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How to Treat Bleeding Gums

woman flossing teeth

If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, you’re not alone. Depending on the underlying cause, bleeding gums can be a straightforward “fix” or require more professional care to reverse. Usually, the first sign of bleeding gums is because of gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup accumulating along your gumlines and between teeth. If you’re not flossing daily, the gums start to get infected and bleed each time they’re stimulated. Fortunately, gentle brushing along the gumlines for a minimum of two minutes twice per day, as well as flossing around each tooth daily is the best way to … Continue reading

Four Resolutions for a Healthier Smile

It’s never too late to get your smile’s oral health back on track. If you’re committed to having healthier and more attractive looking teeth, here are four simple new year’s resolutions that you can make with the help of our Somerville dentists. Floss. Every Day. It’s not possible to limit your risk of gum disease, tooth loss, and dental decay without cleaning between your teeth every day. Hate flossing? Opt for a water flosser instead! Water flossing can even reach deep gum pockets where traditional floss can’t. Stop Chewing on Things. Your fingernails, pencil, or whatever it is you do … Continue reading

What Happens During a Scale and Clean?

When you schedule a checkup at Somersmiles Dental in Somerville, there’s a lot more going on than just having your teeth polished! A scale and clean appointment is an important part of preventing unwanted oral diseases and intercepting issues as early as possible (when they’re easier and more affordable to correct.) Aside from your hygienist removing the soft plaque and hard tartar buildup from your teeth, here are some other important activities that are going on when you’re laying back in the dental chair:   Measuring Your Gum and Bone Levels Your hard and soft tissues are what’s responsible for … Continue reading

Types of Dental Mouthguards

custom mouth guards

Brushing and flossing aren’t the only things to think about when it comes to protecting your teeth. There are times that, like other body parts, your teeth need to be covered too. Depending on what you’re trying to safeguard your smile against, there are a few different types of mouthguards that you can consider. Bite Splints People who tend to clench and grind their teeth — a condition we call “bruxism” — often experience TMJ problems, headaches, broken dental work, and chipped teeth. A bite splint creates a small amount of space between your upper and lower teeth, so that … Continue reading

How to Handle a Broken Tooth

broken tooth

If you’ve ever had a chipped or broken tooth, quick action is essential. Knowing what to do in the event of a dental emergency (and getting to our Somerville dentists as quickly as possible) can help reduce the amount of treatment that you need and save your tooth. Step 1: Stay Calm and Stop Any Bleeding Dental injuries can be scary because of the amount of blood involved. Your mouth is full of blood vessels, which means even the smallest injury can be quite evident. Use a clean gauze, tissue, or wash cloth to apply firm pressure to the area … Continue reading

Age Requirements for Cosmetic Dentistry

ten with cosmetic dental work

Do you have a teenager who is wanting to spruce up the way their teeth look? Or maybe an elementary-aged child with a chipped front tooth? If your child’s smile is detracting from their self-confidence or becoming the source of embarrassment, there are certain cosmetic solutions worth considering. However, their age and oral development will play a part in which options they qualify for. Bonding For chipped front teeth, the best choice for a child is usually dental bonding. The white composite is shaped over the area so that the tooth looks whole again. It’s quick and affordable, making it … Continue reading

The Oral-Systemic Health Connection

health connection with teeth

Did you know that your smile’s health is a reflection of your overall wellness? The oral-systemic health connection is a strong one. In fact, research shows that active gum disease and other dental infections are directly related to problems like Infertility (both genders) Pneumonia Diabetes Preeclampsia Erectile dysfunction Low birth weights and premature labour High blood pressure Stroke Heart attack …and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. Why It Matters Having an active infection inside of your mouth allows oral bacteria to spread further into your body. Bleeding, swollen gums mean that dental plaque can dislodge from your teeth and move straight into … Continue reading

Hidden Cavity Risks

cavities caused by sugar

You brush daily and even remember to floss your teeth most of the time. Plus, you’re great about avoiding lollies and other sweets. So why do you seem to get cavities more often than what seems normal? It turns out there may be some hidden cavity risks you’re not very familiar with. Understanding what they are, how to manage them, and when to get the help of our Somerville dentist can help you reduce your need for dental work in the future. Your Teeth Are What You…Drink Some of the biggest cavity-causing beverages are sports drinks. If you’re a health-savvy … Continue reading

Five Common Causes of Worn Teeth

woman with worn teeth

Are you starting to notice teeth that look flatter, sharp on the edges, or physically worn down? There are a number of reasons why this may be happening. With a bit of detective work on your own and the help of our Somerville dentists, you can stop tooth wear from getting worse. Here are five common reasons why you may be experiencing flat, worn teeth.   Malocclusion Your occlusion is the relationship of how your upper and lower teeth bite down against one another. A malocclusion means that biting relationship is “off.” As such, certain teeth will bite and chew … Continue reading

This Bad Dental Habit Could be Causing Your Headaches

woman with headache caused by teeth grinding

Do you suffer from frequent headaches or migraines? The tension could be coming from something you haven’t given previous thought to: your teeth grinding and clenching habit. Also called “bruxism,” teeth grinding is known to cause a plethora or side-effects, ranging from worn teeth to, you guessed it, headaches. How Does Bruxism Cause Pain? When your teeth are clenching against one another, it causes tension in the jaw muscles and around your TMJ (the hinge joint on each side of the mandible, just in front of your ear.) Over time the constant fatigue can radiate into the face, head, neck, … Continue reading