Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that can affect people of all ages. It’s most common among middle-aged men, but anyone, including infants, can have the disorder. During OSA, the airway collapses and produces pauses in breathing that can last for a minute or longer. People will wake up gasping...
Pacifiers certainly have their benefits. Not only can they be comforting to your baby, but they may actually reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), especially if your child uses one while sleeping . However, pacifiers can also have negative impacts on the growth of your child’s mouth, jaw, and teeth,...
Babies begin getting their first teeth in right around the age of six months. Although it’s possible for babies to be born with teeth that have already emerged through the gumline, most children will go through the regular teething process as they grow. Teething can be a challenging time for babies and...
Your child’s baby teeth are essential to their adult smile. Baby teeth help guide permanent teeth into place, so losing a baby tooth early can impact your child’s future smile. Caring for primary teeth until they naturally fall out can help your child have the best chance for a healthy smile. Children...
Wisdom teeth—those molars all the way in the back of your mouth that make an appearance in your latter teenage years—will need to be removed for the majority of people. Our jaws are much smaller today than they were thousands of years ago. Most people will have some type of problem with...
Headgear is a broad term for orthodontic appliances that strap around the head to exert pressure from outside the patient’s mouth. Although not every child or adult who has braces will need headgear, headgear is important for certain cases and has its benefits. What are the benefits of needing orthodontic headgear? Here’s...
With the summer upon us, it’s time to enjoy many of the wonderful foods that this season has to offer. If you’re looking for snacks that will nourish your body as well as your teeth, you have plenty of options. Whether you want to help your kids take better care of their...
A frenum is a piece of tissue that connects different parts of the mouth together. There are several frena present, including the lingual frenum (the piece of tissue under the tongue that connects your tongue to your mouth), the labial frenum (which attaches both your bottom and top lips to your mouth),...
Mouthguards are essential when it comes to sports, even for adults. Mouthguards are usually mandatory for contact sports such as football, lacrosse, wrestling, and hockey. However, even wearing a mouthguard during non-contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball can help prevent injuries. Any child who plays a sport—regardless of age—should wear a...
Thumb sucking is a normal and soothing habit for babies and toddlers. While most children grow out of this habit during their toddler years, some parents are faced with the reality that their elementary-aged child is still sucking their thumb. Thumb sucking is usually harmful if it persists beyond the ages of...