Gum disease – or gingivitis – has been called the fifth complication of diabetes behind heart, nerve, kidney and eye disease. Gingivitis is simply the inflammation of the gums around your teeth caused by plaque buildup.
Your Essential Guide to Getting New Dentures
Do you need dentures? Deciding on and getting dentures can be a complicated, long process. Much depends on the current state of your teeth, so it’s a decision best made in consultation with your dentist. But, there are things you should know about opting for dentures before you make your choice. “Getting and caring for … Read More
What Your Tongue Can Tell You About Your Health
For clues about problems in your mouth, stick out your tongue and look in the mirror. A healthy tongue should be pink and covered with small nodules (papillae). Any deviation from your tongue’s normal appearance, or any pain, may be cause for concern. Family physician Daniel Allan, MD, discusses why you should watch for changes … Read More
How to Choose the Best Toothpaste for You
Ever find yourself staring at all the colorful boxes of toothpaste on a store shelf wondering which one is best for you? Well, here are some tips to help you make better-informed toothpaste decisions. When you’re looking for a toothpaste, you’ll find they make various claims about cavity protection, gingivitis, plaque, sensitivity, tartar, whitening and … Read More
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Do Teeth-Whitening Kits You Use at Home Really Work?
Most of us wouldn’t mind making our pearly whites a little brighter. Teeth can get discolored from tea, coffee and wine stains, smoking or simply from growing older. But if you want to whiten your teeth at home with a teeth-whitening kit, here are five things you should do. 1. Know the risks of using … Read More
Could You Be Ruining Your Teeth With These 5 Bad Habits?
Every day, we do things that can damage our teeth. So, we asked dental expert Hadie Rifai, DDS, to advise us. What should we avoid? What day-to-day habits do we need to change to protect our teeth throughout the day? Not surprisingly, there are foods and drinks that pose some of the biggest threats to … Read More
Boil, Soak or Pitch It? 4 Tips for a Clean Toothbrush
People swear by all sorts of folk wisdom when it comes to keeping a clean toothbrush. Some run it through the dishwasher. Others soak the head in mouthwash or effervescent denture cleaner. Still others freeze it, boil it or invest in a pricey ultraviolet toothbrush “sanitizer.” But here’s the bottom line from an expert: “None … Read More
7 Signs Your Diet Stinks
To find signs of a poor diet, look beyond your waistline.
Sure, weight gain — or lack of weight loss — indicates you need to rethink what you’re putting into your body. But evidence shows many other health problems have roots in poor dietary habits that lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Avoid ‘Baby Bottle Tooth Decay’
Tooth decay, without teeth? It can happen. That’s because (even though you can’t see them) your baby’s 20 primary teeth are present at birth. Todd Coy, DMD, Section Head of Dentistry at Cleveland Clinic, recommends four healthy habits to avoid what he calls “baby bottle tooth decay”: 1. Wipe off baby’s gums While a baby’s … Read More
4 Tips for a Healthy Smile — and Body
Good dental care is about more than just keeping your teeth and gums healthy — it’s about keeping your entire body healthy. Sometimes a problem in your mouth is a symptom of a problem elsewhere in your body, says, Todd Coy, DMD, Cleveland Clinic’s Head of Dentistry. For example, plaque buildup on your teeth may … Read More
