You’ve heard of sleep apnea, and you know it’s a sleep issue. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that nearly 25 million adult Americans have sleep apnea, and it sometimes leads to dangerous health effects like cardiovascular problems. But as you know, sleep apnea involves the mouth. So is it a sleep medicine issue,
Read more »
Your teeth are tough, and tooth enamel may be the hardest substance in the body, but that doesn’t make them indestructible. Everyday wear and tear (like teeth grinding) or accidents (like a bad fall) can cause a tooth to chip, crack, or break. The most common causes of chipped teeth are: Auto accidents Bite issues
Read more »
That ache in your jaw is growing stronger by the day. The pain is constant and it’s starting to get in the way of everyday tasks. How can you focus on your work, doing laundry, or cooking dinner when your jaw is throbbing? You know the pain is radiating from your jawbone. And while you
Read more »
Blame it on genetics or blame it on your environment, but one thing’s for sure: Crooked, overcrowded teeth are no fun. Everyone wants to be born with naturally straight, perfectly aligned teeth, but for many of us, that’s not the case. Not only does poor teeth structure look less than appealing, it can actually cause
Read more »
What signs point to the need for a deep teeth cleaning? First, let’s cover what exactly a deep cleaning is and what it entails. A deep cleaning is usually advised when there are signs of gum disease such as bone loss, gum recession, bleeding gums, or infection. It’s different from a regular cleaning because it
Read more »
Your spouse kicks you awake for the fifth time in one night. You’re snoring again. It’s become such a problem that you’re both exhausted from long-term lack of sleep. Something’s got to change. What can you, the snorer, do to fix the problem? You know there is no clear “cure” for snoring. Snoring occurs when
Read more »
You absentmindedly brush your tongue along a spot in your mouth and immediately feel a burning sensation. You know the feeling. With dread, you look in the mirror as you pull your bottom lip down and see a small, white spot. Sure enough, it’s another canker sore. Also called aphthous ulcers, canker sores are small
Read more »
The gums in your mouth exist for a reason: They provide a soft seal around your teeth. And just like any other part of the body, the health of your gums matters. When those soft tissues start to deteriorate or recede, negative consequences may follow. After all, receding gums are a form of gum (periodontal)
Read more »
As children, we all get 20 primary (deciduous) teeth. When those teeth naturally fall out and permanent teeth grow in, the typical number of teeth is 32. For some people, however, extra teeth come in. This is known as hyperdontia. Among those with hyperdontia, extra teeth can grow anywhere in the dental arches — the
Read more »
Ouch — you’ve got a bad toothache that worsens by the day. It’s throbbing and hurts even more when you drink something hot or cold. Chewing anything is brutal, and now you’ve even noticed swelling in your cheek. What’s going on? You might have a tooth abscess, which is a bacterial infection in the tooth
Read more »