#oralhealth

What are the Best & Worst Thanksgiving Foods For Our Teeth? - Irving, TX Family & General Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Nov 17
3 min

What are the Best & Worst Thanksgiving Foods For Our Teeth? - Irving, TX Family & General Dentist

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and we’re so excited for all the delicious turkey day foods and treats! Some of the classic Thanksgiving Day foods are surprisingly great for our teeth – others, not so much. Here is a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to popular Thanksgiving foods! The Good: Turkey: The star of the Thanksgiving table is also fortunately quite good for our teeth! Turkey doesn’t contain starch or sugar, and it’s also a good source of vit

How to Fight Sugar Cravings, With Your Irving, Texas Family & General Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Oct 31
4 min

How to Fight Sugar Cravings, With Your Irving, Texas Family & General Dentist

People today consume an astounding amount of sugar – nearly 300% of the recommended amount! Over the past few decades, added sugars in our food and drinks have been linked to drastic spikes in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the U.S. Other serious health issues linked with increased sugar consumption include: heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer, mood disorders like depression, and tooth decay. It is all too easy to default to grabbing a sugar-laden drink or snac

October is Dental Hygiene Month! Celebrate With Irving, Texas General and Family Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Oct 17
3 min

October is Dental Hygiene Month! Celebrate With Irving, Texas General and Family Dentist

Happy October, and Happy National Dental Hygiene Month! We celebrate #DentalHygieneMonth for two great reasons: 1) to recognize the fantastic work of our dental hygienists, and 2) to raise awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene and health! Good oral health is essential to our general health and well being, but it often gets overlooked. The most important determining factor for good oral health is not necessarily genetics, and it is not even regular dentist visits –

Is Coffee Good or Bad for Your Mouth? Your Irving, TX General & Restorative Dentist Explains

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Sep 30
3 min

Is Coffee Good or Bad for Your Mouth? Your Irving, TX General & Restorative Dentist Explains

Are you a daily coffee drinker? 64% of American adults are! In fact, Americans drink about 400 million cups of coffee every single day. All of that daily coffee consumption begs the question: What does drinking coffee do to our mouths? And, is coffee good or bad for oral health? The answer depends largely on how you drink your coffee. Are you a fan of americanos, frappuccinos, lattes, cappuccinos, or do you take your coffee black? Do you drink one or two cups of coffee in the

Oral Frenectomy: Procedure and Recovery – With Irving, Texas General & Family Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Sep 22
2 min

Oral Frenectomy: Procedure and Recovery – With Irving, Texas General & Family Dentist

You’ve probably heard the term “tongue-tied” before, meaning to have difficulty expressing oneself verbally. But here’s a fun fact: a tongue tie is actually a congenital condition, called ankyloglossia, in which the muscular tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually thick and/or short. People can be born with a tongue tie (lingual frenulum) that can cause difficulty speaking, eating, or even swallowing in severe cases. People can also be born with

What is a Sinus Lift, and Why Might I Need One? Irving, TX Implant & Restorative Dentist Explains

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Sep 2
2 min

What is a Sinus Lift, and Why Might I Need One? Irving, TX Implant & Restorative Dentist Explains

If you plan to get a dental implant, you might be told that you need a sinus lift surgery first. But what exactly is a sinus lift, and why is it needed? We want to provide you with all the details you need to feel informed and confident as you prepare for your sinus lift procedure. Ahead, we’ll answer frequently asked questions about sinus lift surgery. What is a Sinus Lift? A sinus lift (aka sinus augmentation) is a procedure that lifts the floor of the existing sinus membra

How To Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction -- With Family & General Dentist in Irving, Texas

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Aug 16
3 min

How To Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction -- With Family & General Dentist in Irving, Texas

After your dentist extracts a tooth, a blood clot forms to fill the empty area left behind by the removed tooth. This blood clot provides a protective barrier between the mouth and the exposed nerves and bone underneath, until the gum tissue heals and closes over the extraction site. But in some cases, the blood clot becomes dislodged before the gum tissue heals – a painful condition called alveolar osteitis, or dry socket. In the absence of a blood clot, the extraction site

