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

Have you ever seen white-ish or yellow-ish lumps that look like they are embedded in the back of your throat? These are likely tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths), which are hardened deposits of debris and bacteria buildup in the craggy crevices of the tonsils. Tonsil stones are fairly common, and often treatable at home. Causes of Tonsil Stones Tonsil stones form when bacteria and material like dead cells, food debris, mucus and saliva get trapped in the tonsil crypts

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

cariogenic car·​i·​o·​gen·​ic | \ ˌker-ē-ə-ˈje-nik , -ˈjē- \ adjective producing or promoting the development of tooth decay1 Did you know that some foods are more likely to cause cavities than other foods? If a certain type of food is highly cariogenic, it has a high potential for producing or promoting tooth decay (aka caries, aka cavities). What Influences Cariogenicity? Here are the biggest factors: How long a food is kept in the mouth The physical form of the food (liqu

Which animal has the largest tooth in the entire animal kingdom? The first animal that might come to mind is perhaps a tiger or lion, and they do indeed have an impressively and intimidating set of teeth! But the animal that hands-down wins this category may surprise you: it is the beautiful, mysterious “Unicorn of the Sea”: the Narwhal! #FunFact: The Narwhal’s Famed Horn is Actually a Tooth --And growing up to an incredible 10 feet long, the narwhal’s tooth easily wins Large

Have you had an oral cancer screening lately? We know it sounds scary, but we highly recommend that all adults get regular oral cancer screenings in order to control a potentially much scarier thing. It’s a sad truth that the majority of people who are diagnosed with oral cancers do not survive beyond 5 years, simply because oral cancers so often go undiagnosed and untreated until their later stages. Early detection is key to a higher chance of successful treatment of oral ca

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness on the importance of regular oral cancer screening. Though it may sound intimidating, oral cancer screening is a simple exam that your dentist can perform during your regular dental checkup - and it’s the best way to detect and treat oral and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the mouth and upper throat) early, while the likelihood of effective treatment and full recovery are best! Sobering Facts about Oral Cancer

While regular brushing and flossing are the best ways to keep your teeth as white and healthy as they can be, there are several quick makeup tricks that can instantly brighten your smile. Try out these easy techniques to make your teeth look whiter, instantly! Choose a Blue-Based Lip Color Warm-toned lipsticks with an orange base will reflect on teeth and make them look more yellow than they really are, while cool-toned lipsticks with a blue base make teeth look whiter. Try l

Each year throughout National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, the American Dental Association brings together dental health professionals, caregivers, parents, and teachers to give children the best start on oral health. This year’s NCDHM theme is “Water: Nature’s Drink.” Let’s explore how and why water is so important for good dental health! What Water Does for Your Smile Strengthens Your Teeth - Drinking water with fluoride is one of the easiest things you can d

As the saying goes, “you are what you eat” - and there’s no better place to see this than in your mouth! Many of the foods and drinks that we consume actively encourage the growth of bacteria-laden plaque in our mouths, which is a main factor in the development of cavities (aka tooth decay). And if you don’t clean your teeth properly, plaque eventually hardens into tartar, which contributes to gum disease and can only be removed with special tools by a dentist or hygienist. L

2020 is almost over, finally! It’s been an extremely strange and challenging year, but we’re ready to turn the page and start a new, brighter chapter in 2021. Check out our suggestions for a New Year’s Resolution to help you kick off 2021 with a healthier, happier smile! Floss! The truth is, we always know when our patients are fudging the truth about how often they floss - the proof is all over your gums and teeth! Sticky, bacteria-laden plaque is constantly forming on and b

Do minor dental imperfections make you afraid to smile? Tooth reshaping, aka dental contouring, may be right for you! There are actually a lot of different names for it - enameloplasty, odontoplasty, stripping, slenderizing - but they all refer to the same simple cosmetic dental procedure that can fix slightly imperfect teeth quickly, painlessly and affordably. How it Works: Tooth reshaping is a simple and painless procedure. Your dentist uses tools like drills, lasers or pro