Adult Dental Anxiety: Tips and Techniques to Tackle It for Good
Wouldn’t it be great if the promise of a sticker or balloon could get everyone to see the dentist? Most adults know that the real reward–a healthy smile–is much greater, yet many still go with their dental needs unmet, due to “dentalphobia” or anxiety. Thankfully, increased awareness of the problem is transforming ...
Continue Reading →What is Plaque? How to Fight Back!
Have you ever run your tongue across the front of your teeth and felt a sticky coating? That is the buildup of bacteria, also known as plaque. If you let the bacteria stick around too long, it can damage tooth enamel and lead to cavities.
The bacteria is called flora — and it protects you from pathogenic organisms, the ones that cause disease. The flora in ...
Continue Reading →Understanding Pediatric Fluoride Treatment
It’s undeniable that fluoride has played a major role in the decline of dental cavities in the United States. However, what isn’t so clear to many parents is whether or not fluoride treatments are safe and/or beneficial for children.
After all, children receive fluoride on a regular basis from many different types of foods and even water. Through these sources alone, minerals lost due to plaque, bacteria, and sugars ...
Continue Reading →Toothache Trouble? How to Make the Wait Less Painful
It can happen to anyone: the sudden onset of a throbbing toothache at the most inconvenient of times. Perhaps it arrives in the middle of the night, or worse, at the start of your weekend–when a whole lot of time and agony seem to stand between you and the next available dentist appointment.
You’ll live, of ...
Continue Reading →To Floss or Not to Floss? That is the Question
Every six months, you visit your dentist for a regular checkup, hear about the importance of flossing, and promise you’ll start doing it daily. Naturally, you intend to follow through, but for many, this promise falls to the wayside.
While some still ponder the idea of whether they should be flossing or not, the real question should be “how much should I floss ...
Continue Reading →TMJ: It’s Nothing to Yawn About
Have you been ignoring that clicking sound coming from your jaw? Or are you quick to dismiss the stiff, achy feeling your mouth has in the morning? Don’t let these things go unchecked! You might find yourself in for a rude awakening.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (“TMJ” or “TMD”), a serious condition affecting the connective joint between the skull and jaw, often gets overlooked until it becomes severe. ...
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The Story on Soda:
Your Soft Drink Questions Answered
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the reality is that no matter how refreshing that sweet, fizzy soda (or “pop”) tastes, there’s a chance it could be doing some damage to your teeth. But with so many products on the market, are they all really that bad for you?
Answers to some of your most pressing soft drink questions are about to be answered. ...
Continue Reading →The Dirt on “Dragon Breath” And How to Slay It for Good
There’s a reason people commonly refer to halitosis as “dragon breath”: it’s a beast of an oral health problem that can put off anyone within close range! Mints and mouthwashes can mask the issue, but in order to truly defeat it, you’ll need to treat the underlying cause.
If you’ve dealt with morning breath, or struggle with bad breath throughout the ...
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Taste Loss: Could It Be a Dental Problem?
Most people know that poor oral hygiene results in cavities and gum disease, but did you know that it can also cause taste loss? From salty to sweet, spicy to savory – failing to take proper care of your mouth can impede your ability to taste and enjoy just about any type of food set before you. Dentists call this condition “dysguesia”, and if you haven’t heard about it, here’s what you should ...
Continue Reading →Parent’s Cheat Sheet: 5 Steps to Solving the Sweets Problem
Birthday celebrations, holidays, and countless school or extracurricular activities in between children’s social calendars can seem like endless fun, until you realize they can also translate into a non-stop, cavity-inducing sugar high. This doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that your child is destined for a long list of dental problems. Use this dental cheat sheet when a special occasion arises to keep his or her smile cavity-free.
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