​ You might have noticed a dull aching in your jaw, or you might have noticed that some of your lower teeth appear to be smaller. This could lead to an overbite, increased sensitivity or pain when you eat your favorite chocolate ice cream. Even worse, you could potentially lose your tooth entirely if the proper care isn't taken to ensure good oral ...

Tartar. It’s that icky yellow or brown line that sits on your teeth along the gumline that, no matter how hard you brush (don’t brush too hard!), you can’t seem to get rid of. But what exactly is tartar - and, seriously, how do you get rid of it? Here’s everything you need to know about removing that pesky oral menace known as tartar. Hire a Pro Want to know the easiest way to whiten your teeth? It's not some magic chemical compound or plastic strip. It’s a good old-fashioned dental cleaning. Why? Because much of what causes that ugly discoloration on our teeth is a buildup of plaque known as tartar. Tartar (also known as calculus) is a buildup of hardened plaque bacteria that adheres to the teeth and hardens in place, making it impossible to simply brush away at home. Try as you might to scrub it away, tartar doesn’t budge. In order to remove tartar, you need a professional dental cleaning like the ones you get at Dr. George’s office. You see, tartar is usually bonded to your teeth so much that, unlike regular plaque, it becomes a solid. Worse still, it not only looks bad, but it’s also terrible for your teeth. That’s because the longer that tartar sits on your teeth, the weaker your tooth enamel becomes, and the more likely you are to develop cavities. More Tartar Troubles Tartar is also very porous, so it stains easily - so even if your tartar starts out white, if you drink coffee, soda or wine, chances are that color will change! Tartar also keeps bacteria close to your gumline, something that can be extremely dangerous for your gums because it can cause gum disease or gingivitis. If left untreated, this can worsen and develop into advanced periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis. Periodontitis isn’t just bad news for your gums - it can cause gum and tissue loss and can also cause tooth and bone loss. Beyond your mouth, periodontal disease can contribute to everything from cancer to heart disease to diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. What to Do - and Not Do If you see tartar forming at the gumline, don’t try to brush harder - you could injure your gums. Also, don’t try to scrape it away yourself - you could permanently damage your teeth. The best way to treat tartar is to call Dr. George’s office and schedule a cleaning. To schedule an appointment, please call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

Over time, our teeth can become worn down and the edges softened. This is normal wear and tear on teeth, and it can happen no matter what we eat – especially if we eat a lot of hard or crunchy foods. But what isn’t normal is chipping or cracking of the teeth. Imagine this. You just finished lunch and decide to chew a piece of sugarless gum to help clean your teeth and freshen your breath. No harm there, right? But as you chew, you feel a crunch. Uh oh! Your tooth just cracked. Now, granted, it probably wasn’t caused by the gum, but gum can loosen old fillings, and an already weakened tooth can crack with very little pressure. Now what? Should you leave that chip alone, or should you fix it? Depending on the size of the chip and the location of the tooth itself, it may not seem worth it to get it fixed. But believe it or not there are valid medical reasons for getting a chipped or cracked tooth fixed. Protect Your Enamel Depending on the location of the chip, when you damage a tooth you can chip into the tooth’s outer protective layer, the enamel. Chipped enamel may not look like a big deal, but it can leave the tooth vulnerable to decay and cavities. That’s why it’s important to have the tooth evaluated by Dr. George, even if you think it's no big deal. Go Back to Your Roots Enamel damage can not only harm the surface of your teeth, but can also lead to infection of the roots of your teeth. That’s because when the enamel is damaged, bacteria have an easier way into the dentin and roots of your teeth. Keep Growing A chip may not seem big now, but remember that wear and tear? Well, if your chip gets worn down naturally or the tooth itself is weakened, the chip can get a lot bigger, a lot faster. It Looks Bad Depending on where the chip is located it might just look bad, and honestly, that’s enough of a problem to warrant fixing it. You are entitled to a beautiful, healthy smile, and that includes having all your teeth completely intact. To have a chipped or cracked tooth repaired, call Dr. George at 724-220-2347.

