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Charcoal toothpaste seems to be everywhere, but it isn’t the only dental trend that people seem to be following. Everything from the above mentioned to oil pulling and mail order braces, fads aren’t recommended.

Your Murfreesboro Dentist explains that trendy dental treatments that aren’t endorsed by a licensed dentist can be risky at best. Sadly, some trends, such as charcoal toothpaste, can actually damage the enamel on your teeth.

Charcoal Toothpaste

Charcoal toothpaste, gel, and powder are incredibly popular. This type of toothpaste claims to lighten and whiten teeth while being safe to use every day.

Unfortunately, this is not the case as people who use this type of paste talk of tooth sensitivity and even a rough feeling on the outer shell of the tooth. That rough feeling could be a sign of enamel erosion.

Oil Pulling in the Dental World

While mostly unheard of in the United States, Oil Pulling is loved by people in India. This unusual method professes to clean the teeth by swishing out unwanted bacteria.

Oil pulling isn’t recommended and while it may reduce bacteria, it can bring about other issues including a sore neck. Pulled dental restorations have also been reported with oil pulling.

Mail Order Braces

Last, but certainly not least on the list when it comes to dental trends to avoid is mail order braces.

Similar to Invisalign and other brands of prescribed removable oral appliances, online clear braces claim to straighten teeth without the hassle of the dentist’s office.

Without the hassle is not good for teeth and gums. In fact, using non-prescribed clear aligners may cause permanent damage to your jaw.

When it comes to any type of orthodontic issue, whether it’s removable or not, you must seek the care of a professional. If you don’t, your teeth and jaw may decide to stay put after being improperly aligned.

More Dental Issues with Mail Order Braces

While they talk about consulting with a professional, you really have no idea who that professional is. For all you know it could be someone sitting behind a screen reading off a script that a dentist wrote to address all issues.

Everyone is different, especially when it comes to facial structure and jaw placement. You do not want to put your jaw placement or facial structure in the hands of someone you have never met.

Schedule a Dental Appointment in Murfreesboro

For the best cosmetic and restorative dental advice, schedule a no obligation dental consultation with your dentist in Murfreesboro today.

It’s Oral Cancer Awareness Month and that means it’s time to schedule an appointment with your Murfreesboro dentist for an oral cancer screening.

While regular dental checkups are important year round, April is the time to remember how important comprehensive dental checkups are because they include an oral cancer screening.

What is an Oral Cancer Screening?

According to your dentist in Murfreesboro, an oral cancer screening is performed during a comprehensive dental examination.

During an oral cancer screening, the team from your Murfreesboro dentist’s office will check your neck, your lymph nodes and the entire cavity of your mouth including your lips, tongue, cheeks and the back of your throat.

Some of the things that your dentist will be looking for include:

• Scaly patches
• Sores that won’t heal
• Red and white patches
• Bad breath
• Lumps or bumps
• An irregular bite
• Sore neck

If you have a hoarse voice, problems chewing, swallowing, or anything else that just doesn’t seem right be sure to tell your dentist about it.

Risk Factors

While everyone has a propensity for oral cancer, some people are in a higher risk category than others are. Those include:

• Tobacco users
• People who do not practice good oral hygiene
• Heavy alcohol drinkers
• People over 45
• Men
• People exposed to UV light
• People who are overweight
• Those with genetic syndromes

Spread the Word

During Oral Cancer Awareness Month, it is important to tell family and friends about the dangers of oral cancer. Sadly, most cases of oral cancer are not diagnosed until it has spread to other parts of the body. While it is not difficult to diagnose, most people do not notice any symptoms until it is too late.

Your dentist in Murfreesboro explains, early oral cancer diagnosis is critical, especially if you want to live longer than five years.

About 55,000 people in the United States are diagnosed every year with some type of oral cancer.

Most of those cases were in the later stages. This is why it is imperative that you schedule twice-yearly comprehensive dental checkups that include oral cancer screenings. Even more so if you suffer from chronic gum disease or diabetes.

Schedule an Oral Cancer Screening Today

Do your part and schedule a comprehensive dental checkup with an oral cancer screening. If something is discovered you have a much better chance of nipping it in the bud.

Call, send a text or a direct message, and make an appointment with your dentist in Murfreesboro today.

Spring is here and summer isn’t far behind. That means lots of outdoor sports including baseball, tennis, water polo, skateboarding, and surfing. It also means mouthguards.

