You can probably guess why sleep disorders often go undiagnosed – or are misdiagnosed, in many cases. Unless you sleep next to someone, you may be completely unaware of the symptoms occurring throughout your sleep cycle. Unfortunately, the symptoms you are aware of during the day are generally broad and can point to other conditions (like depression). But, if sleep apnea is left untreated for an extended period of time it can lead to further health complications including issues with your heart and liver or even increasing your risk for diabetes. Begin fighting your fatigue by consulting with your dentist – if they suspect you’re suffering from a sleep disorder, a sleep study is likely in your future. (more…)
Do You Want To Quit Grinding Your Teeth?
While grinding or clenching your teeth (bruxism) can become a habit during the day, in most cases it occurs when you’re asleep. For this reason, those who suffer from the condition are typically unaware of its happening. If you sleep with someone, they may hear you grinding throughout the night – but, more often, bruxism causes painful, dull headaches in the morning accompanied by a sore jaw. In severe cases, you may notice damage to your teeth such as; worn enamel, chips, breaks, or even loss altogether. To protect your natural teeth from these dangers, let’s learn how to quit grinding your teeth. (more…)
Dental Fillings: Silver Vs. Composite-Resin
You may be familiar with dental fillings to help restore teeth that have suffered from cavities – but they can also help with cracks, fractures, or any other surface damage. In some cases, patients who have uneven surfaces may benefit from a dental filling to help smooth out the surface for more efficient biting and chewing. Often, patients worry about the aesthetic appeal of fillings as they were commonly made from silver (amalgam) in previous decades – which looks much darker than your natural tooth. However, now many dentists use a composite resin material that can be shaded to match the color of your surrounding teeth giving you a seamless smile. Depending on the individual and situation, your dentist will help you to determine which material would work best. (more…)
Do You Suffer From Bad Breath?
Do you find yourself embarrassed to talk because you’re afraid your breath smells bad? You’re not alone – many people suffer from chronic bad breath. Often times, it’s caused from an excess amount of bacteria in your mouth – whether it’s on your tongue, gum tissue, or teeth. With severe bad breath, it may be a sign of an infection like gum disease or cavities. However, it can also have more subtle causes like smoking or chewing tobacco, poor diet choices, or even your dentures if they aren’t cleaned regularly. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place – you shouldn’t need to suffer from bad breath. (more…)
How Your Diet Affects Your Oral Health
While everyone knows that the foods you consume regularly are what fuel your body, what many people don’t realize that these foods can drastically affect your oral health as well. Without the proper nutrients, you can become more susceptible to infection as it gets harder for your body to ward off the bacteria. Most foods – even the unhealthy ones – are okay in moderation, as long as you know where to draw the line. For example, foods that are high in sugars should be kept to an absolute minimum. Unfortunately though, many people are unaware of how much sugar is actually in their daily diet. So how does your diet affect your oral health? (more…)
When Do You Need Root Canal Therapy?
It can be difficult to know the severity of your dental condition based off of the symptoms or pain that you’re experiencing. If you have a toothache or sensitivity, it could be a sign of a cavity or tooth decay. However, a cavity can usually be treated with a dental filling – so when do you need root canal therapy? Also referred to as endodontic treatment, it becomes necessary when the pulp (or nerve) of your tooth is inflamed or infected. Ultimately, your dentist will be able to decide whether it is able to save your tooth. (more…)
Top Advantages Of Dental Implants
No matter how you’ve lost your tooth, whether it be to gum disease, tooth decay, injury, etc. – it can be a traumatic experience. Dental implants, one of the leading restorative options, are becoming increasingly popular among patients – and for good reason, too, as they have quite an extensive list of advantages! Unlike other restorative options, these “new teeth” are able to connect with your jaw bone. Not only does this make for an extremely stable and nearly permanent tooth, but it also prevents your jaw bone from deteriorating over time by giving it the proper stimulation it needs. That’s just the beginning of their benefits, too! (more…)
A Healthy Smile Could Mean a Healthier Heart!
Since February is American Heart Month, we’d like to take a moment to discuss an aspect of your cardiovascular health that you may not be aware of—its relationship to the state of your oral health. Although you may not naturally think that they are connected, the mechanisms that result in gum disease are similar to those of heart disease, and numerous studies suggest that the two chronic illnesses may be connected. To highlight this relationship and what it may mean for your oral and physical wellbeing, we explain what you should know about the connection between gum disease and heart disease. (more…)
5 Reasons Your Tooth May Be Extracted
Often times, when patients think of tooth extraction the first thing that comes to mind is wisdom teeth – or third molars. Unfortunately, your wisdom teeth aren’t the only teeth that may need to be removed. However, extraction is typically only recommended when your dentist believes they cannot save your tooth (especially in cases of periodontitis and decay). If you’ve been suffering from unusual tooth pain or bleeding gums, visiting your dentist as soon as you can will help to keep your mouth healthy and decrease your chance for extraction. If left untreated, it could turn into one of the five reasons your tooth may be extracted.
3 FAQ's About Sleep Apnea
Is your partner complaining about your loud snoring every night? Do you find yourself constantly waking up and persistently tired throughout the day? If so, these may be symptoms pointing to a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. While it can be difficult to diagnose because majority of the symptoms occur while you’re asleep, your dentist may recommend a sleep study to get a proper diagnosis. A sleep study will monitor the oxygen levels in your body throughout your sleep cycle to determine whether or not sleep apnea is causing your lack of rest. (more…)
