American Dental Solutions has been making families smile since 1979. As Berks Countys People Choice for 13 years running, we believe that quality dental care should be convenient and attainable for every family. Our patients health and well being is our number one priority. You have our commitment that we will do all that we can to be sure you look and feel your best.

American Dental Solutions has 14 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS within Berks, Chester, Lancaster, and Montgomery Counties offering full service dental care, including family dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery and endodontics.

Yes! Grip your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, so the brush is slightly pointing up, and apply gentle pressure as you use a combo of back-and-forth and up-and-down strokes. says Santa Monica based dentist Nushin Shir, DDS.

Yes! Grip your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, so its slightly pointing up, and apply gentle pressure as you use a combo of back-and-forth and up-and-down strokes, says Santa Monicabased dentist Nushin Shir, DDS. Make sure you brush each tooth all over, as well as the gumline. And dont rush! A thorough brushing lasts about 2 minutes, so aim to spend about 30 seconds on each quarter of your mouth.

Whatever kind youll actually use (waxed or unwaxed)studies show they work equally well. The key is to floss every day. In fact, dentists wish youd do it twice a dayits the only way to remove all the food and plaque (a film that harbors bacteria) that gets stuck between your teeth, says Dr. Austin. Plaque ups the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which makes you more likely to have bleeding gums and even lose some teeth as you get older. But if youre only going to floss once a day, do it at night (so you dont sleep with food particles in your mouth).

Two words: tongue scraper. Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil found that using one improved bad breath as much as 75 percent by removing the bacteria and residue that builds up on your tongue.

Other possible halitosis culprits include heartburn or acid reflux (chewing sugar-free gum after a meal can help) and gum disease, which can cause your gums to recede and bacteria to get stuck. If you have persistent bad breath that doesnt get better when you use a tongue scraper or chew gum, see your dentist or a periodontist. If the problem turns out to be gum disease, you may need a series of deep cleanings (generally done with local anesthesia) to remove bacteria and diseased tissue.

Sometimes. The tipoffs: pain or sensitivity in just one area, or a brownish stain on the top of the tooth, says Dr. Shir. Bad breath can also be a sign; a decaying tooth can be a breeding ground for bacteria. But of course, the only way to know for sure is to see your dentist.

Absolutely! Waiting too long between visits means more scraping, because plaque that sits on your teeth for a while hardens and turns into tartar (also called calculus). Going twice a year also gives your dentist a chance to catch a cavity early, when its just forming. In that case, you might not even need any filling or drilling; you may simply be sent home with a fluoride treatment to redeposit some of the minerals that have worn away, says Dr. Jacobs. Wait too long, however, and the cavity will progress and can infect a nearby nerve, which means you could end up needing a costly root canal. Frequent visits also mean more opportunity for your dentist to spot signs of an illness thats affecting your whole body.

Whitening strips, such as Crest Whitestrips, says Dr. Golub-Evans. They deliver a premeasured, evenly distributed amount of hydrogen peroxide to your teeth. Results build over prolonged use, so Id recommend the 2- to 3-week ones over the stronger 4- to 7-day option. Spreading it out also results in less sensitivity. You wont get as powerful a result as you would from a professional whitening treatment, but they can definitely give you a subtle lift that lasts for 6 months.

Whitening kits that use trays (a tray with a gel mixture goes on your upper teeth and another goes on the lower ones) are also effective, but they tend to be messier, harder to use and can irritate your gums (unless you get custom-fit ones from your dentist). If you go this route, make sure to get one that doesnt require you to measure and distribute the bleach yourself, because its too difficult to do it evenly.

Maybebut only if a dental professional (such as a dentist or dental hygienist) is administering them. I once met a banker who was performing these whitenings for extra income! says Dr. Austin. The problem: An untrained person could end up damaging your teeth, and many people are selling products that havent been proven safe or effective. In fact, states including Tennessee and Alabama have recently banned teeth-whitening kiosks that arent operated by dentists.

Dental insuranceif you have itoften isnt very comprehensive. Paying out of pocket or subsidizing a skimpy policy may be fine when it comes to routine cleanings, but if you need substantial work done, it can end up setting you back thousands of dollars. Because of this, a small but growing number of people are jumping on the medical tourism bandwagon. Statistics are hard to come by, but at the last official count (in 2006), about 200,000 Americans were traveling abroad for dental work alone. The top destinations in recent years: Mexico, India, Costa Rica and Hungary (the latter has a high number of well-trained dental professionals per capita, which has driven down costs). The savings are often considerable.

In the best-case scenario, youll see a dentist with good credentials (some have even been trained in the U.S.) and maybe do a little sightseeing, says Neilesh Patel, DDS, CEO/ founder of HealthCare Tourism International, a nonprofit medical tourism website that connects patients with safe, accredited international providers. On the other hand, youre dealing with different standards of care and sanitary practices, and youre doing it far from home (even if things go well, follow-ups or unforeseen emergencies can pose a tricky problem). From sorting through language barriers to determining which foreign seals of approval are actually credible, it can take a whole lot of work to make sure your practitioner is up to par. Of the dental work Ive seen from Mexico, I would say that the majority of cases would not meet the U.S. standard of care, says Dr. Patel. Its important to do your homework.

If youre still up to the challenge, start by looking for professionals that are endorsed on a reputable site. Some are: Dr. Patels HealthCare Tourism International ( HealthCareTrip.org); the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers ( IAMAT.org), a site recommended by the American Dental Association; or Medical Tourism International ( MediTourInternational.com), a for-profit organization made up of international hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers that are screened and inspected to ensure that they adhere to a strict set of standards. Once youve narrowed down your options, the ADA suggests reviewing the educational information at The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Preventions website ( OSAP.org; click on resources and then travel).

Lastly, if youre very concerned about having all your is dotted and ts crossed, you may want to consider booking through a medical tourism travel agency. Planet Hospital ( PlanetHospital.com), a California-based company, is generally considered to be the most reputable.