While all of those sports require some sort of equipment, most people wouldn’t think a mouth protector would be part of the uniform but it is. Both group and individual sports participants should invest in a mouthguard. Mouth guards prevent mouth injuries including knockouts from blows to the head.

April is National Facial Protection Awareness Month

During National Facial Protection Awareness Month, your Murfreesboro Dentist can’t stress the importance of a mouth protector for most, if not all sports. Both amateur and professional athletes have prevented expensive trips to the emergency room because they word mouth protectors.

Just Some of the Sports that Need Mouthguards

• Football
• Soccer
• Baseball
• Hockey
• Basketball
• Water Polo
• Surfing
• Skateboarding
• Bike Riding
• Martial Arts
• Gymnastics
• Bull Riding
• Buck Riding
• Horseback Riding
• Racquetball
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Volleyball
• Softball
• Baseball

While that may seem like a lot of sports, it really isn’t. In fact, people who enjoy mountain bike riding, messing around on the trampoline and people who enjoy mountain climbing should also consider a mouthguard.

According to your Murfreesboro dentist, there are three types of mouth protectors that will protect you from a blow to the head. These include

1. Standard
2. Boil and Bite
3. Custom Made

All three of these mouth protectors give the wearer some protection if a hockey puck or flying kick is headed in their direction. Mouth guards offer a cushion preventing serious jaw injuries and knocked out teeth.

1. Standard mouthguards are the cheapest of the bunch, but do give you a better option than nothing at all. Made from heavier plastic than the other two, standard mouthguards are available at your sporting goods store and your local pharmacy. Some people say that although they have a standard mouth protector they don’t wear it because it hurts.
2. 2. Boil and Bite mouth protectors are also readily available. Made to fit your mouth after you soak it in very hot water, boil and bite guards are much lighter than the one size fits all conventional variety, but aren’t the best. In fact, athletes often complain because it is hard to talk when you are wearing a boil and bite mouthguard.
3. Your Murfreesboro dentist prefers custom-made mouthguards as they are made to fit you and only you. When you schedule an appointment, a mold is made of your teeth so that your custom-made mouthguard fits properly. When you wear a customized mouth protector, you will notice as huge difference in wear and comfort.

Order Custom Made Mouthguards in Murfreesboro

Keep you and your family safe and schedule an appointment for custom-made mouthguards with your dentist in Murfreesboro today.

Smoking and chewing tobacco may be relaxing, but did you know that both habits could cause problems for teeth and gums?

Your Murfreesboro dentist explains that while most smokers and chewers are well aware of the dangers of tobacco use, some probably don’t know what tobacco does to teeth and gums.

Tobacco, Teeth, and Gums

Obviously, tar and nicotine is going to stain your teeth, but that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tobacco, teeth, and gums. Other problems cigars, cigarettes, chewing and pipe tobacco cause includes:

• Tooth Decay
• Gum Disease
• Permanent Tooth Staining
• Chronic Bad Breath
• Tooth Loss
• Oral Cancer

Oral, Overall Health and Tobacco

Everyone on the planet is aware of what tobacco can do to overall health. Lung cancer, COPD, and oral cancer to name just a few, however, most are unsure of how dangerous smoking and chewing is to teeth and gums.

Smokers are twice as likely to suffer from gingivitis or the more serious periodontal disease. Although smokers may practice good oral hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, most are unaware that dry mouth, from inhaling, also causes tooth decay.

You can’t forget that chewers and smokers are twice if not three times as likely to suffer from some type of oral cancer.

Also remember that all types of tobacco contain more than 26 known cancer causing chemicals.

Tobacco and Tooth Loss

Your dentist in Murfreesboro can’t stress the importance of regular dental appointments for tobacco users. People who chew and smoke may have red and white patches and mouth lesions that would go undetected without a comprehensive dental examination.

A Murfreesboro Dentist is usually the first to know if something doesn’t seem right. During your exam your neck, throat, cheeks, gums, tissues and entire oral cavity are checked. If your dentist finds something that doesn’t seem right, a biopsy is usually recommended for further examination.

Do not forget that tooth loss is the number one reason people lose their teeth. Poor oral hygiene is the number one reason for gum disease.

While smokers and chewera may practice the best oral hygiene, they are still dealing with problems beyond their control. Regular comprehensive dental examinations are the only way to help prevent oral and other cancers.

