Columbia Healthy Smiles Blog

February is American Heart Month, which is when dentists and other physicians try and raise awareness about the risks of heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is all too common, and that’s due in part to the way how certain lifestyle choices increase people’s risk of dealing with it. Most people understand the primary causes of heart disease, but some people may not be aware that gum disease is one of them. If you’re curious about the connection between your oral health and a healthy heart, here’s a little more information about what links the two.

The new year is the perfect time to try to better yourself. There are quite a few ways to do that, and knowing which is best for you can be a little bit difficult. As it turns out, many of these most common new years resolutions also happen to be pretty good for your oral health, as well as benefitting you in other ways.

Here are four of the most common new year’s resolutions, along with what they can do for your teeth.

The new year is a time for new beginnings, and for a lot of people, that means trying a diet that will help them lose weight. Keto is a popular one; this low-carb diet is designed to force your body to enter ketosis, a state where it’s burning fat instead of glucose for energy.

Any time you start a new diet, it’s important to understand not only how it’ll affect your body, but how it’ll affect your teeth. If you’re interested in trying keto, here’s how that can affect your oral health.

One of the reasons that Invisalign aligners are so popular is because of their convenience. They’re removable, meaning you won’t have to deal with any dietary restrictions for the period you’re wearing them. The treatment as a whole will also take less time than traditional braces.

That said, there is quite a bit you’ll have to learn to do for the year or so you’ll be wearing your aligners. Upkeep is important, and managing them well is the best (arguably the only) way to see your desired results. Here are a few things you can do to keep your aligners in top shape.

Holidays are a time to relax and spend time with family. Many people’s favorite part of the holiday season is the food, which is why the last thing you want to do is interrupt dinner by needing to visit an emergency dentist. As it turns out, there are quite a few hazardous foods that can cause you to chip a tooth or lose a filling. If you want to know how to prevent a dental emergency this holiday season, here are a few foods you should use some caution around.

Unfortunately, tooth loss is not uncommon, to say the least. If you’re missing at least one tooth, you’re in the same situation as 178 million other Americans. Hope is not lost, however, since there are several tooth replacement options to choose from. A preference by many patients and dentists alike is dental implants in Columbia because of their significant benefits. But how long do dental implants last? Continue reading to learn more from your dentist about implant lifespan and how you can extend it.

That gravy your grandmother made to go on the Thanksgiving turkey seems even better than last year! Between all the eating and catching up with relatives you haven’t seen in a while to chat, your teeth have a lot to do this time of year. There are some holiday oral health tips to be aware of so you can take great care of your teeth while you are making memories. Keep reading to get some advice from your dentist in Columbia.

Wearing fake vampire fangs or witches’ teeth is a great way to have fun at Halloween parties or when you’re trick-or-treating. Of course, the last thing you’d want is for your teeth to look that scary all of the time! The Halloween season is rife with opportunities to wreak havoc on your dental health. So, if you want to keep your pearly whites “boo-tiful” this Halloween and beyond, be sure to follow these tips!

At first, the idea that visiting your dentist more often will save you money might seem counterintuitive, but it’s true! When you’re diligent about attending two dental checkups each year, you’re less likely to have tooth decay, damage, or other oral health problems that require expensive (and time-consuming) treatments. In this way, an ounce of prevention is really and truly worth a pound of cure! Read on to learn four reasons why seeing your dentist in Columbia twice a year can benefit your smile and your wallet.

When it comes to oral health, you may think you only need to clean your teeth. Namely, you just have to brush them twice daily, floss between them once daily, and rinse them with mouthwash. In truth, though, you must also keep your pearly whites aligned. Therefore, you’ll want to deal with any shifting teeth in your mouth. Your dentist in Columbia, fortunately, can help you do exactly that. Read on to learn common causes of teeth shifting and dental treatments that can fix the issue.