A Healthy Smile Is Your Best Accessory Body piercings have become increasingly prevalent over the past decade, and with more and more celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Tyrese, and Christina Aguilera sporting them, they are only gaining popularity among people of all ages. While piercings offer people the opportunity to express their individuality and add some extra bling to their personal style, some of the most popular piercings are located in the mouth area, which can lead to the rapid deterioration of oral health. Popular face and mouth piercings include those in the tongue, lip, and cheek areas. The following are just some of the health risks and side effects associated with these piercings. Infection: Your mouth is home to a large number of bacteria that breed in moist environments. This is the perfect environment for an infection to occur. When an infection occurs in your mouth, it can become life…

What You Need To Know: The Effect Diabetes Has On Oral Health Diabetes affects every aspect of your life. From ensuring your blood sugar is at the right level to keeping up with regular exercise, managing diabetes is no easy task. You must be aware of many complications that can arise from diabetes, and your oral health is no exception. Since it’s National Diabetes Month, we have provided information and tips to consider regarding the relationship between diabetes and your oral health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 29.1 million Americans have diabetes—and 8.1 million of those do not know they have the disease. If you’re not sure if you might have diabetes, the first step to taking care of your body is finding out if that’s the case. Some common symptoms of diabetes include: Blurred vision Hunger and fatigue Peeing more frequently while also being thirstier Dry mouth…

Speaking, eating, and smooching — these are all daily activities that draw attention to your lips. You most likely catch a glimpse of them every time you look in the mirror throughout the day, like when you brush your teeth during your morning routine and then again before going to bed. With their high visibility, you might guess that identifying lip cancer in its earliest stages would be common, but you might be surprised at how often early signs go unnoticed. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., and according to the American Dental Association, 41,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral and throat cancers this year. With 60% of the U.S. population visiting the dentist each year, where there mouths are closely examined and oral cancer screenings are done routinely, the dental community is the first line of defense for early detection. What Is…

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Dental Tips for the Developmentally Disabled If you’ve ever taken care of someone else, you understand how difficult it can be to get them to brush their teeth and floss every day. When you’re caring for a child—or adult—with a disability, the challenges can be even greater, as they may be predisposed to certain oral health conditions. On top of that, going to the dentist can be stressful to anyone, let alone someone who’s not able to prepare for what to expect. October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and we would like to share a few tips you as a caregiver can do to make sure your loved one maintains a healthy smile. Dental Issues for People with Down Syndrome There are common mouth issues that are associated with Down syndrome. Being aware of these issues will allow you to prepare and understand what…

Once every three or four months, you inevitably find yourself standing in the oral hygiene aisle at the grocery store scanning rows and rows of an endless variety of toothbrushes. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors — and some of them even come with small motors. But how do you know which one is the best for you or your children? The Basics There are some basics you should look for when purchasing a new brush: The handle of the toothbrush should be a length and shape that best allows you to hold and maneuver it as you brush. The head of the toothbrush should be able to easily access all of the surfaces of your teeth. A half inch wide and one inch tall works best for most adults. Toothbrushes come with bristles that are categorized as hard, medium, and soft. Soft is preferable for most people;…

Have you ever wondered why dentists and other dental and oral health professionals spend so much time talking about your smile? Shouldn’t they focus more on your teeth? As dental health professionals, we know that your oral health affects a whole lot more than just your teeth. You may think your smile is just another way to communicate your happiness, but we know it does so much more than that. Smiling regularly can improve your mood and even your health. But when you hide your smile because you are embarrassed of crooked, chipped, or cracked teeth, you not only miss out on all of the benefits of smiling, but your self-esteem and confidence plummet as well. Benefits of Smiling Smiling — even when you may not feel like it — provides some surprising benefits. The following are just a few. Healthier Heart. According to a study published in Psychological Science,…

Have you ever watched shows like Lost or movies like Cast Away and wonder how the teeth of these people must feel like after an extended stay on a remote island? Fortunately, there are a few things they (or you, if you go camping or get stranded) can do to help maintain a healthy smile when you don’t have access to a dentist or minty toothpaste. When you don’t have a toothbrush and floss, the concept of oral hygiene remains the same. Keep food debris from sticking around inside your mouth, and agitate the bacteria so plaque and tartar don’t develop. In a bind, you can use a clean cloth or part of your t-shirt. Put the cloth on your finger and rub your teeth and gums as you would with a toothbrush. This method is good for minor stays in the wilderness, but won’t provide optimal care in the…

Oral Cancer Signs, Symptoms, and Prevention No one wants to spend time thinking about oral cancer. However, with more than 43,000 Americans estimated to be diagnosed this year, educating yourself on prevention methods, early detection, and treatment options is more important than ever. While the number of people expected to be diagnosed with oral and throat cancers is concerning, the good news is that ensuring early detection is as easy as attending your routine dental exams every six months. What you may not realize is that oral cancer screening is part of your regular exam. A dentist can see and feel precancerous tissue changes and early cancer, and can diagnose them during the curable stages. When oral cancer is detected early, the survival rate is an encouraging 80% to 90%. Due to the rapidly growing number of HPV-related oral cancer diagnoses, people 18 years and older should get screened yearly….

For many who are well into adulthood now, having wisdom teeth removed during adolescence was considered somewhat of a rite of passage. Though the removal of wisdom teeth while young is a relatively common practice, few know why that is, or what the potential consequences are of waiting to have them removed. What Are Wisdom Teeth? Located in the very back of the mouth, your wisdom teeth are the last four teeth to break through the gums. Their development and arrival can begin anytime during the teen years, and by your mid-20s, they will either fully erupt or become impacted if they are not removed. What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth? Wisdom teeth become impacted when they are blocked by nearby teeth and don’t have enough room to fully emerge. If left to grow, they can damage adjacent teeth and result in severe pain and inflammation in the mouth and jaw…

Standing in front of a crowd on the cusp of giving your first speech, staring into your girlfriend’s eyes right before you ask her to marry you, stepping up to the mic on the verge of your first karaoke performance — these are the moments in life that make your skin tingle, your heart race…and your mouth go dry. Tingling skin and a quickening of your heartbeat can be fun and exciting, but dry mouth is rarely a welcome experience. It can kill a kiss, make you trip over your words, and extend all the way down into your throat, limiting your ability to sing a single note. In most of these situations, you might assume anxiety is to blame for the sudden lack of moisture, but that might not be the case. If you are experiencing dry mouth on a regular basis, the potential causes of it and the…