Meadowbrook Dental Care Blog

Recurrent pain is more than simply an annoyance — it’s your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right. Pain varies widely in intensity and duration, but no matter how minor it might seem, you shouldn’t ignore it.

Did you know that about 120 million American adults are missing at least one tooth? It’s true — and millions more are at risk for tooth loss due to periodontal disease and other common oral health issues.

The saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies to many things, most especially your oral health. More than half of Americans are missing at least one tooth and 40 million are missing all of them. Most of these losses can be tied back to tooth decay or gum disease — two problems that can be halted with regular dental care.

Did you know that smiling boosts your mood? That’s right! Just the simple act of sharing your smile can release neurotransmitters that boost your mood. Smiling also makes you more approachable, makes you feel less stressed, and leaves you feeling more confident. 

Historical evidence suggests that hunter-gatherers, our distant ancestors, had little tooth decay, despite not having access to modern dental care tools such as toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash. 

Your wisdom teeth are so named because of their late arrival in your mouth, at an age when you’re thought to have more wisdom. However, these late-erupting teeth can have a negative impact on your overall oral health, or that of your child, making extraction the only wise choice.

Many American adults suffer from periodontal disease, and some are not aware that it is a serious oral condition that can impact their overall health. Fortunately, periodontal disease is reversible if caught and treated in the early stages. However, prevention is always preferable to treatment. 

Missing teeth do more than wreck your smile. Teeth gone AWOL can hurt the way you chew, speak, look, and think about yourself. 

If you have a child or teen who’s involved in playing sports, chances are good you already know about the recommendation to wear mouthguards. But depending on your league’s rules, mouthguards may only be a recommendation rather than a requirement. Even if your child is already wearing a mouthguard, spring is a good time to update it.

The outer layer of your tooth — the enamel — is strong and hard. But the tissues inside the enamel are soft. Under certain circumstances, teeth get damaged or severe decay develops, compromising the integrity of the inside of your tooth.