‘Tis the season for lights, gatherings, smiles, and food -- lots of food. It can be tough to eat healthy and in moderation during the holidays, so we’ve put together a few holiday-themed, tooth-friendly snack ideas that will help you keep the cravings under control while keeping your mouth (and your dentist) happy! ANTIPASTO WREATH What You Will Need: Large Circular Platter Fresh Rosemary Sprigs Sliced Cheeses and Meats Assorted Fruits and Vegetables, such as: seedless grapes

Do you use an electric toothbrush or a regular one? Does one type seem like it cleans your teeth better than the other? The truth is that both manual and electric toothbrushes are great at cleaning your teeth effectively, as long as they are used properly! That said, there are several pros and cons that may make one type a better choice for you over the other. Let’s take a look! Manual Toothbrush Pros: Affordable and easy to replace - Standard toothbrushes are widely availabl

Are you trying to cut down on sugar? As dentists and health professionals, we definitely support that choice! But be aware: though many drinks and foods claim that they are “diet” and sugar-free, not all artificial sweeteners are created equal. But how do artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes affect the health of our mouth and teeth? Scientists are still learning about the health effects that various sugar substitutes have on the human body, but we do know that artifici

Cavities (aka dental caries or tooth decay) are one of the world’s most common diseases, with only the common cold beating it out. And because cavities attack dental enamel, which is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself to any degree, the damage that cavities cause to our adult teeth is permanent. Fortunately, cavities are also nearly entirely preventable with good oral hygiene and care. As with any health issue, prevention is key, and the key to prevention

We all know that daily brushing and flossing are key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but what we eat can also have a big effect on our oral health too! Here are a few surprisingly smart food choices to help keep teeth healthy and strong. Water This one might not be incredibly surprising, but water is so important to oral health that we can’t leave it out! Saliva plays an essential role in neutralizing acids in the mouth and preventing bad breath and tooth decay, and si

Coffee, tea, red wine, cola, dark juices, tomato sauce, curry, balsamic vinegar, berries, beets, tobacco use: What do these have in common? They are all great at staining your teeth! Cutting down on your consumption might help curb the development of surface stains, but being proactive is far more effective for preventing teeth staining. Here are some tips! Use a straw to drink your favorite beverages - it greatly limits the amount of liquid that will come in contact with you

Dental anxiety is a common phenomenon, with an estimated 9-15% of American adults avoiding the dentist due to their fear. That is a staggering 30 to 40 million people! Over time, dental anxiety and fear can lead to oral health issues and increased need for treatment, lowering your quality of life. Take a look at these helpful strategies for reducing dental anxiety, and empower yourself to get the dental care you need and deserve! Identify Your Fears The first step to overcomi

It might stain your teeth, but red wine could offer oral health benefits that will give wine lovers something to smile about! A recent study suggests that polyphenols (micronutrients with antioxidant properties) found in red wine are effective in fighting three types of bacteria that are the main culprits for causing dental plaque, tooth decay and gum disease. The researchers involved in the study tested polyphenols from grape seeds, red wine extracts and red wine itself agai

“Baby teeth fall out anyway, so they’re not important.” ─ We hear this often, yet it couldn’t be further from the truth! Baby teeth, or primary teeth, serve as placeholders for adult teeth and play a very important role in a child’s physical, emotional and social development. Baby teeth aid a growing child in their: Health and Nutrition ─ Chewing requires teeth! - and also fosters good nutrition and aids digestion. If a child has dental pain due to cavities and is unable to p

It might sound too good to be true: Candy that’s good for your teeth? It’s true: there are a few types of candy that are actually great for your oral health! Chewing Gum can be great for your teeth - as long as it is sugarless gum. Chewing gum increases the production of saliva, which plays an essential role in neutralizing acids in the mouth and preventing bad breath and tooth decay. Gum with sugar would negate any positive effects, since the sugar would only provide a feast

When a tooth is severely damaged or decayed, it sometimes must be removed in order to protect the health of a person’s surrounding teeth and overall oral health. Unfortunately, dental issues will not end simply because the problematic tooth is gone, unless the tooth is also soon replaced! A single missing tooth leads to a multitude of negative consequences throughout the mouth and body. Ability to Speak and Eat Properly Missing a tooth (or several) will affect our ability to

Got a sweet tooth? Keep your teeth (and your dentist!) happy with this simple and delicious “ice cream” recipe that provides plenty of sweet satisfaction with no added sugar. Now that’s something to smile about! 1-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream It doesn’t get any easier than this: all you need are bananas and a food processor, and just freeze and blend bananas for a deliciously cool and creamy treat! No added sugar, no chemical flavorings or additives, no guilt, 100% natural. Fo

A dental veneer is a wafer-thin shell of tooth-colored material that fits over the outside of a tooth. Veneers are a popular option for cosmetic dentistry because they are a less intrusive option than dental crowns, and provide much quicker results than braces or aligners. They are also popular because of their wide range of uses: they can be used to brighten and correct discolored teeth, straighten a smile, close gaps, correct a misshapen tooth, and fix fractures and chips.

Approximately 5 million wisdom teeth are removed in the U.S. every year! Because our jaws have evolved to be too small to fit third molars (aka wisdom teeth), they often grow in incorrectly - pushing against other teeth, erupting at an angle, sometimes even getting stuck in the jaw bone. Some lucky people have wisdom teeth that grow in correctly and do not need to get them removed, and an even smaller number of lucky people do not grow wisdom teeth at all! However, chances ar

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and it’s a timely reminder for all of us to keep up with good dental hygiene. Let’s brush up on why oral health is so important to our overall health and lives! Our teeth play such an important role in our lives; they’re there for us when we talk, laugh, chew, and eat. They complete our face shape by supporting our facial structures, and nearly 50% of American adults think that a smile is the most memorable feature after first meeting

Wisdom teeth removal can be a major rite of passage for teens and young adults, with approximately 80% of the US population getting them extracted! But why do most people need to get these third molars taken out, anyway? There are several serious oral health issues that can develop if impacted wisdom teeth are not removed - that is, wisdom teeth that are not growing in or positioned correctly. Check out the common complications caused by impacted wisdom teeth that are not ext

Root canal therapy (abbreviated as RCT, also called endodontic treatment or therapy) is highly effective at saving teeth that would otherwise die and have to be removed. As with all dental procedures, it’s best to get a tooth in need of an RCT treated quickly so that the situation doesn’t worsen. That said, how do you know if you need a root canal? When Root Canal Therapy Is Needed First, let’s begin with why RCT may be needed. When the pulp of a tooth (the soft tissue inside

For many parents, getting their children to brush their teeth is a twice-daily battle - but they are battles well worth having! Good oral hygiene is important at all ages, and aids young children in speech, educational and social development. Children suffering from oral pain tend to perform worse in school; a recent study revealed that children with tooth pain were 4 times more likely to have a low grade point average (below 2.8 GPA) compared to children without oral pain. O

It can be easy to put off your regular dental exams, even when you notice a nagging symptom in your mouth. But ignoring warning signs can easily allow seemingly minor issues to become more serious and require further treatment down the road. Catching and treating oral health issues early on saves you precious time and money, so be sure to visit the dentist if you notice any of these signs! Pain in Your Jaw or Teeth Probably the most obvious sign to see the dentist, pain in yo

Are you considering teeth whitening? If so, there are a few things you should consider before undergoing this treatment. Are You a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening? Teeth whitening, whether by professional or over-the-counter treatment, should only be used by people with healthy gums and teeth. This is because all teeth whitening treatments contain the bleaching agent peroxide, which can cause increased sensitivity and even damage to people with tender or receding gums. If