New Year, New Smile Resolutions: A Guide to Setting Realistic Oral Health Goals

With a new year comes new goals — and for many people, this includes improving their smile. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about confidence, comfort, and investing in your long-term oral health. If you’ve spent years wishing your teeth were whiter, straighter, smoother, or more symmetrical, this may be the perfect year to make that change. 

December is one of the busiest travel months of the year. Whether you’re flying across the country, taking a cozy road trip, or simply bouncing between family gatherings, travel can easily disrupt your daily routines—including your oral care habits. Between irregular schedules, sugary snacks, dry airplane air, and limited access to your normal bathroom setup, your smile can take a beating without you even realizing it. Here’s how to keep your teeth healthy, clean, and comfortable no matter where your holiday adventures take you.

As the year comes to a close, most people start thinking about holiday plans, finishing last-minute errands, and preparing for the new year ahead. But there’s one important to-do that often gets forgotten — using your dental insurance benefits before they expire. If you haven’t scheduled your dental visit yet, now is the perfect time to make it happen. Most insurance plans reset on January 1st, and any unused benefits disappear for good. Here’s why it’s so important to take advantage of them before the year ends.

The holiday season is full of festive meals, sweet treats, and cheerful gatherings — but it’s also a time when your teeth face more sugar, more snacking, and more wear and tear than usual.  The good news? You can enjoy every cookie, every party, and every cup of hot cocoa without harming your smile. With a few simple choices, you can keep your teeth healthy all season long.

The holiday season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year—but between shopping, traveling, hosting, and juggling busy schedules, it can also be one of the most stressful. While many people know how stress affects the body, fewer realize it can have a major impact on oral health too. At a time when cookies, cocktails, late nights, and extra to-do lists are the norm, taking care of your smile becomes more important than ever. Here’s how holiday stress may be affecting your teeth—and simple ways to protect them.

February is Gum Disease Awareness Month. Gum disease is an infection of the gums that is typically caused by poor oral hygiene. Although this condition can potentially cause tooth loss, the early stages are often painless. Therefore, individuals can live with gum disease for years without noticing any symptoms. Attending annual exams gives your dental team an opportunity to catch gum disease as early as possible and help stop its progression. Symptoms of Gum Disease: Bleeding gums Red gums Receding gums Swollen gums Bad breath Foul taste in mouth Loose teeth Changes to bite alignment Change in partial denture fit Gingivitis Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and the simplest to treat. Patients with gingivitis may have red, swollen gum that bleeds easily. However, many gingivitis patients are unaware of their condition until receiving a formal diagnosis. This stage of gum disease is often reversible with proper care. Treatment for gingivitis often includes professional hygiene cleanings, prescription mouthwash or toothpaste, and excellent daily oral hygiene. Periodontitis Periodontitis is an advanced stage of gum disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontitis affects 47% of US adults over age 30. If left untreated, this condition can cause tooth and bone loss. Gum disease is known for its slow progression, but rapid periods of advancement can occur. Professional dental hygiene cleanings, medications, and surgery are effective treatment methods for periodontitis patients. It is also essential for patients with periodontitis to commit to a diligent oral hygiene routine to manage their condition. Risk Factors for Gum Disease: Tobacco use Diabetes Poor oral hygiene Pregnancy Genetics Certain medications Although there is no conclusive link between periodontal disease and systemic diseases, research has collected data to support that gum disease may be associated with certain health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and stroke. Prevention Exceptional at-home oral hygiene and regular preventative dental care are the most effective methods to prevent gum disease. Your daily oral hygiene routine should include brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, cleaning the tongue twice a day with a brush or tongue scraper, and flossing daily. In addition, ensure you receive a professional dental cleaning twice a year and at least one dental exam annually. If we detect any signs of gum disease at your preventive visits, we will design a treatment plan to stop the progression and avoid chronic side effects. 

