Exercises to Help Treat TMJ Pain

Pain in your jaw can make eating, talking, and even smiling difficult. When our patients are suffering from TMJ dysfunction, we have treatments that can help here at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA. There are also some lifestyle changes you can make like doing jaw exercises to help with pain and stiffness.

There are several exercises that can help relax your jaw, relieve pain, and allow you more range of motion. There are a few of them listed here. Remember that these exercises are supposed to help, so if they make the pain or stiffness worse, do not continue doing them.

• For a tight jaw, the exercise can help. Close your mouth and place your hand on the right side of your mouth. Gently and slowly push your lower jaw into your hand. Do this a few times on each side.


• To help relax your jaw, use this smiling exercise. Smile as wide as you can with your mouth open about two inches. Hold this smile for a few deep breaths and then relax. Do this exercise several times until you feel your jaw and facial muscles relax.


• TMJ dysfunction can be especially frustrating when you cannot open your mouth very far. To improve your jaw’s range of motion, gently open your mouth as far as you can without pain a few times in the morning and a few times at night. After doing this every day you will begin to notice you can open your mouth wider and wider little by little.

TMJ pain and stiffness may cause some frustration in your life but fortunately, there are ways to treat it. To schedule an appointment with Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, call our office at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Flossing with Braces

As Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD will tell you, flossing can be difficult when you have traditional metal braces, but it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we've already taught you how to brush with braces, so it’s only fair that we share some tips for flossing effectively and keeping those brackets and wires clean.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

Brushing with Traditional Braces

If you have braces, you should be working overtime on practicing proper oral hygiene. This is because braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped, and inadequate cleaning while wearing these wires can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands. At Lehigh Valley Smiles, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD can’t stand behind you to monitor how you often you brush, but he can provide you with the following routine that will help make brushing with traditional braces both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414. 

Causes of Tender Teeth

Tooth sensitivity – also known as dentin hypersensitivity – affects the tooth or exposed root surfaces. If you experience discomfort when eating hot or cold beverages, you may be a victim of this condition. Tooth sensitivity can come and go over time. Sometimes the solution to relief is simply breaking bad habits. If you catch yourself performing any of the following tasks, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD suggests you do your best to stop yourself in your tracks.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause you pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If your teeth are sensitive, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

The Purpose of Teeth

Before your next visit to the dental practice of Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD, our staff would like to explain why you have so many different teeth in your mouth. Teeth don’t just help you bite and chew. Imagine speaking without a mouth full of pearly whites. You would look silly because teeth play an important role in your facial structure. The reason all of these teeth look different is because each one of them serves a different purpose in your mouth. Read on to learn more about the different types you have and their functions!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have further questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

Handling Common Dental Emergencies

Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD understands that accidents happen and being informed about what to do in case one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you or your child experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please give us a call immediately. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you suffer a dental emergency, please give us a call immediately. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

Gum Disease: Causes and Treatments

Gum disease can be painful, irritating, and frustrating. It can also affect your overall health and wellness. Here at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA we are dedicated to helping patients understand how gum disease happens so they can prevent it.

Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar build-up irritates gums. The infected gums will begin to recede, if not treated. The receded gums expose the tooth’s root and create a deep gum pocket. This pocket collects bacteria and allows it to reach down deep by the roots of teeth.  This is a problem because it can cause decay of the tooth below the gum line and it perpetuates the gum disease. In order to remove the bacteria, a scaling and planing procedure is needed. We use a tool to remove plaque, tartar, and rough spots on the tooth where bacteria can hide. After gum disease is cleared up, a surgical process is often needed to repair the receded gums and deep pockets.

To keep plaque and tartar from irritating the gums, brush your teeth two to three times per day. Flossing every day is also important to remove plaque from between teeth. Make sure to brush in circular motions to hit the gum line well. To schedule your professional cleaning with Lehigh Valley Smiles of Easton, PA, call our office at   (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.