Patient Education

Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

What's long, slender, hard, sharp, indigestible, and potentially hazardous? That common and seemingly harmless sliver of wood called a toothpick. Reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association point to toothpicks as causing thousands of injuries a year, mostly to young children. Youngsters aged five to 14 were most [...]

Are You Facing Chemotherapy?

Tell Your Dentist Before Starting Chemotherapy Anyone facing cancer therapy already knows that chemotherapy is tough to go through. Treatment of cancer is a serious response to a severe condition. What they may not know is that a dental appointment scheduled at least two weeks before treatment begins can reduce [...]

Alcohol and Your Teeth

What are the Effects on Teeth? Dentally speaking, is drinking alcohol a good thing or a bad thing for your teeth and gums? As with everything alcohol-related, there are positives and negatives. On the one hand, a mixer-free shot of vodka is probably less hazardous than caramel candies, which coat [...]

Medicine & Your Mouth

The medicine you take for one physical disorder may literally rot your teeth. This fact is one of many reasons we need to know your medical history and current treatments. This Medicine, For Instance... Chewable vitamin C supplements are a good idea for a lot of people, but check your [...]

Bulimia & Oral Health

Bulimia Symptoms & Resources If you recognize symptoms of bulimia in yourself or someone in your family, you have something in common with over 500,000 other people. Do You: Worry about how much you eat—all the time? Start a new diet almost every day? Perceive everyone else as thinner than [...]

Smoking and Still Smiling?

Stop Smoking Today! Giving up smoking is crucial for oral health. If you've spent the time and effort to get your mouth and teeth in shape, then make sure you aren't forgetting about this extra bad habit. As if there isn't enough reason to give up smoking, your dental health [...]

Diabetes and Your Mouth

Tell Your Dentist About Your Diabetes We could be the first to know. Don't let us be the last. Diabetes affects the blood chemistry and metabolism of those who suffer from the condition. Without proper medication, people with diabetes run the risk of multiple severe disorders. However, early detection can [...]

Soft Drinks and Your Teeth

Soft Drinks Pack a Hard Punch! Soft drinks are bad for your teeth in more ways than one. There's sugar, and then there's acidity. The sugar provides the necessary food for the harmful bacteria in your mouth—the average American drinks two cans of soft drinks per day. If you're drinking [...]

Heart Disease and Dental Care

Do Heart Disease Patients Need Antibiotics Before Dental Care? For some heart disease patients, antibiotics are essential to take before any dental care, even regular preventative cleanings. These individuals may include those who have had rheumatic fever, heart murmur, heart valve replacement, or orthopedic joint replacement. Often, these patients are [...]