mouth health

Are Dental Implants the Right Solution for Me?

If you are missing teeth, one of the best options for replacing them today is with dental implants. A dental implant is a “man-made root” that is placed into the jaw bone and sits where the roots of the tooth normally would. Yes, it may sound strange or even painful; however, the jaw bone has less nerve endings than the tooth itself and we find patients normally experience much less sensitivity than they expect. Dental implants are a great way to replace teeth because they provide a long-term solution and can last a lifetime. Based on your health history, you … Read more…

7 Foods Healthy for Your Teeth

  Nutrition is key when it comes to the health of your teeth. If your diet is full of sugary and acidic foods then you bet your teeth will be full of cavities. On the other hand if you are eating foods rich in certain nutrients you can protect your teeth and gums from harmful bacteria. Here are seven foods that you should be eating that can help you keep your teeth strong and healthy: Carrots Carrots are great because they are full of fiber and vitamin A. If you eat a few raw carrots after a meal it will … Read more…

5 Ways Your Dentist Can Help You Look Younger

A big secret to how to look younger is in your teeth. Looking beautiful is often associated with looking younger and the teeth play a big part in this. Studies show that a smile is the first thing people notice about you. Working with your dentist to either preserve your natural teeth or enhance them is a great place to start in looking younger and being healthier. Prevention is an important part in staying healthy. It is important to brush twice daily, floss daily, and see your dentist regularly for a checkup and cleaning. While prevention is a key role, it … Read more…

5 Ways to Prevent Gum Disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is when bacteria have invaded the gum tissue and it is not healthy. Often patients are unaware that they are suffering from gum disease unless they are told by a dentist. There are two main categories that the stages of gum disease are broken into: In dentistry, “gum disease” or “periodontal disease” are general terms used to describe when gum or gingiva tissue is in an unhealthy state. There are two key classifications that gum disease can be broken into: Gingivitis When still in the early stages, periodontal disease is known as gingivitis. At this … Read more…

Oral Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

The More You Know… The most common places that oral cancer begins invading the body are the tongue and the floor of the mouth. These growths can be serious and are usually a form of squamous cell carcinoma. Often they will spread to the lips and if left untreated the cancer will continue to spread to other body parts. The most common places it will travel to are the lips, floor of mouth, tongue, hard and soft palate, the sinus cavity, cheeks, and throat. As with many cancer the presentation of oral cancer may be the origination or it could … Read more…

What Effect does Sparking Water have on Your Teeth?

There has been a debate recently on whether or not sparkling water is as good for you as plain water. When reading the label of sparkling water there is no mention of sugar or other ingredients so it is difficult to assess if there really is a problem with drinking it. The potential problem with drinking sparkling water lays in the fact that it is more acidic that plain water. The reason that sparkling water has its refreshing fizz is due to the carbon dioxide (CO2) infused in it. There is a chemical reaction that takes place upon drinking the … Read more…

Cosmetic Dentistry Explained

Cosmetic dentistry is getting more popular than ever.  A beautiful smile is recognized as an asset to health and success and is important to most people.  Please know that while the American Dental Association does not classify cosmetic dentistry as a specialty of training, cosmetic dentists spend thousands of hours training in the art and through education and experience become extremely skilled and well regarded in this field of dentistry. The difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry is that the procedures done are entirely elected for and approved by the patient. Patients must be well informed and ask questions such … Read more…

Fixing a Gummy Smile – What are my options?

Patients often ask if veneers or braces are the right option for them to correct a “gummy smile.” When you come into our office for an free initial consultation, Dr. Ken Cirka and Dr. Jessica Meier will evaluate your smile and see how to best achieve perfection.  “Actually there are several options and considerations that we dentists have to take into consideration to fix this problem,” Dr. Cirka says. Many times when we evaluate patients a main concern is their “gummy smile.” They may feel that their teeth appear small or their gums show too much when they laugh. There is … Read more…

5 Ways to Keep Healthy – Starting with your teeth!

The gums and the teeth are frequently overlooked important areas of our health. Not only will healthy teeth give you a beautiful smile, they will increase your quality of life.  Protect Your Teeth If you are an active athlete then it is highly recommended you protect your teeth with a mouth guard. This can prevent major damage to the teeth. Additionally if you are clenching or grinding your teeth then you need protection while you sleep.  Clenching and grinding can also cause major headaches and jaw pain.  The dentist will make you a night guard that will protect the teeth from significant … Read more…

12 Signs of Oral Cancer – When to be concerned?

Patients ask us dentists about oral cancer, mouth cancer, and oral cancer symptoms and how alcohol, tobacco and smoking contributes to forming cancers. This information will be helpful to you. Oral cancer presents itself in many different ways. Below are some of the most common ways that they appear: – Red and white patches in the mouth or lips – Lumps or swelling on the gums, lips, cheeks, and at the back of the throat – Non-healing of a sore in the mouth or lips – Unexplained weight loss – Difficulty in speaking, chewing, or swallowing – Swollen lymph nodes in … Read more…