Fillings are durable, but they do not last forever no matter how skilled your cosmetic dentist is. General wear and tear, bad oral hygiene, bacteria from food debris buildup, grinding and clenching all contribute to breakdown of fillings. If your filling has chipped, there are things you should do to ensure that the area remains clean and free of bacteria. Chipped fillings that are left untreated can lead to a root canal and the possibility that the whole tooth will have to be removed. What you can do when a filling chips The first thing to do when a filling…

Sleep apnea is a disorder marked by repeated pauses in breathing or the taking of shallow breaths while you’re asleep. Apnea is the period of time when your breathing is reduced or stops. It can happen anywhere from a few seconds to whole minutes. When breathing resumes it is usually with a snort or choking noise. Sleep apnea is common, chronic, and it often remains untreated. Why does sleep apnea occur? As we sleep, our brain gives our breathing muscles instructions so these muscles know to take a breath. When our brain doesn’t send a signal to the muscles to…

Teeth whitening done by your dentist is a great way to get a sparkling smile. Instead of wasting your time with over-the-counter whitening products, your dentist will use professional-grade materials to turn your yellow teeth into pearly whites. Once you’ve had your teeth whitened there are things you can do at home to ensure they stay that way. Brush, floss and rinse daily You probably already have a dental care routine that you follow and it’s important that you stick to it after a teeth whitening procedure. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once. Make sure you’re…

Orthodontic braces are worn temporarily to correct teeth misalignment, gaps, overbite, underbite or crossbite. The severity of the issues within your mouth will dictate how long you’ll need to wear your braces for. Braces do take some getting used to and require special cleaning to ensure that food does not get stuck in them. However, if there’s one thing braces do not do, it’s affect your beautiful singing voice. Does wearing braces require that you adjust the way you sing? When you first start wearing orthodontic braces, your mouth, tongue and cheeks will need to adjust to their new contours.…