As your mother used to say, “A moist mouth is a healthy mouth.” Well, maybe she didn’t — but it’s still true. Without the constant flow of saliva, your teeth and gums would be less healthy. That’s because among its many functions, saliva helps keep the mouth from becoming too acidic. Just after eating, your mouth’s neutral pH level tips to the acidic side of the scale. Acid is enamel’s number one enemy, and it […]
With a 95%-plus success rate, dental implants are an effective and durable replacement for lost teeth. But we can’t place them and forget them: if you don’t clean and maintain them they could fail as a result of disease. The inorganic materials that make up the implant aren’t in danger of infection. But the living gums and bone that surround and support the implant are at risk. In fact, there’s a particular periodontal (gum) disease […]
Have you heard about dental sealants? These preventive treatments have been available for many decades, and more and more children are taking advantage of them. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that around 30% of kids from 6 to 11 years of age have had sealants applied to their molars (back teeth). Sealants are designed to reduce the incidence of cavities by filling in or eliminating the pits or crevices found in all molars, […]
Moving your teeth to a more functional and attractive alignment is a big undertaking. You can invest months — even years — and a lot of expense to correct a bad bite. But all that effort could be for nothing if your teeth return to their original positions. The very aspect of dental physiology that makes orthodontics possible can work against you in reverse. Your teeth are not actually rigidly fixed in the bone: they’re […]
What’s an actor’s most important feature? According to Vivica A. Fox, whose most recent big-screen role was in Independence Day: Resurgence, it’s what you see right up front. “On screen, your smile and your eyes are the most inviting things that bring the audience in” she said. “Especially if you play the hot chick.” But like lots of people, Vivica reached a point where she felt her smile needed a little help in order to […]
A child’s toothache is no fun for either the child or the parent. But if you’re faced with this situation, don’t panic — unless they have a fever or you notice facial swelling, it’s unlikely an emergency. Instead, take the following steps: Find out where it hurts and for how long. Tooth pain can stem from a lot of causes, including decay or a localized area of infection called an abscess. See if your child […]
Braces can change a person’s life — not just their appearance but their dental health as well. To be honest, though, wearing braces are, well, kind of a drag — especially for teenagers. Braces can be restrictive and confining; you’ll also have to give up certain favorite foods for a while. But more than any of that, they’re just plain unattractive. Even being able to choose colors for the brackets and elastic bands can’t fully […]
With the advent of home whitening kits, you no longer have to go to the dentist to have your teeth whitened. DIY kits are relatively safe and effective, if you follow the directions carefully. So, you might be thinking: why have a dentist whiten my teeth? Actually, there are good reasons why you might. Here are 4 of them. We’ll make sure your teeth are healthy first. Your teeth may need some attention first, such […]
An estimated 35 million people in the United States are missing all of their teeth on at least one jaw. Your situation may not be as serious — perhaps you’ve only lost one tooth. But even one missing tooth could eventually impact the health of underlying bone or other teeth — and it can certainly mar an otherwise attractive smile. Depending on other health factors, you could be an ideal candidate for a dental implant […]
When is the best time to floss your teeth: Morning? Bedtime? How about: whenever and wherever the moment feels right? For Cam Newton, award-winning NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, the answer is clearly the latter. During the third quarter of the 2016 season-opener between his team and the Denver Broncos, TV cameras focused on Newton as he sat on the bench. The 2015 MVP was clearly seen stretching a string of dental floss between […]