To a young child, a missing tooth is no big deal. In fact, it is a chapter of growing up and traditionally means something special from the Tooth Fairy under your pillow. And let’s face it; the unfettered smiles of youth look adorable with a lost tooth.

Unfortunately, many of the great things about being a kid lose their luster in grown-up life and a missing tooth is not enjoyable at all. It makes it difficult to speak and effectively communicate, properly bite down, and even eat. Indeed, effective oral care is a critical step in contributing to and maintaining overall health throughout the body.… Continue Reading

Do you grind your teeth while you sleep at night? Clench your jaw or gnash your teeth when nervous? You might be one of the millions of people suffering from bruxism and you might not even know it. Bruxism is a medical term for excessive involuntary (or habitual) grinding or clenching of the jaw. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the problem until they experience the effects such as facial pain or soreness, tooth damage, and severe or consistent headaches.

What causes bruxism?

Where does bruxism come from? Is it a medical condition or simply a bad habit? Can it be “cured” and can related damaged teeth be repaired?… Continue Reading

Millions of United States citizens are missing a fair amount of their natural teeth. If a single tooth is missing here and there, the patient can likely get away with replacing a single tooth. However, what happens when several teeth are missing? Needless to say, things can get expensive rather quickly.

This is precisely why dentures are so popular. These prosthetics are a terrific and affordable option for replacing missing teeth and giving patients a beautiful smile for years to come. However, some people find that dentures are not as secure as they need to be. Whether they slip and slide or simply fall out at inopportune moments, nobody wants to deal with dysfunctional dentures.… Continue Reading

If you’ve experienced receding or swelling gums, bleeding when brushing your teeth or you lost multiple teeth; you are likely a good candidate for dental implants. Missing teeth are more than simply annoying and uncomfortable. Our teeth provide nutrients and strength to our jaw bones and without those nutrients, bone around the vacant area gradually shrinks in size and becomes weaker.

Concerned and responsible, you did the smart thing and consulted with your dentist, who then met with fellow oral surgeon experts. Everyone shared their thoughts, weighed pros and cons, and you ultimately decided to move forward with a dental implant procedure.… Continue Reading

Dental implants are a boon to many patients. A patient who may be missing a tooth or two, but for the most part has a healthy underlying oral structure is a perfect candidate for dental implant surgery.

Once the new set of implants is in and you have recovered sufficiently, you’ll realize how wonderful it is to enjoy all your old favorite food with your new dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants mimic your natural teeth. They are placed in your jaw bone like a screw, and bond with the bone. They serve as a foundation for crowns – the tooth-part of an artificial tooth.… Continue Reading

Dental implants have become the gold standard for tooth replacement in recent decades.  Although not every patient is a good candidate for dental implants, many find this option preferable to removable dentures or even permanent bridgework.

Dental implants include a titanium post that bonds with the bone in your jaw, topped by a full crown designed to blend seamlessly with remaining teeth and function just as your natural teeth do.  They complete your smile so you can eat, drink, brush, floss, and laugh with confidence, and because they extend into your jaw, they can help to prevent bone loss and movement of adjacent teeth.… Continue Reading

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a condition that occurs when your salivary glands don’t produce enough fluid to keep your mouth properly hydrated, leading to reduced flushing of oral surfaces and possibly increased bacterial growth.  In addition to a feeling of stickiness, dryness, or “cotton mouth”, this can result in bad breath, sore throat, and difficulty chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

Problems like mouth sores, cracked lips, and even infections like thrush can occur when you suffer from dry mouth.  This condition can also affect your sense of taste, and for denture wearers, it may cause additional problems.

Even worse, a lack of saliva that normally helps to flush away leftover food particles and bacteria in the mouth can result in increased risk of developing serious oral health concerns like gum disease and tooth decay, due to increased plaque and tartar buildup. … Continue Reading

Aging is inevitable. While it is a great blessing to be able to age, aging certainly comes with its fair share of changes. As is the case with other parts of the body, your teeth will also change as you get older. As those birthday cake candles begin to multiply, it is important to maintain a proper oral health routine to ensure that your smile remains intact.

Wear and Tear

Think about the things that you use daily. Your car, for example, requires routine maintenance as driving it daily causes wear and tear on its various parts. Now, think about your teeth.… Continue Reading

Halloween and candy go together like pumpkin-flavored treats and the fall season. In fact, when you mention Halloween, the first thought that crosses many minds is all of the candy that is typically consumed. While there is nothing wrong with partaking in some candy on Halloween, some people want to avoid it altogether for health or personal reasons. Halloween can be just as fun and just as tasty sans candy. Here are the best non-candy, tooth-healthy Halloween treats:

Sugarless Gum

Sugar-free gum generates saliva, which helps in removing food particles in the mouth. The best sugar-free gum is sweetened with Xylitol which has been shown to reduce bacteria in the mouth.… Continue Reading

So often, people suffer from multiple health issues without knowing that they’re related. While most people have probably heard that oral health and overall health are linked, they may not immediately connect the dots when they suffer from a disease and experience oral health concerns, as well.

While it is often unclear whether oral health issues lead to further health problems or vice versa, the truth is that the causal relationship could go both ways. This may be the case for patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Myriad studies have show links between poor oral health and diseases like diabetes and heart disease, but fewer have studied the link between gum disease and RA.… Continue Reading