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Most likely you’ve heard that you should be brushing and flossing your teeth daily. However, should brushing come before flossing or vice versa? According to recent studies, researchers have found that flossing before brushing may be the most effective way to remove dental plaque. This sequence also makes your tooth enamel stronger by increasing the fluoride concentration delivered from toothpaste. Read on to learn more about brushing and flossing from Dr. Austin Westover and Dr. Bryant Ash at Westover Family Dentistry.

It’s important to know that you are a very important participant in keeping your oral health in tip top shape. You have to take care of your teeth beyond going to the dentist and orthodontist. Especially when you are in orthodontic treatment, it is crucial that you make your oral health a priority. While orthodontic appliances don’t cause oral health issues, they can create spaces that are difficult to clean. Additionally, when plaque and food accumulate around your braces it can lead to permanent white marks, cavities, swollen gums, bad breath, and periodontal disease. Read More

It is common knowledge that smoking tobacco is bad for our teeth and mouths. Smoking drastically increases your risk for several things, including oral cancer and gum disease. However, it is important to know these side effects do not go away with e-cigarettes. Read on to learn more about why vaping is bad for your teeth from Dr. Austin Westover and Dr. Bryant Ash at Westover Family Dentistry.

Research shows that vaping is bad for your teeth just like smoking traditional cigarettes, even with no tobacco in e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes use an aerosol, or vapor, to deliver nicotine into the lungs. This vapor not only contains nicotine, which is bad for the teeth and body by itself, but also ultra-fine particles of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Many of these chemicals are linked to cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease.

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We all know that sugary carbonated drinks do more harm than good to the teeth, but what about sparkling water? In most carbonated beverages, the acidity levels are very high – which can weaken tooth enamel.

If you’re not familiar with tooth enamel, it is the hard outer shell of your teeth where cavities first form. When left on the teeth for too long, the acid and sugar from carbonated beverages can cause significant tooth decay, stained teeth or, in some cases, gum disease. This is often discussed in association with sodas, but what about sparkling water? 

Because there is no added sugar, only carbonation, studies have shown that sparkling water is fine on the teeth. In fact, one study tested whether or not sparkling water had any effect on tooth enamel compared to water. Although it has more acid than regular water, results showed that sparkling water had about the same effects on the tooth enamel.Read More

Regular dental check-ups are a crucial part of oral health maintenance. You should see your dentist twice a year for maintenance. But, for most people, finding the time in your schedule for an appointment tends to be the hardest part. Be sure to find the time though, as your oral health depends on it.

Once you have your appointment, here is a list of things you should do before you go to see Dr. Austin Westover and Dr. Bryant Ash at Westover Family Dentistry. It is important that you have the necessary items for your appointment.Read More

At Westover Family Dentistry in Winchester, VA, we do our best to remain available for emergencies. Please call our office if you think you are experiencing a dental emergency. We don’t want you to feel like you’re on your own when it comes to your oral health.

That being said, sometimes our patients run into problems or experience discomfort at a time when we can’t see them right away. We wanted to equip our patients with some tricks and hacks that you can do at home, so you can ease discomfort and keep treatment on track until you are able to visit our office.

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We know that exercise is very important for both our mental and physical health. However, have you thought about the effects of running on your oral health? While those two things may seem unrelated, they’re actually not. Fear not, Dr. Austin Westover and Dr. Bryant Ash at Westover Family Dentistry will explain the correlation between running and oral health.

Oral Health and Running

While the rest of your body may be in great shape, each extra training hour actually increases your risk of tooth decay. Athletes are at risk for two specific oral health problems: dry mouth effects and sports-related nutrition effects.

1. Dry Mouth Effects – When you’re on a run, you’re likely breathing heavily through your mouth. This makes your mouth as dry as a desert. Due to the potential for dehydration (at some level), you don’t recover from dry mouth as quickly as you would otherwise. Dry mouth creates a danger zone for your teeth. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 30% of all tooth decay in older adults is caused by dry mouth. Saliva is required to help to wash away food debris and reduce plaque – reducing your risk for gum disease and tooth decay.

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