Straight Talk: The Best Time for Braces
Is your child starting to lose baby teeth? If so, you might want to shift your focus from playing the tooth fairy to researching 
orthodontists.
Scheduling an examination for braces is probably not as fun as putting money under your child’s pillow, but based on new developments – as well as advice from the American Academy of ...
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Smoking, Your Mouth, and Your Health
There are no ifs, ands, or “butts” about it: smoking can be detrimental to oral health. Beyond the bad breath and yellow teeth, do you really know what you’re getting yourself into by smoking every day? Probably not.
There are quite a few uncertainties surrounding smoking and oral health, especially as tobacco alternatives become more prevalent in the market. Smoking, your mouth, and your health are deeply ...
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Your Child’s Sippy Cup: Is it a Friend or Foe?
Shaped like your child’s favorite action heroes and in every vibrant color imaginable, sippy cups seem like an innocent way to prevent spills. But with increased cavities and speech issues abound, pediatric dentists have recent research suggesting that what was once a friend is now a foe.
Of course, sippy cups can play an integral role in your child’s development. But in light ...
Continue Reading →Sealants: A Simple Way to Fight Tooth Decay
Does it feel like pulling teeth to get your child to brush and floss every day? Instilling good hygiene in your little one can often be a struggle, but you don’t have to fight this battle alone! Pediatric dentists can help you win the war on tooth decay simply by applying a protective barrier, or “sealant”, to the surface of your child’s teeth.
Invisible yet effective, this just might be the secret weapon you’ve ...
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Mind Your Meds: 6 Ways Medicine Can Sabotage Your Smile
Be honest: do you take the time to read through the lengthy medical pamphlets attached to your medications? If you thought the warning label on the back of the bottle had everything covered, think again! Often, there simply isn’t enough space to spell out every side effect on the container, and you could be overlooking important warnings to the detriment of your dental health. Should any of these oral symptoms suddenly ...
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Receding Gums: Are Your Teeth in Peril?
No cavities, no problem, right? Wrong! Even the straightest and whitest of teeth can fall prey to a serious case of receding gums, a common condition that can sneak up and do some damage before many individuals realize it’s even a problem.
While a surefire way to detect and treat it is with regular visits to the dentist, meticulous at-home monitoring and preventative care is also a great line of defense. Here’s what you should ...
Continue Reading →Oral Yeast Infections: 
Yes, They’re Common – and Contagious!
The last thing you would think to talk to your dentist about is a yeast infection! But when it appears in your mouth, or in that of your child, he or she is the first person you should call… and the sooner, the better. Oral yeast infections (or “thrush”) are actually quite common, and also contagious if you’re not careful. Here’s ...
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Not a Fan of Flossing? Try These Alternatives.
First there was the toothpick, then there was floss, and now there are a bevy of new dental tools making their way to the shelves of your local stores. Why the need to keep innovating? Simply put: plaque removal is just not fun…but these alternatives sure help!
For those fed up with flossing, or the many who fail to follow through with it altogether, gingivitis ...
Continue Reading →No Crying Necessary: Simple Ways to Stop Thumb Sucking
At first it was adorable, but now it has become worrisome. Starting to fear your child is addicted to thumb sucking? Push those worst-case scenarios and harsh weaning tactics from your mind. Here is the truth about the dental risks, when it is necessary to intervene, and effective ways to break the habit for good.
Long-Term Effects of Non-Nutritive Sucking
Prolonged sucking can ultimately lead ...
Continue Reading →Nature vs. Nurture: Dental Problems Parents Pass Down To Children
Parents, in particular, want to know: does DNA predetermine dental health? It’s the classic nature vs. nurture question that 
dentists get asked often, but the answer doesn’t simply boil down to one or the other. The scary truth is that many dental problems are indeed “inherited”–but not from genetics alone! Harmful habits that run in the family can also play a huge ...