A Comprehensive Dental Examination in Murfreesboro

If you smoke, are trying to quit, or are just happy smoking but haven’t seen your dentist in some time, call, send a text or an email and schedule a comprehensive dental checkup with your dentist in Murfreesboro today.

A comprehensive dental exam takes a conventional dental checkup several steps further. With regular comprehensive dental exams in Murfreesboro, your dentist knows quite a lot about your oral health.

Your dentist is the first person to know if you have something other than teeth and gums going on with your mouth. While you think those patches or sores that don’t heal aren’t anything to worry about, your dentist will probably think otherwise.

What is Comprehensive Dentistry?

Comprehensive is another word for complete dental examination. In other words, your Murfreesboro dentist will do anything necessary to keep you healthy in body and mouth.

If you follow this dental blog, you will remember that there is a connection between oral and overall health. Taking a holistic approach to dentistry is the only way to determine what is really going on with your oral and overall health.

Why Comprehensive Dental Exams Matter

Comprehensive dental exams provide practitioners with diagnoses resulting in prevention and early detection. Over 90 percent of disease is connected to your mouth.

Your Comprehensive Dental Examination

Before anything is examined, your dentist will talk with you about your medical and dental history. This includes what prescription, over the counter and herbal medications you are taking as well. The two of you will also discuss your medical history as it relates to oral health as well. It is important to let your dentist know if you are on a diet as well.

During a comprehensive dental exam your Murfreesboro dentist checks your throat, neck, cheeks, jawbone, tongue and teeth and gums for any irregularities. If lumps, bumps, white or dark patches or sores are discovered your dentist in Murfreesboro will probably recommend a biopsy for further investigation.

Your dentist will also:

• Finish a tooth decay and cavity check
• Check out old restorations
• Check your bite for alignment
• Clean your teeth and remove stains

Your comprehensive dental examination in Murfreesboro also includes x-rays and digital pictures.

If you haven’t seen your Murfreesboro dentist in some time, call or send a text and schedule an appointment for a comprehensive dental exam today.

If you have been debating about removing your old silver amalgam fillings, call and schedule a consultation.  Tooth colored fillings could be the answer if you are unhappy with your old fillings.

If you follow this dental blog, you will remember that old silver restorations may be cracked or chipped. Worse still, you may not know about it.

What are Tooth Colored Fillings?

Your Murfreesboro cosmetic dentist explains that fillings matched to teeth are made from dental resin and other materials that are biocompatible. These materials won’t interfere with your system, look better and won’t require as much removal of the healthy part of your tooth.

Better for your Teeth

Because the dental material is applied directly to the clean and dry cavity there isn’t, if any, drilling required. If there is, your Murfreesboro dentist will probably clean the area with a laser drill. Old silver amalgam fillings were not that easy to place requiring the dentist to remove healthy enamel to make the amalgam fit into the cavity.

Over time, old silver amalgam fillings have a tendency to crack and chip. This is because old silver amalgam fillings expand and retract from temperature fluctuations.

Once the fillings start to leak, you risk mercury exposure. Mercury is toxic and is an ingredient in silver amalgam fillings.

Lasts as Long as Other Types of Fillings

Dental technology has changed over the years. These days the biocompatible dental materials used will last as long as silver amalgam as long as you practice good oral hygiene.

This means brushing twice and flossing once a day. It is also important to schedule twice-yearly dental examinations to make sure your dental restorations are still in good shape.

If you clench and grind your teeth talk to your dentist as this could cause stress on your dental restorations.

More Beautiful than Silver Fillings

Tooth colored fillings work on all teeth and look beautiful. Because the resin is matched to the rest of the tooth and mimics light like your natural teeth, no one will know you have had fillings. Except you and your Murfreesboro cosmetic dentist of course. This wouldn’t be the case if you had a mouth full of silver amalgam fillings.

Tooth Colored Fillings for a Radiant Smile

If you would like to learn more about tooth colored fillings, call, text or send an online message and schedule a consultation today.

If your smile is in need of a makeover, call and schedule an appointment with for cosmetic dentistry in Murfreesboro.

From professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and cosmetic dental crowns there is no end to what you can do when you pay a visit to a licensed cosmetic dentist in Murfreesboro.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Murfreesboro

Depending on your situation, you may be able to have a new smile in a single dental appointment. Same day dentistry is available from your cosmetic dentist in Murfreesboro and includes cosmetic dental bonding and tooth colored fillings.

