EVERY PARENT KNOWS that getting your child to do certain things like eat their veggies, clean their room and even brush their teeth can be difficult! But the reality is that tooth decay is the number one disease affecting young children today. To combat this, kids need to learn and love to brush their teeth early on in their lives. Our goal is to help your children maintain bright, healthy smiles and help them learn early the importance of good oral hygiene. Let’s Catch Up On Some Of The Basics Your child’s first dental visit should be when their first tooth appears, or around their first birthday. Once teeth emerge, you can start brushing them. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a child-sized toothbrush and only a smear of toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice). When two teeth begin to touch, it is time to start flossing! From the ages of three to six,

THROUGHOUT LIFE PEOPLE get regular prostate exams, mammograms and colonoscopies. These preventative health care exams are extremely important for detecting any abnormalities–including cancer–early, so they can be treated as soon as possible. These exams save lives. So do oral cancer screenings. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand that a regular oral cancer screening is just as important as these other preventative exams. We want our patients to know that coming in to see us every six months isn’t just to make sure you don’t have cavities; it can actually save your life. The Truth About Oral Cancer There are 400,000 people throughout the world who are diagnosed with oral cancer every year–in the U.S. alone, that’s about 100 new cases every day. Oral cancer is a particularly deadly cancer, as only about half of oral cancer patients survive five years past their diagnosis. These statistics are frightening, but there is some good news: early detection

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED why there are certain foods that taste bad after brushing your teeth in the morning? Most of us have experienced that bitter sensation a time or two, but what exactly causes it? Your Mint Toothpaste Flavor Isn’t To Blame It’s a common misconception that mint-flavored toothpaste causes the bad taste when eating that first meal after brushing. In reality, it’s a chemical found in most toothpastes called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or other variants like sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These compounds are known as surfactants, which are what make your toothpaste foam making it easier to spread the toothpaste around evenly as you brush. https://youtu.be/WjeFW6Bda7s   Surfactants Affect Your Tastebuds Surfactants like SLS affect your tastebuds in a couple of different ways. First, it suppresses receptors that pick up the sweet taste in food and drinks. This is why some foods just taste a little more bland if you’ve recently brushed

SALIVA IS ESSENTIAL not only for our oral health, but for our overall comfort. We all experience a dry mouth every once in awhile and know how bothersome it can be. But what does it mean? And what should we do if it persists?   Saliva Has An Important Role In Our Oral Health Our bodies are constantly producing saliva to provide our mouths with moisture–we generate two to four pints of saliva a day! Saliva helps with digestion and allows to not only taste but process food. It also protects our mouths by washing away food debris and strengthening our teeth against cavities! Dry Mouth Can Be Caused By A Number Of Things Dry mouth occurs when salivary glands are not working properly resulting in an inadequate flow of saliva. It can leave us feeling thirsty and hoarse and our mouths sticky and uncomfortable. We may have problems speaking or trouble tasting

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER than seeing a child’s smile light up a room. Parents understand the importance of keeping that smile healthy by regularly visiting the dentist, some children are a bit apprehensive about making that first visit. There Are Many Potential Causes For A Child’s Dental Anxiety There may be several reasons why your little one isn’t too excited about going to see the dentist. It could be fear of the unknown, or maybe a friend or a sibling has told them a scary story about what happens during a dental visit. A parent’s own apprehension about visiting the dentist can even influence their child’s opinion about their upcoming dental exam. Whatever the case may be, we want to help you prepare your child for his or her upcoming visit and help to relieve some of that stress! Here are some Tips To Help Them Prepare For Their Next Visit! Start

SO, YOU WANT TO whiten your teeth. You’re definitely not alone! In fact, when the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry asked what people would most like to improve about their smile, the most common response was whiter teeth. There Are Several Teeth Whitening Options With so many teeth whitening products on the market, you may be left scratching your head as to which one you should choose. As with any type of treatment, it’s important to know all the facts so you can make the best choice for you and your unique smile! Some of the most common teeth whitening options are: • Whitening toothpastes • Tray-based tooth whiteners • Whitening strips and gels Whitening Is Safest And Most Effective When Supervised By A Dentist You should always consult with your dentist before deciding to whiten, as this cosmetic procedure isn’t for everyone. There are also many benefits to whitening