Parents are usually on the ball when it comes to bringing their kids to the dentist but may let things slide when it comes to their own dental care. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most adults and children should see the dentist every six months for a routine check-up. But the American Dental Association underscores that scheduling dental check-ups also depends on the patient’s oral and overall health history. If you have underlying health issues or ongoing oral health concerns, you … [Read more...]

When you’re enjoying a sandwich or chatting with a friend, you might not think about the bones and muscles that come into play. But when you have jaw pain, you get a sense of the crucial role your jaw plays in your well-being. Your teeth and jaw are a unit and work together to make some of life’s most essential activities possible. Jaw pain can have a range of dental and medical causes, and your dentist is usually the best place to start. She can help you identify and treat oral health issues … [Read more...]

Here it is in a nutshell: saliva is underrated. We don’t always think about how important saliva is to our oral health. But when we don’t have enough, it can cause big problems. Saliva plays an essential role in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. When we don’t produce enough saliva, it creates a condition called dry mouth. Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, isn’t a disease in itself but is usually a symptom of something else. It’s unpleasant and uncomfortable, but your dentist has a wide … [Read more...]

We put a lot of thought into our teeth. Are they white enough? Are we doing enough to keep them clean and prevent cavities? But oral health isn’t just about our teeth. Our gums are the anchors for our teeth, and keeping them healthy is essential. If you have painful or bleeding gums, it’s time to pay attention. Here’s a look at warning signs to be aware of: What Are Bleeding Gums Telling Me? Bleeding gums set off alarm bells for most of us. They’re often an indication of gum disease, which we … [Read more...]

Mouth sores can range from mildly irritating to extremely painful, from harmless white spots to open sores or precancerous lesions. If you get one, don’t panic, there’s a good chance it will go away on its own. But if it sticks around, it’s time to call your dentist to rule out oral cancer. Like so many oral health problems, tobacco products are often a root cause. If you use tobacco, the new year is a great time to stop. What Causes Mouth Sores? The causes of mouth sores can range from … [Read more...]

Mask breath has been one of the unexpected wake-up calls from the COVID pandemic. Keeping ourselves and others safe by wearing a mask is essential. But it’s also causing many of us to realize that we have bad breath. Keep in mind that face coverings don’t actually cause bad breath. Instead, they put us in a position where we’re getting up close and personal with our own halitosis. There’s nothing like re-breathing our own air in a restricted space to give us an idea of just how bad things are. … [Read more...]

Toothaches used to be something people just accepted. We lived with pain until it got so bad we had to take action. Unfortunately, there are a few folks who still feel that way today. We might be hesitant to go to the dentist, embarrassed about oral hygiene, or have other concerns. Sometimes we wait too long to get a toothache checked out. But how do we know when it’s time to see the dentist and when to ride it out? What Might Be Causing My Toothache? A toothache can stem from something as … [Read more...]

There’s nothing like the joy of getting your braces off. But sometimes there’s a disappointing surprise. Patients often find that bacteria under the brackets cause white spots on their teeth. Several other conditions can also leach calcium from the enamel and cause similar discoloration. The good news is, you can prevent white lesions with awareness and dental hygiene. And your dentist has more tools than ever for treating them if they occur. What Causes White Spots on My Teeth? Several issues … [Read more...]

There’s an old saying that you should only floss the teeth you want to keep. But a lot of us don’t like to floss. There’s something about the process that makes it seem like more of a chore than some of our other dental must-dos. A 2016 Centers for Disease Control study showed that 32 percent of Americans say they never floss. But avoiding flossing can mean big problems for your teeth and gums. Here’s a look at why flossing is essential and how you can make it part of your routine. Why Is … [Read more...]

In the early days of the COVID pandemic, many family dental offices closed their doors for everything but emergency care. Regular checkups were postponed in those first weeks as healthcare providers got a handle on the coronavirus and its impact. But as communities realize that COVID isn’t going away anytime soon, patients and providers are returning to routine dental care with extra hygiene practices. COVID will be a fact of life for months if not years. So it’s clear that putting off regular … [Read more...]