From the Desk of
Nelson Y., Howard, D.D.S., A.A.A.C.D.

Part of having a good oral hygiene routine is brushing twice a day. Doing so helps to prevent tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues. However, do you know that you’re using the right brush to clean your teeth? Should you get the affordable manual one or the pricy electric one with the charging station? Your family dentist shares the pros and cons of each toothbrush so you can make the best decision for your smile.

Water is by far the best thing you can drink to stay hydrated. But during especially vigorous exercise, you may feel like you need more. Sports drinks were first invented to help athletes replenish their electrolytes while rehydrating. While they work well for that purpose, they definitely have downsides. One of those is the effect on your teeth. In fact, they are even more destructive than soda or juice. Read on to learn what your dentist has to say about sports drinks along with some tooth-friendly alternatives.

Dentures aren’t a great fit for everyone. They can move during the day, irritate your gums, and make it harder to taste food. However, people have stuck with them because they are afraid of letting people know that they are missing teeth. However, there are now more effective and aesthetically pleasing ways to replace them. Dental implants are a relatively new piece of technology that can allow you to restore your smile to the way it once was without having to deal with the struggles that come with removable dentures. In this article, you’ll learn what a dental implant is and what makes you a good candidate for one.

One of the few pleasures you still have during the COVID-19 crisis is enjoying a good meal. However, if you have sensitive teeth, that can be difficult to do. According to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association, 1 out of every 8 people in the U.S. has sensitivity problems. Despite how common the issue is, most people don’t know what to do about it. Read on to find out what causes tooth sensitivity and what actions you should take to relieve it.

Getting a dental checkup every six months plays a key role in keeping your smile beautiful and intact. However, these regular visits are about so much more than keeping your pearly whites clean! They also give your dentist a chance to discover early warning signs of larger systemic health issues. Here are seven non-dental issues that your Sand Diego dentist might identify during your routine visit.

Have you ever spat out a little bit of blood into the sink when brushing or flossing? While some people might think this is normal, it’s actually a serious sign of gum disease. While gum disease is bad enough in and of itself, did you know that it can actually lead to other health consequences? Namely, heart disease. Keep reading as we examine the link between gum disease and an increased risk of a heart attack.

You’re relaxing at the end of a long week of work, enjoying some popcorn and a movie with your significant other. Everything is going great until crunch! You accidentally bite down on an un-popped kernel. Pain shoots through your mouth and you spit out pieces of your tooth into your hand! What should you do? Here are some tips from a dentist on how to handle common dental emergencies.

Maybe your New Year’s resolution was to be a more confident person. Eating right and going to the gym a few times a week has certainly helped, but you still feel like something is missing. After a few looks in the mirror, you realize it’s your smile that leaves something to be desired. Your teeth have unsightly chips and stains. Fortunately, this can all be remedied by visiting your cosmetic dentist. Keep reading to learn three reasons that cosmetic dentistry can boost your self-confidence.

If you’ve been on social media at any point within the past few years, chances are you’ve come across posts and ads with people claiming to have whitened their teeth with activated charcoal. It seems a bit counterintuitive, though. How can applying a black paste to your teeth make them whiter? A cosmetic dentist is here to talk about how activated charcoal whitening works, if it’s safe, and why you should probably invest in professional teeth whitening instead.