circles or back and forth motions with the bristles flat against the outside and tops of teeth. Many children are never taught to brush the inside of their teeth at all. While these methods may be effective for children with poor hand eye coordination who are just developing the necessary motor skills to keep up their hygiene, there’s a reason we don’t brush our hair or wash our bodies the way we did when we were 3. Why would we continue to brush our teeth that way? For patients who want to start a more effective brushing routine, the Bass method is an option the team at Donald Marks Family Dentistry highly recommends.

How the Bass method works:

  • Place your brush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth, against the gum line.
  • Quickly move the toothbrush back and forth. The bristles should remain stationary while only your hand and the brush move.
  • Count to ten, gently flick the bristles toward the biting surface of your tooth to shift plaque out from under gums, and proceed to the next tooth.
  • Continue this process for each tooth inside and out.
  • To clean the tops of teeth, place the brush flat on your biting surface and move back and forth keeping bristles stationary as you did with your other teeth.
  • Count to ten and move to the next tooth. Continue until each tooth has been cleaned.

The Bass brushing method is preferred by many dentists and hygienists because it encourages increased periodontal care, and maximizes the effectiveness of each brush stroke. Ask your dental hygienist to explain or demonstrate effective brushing techniques for your, unique bite next time you visit our office.

Contact us for More Information

We’re always here to help, no matter what your dental care needs, but we’re dedicated to improved preventive care so our patients are more likely to retain their natural smiles for life. Call Donald Marks Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment today. Our State College, PA dental practice welcomes patients from neighboring communities Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewistown, and Phillipsburg.

 

May 15, 2015

Donald Marks the State College, PA Preventive Dentist

dv1617007The hand that strikes also blocks is a mantra of the martial art form, Wing Chun. It means to be on the offensive to avoid receiving a blow from an opponent. This mantra should also be applied to your dental health. The best way to keep your teeth and gums at optimal health is to stop tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health concerns before they start. In State College, PA our professional, friendly staff will help you to achieve your healthiest smile and keep it for life. From six month dental check-ups and hygiene appointments, to fluoride treatments and dental health education, we help you land the first strike in the fight for your perfect bite. Contact us today to schedule your general dentistry check-up.

Check-ups and Hygiene Appointments Your Frist Line of Defense

At Donald Marks Family Dentistry, our skilled dentists and outstanding dental care services help you maintain a perfect smile. At check-ups scheduled every six months, we will screen for oral cancer, check the alignment of your bite, look for signs of teeth grinding that may require TMJ treatment, and use state-of-the-art DIAGNOdent laser technology to screen for cavities.

Oral cancer, bite alignment and teeth grinding screenings are checked visually by our dentists. Oral cancer often manifests as a lump, bump or sore in the mouth that does not go away over time. When you visit the same dentist every six months, he will take note of any areas that may show signs of oral cancers. Bite alignment and teeth grinding too are most noticeable when the same dentist views your teeth over time, but some misalignments and severe grinding are apparent right away. By screening for these items at every visit, our dentists help you maintain a healthy smile.

DIAGNOdent is one ways that our dentists use technology to ensure your ongoing dental health. While adults should only receive dental x-rays once per year at the very most, DIAGNOdent is a hand-held, laser device that allows your dentist or hygienist to view or monitor areas with potential for tooth decay. This highly affective device allows our team to find cavities in some of the most difficult to see spots, and clear out decay-causing bacteria growth.

Above all, maintaining a consistent dental hygiene routine in and out of our office puts you on solid footing to develop strong bite. Our hygienists will thoroughly clean and examine your teeth and gums. They will consult with you regarding any changes to your oral health, and suggest and at-home hygiene adjustments that may be beneficial. Our number one priority is your health and wellbeing.

Family Dentistry

From infancy, our teeth help to deliver nutrition to our bodies. Early examination of teeth or gums in young children can help our dentists diagnose and treat any dental health concerns before they can have a lasting impact on your child. Our friendly staff will put your child of any age at ease, and give her foundation upon which to build a life-time of dental health. Don’t wait until children have their adult teeth, we recommend an initial visit with our staff before the age of two.

Schedule an Appointment

Our team is here to help you with any of your State College, PA family dentistry needs. Don’t wait until you have a problem to schedule an appointment with us, stop dental health issues before they start with our outstanding preventative dentistry options. Contact us to schedule an appointment in State College, PA. We also welcome patients from nearby Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewistown, Phillipsburg, and the surrounding communities.

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