As the most severe consequence of some dental health issues, tooth loss can have a significant negative impact on your oral health. The point of replacing lost teeth, including their roots, is to help preserve your oral health after suffering tooth loss; however, this is better achieved by preventing tooth loss from occurring in the first place. (more…)
Should You Love Your Dental Hygiene Products?
When it comes to dental hygiene products, you may think that it’s important that you have them and use them, but perhaps you have never given much thought to whether it’s important that you love them. True, you can get by in life by using oral health items that you aren’t very interested in but, unfortunately, this can end up backfiring in a way you never considered. To answer the question, it would be very nice if you love the products you use to keep your smile clean every single day – and we would like to tell you why.
Q&A: Your Brushing Technique
Do you have questions about whether your brushing habits are promoting good oral health? Many patients are fairly certain that they’ve got the basics down (twice daily brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste) but there are some not-so-well-known details that cause uncertainty. Our team is happy to offer up the answers and details you need (and will be happy to offer a demonstration at your next appointment).
Chewing Gum: Good, Bad, Or Both?
When you visit our practice, you may feel like it’s important to focus on asking clinical-based questions, such as those about particular procedures, instruments, or disorders. As a result, a question as simple as, “Is chewing gum safe for my oral health?” is something you might sweep under the rug. However, that means you go home without the answer you were hoping for. First, remember that we want you to be open with us – ask your questions, even if they seem tiny. The more you know, the more effectively you can protect your smile. For now, let’s answer that chewing gum question.
Fact Or Fiction: Better Beauty For Your Smile
Are you somewhat turned around these days when it comes to figuring out how to make your smile look much better? Don’t worry – it is easy to feel drawn in many different directions, particularly when you are bombarded with opinions online – and opinions from friends and family, too. The good news is that you can feel certain when you seek advice from our practice that you’re getting just the facts. When discussing ways to improve your smile’s beauty – such as relying on cosmetic dentistry – the difference between fact and fiction can be difficult to discern. Let us help.
Can a Cavity Cause Tooth Loss?
If you’ve experienced a cavity before, then chances are that you’re familiar with the toothache that often accompanies it. Caused by tooth decay, which is a bacterial infection, cavities are small holes that form in a tooth’s main structure, called dentin. When infected, dentin sends pain signals to the nerves at the center of the tooth, in a chamber called the pulp, alerting the patient of dental trouble. In most cases, a toothache should prompt you to seek immediate professional care, and your dentist can treat the cavity and restore your tooth to good health. If allowed to run rampant, however, then a cavity can consume the entire tooth, potentially causing tooth loss. (more…)
Would You Know if You Have Sleep Apnea?
The first step to resolving an issue is to acknowledge that there is one. But with obstructive sleep apnea, patients often spend years not knowing that anything is wrong, and the collective effects on their health can be overwhelming by the time they seek treatment.
Yet, the problem is that patients don’t often recognize the symptoms of sleep apnea (like excessive snoring), or don’t realize that such symptoms indicate a serious problem. To know if you have sleep apnea, your best chances lie in seeking a professional diagnosis from your dentist, especially if you snore consistently. (more…)
You Need Root Canal Therapy – True or False?
For many patients, the thought of needing root canal therapy isn’t exactly a pleasant one. But if you’ve been told that you do, then procrastinating may make your condition worse. The truth is that root canal therapy is vital to saving teeth that have become severely infected, or that have been damaged enough to expose their inner tissues. The more you know about root canal therapy, the more you will realize its importance, as well as the fact that you have nothing to worry about during the procedure. (more…)
Enamel – How Teeth Protect Themselves
It’s the second-most resilient substance on earth, next to diamonds, and yet all that is needed to compromise your tooth enamel is neglect. Despite its incredible strength when healthy, tooth enamel is constantly under attack by bacteria and food particles in your mouth. As your teeth’s main line of defense against infection and damage, protecting your tooth enamel is one of the focal points of keeping your smile strong, healthy, and beautiful. (more…)
What Makes Dental Plaque Dangerous?
The uncomfortable feeling of plaque building and sticking to your teeth should prompt you to brush your teeth often. However, the most disturbing thing about dental plaque isn’t how it feels, but rather what it hides—specifically, over 600 different kinds of oral bacteria. A few of these strains are particularly worrisome because they can produce harmful substances that lead to tooth decay and gum disease, both of which could lead to tooth loss, in extreme cases. Understanding plaque and oral bacteria, and the signs that they have become a threat, will help you better protect your smile from their destructive influences. (more…)
