Michael Alvarez, DDS

Think about it, if every time you bathed, your skin started to bleed, you would quickly contact a doctor to find out what the problem was. Well, consider contacting the dentist for the same reason if you gums bleed every time you brush your teeth.

Did you know that in many cases where laser surgery is used, there is much less time spent in the dental chair? Studies indicate laser surgery can be 25 to 45 percent faster when compared to traditional dental surgery.

Do you replace your toothbrush after you've been sick with a cold or flu? It's not unusual for cold germs to remain on your toothbrush for some time, leading to a re-occurrence of your cold.

You can only see two-thirds of your teeth, as the rest are hidden below the gums. Gum care is just as important as teeth cleaning, and a regular trip to the dentist can ensure that optimum oral health is achieved.

While brushing after every meal is best, if you cannot brush after each meal another tip that can help to reduce post-meal acid attacks on the teeth and gums is to rinse your mouth with water at the end of a meal.

Proper oral hygiene should start early, even before your child’s first tooth erupts. You should keep your baby’s mouth clean by wiping the gums with a damp cloth from birth until the child’s first year.

Did you know that 50% of people say that a smile is the first thing they notice about someone? Dentists recommend that you brush twice a day and floss daily so your smile is always shiny and white.

When was the toothbrush was invented? While no one really knows, it’s speculated that the first tools used for cleaning teeth were chew sticks which were twigs with a thin end. Evidence of this was discovered in archeological sites in Egypt and Iraq dating back to around 3,000 b.c.e.

When you have an issue with your gums behind your molars or between teeth, you may wonder whether it’s possible to operate without damaging the surrounding teeth. In many cases, laser surgery can make this possible.

What is bruxism? It’s the technical term for grinding or gritting the teeth, actions that can damage teeth and contribute to TMJ symptoms. Bruxism can be an unconscious daytime action in response to stress, but for many people, it occurs only during sleep.

When was the last time you bought a new toothbrush? Dentists recommend that they be changed at least every three months, or when the bristles show signs of wear, whichever comes first.

Do you have a discolored, chipped or cracked tooth that you would like to have repaired? Talk with us about dental bonding, a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin is applied to the damaged area to fix it.

Did you know that dental lasers can be used during teeth whitening processes? The lasers in these processes are very low intensity soft tissue dental lasers and they are used to boost results and speed bleaching processes that whiten teeth.