plaque

Fluoride, it’s for Life

If your goal is healthy teeth for life, then you need fluoride. It ensures newly formed teeth are strong; prevents plaque, cavities, and gum disease; and protects roots that get exposed as gums recede over time. This essential mineral is present in what we eat and drink, but a healthy [...]

Got Fluoride?

As we age, wrinkles and graying hair become evident. For adults, there's no reversing the aging process. But happily, a lifetime of fluoride use can help reverse the demineralizing process! Bacterial plaque continually forms on teeth, producing acids that initiate the process of decay. That's DE-mineralization. Fluoride helps add back [...]

The Basics of Flossing

One of the simplest preventive hygiene exercises you can do for yourself is something you've heard of before. It bears repeating: floss. Every 24 hours, bacteria contribute to a new batch of plaque. Brushing, no matter how well or how long, won't get all the "bugs," especially between teeth and [...]

Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

News to Make a Mouth Water… A thick, juicy prime rib of beef surrounded by a baked potato—all the trimmings—asparagus with drawn butter, fresh apple cobbler a la mode. Got your mouth watering? Good. Your salivary glands have been stimulated. And saliva's a whole lot more important to you than [...]

Scaling and Root Planing

What is Scaling and Root Planing? When You Need A Deep Cleaning... If you have periodontal (gum) problems, you'll probably become familiar with one of the primary therapies to treat gum disease: scaling and root planing. We also may recommend the procedure if it's been a while since your last [...]

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 [...]