The Berkshire Family Dental Blog

When Was Your Last Dental Cleaning?

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:07:25 +0000

You water the garden three times a week, you change your car’s oil every three months, and you replace the batteries in your smoke detectors once a year. Your teeth need to see your dentist on a regular schedule, too.

While daily oral hygiene habits are essential to good oral health, professional dental cleanings at our office ensure your teeth are treated to a deeper level of cleaning. We recommend for most of our patients to have a checkup at least every six months. In addition to a thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth, these regular visits help us detect and prevent the onset of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. During your visit, we’ll check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. We’ll also check old fillings and restorations, as these can wear away over time from constant chewing, grinding, or clenching.

If you are predisposed to oral diseases, you may need to visit our office more often than every six months. Factors at play in these diseases include age, pregnancy, tobacco use, medical conditions (such as diabetes, dry mouth, or HIV infection), along with how well you take care of your teeth on a daily basis.

Make sure your teeth get the professional attention they deserve – If you’re overdue for your next cleaning, check with our office to schedule an appointment!

May is “Get Caught Reading Month”! What’s on your reading list?

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:36:22 +0000

With the school year close to winding down for a lot of our patients at Berkshire Family Dental, we wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading is a vital step in brain development and literacy. And if you needed any more reason to read, May marks “Get Caught Reading Month.”

Today, we thought we’d ask: What’s on YOUR reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our team would be happy to provide a few. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas on what to read next!

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your book picks or your all-time favorite novels or literature on our Facebook page!

May marks National Teen Self-Esteem Month!

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:35 +0000

At Berkshire Family Dental, we know image is everything. May happens to be National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

We know one of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a visit to our Washington D.C. office. Has your child visited us in the past six months for his or her regular check-up? We invite you to give us a call to book your appointment!

See you soon!

How valuable is YOUR smile?

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:00:44 +0000

Dr. Chehayeb and associates strive to make your dental dreams come true. With his gentle, artistic touch, Dr. Chehayeb creates beautiful smiles for people of all ages throughout the greater Washington DC area.

And speaking of smiling, in a poll conducted by Glamour Magazine last spring, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Please feel free to contact our office to schedule your appointment and learn about all the ways you can improve and maintain your oral health for a lifetime of smiles. Call today!

“What should I do if my child has a toothache?”

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:23:41 +0000

Toothaches occur when the nerve root of a tooth is irritated and can be caused by an infection, gum disease, decay (cavities), or injury. If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his or her mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally.
If the toothache persists, it is important to give us a call to determine the cause of the pain and provide relief. Immediate contact should be pursued if your child experiences:
• Pain that is not be relieved by over-the-counter drugs
• Severe pain after a tooth is pulled which may be dry socket syndrome
• Pain associated with swelling of the gums or face, or discharge around a tooth, especially if accompanied by a fever
• Broken or knocked-out teeth from an accident or injury
We hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions below or by giving us a call!

Berkshire Family Dental, supporting Oral Cancer Awareness Month

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:00:54 +0000

Visiting us at Berkshire Family Dental on a regular basis will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy as well. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

As your dentist, Dr. Chehayeb is a specialist who works to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Maximize your dental insurance this spring!

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:40:36 +0000

Maximize your dental insurance and/or your flex spending benefits before they run out! Your insurance may be coming to its plan year end. In addition, if you participate in a flexible spending or cafeteria plan, you may have other benefit dollars available for your use. Take advantage of your unused benefits — call our office to schedule the treatment we have recommended for your dental health.

Best regards,
Dr. Chehayeb
202-244-3902

When Was Your Last Dental Cleaning? From Berkshire Family Dental

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:58 +0000

Make sure your teeth get the professional attention they deserve – If you’re overdue for your next cleaning, check with our office to schedule an appointment!

Bad Breath is No Good

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:38:52 +0000

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, talk to Dr. Hassan Chehayeb and team. We can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to treat it.
There are many reasons for bad breath:
• What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.
The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits with Berkshire Family Dental for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

Connect with Dr. Chehayeb & Berkshire Family Dental on Facebook!

mynetworks0687@sesamecommunications.com — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:00:15 +0000

We have rolled out our new Facebook Timeline page and would love for you to check it out! You’ll find all the useful information that was there before, but now in a fun, new layout.

When you connect with us on facebook you’ll be able to check out photos of our office, find out about new events and contests, or you can even leave a note about how much you enjoyed your visit at our office. We love hearing your feedback to make our practice serve you and your family even better. To make life even easier, if you “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll automatically receive updates from our office right on your own news feed!