Why Bite Matters

A crooked smile and uneven bite might create an endearing photograph, but an uneven bite may also create pain in the body that reaches far beyond the mouth. A misaligned jaw and teeth is called a "malocclusion" by dentists. Many individuals who have bite problems will experience a clicking noise whenever the jaw moves. Other problems may include tension headaches, neck pain, and even difficulties swallowing. Those problems are just the ones that may develop above the shoulders. Signs of a Bite Problem There are a few simple checks that anyone can perform to see if there might be a problem with the bite; however, each of these checks is very informal and should not be substituted for a checkup at the dentist. One of the easiest ways to see if there s a problem with your bite is to clench the teeth down hard, with nothing inside the mouth, and see if there s any tooth pain. If a bite is uneven, one tooth may be painful when the mouth is clenched tightly. Another sign of a bite problem i

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5 Tips for Resisting Sweets During the Holidays

Chocolate, cupcakes, candy canes and endless sweets are a delicious part of holiday celebrations yet aren t the best way to keep weight down and avoid cavities. Marketing of holiday treats and sweets goes into overdrive at the end of the year, and the madness only continues into January when advertisers start tempting buyers with giant chocolate hearts and Valentine s Day candy. The Body Makes Resistance Difficult Scientific data suggests avoiding sweets is difficult because of a particular chemical in the brain that is released after eating foods like chocolate as well as other sugary holiday treats. The hormones serotonin and dopamine are released by the brain after eating sugary treats, so after a person eats just one chocolate the brain will create an anticipatory response designed to make it almost impossible to resist more candy. Interestingly, sweets that cause these chemical reactions in the brain use the same hormones to create happiness and satisfaction that illegal drugs li

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New Year's Resolution: Smile More

Chocolate, cupcakes, candy canes and endless sweets are a delicious part of holiday celebrations yet aren t the best way to keep weight down and avoid cavities. Marketing of holiday treats and sweets goes into overdrive at the end of the year, and the madness only continues into January when advertisers start tempting buyers with giant chocolate hearts and Valentine s Day candy. The Body Makes Resistance Difficult Scientific data suggests avoiding sweets is difficult because of a particular chemical in the brain that is released after eating foods like chocolate as well as other sugary holiday treats. The hormones serotonin and dopamine are released by the brain after eating sugary treats, so after a person eats just one chocolate the brain will create an anticipatory response designed to make it almost impossible to resist more candy. Interestingly, sweets that cause these chemical reactions in the brain use the same hormones to create happiness and satisfaction that illegal drugs li

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Hermey Wants to be a Dentist. Do You?

Helping patients improve their smiles, take care of their teeth, and develop healthy oral care habits are only a few of the responsibilities of today s dentists. Deciding to go to school to become a dentist, like Hermey the Elf, is a significant decision because training takes several years and dental school is one of the most competitive educational arenas in all of higher education. According to the American Dental Association training to become a dentist is rigorous and requires a significant investment of time and money. However, for students who are fascinated with oral health and dental procedures, studying to become a dentist may lead to an exceptionally fulfilling life. One of the best ways to figure out if dentistry is right for you is by requesting to shadow dentists in Jacksonville to see how they spend their days. It s best to come to the dentist s office with a list of questions, so you won’t forget anything important during the shadowing process. Specializations in

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Tips for Hiring a Dental Hygienist

Maintaining dental health and good hygiene offers more than just a pretty smile, and doctors suggest that one of the most important indicators of overall health is the condition of the mouth, gums and teeth. This means that a dental hygienist, who will provide the essential semi-annual cleanings for patients, is one of the most important individuals dentists in Jacksonville hire. The responsibilities of a dental hygienists are varied and do require expertise in a number of areas. When hiring this type of professional, a dentist must confirm that the hygienist is experienced or knowledgeable in the following areas: -Initial patient interviews and screenings -Creating molds of patient teeth for evaluation -Instruction to patients of proper dental hygiene techniques -Plaque and calculus removal from the teeth -Sealants and fluoride application to the teeth -Surgical knowledge for assistance on procedures like gum grafts -Taking and developing X-rays Important Qualities for the Hygienist

