Gingivitis – very simply – is an inflammation of your gums. (Any time a medical term ends with “itis” it means inflammation.) Gingivitis varies in severity and can look a few different ways. Severe gingivitis leads to periodontal (gum) disease. Gingivitis is common and affects many, rather, most adults. But with good oral hygiene and…
How do you feel when you see that little plastic floss container in your medicine cabinet? Eagerness to achieve that clean feeling in your mouth? Or regret over a habit you have trouble keeping? However you feel about floss, one thing is true – this habit is equal parts simple and incredibly effective for improving…
You love your teeth. Your brush them twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly. Right? We love your teeth, too! In fact, there’s so much to know about caring for your oral health that dentistry has quite a few categories of specialties and different kinds of dentists. The primary dentist…
Accidents are never planned and rarely anticipated, but good dental care is always ready and available 24/7. Like all medical emergencies, dental emergencies require quality care, and fast! Here’s what to do if you think you have a dental emergency on your hands. What is a Dental Emergency? If you are in a lot of…
Can you imagine a 2-liter bottle of your favorite soda? Now imagine that same bottle filled with spit. That’s approximately how much saliva the average adult produces in their mouth every day! It may be gross, but it’s definitely important. Saliva is a normal body fluid that’s crucial for oral health and overall wellness. If…
There are many kinds of doctors – Doctors of English, Doctors of Philosophy, Doctors of Medicine, Dr. Pepper… (wink). Of course, when we use the term doctor, we most often mean a physician or doctor of medicine. But did you know that dentists are doctors, too? Every doctor has a specialty, and a dentist’s specialty…
Let’s be honest. If you are like most McPherson folks, you’ve probably put off going to the dentist at one time or another. Some of us have even avoided seeing a dentist for years at a time. In fact, one in three Americans avoids going to the dentist regularly. After a while, that time spent…
It’s no secret that diabetes is a health condition that must be treated because of the problems it can cause throughout the body—including in your mouth. Consider that nearly 26 million children and adults in the U.S. who, according to the American Diabetes Association, have diabetes. McPherson dentists, Dr. Wince & Dr. Jeffers-Jader wants you to…
Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS), also known as cracked cusp syndrome or split tooth syndrome, is a painful condition that results from a crack in one of your teeth. CTS can mean anything from a tiny hairline split in the crown to a fracture that goes all the way to the root. If you have a…
Cold sore. Fever blister. Herpes simplex virus-1. These babies go by a lot of different names, but the experience is always the same: Tell-tale burning or itching near the lip Red bump appears a day or so later Bump becomes a cluster of blisters Blisters dry up and scab over The scab falls off The…