Denture-wearers should pay close attention to their nutrition intake. Research found that denture patients have lower nutrition markers than before using dentures. Dentures could impact nutrition more than patients may realize. Since dentures do not have the same chewing efficiency as natural teeth, many patients have to alter their regular eating habits when they start using dentures. Dentures are a valuable oral appliance that has allowed countless patients with tooth loss to regain oral function. Humans have been using denture-like appliances to counter tooth loss for decades. The earliest record of dentures dates back to the 7th century. These ancient oral appliances used animal or human teeth. Denture technology has made leaps and bounds in the last decade. Not only do modern dentures beautifully restore patients' smiles, but they also create a stable chewing surface. Denture-Users Have Lower Nutrition Markers Patients who have had their dentures for two years have significantly lower nutrition markers in certain areas than before using dentures, according to a recent study published by the Journal of Prosthodontics. Patients who recently started using dentures should monitor their nutrition levels to prevent malnutrition. Poor-fitting dentures greatly contribute to lowering nutrition levels. It is much more difficult to chew food when the chewing surfaces are unstable. This instability often results in patients avoiding eating foods that are difficult to eat, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoiding these vital food groups causes patients to miss out on key nutrients. Denture-Friendly Nutrient-Rich Foods: Eggs Cottage cheese Broiled fish Meatloaf Applesauce Soft fruits (bananas, melons & berries) Oatmeal Potatoes Pasta Rice Tips to Eat with Dentures Successfully: Sit down for meals: Rushing through meals often results in not chewing food thoroughly. It is a good idea to sit down and diligently chew to get the full nutritional benefits of a meal. Cut food into small pieces: The smaller pieces you cut your food into, the less power is needed by your jaws to break down the food. Have a beverage with meals: Cereal and whole grain bread are staples in the American diet, but they often stick to the teeth. Eating with liquids makes it easier to chew and swallow these foods. Chew on both sides of the mouth evenly: Humans naturally chew on their dominant side. Right-handed people generally chew on the right side of their mouth, and left-handed people chew on their left. Chewing evenly on both sides of the month takes conscious effort but is particularly beneficial for denture-wearers. Avoid tough meats: Red meat can be too tough for some individuals to eat with dentures. Poultry, fish, eggs, and legumes are softer and easier to chew. Although, you can still enjoy red meat with dentures if you prepare it correctly. Try slow-cooking red meats or incorporating them into a stew. Stay away from sticky & chewy foods: Sticky foods such as caramel, taffy, peanut butter, and dried fruit can stick the molars and dislodge the denture out of place. You can still get in all the essential nutrients your body needs with dentures; it just requires a little extra planning. Schedule an appointment if you can not enjoy certain foods because of poorly fitting dentures. We will ensure your dentures fit comfortably so you can live a happy, healthy life.

