Ah, October! Spooky season is indeed upon us, and that means one thing to many little kids: Halloween candy. Going trick-or-treating is a time-honored tradition for most children, but it’s important as a parent to look out for their oral health during this sugar-heavy time. At Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Leesburg, Virginia,...
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you have plenty of company. The American College of Prosthodontists reports that some 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. However, just because missing a tooth is common, doesn’t mean you should simply accept it. At Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Haidy Messih and Dr. Basma...
Bruxism 一 a condition in which you unconsciously grind or clench your teeth 一 can put so much stress on your teeth that they cause dental emergencies, such as fractures, chips, and cracks. The complications of bruxism don’t stop with chipped teeth. Clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth can also...
Have you always wanted straighter teeth? Do you hesitate to open your mouth all the way to flash a big smile in photos? Our board-certified general and cosmetic dentists at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Leesburg, Virginia, can answer your questions about modern techniques for straightening teeth. We examine your teeth and...
As we age, so does the appearance of our teeth. They start to yellow and, as a result, look unhealthy. There is no shortage of over-the-counter products promising to brighten your smile. But the truth is, none are as effective and efficient as a professional teeth whitening service from your...
Tongue scraping is a quick and painless technique used to remove bacteria and food debris from the surface of your tongue. While this practice has been used for centuries, it’s attracted renewed interest as a natural way to combat bad breath and maintain a healthier mouth. While tongue scraping can...
When you think of dentures, do you picture the classic children’s wind-up toy of chattering teeth? If so, then perhaps you need a quick primer on the many advances in these prosthetics. Although dentures have always been a careful equation of function and form, today’s dentures may leave you guessing...
Having sensitive teeth is a very common issue. However, experts aren’t completely sure how many people have the problem because people who don’t think it can be fixed don’t seek help. You should know that there are treatments for sensitive teeth, and the expert providers at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic...
You’ve lost your teeth. You may have had gum disease; that alone accounts for 70% of tooth loss. Other causes of tooth loss include severe decay, trauma from an accident, or a secondary result of a disease like diabetes. Whether you’re missing your upper teeth, your lower teeth, or all...
Mouth-watering food is an integral part of holiday festivities. But some of those enticing offerings ⸺ think garlic mashed potatoes —— can also give you off-putting breath. Dr. Haidy Messih and Dr. Basma Armanious of Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, in Leesburg, Virginia, have your back. Here she offers seven...
If you brush your teeth twice a day as recommended, you should be off to a good start to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Or so you assume. In reality, improper brushing techniques can thwart the benefits of your well-intentioned efforts. Poor habits like brushing too hard, using the wrong...
When you have one or more missing teeth, your oral health is affected in ways that might surprise you. For example, did you know that when you’re missing a tooth, the surrounding teeth can shift and move into the empty space? If that happens, your bite may be affected and...
Are your teeth chipped? Do your broken or cracked teeth make you feel self-conscious? Does tooth damage or tooth discoloration lead you to hide your smile? If so, dental bonding offers you a convenient, effective, cost-efficient way to repair imperfect teeth and brighten your smile. Here at Loudoun Family and...
Veneers are an easy, low-cost way to fix a number of tooth imperfections while enhancing your smile and your oral health, boosting your self-esteem in the process. At Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, located in Leesburg, Virginia, Dr. Haidy Messih and Dr. Basma Armanious offer the latest in cosmetic dentistry...
Tired of looking in the mirror and seeing damaged teeth or spaces where tooth loss has left gaps? A little dentistry can go a long way to giving you your smile back. At Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Leesburg, Virginia, Drs. Haidy Messih and Basma Armanious provide restorative dental...
If you break a tooth when biting a hard object, during sports play, or because of another accident, act quickly. Even if it seems like a minor chip or crack, you should get it looked at by a qualified emergency dental team like those found at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic...
Tooth loss is common, with about 180 million Americans missing at least one tooth. About 40 million of them have no natural teeth at all. The spaces left behind can cause a range of oral health issues, from tooth decay to problems with the mechanics of biting, chewing, and talking. ...
Approximately one out of every four people hate to smile because they’re not happy with their teeth. While there are many reasons you might not love your smile, yellow teeth is one of the top complaints. Our dentists Haidy Messih, DDS, and Basma Armanious, DMD, at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic...
A brilliant, sparkling smile is highly desirable. Unfortunately, few people are born with perfectly straight teeth. Issues such as crooked or crowded teeth are more than just a cosmetic issue. Crooked teeth cause excess wear on the teeth and gums, as well as jaw misalignment that can lead to even...
The importance of a healthy diet is well-documented. From the saying “you are what you eat” to the clinically documented effects of a nutrient-rich diet compared to nutrient-deficient foods, it’s hard to find a website, blog, or magazine that doesn’t include information about what to eat. While many of these...
No one wants to find themselves dealing with a chipped tooth, severe toothache, lost crown, or some other unanticipated dental emergency. But when it happens, there’s nothing better than having excellent on-the-spot emergency dental care nearby, and there’s nothing more important than knowing exactly what self-care measures you should take...
Are you missing some or all of your teeth, but don’t feel ready to commit to dental implants? You’re not alone. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, approximately 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and 36 million people have lost all their teeth. And these numbers...
