Essex Family Dental – BLOG

Dental implants are a great solution for the missing teeth. The process is simple and the results are long lasting. Whether you’ve lost a tooth due to age, trauma, or some other cause, dental implants can help you restore your smile and your oral health. What is a dental implant? Dental implants are artificial teeth that look and feel just as natural as your own teeth. They are made [...]

If you’re familiar with the phrase “long in the tooth,” you might think gum recession only affects people later in life. But this is a myth – gum recession can start at any age. While there are some risk factors like genetics that you can’t control, there are also some easy ways to lower your risk for gum recession. Don’t Overbrush Your Teeth Brushing your teeth too hard can [...]

What are Dental Sealants? Many parents worry about their children’s teeth developing cavities. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk of childhood tooth decay. Besides teaching your child to brush and floss correctly every day, dental sealants are a powerful tool to prevent cavities. Protect Your Child’s Teeth from Bacteria Due to inadequate oral hygiene and too much sugar, 40% of children have cavities by the time they [...]

Toothbrush bristles can only reach about two-thirds of our teeth. They can’t access the areas between our teeth or under the gumline, where food debris and plaque accumulate. We need to floss to reach these places, which make up 35% of our tooth surfaces. Flossing helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Not only is it important to floss, but it’s also essential to make sure you’re [...]

As the weather warms up, you’re probably looking forward to spending time at the pool or the beach. Water activities might seem completely unrelated to oral health, but there are some surprising connections between the two. Be aware of these dental health risks while you’re enjoying the water.Teeth Stains from ChlorineIf your swimming hole of choice is the pool, you might already know that the chlorine in pool water can [...]

From your lips to your teeth to your tongue, your mouth is a weird and wonderful place. It lets you eat, talk, and smile. These surprising mouth facts will help you learn more about this important body part – and maybe help you win your next trivia game! Your Adult Teeth Are Older Than You Might Think You probably remember losing your baby teeth and getting your adult teeth [...]

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that can either be placed on an implanted post or over an existing tooth. Crowns can be made of various materials for different purposes.What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?Metal crowns can be made from various alloys, including gold, platinum, cobalt-chromium and nickel-chromium. These crowns are strong and last the longest of all materials. They rarely break, but their color and the high price [...]

Brushing and flossing are the basics of good oral hygiene, but there’s more to a healthy smile. Keeping your mouth less acidic, which will protect your tooth enamel and decrease tooth decay will go a long way to help your mouth stay healthy and reduce your need for dental care. Keeping your pH balanced is the way to go. What is the pH scale? There are two terms you need [...]

With the increase in stress from lock-downs, unemployment, social media controversy and many other stressors, bruxism increased by 59% as of last year, according to American Dental Association. Dentists are still seeing the results of closed dental practices and decreases in dental visits when the practices were opened. What is Bruxism Bruxism is tooth grinding or clenching, which puts a lot of pressure on your teeth and if your teeth [...]

School has begun. Autumn is starting. Pumpkin spice is sprouting up everywhere. And along with all that comes sports, specifically football and basketball in the fall and winter months. If your child loves sports and will be participating in either a town, city or school team, there will be plenty of chances for injuries. To prevent injuries, we highly recommend that you get a mouthguard. You can save thousands of [...]