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Learn how to keep yourself and others safe this cold and flu season.

Practice Good Hygiene Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in a waste basket. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Remember to wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. Keep...

Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of your teeth that your dentist uses to evaluate your oral health. These X-rays are used with low levels of radiation to capture images of the interior of your teeth and gums. This can help your dentist to identify problems, like cavities, tooth decay, and...

If you have dental anxiety, it’s vital to choose a dentist who will listen and acknowledge your fears. Seek recommendations from family and friends. You could also do some research online. Ensure you feel comfortable with this dentist before booking any treatments. If you’re not happy, try someone else. Identify...

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed through daily brushing and flossing, plaque can build...

Maintain Oral Hygiene Maintaining a comprehensive regimen of oral hygiene—brushing, flossing and twice-yearly visits to the dentist—helps keep your teeth looking good, and give you an overall younger appearance. Brush after every meal, floss daily, and see your dentist every six months for a check up and cleaning. But even...

The majority of these injuries are minor - chipped teeth. It’s less common to dislodge your tooth or have it knocked completely out but these injuries are more severe. Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. Regardless of the extent of the injury, your tooth requires...

A dental implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line that allows your dentist to mount a replacement tooth or a bridge into that area.  Dental implants also benefit general oral health because they do not have to...

Sensitivity occurs when the dentin, a porous tissue in your teeth, becomes exposed. The dentin has microscopic channels, called tubules, which are pathways to the nerve. When dentinal tubules are exposed, due to receding gum tissue or enamel loss, nerves are more easily triggered by certain stimuli causing tooth sensitivity....

Sports drinks—which contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring—are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. Sports drinks can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activities, but in most cases they are unnecessary off the sports field or in the school lunchroom. Brands...

What is acid erosion? Enamel — the white-looking outer covering of the tooth crown — protects your teeth from daily wear and tear, as well as sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks. Acid erosion occurs when acid in the foods and drinks you consume wears away your enamel....

Here are 7 reasons why you should fix your crooked teeth: Better Health Straighter teeth are easier to clean and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. When teeth are crooked, it makes it harder to get the toothbrush and floss in all the nooks and crannies of your mouth. This leads...

Sports guards, mouth guards and mouth protectors are different names for the same thing: a device worn over your teeth that protects them from blows to the face and head. Mouth guards typically cover the upper teeth, and are designed to protect against broken teeth, cut lips and other damage...

Sharks and humans alike have enamel on their teeth that serve to make the teeth as hard as they are. And like humans, sharks lose their teeth as well.  We lose our first 20 teeth (primary teeth) while we are young and then are limited to the same 32 teeth...

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can have different causes, but often it’s triggered by stress, medical conditions, or crooked or missing teeth. Grinding typically occurs during sleep, so it can be hard for people to know whether they have bruxism. Signs include a sore jaw or constant headache, and a partner...

When to Tell Your Dentist You Are Pregnant Even if you only think you might be pregnant, let your dental office know. Tell them how far along you are when you make your appointment. Also let your dentist know about the medications you are taking or if you have received...

There are three basic types of partial dentures. The first is a cast removable partial denture, or “cast partial”, and consists of a metal base that has acrylic teeth attached to it. Metal clasps are the hook-like structures that help hold the removable partial denture in place. Although the cast...

Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings.  Oral piercing could also lead to more serious infections, like hepatitis or endocarditis. Here are a few potential complications of oral piercings: Infection, pain and swelling. Your mouth is a moist environment, home to huge...

Wisdom teeth can lead to problems if there isn’t enough space for them to surface or they come through in the wrong position. As your wisdom teeth make their way through your gums, your dentist in Evansville, IN will be monitoring your mouth for signs of the following: Wisdom teeth...

The purpose of a toothbrush is to remove plaque and to stimulate the gums to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. A good, old-fashioned manual toothbrush has been proven time and time again that it’s the right tool for the job, but in recent years, the power toothbrush has become...

The chewing of sugarless gum increases the flow of saliva, which: washes away food and other debris neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth  provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel. Dry mouth and...

Treatment at the dentist for a cavity may include: Fluoride treatments: Professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride than toothpaste and mouth rinses you can buy at a store. If stronger fluoride is needed daily, your dentist may give you a prescription. This will help treat early cavities that are too...

A cavity is caused by specific types of bacteria. They produce acid that destroys the tooth's enamel and the layer under it, the dentin. The bacteria turn sugar and carbohydrates (starches) in the foods we eat into acids. The acids dissolve minerals in the hard enamel that covers the tooth's...

A cavity is a hole that can grow bigger and deeper over time. Cavities are also called dental caries, and if you have a cavity, it's important to get it repaired. But why would your tooth develop a hole? Blame plaque. That's a sticky, slimy substance made up mostly of...

Although Lumineers and veneers can both improve your smile by hiding dental flaws, they differ in procedure and how they affect the state of the original tooth. Before you sign up for either procedure, you should review your options. Be sure to consult with a dentist in Evansville, IN before...

Fluoride is used to prevent tooth decay and is available in many over-the-counter types of toothpaste. Prescription fluoride toothpaste contains a higher concentration of fluoride (5000 parts per million). This is the maximum strength available and it plays an important role in preventing and controlling dental caries (cavities). Over-the-counter fluoride...

Several types of cancer can affect the tongue, but tongue cancer most often begins in the thin, flat squamous cells that line the surface of the tongue. The type of cells involved in your tongue cancer helps determine your prognosis and treatment. Where your tongue cancer occurs also affects your...

The lower lip is approximately 12 times more likely to be affected, due to its greater exposure to sunlight. Most frequently occurring in fair-skinned males over the age of 50, cancer of the lip comprises approximately 0.6% of all cancers in the US. Studies have shown that males are 3-13...

Many people believe electronic cigarettes (also called e-cigarettes or vapes) are a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. But with a new report from the U.S. surgeon general calling e-cigarette use “a major public health concern,” this may not be the case. The FDA reports an alarming 900% rise in e-cigarette...

What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer? The most common symptoms of oral cancer include: Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth Unexplained bleeding in...

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth -- to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the...

A Periodontal Chart is also referred to as a gum chart. It is a graphic chart dental professionals use for organizing the information about your gums. Periodontal charting is the best way to uncover the difference between patients that are periodontally healthy and those with periodontal disease. The area between...

Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating.  They're essential for chewing and swallowing-the first steps in the digestion process.  Your mouth is your body's initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume.  So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general...

Why Did My Teeth Change Color? Food and Drink Coffee, tea and red wine are some major staining culprits.  They contatin intense color pigments that attach to the white part of the tooth (enamel). Tobacco Use Tar and nicotine found in tobacco products create stubborn stains. Age The outer layer...

Why Do I Need a Root Canal? The pulp is soft tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and provides nourishment for your tooth. It can become infected if you have: A deep cavity Repeated dental procedures that disturb this tissue A cracked or fractured tooth Injury to...

The American Heart Association published a Statement in April 2012 supporting an association between gum disease and heart disease.  Some research suggests that gum disease may be a more serious risk factor for heart disease than high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, high cholesterol, gender and age.  Studies suggest that people...

We enjoyed the Cirque du Soleil show "Corteo" for our early birthday presents.  Dr. Jenkins is definitely the best general dentist in Evansville, IN!  And boss!

A New Year, A New You! Is your New Year's resolution to kick bad habits?  Have you ever thought that your habits were effecting your oral health? Nail biting, constant snacking, and chewing ice are all bad habits that effect your oral health.  Results from these habits can include breaking...