A common misconception is that once you get a cavity filled, it lasts a lifetime. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. The lifespan of dental fillings depends on what type of material is used to fill the cavity.

Composite Resin Fillings

Because we’re able to match the resin filling material to the color of your natural teeth, composite resin fillings are a great choice to restore your teeth and enhance your natural smile.

The seal created by a resin filling is very strong because it bonds directly to the tooth. The material is also durable and provides good protection.

Composite resin fillings are aesthetically pleasing because the color closely matches the existing teeth. Composites are particularly well-suited to use for front teeth or visible parts of the teeth. They’re also quite versatile and can be used to repair chipped or worn-out teeth. Only a small bit of the healthy tooth needs to be removed, unlike with silver amalgam fillings.

While composite fillings are not as strong as amalgam ones, they can last for many years. Most composite fillings last around 5 years, with many instances in which they’ve lasted 10 years or more. Several factors can determine the lifespan of your composite filling, including diet, hygiene habits and whether you have bruxism.

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If cold foods cause you pain, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of helpful tips to alleviate your cold sensitivity. But first: What causes cold sensitivity in the first place?

Causes of Cold Sensitivity

Cold sensitivity is often caused by either enamel erosion or receding gums. Every tooth has nerve endings that are protected by the outside of the tooth. However, if the gums recede too far or the enamel of a tooth is damaged, you may feel pain when drinking cold food or beverages. 

Tips for Treating Sensitive Teeth

Here are five quick tips to help with your tooth sensitivity.

• Use toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth.
• Are you using a soft toothbrush? If not, get one and make sure you brush gently to preserve the surface of your teeth, as well as your gums.
• Try using a saltwater mouthwash to create an alkaline environment in your mouth, which reduces bacteria. You can make this yourself with two teaspoons of salt and a cup of warm water. Use this morning and night until sensitivity improves.
• Avoid the foods and drinks causing you pain. This may seem obvious, but it can be difficult to remember when you catch sight of your favorite ice cream.
• Is it time you got professional help for your tooth sensitivity? Schedule an appointment with a dentist today. Our team is ready to talk with you about a personalized plan and help you to a life with less tooth sensitivity.

You’ve been brushing your teeth since you were a kid, but how do you know if you’ve been doing it right? Here are three things you’ll need to brush your teeth the correct way.

Two-Minutes, Two Times a Day

Brushing your teeth is one of the best daily four-minute habits you can make. Set a timer and get to it. There are even apps with music made just for helping kids (and adults) know when they’re done.

Choose the Right Brush

Use a soft brush that allows you to reach all the areas in your mouth. Is your toothbrush over three months old? Have you been sick recently? These are two tell-tale reasons to toss your toothbrush and get a new one.

All Hail Fluoride Toothpaste

You don’t need the most expensive or fanciest toothpaste on the market. Any toothpaste with fluoride will do the job. Gently brush your teeth on all sides with a soft-bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste.

Here are some bonus brushing tips:

• Tilt the brush vertically and make up-and-down strokes to clean the inside surface of the front teeth
• Pay extra attention to hard-to-reach teeth, fillings, crowns or other areas that are good hiding places for debris
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh
• Use small circular motions and short back-and-forth strokes
• Floss! This removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush can't reach. Rinse after you floss

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Schedule an appointment today and our team will get you on your way to a happier, healthier smile.

Dry mouth during sleep can be the cause of a lot of problems—bad breath, poor sleep and even gum disease to name a few. If you suffer from it, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Millions of people experience dry mouth, with the nighttime often bringing about the worst of it.

Dry mouth can also be caused by medication, smoking, radiation treatment, aging, and even diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your mouth moist and your oral health in great shape.

Here are a handful of ways to prevent dry mouth during sleep:

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Most babies will develop teeth between 6 and 12 months. But how do you take care of them once they arrive? Here are three things you should know about your baby’s teeth.

Add Fluoride Early

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by hardening the enamel of teeth. Fluoride is added to most tap water and giving your baby just a few ounces a day will suffice. Add fluoride to your child’s diet at 6 months of age. Once you notice a tooth, you should brush it while using only a small dab of fluoride toothpaste.

Don’t forget to floss! Practicing flossing baby teeth is a great way to get into the habit.  They’re often much easier to floss than permanent teeth and will help create healthy habits for your child.

Watch Out for Decay

The term “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay” refers to decay that occurs from sugary drinks fed to babies and toddlers in bottles. In order to avoid this, children should only drink water or milk in bottles. Additionally, bottles should be set aside before naptime. Decay can happen as soon as teeth first appear – even in baby teeth. So, as soon as the first baby teeth appear, it's time to start brushing.

Teeth Affect Speech

Did you know keeping your child’s teeth healthy also impacts their speech development? This is particularly true when children are just learning to talk, as whatever baby teeth they’ve already grown in will determine how they learn to form certain vowels and consonants. If development of baby teeth is slow going or the shape of their teeth has been altered by decay, it will affect their ability to learn proper speech techniques at a very young age, impacting their speech for years to come.

