It makes sense that bacteria grow in environments that are warm, moist and dark. We learned this in high school science classes. ‘Warm, moist and dark’ pretty much describes the ‘oral cavity’ (which includes the teeth, soft gum tissues, palate and tongue). So, it may seem odd that a ‘dry… Read More…

“If I could turn back the hands of time, I’d have taken much better care of my teeth.” This is a statement I hear often from patients who have worn a full or partial denture for years. While preventing decay and gum disease generally takes mere minutes a day, the… Read More…

While most of us realize that having straight teeth is an advantage to one’s appearance, an often-overlooked advantage is that of improved oral health. When teeth are in proper alignment, brushing and flossing can clean those tough-to-reach nooks and tight angles. This helps to keep oral bacteria to a minimum,… Read More…

Imagine a house sitting on a foundation that is cracked and rotten. Eventually, the entire structure would suffer. Your smile is like that, too. The foundation of teeth? Your gums! The gums cover arched protrusions from the upper and lower jaws. These arches, or ‘ridges,’ are what support natural tooth… Read More…

It’s human nature to want to delay things that aren’t easy, pleasurable or seemingly high priority. Tending to dental needs is often an easy one to delay since, as is all too common to assume, “if it doesn’t hurt, then nothing is wrong.” This assumption is what allows small problems… Read More…

Not counting wisdom teeth, the adult mouth is designed to house 32 natural teeth. Yet, for American adults over the age of 65, the average number of teeth is less than 19. In this age group, there is little difference in this statistic between males and females. Over 27 percent… Read More…

We all want to eat a healthy diet. We don’t always do that but we know that it’s what keeps us healthy and helps us fight off illness and infection. Your oral health is just as dependent on a healthy diet as the rest of you. And, some foods and… Read More…

Let’s say you have several pictures you want to display side by side on a wall. Imagine that they’re each held in a different frame. Although the pictures are of a similar theme, some of the frames are simple, thin types while others are varying sizes, colors and degrees of… Read More…

Some patients are surprised when we tell them they have early-stage periodontal (gum) disease. This is because gum disease, in many instances, begins without obvious symptoms. When it comes to our oral health, there is a misconception by many people that “If it doesn’t hurt, then everything is fine.” For… Read More…

It’s still September, so you may be surprised to see me addressing smile tips for the year’s end. However, NOW is the BEST time to be thinking of your smile’s appearance and how to maximize your dental dollars. Let’s start with some recommendations that can help you stretch your dental… Read More…