You visit your dentist’s office once or twice a year for a cleaning because you know it’s important, but did you know that visiting your dentist does more than protect your mouth? Surprisingly, dentists can be the first line of defense in identifying signs of serious diseases. Read on to discover the symptoms dentists are trained to watch for and the variety of diseases they can detect. Heart Disease If you have loose teeth and gums with lots of inflammation, you most likely have gum

Pregnancy causes major changes to a woman’s body and health. These same hormonal changes can also cause concern for the health of your teeth. Many women are able to get through a full-term pregnancy without dental issues. However, pregnancy can cause old issues to get worse and cause new issues to pop up. During pregnancy, it is important to get regular dental check-ups and make an appointment with a dentist if any issues arise. The following are a few important issues to watch for. Pregnancy

When you are sick with the cold or the flu, your entire body may feel sore, including your teeth. Sinus inflammation is the primary cause of most illness related tooth pain. The upper molars on both sides of the mouth are positioned directly underneath the maxillary sinuses. The nerves of the teeth are extremely sensitive to any type of pain or pressure. When the sinuses are full and causing pressure, or when there is inflammation of the lining of the sinuses, this will often cause

The desire to achieve a whiter, brighter smile has been long been plagued by DIY methods to accomplish this goal, some of which are more detrimental than good. It’s important to research trends as they pique your interest and talk to a professional if necessary. One such recent, popular teeth whitening trend involves using activated charcoal. Consumers purchase activated charcoal caps from their local market and combine them into a paste before brushing with the mixture. After leaving it on for 3-5 minutes, they then wash

Veneers are one of the best ways to improve your smile. These cosmetic treatments are readily available, take only one or two appointments and can have a huge impact on the look of your teeth. Find out if veneers are right for you. Basics of Veneers Like the veneers used in fine furniture, veneers for the teeth are thin coverings used to hide what’s underneath. They come in two forms: resin composites, which are a type of moldable plastic, and porcelain shell veneers. Porcelain veneers

I recently returned from an Invisalign course in Denver, and I’m still invigorated from all the information. Two intense days of learning about the latest innovations in aligners might sound like punishment to some, but for me, it was exhilarating. I never tire of learning how to improve care for my patients. I seek out many continuing education courses throughout the year, but this one really stood out. I was lucky to attend. This wasn’t a course where you could just register, write a check, and

Your wedding is going to be one of the biggest days in your life. The photographs you take will last a lifetime and allow you to reminisce on this amazingly special event. You also want to make sure that you look perfect for the big day, whether you’re the bride or the groom. If your teeth are misaligned and you find that you tend to avoid smiling altogether because of the way you look, just imagine how this will look on the big day. We

If you are an adult who needs an option for straightening your teeth, you are not alone. There are different option available to you. One of those is traditional braces, but if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of metal and wire, there are better alternatives in the form of Invisalign and Six Month Smiles. However, how do you know which of these to choose? Knowing the difference between Invisalign and Six Month Smiles can help you decide. What is Invisalign? Most people

One of today’s most common dental procedures, wisdom teeth extraction is done either in a dentist’s office or hospital. Depending upon how many of the teeth are being extracted, a dentist will give either a local or general anesthetic to control pain during the procedure. Surgery To remove the teeth, the dentist opens the gum tissue around each tooth, then removes any bone that may be covering the tooth. To finish the procedure, the dentist will then separate the tissue that connects the tooth to

Children get toothaches for a variety of reasons that span from mild to severe. The most important thing at the beginning is to not appear too anxious while you are trying to determine the source of the problem. Your anxiety can make your child unnecessarily anxious as well. Instead, as calmly as possible, follow these steps when your child complains of a toothache: Help Your Child Floss Sometimes the source of the pain is simply a tiny piece of food stuck between your child’s teeth.