(803) 548-3342Everybody wants a brighter smile, but there are a number of things that stain or dull your teeth, including coffee, red wine, smoking, and certain medications. Because these changes to the color of teeth are common, it sometimes seems like everyone has a DIY tooth whitening suggestion. But do any of them really work? Take … Continue reading “DIY Tooth Whitening: Does It Work?”
Swallowing vitamins can feel like a chore, and some children and adults have difficulty swallowing pills, especially large ones. Gummy vitamins seem like a fun and tasty way to ensure that you get the nutrients or supplements that you need. While they may have started out as a way to make vitamins more appealing to … Continue reading “Are Your Gummy Vitamins Causing Cavities?”
Fruit: It’s healthy, and that means it’s good for your teeth, right? While this is true in most cases, there are a few exceptions. Since summer is a great time to enjoy a variety of fruit, read on for some information about choosing the best (and worst) fruits when it comes to your dental health. … Continue reading “The Best (and Worst) Fruits for Good Dental Health”
Summer is just about here, and you might be looking forward to all of the delights that come with the hottest months of the year. Whether or not they have children, many people slow down a bit in the summer so they can take in all that the season has to offer. It’s important to … Continue reading “Keep Your Teeth Healthy This Summer”
If you smoke, you’ve undoubtedly heard dozens of reasons why you should stop. A lower life expectancy, lung cancer, stroke, heart attack… all of these are more likely among smokers than among their non-smoking peers. If you needed a few more reasons to quit smoking, here are some ways the habit negatively affects your oral … Continue reading “Why Should You Quit Smoking?”
With spring and summer on their way, lots of warm-weather events will be coming up. These might include prom, graduation from high school or college (your own or your child’s), family reunions, and weddings. It’s natural to want to look your best, so now is the time to get your healthy smile ready for these … Continue reading “Get Your Healthy Smile Ready for Spring”
Spring has sprung, and with it comes the start of garden season. While most fruits and vegetables are excellent for not only your overall health but also your dental health, there are some healthy foods that are particularly good for your teeth. Check out this list of tooth-friendly foods that are excellent for planting this … Continue reading “Tooth-Friendly, Healthy Foods for Spring”
Have you ever considered wearing a mouthguard? If you’re like many dental patients, you probably associate mouthguards with the safety gear that football players wear. If you’re not a football player yourself, you’ve probably never considered that you might need a mouthguard. But mouthguards can benefit other patients as well. Athletes Football is a rough … Continue reading “Do You Need a Mouthguard?”
If you want to keep your natural teeth for the rest of your life and maintain a healthy smile, taking good care of your gums is a good place to start. If your gums are unhealthy, you’re at greater risk for tooth decay, root infections, and tooth loss. Therefore, it’s important to be on the … Continue reading “Swollen Gums: What Should You Do?”
Getting new braces can be more uncomfortable and frustrating than you might have expected. The good news is that in most cases, patients with new braces get used to them within a week or two. The bad news is that they might have a good deal of discomfort until then. Here are some tips on … Continue reading “Tips on Getting Used to Your New Braces”
Flossing your teeth: It’s something you know you should be doing, but it’s so easy to forget. After all, if you’re doing it in the morning, you’re probably in a hurry and it’s the easiest thing to put off until bedtime. By the time that time comes, you might be ready to drop. How can … Continue reading “How to Stop Forgetting to Floss”
It’s cold and flu season, so infection control might be on your mind. While you might ramp up your handwashing this time of year, your dental office follows the same precautions all year long. Have you ever wondered how infection control is handled in dental offices? Read on and find out! Spray Down the Room … Continue reading “Infection Control in the Dental Office”
If you’ve had several teeth removed or you’re facing an upcoming extraction, you need to think about how you will replace the teeth. Two of the most common options are dentures and implants. How do you know which is better for you? Only your dentist knows your specific circumstances, but here are some considerations to … Continue reading “Dentures vs. Implants: What’s the Right Choice for You?”
You might already know what foods to eat for stronger teeth. Some examples are apples, strawberries, cheese, and foods high in calcium. While you might know that eating too much sugar is bad for teeth, you might not know other worst foods for dental health. Read on to find out which foods are the worst … Continue reading “Worst Foods for Dental Health”
During one of your cleanings, your dentist or hygienist might suggest that you get dental sealants. Sealants are also commonly recommended for children as their permanent molars grow in. Have you wondered what sealants are? And if your dental insurance doesn’t cover them, do you want to know if paying for them out of pocket … Continue reading “Are Dental Sealants Right for You?”
Has your sleeping partner ever nudged you in the middle of the night because your teeth-grinding was disturbing their sleep? Do you often wake up with a sore jaw, painful molars, and a headache? Are your molars worn down or do you tend to dislodge fillings frequently? If the answers to any of these questions … Continue reading “Bruxism: Do You Grind Your Teeth?”
You already know that you should brush twice daily and floss each night to keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright. Did you know, however, that technique counts? You could be brushing but not getting your teeth as clean as you could be. Read on for tips on how to perfect your oral health … Continue reading “Perfecting Your Oral Health Regimen”
You might have heard the adage, “you are what you eat.” You know that filling up on sugary sweets or carb-filled salty snacks will do a number not only on your teeth, but also on your waistline. What you might not know is that the foods you eat can positively impact your teeth, too. Here … Continue reading “Foods That Strengthen Teeth”
When you are pregnant, it seems as though almost every part of your body changes. Your gums and teeth are no exception! It might surprise you to know that during pregnancy, you have special needs when it comes to your dental care. Take a look at these considerations that you should keep in mind. Pregnancy … Continue reading “Pregnancy and Your Dental Care”
Are you happy with your smile? Many patients wish their teeth could be straighter, more uniform, or whiter. Of the three common complaints, the color of your teeth is generally the simplest fix. There are several different types of teeth whitening that you might consider in your quest to achieve a lighter, brighter smile. It’s … Continue reading “What You Should Know About Teeth Whitening”
Have you ever had the experience of waking up in the morning feeling like your mouth was full of cotton? A dry mouth is a common occurrence if your nose is stuffed up when you have a cold or seasonal allergies. Sometimes, however, people have a dry mouth all day long and not because they … Continue reading “Dry Mouth: What You Need to Know”
You probably do things that will improve your health: You exercise regularly, eat your veggies, take any prescription medications your doctor has recommended, and get enough sleep. Did you know, however, that brushing and flossing your teeth are important not only for your oral health, but for your overall health as well? If you don’t … Continue reading “How Your Oral Health Impacts Your Overall Health”
If you smoke, you already know it’s bad for you. It can cause emphysema, heart problems, and various types of cancers. What you might not know is that in addition to putting your overall health in danger, it also creates mayhem inside of your mouth. There are both cosmetic and health concerns when it comes … Continue reading “Smoking and Your Oral Health”
It’s Murphy’s Law: You’re more likely to get a toothache or break a filling on a holiday, a weekend, or in the middle of the night, when your dentist is unavailable. No, that’s not true… but it can feel that way! When you have a dental emergency during the week, it’s generally simple to get … Continue reading “DIY Emergency Dental Care”
If you’ve ever enjoyed a tuna sandwich with extra onions on your lunch break and then had to return to work for a face-to-face meeting, you know the embarrassment and discomfort that bad breath can cause. Also called halitosis, bad breath affects all of us at one point or another. Everyone wakes up with “morning … Continue reading “Halitosis: How to Banish Bad Breath”