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

Burgers, Chips, & Grandma Betty’s Mac ‘n Cheese

2020-06-30T12:24:01-05:00

Whether you cook out by the pool, host a BBQ with friends, travel to see family, or play a competitive game of kickball, we all celebrate July 4th as the birth and independence of our country. It’s no mystery that one of the best parts of the holiday celebration is the food:  burgers, chips, Grandma Betty’s mac n cheese, festive Jello concoctions, smores, and sweet tea!  While it’s easy to dismiss all healthy choices in favor of indulging(we are celebrating FREEDOM after all) there are ways to enjoy the holiday AND protect your oral health. Here are 4 easy tips [...]

Burgers, Chips, & Grandma Betty’s Mac ‘n Cheese2020-06-30T12:24:01-05:00

The Top Ten Weird Teeth Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

2020-06-16T10:28:56-05:00

The intricacies of the human body never cease to blow our minds! The mouth is no different.  I mean, who knew that just like fingerprints, teeth have their own unique print, and no two teeth are alike?For those of you “old” enough to remember David Letterman, he had a top ten list on his late night television show centered around a specific topic.  So in much the same way, here is the Tooth Top Ten, sure to make you go hmmm.The hardest part on your ENTIRE body is your tooth enamel.Your mouth produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime- [...]

The Top Ten Weird Teeth Facts You Probably Didn’t Know2020-06-16T10:28:56-05:00
Go to Top