Schedule Your Child’s Appointment Today

In order to ensure your child’s dental health throughout their childhood, regular dental appointments are a must. Your child’s first visit to the dentist should be scheduled when their first tooth starts to show, usually at around a year old or younger. Schedule an appointment today and our team will get your child on their way to a happier, healthier smile.

Sugar is delicious. There’s no denying it. But does sugar really cause cavities?

First things first: What’s a cavity? A cavity is a hole in a tooth where tooth enamel has broken down due to decay. If left untreated, a cavity can create a hole through the tooth and expose nerve endings.

Can sugar be the cause of one of these pesky cavities?

No, sugar doesn’t cause cavities, bacteria causes cavities. But sugar is like a magnet for bad bacteria. Sugar digestion also creates bacteria which, if not properly managed, will lead to not just cavities but also gum disease and may even result tooth loss.

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When a tooth has become badly decayed, or infected, root canal treatment can repair and save the tooth. Are you experiencing discomfort with a tooth, but aren’t sure if a root canal is the solution?  Here’s how to know if you need a root canal.

Persistent toothache

It may be a continuous throb or it may come and go, but strong and persistent tooth pain, especially if it gets worse when eating, biting down, or otherwise disturbing the tooth, is a signal that you need to make an appointment to visit the dentist as soon as possible. It’s important to remember that tooth pain seldom goes away on its own and you need to see a dentist to address the underlying problem that’s causing the pain.

Sensitivity to Hot or Cold

Do you experience sensitivity when drinking hot or cold liquids? This could be the sign of an infected nerve. Some people simply have sensitive teeth and experience slight discomfort from heat and cold. If this is this case, you’ll likely feel sensitivity throughout your entire mouth. This discomfort is subtle and subsides quickly. However, if you have an infection, the sensitivity is much more focused. Pay attention to the area you’re experiencing discomfort. If the pain persists around the same tooth, you may need a root canal.

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Birth control pills can have an impact on your oral health due to the changing hormones in your body. The pills increase a woman’s inflammatory response, causing gums to be redder and swollen and to bleed more readily. It stands to reason that hormonal changes can affect your gum health, as the hormonal changes can cause inflammation of the gum tissue. However, a recent study suggests young women found these hormonal agents had no effect on gum tissues.

The best way to tell if your birth control is affecting your oral health is to get a baseline reading prior to getting on birth control. In addition, be sure to keep your hygiene in tip-top shape. Otherwise, negative side effects from poor hygiene will muddle your baseline for your birth control. Each type of oral contraceptive has different levels of hormones, so if the impact on your gum health is severe, you could try experimenting with a different one.

When was the last time your hygienist showed you how to brush and floss? Did you know that many people brush too hard and don’t floss properly? If you’re experiencing redness, swelling, or discomfort in your gums, we’re happy to help you get back to feeling normal again.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Ready to have the best smile of your life? Schedule an appointment today and our team will get you on your way to a happier, healthier smile.

Going to the dentist is one of the easiest ways to help your health (after all, oral health is connected to overall health). But for many people, visiting the dentist for a tooth-related issue isn’t always on the top of the priority list. If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, it’s time to schedule an appointment!

White Spots on Your Teeth

These indicate early stages of tooth decay. But don’t worry! If caught soon enough, it’s possible to halt the decay process.

Bad Breath

Dealing with bad breath can be annoying and embarrassing. Do you brush regularly, but your breath still stinks? Does it seem like minty gum just does nothing for you? There might be something more going on.

Bad breath can be a sign of tooth decay, tooth infection, or gum disease. If you’re growing more and more frustrated with chronic bad breath, head to a dentist. They may be able to find out what’s really going on, and help you find a long-term solution.

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While the keto diet may be popular, what impact does it have on your oral health?

The keto diet consists of high-fat and low carb foods—cheese, nuts, fish, meat, veggies, for example. That idea is that intaking this kind of food forces your body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. While this diet may work for you, there’s a side effect you should be aware of: keto breath.

What does it smell like? It has a fruity or acetone smell but can be much worse if there’s a high bacteria count in your mouth. In that case, you reach a level of bad breath known as “dragon’s breath.” The side effect is common, so you’ll want to be extra vigilant with your oral health if you want to keep your breath in tip-top shape. Other tips include:

• Drink plenty of water. A hydrated mouth keeps bacteria at bay.
• Use alcohol-free mouth wash. Mouthwashes containing alcohol have a drying effect on your mouth, ramping up bacteria production.
• Ease into the diet. Rather than jumping in with both feet, consider taking on the new diet slowly, allowing your body to adjust.
• Watch your stress levels. Stress reduces the flow of saliva (creating a playground for bacteria) and it also slows the digestion of proteins.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you ready to have the best breath and smile of your life? Schedule an appointment today and we’ll help you reach your oral health goals while you reach your weight loss goals.