Have you been told you have gum disease? Gum disease is all too common, with nearly 50% of all American adults suffering from some stage of the disease. If left untreated, it can worsen and have serious consequences, such as chronic bad breath, deterioration of the jaw bone, tooth loss, and even heart or lung disease via the spread of oral bacteria in the bloodstream. Fortunately, gum disease is also very preventable and treatable! The first step to preventing gum disease is

Imagine losing a front tooth due to a sports injury, or painfully cracking a tooth due to habitual teeth grinding. The trauma of the injury would be distressing enough on its own, but simple enjoyments and daily routines like eating, speaking and smiling would also be affected. In many cases, dental injury is preventable with mouth guards! Mouthguard Uses Sports & Recreation: Teeth are extremely vulnerable to damage when they are not properly protected while playing contact s

Here at Zen Dental Center, we welcome patients of all ages and accommodate the unique needs of every patient! We know that infants and toddlers require a special approach to dental care, and that the very first visit can seem intimidating to both parent and child. Not to worry – ahead, we’ll walk you through all the whens, whys, hows and whats about your baby’s first dental appointment! When and Why Should Babies Go to the Dentist? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

You've heard of dental fillings and crowns, but have you heard of inlays and onlays? In the past, dental crowns were always the go-to solution for restoring teeth too damaged to be repaired with fillings. But today, there are intermediary options: Inlays and Onlays. What are Inlays and Onlays? Inlays and onlays (also known as indirect fillings) are strong, durable tooth restorations that are custom made to repair a tooth, and are great options for restoring teeth with medium

February is American Heart Month! We all know that a healthy diet and regular exercise are great for a healthy heart, but here’s a lesser known fact: your oral health has a big impact on your heart health, too! People with periodontal (gum) disease may be two times more likely to develop heart disease compared with people with healthy gums. How are oral health and heart health linked? Two interconnected factors: inflammation and the spread of oral bacteria through the bloodst

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they are incredibly important! They play a big role in a growing child’s speech, digestion, and social development, and also serve as placeholders that help guide adult teeth into their correct positions. And because they’re so important to a young child’s health and development, it is very important to prevent cavities in baby teeth. What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is called baby bottle tooth decay (also c

Diet sodas may be a tempting choice for people seeking to cut down on sugar and calorie intake, but the truth is that “diet” sodas may just be an empty promise. Studies suggest that diet sodas actually cause weight gain and other unwanted health issues. And due to their high acidity, diet sodas are just as damaging to tooth enamel and oral health as regular sodas. Diet Soda vs. Regular Soda for Oral Health? One might think that diet soda is better for teeth than regular sodas

Have you been thinking about choosing a New Year’s resolution lately? Among the most common New Year’s resolutions are ones related to health – eating healthier, exercising more, losing weight, etc. But one important health-related goal most people don’t consider is the resolution to have a healthier smile! Why Should You Resolve to Have a Healthier Smile in 2022? A healthy mouth is incredibly important to your overall health. Numerous studies show that poor oral health is li

November is National Diabetes Month, and we want to do our part in raising awareness of the effects of diabetes on oral health! An unfortunate truth about living with diabetes is that the disease increases the risk of developing a number of oral health issues, like gum disease, tooth decay (aka cavities), thrush, and more. But fortunately, it is also true that with a bit of extra TLC, you can take control of your oral health, and have a happy, healthy mouth! Diabetes and Your

Do you use an electric toothbrush or a regular one? Does one type seem like it cleans your teeth better than the other? The truth is that both manual and electric toothbrushes are great at cleaning your teeth effectively, as long as they are used properly! That said, there are several pros and cons that may make one type a better choice for you over the other. Let’s take a look! Manual Toothbrush Pros: Affordable and easy to replace - Standard toothbrushes are widely availabl

Do you ever feel self conscious about your breath? Bad breath happens to everyone at some point or another, but chronic bad breath (aka halitosis, or oral malodor) is a glaring warning sign that you need to make some changes to your oral health routine! Common Causes of Bad Breath The first step to getting rid of chronic bad breath is to figure out what is causing it. Sometimes the cause is obvious, such as not brushing or flossing daily. But sometimes the cause of chronic ba

Have you ever seen white-ish or yellow-ish lumps that look like they are embedded in the back of your throat? These are likely tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths), which are hardened deposits of debris and bacteria buildup in the craggy crevices of the tonsils. Tonsil stones are fairly common, and often treatable at home. Causes of Tonsil Stones Tonsil stones form when bacteria and material like dead cells, food debris, mucus and saliva get trapped in the tonsil crypts

Are you trying to cut down on sugar? As dentists and health professionals, we definitely support that choice! But be aware: though many drinks and foods claim that they are “diet” and sugar-free, not all artificial sweeteners are created equal. But how do artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes affect the health of our mouth and teeth? Scientists are still learning about the health effects that various sugar substitutes have on the human body, but we do know that artifici

How has life changed for you in the past 18 months? Have there been any changes to your daily routines and habits? From lockdowns and temporary closures to working from home and stay-at-home orders, we have all felt the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has changed many aspects of our daily lives -- including our oral health routines. Let’s take a look at some statistics. It goes without saying that people’s daily routines changed during the pandemic. B

cariogenic car·​i·​o·​gen·​ic | \ ˌker-ē-ə-ˈje-nik , -ˈjē- \ adjective producing or promoting the development of tooth decay1 Did you know that some foods are more likely to cause cavities than other foods? If a certain type of food is highly cariogenic, it has a high potential for producing or promoting tooth decay (aka caries, aka cavities). What Influences Cariogenicity? Here are the biggest factors: How long a food is kept in the mouth The physical form of the food (liqu

Have you ever had a dental emergency and not known what to do? Taking immediate action before visiting your dentist can prevent the issue from getting worse and sometimes even save your tooth. Take a look at the 6 most common dental emergencies and what you can do about them! 1. Chipped, Cracked or Broken Tooth If your tooth has been chipped or broken, save any pieces of the tooth you can to show to your dentist. If you are bleeding, apply gauze to the affected area for about

Do you floss before or after brushing? Which one should you do first? This was actually a topic of much good-natured debate among dentists for a long time. But one thing all dentists always agreed on was that it wasn’t the order that mattered so much as doing both every day! Recently, a small 2018 study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that flossing first had better results! So, why exactly is flossing-then-brushing better than the opposite order? From the stu

Have you had an oral cancer screening lately? We know it sounds scary, but we highly recommend that all adults get regular oral cancer screenings in order to control a potentially much scarier thing. It’s a sad truth that the majority of people who are diagnosed with oral cancers do not survive beyond 5 years, simply because oral cancers so often go undiagnosed and untreated until their later stages. Early detection is key to a higher chance of successful treatment of oral ca

“What can I do to heal quickly after my oral surgery?” Whether it is a wisdom tooth removal, dental implant or root canal therapy, caring for your mouth properly after oral surgery is all-important for healing quickly and without complications. We’ve put together a guideline for basic post-oral surgery care, but as always be sure to follow your dentist’s specific instructions! Take it Easy: After oral surgery, plan to take the rest of the day off because rest is so important

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness on the importance of regular oral cancer screening. Though it may sound intimidating, oral cancer screening is a simple exam that your dentist can perform during your regular dental checkup - and it’s the best way to detect and treat oral and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the mouth and upper throat) early, while the likelihood of effective treatment and full recovery are best! Sobering Facts about Oral Cancer