Growing up, you were probably taught to brush and floss every day. After all, those are the best ways to remove plaque from your teeth and gums. But did you know that bacteria can build up on your tongue too? This can cause a plethora of problems ranging from bad breath to an increased risk of infection. That’s why you should clean your tongue. Keep reading to learn all about tongue scraping and why and how you should do it.

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Are your braces causing you to be in pain? Is it hard to want a straighter, healthier smile when all you can think about is what to do to alleviate some of the discomfort you’re feeling? Traditional braces can, unfortunately, cause you to experience soreness, especially each time you have your wire adjusted, but the good news is, there are things you can do to help. Hear from a local orthodontist who shares a few ways you can lessen the pain and get back to enjoying your daily life.

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More people are guilty of cutting flossing their teeth from their daily oral hygiene routine than you may think. For some, it can seem like a tedious and inconvenient task that could be pointless. However, the American Dental Association recommends using dental floss at least once a day to clean between each of your teeth to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Read on to learn four ways you can make flossing your teeth easier, faster, and more effective. (more…)

If you’re thinking, “What’s so difficult about wearing Invisalign aligners,” you’ll be happy to know that your life won’t be altered much at all with this uniquely flexible method of treatment. However, these small, plastic trays are still foreign to your cheeks, lips, tongue, and teeth, so it’s important that you understand there will be a short adjustment period with your customized aligners. As you prepare to start treatment, take a look at these 5 Invisalign tips to surviving your first week.

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It is now very close to the end of the year, and the holidays are approaching fast. Before things get too hectic, now is a good time to put “use your remaining dental insurance benefits before the end of the year” on your to-do list. Doing so can ultimately save you hundreds of dollars in dental care – and your teeth will be healthier as a result as well! Read on to learn why maximizing your dental insurance is so important and how you can get the most out of your plan.

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Every time you see yourself in a photo, you cringe a little at the sight of your crooked grin. You’d love to straighten them, but is there any way to straighten teeth without having to get braces? Actually, there’s two solutions you can choose from: Invisalign and porcelain veneers. Both are great, but which is actually the best for you? Here are the pros and cons to consider when your goal is a more dazzling smile.

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We’ve all heard that eating right and exercising are great ways to stay healthy. But did you know that taking care of your body also means taking care of your mouth? If your mouth is unhealthy, it can negatively impact several other parts of your body. This is called the oral-systemic link. Let’s look more closely at how your oral health can affect your overall health.

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You wake up in the morning exhausted, so much so that one cup of coffee just doesn’t do the trick. You have another one when you get to work, but even that doesn’t seem to cut it. Even the third cup in the afternoon doesn’t quite seem to make you alert. You spend the entire day in a haze, more tired than you’ve been in a long time. When you finally get home and make it to bed, you want nothing more than to fall asleep. But sleep doesn’t come. At least not for a while. When it does, you wake up more exhausted than before. Does this sound familiar? Sleep apnea might be to blame for your tiredness and restless sleep, and caffeine is not the way to treat it. Read on to learn 3 ways that your diet might be affecting your sleep apnea.

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If you’re thinking about getting dental implants to replace your missing teeth, you’re likely already aware of the many benefits they offer: better oral health, long lifespan, and more security—just to name a few! But do you actually know what the process will be like? Or what the parts of a dental implant are? Understanding this information will help prepare you so that you have fewer surprises during your treatment. In this post, you’ll learn about how dental implants are placed and what role each of the parts plays. (more…)