If you’ve noticed tiny cracks in your tooth enamel, don’t panic. Fortunately, these little lines are usually harmless. Small, visible fracture lines in your teeth are what dentists call craze lines. Craze lines don’t extend past the enamel layer of your teeth. These lines can happen from normal wear and tear of the...
Although temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders aren’t common in children, they can develop particularly as children get older. The TMJ actually begins to develop during the first trimester of pregnancy and continues to develop throughout the child’s first ten years of life. The joint continues to grow throughout these years, coming into its...
We all know that wine and coffee are teeth strainers, but what about certain foods that might dim your smile? Discoloration of teeth can happen gradually over time, but some foods are known to accelerate the process. These include healthy foods as well as foods that aren’t traditionally considered healthy. Any food that has...
Jaw tightness is a painful condition in which the muscles in your jaw are constantly tense. Since your jaw is used in important movements such as speaking and chewing, this can create chronic pain that ranges from mild to severe. What can cause jaw tightness? There are several different reasons...
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...
Focusing on your teeth when cleaning your mouth every day is good, but giving just as much attention to your gums is better! This doesn’t mean aggressively brushing your gums, but you should clean your gums to help maintain healthy gum tissue. Gums are an integral part of our mouths, helping to...
Gold is one of the oldest materials used in dentistry and has been used for thousands of years to help restore teeth. Gold has many advantages for restoring teeth: it’s biocompatible, meaning there’s an extremely small chance the body would react to it. It’s not considered to be toxic to...
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when acid from the stomach gets into the esophagus, which can cause symptoms of heartburn. However, up to 25% of patients with acid reflux will have no symptoms. Dentists are often the first professionals to come into contact with acid...
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...
Since the back teeth aren’t usually visible while speaking or smiling, many people who are missing back teeth feel they don’t need a replacement. However, missing teeth of any kind can disrupt your smile. When a tooth is missing, the other teeth will shift to compensate for the loss. This means...
