Teeth are often the star of the show when it comes to the mouth. But let’s not forget to give credit to the tongue! After all, this movable set of muscles lets us speak, suck, swallow, taste, and more, doing a lot of behind-the-scenes grunt work in the mouth. Here, we’ll talk about what the tongue actually is, the anatomy, the function of the tongue, and the many roles it
The underside of your tongue isn’t something that you would typically think about if everything is functioning as it should. But imagine if one morning, as you’re eating breakfast, you discover that these folds underneath your tongue are painfully irritated. You may also notice that saliva is pooling in the area. Immediately, you would be concerned about what might be going on. These small folds are called the plica fimbriata,
It starts with a tickle in your throat. By the next day, you’ve got a stuffy nose and body aches. And it feels like you’ve swallowed sandpaper. After a test concluding the virus you caught is only a cold, loading up on cough medicine and nasal decongestants might be your first instinct. But it would help if you also prioritized measures to relieve conditions resulting from your cold that might
Did you know that healthy people produce 2 to 4 cups of saliva each day? That’s 0.5 to 1.5 liters that assist with things you take for granted – speaking, chewing, swallowing – and help keep your teeth and gums in tip-top condition, notes the American Dental Association (ADA). But for people with dry mouth, a healthy output of saliva isn’t possible, leading your teeth and gums vulnerable to oral
Instead of visiting the dentist to face the drill, imagine going in for a quick and painless treatment that helps prevent cavities. Sounds pretty great, right? Ask your dentist for a fluoride treatment for your teeth to help protect and remineralize enamel, helping reduce the likelihood of a cavity. Now that’s something to smile about! Learn more about fluoride and how these treatments can benefit you. What is fluoride? Fluoride
It can be difficult to digest all the dental terms related to your oral health. What exactly is the alveolar process? How does it support your teeth, and what conditions can affect it? We’re here to help you understand the alveolar process along with its location, anatomy, and related health concerns. Alveolar Process: What You Should Know Your alveolar process (also known as the alveolar bone) is the structure that
When you think about mouthrinse, maybe it’s your go-to for a minty-fresh kiss or whiter smile. But mouthrinse — especially fluoride mouthrinse — can provide more oral health benefits than just fresh breath. In the same way dental professionals recommend brushing with fluoride toothpaste, fluoride mouthrinse, also known as mouthwash, can help strengthen tooth enamel and provide an extra level of protection for children and adults. Ask your dental professional
As a new parent, you and your newborn are both experiencing a lot of new things together! And even if you feel comfortable and confident about your own oral health, a lot of questions may start to arise concerning oral care for kids. Don’t stress. We’re here to help. Read on for answers to some common kids’ oral care questions that you can both smile about. Is Breast-Feeding Better Than
If you tend to grind your teeth, you have a condition people in the dental profession call bruxism. This involuntary behavior can be quite an annoyance for you, and it may even be causing jaw pain, headaches, the wearing away of tooth enamel, gum sensitivity, or chipped teeth. If you’ve already tried conventional approaches to changing this behavior and have been disappointed in the results, you may be surprised to
As a child growing up, Halloween is one of the best times of the year. They get to play dress-up in their favorite costume. They get to stay up late with friends and family. And of course — they score an insane amount of sweet treats. As a parent, it would be wise to step in on that last one. We’re not saying to take all the sugar and fun
If your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) causes you pain, you probably want to explore all available options to find relief. Because this hinge connects your upper and lower jaw, you need it for everyday tasks like talking and eating. Fortunately, your dentist or primary care physician can provide a variety of treatments and exercises to support healthy jaw function. If your temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) stems from myofascial pain syndrome — a chronic
Dry mouth is a problem that affects many people and has a long list of sources. It might surprise you to know that anxiety and stress can cause dry mouth, and so can the related medications. We’ve got you covered with helpful information on dry mouth, from symptoms and causes to treatment and prevention. Dry Mouth Overview A lack of saliva is the cause of dry mouth, which is also