Wine drinkers around the world who enjoy a specific type of sparkling wine may have a new reason to cut back on their favorite bubbly beverage. It seems prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy that’s been touted as a cheaper alternative to champagne, is causing a lot of oral health problems. The effervescent drink has been rising in popularity globally, but dentists are cautioning that, while delicious, the Italian-made prosecco could be causing damage to drinkers' teeth. Much like champagne (that is only made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France), prosecco is a sparkling wine made from grapes that can only be grown in Veneto, Italy. But prosecco has the benefit of being just as delicious as champagne and far more affordable – and thus more drinkable. Unfortunately, prosecco does have a pretty big drawback: It has been found to cause serious damage to the teeth. That’s because the fizzy prosecco has a high level of acidity – a pH of a little bit more than three, which is the equivalent of drinking orange juice or soda. But shockingly prosecco has more sugar than soda! Between all that sugar and all that acid, those tiny bubbles are wreaking havoc on teeth, causing something that dentists have dubbed a "prosecco smile." So, what is a prosecco smile? It’s a smile marked by a white line across the teeth caused by damage to the tooth’s enamel. The good news is that a prosecco smile is totally preventable. Yes, there’s always the option of simply not drinking the buoyant beverage, but where’s the fun in that? If, like an increasing number of consumers, you must have your prosecco, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your teeth are protected from those bad little bubbles. Limit Your Intake No, you don’t have to give up prosecco - or any other drink - as long as it is drunk in moderation. But because of the acid and bubbles in prosecco, it’s a wise idea to limit what you drink in one sitting. Rinse, Repeat As you drink, alternate sips of prosecco with water. This will help rinse off the teeth as you drink and keep weakened enamel to a minimum. Hold Off on Brushing When you drink prosecco (or any other acidic beverage, for that matter), you weaken the tooth enamel, making the teeth softer and more vulnerable to damage. To keep enamel damage to a minimum, do not brush teeth immediately after drinking prosecco. Wait at least 30 minutes so the enamel has a chance to re-harden before you pull out your brush Enjoy Don’t let potential damage ruin a great glass of wine. Just put these tips into practice and enjoy! To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

As a parent, you work hard to make sure your kids are well taken care of. From healthy food to regular doctor and dentist visits, you want to make sure their growth is on track and there are no medical problems lurking. But what happens when no matter how well you brush your child’s teeth, they never seem to look white - in fact, they seem to be stained or permanently discolored?Whether you suspect an enamel problem or your child has been diagnosed with enamel hypoplasia, here’s everything you need to know to help make the best of this rare dental condition.What Is Enamel Hypoplasia?Enamel hypoplasia is an enamel defect. The word hypoplasia literally means "underdeveloped." This condition occurs when tooth cells called ameloblasts fail to properly form, or become damaged. If the ameloblasts fail, the enamel fails too. As a result, the enamel may be thinner or weaker than it should be.Enamel hypoplasia often appears as pits or holes in the teeth, white spots, or brown and yellow staining of the teeth.So, what causes these ameloblasts to malfunction? Many things, including: Poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy or poor infant nutrition Infection during pregnancy or early childhood Genetic disorders Exposure to certain toxic chemicals Lack of oxygen before birth Infection after birthIf you or your child have been diagnosed with enamel hypoplasia, there are things you can do to protect your teeth and improve their appearance. For young children with an enamel hypoplasia diagnosis, dental sealants can help protect baby teeth until adult teeth have formed. If the child’s enamel hypoplasia is caused by an outside factor, there may be a chance that it will not appear in the adult teeth; however, children who have genetic enamel hypoplasia will frequently have the same condition in their adult teeth.If the enamel hypoplasia does appear in the child’s adult teeth, parents may choose to continue to treat with sealants until the child has developed all their permanent teeth. Following any orthodontic work that may be necessary, there are several options to improve the strength and appearance of the teeth.CrownsCrowns can be used to create a deluxe filling for teeth that are too small, misshapen or fragile due to missing enamel.SealantsIf the teeth are aesthetically normal, sealants may be continued into adulthood to help prevent the teeth from developing cavities. Without that added layer of enamel, teeth with enamel hypoplasia are much more vulnerable to cavities than normal teeth.BondingMuch like veneers, bonding can improve the look and color of the teeth. Often teeth with enamel defects can appear misshapen or uneven in addition to being discolored. Bonding covers each tooth with layers of resin composite that are permanently adhered to the tooth. Bonding may need to be replaced over time due to normal wear and tear, but it can dramatically improve tooth shape and color.Unfortunately, bonding can be expensive, but the good news is that some insurance plans will cover bonding for children born with enamel defects. Check your individual plan for more details. The other main difference between bonding and veneers is that bonding is said to stain more easily than veneers do, so be sure to keep up your excellent brushing and flossing habits once you’ve gotten your teeth bonded. This will ensure they always look their best!For more information about enamel hypoplasia, or for any other or concerns, please call Dr. George’s office at 724-934-3422.