21st Century Dental Blog

Your dentist in Irving may be open for regular appointments again, but that doesn’t mean safety is any less of a concern. In order to protect their patients and staff from COVID-19, dentists across the country have been adopting numerous additional safety protocols. With these steps in place, you can be sure that you’re walking into a safe, sterile environment whenever you arrive at the dentist’s office. Below, you’ll learn more about 5 of these crucial practices and why they’re so important.

Dentists work with many patients’ mouths throughout the day, so naturally basic safety precautions such as handwashing have always been important steps to take before any appointment. However, with the additional concern of COVID-19, your dental office has had to adopt new forms of dental safety protocol in order to treat patients without taking unnecessary risks that could spread an infection. If you’re worried about your next appointment, you can take comfort in knowing that your practice is following these 4 steps to prepare for your visit.

Even a mild toothache can be incredibly distracting and make basic activities such as eating more difficult than they normally would be. You could have trouble focusing at work, and constantly focusing on what could possibly be wrong with your tooth could have psychological consequences as well. It’s crucial to see your emergency dentist as soon as you can, but it’s also helpful to be able to diagnose your toothache on your own so that you have a clearer idea of what’s wrong – and how urgently you need treatment. Read on to learn more about 5 possible toothache symptoms and what they might mean.  

You’re sitting on the couch enjoying your weekend when suddenly you notice a sharp pain in your tooth. What should you do? Do you need to go out of your way to see your dentist as soon as possible? Or can you afford to wait until regular office hours? Recognizing the difference between an urgent dental emergency and a non-urgent dental emergency can save you from making a mistake that costs you your smile. Keep reading to learn about the different dental issues you might face – and which ones need to be treated immediately.

Talk of social distancing and preventive health measures have been in the news a lot lately. As communities grapple with the Coronavirus pandemic, governments and health experts warn that older people and individuals with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of being affected.

Our immune systems are designed to protect us from all sorts of threats to our health, from viruses to bacteria to parasites. While all the systems in the human body are closely interlinked, not many people understand the connection between oral health and the immune system. Keep reading below to discover why practicing good oral hygiene is an important way to maintain healthy immune responses.

When you visit your dentist to ask about options for replacing a tooth, you’re probably more worried about the gap itself than you are about the rest of your teeth. But the rest of your smile still needs to be considered when looking at different dental prosthetics, especially if you’re thinking about getting a dental bridge in Irving. Bridges cover some of your natural teeth, and it’s very important that you fully realize what that means – as well as what it doesn’t mean. Keep reading to find out whether a bridge is enough to protect teeth from dental decay and infection.

If you find a bit of blood on your toothbrush or your dental floss, you might think it’s no big deal at first. But if it keeps happening, you should definitely take notice. Bleeding gums are not normal; in fact, they’re most likely a sign that an infection has formed in your mouth. If you’re not careful, you may eventually end up with an incomplete smile as well as a variety of health issues. Take advantage of Gum Disease Awareness Month by learning more about the real reason why your gums bleed.

It’s important to know how to take care of your body during cold and flu season – and of course, that includes your mouth. Even when you’re already sick, you always need to take the time to take care of your teeth; ignoring your oral hygiene while you’re under the weather could ultimately leave you with gum disease and other health issues to worry about. Read on to learn 3 ways you can protect your smile even while you’re sick.

After suffering a blow to the mouth, one of your teeth fell out. However, the tooth in question was near the back, and most people don’t even realize it’s missing when you smile. Does that mean you can leave the space alone without worrying about your appearance? Unfortunately, the answer is “no”; even if tooth loss doesn’t affect your smile, it can still have a severe impact on your face. Find out more about the link between missing teeth and facial collapse – and how getting dental implants to fill the gap makes all the difference!

Between the gatherings, the shopping, and the fun, the last thing you want to do is let a dental emergency interrupt your holiday cheer. Unfortunately, all the sugary snacks that this time of year has to offer can make it harder to protect your smile. If you want to keep your pearly whites safe during the festivities, try following these 4 tips from a dentist in Irving.