Dental Tips
The Signs of Gingivitis
Gingivitis is known as the early stage of gum disease. Gum disease is a serious condition that affects the soft tissues surrounding your teeth. Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer from gum disease, which is preventable for most patients. Before gum disease, known as periodontal disease sets in, it can be seen in the early signs of gingivitis. Some of the signs of gingivitis include gums that bleed easily, bad breath, and red, swollen, and tender gums. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then a trip to the dentist is warranted. There are many things that can cause … Continue reading
What a Dentist Can Tell by Looking in Your Mouth
When your dentist looks into your mouth, teeth are not the only things they see. In fact, your dentist can tell a great deal about your health by looking into your mouth. Many dentists call the mouth the window to the body, and rightfully so. Just by looking into your mouth, your dentist has the ability to diagnose you with a variety of illnesses. There are many different things that a dentist can tell just by having you say “ahhh,” but here is a list of a few of them. 1. Pregnancy When your dentist is examining your mouth he … Continue reading
What Smoking Does to Your Oral Health
We all know that smoking is bad for our health. For years, smoking was seen as a trendy, social activity, but then the truth came out about its cancer causing carcinogens. Now, people who smoke run a high risk of illness and disease as well as poor overall health. It is most commonly associated with its negative effects on our respiratory health. In fact, the CDC reports, that in 2011, 156,953 people died from lung cancer. While you may be aware of how bad smoking is for the lungs, you may not realize how bad it is for the mouth. … Continue reading
Social Anxiety and Teeth Grinding
Thousands of people suffer from anxiety; in fact, it is fairly common for people to suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders usually affect the lives of sufferers in many ways and can be very difficult to manage. But, something that anxiety sufferers may not have realized is that their anxiety could be affecting their oral health. Roughly one in six adult Americans are affected by an anxiety disorder, and this number encompasses anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. A new study done by Tel Aviv University researchers found that anxiety … Continue reading
The Impressive Roots of Dentistry: Centuries-Old Evidence of Natural Fillings
Dentistry is not a modern invention but an ancient form of medicine practiced by our ancestors. About 100 years ago, a 6,500 year-old man’s jaw was found in Slovenia. However, it was only recently that close examination revealed a layer of beeswax lodged in one of his teeth. Although this is not the first known evidence of dental work, this is the oldest discovery of a therapeutic dental filling to date and possibly the most ancient example of prehistoric dentistry in Europe. Researchers are now searching for similar cases in other Neolithic remains. If evidence can be found showing that … Continue reading
New Material May Fight Cavities, Gum Disease
The dreadful buildup of bacteria is always an issue we are concerned about with our oral health. With new research, however, there may be a new material out there that can help to fight gum diseases and prevent cavities! The material graphene oxide is known to be extremely effective at eliminating certain types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria! This new study is published in the ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal, and has found that although dentists are giving patients old-fashioned antibiotics that are aimed to eliminate bacteria buildup, there has been an increase in antibiotic resistance. If this so called material … Continue reading
Why You Should Probably Switch to an Electric Toothbrush
If you are using a regular toothbrush you’ve probably wondered at least once if you should switch to an electric toothbrush. If you’re using an electric brush you’ve probably wondered if you really need one. Both are legitimate concerns as you will see. In the most general terms it is probably better to have an electronic toothbrush. Research has shown that a group using an electric tooth brush had 20% less plaque than a group using a manual toothbrush. This research was done almost 20 years ago, by now electric toothbrush technology has probably reached a point where there is … Continue reading
Filling Fun
Getting a filling isn’t usually a fun endeavor, in fact, most people hate it, but if you have to get a filling then you might as well know what you’re working with. There are a lot of materials to choose from when getting a filling. It is important to keep in mind all of your options when choosing what is best for your oral health. Composite fillings: Composite fillings are great because they can be matched to the normal color of your teeth. They are great for cavities that are small or medium in size and for teeth that do … Continue reading
Will Whitening Harm Your Teeth?
Repeated use of whitening strips might sound dangerous to your teeth, but, according to dental professionals, there is no harm to using whitening strips over time. Dr. Denis Kinane, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine said in a New York Times article that, “There is no indication that frequent, long-term use of teeth whitening strips cause damage.” This means that you don’t need to fear your whitening strips anymore. While some patients experience sensitivity to whitening due to sensitive teeth or issues with thinning enamel, most patients are fine using whitening strips for long-term periods. In … Continue reading
The Impact of Pacifier Use on Your Baby’s Teeth
There are a few benefits to giving babies pacifiers. The research has shown that pacifiers can actually help reduce the incidences of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Babies who suck on pacifiers while they sleep don’t fall asleep as deeply as those who don’t suck on pacifiers. This means that if the baby stops breathing while sleeping they can more easily wake themselves up and start breathing again.In addition to reducing the chance of SIDS, pacifiers also help provide comfort reducing a baby’s anxiety and stress levels.But for all of the benefits, here are dental implications of using a pacifier. … Continue reading
