Eyes may be the windows to the soul, but a nice bright smile will give you confidence with family and friends, coworkers, and others you meet for the first time. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you have healthy teeth and gums. Good oral hygiene prevents bad breath, tooth discoloration, and removes plaque and debris from the surfaces of your teeth. Even though dental health is important, we aren’t always in a position to use a toothbrush during the day or even after meals. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways you can still practice good dental hygiene. In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth each day and night, you will need to be conscious of what other things you can do throughout the day to keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Here are some helpful tips. Use water Water can help keep your teeth clean as it…

Just like taking your kids to the pediatrician for regular checkups is important, so is going to the dentist. Dental problems do occur in children, but a lot of these issues can be minimized or prevented with routine cleanings and dental checkups. Brushing and flossing teeth and gums every day will also go a long way to promoting a healthy mouth. Here are some of the more common dental concerns that kids face and how you can help prevent them: Tooth decay Cavities are one of the more common problems for kids. They often develop over time and they usually can’t be seen at the earliest stages. This is why regular dental checkups are so important. Cavities that are caught early can be more easily treated with fillings. Left untreated, decay problems will advance and more extensive treatments. Sugars in drinks such as juice and even milk can lead to…

Just like your eyes are so-called ‘the windows to your soul’, so your mouth is a window to the rest of your body. Poor oral health – bleeding gums, teeth that ache, and bad breath – can negatively impact how you feel, how your body functions, and can contribute to serious health issues. Daily brushing and flossing and regularly scheduled visits to the dentist will go a long way to preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and removing unhealthy plaque and bacteria. As you will see, it will also contribute to your overall good health. Here are a few of the ways in which your oral health is related to your systemic, or general health. Cardiovascular Disease If your gums are laden with bacteria-filled plaque, they will become chronically irritated and inflamed, which leads to periodontal disease and other oral problems. This inflammation can also be associated with blood vessels throughout…

Professional dental cleanings are not just for keeping your teeth white. Along with good oral hygiene practices, professional cleaning plays an important role in maintaining good overall health. Poor oral health can contribute to serious medical problems including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. While daily flossing and brushing your teeth is vital to the health of your teeth and gums, regular professional dental cleanings are an important and vital component of overall oral health. Some of the ways in which regular dental appointments improve dental health and add to your confidence in your smile include the following: #1: Aesthetics Your dental hygienist will remove plaque, tartar, calculus, and work on removing stains that can discolor your teeth. As plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth, your smile will be negatively affected. This build-up will make your teeth more susceptible to staining and darkening of the teeth. #2: Better oral health…

Everyone is aware that a healthy diet translates to a healthier, stronger body. The foods you choose to eat and how often you eat them will impact your overall health. Diet also affects your oral health. It is always important to make sure to brush your teeth and floss every day to remove food particles. Without these daily activities, as well as regular visits to the dentist, You’ll run the risk of cavities, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and more. What foods to avoid Tooth decay is fairly common. Eating a healthy diet and avoiding foods high in sugar and acids can have a positive effect on reducing the frequency and severity of dental decay. Too many overly acidic foods (such as citrus fruits), foods with added sugar, and sugar-laden sticky foods, all play a role in damaging and weakening tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to dental decay. To…

The health of our teeth is important for many reasons. If there’s an issue with a tooth, such as inflammation or infection, it may have effects that reach beyond the mouth. Chronic oral conditions such as periodontal disease have been associated with other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Decayed, diseased, or missing teeth can affect our appearance. A nice bright smile gives us confidence when interacting with others socially and at work. If the natural tooth starts to yellow, gets chipped or cracked in an accident, or is diseased, it can become painful and noticeable to others. If left unaddressed, it will progress and lead to greater problems. Fillings, crowns, sealants, and root canals are a few of the ways dentists can help prevent or correct the problems. Root canal treatments are a common dental procedure that allows the dentist to help save a tooth that has become…

Your smile is unique and it’s one of the first things that people notice about you. Regular dental checkups are important for your oral health, as well as the appearance of your teeth. However, if you need an extra boost of confidence, your dentist can provide cosmetic dentistry services that improve your smile. Here are some of the most common types of cosmetic dentistry services that can restore your smile and make it even more beautiful. After these cosmetic dentistry procedures, you should be able to perform daily brushing and flossing with comfort. But that doesn’t mean you can skip going to the dentist. Dentures: If you have missing teeth, speaking and eating can be very difficult. Dentures can replace missing teeth – either completely or partially. Depending on what your specific situation is, the dentures can be fitted around other teeth in your mouth that are healthy, or we…

With improvements in instruments and techniques, root canal therapy is no longer the procedure that was so dreaded in the past. Delaying necessary treatment, however, will lead to more problems, often associated with pain and swelling, and can lead to a serious infection. While the procedure is typically relatively straightforward, it can be involved and take a couple of hours to complete. Many people will return to their regular work or school schedule after having a root canal procedure. Everyone is different, however. Some people may be more comfortable spending the remainder of the day resting. Discuss recovery times with your dentist beforehand so you can make arrangements at work if necessary. What is a Root Canal? Essentially, this dental procedure involves removing the dying/infected tissue within the tooth and root canal system. This is followed by shaping and cleaning/disinfecting the inside of the pulp chamber and root canal(s). Filling…

It is one of the very first milestones for any newborn – the appearance of the first tooth! And why not? Seeing the little ridges of the tooth popping through the gums when they smile is very adorable! Even with all of the accompanying drool. That first tooth will soon be joined by another, and another. Cuteness aside, it can also be a painful time for the baby (and the parents in some cases). Even as an adult, any amount of pain in the mouth can really be uncomfortable. That’s why a teething ring can be so helpful, especially when cooled. It can bring comfort to those gums where the teeth are erupting. While it’s not necessary to take a child to the dentist at the first sign of teeth, that is the time to start thinking about scheduling a visit. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children…