Quick answer: Canker sores form inside the mouth, on the cheeks, gums or tongue. They aren't contagious and look like round white or yellow ulcers with a red edge. Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters on or around the lips, caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they are contagious. Both usually heal within one to two weeks. Cold and flu season is upon us, and unfortunately, mouth sores sometimes accompany these illnesses. Canker sores and cold sores can be quite unpleasant

Have you smiled recently? Smiling isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially after a long and exhausting day. But here’s a fun fact: numerous studies have shown that smiling is actually good for your health! Whether genuine or forced, the physical act of smiling can “trick” your mind and body into being less stressed, happier, and more relaxed. When you smile, it triggers your brain to release the “happy chemicals” – endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – that actively an

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and we’re so excited for all the delicious turkey day foods and treats! Some of the classic Thanksgiving Day foods are surprisingly great for our teeth – others, not so much. Here is a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to popular Thanksgiving foods! The Good: Turkey: The star of the Thanksgiving table is also fortunately quite good for our teeth! Turkey doesn’t contain starch or sugar, and it’s also a good source of vit

People today consume an astounding amount of sugar – nearly 300% of the recommended amount! Over the past few decades, added sugars in our food and drinks have been linked to drastic spikes in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the U.S. Other serious health issues linked with increased sugar consumption include: heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer, mood disorders like depression, and tooth decay. It is all too easy to default to grabbing a sugar-laden drink or snac

Happy October, and Happy National Dental Hygiene Month! We celebrate #DentalHygieneMonth for two great reasons: 1) to recognize the fantastic work of our dental hygienists, and 2) to raise awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene and health! Good oral health is essential to our general health and well being, but it often gets overlooked. The most important determining factor for good oral health is not necessarily genetics, and it is not even regular dentist visits –