mouth health

Exercise and How it Affects Your Dental Health

Exercise has numerous positive impacts on your health. It helps with stress relief, muscle strength, combating health conditions, and loads more. What many patients do not know is how exercising can affect their dental health. During intense exercise people will often be breathing through their mouths. Mouth breathing can dry out the mouth and reduce the flow of saliva. A dry mouth is an environment where bacteria will increase and grow. People that suffer from dry mouth are very much at risk for cavities and so heavy exercise can put them at higher risk for tooth decay. Another issue that those … Read more…

Should you kiss your pets? Whose mouth is cleaner?

There are a lot of people that believe their dog and cats mouths are cleaner than their own. There are other people that believe the saliva from a dog is actually a disinfectant and can help kill bacteria. Finally, there are those that are totally grossed out by kissing their pets and are worried that it could in fact make them sick. Looking into this deeper, there are a couple of things to keep in mind that are detailed below. There are a lot of bacteria in both the mouths of humans and in animals. Keep in mind that not … Read more…

Root Canals: Why Do They Get Such a Bad Rep?

Whenever patients hear the words “root canal” they all do the same thing: cringe. Every time I talk to patients about the procedure I first have to talk them off of a ledge. Each of them has heard a terrible story about someone, someplace, that had the worst experience with their root canal procedure and that they would not wish their worst enemy to need one. Why is this the case? Well, in some circumstances root canals CAN cause pain. These are the stories that we hear about. If a patient has not been going into the dentist regularly for … Read more…

WaterPiks vs Flossing: What’s the difference?

There are many benefits to using floss and to using a WaterPik. Patients often ask me about which is better and if one replaces the other. My answer to patients is always this: you should use what works best for you and what you feel most comfortable with. It really is a case by case basis depending on many factors that will be addressed below. I do not believe that a WaterPik is a replacement for dental floss; however, for patients that admit to me that they hate flossing and won’t do it, I do tell them to invest in … Read more…

Why Your Teeth May Be Sensitive to Hot or Cold

Tired of avoiding foods and beverages you like simply because of the temperature?  Read on to learn about 6 of the reasons your teeth may be sensitive to hot or cold, which is the first step to remedy! Cavities If there are cavities growing inside of your teeth it can cause them to be sensitive. Often the temperature sensitivity is an indication that the bacteria have reached the nerve inside of the tooth which could mean that the tooth requires a root canal. Gum Infection There is bacteria in everyone’s mouths that can lead to a gum infection in the mouth. This … Read more…

5 Warning Signs of Problematic Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth. They are the last molars on the upper and lower teeth and usually erupt in late teen years or the early twenties. Since the wisdom teeth come in last, sometimes there is not enough room in the mouth to accommodate them. When there is not enough room it causes the wisdom teeth to become partially or fully impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause major problems for patients. These issues may not necessarily show signs that you can see but they can definitely cause pain. Here are four indicators of … Read more…

Dental Implants: A Permanent Smile Solution

Dental implants are an incredibly strong, stable, and long-lasting solution to replace missing teeth. The implants are “man-made” roots composed of primarily titanium, a biocompatible metal that fuses to your jaw bone. The implants do not become loose like dentures can. Implants can be used to replace a single tooth or many missing teeth. Depending on your situation the implant specialist and the dentist will work together to find the best solution for you. The health of the gums and bone are important considerations when determining if you are a candidate for dental implants. If the bone is not strong … Read more…

HELP! I have a DENTAL EMERGENCY, What Do I Do?

Different scenarios call for different action in a dental emergency. It is important to see your dentist ASAP; however, we know that this is not always possible. Here are some tips to help you in the event you or a loved one is in a dental emergency and unable to get right into a dental office. TOOTHACHE Rinse your mouth vigorously with warm water Use floss to remove any food particles stuck between the teeth. If there happens to be swelling present then apply cold pressure on the outside of the cheek Do no place aspirin on the aching teeth … Read more…

3 Quick Tips to Improve Your Dental Health

Invest in a Good Electric Toothbrush A good electric toothbrush will immediately improve your dental health. While at the store you will likely be able to tell which electric toothbrushes are superior. Look for brands “Sonicare” and “Oral-B” when in the dental aisle. They will cost more but they will do a much better job and last you longer. Your dentist may even have already slipped you a coupon for $10 off one of these at a recent check-up. The key to these is that they are guaranteed to improve your brushing and oral health. And they will do this … Read more…

The Most Common Disease Among Children- How Are We fighting it?

Dental caries (cavities) is the most common disease in children 6-11 years old and adolescents 12-19 years old. This disease is largely preventable, yet it remains more common than asthma among adolescents. Tooth decay has significant consequences. Children with severe dental problems can have trouble eating and sleeping, paying attention to parents and concentrating in school. To combat this major public health epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented fluoridation of community water supplies. This has been ongoing for more than 60 years now and research has proved that fluoridation of the community water is not … Read more…