Lauri Barge, DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Like many folks, you may already know about nitrous oxide. Dentists often use this sedative to calm their patients for treatment. That said, perhaps you’re hesitant to get it as part of dental care. It’s all too easy to wonder, “Is nitrous oxide sedation safe for me?” You’d then be tempted to give up on that option. Still, there’s no need to worry – this sedation dentistry is effective and harmless. Find out more in this helpful summary from your Flower Mound dentist.

Every time you go to the dental office for a routine checkup, they examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer. This disease can be deadly, but it can oftentimes be treated when caught in its beginning stages. Early detection is key to making a full recovery! However, this begs the question: how fast does oral cancer spread? Continue reading to learn more about oral cancer, common risk factors, and symptoms to look out for.

There’s ample evidence supporting the mouth and body connection. Various dental issues can increase your risk of health conditions and vice versa. However, a new study by the American Academy of Neurology has found that your dental health can affect your brain health negatively. Gum disease and tooth loss can cause brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s. Here’s what you need to know to keep your mouth and brain healthy.

(more…)

Whether you prefer to go for a run or jog, lift weights, or sweat it out on the treadmill or elliptical, exercise is a great way to boost your overall health. But your body isn’t actually the only thing that benefits from movement. In fact, your smile can reap many great benefits from it as well. Keep reading to learn how physical activity can help to prevent gum disease and poor oral health.

A beautiful smile can be an amazing asset in both the social and professional worlds. People who smile generously are seen as more friendly, confident, and approachable, which can make it much easier to close a sale or make new friends at a party. Unfortunately, many people are shy about showing off their smiles because of certain cosmetic issues. The good news is that your dentist can provide you with a variety of cosmetic treatments to help you achieve a more ideal smile. Here are a few ways your dentist can help your smile become more beautiful.

Do you like coffee? What about tea or wine? All these drinks have one thing in common—they’re full of tannins that discolor teeth. Other habits like smoking can also accelerate the staining process. When stains build up, you may want to brighten your smile, and this is where teeth whitening treatments come in. However, some patients have sensitive teeth afterward.

This phenomenon is perfectly normal, but it could put some patients off treatment. If you’re curious as to the cause of the sensitivity, continue reading.

Anyone who’s ever worked out consistently is well aware that fitness has a season. Gyms start filling up at the start of the year, or maybe around the start of summer as people get ready to hit the beach.

However, there’s no wrong time of year to start getting in shape. If you’ve been considering starting a workout routine, now is as good a time as any to begin.

That said, for the sake of your oral health, you should probably consider a few things before you hit the gym. Here are a few ways that getting into shape could start to affect your smile, and what you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen.

In one moment, an accident can happen, resulting in a serious dental injury and same-day visit to your emergency dentist’s office. The entire experience can be stressful, which is why you naturally want to protect your smile at all costs. That starts with a solid at-home oral hygiene routine and extends to biannual checkups and cleanings, but is there anything else you can do? Turns out, there is! Here are four things your dentist never puts in their mouth (and that you shouldn’t either).

On the surface, a blood pressure screening seems like it has nothing to do with your teeth or oral health. You might be thinking, “Why does my dentist have to take my blood pressure?” as you’re sitting in the dental chair waiting for your doctor. You already get your blood pressure checked during your annual physical, and this isn’t a medical clinic, it’s a dentist’s office. However, having your blood pressure taken is an essential component of every appointment. Here are 4 reasons your dentist takes your blood pressure.

One of the biggest perks of Invisalign is that there are very little rules outside of meeting the 20-22 hour-a-day wear time and taking good care of your trays so you don’t misplace them. But what happens if you accidentally lose your Invisalign aligner? Is this an orthodontic emergency? Should you move onto the next tray in the series? Here’s the answer.