Thanks to same day tooth whitening in Murfreesboro, you can walk into the office with a dull smile and walk out with a white and bright smile in a little over an hour.

Can Everyone Have Cosmetic Dentistry?

With so many types of procedures available in 2021, almost everyone qualifies for some time of cosmetic dentistry. Even people who are missing all of their teeth are now able to have beautiful teeth with dental implants in Murfreesboro.

With dental implants, everyone can eat the foods they like and have a laugh without worrying about their dentures falling out.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are screw or posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone. Once the implants have healed and fused to the bone, which usually takes about six months to a year, artificial teeth are placed on top of the post or posts. Implants are matched to the rest of your smile and look just like natural teeth.

These days you can opt for single or multiple dental implants depending on how many teeth you are missing. If you are missing all of your teeth or are planning to have them extracted, talk to your implant dentist in Murfreesboro about denture implants.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry in Murfreesboro include:

• Porcelain Veneers
• Cosmetic Dental Bonding
• Professional Teeth Whitening
• Inlays
• Onlays
• Tooth Colored Fillings
• Orthodontics
• Smile Makeover
• Dental Bridges
• Cosmetic Dental Crowns
• Dental Implants

Your smile says multitudes about you and your health. If you follow this dental blog, you’ll remember that there is a connection between oral and overall health.

People who suffer from gum disease are more often than not dealing with overall health issues as well. A beautiful and healthy smile is the key to health as crooked, chipped, and missing teeth cause other problems as well.

Why Healthy Smiles Matter

As previously mentioned there is a link between oral and overall health with the main culprit being inflammation, most probably the inflammation that comes with gum disease.

If you have gum disease, you are in the high-risk category for heart disease and stroke. In fact, people who have heart attacks have a higher percentage of gum disease than people with healthy hearts do.

Call or Click for a Beautiful Smile

If you would like to learn more about happy and healthy smiles, call or text and schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation with your Murfreesboro dentist today.

If you have been contemplating weight loss pay close attention to the method you use. According to your dentist in Murfreesboro, a weight loss diet may help lower the numbers on the scale, but it won’t do much for your teeth and gums.

Below are a few diets to steer clear of if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

A Diet Low in Fat

Eating a diet that is low in fat interferes with fat-soluble vitamin absorption. That means you won’t be getting all of the vitamins you need that include A, D, E, K and D. All of these vitamins are essential for oral help, especially vitamin D as it helps you absorb much needed calcium.

If you can’t get the vitamins you need your body won’t absorb calcium and your bones and teeth will break down. Fat also helps produce dopamine, which improves the mood. You will be more anxious if your diet is low in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Keto Low Carb Diet

You will know immediately if a friend or family member is on a keto diet because of their breath. If the diet is working, people on keto diets have breath that smells like acetone or rotten fruit. This means the body is burning fat, not carbohydrates.

Your dentist in Murfreesboro recommends that you freshen your breath by chewing on mint and parsley or by drinking a lot more water. If you can do it, the best way to keep your breath fresh is to eat a few carbs. The last thing you want to deal with is ketoacidosis that increases blood level acidity. Too many ketones can also begin to burn muscle, not fat.

A Low Calorie Diet and Teeth

Cutting calories is probably the best way to reduce the numbers on the scale. However, if you don’t eat enough food you will be depleting your body of the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy.

Malnutrition is also a big factor when it comes to cutting calories. Without enough food, your enamel will start to soften and your gums will be deficient, you will also have an increased chance of a weak jawbone. This can eventually make your teeth fall out.

Fruit Detoxification Diets

It may seem like a good idea to survive only on fruit, but it is actually a bad idea. Too much fruit, especially citrus fruits, eat away at the enamel on your teeth. There is also the sugar content to consider. Most fruits have high levels of natural sugar putting teeth and gums in a vulnerable position. Malnutrition comes into play as well.

If you are going on a non-meat and starch diet, try a vegetable and fruit diet so that you can get the nutrients you need.

Speak to Your Doctor and Your Dentist

A new diet is a big change for oral and overall health. It is important that you discuss your plans with your primary care physician and your dentist before you jump in headfirst.

Call, text or book an appointment online with your Murfreesboro dentist today.

