Oral Hygiene
Why Dentures Cause Soreness
Dentures are an amazing dental solution that, when designed correctly, should function, look, and feel like natural teeth. However, for many, this is not their experience. Dentures have caused them and soreness making everyday joys like eating, talking, or just relaxing painful. If that sounds like you, then keep reading. Preface: DENTURES SHOULD NOT CAUSE…
What is a Dental “Emergency”?
In the midst of the COVID – 19 pandemic, businesses are limiting hours, staff, and even customers. In response, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are strongly urging dentists to only hold appointments with patients who need emergency dental care. However, “emergency” is a general term that is leaving…
Dental Care During Pandemics
The COVID-19 virus has created confusion and concern not only in our community here in the Illinois valley but worldwide. Social distancing in situations like these saves lives. To do our part, at A Lifetime of Smiles dental office in LaSalle, IL we closed our offices for elective services and routine cleanings during “shelter in…
What do white spots on your teeth mean?
Otherwise clean and seemingly healthy, teeth that have white spots or discoloration could be a sign of hypocalcification, a condition that affects the enamel of the teeth and could impact the strength and structural integrity of your teeth. What is Hypocalcification? Hypocalcification is a dental condition characterized by white spots, discoloration or stains that appear…
Can a Root Canal Be Prevented?
Most of us in the Illinois Valley, and pretty much everywhere, have heard of a root canal and associate it as something we don’t ever want to deal with. The truth is, a root canal can be relatively painless and very beneficial in terms of saving your natural teeth and avoiding the need for a…
The Lowdown on Gum Disease in Peru IL
Was your toothbrush tinged a little red when you brushed your teeth last? While you may have simply brushed too hard, it’s possible you’re in the beginning stages of gum disease. Gum disease in Peru IL is no laughing matter. There are connections between gingivitis and periodontitis and diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. If…
Should I Clean My Tongue?
You probably take your time cleaning your teeth every day but do you ever think about your tongue. The tongue is vital to speech and swallowing, but it should also be part of your overall dental plan. When you clean your mouth, you just can’t think about your teeth. You also need to think about…
Taking Care Of Your Teeth With Braces
If you’re required to have normal braces instead of something like Invisalign, then you need to take extra special care of your teeth and orthodontics to prevent cavities, gum disease and other problems from forming. Having braces doesn’t give you a pass on your regular dental care. In fact, it makes it more involved, but…
Oral Piercings: A Dentist’s Perspective
They seem to be all the rage right now. People love the way piercings look in their tongue, lips, and cheeks. While it can look great after the initial pain of getting them, but dentists aren’t too fond of them for various reasons. While we certainly don’t want to tell anyone how to live their…
What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Children’s teeth are new and you wouldn’t expect them to develop cavities so early, but the reality is that almost half of all children develop some type of tooth decay by the age of 5. Children’s teeth are fragile and easily impacted by cavities and tooth decay. It doesn’t help if parents inadvertently help that…
Oral Hygiene Tips for Back to School
It’s that time of year again when the lazy days of summer are replaced with reading, math and science classes. You’re scrambling to get school supplies, haircuts and a million little things that just keep adding up. Don’t forget about making oral hygiene a priority because many families get lax during the summer months because…
Ways to Cut Sugar To Keep Your Perfect Smile
It’s no secret that sugar is the biggest enemy of healthy teeth. Heavy sugar intake can lead to tooth decay, bacterial infections and a host of other problems. It seems that sugar is in every aspect of our food from cakes to bread, but there are ways to reduce the sugar intake for your family…