Plaque vs tartar. You probably know both dental terms. You may even understand that they are both bad for your teeth and oral health. The terms are related but not interchangeable. What’s the Difference Between Plaque vs Tartar? Before your next visit to the dentist, it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on some dental terms…. Read more »
Porcelain veneers can correct a multitude of dental issues ranging from chipped or broken teeth to severely stained or discolored teeth. If your veneers are creating a new issue like bad breath then it’s time to see your dentist for treatment. Do veneers make your breath smell? It’s possible, but several more factors may be… Read more »
Have you ever wondered why your dentist recommends dental fluoride treatments with each dental cleaning? Maybe you have never considered this treatment as necessary. Today, we will discuss what fluoride is, it’s benefits, and why it is highly recommended for both children and adults. While some people seem to be immune from cavities, most dentists… Read more »
Problem: “I have gum receding around a crown. The tooth root feels sensitive when heat or cold comes in contact with it, and the crown itself looks unhealthy. Solution: “Your problem is more common than you might think, and treatment is possible. You need to find a dentist who can perform a gum graft to… Read more »
Did you know that there isn’t just one type of mouthwash? In fact, some mouthwashes have a specialized purpose and require a prescription for purchase. In other words, not all mouth rinses were created equal, and this blog is meant to explain the key differences. To teach his patients about the types of mouthwash, Dr…. Read more »
Did your dentist ever really show you how to remove plaque from your teeth? Dental plaque is the sticky, uncomfortable biofilm that forms around your gum line just hours after brushing your teeth. It’s the product of hundreds of types of oral bacteria gathering in your mouth. When left unattended, it can quickly calcify into… Read more »
Do you brush your teeth before or after breakfast? Every new parent asks this question when they focus on teaching good life skills for their kids. Did you grow up hearing that you should brush your teeth before or after breakfast? Even as a kid I knew that I wanted to be a dentist so… Read more »
Are you searching for ways to cure bad breath? When your mouth odor is noticeably bad, it can be a seemingly endless source of embarrassment. When it doesn’t go away, that embarrassment can turn into worry about what may be causing your condition. While bad breath is sometimes no big deal (such as after eating… Read more »
Many people do not know how to clean a dental bridge. Tooth loss is never an ideal circumstance, but when life happens, restorative dentistry can restore a full, functional smile. Thankfully, with the number of tooth replacement methods available, restoring your smile is relatively simple. One of the more common dental restorations is a dental… Read more »
Everyone deals with foul breath problems at some point in their lives. Morning breath is quite common. Unfortunately, many people experience chronic foul breath that doesn’t go away easily. Thankfully, dealing with foul mouth odors is typically easy with help from your dentist. To help you understand why you shouldn’t hesitate to seek treatment, we… Read more »
Cleaning dental bridges can be cumbersome. The spaces between the pontics (or false teeth) and the gum line tend to be areas where bacteria and particles of food can gather. Because of such, a specialized flossing technique for removal is required. If those spaces are not cleaned properly, patients can experience severe bad breath or… Read more »
It’s no secret that prevention is the best dental medicine, and most people realize that their daily hygiene routine is the cornerstone of that prevention. However, many people also lack in certain areas of their hygiene routine, and that can leave their smiles vulnerable to chronic issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Therefore, such… Read more »
Some dental health issues are only obvious once you know you have them. Until then, the symptoms may not seem serious, especially if they don’t include pain in and around a tooth. For instance, if you notice a small amount of blood mixed in with your saliva when you brush and floss your teeth, you… Read more »
The cornerstone of excellent dental hygiene and a lifetime of healthy smiles is the successful prevention of the buildup of tartar. The biofilms, which notoriously cling to your teeth and gums every day, are the harbors for all types of oral bacteria—specifically, the harmful ones that lead to things like tooth decay and gum disease…. Read more »
Most patients understand that they need a dentist to diagnose and make recommendations for gum issues. Having said that, it is good to have an idea of what the visible signs of gum disease. Gum disease is the second most common dental health issue for adults in the U.S. It isn’t because the disease is… Read more »
