Love your teeth? Of course you do! So why not pay tribute to them this Halloween with a fun, tooth-inspired Halloween costume? Why should witches and ghosts have all the fun?

If you’ve ever had your gum pockets measured at a dental exam, you know how uncomfortable the procedure can be. Commonly done with an old-fashioned pick, the procedure involves your dentist or hygienist probing the tissue between your tooth and gum line to see how deep the pocket is and how far down the pick will go. A healthy pocket depth is no more than 3 millimeters - anything more could signal signs of gum disease, and the deeper the pocket, the more severe the disease.

It’s hard to believe, but just 50 years ago, the idea of a female dentist was almost unheard of. In fact, according to the American Dental Association, in 1968 only 1 percent of dental students were women. Today that number hovers around 48 percent, or nearly half, but the number of practicing female dentists in America has yet to catch up. So, what’s behind these numbers, and what more can be done to encourage young women to enter the dental field?

If you’ve ever seen white spots on your own or your child's tongue, you may have been initially alarmed. Often these white spots are just a sign of a harmless fungal infection called thrush. Though thrush usually clears up on its own, it can be uncomfortable and even painful, depending on the severity. So, what exactly is thrush, and what should you do if you suspect you or your child has it?

For most parents, fall means back to school, and for some, it means back to school sports. But while all that exercise may be great for your children’s muscles, it can often be bad news for their teeth. In fact, it is estimated that children lose about 3 million teeth a year to sports accidents! While many school districts and leagues have begun requiring mouthguards for all players, many still do not, and even if you buy one for your child, if it doesn’t fit right or feel comfortable, chances are your kid's not going to wear it. So, how can you choose the right mouth guard without breaking the bank - or your teeth?

Does your morning coffee make you wince in pain, or your sundae make you want to scream?  You may be among the one in eight American adults with sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are caused when the tooth enamel erodes, exposing the bony tissue beneath it. Known as dentin, this bony tissue is full of microscopic, hollow tubes that connect to the nerve endings in your teeth. When exposed to hot or cold foods, those nerves can cause a sharp, painful reaction.

They’re one of the most coveted signs of beauty today: thick, luscious lips. But getting them isn’t always as easy or affordable as it seems. It used to be if you weren’t born with them, you were out of luck, but a variety of products designed to make your lips look bigger and fuller have popped up in recent years. One trend, lip injections, uses fillers such as collagen or hyaluronic acid to semi-permanently plump up the lips. Unfortunately, these injections can be painful and costly. Lip-enhancing glosses and pencils are painless and far less expensive, but only last as long as the products remain on your lips. Until recently, these were the only options, but a new product has now hit the market – suction-cup lip plumpers.

 It’s a familiar scene at pretty much any medical appointment. No matter if you’re a new patient or have been going to the same practitioner for years, most likely you’re going to be asked to fill out your fair share of forms before your appointment. So, why does your dentist need so much information? Here’s a quick guide to what information your dentist needs, and why.  Patient InformationThis basic information section covers everything from your name, address, phone, email and even your Social Security number (SSN). Why do we need your SSN? Many patients' SSN are tied to their dental insurance. To process insurance claims, your dentist needs to provide that information to your insurer.

Have you ever been brushing your teeth or eating a certain food and suddenly thought of a dental question, only to forget it by the time your next checkup rolled around? Don’t despair! We've got the answers to a few common oral care questions we hear at our dental practice.  Why does spinach make my teeth feel gritty?Believe it or not, the reason your teeth feel dirty or gritty after eating spinach is because of its high calcium content. That’s right, the very thing that helps make spinach so good for us can often drive would-be fans away. When those elevated levels of calcium combine with another ingredient in spinach, oxalic acid, the two form crystals that cause both the slight bitterness in the leaves and that weird (but totally harmless) gritty feeling on your teeth.

According to Stopbullying.gov, an initiative by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, between one in three and one in four American children have experienced some sort of bullying, and over 70 percent have witnessed it among their peers. Bullying can often cause children to become quiet and withdrawn, isolating themselves from their parents and peers. So, how do you know as parents if your child is being bullied – especially if they won’t tell you? According to a new study in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, you might want to ask their dentist.  The study, conducted by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerias in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, revealed that teenagers who experienced verbally abusive bullying at school were four times more likely to experience bruxism, or teeth grinding, than those who were not bullied. According to the study, bullied students were found to grind their teeth at a rate of about 65 percent, compared to about 17 percent for students who are not bullied.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes both the loss of bone and the inability to grow new bone tissue. The condition is most common in women over the age of 60, but it can strike men or women at any age. Researchers at the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) estimate that approximately 54 million Americans have osteoporosis, and that number is only going up. In fact, the NOF believes that by the year 2025, osteoporosis will cause an estimated 3 million fractures a year.   Now, a study from the University at Buffalo has found that in addition to helping to increase bone density and decrease bone breakage, treating osteoporosis has another surprising benefit: preventing periodontitis. In fact, researchers found that patients undergoing estrogen therapy for osteoporosis had a 44 percent lower chance of developing periodontitis than women who did not treat their osteoporosis.

