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If you rub your tongue against the front of your teeth, you may feel a fuzzy film if it’s been a while since you’ve brushed. This is particularly true early in the morning or late at night. This film is called plaque, which is the buildup of bacteria on teeth. These bacteria feast upon your dietary sugar and produce acidic byproducts that damage enamel. The accumulation of plaque increases your risk of bad breath, tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

In contrast, you may notice a squeaky clean feeling when you’ve just had a dental cleaning. That’s because we use special tools to scrape off plaque and tartar (hardened plaque). Here ...

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults over the age of 35. Fortunately, it is both preventable and treatable. In this blog post, we review the signs and symptoms of gum disease and treatment options.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a progressive dental disease that can negatively impact your gingival tissue, periodontal ligaments, underlying jawbone, and your teeth. It starts as gingivitis and advances to periodontitis. Gum disease is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria under the gumline. These bacteria produce toxins that irritate and eventually destroy the tissues supporting your teeth. Without treatment, the gums separate from the teeth, increasing your risk ...

At North River Dental Care, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable dental care to patients throughout the Fredericksburg area. In this blog post, we compare PPO vs. HMO dental insurance. And for those interested in foregoing traditional dental insurance, we discuss the benefits of enrolling in our in-office dental membership plan.

Dental Insurance: PPO vs. HMO

While dental PPO plans usually have higher out-of-pocket costs than their HMO counterparts, they offer patients more flexibility in selecting dentists or dental specialists without needing a referral from your primary dentist. Some plans even offer reimbursement for out-of-network dentists. In exchange for that flexibility, you will have a higher premium and may be required ...

At North River Dental Care, we strive to help our patients prevent dental disease with superb oral health habits. Tooth decay and cavities are common dental issues. In this blog post, we discuss what causes cavities and how you can prevent them.

Cavity Formation 101

When bacteria in your mouth feast upon your dietary sugars and starches, they produce acids. Over time, these acids dissolve the mineral structure of your tooth enamel, which is the protective outer layer of your teeth. If weakened enamel is not sufficiently remineralized, it will deteriorate and develop pits and holes called cavities. Both baby teeth and adult teeth can develop cavities if the right preventive steps ...

Many patients can’t imagine going without their daily caffeinated beverage. But over time, these liquids can discolor and damage your teeth. For example, coffee and tea contain dark pigmented compounds called tannins that stick to teeth, causing stains. And soda contains sugar and acid that will slowly erode your enamel, increasing your risk of tooth decay.

We recommend drinking water whenever possible to stay hydrated. Water promotes saliva production to keep your mouth healthy. Plus, it is essential for a strong body. But if you do drink coffee, tea, or soda, be sure to do so in moderation and to follow the following tips.

Rinse with Water

When enjoying any beverage other than ...

A smile is a facial expression in which the corners of the mouth curve upward and the eyes brighten and crinkle at the corners. Sometimes the teeth show. It communicates approval, amusement, and happiness. Smiling can even help you feel these positive emotions!

In this blog post, we discuss the power of a smile.

Mood Booster

A wide, beaming smile can inspire the confidence of yourself and those around you. Research has shown that smiling is contagious, so smiling at another person can set off a chain reaction of smiles. Whether you’re at work, in the grocery store, or walking at the park, one smile can improve the mood of many people.

Next time ...

Full and partial dentures are a cost-effective tooth replacement solution for missing teeth. But dentures do more than simply improve the appearance of your smile! Here are five ways dentures can help your overall health.

1. Boosts Confidence

People that are missing teeth tend to feel shy or embarrassed about it. Dentures can make you more confident. Not only can dentures improve the appearance of your smile, but you will feel better about yourself. You will no longer avoid smiling, talking, or meeting new people because of insecurity about your teeth.

2. Helps with Speaking

A gap in your teeth can cause speaking issues, and you may not be easy to understand because of ...

While professional teeth whitening is a simple and affordable way to boost the brightness of your smile, it’s not a permanent treatment. But don’t worry—aside from getting whitening touch-ups at your dentist—there are steps you can take to prolong the effects of your teeth whitening treatment By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll get the best value out of this cosmetic procedure!

Rinse with Water After Consuming Foods & Drinks That Stain

Coffee, tea, wine, and tomato products are some of the most common culprits that can discolor your teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after enjoying them, or you can make it a habit to brush your teeth about 30 minutes ...

Typically, it’s best to save a tooth when you can. Toot canal treatment is usually chosen over extraction, though there are sometimes valid and necessary reasons for tooth extraction.

A Tooth-Saving Procedure

Unfortunately, root canal treatment has a bad reputation that is rooted in myth and outdated information. It is in fact an incredibly important dental procedure that preserves the integrity of your natural tooth and relieves pain! If you have decay or damage to your tooth that affects the pulp within the tooth, that tooth may be in trouble. That’s where root canal therapy comes in.

Inside Root Canal Therapy

When you get a root canal procedure, Dr. Bailey will numb ...

Chronic teeth grinding and teeth clenching, or bruxism, can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, stress and anxiety are common contributing factors. Effects of teeth grinding include jaw pain, headaches, damaged teeth, and an increased risk of discoloration, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.

Not all hope is lost, however — there are simple ways that you can combat teeth grinding and save your teeth.

1. Cut Back on Caffeine

Caffeine can make some patients more anxious or resistant to healthy sleep, so if you consume a lot of caffeine, try to curb your consumption to help ease your teeth grinding and improve your sleep quality. Whenever possible, drink water instead. ...