If you’ve just invested in teeth whitening, whether it was a DIY kit or a professional whitening treatment from you dentist, you need to know how to retain your new bright smile for as long as possible. For patients who undergo professional teeth whitening, it is especially important to preserve your results and protect your investment.

Tooth staining and discoloration can affect patients at varying degrees. However, here are some basic tips that will help any patient extend their whitening results: (more…)

When should I start brushing my child’s teeth? How much toothpaste should I use? These are common and valid questions from many parents. You’ve got a big job to do in raising a healthy child, and their oral health is critical as they grow. When it comes to taking care of your child’s smile, the sooner the better. In fact, even if your baby doesn’t have any teeth, you should still be cleaning his or her gums on a regular basis to remove harmful bacteria.

The First Tooth

Once you see that first tooth emerge, it’s time to schedule the first dental visit. This appointment won’t be lengthy, but it will allow your child to become familiar and comfortable with going to the dentist right from the start. You’ll also need to begin brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Make sure you select a soft-bristled toothbrush that is designed for your child’s age. If your child is under two years old, only a small smear of toothpaste is needed, or about the size of a grain of rice. Even at this young age, encourage your child to spit and not swallow the toothpaste. (more…)

Going to the dentist to get Botox may seem like a crazy idea. However, there are a number of valid reasons that make trusting your dentist for Botox a good idea. Your dentist can give you the safety assurance and ideal results you need when turning back the hands of time.

Botox delivers proven results for addressing the signs of facial aging, including wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet), the mouth (marionette lines and nasiolabial folds) and the forehead (glabella lines). Botox injections work by blocking the transmitter of the motor nerves that stimulate the targeted facial muscle. This inhibits these muscles from contracting and forming wrinkles in the skin, as it would while squinting, smiling, etc. After about three to ten days, the skin will appear smooth and wrinkles may be reduced or eliminated. Botox is not a permanent solution and lasts approximately 3 to 4 months for most patients. (more…)

Your teeth are capable of lasting a lifetime. Maintaining proper brushing and flossing habits as well as visiting your dentist for routine checkups is vitally important to the longevity of your smile. However, there are times when extracting a tooth is necessary. These situations may or may not be under your control. When appropriate, the tooth can be replaced with a dental implant, which is a prosthetic alternative that looks, functions and feels like a natural tooth.

There are a number of reasons why a tooth extraction is necessary, including the following: (more…)

Do you have a stressed out smile? If you find yourself battling stress on a daily or weekly basis, you are not alone. As our schedules get busier and our agenda gets larger, stress is often commonplace. However, if you do not find ways to reduce or manage your stress levels, your oral health can suffer. Stress is known for taking its toil on your energy, your digestive system, your sleep and other body functions. Stress can also profoundly impact your dental health. The following are ways your mouth may be telling you to slow down:

Mouth Sores
A mouth sore can be frustrating and even painful. You may assume it is a random occurrence, but canker sores commonly develop during times of stress or fatigue. This could be due to a lowered immune system that can’t fight off the virus or bacteria. A fever blister (cold sore) is another types of mouth sore. The herpes simplex virus primarily causes cold sores, but stressful and emotional upsets can trigger an outbreak. (more…)