Whether your Halloween plans include hosting a party, going to a haunted house, or taking your kids trick-or-treating, the last thing you want is for a dental injury to get in the way. The good news is that chipped teeth, broken restorations, and painful toothaches are often preventable – even during the season of sugar. With this in mind, keep reading for five easy tips that will help you avoid oral health problems during Halloween!

While showing a little extra gum tissue in your smile isn’t an oral health problem, you may feel a little self-conscious about it. Everyone’s smile is different, so some people show less gum tissue than average, some people show more, and some even have uneven gumlines. In any of these cases, a patient may be able to achieve a smile they can feel confident with through gum recontouring treatments from their dentist. Here’s a brief guide to how gum recontouring works and the benefits it can deliver.

A little wear and tear on your smile as you age is completely normal. Small chips and cracks, stains, and missing teeth all contribute to an older appearance. In the past, you’d be hard-pressed to find a good solution. However, with the advanced dental technology of today, you can easily turn back the clock on your smile. Dental implants, beyond their functional benefits, can also affect your facial aesthetics and help you look younger.

If you want to learn more about the anti-aging benefits of dental implants, continue reading.

Few people have straight teeth naturally. Gaps, overcrowding, and other alignment issues can be a source of embarrassment; however, they can also affect your dental health and quality of life. Poorly aligned teeth are more difficult to keep clean, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease. If your teeth aren’t aligned, it can affect your bite, which can lead to a TMJ disorder and damaged teeth. Braces have been used for generations to fix bite and alignment problems, but Invisalign is also effective. Choosing an orthodontic system is a big decision. Here’s how to choose between metal braces and Invisalign.

(more…)

October isn’t just about costumes and candy. It’s also about taking care of your teeth and gums so they can be healthy for the rest of your life. When you’re having your Halloween fun this month, remember that excellent oral hygiene will keep your fangs healthy for when you go out haunting next year. Here are three habits for a daily hygiene routine that will keep your teeth in tip-top shape year-round!

“Use it or lose it.” You may have heard this phrase before for many reasons, but in regard to dental insurance, it’s a critical reminder. Dental insurance is designed to help you maintain your oral health by covering a portion of your dental care costs. However, your benefits are typically offered on an annual basis, meaning they don’t roll over. 

One of the best ways to ensure you’re maximizing the benefits you pay for is to get regular dental checkups and fillings. But why are fillings so important? Continue reading to find out. 

Summer, the season of sun-kissed adventures and blissful getaways, is fast approaching. If you’re gearing up for an upcoming summer vacation, remember to put your dental health at the top of your priority list. Before embarking on your exciting adventure, consider scheduling a visit to your dentist. This offers a multitude of benefits, guaranteeing a vacation filled with smiles and worry-free fun. Keep reading to learn about four reasons why you should see your dentist before summer vacation.

During the warmer months, you want to spend time having B-B-Qs with friends, traveling, working on your tan, eating all of your favorite summer foods, and catching up on the latest binge-worthy Netflix show, not sitting in your dentist’s treatment chair. Fortunately, there are several smile-enhancing treatments that have a quick-turnaround time, don’t require any changes to your diet, and deliver beautiful results. With this in mind, keep reading to learn four cosmetic dental treatments that are perfect for summer!

Cosmetic dentistry allows your dentist to completely transform the look of your smile, fixing any of a wide variety of cosmetic flaws that you might be dealing with. However, the field is so expansive that it can be hard for the average person to navigate.

The best part of a cosmetic dental consultation is being able to get a sense of your dentist and what they’re capable of. If you have one coming up, however, you might not know what questions would be best to ask. If you’re curious, here are some you should probably consider.

Have you started noticing any swelling or redness in your gums? If so, this may be an indication of gum disease. This is fairly common, as about half of Americans older than 30 are struggling with this condition. That said, with so many misconceptions roaming about the internet, it can be challenging to know what to believe about this situation. Read on to learn about four common gum disease myths and why they simply aren’t true.