Toothbrush Do’s & Don’t’s

2021-03-15T13:03:50-05:00

What if I told you there’s a “right way” to take care of your toothbrush? Weird? Maybe. Helpful? Definitely. Don’t forget that your toothbrush is used twice daily (hopefully), and its entire purpose is to scrub the bacteria and plaque off of your teeth. While this leaves your mouth clean, it does not leave your toothbrush sanitary. And most of us then store this dirty toothbrush in a bathroom, which also has lingering bacteria in the air.  Grossed out yet? Fortunately, this is simply remedied. First of all, rinse your brush with hot water after each use. If this [...]

Toothbrush Do’s & Don’t’s2021-03-15T13:03:50-05:00

To Fluoride, or Not to Fluoride

2021-01-25T09:45:18-06:00

The use of fluoride has created some controversy over the years.  We can all agree that, “Ignorance breeds fear.”  Understanding more about fluoride and broadening your knowledge base will allow you to make a confident decision for you and your family about opting in (or out of) fluoride usage at future dental visits. First of all, what is fluoride, exactly? It’s a mineral that can be found in your bones and teeth that can also be found(naturally) in rocks, soil, plants, water and air. When did it become a staple for treatment in a dental office? In the early [...]

To Fluoride, or Not to Fluoride2021-01-25T09:45:18-06:00

What’s with the Tongue?

2021-01-14T10:43:15-06:00

What’s with the tongue?  I mean, the teeth get all the credit as the gleaming showstoppers, but did you know that the tongue does a lot of the work alongside the pearly whites?  Think of all that happens with your mouth that also involves your tongue: chewing, speaking, breathing, drinking, swallowing, singing, tasting, licking… The amazing tongue consists of 8 super flexible muscles plus hundreds of tiny nodes that contain taste buds and crucial saliva glands.  Shockingly, every single node has 50-150 receptor cells PER taste bud.  Oh, and by the way, your tongue has 2,000-4,000 taste buds.  No [...]

What’s with the Tongue?2021-01-14T10:43:15-06:00

A Christmas Dental Wish List?

2020-12-11T11:38:02-06:00

A dental Christmas wish list?  Is that even a thing? Absolutely! There are all sorts of easy ways to encourage dental health this holiday season--whether you’re working with a small budget or you’re looking to splurge on a long-lasting gadget. Stockings can be filled in relatively inexpensive ways by tucking a flavorful chap-stick or tropical flavored dental floss in between some candy.  Kids also love light up and themed toothbrushes as well as dinosaur wild flossers, which makes brushing and flossing seem like less of a chore. For a few dollars more, you can purchase a handy water flosser. [...]

A Christmas Dental Wish List?2020-12-11T11:38:02-06:00

Use Your Dental Benefits Before the End of the Year

2020-11-24T14:24:24-06:00

In the midst of a global pandemic and the hustle of the holidays, I’m guessing that most of us aren’t spending much time thinking about our teeth!  But, as the end of the year approaches, this is actually the best time to capitalize on your benefits and schedule an appointment with the dentist.  If you are part of a dental insurance plan, there’s a good chance your benefits won’t roll over into the new year.  If you can schedule a last-minute vasectomy or carpel tunnel surgery in December, surely you can squeak in a 45 minute check-up, right?  Use [...]

Use Your Dental Benefits Before the End of the Year2020-11-24T14:24:24-06:00

How Does Smoking Affect Your Teeth?

2020-10-26T08:42:52-05:00

Smoking wreaks havoc on the mouth.  There are obvious negative effects of smoking cigarettes, but often, the subtle culprits are the most damaging.  Smoking is the leading cause of tooth loss—not sports injuries, cavities, or overcrowding of the mouth, like you might suspect.  A few other unpleasant oral side effects include: gum disease bad breath tooth discoloration plague and tartar build up loss of bone mass in the jaw increased chances of developing oral cancer greater susceptibility to infection But wait…there is good news!  If you are a smoker, it is never too late to quit.  Most dentists agree [...]

How Does Smoking Affect Your Teeth?2020-10-26T08:42:52-05:00

Is It Safe to See a Dentist During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

2020-10-12T13:10:06-05:00

What hasn’t Covid affected?  As if going to the dentist wasn’t already a fear inducing experience for many, the addition of a wide spread virus is enough to keep people from venturing to the dentist. Although the dental experience doesn’t bode well for social distancing or mask wearing, there haven’t been any large cases of Covid spread in the dental environment. The dental experts of the American Dental Association have weighed in on the safety of going to the dentist during the current pandemic.  Surprisingly, they say, emphatically, YES, it is safe to see the dentist and more [...]

Is It Safe to See a Dentist During the COVID-19 Pandemic?2020-10-12T13:10:06-05:00

Yes, I Speak Dentist

2020-10-01T10:20:48-05:00

Have you ever listened to your dentist talk to their assistant (as he or she roots around in your mouth) and wondered what in the world they are saying? Shouldn’t you have some idea of the dental terms they use?  After all, this is YOUR mouth they are talking about. Dental lingo is its own interesting animal but once you understand that the concepts are based on a number system, it’s pretty easy to catch on. First of all, when a dentist is peering in your mouth, they may refer to your upper and lower teeth by numbered [...]

Yes, I Speak Dentist2020-10-01T10:20:48-05:00

Ouch… Bleeding Gums?

2020-08-13T11:21:46-05:00

I can’t possibly be the only person that grew up hearing that it was “healthy” for gums to bleed while using a tooth brush, encouraging me to brush harder and floss with more vigor.  Bleeding gums are, in fact, not normal.  The bleeding is actually caused by a lack of daily care and attention to oral health.  Inflamed gums (which lead to bleeding) can be a response to plaque build- up, gum disease or the start of gingivitis.  That being said, do not panic if the gums bleed a bit while flossing.  If we are honest with ourselves, most [...]

Ouch… Bleeding Gums?2020-08-13T11:21:46-05:00

Even Queens Wear “Train Tracks”

2020-07-14T15:34:24-05:00

Isn’t it funny how most of us “commoners” assume that people of prestige and power somehow bypass certain “rights of passage” or uncomfortable realities of life?  But in reality, even those folks visit the dentist for regular check- ups and deal with painful cavities, root canals and crooked teeth. Famous for her kind smile, sophisticated wave and quiet demeanor, the Queen of England is often reserved, leaving personal information out of the public’s knowledge.  Recently, however, she was visiting a new dental hospital in London and let a little nugget leak out as she interacted with children being fit [...]

Even Queens Wear “Train Tracks”2020-07-14T15:34:24-05:00
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