Your tongue can detect a range of tastes and temperatures, and it helps you speak, swallow, and even sing. But how much do you know about its different parts? The fungiform papillae are just one portion of this incredible muscle that performs essential tasks for our bodies. Papillae: Form and Function Papillae are the tiny raised protrusions on the tongue that contain taste buds. The four types of papillae are
Bruxism is also known as grinding and/or clenching of your teeth. It’s a very common condition that affects approximately 30 million to 40 million children and adults in the U.S. Signs & Symptoms If you notice any of the following symptoms, you may be experiencing bruxism: Rhythmic contractions of the jaw muscles A grinding sound at night, which may disturb the sleep of someone who you share a room with
If you’ve noticed the development of red, painful blisters inside your child’s mouth, we know you may feel an initial shock of panic. It’s understandable to feel alarmed, especially if you’ve been taking great care of their oral health. But your child may be experiencing Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease (HFMD), which has little to do with their oral hygiene. Depending on your child’s symptoms and their severity, you probably
When you hear the words “wisdom teeth”. The next thing that probably comes to mind is “removal”. Followed closely by “Hurrah! Ice cream for every meal!” Not so fast. The truth is, wisdom teeth don’t always have to be extracted. In fact, if they come through correctly and with enough room, having them is good. However, if a wisdom tooth is infected, that’s different. Here’s what you should know.
Throughout your life, your bones constantly remodel themselves, removing old bone (resorption), and adding new bone where it’s needed (ossification). This is a natural process that’s important for your health and wellbeing. But when resorption happens at a higher rate than it can be replaced, it can lead to a decrease in your bone mass and put you at higher risk for fractures and breakage. In your mouth, your jawbone
We don’t often think about dental anomalies, mainly because they’re so rare. One such rare anomaly is tooth gemination, which is also known as double teeth. This condition describes when a tooth has two joint crowns and a single root. If you’ve heard the phrase or noticed an irregularity in your smile, you may be curious to learn more about the condition and treatment plans. Background and Causes What is
Have you ever wondering how many teeth you have? Well, it’s your lucky day. Because we’re going to dive into the answer. The truth is that the number of teeth you have depends on a few factors: age and the presence of certain conditions. As you may know, children and adults actually have different sets of teeth, and the number of them varies. As you read on, we’ll look into
Your tongue is one of the most sensitive parts of your body and has a magnifying effect that helps you notice unwanted things in your food, like a hair or a spec of dirt. That sensitivity, though, can make even the smallest cut feel surprisingly disruptive every time you speak, taste, chew, swallow, or even breathe. And lacerations (deeper wounds)… well, those can be downright scary. If you have a
IIt’s a cause for celebration when your baby’s first tooth appears. And it’s a rite of passage when your child loses their first tooth. At that point, you’ll keep the tooth fairy on standby for about six years. At some point during those years, a mishmash of baby and permanent teeth will fill your child’s mouth. During your child’s development, you might wonder: How can I know if a tooth
Fluoride is a powerful, natural tool in oral health. You can brush and floss with great care, along with avoiding sugary foods and drinks, but your mouth might not be as healthy as you think. You could be suffering from a fluoride deficiency. And that’s nothing to smile about. What is Fluoride? Fluoride is the iodized form of fluorine, which is widely available in soil, water, and many foods. When
What is Bruxism? Everyone has those mornings when they wake up on the wrong side of the bed feeling not quite themselves. But if you find yourself waking up often with sore jaw muscles or a headache, you may be suffering from bruxism. Learning about bruxism, or the grinding and clenching of teeth, can help you find an effective treatment that mitigates its common effects. Bruxism can cause the teeth
When you think about wisdom teeth surgery, you probably picture impacted teeth, extraction, and time resting on the couch, enjoying ice cream and mashed potatoes. However, your wisdom teeth can cause other issues that might require surgery. Some people develop an operculum, and if it becomes infected, your dental professional may recommend an operculectomy to remove it. It might sound daunting, but an operculectomy is a minor surgical procedure. Learn