From the monthly archives:

August 2011

Save Your Nails – And Your Teeth!

August 31, 2011

Nail biting is a common habit that makes your fingers look bad, but also causes trouble for your mouth. Whether you do it out of boredom, stress, sadness, or just uncontrollable habit, consider these risks before lifting a finger to your mouth.
One major problem of nail biting is bacteria. Most people bite their nails without [...]

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The Dental Risks of Oral Piercings

August 30, 2011

Would you put fashion over health? People who get tongue and lip piercings have an increased risk of damaging their teeth and gums. Is a fashion statement really worth it?
Infections are more likely to occur in people who have oral piercings. The wound can become infected, and you expose your mouth to additional bacteria from [...]

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Keep Your Smile White

August 29, 2011

A whiter smile gives you a better appearance. It improves your confidence and your teeth appear cleaner and healthier. There are plenty of teeth bleaching and whitening procedures and products out there, but why not save the time and money and do the best you can to prevent discoloring your teeth in the first place? [...]

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How much time is required for porcelain veneers?

August 26, 2011

So you want a whiter, straighter, more attractive smile, and you’ve decided porcelain veneers are the best option. Now you need to set aside time for your smile makeover. The entire process of designing, preparing for, and placing permanent porcelain veneers takes two or three office visits. Inside one month, you could have your dream [...]

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Fun Tongue Trivia

August 25, 2011

How much do you know about the organ that helps you speak, chew, taste, and clean your teeth? That’s right: what’s your tongue IQ? Let’s test it!
How many taste buds are on a human tongue?

Around 500
Around 1000
Up to 5000
Up to 10,000

How many muscles make up your tongue?

1
3
8
15

What are the basic tastes the tongue can sense?

Salt, [...]

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Gum Doesn’t Cure Bad Breath

August 24, 2011

In his book, This Won’t Hurt a Bit!, Dr. Charles Martin explains several common myths. Among them is this one about bad breath on page 32:
Myth 25: “If I have bad breath, I’ll just use chewing gum. That’ll cure it.”
No, this is not true. If you have chronic bad breath, there are usually two reasons [...]

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Sedation, Not Paralysis

August 23, 2011

For many in-office procedures, The Richmond Smile Center uses sedation dentistry in the forms of inhalation of nitrous oxide gas, oral sedatives, and intravenous sedation. The type of sedation used is dependent on the nature of the visit and on your level of anxiety. None of these methods paralyze the body. They merely put you [...]

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Cultivating a Relationship with Your Dentist

August 22, 2011

Want to do something beneficial to your teeth? Be kind to your dentist.
Being honest, vocal, and attentive with your doctor is a great way to improve your preventive care. Dentistry is no exception. The doctor must know what’s on your mind: all the facts, symptoms, and concerns. That’s how you get the best treatment. [...]

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Another Dental Health and Heart Health Link

August 19, 2011

For some time, doctors have known that gum disease can significantly increase the risk for heart attack, stroke, dementia, certain cancers, diabetes complications, low-weight births, and other overall health problems. Now, however, a study has revealed that the same bacteria that cause cavities causes most cases of endocartitis – a potentially deadly disease in which [...]

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One Quarter of Americans Over 65 Have No Natural Teeth

August 18, 2011

About 70% of people between the ages of 35-44 are missing one or more natural teeth. By age 65, nearly 25% of Americans are completely edentulous – they have no natural teeth. In years past, dentists had to rely on bridges, partials, and full dentures to replace missing teeth. These prosthetics proved effective for restoring [...]

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