Do you know how many types of teeth you have? A full set of human adult teeth has 32 teeth total, and is made up of 4 different types of teeth. Each tooth type has their own unique function and purpose, and together they work to allow us to eat and digest food efficiently. The 4 Different Types of Teeth: Incisors : These are the four front and center teeth on both our upper and lower jaws, for a total of 8 incisors. We have two central incisors (the very middle two teeth) and

Do you know how much bacteria is in the human mouth? Estimates vary between 500 to 700 different species of bacteria, and between 6 million and 20 million microbes of bacteria in the mouth at any given time! Those billions of bacteria adhere to each other and to surfaces within the mouth – teeth, gums, inner cheeks, tongue, and form a complex, slimy, sticky substance called biofilm. Dental biofilm can actually aid oral health. Besides containing hundreds of varieties of both

Cold and flu season is upon us, and unfortunately, mouth sores sometimes accompany these illnesses. Canker sores and cold sores can be quite unpleasant to live with, but the good news is that both typically heal well within a couple weeks. We’ll explain how to tell the difference between canker sores and cold sores, and how to treat them so that they heal quickly and with minimal discomfort and pain. Symptoms and Characteristics Cold sores and canker sores may seem similar, b

Have you smiled recently? Smiling isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially after a long and exhausting day. But here’s a fun fact: numerous studies have shown that smiling is actually good for your health! Whether genuine or forced, the physical act of smiling can “trick” your mind and body into being less stressed, happier, and more relaxed. When you smile, it triggers your brain to release the “happy chemicals” – endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – that actively an

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and we’re so excited for all the delicious turkey day foods and treats! Some of the classic Thanksgiving Day foods are surprisingly great for our teeth – others, not so much. Here is a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to popular Thanksgiving foods! The Good: Turkey: The star of the Thanksgiving table is also fortunately quite good for our teeth! Turkey doesn’t contain starch or sugar, and it’s also a good source of vit