Is Fluoride Safe for Kids? Learn With Your Irving, Texas General & Family Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Jul 19
3 min

Is Fluoride Safe for Kids? Learn With Your Irving, Texas General & Family Dentist

Fluoride is found in many foods and drinks, our communities’ public drinking water, and in most of the oral care products we use. It is a mineral that is found naturally in all water sources, in soil, and even in the air. Decades of research shows that fluoride safely and effectively helps prevent tooth decay by making tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to cavity-causing acids. Some still question whether or not fluoride is safe for young children – we’re here to help a

How Does Fluoride Protect Our Teeth? Your Family & General Dentist in Irving, Texas Explains

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Jul 6
3 min

How Does Fluoride Protect Our Teeth? Your Family & General Dentist in Irving, Texas Explains

What is Fluoride? Fluoride (pronounced “floor-eyed”) is a naturally occurring mineral found nearly everywhere on earth – in air, soil, water, and in many foods and drinks. Nicknamed “nature’s cavity protector,” fluoride significantly decreases the risk of dental cavities by strengthening tooth enamel. The Fluoride Discovery In the 1930s, scientists discovered that people who drank water with naturally occurring fluoride levels of or greater than 1 part fluoride per 1 million

Healing Gum Disease with Scaling and Root Planing, With General & Family Dentist in Irving, TX

MacArthur Park Dentistry

May 16
3 min

Healing Gum Disease with Scaling and Root Planing, With General & Family Dentist in Irving, TX

Have you been told you have gum disease? Gum disease is all too common, with nearly 50% of all American adults suffering from some stage of the disease. If left untreated, it can worsen and have serious consequences, such as chronic bad breath, deterioration of the jaw bone, tooth loss, and even heart or lung disease via the spread of oral bacteria in the bloodstream. Fortunately, gum disease is also very preventable and treatable! The first step to preventing gum disease is

Should You Use a Custom Mouth Guard? Restorative & General Dentist in Irving, TX Answers

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Apr 29
3 min

Should You Use a Custom Mouth Guard? Restorative & General Dentist in Irving, TX Answers

Imagine losing a front tooth due to a sports injury, or painfully cracking a tooth due to habitual teeth grinding. The trauma of the injury would be distressing enough on its own, but simple enjoyments and daily routines like eating, speaking and smiling would also be affected. In many cases, dental injury is preventable with mouth guards! Mouthguard Uses Sports & Recreation: Teeth are extremely vulnerable to damage when they are not properly protected while playing contact s

Preparing for Your Baby’s First Dentist Visit, with Irving & Las Colinas Family and General Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Apr 18
3 min

Preparing for Your Baby’s First Dentist Visit, with Irving & Las Colinas Family and General Dentist

Here at MacArthur Park Dentistry, we welcome patients of all ages and accommodate the unique needs of every patient! We know that infants and toddlers require a special approach to dental care, and that the very first visit can seem intimidating to both parent and child. Not to worry – ahead, we’ll walk you through all the whens, whys, hows and whats about your baby’s first dental appointment! When and Why Should Babies Go to the Dentist? The American Academy of Pediatric De

All About Inlays and Onlays, With General and Restorative Dentist in Irving & Las Colinas TX

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Mar 31
2 min

All About Inlays and Onlays, With General and Restorative Dentist in Irving & Las Colinas TX

You've heard of dental fillings and crowns, but have you heard of inlays and onlays? In the past, dental crowns were always the go-to solution for restoring teeth too damaged to be repaired with fillings. But today, there are intermediary options: Inlays and Onlays. What are Inlays and Onlays? Inlays and onlays (also known as indirect fillings) are strong, durable tooth restorations that are custom made to repair a tooth, and are great options for restoring teeth with medium

Why is Taking Care of Your Mouth Good for the Heart? Irving, TX General & Family Dentist Explains

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Feb 15
3 min

Why is Taking Care of Your Mouth Good for the Heart? Irving, TX General & Family Dentist Explains

February is American Heart Month! We all know that a healthy diet and regular exercise are great for a healthy heart, but here’s a lesser known fact: your oral health has a big impact on your heart health, too! People with periodontal (gum) disease may be two times more likely to develop heart disease compared with people with healthy gums. How are oral health and heart health linked? Two interconnected factors: inflammation and the spread of oral bacteria through the bloodst

How Can You Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Irving & Las Colinas, Family & General Dentist Answers!

