Just when we all got used to our “new normal” during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, everything is changing again. We’re thrilled to be able to open the doors of the McCarl Dental Group office in Millersville, but we know that many of our patients are feeling a little worried about their safety during dental appointments, trips to the grocery store, and other everyday tasks we used to take for granted. During this uncertain time, social distancing is one of the main ways you can prevent exposure to COVID-19, but how can you maintain a 6-foot distance from others when you’re visiting the dentist? We’ve come up with great ways to keep you safe and practice social distancing in our Millersville dental office. Read this blog to find out about them!

Brushing your teeth is important, but if you’re not keeping your toothbrush clean, you may be introducing new bacteria, germs, fungus, and mold into your mouth. In this blog, we explain why it’s so important to keep your toothbrush sanitized and provide tips to decontaminate your toothbrush.

If you’re one of our dedicated dental patients who come to see us in our Millersville dental office every six months like clockwork, you know how passionate our dentists are about helping patients keep their smiles healthy with preventive dentistry services. We can’t wait to see you in our dental office for regular preventive dental checkups and teeth cleanings, but to protect our communities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we are currently limiting dental care to only emergency patients. Read our blog to learn a little more about our response during the COVID-19 pandemic and get some tips to keep your mouth healthy until we see you again.

We’ve all heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” While many of the idioms we hear from our parents aren’t necessarily supported by science, this one is basically true. The nutrients derived from the foods and drinks we consume each day help us to repair and replace healthy cells, leading to improved health and wellbeing. Your oral health is also impacted by nutrition. In addition to good at-home oral hygiene and regular preventive dentistry visits, eating certain foods can help keep your teeth stronger and healthier as well as benefitting your overall wellness. To celebrate National Nutrition Month, we’re taking some time to discuss better eating habits for healthy smiles.

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most common oral health concerns, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss for adults over the age of 35. While many people know that gum disease can dramatically impact oral health, they aren’t always aware that periodontal disease is also linked to a number of whole body health concerns like heart disease. February is Heart Disease Awareness Month and Gum Disease Awareness Month, so there’s no time like the present to explore the ways that poor oral health can increase risk for cardiovascular disease.

At the start of the new year, many of us make resolutions that involve eating more nutritious foods to get in better shape. In addition to getting healthier, changing your diet may also have the added benefit of improving your oral health. Many foods that are nutrient dense and great for weight loss and improved health also contain the materials your smile needs to stay healthy and beautiful. Keep reading to learn some of the best foods to keep your new year’s resolution and maintain the optimal level of oral health.

Keeping up with all of the many advances in the dental field is a challenge for any dental office, but some new technologies can truly revolutionize dental care. The Glidewell Fastmill.io same-day dental restoration system is one innovative technology that we use regularly. From increased convenience to highly customized results, same-day dental crowns and other restorations crafted with the Glidewell Fastmill.io system offer many exceptional benefits for Millersville dental patients. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of one-visit dental care.

When it comes to quitting a bad habit, the most important thing to do is get started! Tobacco use is a difficult habit to break. It is important for your oral and overall health to kick the habit. Keep reading or contact your dentist in Millersville if you are concerned about the consequences of smokeless tobacco use. Let the McCarl Dental Group team help teach you habits for optimal oral health.
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Ashley McCarl Harrison, Hygienist

Your Millersville, Maryland dentists and team at McCarl Dental Group are proud to work with our family for families in the communities we serve. In 1937, Dr. James W. McCarl opened the doors of his dental practice at the corner of Ridge and Gardenway in Greenbelt. Today, we have two office locations, and are proud that Ashley McCarl Harrison is part of our our dental hygiene team. It is wonderful to have a fourth generation of the McCarl family working in our dental office. Ashley graduated from dental hygiene school in 2013, and she worked with our team right away. In 2014 Ashley moved to New Jersey where she worked in both an adult and pediatric practice. In 2016, Ashley moved back to work in our Millersville office. Ashley works with our Millersville dental office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Her work with our patients and dedication to lifelong learning, both for herself and for those she cares for, is an outstanding attribute to the oral hygiene services to our patients. Ashley received a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University in Health and Human Services where she focused on health care in the community. In addition, Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene, where she graduated in the top 10% of her class, magna cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. She was also inducted into the prestigious Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
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