Articles

Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums Tooth decay and gum disease can be prevented! Usually, tooth decay and gum disease occur because teeth and gums are not properly cleaned. Your teeth are covered with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Plaque builds up after you eat and when you sleep. The bacteria inContinue reading “Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums”

Tooth Erosion The harmful effects of acid What is tooth erosion? Enamel (e-NAM-ul) is the hardest outside layer of your tooth that protects a softer inner layer. Tooth erosion (ee-ROW-zhun) happens when the enamel begins to wear away, exposing the inner layer of the tooth, called dentin. When the enamel thins out, your tooth protection is weakened andContinue reading “Tooth Erosion”

Scaling and Root Planing A Treatment for Gum Disease Periodontal Disease Is Also Known as Gum Disease Periodontal (perry-o-DON-tal) disease is a bacterial infection leading to inflammation of the tissues that support your teeth. It’s also called gum disease. When your gums are healthy, your gum tissues tightly hug each of your teeth. When youContinue reading “Scaling and Root Planing”

Sealant Quick Reference Tooth decay often occurs on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The good news is that sealants can help protect these surfaces from tooth decay and improve your chances to stay filling-free. What causes tooth decay? Your teeth are coated with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque (pronounced PLACK). The bacteria convertContinue reading “Sealant Quick Reference”

Sipping, Snacking and Decay Do you sip soft drinks or other sugary drinks all day at your desk? Do you use breath mints or eat candy often? Instead of eating meals, do you snack all day? Do you often grab a sports or energy drink when you are tired? If you answered yes to anyContinue reading “Sipping, Snacking and Decay”

Should You Take Antibiotics before Your Dental Treatment? Most dental patients should not take preventive antibiotics before treatment Antibiotic prophylaxis (pro-fuh-LAX-is) is when patients take antibiotics before dental treatment to prevent infection. This step is recommended for very few patients. In the past, anyone who had an orthopedic implant like a hip or knee replacement,Continue reading “Should You Take Antibiotics before Your Dental Treatment?”

Handling Your Child’s Dental Emergency Save this information Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can make the difference between saving and losing your child’s tooth. Read this page and then bookmark it so you can quickly and calmly handle a dental emergency. Knocked-out tooth Go to the dentist right away. It’s best to seeContinue reading “Handling Your Child’s Dental Emergency”

Oral Health and the HPV Vaccine Oropharyngeal cancer can be hard to spot because it develops in places that are hard to see. Signs and symptoms to look out for include: A sore throat that doesn’t go away or the feeling that something is caught in your throat Lumps or thickening tissues along the neckContinue reading “Oral Health and the HPV Vaccine”

Healthy Smiles for Mother and Baby Good oral health habits not only help prevent problems during pregnancy, but they can also benefit the health of your baby. Before Your Baby Arrives Eat a Healthy Diet What you eat during pregnancy affects the growth of your unborn child — including their teeth. Your baby’s teeth begin toContinue reading “Healthy Smiles for Mother and Baby”