Filling a cavity is supposed to stop tooth pain, right? But what if you are still experiencing sensitivity after your treatment? Sensitivity is a common side effect of dental fillings that typically alleviates quickly after the procedure. Extreme discomfort is not normal and needs to be addressed by a dental professional promptly. Call your dental provider immediately if you are experiencing severe pain accompanied by fever or swelling after a dental filling treatment. Dental Fillings 101 Dental fillings are one of the most common procedures in dentistry. In this routine treatment, the dentist will inject an anesthetic near the tooth to numb the area. Then, the dentist will use a dental drill to remove any decay present in the area and fill in the carved-out space with a dental restoration material. Fillings can be made of gold, porcelain, amalgam (silver), or tooth-colored composite resin depending on the patient’s budget and aesthetic desires. Sensitivity After a Filling It is common for patients to experience some sensitivity in the area once the anesthetic that was applied before the filling wears off. The sensation is typically described as a sudden rush of pain or cold that subsides quickly. Certain environmental factors are known to trigger or heighten the tooth’s sensitivity. Common Tooth Sensitivity Triggers Hot, cold, acidic, or sugary foods and beverages Cold air or wind Pressure from biting down or eating Severe pain is not a typical side effect of dental fillings. If your pain is interfering with your daily life, do not suffer silently. Your pain could be a symptom of a serious condition that needs to be addressed by a dental professional. Although uncommon, extreme discomfort after a filling could be an indication of the following conditions: Irritated Nerve A nerve resides in each root of a tooth (unless you had a root canal treatment, which removes the nerves from an infected tooth). Tooth nerves are protected by the hard outer layers of the tooth. However, it is possible for tooth nerves to become irritated or inflamed during filling treatments. This sensitivity will subside as the nerve heals from the trauma. It can take a few days or weeks before the nerve returns completely back to normal. Incorrect Bite Alignment Although dentists do their best to make the filling mimic the patient’s natural tooth structure, sometimes the restoration is slightly taller. This extra height isn’t obvious to the naked eye but is significant enough to put additional pressure on the teeth when biting down. The sensitivity caused by the changed bite alignment is typically more intense than general post-filling discomfort. Patients who are experiencing discomfort while biting down or chewing should contact their dental provider to have their bite examined. Shaving down the high point of the filling alleviates pain for most patients. Pulpitis Pulpitis is a condition that causes inflammation deep within the pulp of a tooth. Although pulpitis rarely occurs after a routine filling, it can happen. A root canal or tooth extraction are common treatments for this condition. Pulpitis typically occurs when: The tooth is severely damaged from trauma The cavity spread to the inner pulp The tooth has had multiple restorative treatment Allergic Reaction On rare occasions, patients have allergic reactions to filling material. One study found that amalgam material is the most common cause of allergic reactions from fillings. However, patients can react to other materials used in the treatment, such as the latex in the dentist's gloves. When to Call Your Dentist  Mild sensitivity a few days after a filling treatment is very common. You can often alleviate minor discomfort with over-the-counter medication, home remedies, or desensitizing toothpaste. If your pain interferes with your daily routine, contact your dental provider immediately for guidance.

The oral care section at a typical supermarket has dozens of toothbrush options. Do you go with a shiny, new electric toothbrush or opt for a tried-and-true manual toothbrush? Does one kind clean teeth better than the other? This article will give you a rundown of the key differences between electric and manual toothbrushes, so you can select which one best fits your needs. A Brief History of Toothbrushes Humans had methods to keep their teeth clean way before the industrialization of toothbrushes. Archaeologists have discovered teeth cleaning mechanisms dating back to 3000 BC. People often used chew sticks, a twig with frayed ends, to clean their smiles. In the late 15th century, China developed an early form of a toothbrush with bristles made from pig hairs and a bamboo handle. Europeans were inspired by the Chinese and started making toothbrushes with horse or pig hair bristles and cattle bone handles. Nylon bristles first hit the market in 1938 and are still the most popular bristle material today. The electric toothbrush was the next major development in oral care, first becoming available in the 1950s. Electric toothbrushes were originally invented for people with limited motor skills and orthodontic patients. The Electric Toothbrush Difference Over 11 years of research have concluded that individuals that use an electric toothbrush generally have healthier mouths. The Journal of Clinical Periodontology reported that electric toothbrushes had 22% less gum recession, 21% less plaque build-up, and 18% less tooth decay on average. Many patients prefer electric toothbrushes because they do most of the work for you. The motors in electric toothbrushes can move up to 30,000 brushes per minute! This powerful scrubbing removes plaque and bacteria with minimal effort from the user. Electric toothbrushes also have a built-in timer to ensure users always brush for a full two minutes. Electric toothbrushes are a life-changing tool for individuals with limited mobility. Patients with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and developmental disabilities were able to discover newfound independence with the introduction of the electric toothbrush. Manual Toothbrushes Manual toothbrushes have been a reliable tooth-cleaning tool for decades. Many patients prefer manual toothbrushes because they are affordable and available at any grocery store. While their design is much simpler than electric toothbrushes, people can still maintain optimal oral health by using their manual toothbrushes correctly. How to Get the Most Out of a Manual Toothbrush: Set a timer to ensure you brush for 2 whole minutes Use a manual toothbrush with soft bristles Brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line Move the brush in small circular motions diligently over each tooth The Bottom Line You can achieve a squeaky clean smile with electric and manual toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes make it easier for most patients to clean their smiles effectively. However, with the proper technique, a manual toothbrush can keep your smile cavity-free. If you’re still using a manual toothbrush and are looking for an easy way to level up your smile routine, try an electric toothbrush!