If your tooth edges look flat or you occasionally wake up with jaw soreness, you may be grinding your teeth while your sleep. Nighttime teeth grinding is a habit of one-third of Americans and employs ten times the force of normal chewing. Not surprisingly, it contributes to problems such as… Read More…
Occasionally, a patient will balk at replacing a back tooth when he or she loses one. As a dentist, I know the important role of every tooth in an adult mouth, which goes far beyond esthetics. When a tooth is lost, so is its ability to help the teeth on… Read More…
These days, I often find myself staring at my microwave, impatiently waiting the 60 seconds needed for a cup of steaming hot tea. I have to remind myself that I used to wait far longer to boil water on the stove for the same thing. It seems we have grown… Read More…
Ice-cream, hot coffee, steamy cocoa, or chilly chocolate pudding. If any of these send a shiver down your back from anticipating a jolt of pain in your mouth, then you likely have tooth sensitivity. Some sensitivity is caused by exposed tooth roots. This often occurs from over-zealous brushing or using… Read More…
Once upon a time, if you had pain, you took aspirin. Now, drug options have greatly expanded. For most mild to moderate pain, over-the-counter pain relievers, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen are the first choice. Because these medications do not require a prescription, many assume they are safe…. Read More…
If you can’t figure out why you have frequent headaches, you may want to visit a dentist who is trained in neuromuscular dentistry. As a neuromuscular dentist, I have advanced training with unique knowledge to treat TMJ issues and bite misalignment that contribute to headaches, migraines, clenching and grinding teeth,… Read More…
I recently saw a new patient who suspected he was having TMJ problems due to frequent headaches. During our initial conversation, I learned that he’d seen 3 different dentists over the past 4 years. He had jumped around because, as he explained, he kept seeing new patient specials that were… Read More…
When I was in grade school, we used to sing a song that went, “The head bone’s connected to the neck bone, and the neck bone’s connected to the shoulder bone, and the shoulder bone’s connected …” while touching each body part as we sang. While this gave us a… Read More…
A beautiful smile has many benefits. It enhances your facial appearance, makes you look (and often, feel) more outgoing and confident, and typically causes people to smile more, which projects a positive, upbeat personality. If your teeth are crowded or crooked, the natural way to a beautiful smile is by… Read More…
When your teeth are properly aligned, your smile looks more attractive. Straight teeth are also easier to keep clean. With teeth in proper alignment, food is less likely to become trapped. When it does, it is typically easily dislodged with thorough brushing techniques. Crowded, crooked teeth not only detract from… Read More…
