Alexandria Preventive Procedures

Preventive procedures are a suite of services designed to keep your teeth looking and feeling their best. To avoid cavities, bad breath, and mouth pain, contact Old Town Smiles and empower your ideal self.

We are conveniently located in Alexandria, Virginia and proudly serve the dental needs of Arlington, Washington, D.C., and beyond. Call (703) 836-7000 to schedule an appointment for preventative care. After all, the best medicine is the kind you never need to take.

Dry Mouth Therapy

When you struggle with chronic dry mouth, you may have a condition called xerostomia.^[1] There are a number of reasons why the mouth becomes dry. Certain medications leach moisture from the oral area, radiation treatment for cancer can lead to dry mouth, and the simple act of aging can dehydrate one’s tongue and gums.

The best way to address issues of dry mouth is to schedule a comprehensive consultation at Old Town Smiles. We can advise you which dietary steps to take to alleviate the severity of dry mouth. For example, limiting caffeine intake is a great first step, but it may not be enough. The salivary glands may need help functioning properly, so be prepared to share your medical history so we can diagnose your case fully.

If dry mouth goes untreated, it can lead to a wide array of dental complications. Saliva is one of our body’s natural maintenance processes. When there is insufficient moisture to keep the mouth hydrated and healthy, your dentistry suffers. Dry mouth can lead to bad breath, damaged roots, and ultimately tooth decay. Call us at (703) 836-7000 to discuss your experiences with dry mouth and together, we can determine a better path forward.

Fluoride Treatment

There’s a reason why every major toothpaste brand includes fluoride in their marketing campaign: because it works. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by forming a protective barrier along the surface of the teeth. A strong façade can deter the damaging effects of sugary foods, bacteria, and various acids.

Old Town Smiles offers fluoride treatments customized to your needs and goals. Some clients may require a rejuvenating boost every three months while others might only need fluoride treatment once a year. There is a wonderfully cumulative effect to fluoride care; it helps the other elements in your teeth, like phosphate and calcium, develop a mighty cohesion. Hence, the benefits of fluoride treatment endure long after your session at our Alexandria office. Following a few sessions at Old Town Smiles, you may not need to visit us as frequently (although you are always welcome – we love to celebrate your results!).

Oral Cancer Screening

Every year, approximately a quarter-million new cases of oral cancer emerge globally. There are over 125,000 deaths associated with cancers of the lip and oral cavity annually.^[2] Do not become a statistic. Avoid the most tragic outcomes of oral cancer by detecting it early and treating it comprehensively.

If you are a smoker, a drinker, or have a family history of cancer, you carry a higher risk of developing oral cancer. You can conduct a self-exam at home by looking for white spots along the hard palate, under the tongue, or along the gums. While a self-exam is great for bolstering awareness of your own oral health, it is not as thorough as the state-of-the-art approach we take at Old Town Smiles. Our VELscope device can bathe your mouth with painless blue light to unveil any abnormalities that may indicate the existence of oral cancer.