Oral Conditions

If you are like many of the people in the U.S. that have periodontal disease, it’s important to be aware of risks and symptoms to preserve the longevity of your teeth. Some may refer to periodontal disease as a silent killer because it can creep up on you. Unless you are going for regular general dentistry cleanings, you may neglect the mild symptoms that truly suggest the advent of a much bigger problem to come. The signs of periodontal disease […]

Did you ever have a dry, uncomfortable feeling in your mouth? If so, it may be dry mouth syndrome, also known as xerostomia. Check out the top ten things you should know about dry mouth! The common signs of dry mouth syndrome are: a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth, insufficient or thick saliva, a rough dry tongue, bad breath, difficulty swallowing or talking, cracked lips ‘The three leading causes for dry mouth syndrome are: medications, medical conditions and stress. […]

Have you ever sipped on a cold beverage and cringed? Have you experienced tings of pain when brushing your teeth? Have you awakened from tooth grinding to be bothered by the chill of your teeth? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from sensitive teeth.  Tooth sensitivity affects approximately 45 million people. So, rest assured you are not alone. Sensitive teeth can affect you if you have gum recession or exposed dentin on your […]

Oral health is particularly important for people that are diabetic.  As you know from your elementary school days, sugar adversely affects the health of teeth. Now we are beginning to understand that there is an irrefutable link between diabetes and oral health for the almost 24 million diabetics in America. Oral health studies have shown that diabetes increases the likelihood of contracting gum disease (link to story). If you contract gum disease, your teeth may pull away from the gums, […]

Do you wake up with a sore jaw or headache? Have you noticed that your teeth have changed shape? Do you feel that there’s more space between your teeth?  Do you feel that your teeth are loose? Do you have TMD or TMJ? Do you suffer from unexplained hearing loss? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may suffer from teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. Teeth grinding can be particularly problematic because the condition may […]

Fighting off bio films is the latest number one health priority among many dentists today. First, let’s clear this up- what are biofilms? Biofilms are an unhealthy layer of bacteria pathogens, fungi and poisonous microbes that form in the gums and mouth. Research has mounted to prove that biofilms can enter the body, cause inflammation and contribute to several diseases. Biofilm Pathways When biofilms are found in the mouth, they can localize in pockets between gum tissue and teeth which […]

Bad breath affects approximately 90 million people, according to WebMD. There may be refuge in knowing that you are among many who have suffered from bad breath. Yet, this is no conciliation when contending with odorous breath. The conversation, the kiss, sleeping with your partner at night and waking up together in the morning may be inhibited by bad breath. Certainly, there are bad breath gums, refreshing sprays and toothpastes that may mask bad breath. However, it’s important to get […]

Dental plaque is the colorless, filmy buildup of invisible germs found around and on our teeth. If it sounds like a horror story, it actually can be! Plaque can cause problems far beyond our mouths. Technically, Streptococcus mutans (what we commonly know as strep, as in a strep throat) and bacteria are the microorganisms that find a welcome, wet place to grow on our teeth. These microorganisms cause havoc without proper oral hygiene. The “extracellular matrix” is also a part […]

Fear of dentistry affects up to 75% of people in the United States, according to Wikipedia. Fear of dentistry may be because of the anticipation of injections to come. The fear may relate to the images of dental technology, the odors in the office, or the sounds of the technology being used in the office. The root cause of fear may be associated with a prior experience in a dental office. To make matters worse, dental fear may build when […]