What is Fluoride? Fluoride (pronounced “floor-eyed”) is a naturally occurring mineral found nearly everywhere on earth – in air, soil, water, and in many foods and drinks. Nicknamed “nature’s cavity protector,” fluoride significantly decreases the risk of dental cavities by strengthening tooth enamel. The Fluoride Discovery In the 1930s, scientists discovered that people who drank water with naturally occurring fluoride levels of or greater than 1 part fluoride per 1 million

Trying to eat healthy this summer? It can be tough! Sweet summer treats like lemonade, popsicles and ice cream are great for cooling off – but they are also loaded with sugar, which wreaks havoc on our oral and overall health over time. And even in so-called “healthy” treats like frozen yogurt, added sugar renders them surprisingly unhealthy. In fact, most flavored froyos contain as much sugar as ice cream! But that shouldn’t deter you from regular, plain yogurt. Plain yogurt

Imagine losing a front tooth due to a sports injury, or painfully cracking a tooth due to habitual teeth grinding. The trauma of the injury would be distressing enough on its own, but simple enjoyments and daily routines like eating, speaking and smiling would also be affected. In many cases, dental injury is preventable with mouth guards! Mouthguard Uses Sports & Recreation : Teeth are extremely vulnerable to damage when they are not properly protected while playing contact

You've heard of dental fillings and crowns, but have you heard of inlays and onlays? In the past, dental crowns were always the go-to solution for restoring teeth too damaged to be repaired with fillings. But today, there are intermediary options: Inlays and Onlays. What are Inlays and Onlays? Inlays and onlays (also known as indirect fillings) are strong, durable tooth restorations that are custom made to repair a tooth, and are great options for restoring teeth with medium

National Tooth Fairy Day is February 28th! Healthy baby teeth are so important for a young child’s health and development – they aid young children’s digestion, speech and social development; they help the jaw and other facial features develop properly; and they guide adult teeth into the correct positions. If a child’s baby teeth are decayed, or lost or pulled too early, the child may suffer from difficulties in development as well as crooked adult teeth and other dental pro

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they are incredibly important! They play a big role in a growing child’s speech, digestion, and social development, and also serve as placeholders that help guide adult teeth into their correct positions. And because they’re so important to a young child’s health and development, it is very important to prevent cavities in baby teeth. What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is called baby bottle tooth decay (also c

Wish you could improve your smile? Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you, and many view an attractive smile as an important social and career asset. Many of today’s cosmetic dental treatments have a restorative component along with their aesthetic purpose, and work doubly to improve your smile while also improving your oral health. Listed below are the 6 most popular cosmetic dental treatments today. Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening is probably the most p

‘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

Did you know: Dental crowns have been used for thousands of years! There is evidence that ancient Etruscans used rudimentary gold tooth coverings to restore the shape and function of teeth - which is effectively still the purpose of dental crowns today. Crowns have evolved quite a bit since ancient times however, from placement and crafting techniques and technologies, to dental crown materials. How Does a Crown Restore A Tooth? Today, a dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” t

“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

Dental implants have been called the most significant dental innovation of our generation, and it’s easy to see why! They are designed to closely mimic the structure of our natural teeth, from root to crown. With a 98% success rate -- the highest success rate of all tooth replacement options! -- implants are the best long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. When properly placed and cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime. How Do Implants Mimic Our Natural Teeth?

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

Calcium is essential for strong, healthy teeth and bones! And though we all know that milk and cheese are excellent sources of calcium, what if you are lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply don’t like the taste of dairy? Fortunately, there are plenty of calcium-rich foods that don’t contain a drop of milk, many of which are plant-based. The basic recommended daily intake (RDI) of calcium per day for adults is 1,000mg (1,200mg for women aged 51 years and older). The following f

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

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

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