Porcelain veneers are second on the list of procedures. Professional teeth whitening is at the top of the most popular procedures on the planet.

People all over the globe enjoy the benefits of this amazing restoration. You can too when you schedule a no obligation cosmetic dentistry procedure.

Porcelain Veneers for a Celebrity Smile

Most people know that Hollywood stars were not born with naturally beautiful teeth. In fact, very few people are. The majority of the population depends on cosmetic dentists to give them pearly whites with veneers just one of the procedures that people in the public eye depend on.

Even if you aren’t in the public eye you can still have a beautiful and healthy smile thanks to your cosmetic dentist in Murfreesboro.

Cosmetic Dentistry When You Want That Extra Special

If you follow the Murfreesboro dental blog, you will remember that cosmetic dentistry takes your smile one-step further than restorative dentistry.

While your dentist in Murfreesboro offers both types of services, cosmetic dentistry restores and changes or alters the shape and color of your smile. From cosmetic dental crowns to dental implants, cosmetic dentistry can alter your entire look.

Porcelain Veneers for a Healthy Smile

Dental veneers are thin sheets of dental porcelain. These sheets are custom made to fit the fronts of teeth. It is important to note that veneers are a commitment and a permanent procedure. Also, keep in mind that because a portion of the tooth enamel is removed they are permanent. Old, stained and damaged veneers will eventually need restoration or replacement.

Best Candidates for Dental Veneers

Anyone with healthy teeth is a good candidate for porcelain veneers. People who cannot lighten teeth and patients with old restorations see excellent results when they opt for dental veneers.

Porcelain veneers also work great on chipped and cracked teeth. If you have spaces between your teeth and do not want conventional or removal braces, porcelain veneers are an excellent choice to fill the gap.

Porcelain Veneers Beautiful and Custom Made

If you and your cosmetic dentist in Murfreesboro decide on Veneers, a mold is taken of your teeth along with digital pictures and x-rays.

Tooth preparation is everything when it comes to veneers.  Your dentist only takes off what is necessary. Before you leave the office, you will be fitted with temporary porcelain veneers.

The Final Countdown

It takes about two weeks for your new restorations to arrive. When they do, you will be thrilled.

Your cosmetic dentist removes the temporaries during your second appointment  Once prepped your restorations are checked for fit and color. When the team is happy, the veneers are cemented into place.

If you would like to learn more about porcelain veneers call and talk to your dentist in today.

Chronic bad breath affects millions of people. However, most people are not even aware they are sending others to the hills the minute they open their mouth.

According to your dentist in Murfreesboro, chronic bad breath isn’t like morning breath. Also known as halitosis, bad breath could be a sign of something else, including gum disease and tooth decay.

Chronic Bad Breath and Why You May Have It

Old food smells causing a foul odor. On the other hand, if you do brush and floss daily, it could be something else including old dental restorations.

Dental restorations, especially amalgam ones, can leak, crack, and break. If that happens, decay will start to invade the healthy part of the tooth causing chronic halitosis.

If you don’t have old restorations, schedule a dental checkup with your dentist in Murfreesboro. You could be dealing with cavities and gingivitis. Be aware that cavities don’t always hurt and neither does gum disease, but both can be the culprit when it comes to chronic bad breath.

Other Underlying Factors

Halitosis doesn’t always stem from your teeth and gums. Dry mouth affects your breath as well. If you are on medication, talk to your doctor, as your medication may be the cause of your dry mouth.

If you love odorous foods, give them a rest for a while. Garlic and onions stay in the system for 72 hours after consumption. During that time, the smell comes out of your skin and lungs causing bad breath. Coffee and spicy foods could also be to blame.

Chronic inflammation in your nose or throat may also cause chronic bad breath. People with sinus problems, including postnasal drip, often complain of halitosis.

Getting Rid of Chronic Bad Breath

• Brush twice a day
• Floss at least once each day
• Brush your tongue
• Clean dental appliances and dentures
• Avoid dry mouth
• Watch your diet
• Change your toothbrush every three months
• Use an antibacterial mouth rinse
• See your dentist regularly

If you suspect you are suffering from chronic bad breath, or someone has informed you that you have halitosis, the first step is a dental checkup. Your Murfreesboro dentist will be able to find out if your mouth is the culprit.

You don’t have to have chronic bad breath. Call for a dental checkup with your dentist in Murfreesboro today.