October is a month dedicated to cooler temperatures, fun costumes, and lots of candy – but it’s also National Dental Hygiene Month! If your seasonal plans include drinking warm, festive drinks and indulging in your favorite sweet treat, then there is no time like the present to prioritize your oral hygiene routine. That way, your favorite fall activities don’t lead to cavities in the New Year. Fortunately, a dentist in Stephens City is sharing five tips for a healthier smile!

Approximately 3.5 billion toothbrushes are sold worldwide each year, and while there are not 3.5 billion types of brushes to choose from, there do seem to be more options on the pharmacy shelves than ever before. With so many shapes, sizes and styles available, how do you know if you are using the best toothbrush to prevent cavities for your unique smile? Your dentist in Stephens City is here to help! Below is an overview of some of the key choices consumers face when shopping for a new toothbrush – and advice to help you choose wisely.

Do you frequently wake up at night to use the bathroom? Does your spouse or partner complain about you snoring? You may have sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder. In addition to interrupting your nightly rest, sleep apnea has been linked with many serious health issues, including depression. Fortunately, an experienced dentist can help! Keep reading to discover the connection between sleep apnea and depression – and how sleep apnea treatment in Stephens City can likely reduce symptoms of both conditions.

Thanks to infection control measures, like face coverings and social distancing, the transition out of quarantine and into our “new normal” has begun. However, while extensive research is still underway on the intricacies of this virus, many patients wonder if they should continue to postpone their routine visit. After all, if you don’t have any pain stemming from your teeth, then it is okay to push back your appointment, right? If you have found yourself thinking something similar, then your dentist in Stephens City is here to share five reasons not to delay your visit during COVID-19.

Pre-pandemic, your visit to the dentist may have started with a warm handshake or friendly hug. However, these greetings are being exchanged for social distancing-friendly hellos in light of the current pandemic. After all, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that enforcing a 6-foot distance has prevented up to 185,000 deaths! If you are currently looking for a creative pandemic-friendly greeting that can keep you safe without compromising your personality, then read on for three you can use with your dentist in Stephens City.

As you pour your third cup of coffee, your eyelids are as heavy as ever. You shuffle back to your computer, yawn, and continue to type away. Although your vision is unusually blurry and your brain is abnormally foggy, you chalk it up to just a normal part of being an adult living in a pandemic.

While restless nights are common occasionally, routine drowsiness from a poor night’s rest could be an indicator of a more serious concern. In fact, an estimated 50 to 70 million people have a sleeping disorder that negatively impacts their bodies. If you think you may be suffering from an undiagnosed condition, like sleep apnea in Stephens City, then read on!

As dental offices reopen, there is one important thing on everyone’s mind: COVID-19. While your dentist has always practiced proper infection control, those measures are heightened in light of the recent pandemic. While some of these guidelines are routine at this point (like wearing a mask to your appointment), there are also new protocols that are being put in place before your visit even begins (like rinsing beforehand). If you have found yourself wondering how mouthwash can help flatten the curve, then your dentist in Stephens City is here to share the answer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, face masks and cloth coverings are playing an instrumental role in helping prevent the transmission of the novel COVID-19 virus. Due to their ability to provide a layer of protection while out in public, face masks have now become almost as indispensable as our phones! However, the bad news is that they are rendered virtually ineffective if they are not worn properly. To ensure you are getting the maximum level of protection, your dentist in Stephens City shares how to wear a face mask properly, as well as some dos and don’ts.

Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, so dentists try to prevent additional germs from entering it while providing care. In order to do this, they follow a series of stringent procedures to keep their instruments and treatment areas free of viruses and bacteria. The following are just some of the ways your dentist in Stephens City is keeping their tools clean during your visit.

The next time you visit your dentist in Stephens City for an appointment, you may notice that the whole experience looks and feels a bit different. That’s okay, because the truth is that things have changed considerably. Dental practices have slowly begun the process of reopening after closing their doors to preventive care visits during the COVID-19 crisis. They are adding new health and safety policies to minimize the risk of spreading the virus while providing care. Take a look at the following procedures that are currently being used so that you can be more prepared for your upcoming visit.