Archive for March, 2011
What’s In an Amalgam Filling?
Have you ever wondered what an amalgam filling looks like inside? Many people question how a metal can be soft enough to be shaped into a tooth yet hard enough to endure the force of chewing and other abuse that occurs during its ten or more years in your mouth. Other people are curious about [...]
Teeth Whitening: Two Side Effects of Whitening Your Teeth
Did you know that more than half of all people who bleach their teeth end up with sensitive teeth as a result? It seems like people are willing to go through a lot just to get whiter teeth. In this article, I’m going to talk about the two main side effects of whitening your teeth: [...]
At What Age Can Kids Brush Their Own Teeth?
Have you ever heard any of the following quotes regarding the age that kids should start brushing their teeth by themselves? “My daughter could brush all by herself when she turned two years old!” “Kids can brush alone when they can cut through a thick New York strip steak without any help.” “They can brush [...]
Can a Dentist Who’s Not An Orthodontist Offer Braces?
I frequently get emails from people asking me if a general dentist is allowed to provide orthodontic treatment to their patients, or if this can only be done by orthodontists. The short answer is yes. General dentists CAN offer their patients braces. If a general dentist wants to provide orthodontics in his or her practice, [...]
The Real Cause of Canker Sores
Ben, an Oral Answers reader, recently asked about what really causes canker sores (also known as aphthous ulcers.) He’s heard that sodium lauryl sulfate in toothpaste can cause canker sores, but not everyone who brushes their teeth gets canker sores. To be honest, there isn’t any one thing that can cause canker sores in everyone. [...]
Teething Biscuits – A Natural Way to Calm Your Teething Baby
Many parents are looking for a way to help soothe their teething baby that doesn’t involve smearing a numbing gel such as Orajel on their gums. Teething biscuits are just one of many alternatives and have been around for quite some time. Does Your Teething Baby Need Teething Biscuits? The short answer to this question [...]
Dentist License Verification: Find Public Records Information on Your Dentist
Have you ever wondered how long your dentist has been licensed or if they’ve ever had any public complaints? Each state dental board provides certain public record information about dentists. A lot of information about your dentist is available on the internet. In fact, 49 of the 50 states (sorry Iowans) in the U.S. provide [...]
Discolored Teeth: 4 Ways Root Canals Can Stain Your Tooth
Last week, Pam left a comment asking whether or not root canal treatment can darken a tooth. I gave her a short answer, telling her that sometimes root canals can discolor teeth. If you want to know about the four different ways that a root canal can darken your tooth, this article is for you. [...]
A Full List of Dental Products with the ADA Seal
Not many people are aware that the American Dental Association keeps an updated list on their website of all of the dental products that have received the ADA Seal of Acceptance. You can view and print the entire list of ADA Accepted dental products here in PDF format. When people think of the ADA Seal, [...]
Xylitol: What It Is and How It Protects Your Teeth
The sweetener xylitol has been getting a lot of attention lately due to its ability to fight plaque and its harmful effects on dogs. If you’re curious about what xylitol actually is, if it has any nutritional value, and how it helps your teeth, then this article is for you! What is Xylitol? Xylitol is [...]
Cavities in Baby Teeth: Should You Get Baby Teeth Filled?
A lot of parents wonder if it’s really necessary to have their children get fillings in their baby teeth. Since baby teeth just end up falling out, why not let the cavity fall out with the baby tooth rather than paying to have a dentist remove the cavity? Many people assume that baby teeth aren’t [...]
Baby Teething Symptoms: 10 Signs of a Teething Baby
Did you know that 5,016 children died from teething in just one year in Wales and England? The year was 1839. Since many babies died around the age of teething, most people simply assumed that it was the teething that killed them. Luckily we’ve come a long way since then — we now know that [...]
Why Dental Anesthetic Makes Your Heart Beat Faster
You may have noticed that when you get a dental injection, sometimes your heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of your chest. You’ve probably just assumed that your heart is beating so hard because you’re nervous. That’s partly true, but there’s another reason — the dental anesthetic actually contains something that makes [...]
Hi, I'm Tom. I'm currently a 4th year dental student in the USA. I started this blog to help people take better care of their teeth. You can 
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