It’s no secret that good hygiene is the key to a lifetime of good dental health. However, despite a lifetime’s worth of experience, many of us don’t do as good of a job at keeping our smile’s healthy as we should. Today, we examine a few of the commonly overlooked tenants of a good hygiene… Read more »
The good thing about dental hygiene these days is that keeping your smile healthy is simpler than it’s ever been. For instance, brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride-enhanced toothpaste, along with flossing every day with tooth-friendly floss, can be enough to keep plaque from clinging to your teeth. However,… Read more »
The term sour breath refers to foul breath caused by mouth acids. These mouth acids are caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, bacteria in the mouth, or some other general health issue. There are many recommendations for fixing sour breath but many people don’t know them. Are you afraid to stand too close to… Read more »
Do you floss every day? Most people have gotten their brushing routine down. They brush in the morning and before they go to bed. Some even brush after every meal. But the majority of people are still not regular flossers. Using an interdental cleaner, such as floss, is an absolutely essential part of a good oral… Read more »
Many people don’t understand the connection between diet and dental health. Watching what you eat and drink is an important part of maintaining your health. But it can be difficult to properly choose a diet, especially with so many factors to consider. For many people, the main connection between diet and oral health is that… Read more »
Learn the best ways of preventing plaque buildup so that you can avoid oral problems like bad breath, dental cavities, and gum disease. There are countless reasons to try to avoid plaque buildup. But many people don’t realize some of the simplest preventive steps they can take to keeping their teeth and mouth healthy and… Read more »
Preventive dentistry is one of the most important forms of dentistry. There’s a reason why dentists are constantly reminding patients to brush, floss, and to come in for biannual checkups. But why are those things so important to oral health, and how can you take better care of your teeth at home? Those are great… Read more »
When you think of teeth whitening it probably seems rather easy. You’re not thinking about how many shades whiter, what shades actually exist in reality, or how they even measures shades of whiteness. It’s important to realize that there is no way to know how white a person’s teeth can become. The outcome of teeth… Read more »
Many adults with developmental disabilities cannot tend to their own dental needs and therefore require assistance from caregivers. Research has shown that somewhere there is a disconnect between the caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities and the at home dental care that adults with developmental disabilities receive. Because of this there has been a call… Read more »
Before 2008 it was required of certain patients to take antibiotics before dental treatment. It was thought that dental treatment would cause endocarditits. This was to help protect them from a rare but very serious infection of the heart lining called Infective Endocarditis. Before invasive treatments that might leak harmful bacteria which can travel to… Read more »
Periodontal disease is definitely earning itself a bad reputation. Not only has it been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, dementia, and even impotence in men, and recently gum disease linked to kidney disease. Dr. Fondriest, explains the recent study linking periodontal disease and kidney disease.
Men beware, not only has periodontal disease been linked to many systemic health problems including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, it has been linked to impotence as well. So if you are a man looking for a reason to take better care of your teeth and gums, don’t wait to make a New Year’s resolution…start… Read more »
Do you brush before bed? It’s a very important time to brush if you don’t. Otherwise, everything from throughout the day sits in your mouth collecting bad bacteria. In today’s blog, your Lake Forest Dentist, Dr. Fondriest, discusses the need to brush your teeth before bed.
If you only floss occasionally then it is usually normal that your gums bleed when brushed. Hopefully at least they then consider flossing more. When there is bleeding with brushing, most people brush their teeth less vigorously. This is actually usually the wrong thing to do. It may be that you actually don’t know how… Read more »
Did you know that cancer treatments can have an adverse affect on your oral health? Your oral cavity is a balance of good and bad bacteria and if that balance is disrupted, which cancer treatments can do, it can cause problems with your oral health. Side affects from the cancer medications as well as common… Read more »
Many people like to use all natural ingredients and home remedies for aches, pains, illnesses, and health care. Natural is always better, but does natural always work? There are many home remedies that have been proven to work, others not so much, and still others that we remain skeptical about. Today your Lake Forest Dentist,… Read more »
