Easing the Pain and Discomfort of Canker Sores
If you occasionally experience small sores in the softer tissues of your mouth, you may have aphthous ulcers or better known as canker sores. While rarely a health concern, they can be painful and annoying particularly when you’re eating and drinking. These breaks in the skin or mucosa (the lining membranes of the mouth) usually […]
4 Tips for Extending the Life of Your Oral Appliance
There are many different removable appliances — from dentures to retainers — that help people enjoy better mouth function and a more attractive smile. But like many things we use, they can wear out. Because they’re also spending a lot of time in the mouth they can become an attractive home for disease-causing bacteria. You […]
3 Factors to Consider When Buying a Toothbrush
If there’s one essential tool for dental health, it’s the toothbrush. But though simple in basic design, manufacturers have nonetheless created a dizzying array of choices that often muddy the decision waters for consumers. It doesn’t need to be that way—you can choose the right toothbrush like a boss. First, though, you need to know […]
National Children’s Dental Health Month Highlights Importance of Baby Teeth
We all know that a child’s baby teeth don’t last forever. So if those little teeth develop problems, like severe decay, chips or cracks, it doesn’t much matter—right? Wrong! National Children’s Dental Health Month, observed in February, is the perfect occasion to remember why baby teeth need the same meticulous care as adult teeth: Baby […]
Pay Attention to Gum Disease Warning Signs for an Early Diagnosis
Periodontal (gum) disease is a devastating infection that eventually causes tooth loss if not treated. Plaque removal, antibiotics and possible surgical intervention have proven quite effective in stopping the infection and restoring diseased tissues; however, the more advanced the disease, the more difficult it can be to treat. It’s important then to know the warning […]
How a New Approach to Treating Decay Could Benefit You
Dental caries (tooth decay) is a leading cause of tooth loss. But with prompt diagnosis and care we can often stop it before it causes too much damage. The traditional treatment approach is simple: remove all diseased tooth structure and then restore the tooth with a filling. But this otherwise effective treatment has one drawback: […]
Disclosing Agents Show Plaque You’ve Missed When Brushing and Flossing
Removing plaque, a bacterial film that builds up on teeth, daily is crucial in preventing dental disease, but is your brushing and flossing making enough of a difference? Plaque forms every day in our mouths as a result of eating. The bacteria in it produce acid, which can erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. […]
Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory Was Not So Sweet to Cast’s Teeth!
The classic movie Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, still brings back sweet memories of childhood to people everywhere. Recently, the news broke that a remake of the beloved 1971 film is in now development in Hollywood. But at a reunion of the original cast members a few years ago, child star Denise […]
The Type of Mouthrinse you use Could be Doing More Than Freshen Breath
As a regular part of your daily hygiene you may be using a mouthrinse — or “mouthwash” — mainly to keep your mouth feeling fresh and clean. Some mouthrinses, though, do more than give you fresher breath. While there are countless mouthrinses available, we can place all of them into two broad categories: cosmetic and […]
Oral Irrigation can be an Effective Alternative to Traditional Flossing
Great oral hygiene is built on two principal tasks — daily brushing and flossing. Brushing removes plaque — a thin film of bacteria and food particles — from broad tooth surfaces. Flossing removes plaque between your teeth you can’t reach effectively with brushing. It takes both tasks to get the most disease prevention benefit from […]