Knowledge for a Healthier Smile

Do you ever find yourself grinding or clenching your teeth? It’s a pretty common reaction to stress and anxiety, and whether consciously or not, most people have done it at some point in their lives. But when a person habitually and unconsciously grinds or clenches their teeth, it is a condition called bruxism. What is Bruxism? Bruxism is the habitual teeth grinding or clenching of teeth, and can occur when you are awake (aka awake bruxism, or AB) or while sleeping (aka sleep

What are the best foods and drinks for a healthy mouth? In general, what’s good for your body is also good for your teeth. For example, foods that are high in nutrients, vitamins, fiber and water content all tend to be great for both general and oral health. And the reverse is true, too – foods that are bad for your body, such as sugary and starchy foods with little nutritional value, are bad for oral health as well. Let’s take a look at some of the very best food and drink c

Do you ever think about how much your teeth help you speak? Read this sentence out loud and pay attention to how much your teeth come into play in forming these words and sounds. You’ll be hard pressed to find more than a few words that don’t need teeth at all to form the correct sounds! How Teeth Help Us Speak Speech is extremely complex, and our mouths (lips, tongue and teeth), our vocal cords, and our breath all work together in concert to form the correct sounds and pronu

How much sugar did the average person consume in the 1700s vs. today? And what does our increased sugar consumption do to our oral, mental and physical health? The answers aren’t pretty – but the reality is that added sugars are found in the majority of our foods and drinks today, and our sugar habits are causing serious and sometimes life-threatening health issues. Understanding the reasons and impacts of our consumption choices can help us make better decisions to benefit o

Should you use a toothbrush cap? How often do you change your toothbrush? Proper toothbrush care isn’t something that people tend to think about much, but it’s an important part of your oral hygiene. Your toothbrush is the tool you use for cleaning your mouth, and it can’t do a good job if it’s dirty. Below: our do’s and don'ts of proper toothbrush care, plus a couple bonus options! Toothbrush Care: Do’s Do wash your hands well before brushing and flossing to avoid transferri