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Jan 31
3 min

How Can You Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Irving & Las Colinas, Family & General Dentist Answers!

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they are incredibly important! They play a big role in a growing child’s speech, digestion, and social development, and also serve as placeholders that help guide adult teeth into their correct positions. And because they’re so important to a young child’s health and development, it is very important to prevent cavities in baby teeth. WHAT IS BABY BOTTLE TOOTH DECAY? Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is called baby bottle tooth decay (also c

Why Should Your Mouth Stay Away From Diet Sodas? Learn With Irving, Texas Family & General Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Jan 14
3 min

Why Should Your Mouth Stay Away From Diet Sodas? Learn With Irving, Texas Family & General Dentist

Diet sodas may be a tempting choice for people seeking to cut down on sugar and calorie intake, but the truth is that “diet” sodas may just be an empty promise. Studies suggest that diet sodas actually cause weight gain and other unwanted health issues. And due to their high acidity, diet sodas are just as damaging to tooth enamel and oral health as regular sodas. DIET SODA VS. REGULAR SODA FOR ORAL HEALTH? One might think that diet sodas are better for teeth than regular sod

Resolve to Have a Healthier Smile in 2022! With Irving & Las Colinas General & Restorative Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Dec 28, 2021
3 min

Resolve to Have a Healthier Smile in 2022! With Irving & Las Colinas General & Restorative Dentist

Have you been thinking about choosing a New Year’s resolution lately? Among the most common New Year’s resolutions are ones related to health – eating healthier, exercising more, losing weight, etc. But one important health-related goal most people don’t consider is the resolution to have a healthier smile! Why Should You Resolve to Have a Healthier Smile in 2022? A healthy mouth is incredibly important to your overall health. Numerous studies show that poor oral health is li

How Does Diabetes Affect Oral Health? Learn With Your Irving & Las Colinas Family & General Dentist!

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Nov 16, 2021
3 min

How Does Diabetes Affect Oral Health? Learn With Your Irving & Las Colinas Family & General Dentist!

November is National Diabetes Month, and we want to do our part in raising awareness of the effects of diabetes on oral health! An unfortunate truth about living with diabetes is that the disease increases the risk of developing a number of oral health issues, like gum disease, tooth decay (aka cavities), thrush, and more. But fortunately, it is also true that with a bit of extra TLC, you can take control of your oral health, and have a happy, healthy mouth! Diabetes and Your

Are Manual or Electric Toothbrushes Better? Your Irving, Texas Family & General Dentist Answers!

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Oct 25, 2021
2 min

Are Manual or Electric Toothbrushes Better? Your Irving, Texas Family & General Dentist Answers!

Do you use an electric toothbrush or a regular one? Does one type seem like it cleans your teeth better than the other? The truth is that both manual and electric toothbrushes are great at cleaning your teeth effectively, as long as they are used properly! That said, there are several pros and cons that may make one type a better choice for you over the other. Let’s take a look! Manual Toothbrush Pros: Affordable and easy to replace - Standard toothbrushes are widely availabl

Got Chronic Bad Breath? Have Fresher Breath Every Day, With Family & General Irving, Texas Dentist

MacArthur Park Dentistry

Oct 14, 2021
3 min

Got Chronic Bad Breath? Have Fresher Breath Every Day, With Family & General Irving, Texas Dentist

Do you ever feel self conscious about your breath? Bad breath happens to everyone at some point or another, but chronic bad breath (aka halitosis, or oral malodor) is a glaring warning sign that you need to make some changes to your oral health routine! Common Causes of Bad Breath The first step to getting rid of chronic bad breath is to figure out what is causing it. Sometimes the cause is obvious, such as not brushing or flossing daily. But sometimes the cause of chronic ba