Harrisonburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Chewing on ice can be an easy way to cool down on a hot day. However, it can also be a sign of iron deficiency. No matter the reason behind your ice chewing, you can cause serious damage to your smile. Here’s how chomping on ice can harm your teeth and what you can do to break the habit.

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The gums are crucial in maintaining teeth stability by creating a seal around them, which also acts as a defense against bacteria. Gum recession indicates an issue with these tissues and can make your smile vulnerable to damage. If you’ve experienced gum recession, you may be wondering: can gums grow back? Continue reading to discover the causes of gum recession, if they can grow back, and how to prevent this from happening in the first place.

It’s estimated that around 180 million Americans suffer from tooth loss, making it quite a widespread issue! But when we think about missing teeth, we typically imagine a smile filled with gaps—however, you can also lose your back teeth, which isn’t quite as obvious whenever you grin. That said, front and back teeth alike need to be replaced promptly to avoid further tooth loss and other potential issues. Here’s more from your dentist about why you shouldn’t wait to replace a missing molar, along with why a dental implant is going to be your best option for doing so.

Your smile is often the first feature that people notice about you, meaning that you should want it to look its absolute best! But in order to undergo cosmetic dentistry, it’s important to have optimal oral health to reduce the likelihood of complications. Here’s more about why from your cosmetic dentist in Harrisonburg.

Have you ever had mildly swollen gums when you were younger? Are you currently struggling with a toothache? You aren’t the only one. Most people have experienced at least one oral health problem in their life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 80% of people will have had at least one cavity by the time they’re 34. Fortunately, many of these common dental concerns are avoidable. Read on to learn about three oral health issues and how you can significantly reduce your risks.

Have you lost one, several, or all of your teeth? If so, you likely understand how difficult this can make daily tasks, such as eating and talking. The good news is that there are various durable and effective solutions to replace your missing pearly whites and renew your bite. But which tooth-replacement option is good for both your smile and budget? Keep reading to learn why dental implants may be the more cost-effective choice!

Invisalign is one of the most popular ways to straighten one smile. Over several months or years, it will move your teeth into a more ideal position to close gaps, correct alignment problems, and fix bite issues. If you’re thinking about undergoing Invisalign treatment, there are a few things that you should know before you begin. Keep reading to learn four things that you should know before getting Invisalign.

As kids, many people get traditional braces to fix gaps, alignment problems, and bite issues. Though this treatment is intended to keep your smile looking lovely for the rest of your life, but isn’t always the case. Some people neglect to wear their retainers, which can cause their teeth to shift back into their original position. Other people run into issues as they get older that cause dental shifting. For those who had braces in the past, can they get Invisalign as adults? Keep reading to learn if Invisalign after braces is a possibility.

There’s a lot to be said for doing things yourself. The internet has guides for just about everything, which means you can learn a variety of new skills. Unfortunately, some companies will offer you DIY kits to do things that require years of experience and training to do correctly. DIY clear aligner kits are a great example. These claim to offer you the ability to straighten your teeth at home, with only minimal professional supervision. The dentist you work with will never see you in person, and they can guide your treatment only to the extent that you tell them to. Here are a few reasons why using DIY clear aligners is a bad idea.

A smile is one of the best accessories you can wear. But if you are unhappy with your teeth, you are unlikely to make it a part of your daily outfits. Fortunately, current cosmetic treatments like veneers have made it possible to get the smile of your dreams! As a long-lasting solution for a range of cosmetic imperfections, these thin sheaths of porcelain can transform your pearly whites. To find out if veneers are right for you, read on to learn five facts about them.