When you think about preventing oral cancer, what comes to mind? Many people believe that living a smoke-free, tobacco-free lifestyle is enough. But did you know there’s more than one way to increase your risk of oral cancer, and reducing your risk may be easier than you think? Here are some key steps you and your family can take to keep your mouth healthy and reduce your risk of developing oral cancer.

The perfect smile. Everyone wants it, but not everyone has the same idea about what exactly "it" is. For some, it’s that wide gleaming toothy Julia Roberts smile. For others, the less obvious and more subtle "Mona Lisa Smile." But believe it or not, there is now such a thing as an ideal perfect smile, and it may not be what you were expecting!

Stress can cause you to lose a lot of things, including hair, weight and even sleep. But until recently, many people didn’t realize it can also cause you to lose your teeth, too.

Summer may not be over just yet, but with many kids heading back to school next month, some parents may already be thinking about the best foods to pack in their children’s lunchboxes. But while it’s easy to see that some foods are healthier than others, a recent study has revealed that one category of healthy foods may not be as good for your teeth as you bargained for.

It’s that time of year again, when many new high school and college graduates begin entering the workforce. Accepting a new job at any age or career level can be an overwhelming and stressful time, especially with all that new hire paperwork. As daunting as it can be to figure out how much tax to withhold, selecting a dental insurance plan can be even more confusing. How do you know if you’re choosing the best plan for yourself and your family? How much coverage is too much coverage, or not enough coverage? If it’s time to select a new dental insurance package but you’re not sure what to choose, here are some tips to help you get the best coverage for your money. Ask your dentist. If you already have a dentist, call the practice and ask which insurance plans they accept, and which plans or insurers they recommend. A practice may accept insurance from some providers but may cringe at the idea of dealing with them. Furthermore,  some dentists within the same practice may accept different insurance plans than others, so make sure that you're getting the right plan for the right provider. Use your age as a factor. If you are young, single, child-free, and have good oral hygiene, you may not need the most comprehensive package available. After all, you probably don’t need deep discounts on dentures if you’re 22. But you still need to meet a minimum of coverage and should look for plans that at a minimum include: Two exams / cleanings per year Annual X-rays Fluoride Sealants Compare plans online. Most employers will give you a few days to mull over your options before deciding which plan you want. Take that opportunity to go home and see what else is out there, and at what cost. You may be able to find a less expensive plan on your own, or one that offers better coverage for roughly the same price. See who’s available in-network. Your insurance company should provide you with a list of in-network dentists. Call around and see if those dentists are accepting new patients, and how far out they’re booking. An insurance plan is not going to help much if nobody who accepts the plan is accepting new patients. Verify that your dentist is in control. With some plans, you may be required to receive preauthorization from your insurer before being treated. This means if you break a tooth or need a root canal, you could be waiting weeks for someone who has never met you or seen your teeth to decide whether your procedure will be covered. Don’t put yourself through the unnecessary pain of delaying emergency dental care. Look for a plan that allows your dentist to treat you without prior approval. Crunch the numbers.  Review your finances and make sure you can afford the copays and the premiums and maximum allowance. If you already have some idea of how much you spend a year in dental costs, make sure your premiums don’t exceed that amount.  Most plans cover up to $1,500, leaving anything above that amount up to you to pay out of pocket. If you think you will require more than your plan’s maximum allowance, look for a plan with a higher max, but keep in mind these plans may come with a higher copay.Ideally, plans should cover appliances such as bridges, crowns and implants at 50 percent, leaving the balance as the patient’s responsibility. Procedures such as fillings, extractions and root canals should be covered at the 80 percent level, leaving you responsible for 20 percent of the cost.

A nice perk to have is a plan that covers orthodontic work. Most insurance plans with this type of coverage have a lifetime maximum, meaning once you’ve met your maximum the plan will not cover more, even if you require additional treatment years later. This is why it’s important to wear your retainer!

Body piercings are not exactly a new trend. In fact, the oldest mummified body found to date, a 5,300-year-old dubbed Ötzi the Iceman, was found impeccably preserved in a glacier, still wearing earrings! Oral piercings, on the other hand, are generally thought to be a much more recent trend, surging in popularity among young people in the early 2000s, but they too have a deep-seated history. Tongue piercings, for example, were used by the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures to honor the gods, while lip piercings have been used for centuries in African tribes, and have also been seen in art from Pre-Columbian South American cultures.

If you love the taste of coffee or carbonated beverages but have been skipping them because of the way they discolor your teeth, there may be some good news. Several new products hitting store shelves have been designed to give you back the drinks you love without dulling your smile. But are these new drinks too good to be true?

While it is estimated that nearly 60 percent of all adults suffer from some form of dental anxiety, that anxiety usually does not keep them from receiving regular dental care. However, for another five to ten percent of adults, dental anxiety is more than just anxiety, it’s fear. It’s called odontophobia, and while it more than likely will eventually cause harm to your teeth, a recent study has found that it could harm your quality of life, too.

Area 51. The Bermuda Triangle. The missing sock. Everyone loves a good mystery. But when it comes to your health, mysteries aren’t always a good thing, especially if they could be damaging your health. When it comes to your teeth, the more you know, the better.  Here’s a list of some of the most common dental myths and mysteries, solved for you.