A healthy smiles begins with the health of your oral tissues, including the healthy functioning of your salivary glands. Believe it or not, saliva is an essential part of your healthy smile. This clear liquid, made mostly of water mixed with mucus, glycoproteins, electrolytes, enzymes and antibacterial compounds, travels through tubes in the mouth from your salivary glands. These glands... read more »

The microscopic mineral crystals of tooth enamel make it very strong. However, it’s not unheard of for something like a hard fall or a blow to the face to cause cracks chips, or fractures in tooth enamel. If you feel pain inside the tooth, the damage might extend deep into the internal structures. Sometimes the damage doesn’t extend to the... read more »

You’ve cared for your teeth for years, but how much do you know about them? For example, are you able to name the four different types of teeth? Similarly, do you know what function each of the different teeth serve? Finally, do you know exactly what the structure of the tooth itself is? Generally, every mouth has four types of... read more »

Gum disease happens when the gum tissue surrounding your pearly whites pull back from the tooth and exposing the tooth and tooth roots. As this occurs, gaps begin to form between the teeth and the gum line, allowing the buildup of harmful plaque-causing bacteria in these “pockets”. As this plaque hardens, it can cause long-term problems including tooth loss. How... read more »

If you’ve ever felt like your tongue is on fire, you could be dealing with burning mouth syndrome. You may have to deal with discomfort in the morning, all day, or sporadic pain. Burning mouth syndrome—also known as burning tongue syndrome—can cause a burning sensation in your gums, lips, throat, or mouth. Many patients also experience dry mouth, increased thirst,... read more »

Your mouth is one of the most fascinating parts of your body. Not only does it house your pearly whites and gums, your tongue and throat, but it also houses millions of bacteria! In the average adult, anywhere from 100 to 200 species of bacteria may live in your mouth. If you take good care of your teeth, you will... read more »

As Christmas quickly approaches, it’s time to start wrapping up your Christmas shopping. But before you do so, consider giving the gift of dental care this holiday season! These four dental gifts will keep your loved ones smiling for a lifetime: 1. An electric toothbrush: Electric toothbrushes are great tools that make brushing easy, convenient, and enjoyable. They even help... read more »

Do you have toothaches often? Does one tooth seem to hurt frequently? Do you know why that may be or what you can do to prevent toothaches? Did you know that if you don’t brush your teeth and floss every day you could be putting your smile at greater risk? In fact, most toothaches are caused by tooth decay—which can... read more »

As you eat the turkey, ham, rolls, and pie covering your kitchen table, your smile is in danger, and it’s important that you do everything you can to enjoy the holiday all while maintaining the health of your smile. To help you do so, we strongly recommend doing the following things: Drink a lot of water If you drink a... read more »

Many people do not realize that in addition to helping children eat and speak properly, primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into their correct positions. This occurs because the permanent teeth develop under the primary teeth. Your child’s first baby tooth will grow in between six and twelve months of age. By the time he or she is three years... read more »