We all want sparkly, beautiful teeth. But how far would you go to get them? If you’re a celebrity like Kim Kardashian or money is simply no object, you may opt for the newest wave of those once-popular tooth "grills."

Quitting smoking is a big deal, and something to be commended for. But too often these days we hear about people switching from smoking to vaping, thinking they are doing something better for their bodies.

With another National Children’s Dental Health Month upon us, it’s time to spotlight some better ways to help your children care for their teeth. This year’s theme is "Brush and Clean in Between to Build a Healthy Smile."

Bad breath. It’s one of those things that lots of people have and nobody wants- or wants to tell them about. Whether you know your breath isn’t as fresh as it should be or you’ve had to find out from someone else, bad breath can be embarrassing and isolating. But don’t take it lying down. There are plenty of ways to combat it- but doing so means locating the source. If you’re at a loss as to why your breath needs assistance: stat, before you panic, see if your mouth has any of these issues.

Having crooked teeth can make even the most confident person insecure about his or her smile. In fact, a recent study found that 81 percent of American adults are insecure about their smile - and about 28 percent of them won’t even smile in pictures! But poor self-esteem isn’t the only problem caused by crooked teeth. Believe it or not, having a bad bite can contribute to many other ailments you may have never considered.

Wine: It’s one of America’s guiltiest pleasures, to the tune of 789 million gallons per year in 2016, according to The Wine Institute. But there are plenty of ways wine can be good for you, including one way that is so good for your mouth, that glass of red has become less guilty and more pleasure.

With Black Friday sales practically a national holiday and entire television shows dedicated to using coupons and getting good deals on everything from flea market finds to vintage vehicles, you could say saving money is a big deal. But in life there are just some things you should never scrimp on – even if that means you pay a little more up front. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for – and in the case of these five purchases, you definitely want to pay for something good.

Believe it or not, 2019 is just around the corner - yes, really! - which means it's time to tie up loose ends from 2018. For some, this means using up the remaining money in their flexible spending account before that money is gone on January 1, 2019. But what do you spend it on?

We all have someone like this in our life - that person who seems to have everything and need nothing. They may be a great person, but when it comes time to buy them a holiday gift, it can be a little frustrating. As the age-old question goes: What do you get for the person who has everything? How about the gift of good health - good oral health, that is! This holiday gifting season, check out these luxury oral health care products that even the person who has everything probably doesn’t have (yet).

Do you wish your smile was just a little bit straighter and whiter? Do you also wish you could take a tropical vacation while getting the smile of your dreams? How much would you pay for this fantasy treatment? If dental tourism packages are to be believed, less than you might pay here in the United States at a board-certified licensed dentist. But buyer beware: You may be getting more than you bargained for - and not in a good way.

We all have bad habits - whether you are a perpetual knuckle-cracker, a hair-twirler or a smoker, some habits are worse for you (and harder to stop) than others. But one habit in particular – nail-biting – could be a lot worse for you than you realize. Here’s why you should stop nail-biting right now for the health of your smile.

Flossing your teeth is kind of like taking out the trash: It’s time consuming, it’s not always pleasant, but you’ve got to do it if you want a clean, healthy mouth - or home, in the case of the trash. In fact, flossing is so important that it is responsible for removing about 40 percent of the plaque and bacteria that sits on our teeth causing gum disease and cavities. Thankfully, there are many products out there to make flossing your teeth easier and more comfortable. But not all flossing products are created equally. Here’s why one tried-and-true product may be causing you more harm than good.

One common misconception patients have when they get a cavity filled is that their filling will last a lifetime. While it would be nice if that were true, the resin composite material used in most fillings lasts about 20 years, give or take a few. But sometimes fillings break down much sooner than anticipated, with some lasting as few as five years. So, what’s going on with those fillings? Are they made of inferior materials? Were they placed incorrectly? Or maybe there’s something else going on that could be causing them to wear out early. Here are some common reasons fillings break down sooner than expected.

If you’ve ever been told you have a "bad bite," chances are you can see for yourself that your teeth are out of alignment. From a strictly cosmetic standpoint, a bad bite doesn’t usually look so great, and most people who have bad bites have probably considered correcting them with braces or other orthodontics. But a bad bite can be far more serious than simply having crooked teeth. A bad bite can not only cause uneven wear on the teeth, but it can also cause damage to the teeth, jaw soreness, bruxism (or teeth grinding) and even temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder).

When many people here the term "full mouth reconstruction," it causes some confusion. Full mouth reconstruction sure sounds serious, and even painful - but believe it or not, it's not as scary as it sounds. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly full mouth reconstruction means and how it can help you, keep reading!What exactly is full mouth reconstruction, anyway?Full mouth reconstruction is the process of completely correcting your smile through a variety of different medical procedures. Full mouth reconstruction isn’t merely a functional and health-related restoration, but a cosmetic restoration, too.Full mouth reconstruction comprises a combination of different procedures, all designed to restore health, beauty and functionality to your teeth. Each procedure and its duration varies by individual, but all procedures are customized to help you look your best.What procedures are considered part of full mouth reconstruction?Full mouth reconstruction can entail a combination of many different procedures. Common procedures may include:• Orthodontics• Dental implants• Veneers• Bonding• Crowns• Bridges• Neuromuscular dentistryTo begin full mouth reconstruction, Dr. George will first look at the condition of the teeth. If they are healthy, no further work on the teeth themselves may be required. However, if they are not, they may require fillings, crowns, root canals or even tooth extraction. Once the teeth are healthy, the next stage of reconstruction can begin.If teeth have been removed, time is of the essence in getting them replaced. This can help prevent or reduce bone loss and periodontitis, and it can even help keep your bite in place and increase the odds of your implant successfully taking to your jaw. If an implant is not an option, bridges may be a suitable plan B.Once the teeth are healthy, the next step may be to address the alignment of the bite. This not only improves the look of your smile, but will also improve the health of your teeth. That’s because when your teeth are in proper alignment, they will wear more evenly and be less likely to chip or break. They will also be less likely to cause bruxism (teeth grinding) or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). If TMD is already present, neuromuscular dentistry may be used to correct the bite and address any issues with the jaw or bite. This can be done with custom orthotics, orthodontics or both.Once any TMD or bite issues are corrected, any damage to the teeth can be repaired. This may include veneers or bonding. Veneers can change not just the color of the teeth, but also the shape and size. Bonding is similar to veneers in that they both address the appearance of the teeth, but the procedure and how the materials adhere to the teeth are different. With veneers, a thin sheet of porcelain is attached to the tooth. Some of the tooth is cut away to make room for the veneer, and then the veneer is attached to the outward-facing portion of the tooth. The benefits of veneers include that they are durable and don’t stain, so you can change the color of your teeth without worry that it will darken or stain over time.Bonding is more like a filling. It covers just a portion of the teeth, and it does not last as long as a veneer. It can also stain, but unlike a veneer, bonding does not require custom shaping and can be done in one visit. If no veneers or bonding are required, whitening treatment may also be an effective option.BenefitsIn addition to improving the appearance of your teeth and smile, full mouth reconstruction can also improve your bite and ease tension in the jaw, neck, back and head. It can also eliminate bruxism as well as the signs of past bruxism. And finally, full mouth restoration can improve something money can’t buy – your self-confidence.To learn more about how full mouth restoration can restore your healthy, beautiful smile, give Dr. George’s office a call at 724-934-3422 and schedule an appointment today.