As it turns out, small teeth can hurt your appearance. Namely, they cause imbalances in your tooth-to-gum ratio that give your smile a “gummy” look. Left untreated, they may even make you look older than you are!

If you want to treat the issue, your local dentist can help. Here are several causes and cosmetic solutions for small teeth — look them over to find a better way to show off your pearly whites!

Since dentures are essentially replacement teeth, you might want to use them at all times. Namely, in addition to eating or speaking with them during the day, you also want to keep them in your mouth overnight. After all, you don’t take out your permanent teeth at night, so why take out your dentures? Surely there’s nothing wrong with keeping them in, right?

As it happens, soaking dentures overnight is a better practice than sleeping with them in your mouth. In fact, overnight denture soaks prevent oral health problems from emerging. For those wanting to know why that’s the case, here’s a summary of denture-use issues solved by an overnight soak.

Dentures are a trusted solution to restore beautiful, functional smiles that have been damaged by significant tooth loss. As with all areas of dentistry, dentures have undergone several improvements, making them more realistic and durable; however, they won’t last forever. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your dentures every 5-7 years. Various factors affect their lifespan, like how well you maintain them. While they function like your real teeth, caring for dentures differs from your natural smile. Here are 6 tips to get the most out of your investment.

(more…)

Candy, cookies, sodas, and other sweet treats are tasty as well as highly addictive since they release opioids and dopamine that make our bodies interpret it as a reward. Unfortunately, these foods can do a lot of damage to your overall and oral health. Cutting back on you’re the amount of sugar you eat is good for your teeth, but how can you fight the cravings? To help you battle your addiction to sweets and improve the health of your smile, here are four helpful tips to help you overcome your sugar cravings.

You’ve likely heard fluoride discussed on the news and social media outlets because there is controversy about its dental benefits. You might believe the discussions are relatively new, but fluoride is a naturally occurring substance. It is found all around you—from the soil you are standing on to the water you are drinking. Known as “nature’s cavity fighter,” the mineral strengthens the enamel to prevent tooth decay, which is why it is added to many public water systems. If you’re skeptical about its benefits, don’t stop drinking tap water yet. Here’s what you need to know about fluoride history and how it can safeguard your smile.

(more…)

Germs and bacteria are hiding in even the cleanest of homes. No matter how well you try to neutralize the invaders, germs can linger on common surfaces. You know certain places in your household are prone to bacteria, like doorknobs and light switches; however, the dirtiest items might not be what you expect, like your toothbrush holder. Here are the top 5 germiest objects in your house right now.

(more…)

Some of the characters in The Wizard of Oz may have been wearing porcelain veneers! That may seem surprising, but the first veneers were worn in Hollywood more than a decade before Dorothy and her friends debuted in 1939.

Very strong yet ultra-thin, porcelain veneers are designed to fit over the front portions of the teeth. Concealing a wide range of aesthetic flaws, they can bring beauty, balance, and symmetry back to a smile.

Keep reading to learn about the history of porcelain veneers and their evolution to remain a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment!

Do you have several flaws and imperfections in your teeth? Porcelain veneers are an excellent solution that can address all your concerns at once! They can fix a wide range of issues, including chips, cracks, gaps, discoloration, and even misalignment. Since a thin layer of enamel is removed in preparation for veneers, some patients wonder whether the process will make their teeth sensitive. Read along as we explain what you need to know about veneers and sensitivity.  

If your dental insurance plan is based on the calendar year, then you have until New Year’s to use your insurance benefits before they’re reset. How can you best utilize these dental dollars? If you’re planning on beginning ClearCorrect treatment this year, then it may seem like a good opportunity to utilize your coverage. But the question remains: can you use orthodontic treatment coverage to help pay for ClearCorrect in the first place? You should make sure that you have a satisfactory answer to this question before making any major decisions, and your dentist can help you get it.

With summer in full swing and more businesses opening back up, the next few months of your calendar are probably filled with weddings, graduations, vacations, job interviews, and other special events. As excited as you are for these occasions, part of you feels self-conscious about your stained teeth. Maybe you’ve looked into professional teeth whitening in order to boost your confidence this summer. However, you might be wondering, “How soon before an event should I whiten my teeth?” Read on to find out!