How Bad is it? Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. The diabetes epidemic affects more than 29 million Americans, and 7 million of those don't know they have it. It is marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defective insulin production, function, or both. The symptoms of [...]
Brushing Your Tongue Helps Freshen Breath With all the mints, mouthwash, chewing gum and other cover-ups available, there are many ways to freshen your breath. But, if you consistently suffer from halitosis, you might be forgetting an easy way to combat odor-causing bacteria... cleaning your tongue! It makes perfect sense if you think about it, [...]
Is TMJ causing my pain? TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. Located just in front of the ear, it is the joint that connects your lower jaw to the rest of your head, allowing the jaw to move freely while biting, chewing, and speaking. Problems related to the TMJ can affect jaw muscles, teeth, and nerves [...]
Seemingly Temporary and Dispensable, Baby Teeth Play an Important Role Why do we have two sets of teeth? Initially, the jaw is too small for a full set of adult teeth. Baby teeth serve their purpose just till the jaw develops enough room for adult teeth to form and push them out. This usually begins [...]
Are You Trying to Give up Nicotine? Nicotine continues to be popular with teens and young adults, and there are more ways to become addicted than ever before. Cigarettes and chewing tobacco remain, while e-cigarettes and vaporizers are now available in tempting flavors. We all know about the numerous side effects tobacco and/or nicotine can [...]
Women Encounter More Challenges to Their Oral Health A woman's oral health is often directly related to her stage of life. Changes in hormone levels during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause all impact the chemistry of what's going on in her mouth. It is important for everyone to practice good habits of brushing, flossing, [...]
Overwhelmed by your choices? Here's how to choose the right toothpaste for you. While your toothbrush does most of the plaque removal, abrasive agents in toothpaste will scour food particles and plaque from your teeth. Fluoride is the best-known ingredient, added to make the outer tooth structure more decay-resistant. Fluorides work best when teamed with [...]
When it comes to replacing a missing tooth, several factors determine what treatment option will be best for each individual. Sometimes a patient is missing just a single tooth (or very few teeth) and aren't ready for dental implants or dentures. Sometimes the gums and underlying bone are too weak to support an implant or [...]
Tooth-Colored Fillings for a Natural Appearance Do you have a cavity, but have always hated the thought of dark, metallic-looking fillings? Or maybe you already have one of these "amalgams" and it's time for a replacement? Well, consider the beautiful results that can be achieved with composite resin, tooth-colored fillings. Your teeth will look as [...]
Tooth decay is declining in everyone except among preschoolers. What can you do to give your kids a better future? Before the first tooth comes in, wipe baby's mouth clean with a damp washcloth. Once a tooth emerges, use a soft toothbrush twice daily for about 3 minutes. Kids are old enough to brush their [...]
