Intrinsic discoloration occurs below the surface of the teeth, and can be caused by a childhood illness, medications, aging, tooth trauma, or infection. Whitening for intrinsic discoloration requires professional assistance.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. The ADA also recommends brushing your teeth with your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums and to gently move the toothbrush in short back and forth strokes.
Brushing once a day, while good, isn't good enough. It's really important to brush in the morning after getting out of bed to wash away what's accumulated in your mouth overnight, and then again at night to brush away all that's built up during the day.
In the Dark Ages, there was a belief that replacing a lost tooth with someone else’s tooth would cause the lost tooth to grow back. Strangely enough, teeth that were derived from hanged criminals were believed to be the most effective.
As an alternative to oral sedation, an IV drip is also available. This method involves a controlled flow of the sedative into a vein, and its effects appear quickly. This method may be used for longer dental procedures as it allow the dentist to regulate the amount of sedative received.
Did you know that dental lasers can be used to locate cavities well before they appear on x-rays or begin to cause symptoms? Dental lasers can also reveal how the surrounding areas of a cavity are affected and the exact level of tooth decay which may be present.
Dental floss can be a lot handier than you think. How so, you ask? Well, in the mid-1990s, a prisoner in West Virginia was able to braid it into a rope and use it to scale the walls and escape. We don't recommend trying this.
Dentists give patients that extra boost in self-confidence. Did you know that one of the things people notice when meeting someone for the first time is their smile? Your dentist makes sure your smile isn’t just beautiful but also healthy!
You might be surprised to know that tooth decay, also known as cavities, is the second most common disease in the United States. The common cold is the first.
Hesi-Re was the earliest known dentist, and lived 5000 years ago in Egypt. Lucy Beaman Hobbs is credited as being the first female dentist in 1866, while Irene Newman became the first female dental hygienist in 1905.
Fear of dentists is quite common. However, we do our best to make your visit to our clinic as pleasant and comfortable as possible. We work with you to help remove fears associated with dental treatments.
Is it better to place a cap over the bristles of a toothbrush after each use? Absolutely not. In fact, caps should be avoided on toothbrushes because the caps trap moisture and heat and can create a perfect environment for bacterial growth.
If you are undergoing certain medical treatments (chemotherapy, hormone replacement, or radiation), it is important to make and keep appointments with the dentist. These procedures can damage the teeth and gums if not treated quickly and properly.
Can you really whiten your teeth on your own? Somewhat. Over-the-counter whitening products may lighten stains like coffee and tea, but the color of the tooth will not change. That's a job for a professional.
If you don’t like to visit the dentist unless there’s something wrong with your teeth, you could be sacrificing the health of your gums. Let’s talk about how coming in for a cleaning every six months can help you avoid periodontal disease.
Resist the urge to give your infant juice in his or her bottle. The sugar content in the juice can spur tooth decay, even at that age. And, if your child dozes off with the bottle, it can cause other oral problems.
Did you know it was customary during the middle ages to kiss a donkey if someone had a toothache? Thankfully, we have much better alternatives today!
To become a general dentist, one must first finish an appropriate bachelor's degree, followed by a four-year stint in dental school. After earning a degree, the new dentist is then required to take a licensure exam in order to be able to start practicing.
If you'd like to restore your teeth's whiteness, your best bet would be to ask your dentist about professional whitening. Depending on your needs, your dentist will be able to recommend a treatment that will give you the best, longest-lasting results.
Did you know that chewing ice and hard candies can actually cause you to break your teeth over time? Therefore, it is important to avoid these activities if you want to maintain the health of your teeth.
There’s no question that the partial eruption of wisdom teeth can be painful and involve a time-consuming extraction. In many cases, the use of our laser can simplify the extraction process.
A healthy diet makes for a healthy mouth. Eating fruits and vegetables keeps your teeth clean by scraping some of the plaque and bacteria off of them.