Gum Disease and How You Can Improve Your Oral Health
By Dr. Laura Kearney What is Gum Disease? Gum Disease, also known as Periodontal Disease in the advanced stages, is a common inflammatory condition caused by plaque irritating and inflaming the tissue surrounding your teeth. Plaque is formed on everyone’s teeth but buildup can be avoided through regular flossing and thorough brushing. However, if you do not practice daily flossing and brushing, the bacterial plaque releases toxins which can cause major damage to your gums…. Read more »
Top 5 Flossing Technique Tips
By Dr. Laura Kearney ‘Tis the Season to be jolly! Keep Your Smile Happy with These Top 5 Proper Flossing Technique Tips on How to Floss Correctly It is holiday season and you know what that means, treats and sweets galore! It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities but remember to keep your smile happy by flossing the right way daily. Flossing is the best way to clean the spaces in between your… Read more »
What are canker sores? What are some solutions to remedy them?
By Dr. Laura Kearney Canker sores, also known as Aphthous Ulcers, are the most common mouth ulcer and are seen in my dentist office frequently. The cause of canker sores is unknown yet there are many factors related to why we get them: Trauma of the mouth or stress can cause canker sores. For example, if you are eating something and it scrapes the inside of your mouth, this has the potential to turn into… Read more »
What are the benefits and side effects of prescription toothpaste like Prevident 5000 Sensitive?
By Dr. Laura Kearney Why do our teeth need Fluoride? Fluoride is added to most municipal drinking water because it helps to remineralize teeth. This process can be enhanced using prescription strength fluoride treatments either at home or in the dental office. Fluoride helps to prevent the formation of cavities and also makes hyper-sensitive teeth less sensitive. Treatment can even help repair white spot lesions found on tooth surfaces that are highly susceptible to form… Read more »
Understanding The Role of Oral Microflora in Your Mouth
By Dr. Laura Kearney What causes dental plaque? A healthy mouth is a diverse ecosystem of over 700 different types of bacteria. Most of those bacteria live in gingival crevices, the space between your teeth and gums. Bacteria that are specialized to survive in your mouth have evolved to adhere strongly to gum and tooth surfaces and can be difficult to remove as a result. Dental plaque is a material that becomes attached to your… Read more »
How can I protect my teeth from cavities? Are Dental Sealants a good idea for me?
By Dr. Laura Kearney How can I protect myself from dental cavities? Dental sealants, sometimes also called fissure sealants, are an underutilized method of protecting teeth from caries (cavities) by covering up fissures and pits in the natural molar tooth shape. The procedure forms a smooth biting surface that is less prone to getting food and bacteria stuck on it. This preventative approach to cavities is a relatively low cost option when compared to reparative… Read more »
Why do we have to brush our teeth?
By Dr. Laura Kearney Have you ever wondered what humans did before the advent of toothpaste or flossing? How did our ancestors keep enough teeth to eat when many of us have several cavities as children? Why do humans have to brush their teeth at all? It may surprise you to know that we’re not the only species on Earth that require dental care to maintain good oral health. Why do we have to brush… Read more »
What is Fluoride? Do Adults Need Fluoride Treatment?
Photo Credit: http://www.cawater-info.net/ By Dr. Laura Kearney Many of our patients have questions and concerns about fluoride since in recent years there have been questions about its purpose and safety. Rest assured that it is both natural and safe, preventing cavities by protecting the enamel of your teeth. Here we will go over what it is, how it works, and how to get its benefits. Along the way we’ll answer our patients’ most common questions about this… Read more »
