Do your gums seem especially tender or swollen lately? Do they bleed when you brush your teeth? Sore gums can be a painful warning sign for major problems, like gum disease. Thankfully, many options exist for preventing painful, irritated gums. Your Waco dentist, Dr. Corbet Locke, explains the most common causes of swollen gums… Read More
How old will you be on your next birthday? Your mouth may be a different age on that day. Like many parts of your body, mouths can age more rapidly or more slowly than your calendar age, depending on a number of factors, including genetics and your lifestyle. People who eat unhealthily or neglect their… Read More
Everyone knows how much dentists hate chocolate. After all, chocolate causes tooth decay. However, that conventional wisdom is not entirely accurate. While chocolate is not a health food, certain varieties of it, eaten in moderation, do provide some health benefits. One of those benefits, believe it or not, is fighting cavities. Your Waco dentist, Dr…. Read More
People who are called “long in the tooth” are usually revered for having lived a full life. What many people don’t know is that the expression came from the fact that many older people had had their gums recede to the point where much more of their teeth were exposed. These people were literally “long… Read More
Nothing can damage a perfectly good time like the sudden emergence of a toothache. When teeth ache, the entire body can seemingly shut down due to the nervous system overload. Toothaches and tooth pain can cause tremendous difficulties for people looking to obtain a good night’s sleep, and can result in diminished job performance. Many… Read More
This time of year many patients find themselves susceptible to the common cold, fevers, and allergy attacks. However, a great number of people remain unaware that oral health plays an important role in determining health throughout the human body. Rinsing with mouthwash everyday can’t stop the common cold, but several other health issues link back… Read More
Loved by many, green tea has many benefits to your health. In fact, Asian cultures have sworn by the beverage for over 4,000 years, believing it to hold special properties that help heal wounds and cure sickness. Although green tea is not a miracle cure for anything, modern science has proven ancient legend correct: green… Read More
If you’ve ever felt a sudden, sharp toothache while flying, you’ve experienced barodontalgia. Aviators refer to it as “flyer’s toothache,” while scuba divers call it “tooth squeeze.” It can also be described as a simple toothache. Whatever it’s called, barodontalgia refers to pain in the teeth caused by changes in air pressure. Those who’ve had… Read More
Have you noticed small lines on the surface of your front teeth? These are called craze lines, and they’re relatively common, especially as we age. Q) What are craze lines? A) Craze lines are small, vertical cracks in your tooth enamel. Since they only affect the surface layer and don’t extend into the deeper dentin,… Read More
Among the earliest lessons we are taught is to brush and floss our teeth, which we later realize means consistently. These simple acts maintains a clean oral environment by preventing plaque and tartar from accumulating, dislodging lingering food debris, and removing minor stains from your teeth. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), toothpaste’s effectiveness… Read More