If you have a cracked or missing tooth, your problems go beyond just cosmetic surface-level concerns. If left untreated, a cracked or missing tooth can become the source of major whole-body health problems, in addition to making you feel insecure about your smile. At Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in...
That raspy, guttural sound you make when you’re sleeping isn’t just irritating to your partner and anyone else in the vicinity who’s trying to catch some zzzs. Snoring is often the first noticeable symptom of a potentially life-threatening condition called sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, you don’t just...
When you think about missing teeth, your initial thoughts are probably about your smile. But, your teeth play a bigger role than that. If you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, Haidy Messih, DDS at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry recommends replacing them with dental implants. Why? Because no...
More than 14% of Americans have had professional teeth-whitening treatments, which explains why it’s such a popular cosmetic dental procedure at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, here in Leesburg, Virginia. And why not invest in your smile? It’s one of the first things other people notice about you. Even better...
Over 8 million people have used Invisalign® to correct their smiles — is it time for you to do the same? Whether you have an abnormal bite (the way your teeth come together when you close your mouth), overcrowded teeth, gaps between teeth, or other dental imperfections, Invisalign could be...
Invisalign is a particular brand of clear aligner that straightens the teeth without the hassles associated with the traditional approach. To make this possible, instead of using metal components, Invisalign utilizes clear thermoplastic material that is custom molded into trays that fit over the teeth. The good news is, thanks...
Are you looking for a dental treatment that can address several dental issues without needing an extensive procedure? Here at Loudoun Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer porcelain veneers! These are a popular option for those individuals with chipped, misshapen, or gapped teeth. Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of...
It may not seem like a big deal to skip a dental checkup. However, issues in your oral health can develop and quickly progress whether you notice it or not. You are not doing yourself a favor by skipping a dental checkup you’ve always dreaded. Remember to diligently go through...
Tooth decay is a dental health problem that frequently arises as a result of poor dental hygiene and a diet that is rich in sugar and sweetened beverages. A dental filling is used to seal the cavity and stop the decay from progressing further. The most common materials used for...
It turns out that everything you learned about dental hygiene as a child still applies in your golden years. As a senior, you are at higher risk for many dental problems but it is still possible for you to keep your smile bright and healthy. After all, caring for your...
It’s never too early to start caring about your child’s teeth. Starting them on a path to good oral healthy helps ensure that they’ll enjoy a bright, healthy smile when they’re older by reducing the risk of many dental problems later on. Of course, their road to protecting their pearly...
Whiter teeth can improve your smile and appearance, so it’s no wonder that teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry options. Discoloration of teeth can be caused by the build-up of surface stains acquired from using tobacco products and consuming certain foods or drinks. Teeth whitening methods...
Standard dental exams help ensure your oral health. A dental exam allows your dentist to give tips on minding to your teeth and to distinguish any issues early when they’re generally treatable. Standard dental exams are a critical piece of preventive health care. A dental exam, the dentist or hygienist...
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is comprised of two separate words: perio which means around and dontal, meaning teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum that surrounds the teeth. Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that can destroy soft tissue rapidly.The leading cause of gum disease or...
Common Habits That Can Harm Your Teeth We are living in a hectic and busy life, and hence we all tend to fell prey to various bad habits. Most of the time we fail to find the harm behind these habits. Most of the time, these habits initially appear less...
If you ask several people whether chewing gum is good for your health or detrimental to it, you are likely to get several different answers. This is because chewing gum is a mixed bag when it comes to your dental and overall health. In order to answer this important question,...
The most frequent question about tooth whitening kits is, “Do they really work?” Whether you’ve had expensive tooth whitening treatments done at your local dentist or have simply been putting up with increasingly dull-looking teeth that have long since lost their shine, perhaps a take home tooth whitening kit could...
Oil pulling as we know it today has been around for thousands of years and originated in ancient India as an Ayurvedic practice used for “purifying” the body by “pulling” toxins out through the gums and mouth using oil as an adsorption (pulling) medium. Right off the bat, you are...
Everyone knows regular dental appointments are important to dental health. But perhaps you haven’t really considered the many benefits to routine dental appointments, or the things you can do between appointments to help maintain good dental health and keep the dentist’s work – and your bills – to a minimum!...
In the initial planning and consultation stages, your dental surgeon will visually inspect the area in your mouth where the dental implant would go, should it be decided that you need one. They will also examine the area using dental imaging technology such as X-rays and CT scans. Your dental...
Science has established a link between poor oral hygiene or gum disease and systemic illness. For teeth to benefit from proper brushing and flossing, the surfaces of the teeth must be reachable. Teeth that overlap prevent thorough cleaning and increase the risk of many dental issues. How Crooked Teeth Impact...
Prevent most dental emergencies means maintaining proper oral hygiene at home and visiting the dentist regularly. Protecting your teeth while playing sports or participating in other risky activities is another important part of avoiding damage to your smile. If you do experience a dental emergency, there are steps you can...
The best way to keep your smile healthy is by brushing and flossing properly and seeing the dentist regularly. In addition to maintaining ideal oral health, there are additional benefits to making sure your teeth and gums are in good condition. When you keep your routinely scheduled dental appointments, the...