Cavities are a common dental problem and this early form of tooth decay may be prevented easily if you brush your teeth and floss properly every day.  Certain factors can increase your risk for developing tooth decay. Not brushing and flossing your teeth to remove plaque is a top risk factor, but here are a few others that you may not have known.

Certain drinks and foods that cling to your teeth are the most likely to promote tooth decay and ultimately form a cavity.  All sugars along with most cooked starchy foods are major plaque promoters, including milk, honey, raisins, hard candy, dry cereal and bread.  Also if you are frequent snack the risk factor increases. Remember that if you snack frequently, no matter what type of food, the acid in the food has more time to damage your teeth. So frequent brushing after snacking can and will help prevent tooth decay. You may want to increase your brushing time whenever possible to help remove the plaque.


A questionable concern is with drinking bottled water. With many people concerned about the quality of their tap water, many have turned to drinking only bottled water. With local water supplies fluorides have been added to the water system for many years and this is an important ingredient to healthy teeth. If you drink bottled water instead please check the label to insure that fluoride has been added to your brand.  Fluoride is very important to promote plaque buildup on teeth and to protect tooth enamel. Most water that is bottled and filtered will have a fluoride amount added, but not all will do this. This is especially important to children and dentists will agree to the fact that proper tooth development requires a certain amount of fluoride in everyday drinking water. Although there are many more reasons that cavities can form these are just a couple easy prevention tips that you may have not realized that are very important to good dental health.

Remember these facts for the prevention of cavities.

Brush regularly at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. Or, for improved care, brush after every meal and snack. At the least if brushing is not always possible rinse your mouth well with water to help in plaque buildup.

Use mouthwash which is great for added protection against tooth decay.

Make dental visits part of your routine because professional tooth cleanings and regular oral exams should be scheduled at least every six months.

Drink some tap water because cities have added fluoride to their public water supply, making it a worthy treatment for preventing tooth decay. Tap water will help re-mineralize your teeth.

Great dental care starts at home and with some small efforts and regular trips to a dentist your teeth will be healthy and strong for years to come. If you are looking for a dentist in Greensburg give our office a call. We can assist you in your effort to success with quality dental care.

Having a fear of going to the dentist is quite common and dealing with the stress is different for everyone. A fear of going to a dentist or the anxiety that accompanies it can be a real fear for some people to overcome. The thought of the dentist’s chair  and sounds that go along with it keep more people afraid of the dentist than you might imagine. So now what? If you're afraid of going to the dentist, you should know that there are ways to help with your dental anxiety and make your trip to the dentist more manageable.

So what Is Dental Anxiety? Dental anxiety is a real fear of going to the dentist or getting dental procedures done that can increase heart rate and even causes the loss of sleep the day before a visit. The feeling of nervousness and uneasiness usually increases when they arrive at the dentist or are in the waiting room. This dental fear has been described by some as a similar feeling they experience from flying.

For instance, not many people really like going to the dentist for even routine dental care.  But for some people, the thought of going to the dentist can bring on such anxiety that they avoid getting the dental care they really need.  It is estimated that in the U.S. many adults avoided going to the dentist on a regular basis because of this anxiety. Usually the older one gets the more fear they have of dentist visits. Many attribute this to past dental practices that in today’s life have changed for the better. In fact the dentist office has evolved a great deal from your grandparents day. Today's office environment is much more relaxed and more patient comfort driven than ever before. With forward strides in pain medication and gentle dentistry techniques to perform fillings, crowns, cleanings and the likes the dentist office visit is much easier than in the past.  Even if you suffer from some anxiety or a fear of going to the dentist, here are a few things that may help you.

So what can be done to help with dental anxiety?
For people who have dental anxiety here are couple things that may help with their fears. One of the best things you can do is to talk to your dentist about your concerns and express your fears. This really is not new to any dentist so don’t be embarrassed in the least. It is quite common and helpful to both professionals and patients.  A good dentist will understand and help explain the procedures in an easy to understand way. This information will no doubt clear up some of your fear because knowing what to expect always eases the mind.

I can’t stop thinking about it so now what?
Something else that helps many patients is to keep your mind distracted. Listen to the music in the office or maybe use some ear buds with your favorite tunes will help accomplish that. Some dentists may offer television right in the room. Keeping your mind busy on other thoughts will help. Such as going over your grocery list, a to-do list, or possibly plan that next vacation will help with your dental anxiety.

What about the pain? Anesthesia?
Your dentist will also provide you with anesthetic in whatever form they deem necessary to make you more comfortable. A dentist with a gentle touch is extremely important to you as a patient, especially if you suffer from dental anxiety.  If an injection is necessary the area is usual pre-numbed with a solution which drastically reduces any pain from the small needle.

At Frank Novak Dentistry we provide a better way to have the dental work done you really need. Committed to patient comfort and performing gentle dentistry for many years, Novak Dentistry can help ease your fear and dental anxiety. With our relaxed atmosphere and quality dental care you may notice less that you actually are at the dentist.  So go ahead and schedule an appointment with the dentist today. Maybe this time the visit will be easier than you think. We want to see you smile more.

Novak Dental is your Greensburg and Latrobe, PA Dentist, providing family dental care for over twenty five years. Call us today to schedule an appointment. Say Cheese!, We give you more reasons to smile! Here are a few reasons to smile more.

Reasons to Smile More Often!

1. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
2. Smiling Makes You Look Younger
3. Smiling Portrays Success
4. Smiling Changes Our Mood to Positive
5. Smiling Is Very Contagious
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7. Smiling Make Us More Attractive