Northwest Family Dental Blog

October isn’t just about pumpkins and fall festivities—it’s also National Dental Hygiene Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of good oral health. Your smile does more than brighten a room; it reflects your overall well-being. Consistent care at home, combined with regular visits to your dentist, can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues before they start.

Whether you’re recommitting to better habits or looking for ways to keep your smile healthy year-round, this month offers the perfect opportunity to focus on your oral hygiene routine.

(more…)

Have you been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? This condition can make it seem nearly impossible to achieve sufficient rest each night. When your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, your natural sleep cycle becomes disrupted. As a result, you may wake up feeling exhausted day after day, and your overall health may begin to decline. You might wonder what steps you can take to lessen the impact of OSA on your daily life. While professional treatment remains essential, you can also explore lifestyle adjustments that may help reduce symptoms. For example, you might try sleeping in a recliner! This blog post explores how doing so might increase sleep quality.

(more…)

No one wants to welcome their baby into the world with an incomplete smile. No matter if it’s just one tooth or an entire row, smiling at your little one shouldn’t cause you to feel self-conscious or ashamed. Dental implants remain one of the most popular forms of tooth replacement, but can you have them put into place while pregnant? Read on to learn what steps you should take to safeguard your baby and your oral health during this time.

(more…)

While preventing tooth loss is one of the primary goals of dentistry, extraction is sometimes the best way to preserve the health of the rest of the smile. Modern tooth removal procedures are rendered completely painless by anesthetics and sedation treatments, but patients can still expect discomfort during the healing process. Dry socket is a miserably painful condition that can happen if the extraction wound is disturbed, but it can be avoided with the proper precautions. Here’s how to keep your recovery smooth.

(more…)

In recent years, there’s been a resurgence of concerns about the safety of root canal treatments, with some alarming claims linking them to cancer. The idea that a common dental procedure might have such serious consequences understandably worries many people. But is there any truth to the claim that root canals cause cancer? Let’s explore where this myth originated and what the science actually says.

(more…)

Dental bridges are a common restorative solution used to replace one or more missing teeth. They “bridge” the gap between healthy teeth, restoring function and appearance. While dental bridges are not permanent, they are designed to be a long-term solution with proper care. Understanding the lifespan of dental bridges, including the factors that affect their longevity and how to maintain them, is key to getting the most value from this dental investment.

(more…)

Let’s say you’re at a routine checkup when your dentist lets you know that a root canal may need to be performed on one of your teeth. A root canal! Don’t you have to be in agony for that to be done? In short, no. Root canals do much more than just fix toothaches. There can still be issues going on that are not causing pain. So, if there’s no pain, how can you know that you need treatment? Here, you’ll learn more about the tell-tale red flags that could indicate you’re in need of a root canal.

(more…)

You’ve been struggling with tooth pain for quite a while now, and your dentist told you that a root canal treatment is the best option for addressing it. Then one day, the pain suddenly went away. Does this mean all your problems have been solved? Or will a root canal treatment still be necessary? Here’s a closer a look at what it means when your tooth pain stops and how you should deal with the situation.

(more…)

If you want to work towards a straighter smile, Invisalign is a great way to achieve these goals without enduring a mouthful of metal brackets and wires. Invisalign’s discreet appearance makes the treatment ideal for older teens and adults. It’s understandable to be concerned if your aligner doesn’t fit quite right. Here’s why this could be the case and what you can do about it.

(more…)

Many teens and adults choose Invisalign because the clear trays are much more comfortable and discreet than traditional orthodontics. However, the transparent plastic also doesn’t allow for the same manipulation of movement as the metal brackets and wires do. Historically, that meant that aligners were ideal for patients with mild gaps or overcrowding, and more severe cases required braces.

Thanks to the more recent development of Invisalign attachments, increasing numbers of people have been able to straighten their smiles successfully. However, patients often wonder whether having these bumps removed will hurt. Continue reading to learn more about why you have no reason to fear!

(more…)