How Smoking Increases the Risk of Oral Cancer

August 25th, 2021

Cigarette smoke contains more than 6,000 chemicals, and at least 200 of those chemicals are known to be harmful to your health. When smoke is inhaled, moist oral tissues are saturated with excessive amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and a host of other known carcinogens. Most oral cancers originate in abnormal squamous cell activity,…
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I can't stop grinding my teeth! How can a dentist help?

August 18th, 2021

Dr. Kilman will tell you that while you are sleep, your mouth may be very active. If you find yourself waking up with headaches, facial pain, neck aches, or a sore jaw, you may have tooth grinding, a condition we also call bruxism. We see many people who experience some extent of tooth grinding, but…
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Electric or Manual Toothbrush: Why It Does (and Doesn't) Matter

August 11th, 2021

You live in the golden age of toothbrushes. Until a few decades people used twigs or brushes made from animal hair to clean their teeth: not very soft and none too effective. Now, you have a choice of manual brushes with soft, medium, or hard bristles. Or you might choose to go with an electric…
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Can my child really avoid tooth decay?

July 28th, 2021

Great question! Yes, in fact, tooth decay is preventable! Decay, which is caused by sugars left in your child’s mouth, can turn into an acid, which in turn can break down his or her teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents tend to be lax…
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