If you want to make a dental hygienist laugh, show them stock photos of people flossing their teeth. Almost all of the models hold the floss like they have no real idea of how it works. Of course, that doesn’t present a problem for them. They’re models, after all,...
While tooth enamel is the strongest tissue in the human body, it’s not invulnerable. Sugars and acids in what you eat and drink can erode it. So can habitual clenching and grinding, not to mention acid reflux, bulimia, and even some medications. Still, your body is...
Many folks think that if they just swap out sugary foods and drinks for their sugar-free counterparts, they’re in the clear. Yet many of the most common artificial sweeteners just present other challenges to your health. It was a point made clear this month when the...
Most people know that soda is murder for your teeth. (Whether that makes a person think twice about knocking back a Dr. Pepper or Fanta or Coke is another story.) But in the event that you don’t, a quick demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGnBNKxAhi8 But...
When scrolling through your feed or browsing the news, it’s hard to ignore headlines about bizarre class action suits. How can you not roll your eyes or shake your head when you see that someone sued Kellogg’s for not having enough strawberries in their strawberry...
When you come into our office for your regular cleanings, you may notice that we don’t just use a single tool to get the job done. We use many. Scalers help remove plaque and debris from your teeth. Curettes clear plaque below the gum line. We use polishers and floss,...
If you’ve got gum disease - and about half of all adult Americans (and 70% of seniors) do - one of the very best things you can do to get it under control is to improve your diet. That means swapping out the sugars and other refined carbs for a more nutrient-dense,...
Over the past couple months, we’ve looked at the role that certain botanicals - tea tree oil, lemongrass, and more - can play in improving or maintaining good oral health. Now, let’s close out this series with a brief look at one more: cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are...
Last time, we looked at how tea tree oil can improve gum health, but it’s hardly the only essential oil with that power. In fact, many oils have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that make them great options for improving or sustaining good oral health....
Chlorhexidine is a powerful antimicrobial rinse that a periodontist or oral surgeon might prescribe to control infection. It’s effective stuff, to be sure. But it has its drawbacks. For one it’s notorious for staining teeth and can also affect your sense of taste,...