Flenniken Dentistry Blog

With cold and flu season gearing up, it can be a tricky time of year for Invisalign wearers. That’s because in addition to the regular exposure to germs, when you wear aligners, you’re constantly putting your hands in your mouth. But don’t despair! Here are a few useful tips that will help you get through these tricky few months and stay as healthy as possible.

You might know that Invisalign clear aligners are a discrete, comfortable way to straighten your teeth. An average treatment can take from 12 to 18 months, and during that time, you’ll swap out your current set of trays for a tighter set. The gradually shifting pressure is what helps gradually shift your teeth into a more favorable alignment.

Did you know, however, that there’s another type of tray you might encounter during an Invisalign treatment? They’re called refinement trays, and they’re basically a course-correcting adjustment. To learn more about what this means and whether you might need them, keep reading.

It’s back to school time again, which means it’s time to get energized for the year ahead. But those early mornings, long days, and crazy evenings can take a toll on your child’s appetite, making meals an increasingly important key to powering through the day. But what they eat matters. Sure, a jolt of caffeine or a sugar rush can easily provide a boost to help get them through a slump, but what about the inevitable crash and the toll those foods will take on their oral health? If your kids are headed back to class this semester, here are some smart choices you can help them make for a body and oral health-friendly diet!

Whether it’s pants, shoes, or a pair of dentures, when something doesn’t fit well, it can be very uncomfortable. But unlike clothing, ill-fitting dentures aren’t just a nuisance, they can cause dangerous problems to your oral health. Don’t suffer through unnecessary discomfort. Here are a few important reasons why properly fitting dentures are essential.

When you first get dentures, you’ll probably spend a lot of time reveling in the brand-new smile they’ve given you. The confidence and utility that this single prosthetic can afford you is absolutely stunning—that being the case, you might wonder what you can do to protect them.

Learning to care for your dentures will take some time, but it should be fairly simple once you’re used to it. For example, you might wonder how you should brush your braces, and whether you can do so while they’re in your mouth. Here’s what you ought to know.

Most people are eager to stay as youthful as possible for as long as possible. To that end, they may take supplements, use high-quality skincare products, and frequent their local gym. But did you know that the quality of your sleep can play a big role in the aging process? This blog post explores how sleep apnea may accelerate the aging process and the steps you can take to turn back the clock.

Everyone wants a straight and beautiful smile, but many people are wary about committing to orthodontic treatments that involve a list of dietary restrictions and irremovable metal parts that are quite conspicuous. Thankfully, Invisalign has allowed many patients to realign their smiles with removable and virtually invisible clear aligners. If you’re curious about what it’s like to wear Invisalign, here’s a list of frequently asked questions about the process as well as their answers.

More than half of Americans live with some form of gum disease. While these infections can be easily treated and reversed when they are in the early stage of gingivitis, they can cause permanent damage to the gums, tooth loss, and even dangerous secondary infections like sepsis if allowed to progress to periodontitis. Luckily, some foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to fight gum disease. Here’s a brief list of foods that can help keep your gums pink and healthy.

There’s a lot to track as Valentine’s Day nears. To make it a success, you’ll likely book a dinner reservation, find a nice outfit, buy gifts, etc. That said, those who’ve lost teeth may face a unique question: Can you kiss with dentures? Knowing its answer would let many plan their Valentine’s dates better. Luckily, your Carlisle dentist will share the truth with you. Here’s a primer on why kissing with dentures is possible and tips to help you do so.

If you have an upcoming dental procedure or are incredibly anxious about visiting your dentist, then they may have offered nitrous oxide as a solution. This gaseous sedative is administered through a mask that’s placed over your nose so that you inhale this ‘laughing gas’ into your lungs with every breath. Many patients, however, reject it because they have misperceptions about what it is and how it works. Keep reading if you’re curious to learn these 4 facts about nitrous oxide.