Dental Health Blog

Nervous about your next dental visit? Learn exactly what to expect during a routine dental exam and professional cleaning to ease your anxiety and protect your smile.

Your teeth, while quite sturdy, are not invincible. The foods and beverages you consume play a significant role in your teeth’s health and longevity. From the tempting treats that tantalize your taste buds to several seemingly harmless snacks, many popular foods can wreak havoc on your dental health when consumed regularly. Let's take a look at the top 7 worst foods for your teeth. 1. Sugary Treats: Indulging in sugary treats like candies, chocolates, and sweet drinks may giv

Have you ever done the saltine cracker challenge? If you have, you know that it makes your mouth extremely and intensely dry, making it hard for you to swallow, taste, and even speak. Now, imagine living with dry mouth on a daily basis. Chronic dry mouth isn’t just an uncomfortable sensation – if left untreated, dry mouth can cause serious oral health issues. What is Dry Mouth? Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a condition in which a person’s salivary glands do not produce enough sal

Quick answer: Dreams about losing teeth are one of the most common dreams people have. Most interpretations connect them to stress, worry, feeling out of control or a major change in life. Sometimes the cause is physical, like clenching or grinding at night. If you wake up with a sore jaw or sore teeth, it's worth getting checked. Have you ever had dreams about losing a tooth, or several teeth? They can be quite memorable and even unsettling – and if you’re reading this, you

What are the most important and most effective at-home dental tools you can use? Simply: a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss! There are many other dental products out there that promise professional results, and we wanted to take the time to caution you about several of them. Using many types of dental tools improperly and without proper training can cause severe and permanent damage to your mouth. In addition, many dentist tools advertised as being of professional grade and

‘Tis the season for merriment, giving, and gatherings with loved ones – which usually means lots of delicious food and drinks! Red wine, mulled wine, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, holiday fruit punches, fruit pies, cranberry sauce, berries, and dishes made with curry spice, balsamic vinegar, tomato or soy sauces – you might find yourself indulging in some of the aforementioned foods and drinks more than usual lately, and you should enjoy them! But be aware that enjoying a lot o

Quick answer: To floss with a bridge or braces, thread floss under the wire or false tooth with a floss threader, or use super floss with a stiff end. Small interdental brushes and a water flosser also help clear food from hard-to-reach spots. Clean around fixed dental work every day to protect your gums and the teeth that hold it in place. If you have a dental bridge, braces, fixed retainers or dentures with retainer bars, you might be wondering how you can still clean aroun

Water flossing vs. string floss: Which is better? Though some people swear by one or the other, the truth is that there are pros and cons to both, and studies about each method’s effectiveness at removing plaque are largely inconclusive. If you’ve been considering changing your flossing routine, it’s worth looking into the differences between them to see which one is right for you! Evidence For String Floss vs. Water Flossers? Studies about the efficacy of plaque removal with

Have you ever had a sinus toothache? If you have, you know how uncomfortable, distracting and painful they can be. Fortunately, tooth pain caused by sinus pressure or pain can usually be relieved significantly with proper at-home care. *Note: If you are suffering from extreme tooth pain of any kind, or tooth pain that lasts for more than 12-18 hours, please visit your dentist as soon as possible so that they can determine and treat the root cause before the condition worsens.

Here at DFW Dental Service, we’ve seen it all – and that includes people who have caused permanent damage to their gums or teeth by using electric toothbrushes incorrectly. A surprising number of people don’t use electric toothbrushes properly, and we’re here to help people learn the correct, safe way to use your electric toothbrush. Common Mistakes Here are a few common mistakes we see people make when using electric toothbrushes: Not brushing for long enough. Just like with

Oral thrush, or oropharyngeal candidiasis, is a fungal infection in the mouth caused by a yeast called Candida. Some amounts of Candida naturally occurs on or in places like the skin, mouth, throat, digestive tract, and vagina. However, changes or imbalances in these environments can sometimes cause Candida to multiply, resulting in infection. In the mouth, candidiasis usually presents as white-ish, raised, patchy lesions on the tongue, inside cheeks or throat. Below, we’ll d

Does fear of the dentist prevent you from getting the dental care you need? About one-third of American adults have dental anxiety, with an estimated 12% having extreme fear that prevents them from going to the dentist. Fortunately, there are many ways to relieve dental anxiety. First and foremost, you should always communicate your fears with your dentist – here at DFW Dental Service Invisalign Family Cosmetic Implants, we are always happy to discuss any concerns you may hav

Did you know: Dental crowns have been used for thousands of years! There is evidence that ancient Etruscans used rudimentary gold tooth coverings to restore the shape and function of teeth - which is effectively still the purpose of dental crowns today. Crowns have evolved quite a bit since ancient times however, from placement and crafting techniques and technologies, to dental crown materials. How Does a Crown Restore A Tooth? Today, a dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” t

Approximately 5 million wisdom teeth are removed in the U.S. every year! Because our jaws have evolved to be too small to fit third molars (aka wisdom teeth), they often grow in incorrectly - pushing against other teeth, erupting at an angle, sometimes even getting stuck in the jaw bone. Some lucky people have wisdom teeth that grow in correctly and do not need to get them removed, and an even smaller number of lucky people do not grow wisdom teeth at all! However, chances ar

Wisdom teeth removal can be a major rite of passage for teens and young adults, with approximately 80% of the US population getting them extracted! But why do most people need to get these third molars taken out, anyway? There are several serious oral health issues that can develop if impacted wisdom teeth are not removed - that is, wisdom teeth that are not growing in or positioned correctly. Check out the common complications caused by impacted wisdom teeth that are not ext

For many parents, getting their children to brush their teeth is a twice-daily battle - but they are battles well worth having! Good oral hygiene is important at all ages, and aids young children in speech, educational and social development. Children suffering from oral pain tend to perform worse in school; a recent study revealed that children with tooth pain were 4 times more likely to have a low grade point average (below 2.8 GPA) compared to children without oral pain. O

Are you considering teeth whitening? If so, there are a few things you should consider before undergoing this treatment. Are You a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening? Teeth whitening, whether by professional or over-the-counter treatment, should only be used by people with healthy gums and teeth. This is because all teeth whitening treatments contain the bleaching agent peroxide, which can cause increased sensitivity and even damage to people with tender or receding gums. If

Because a single missing tooth increases the risk of tooth damage and decay as well as numerous other oral health problems, we always recommend replacing a missing tooth. There are many different tooth replacement options to suit a wide variety of needs and budgets, such as dental implants, dentures and bridges. What Is A Dental Bridge? A dental bridge literally bridges the gap between healthy teeth and a missing tooth. It is a good restoration option for patients who do not

Dental implants have been called the most significant dental innovation of our generation, and it’s easy to see why! They are designed to closely mimic the structure of our natural teeth, from root to crown. With a 98% success rate -- the highest success rate of all tooth replacement options! -- implants are the best long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. When properly placed and cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime. How Do Implants Mimic Our Natural Teeth

When a tooth is severely damaged or decayed, it sometimes must be removed in order to protect the health of a person’s surrounding teeth and overall oral health. Unfortunately, dental issues will not end simply because the problematic tooth is gone, unless the tooth is also soon replaced! A single missing tooth leads to a multitude of negative consequences throughout the mouth and body. Ability to Speak and Eat Properly Missing a tooth (or several) will affect our ability to