Poor Oral Hygiene Could Lead to Heart Disease

I had always heard that oral hygiene played a part in the health of your heart. However recently it has been reported in the news that adults who have poor oral hygiene are at a 70% greater risk of developing heart disease. Those are very high chances. A lack of good oral hygiene can lead to gum disease. The inflammation of gum disease can spread throughout your body, including to the arteries of your heart. If your arteries become inflamed then they can also become clogged. It’s amazing how taking care of one part of your body can make all … Continue reading →

Six Causes for Jaw Pain

Sometimes, a health issue is straightforward: you experience pain in an area of the body, and that’s where the problem is. Sometimes, where it hurts isn’t where the problem actually is. The jaw is an area of the body where there’s a few different things going on — you’ve got your teeth and sinuses and ears in close proximity, and pain in any one of those three could leave you with an achy jaw. So what could that jaw pain be? If the pain appears at the hinge of your jaw when you open your mouth wide, there may be … Continue reading →

Of Mice, Teeth, and Fairies

The magical day has arrived… Happy Halloween to those who are dressing up and celebrating today! I’m taking a break from putting the finishing touches on my costume to give some thought to the Tooth Fairy. Why? Because that’s what I’m going to be for Halloween! For many people, teeth are a milestone. When are the baby teeth coming in? When are the baby teeth falling out, to be replaced by adult teeth? The change from infant to child to adolescent can be measured in our teeth. In the days when superstition was strong, teeth falling out could be bad … Continue reading →

Tooth Sensitivity

There are different culprits for that little zing of pain in a tooth… and different types of pain can mean different things! Here’s a look at some common types of tooth sensitivity, and what they may mean for the health of your mouth. Sensitivity to cold — this is a common complaint and often indicates tooth decay or root exposure. Both these things can make cold a real pain in the mouth! After a dental treatment, teeth may temporarily be sensitive to cold, but the sensation should subside within a week. If it doesn’t go away (or gets worse), call … Continue reading →

Are You Afraid of the Big, Bad Dentist?

If you get a little anxious thinking about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Dental phobia keeps a lot of people from getting the care they need for their pearly whites. There are a lot of different facets to dental phobia. Some of the most common fears involving the dentist’s office include: Embarassment — “I haven’t been to the dentist’s office in years, and my teeth are going to be horrible. The dentist is going to lecture me about what a failure I am.” Pain — “It’s going to hurt when they clean my teeth. I’ll have cavities that … Continue reading →

Does It Hurt When You Floss?

It’s not uncommon for a person to experience some discomfort after flossing — especially if they aren’t a regular flosser. If your teeth or gums hurt after a flossing the main cause may be how often you floss. If you only pull out the dental floss when you’ve got something stuck in your teeth, you probably aren’t flossing often enough. Regular flossing helps clear bacteria out from between your teeth and away from your gums — this can help prevent the development of gum disease. Another problem may be HOW you floss. If you’re too rough — snapping the floss … Continue reading →

Do You Floss?

Flossing is good for your pearly whites… but a lot of people don’t bother unless there’s something stuck. Why is flossing important, anyway? Dental floss is the best way to get plaque out from between the teeth and right at the gumline. Since a lot of periodontal disease tends to start at the gums, flossing is a good way to prevent problems. Brushing alone doesn’t always clear all the plaque. Here’s the way to do it, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association: Get about a foot and a half (18 inches) of floss. No, you don’t need to measure … Continue reading →

Pizza Burn

If you’re the sort of person who can’t wait to dig into that steaming slice of pizza or hot beverage, you’re not alone. Enough people have burned the roofs of their mouths on hot foods that actual medical journals refer to the problem as “pizza burn”. Pizza isn’t the only culprit, but it is probably the most common offender. When that hot, melted cheese meets the roof of your mouth (also known as the soft palate), you can end up with pain, blistering, and sometimes dangling bits of flesh. Yuck! This mouth injury will heal on its own in a … Continue reading →

TMJ Dos and Don’ts

TMJ — temporomandibular joint syndrome — can be a real pain. But these dos and don’ts can help ease your discomfort. DO: Try to increase blood flow to your jaw. Apply ice OR moist heat (like a warm, wet washcloth) — but don’t alternate. Pick one and stick with it. Heat works best for some; ice works best for others. Try gentle stretching and facial massage. This is another way to increase blood flow to the jaw. Support your jaw with a moldable mouth guard. Holding your jaw steady can help relieve symptoms of TMJ temporarily. Limit jaw movement. When … Continue reading →

Cheek Bites!

A minor health concern, but a painful one: you’re in the middle of a delicious meal when you chomp down on the inside of your cheek instead of your food! Definitely not a life-threatening injury… but definitely annoying. There are really only two things you can do for a cheek bite: ease the pain and keep things clean to prevent infection. Rinse your mouth out as soon as possible. Plain, clean water works just fine, but if you’re worried about infection you can mix two percent hydrogen peroxide equally with water. If you do go the peroxide route, rinse only … Continue reading →