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What Diabetics Should Know About Dental Care

A beautiful smile destroyed by gum disease is a terrible thing to experience, but patients who suffer from diabetes may also experience higher rates of gum disease due to inflamed gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that there are at least 7 million people in the United States alone who have diabetes and are unaware that their gums might be in danger. Diabetes Impact on Gums and Health The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that diabetes sufferers who have chronic high glucose levels will experience a higher-than-average development of plaque. Unfortunately, patients with diabetes often take longer to heal than non-diabetes patients, and this may mean significant problems for a patient if severe gum disease develops. Gum disease impacts the ability of a diabetic to control his or her disease. Impact of Gum Disease Gum disease is an affliction that may start out as a mild problem and eventually destroy the soft tissue that supports the teeth and bones o

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Thank God for Cosmetic Dentistry

Decades of jokes about the British propensity for yellowed, crooked teeth have created some incredibly memorable characters on the silver screen, but thanks to cosmetic dental work, nobody needs to suffer with a mouth that looks like Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery. Most movie-goers are so adverse to crooked, aged teeth that Hollywood movies tend to shy away from accurate portrayals of the way people s teeth used to look hundreds of years ago: yellow, bent and missing. It s rare that Hollywood has featured performances with actors who have “era-appropriate” teeth, but there are a few notable examples. In 1998 s “Shakespeare in Love,” actor Geoffrey Rush, playing theater producer Philip Henslow, had a mouth full of so many crooked, yellow teeth that it looked as though one of his poor molars was about to pop out of his mouth and land right in a movie-goer s lap. Likewise, in the 1996 film “The Crucible,” actor Daniel Day-Lewis not only we

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Help Your Kids Overcome Fear of the Dentist

A trip to the dentist can be an anxious experience for adults, so it s no surprise that children are often resistant and even fearful. Given the importance of maintaining healthy family dentistry practices, however, regular trips to the dentist are crucial for young children. With the following tips, you ll have the tools to make your child s next visit to the dentist as easy and stress-free as possible. Start Early Perhaps the best way to help your child overcome their fear and anxiety is to start at a very young age. Regular trips to the dentist should begin by age 1, or as soon as the first tooth appears. Beginning at such a young age will help your child acclimate to the process, and it will alleviate the fear of the unknown that many kids experience. If possible, you should bring your child to the same dentist throughout their youth.

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All You Need to Know About Porcelain Veneers

Your smile is one of the most important factors in the way people perceive you. It may seem like a very superficial way to judge people, but if you look into a person s mouth and see a bunch of teeth that are crooked and yellow, you are not going to treat them the same way as a person with teeth that are white and perfectly straight. Because of this, people are taking steps to improve the appearance of their teeth through many methods. One such method is porcelain veneers. Let s take a look at exactly what veneers are: Types There are two primary types of veneers used in dentistry—composite and porcelain. The veneers made of porcelain are small, thin pieces of porcelain. These pieces are bonded to the teeth on the front side to give the appearance of teeth that are flawless. The dentist begins by making an impression of your teeth. The impression is sent to a lab, and a lab technician creates the actual veneer. Uses There are many different reasons why a person would choose to h

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Signs of an Infected Tooth

Going to the dentist is an activity that most people only do every six months for a routine cleaning, or when pain in the mouth leads a person to suspect a problem like a cavity. The medical community has long suggested that oral health is a key indicator of a person s overall condition. Lack of proper oral care may lead to severe health problems due to the presence and growth of natural bacteria that live in the mouth. One of the potential complications of bad oral hygiene is an infected tooth, which is often referred to as a tooth abscess. Why Infections Occur Regular brushing is essential to maintain good oral health; however, even terrific oral care cannot prevent all problems. As a painful and potentially dangerous condition, an infected tooth requires a visit to a healthy family dentistry to prevent this problem from impacting the entire body. An infection commonly occurs due to a crack or opening within the enamel of the tooth. Bacteria are allowed to enter through this vulnera

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