What is the best toothpaste? A search on the internet is likely to turn up around 200 results for different types of toothpastes you can easily purchase. With so many types, brands and flavors to chose from, how can you know which is best toothpaste for your oral health? In years past, consumers could simply… Read more »
Food provides your body with essential vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Certain foods are bad for your teeth and others are considered better. Some are just empty calories while others can provide energy, brain power, or protect you from illness. Although you may not often give it a thought, food affects your teeth… Read more »
Do you take vitamins for your gum health? There are various reasons people choose to take vitamins. Some take vitamins to keep their minds sharp, some take vitamins for energy. Women who are expecting are prescribed vitamins to keep them and their baby healthy. Has it ever occurred to you to take vitamins to keep… Read more »
Are you struggling to help keep your family cavity free? Does it feel like no amount of hygiene, or healthy diet, is enough to keep bacteria from causing damaging acid erosion? It seems to some people that the benefits of xylitol are being overlooked. Considering that over 25 percent of American children from 2 to… Read more »
Other than tooth decay, periodontitis is the leading threat to dental health. Numerous studies have indicated a link between dental health, mental health, and your overall health. Poor oral health has been associated with heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and lung infections. In the old days when no links to systemic issues were know, tooth… Read more »
Women tend to be caretakers. They take care of their children, their husbands, their parents, stray animals, even their children’s friends. If there is someone to take care of, they often do it. Research shows that women also take better care of their teeth than men. Women have less gum disease than men. This can… Read more »
Have you heard about the oil pulling craze? Basically, it’s using oil as a mouth wash. It may seem “out there” but swishing oil in your mouth for 20 seconds is beneficial to oral health. Research shows oil pulling can significantly reduce plaque, gingival bacteria, and aerobic microorganisms found in plaque. Sesame seed oil, sunflower,… Read more »
The tops, or crowns, of your teeth may be the most visible parts, but they’re only a portion of the structures that make up your smile. The bottom halves of your teeth, called the roots, are surrounded by a soft, pink layer of tissue known interchangeably as periodontal tissue, gingival tissue, or, more commonly, your… Read more »
Have you ever stopped to consider what the greatest threat to your smile is? It might be traumatic impact from a fall. If you smoke or chew tobacco, then it might be the chemicals your mouth is exposed to through the habit. In most cases, however, the greatest threat to your dental health is something… Read more »
Talking about curing halitosis is not a taboo subject, but if you suffer from it chronically, you may be less apt to talk about it. Not only does the topic hit close to home, but conversing with people at all might be embarrassing if they catch a waft of your malodorous breath. Nevertheless, speaking about… Read more »
Imagine this: you’re in the teeth cleaning aisle of the local drugstore trying to pick out a few items. Toothbrushes, toothpastes, floss, and mouthwashes bombard your vision. Which to choose,is the question, yet the correct answer doesn’t come to mind. To help his patients avoid situations, such as the one described above, Dr. James Fondriest… Read more »
While a bright smile can boost our confidence, we shouldn’t forget to pay attention to what’s happening to our teeth below the gum line. The roots and cementum of our teeth help keep our smile healthy and beautiful. Dr. James Fondriest, explains the importance of our less visible tooth structure.
Did you know that saliva helps your teeth stay healthy and bright? Did you know that saliva heals? Many people don’t realize the benefits of a lot of saliva. Dry mouth isn’t just an uncomfortable dental issue; a lack of saliva actually endangers your beautiful smile. Saliva prevents tooth decay and gum disease and it… Read more »
When discussing dental care, most people focus on their teeth. While bright, healthy teeth are vital for good dental health, don’t overlook the tongue. Caring for the tongue is important. In addition to being one of the strongest and fastest healing muscles in the human body, the tongue helps maintain good oral hygiene. In today’s… Read more »
When caring for their smiles, few people consider the importance of a healthy jawbone. In fact, your jawbone helps keep your teeth strong, healthy, and holds them in place. But when a patient fails at replacing missing teeth, they leave their jawbone vulnerable to bone loss. In today’s blog, Dr. James Fondriest, explains how to… Read more »
Over 75% of American adults exhibit symptoms of gingivitis. If left untreated, this common disorder often develops into periodontal disease, or gum disease. In today’s blog, we explain the link between gingivitis and gum disease.
