Ridgepointe Dental Blog

Regular dental care is essential for maintaining a healthy smile, but some people might have trouble finding room in their budgets for visits to the dentist. Luckily, dental insurance can be an invaluable tool for making a wide array of dental services more affordable. But do you know exactly what sort of treatments are covered by your plan? Here’s what you need to know about your dental insurance benefits.

Chewing gum is pretty normal, so you might be wondering what the big deal is. Under normal circumstances, you’d be right to be skeptical. A stick of gum can refresh your breath and, if it’s sugar-free, benefit your teeth by increasing your mouth’s production of its natural mouthwash: saliva.  

However, if you experience recurring jaw pain, you could very well have a TMJ disorder – in which case chewing gum is likely to make things worse. Keep reading to learn more about this condition and why you might want to kick the gum habit.

Nobody is ever really excited about the prospect, least of all the dentist who is recommending it. While this is sometimes the best way to handle a severely infected or damaged tooth, dentists typically only offer them to patients when just about every other option has been exhausted.

You might be a little confused then if your dentist says that you need to remove a tooth that doesn’t hurt. Here’s why that could be.

Invisalign has earned a reputation as a clear alternative to tried-and-true braces because of the unique advantages it provides. Traditional orthodontics involves permanently bonding metal brackets to your teeth for the duration of your treatment. These are threaded with an archwire that’s adjusted to apply the right pressure to shift your pearly whites into their ideal places.

Meanwhile, Invisalign consists of transparent plastic aligner trays that are customized to fit over your teeth to gently reposition them. Many patients choose this option specifically because it’s a more visually discrete way to straighten their smiles, but that’s not the only benefit it offers. Continue reading to learn about 3 additional freedoms that come with choosing clear aligners!

At first, having between two and four hours each day aligner-free sounds like more than enough. Once you start calculating the time you need for three meals, some snacks, and your oral hygiene regimen, however, you’ll quickly realize that’s not much time at all! The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to meet your 22-hour wear time with Invisalign with ease. Read on to learn what they are!

While people become more likely to lose teeth as they age, younger adults can also lose them due to injuries or infections. Dentures are an incredibly lifelike and comfortable way to address tooth loss, and while they are most often associated with older people, younger adults can also use them. Here’s a brief guide to how dentures can help adults of any age enjoy having a full and beautiful smile!

Did you know that February is Children’s Dental Health Month? That means now is a great time to think about steps you could be taking to help your child protect their teeth and gums. For many parents, this can mean picking up a variety of kid-friendly oral hygiene products. Below, your dentist has given 3 examples of such products that are worth keeping an eye out for if you want the best for your child’s smile.

New Year’s resolutions are popular ways for people to get motivated for self-improvement. While many might resolve to quit smoking, write that novel, or start going to the gym regularly this year, it’s also a great idea to get on top of your oral hygiene. A huge part of taking proper care of your teeth is having regular dental exams and cleanings from your dentist. Here are a few reasons why scheduling your next dental checkup earlier in the year can help you keep smiling brightly in the later months.

The holiday season brings happiness, festivities, and of course, an abundance of delicious foods! But for those with dentures, indulging in certain holiday foods and drinks may require some special consideration—or might need to be ruled out altogether. Dentures demand special care to ensure comfort, longevity, and that your smile looks and functions its best. Continue reading below to learn more about a few of the festive foods and drinks you should be mindful of this season, in order to preserve your new smile.

America is known as both a cultural melting pot and a salad bowl, and because it has so many different cultures living together, this country has a wealth of food options to choose from. Grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations offer snacks, meals, and ingredients to suit every taste and dietary need. However, some popular foods can be harmful to your smile if you aren’t careful. Here’s a short list of foods that can damage your teeth and how to keep your grin safe when you are snacking or dining.