What's Up with My Silver Fillings?

March 21, 2008

Most of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s have at least some, if not a mouthful, of silver fillings. Some are finding these fillings, known as Silver Amalgam fillings, to be causing problems. Fillings are falling out, loosening, or teeth are cracking around them as decay has crept in over the [...]

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Options for Teeth Straightening

March 21, 2008

These days, there are many choices for adults who are considering teeth straightening, and to comfort you, none of them involve those thick metal bands that wrap around every single tooth. Ceramic braces? Invisalign? Traditional metal? Self-ligating brackets? Or Lingual braces? The options are pretty varied and can be confusing.
The type of braces you choose, [...]

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Thrush: Not Just for Babies

March 19, 2008

Thrush, or Candidiasis, normally is a fungal infection associated with little babies, but it's actually something adults get as well. Classic symptoms are white patches in the mouth, on the tongue, and inside of the cheeks.
Tissue around the white patches may be pretty painful, red and raw. If scraped, even while tooth [...]

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Feeling a Little Parched? Check with Your Dentist

March 18, 2008

 
There are more than 400 medications in use today that produce dry mouth. And while that may make you feel slightly thirsty, the real problem with dry mouth is that it stops saliva from circulating among gums and teeth. Without saliva gums and teeth become susceptible to decay and infection caused by bacteria and plaque [...]

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Periodontal disease is no laughing matter

March 17, 2008

Periodontal disease is no laughing matter, especially in its advanced stages.
 
You may already know that periodontal disease occurs when bacteria, brought in by plaque, is allowed to collect and fester below the gum line – where it slowly infects the tissue that surrounds the teeth and holds them in place. But if left untreated [...]

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Don't know if you have gum disease? Try the Spaghetti Test

March 16, 2008

Do you know all you need to know about gum health? Most people don’t.
 
So if you aren’t sure about your gum healthy, here are the basics.
 
When gums are completely healthy, they are a light pink and the fit tightly against the base of your teeth. They also feel strong and secure whether you [...]

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Oral Cancer, Tobacco and Too Much Sun

March 15, 2008

I'm probably the only father around who has taught his kids to take steps in minimizing the risk of oral cancer.
It was great when my kids were growing up to encourage them to stay away from any kind of tobacco product: cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars, or even smokeless varieties like snuff or chewing [...]

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What Exactly Is Gum Disease?

March 14, 2008

I think sometimes there is confusion as to the difference between Gum Disease, Gingivitis and Periodontitis. The three are actually one in the same.
Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults, and there are two major stages of it: Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
Gingivitis is the early stage [...]

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Don't Let Fear Keep You From Seeing a Dentist

March 13, 2008

Some people are so afraid of going to the dentist, that they have not been to one in years. I just spent some time with a patient the other day that has not seen a dentist in more than 10 years because she is so scared.
If you work yourself up into a tizzy at [...]

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Ouch! When to See a Dentist for a Canker Sore

March 12, 2008

Sometimes even something as small as a canker sore needs to be looked at by a dental professional.
Canker sores are different than cold sores, but sometimes people confuse the two. Canker sores are not contagious as all, while cold sores are highly contagious. A canker sore shows itself as a small bump or [...]

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