When people consider cosmetic dentistry to improve their smile, they rarely consider their gums. While Americans spend over 1.4 billion dollars a year on teeth whitening systems, over 75% of the country has some sort of gum problem and 47% of adults have gum disease. In today’s blog, Lake Forest cosmetic dentist, Dr. James Fondriest,… Read more »
A visit to your dentist can go one of two ways. If you follow the American Dental Association’s suggestion of checkups every six months, your time in the dentist’s chair can pass quickly and comfortably. If you find yourself among the 74% of Americans who only see a dentist when a problem develops, you might… Read more »
We have all heard about the importance of brushing teeth regularly since we were children. But a lifetime of minty toothpaste may get a little boring. While there are different varieties of mint, and even bubblegum, flavors to choose from, our options aren’t vast. Since we should never stop our brushing routine, maybe some investigation… Read more »
Do you chew sugar free gum? October might seem like the official candy month, with Halloween front and center, but did you know that it is also National Dental Hygiene Month? This year the American Dental Hygienists Association has partnered with the manufacturer of Wrigley gum to compile a month long agenda, the goal of… Read more »
Do men want veneers as much as women do? As a society, Americans have historically tended to associate a concern for one’s personal appearance with women. For men, caring too much about the way you looked threw your masculinity into question. In recent years, however, that way of thinking is changing. Men are becoming more… Read more »
Smoking is bad for you. You know that. You’re probably well aware of the fact that smoking can lead to a laundry list of health problems, including emphysema, heart disease, and cancer. But did you know smoking can also increase your chances of needing a root canal procedure? Our Lake Forest dentist Dr. James Fondriest… Read more »
Mouthwashes or gargling rinses are useful additions to your arsenal in the fight against oral health problems. However, it is a mistake to believe that mouthwash can replace manual plaque and debris removal, such as brushing your teeth and flossing. Dr. Fondriest and his team clarify a few interesting facts about mouthwashes and rinses and… Read more »
Anti-inflammatory Herbal Remedies for Your Gums Have you considered anti-inflammatory herbal remedies for your gums? Most commonly associated with sunburn relief, aloe vera can also be beneficial for your gums by alleviating ulcers. Applied directly, the antibacterial properties of aloe vera can help your ulcers heal faster. If you have a toothache, contact us right… Read more »
It seems that for years people have not considered their mouth a part of their body. That sounds strange doesn’t it? Yet, even the medical field has ignored the implications of a diseased mouth on a patient’s bodily health. Today that is changing. There has been all sorts of research indicating a connection between the… Read more »
What is geographic tongue? This oral health condition reflects its name by showing map-like lesions on the tongue. Tastebuds create “island-shaped” red sores where papillae are missing. While some people experience discomfort with geographical tongue, it has not been linked to any serious health conditions. The exact cause of geographic tongue is still unknown but… Read more »
More Than Just a Nervous Habit Almost everyone has a nervous habit. Some people continually adjust their clothing, some women twirl their hair, and others bite their nails. While some nervous habits are harmless, some habits, like the latter can be detrimental to your health. Nail Biting Spreads Bacteria If you remember your mother telling… Read more »
Why are we getting cavities? Spring is a minefield of sweets and candy. With Valentine’s Day, Easter, cotton candy at the carnivals, and that long awaited day when snow cone stands reopen for business, you may find yourself overindulging in springtime treats. Sugar is often cited as the worst offender for your dental health and… Read more »
Mouth rinse seems like a magical thing. If you have bad breath just swish and viola it’s gone. If you’re too tired or lazy to brush your teeth, just swish and viola a quick fix. It’s easy, tastes good, and leaves you with fresh breath, but are all types of mouthwash good or bad for… Read more »
The modern consumer now has the option of hundreds of flavors, colors, brands, textures, sizes, and health claims of contemporary toothpastes. Just like most hygiene products, the history of toothpaste had its dark days. Here is brief history of the evolution of toothpaste into the booming industry it has become today. The earliest forms of… Read more »
“Best” is in the eye of the beholder. The best toothbrush is the one that meets your specific needs. Choices can be a sensitive subject as we all have our preferences but which ones really are the best for you? Ask yourself these questions next time you buy a new brush. In the past, human… Read more »
How to Brush Your Teeth Brushing your teeth will go a long way toward good oral hygiene and disease prevention. Specifically, we brush to prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. The ADA recommends that you brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to maintain good oral health. Most of us learn how to brush… Read more »
What is plaque? Plaque is a sticky, yellow substance that naturally and constantly is forming on teeth. Plaque is made up of a complex microbial community with over ten billion bacteria per milligram. And each milligram contains approximately 400 different types of bacteria that produce acids. The bacterial products and acids combine with saliva to… Read more »
There are many foods that stain teeth. Everyone wants a beautiful smile, and bright teeth are a big part of the package. That’s why products like at-home teeth whitening systems and whitening toothpaste are so popular. But many of the foods and drinks we consume can make our teeth dark and take away from their… Read more »