You might already know that if you don’t brush and floss your smile on a daily basis, you’re much more likely to develop oral conditions like gum disease. But not many realize that there are other factors that can increase your risk – and not all of them are things you can control.

Fortunately, if one or more of these factors applies to you, your dentist can help you build an effective gum disease prevention plan!

If someone has a tooth that is severely decayed, broken or otherwise structurally compromised, their dentist will likely recommend that they have it protected with a dental crown. A dental crown is a customized cap that is placed over the chewing surface of the damaged tooth to restore its function and appearance as well as protect it from additional harm. However, dental crowns haven’t always been how they are today. Read on to learn about their history.

If you’re considering restoring your smile with the help of dentures, you may be hesitant to get started depending on what you’ve “heard” about these prosthetics. The good news is that many myths out there about false teeth aren’t true. In fact, despite needing to take adequate care of them, the decision to get dentures may be one of the best choices you’ll ever make.  Here are four common myths that may be holding you back, and why you shouldn’t let them stop you from improving your smile!

Although your dentures were made just for you, with time they can gradually begin to change shape, making it difficult to achieve a secure hold. Unfortunately, this can make using them properly a challenge. Thankfully, temporary solutions like denture adhesive can help in a pinch until you’re able to visit your dentist for a more permanent fix. Here’s how to use them, and why needing adhesive means it’s time to have your dentures examined.

If you still think of old, bulky restorations when you think of dentures, then you haven’t seen the modern ones used today. In addition to being custom-made for each patient, they are crafted from only the best materials, resulting in them lasting for 10+ years with proper care. The key to keeping yours in tip-top shape is incorporating healthy habits into your routine while simultaneously breaking bad ones, like:

Your dentures have served you well; they’ve allowed you to chew and speak freely, and you’ve even noticed that you feel more comfortable in social situations. But lately, you’ve noticed that they aren’t smelling quite so fresh, and consequently, your breath has suffered. You clean them every day but just can’t seem to rid them of the smell! Here, you’ll learn what causes these odors and how you can fix them to keep your prosthesis smelling like a million bucks!