The words “aging” and “healthy” don’t have to be either/or propositions. Fact is, in some ways we grow healthier as we age. We’ve built up so many antibodies that our resistance to virus increases. Years of brushing with fluoride toothpaste actually strengthens tooth enamel. A little effort on your part now can help insure you’ll […]
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When a Tooth Goes Missing
Harrison Ford took a nasty fall and lost two of his teeth. Thanks to modern dentistry, he went on to become a major Hollywood star. For as long as we humans have been losing teeth, we’ve been filling the gaps. Early dentures were made from ivory, bone, silver, gold, agate, mother-of-pearl and teeth removed from […]
Frank Talk About Bad Breath
Social embarrassments come in many sizes. But chronic bad breath is near the top of the list. It affects those nearest and dearest to us and may limit the close social contacts we treasure most. Worse yet, a person with bad breath may be unaware he’s offensive—we “turn off” our sensitivity to bad odors over […]
Have You Knocked Out a Tooth?
Cheat The Tooth Fairy We sure can try, but your help is needed, and the most important word is TIME. When a permanent tooth is knocked out, the less time it is out of the mouth the better. In fact, the best results are obtained when the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes! A parent […]
Making Sure Dentures Will Look Natural
Have you ever looked at swatches of wallpaper or carpeting and tried to imagine how it might look in your living room? Not easy to do. Choosing a denture that fits your face—and looks and feels natural—poses a similar problem. You never really know how they’re going to look and feel until you get to […]
Help for Dry Mouth Sufferers
Does your mouth seem uncomfortably dry? Or have you actually been diagnosed with dry mouth (as a side effect of certain types of medication or radiation therapy for cancer)? Either way, here’s what you need to know about your condition: A dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, it’s a cavity-prone environment. Normal saliva flow is […]
Even When Tiny… Tooth Cracks Need Attention
Every tooth fracture needs prompt treatment. No chip or crack is insignificant. Unfortunately, some cracks are too small to be seen, even by a trained eye. Sometimes the culprit is a hairline crack in what looks like a healthy tooth. You may not be aware of the damage until pain fills your mouth. You may […]
Root Surface Caries
We are Growing Older… As the population ages—more gracefully than ever, of course— we’re keeping more teeth. Along with wisdom and experience, however, come different health problems. Among them, cavities on the surface of the tooth root, what we call root caries. Growing up, most decay is found on the surface of teeth, usually the […]
Do You Have A Salivary Stone?
A healthy flow of saliva is critical for chewing and digestion, bathing gums, and bacterial control. And we owe it all to salivary glands, three pairs of organs in the cheek and floor of the mouth. Each gland secretes saliva into the mouth via a tube, and this is where trouble can begin. Sialolithiasis—whew—names the […]
Making Bad Breath Go Away
Where Bad Breath Comes From Most, but not all, bad breath comes from bacterial plaque and food accumulated mainly towards the back of the tongue. The problem is, there are all sorts of not-likely-but-possible other reasons for halitosis: upset stomach, anxiety, inflamed gums, saliva deficiency, infections and removable dentures are among them. What Not To Do […]
