Thomas A. Gromling, DDS Blog

Did you know cavities and gum disease aren’t the only dangers that could be hiding in your mouth? 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. It might surprise you that you don’t have to be a smoker to be at risk. You can benefit from the power of early detection by visiting your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. An oral cancer screening is included in preventive services, so you will have peace of mind knowing your mouth is healthy.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 Americans aged 20-64 has at least one cavity. Fortunately, the advancements in dental technologies and techniques have made treating tooth decay easier. Additionally, you no longer have to have unsightly silver specks in your mouth where the filling was placed. Now dentists can use a tooth-colored material to restore your smile. But the choice is yours on how you want to treat your cavity! Here is how long you can expect various fillings to last and tips on how to get the most out of them.

There is no other season quite like spring. It is a time of renewal and freshness. As nature begins to blossom again, many people begin to do a spring cleaning on their homes. As you start the season off right, you can also include pushing the reset button on your oral health, too! Read on to learn how you can make your smile bloom again with these four helpful tips from your dentist in Stephens City.

While you sleep, your body is busy restoring, repairing, and cleaning itself. It is essential to your overall health! Unfortunately, 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a condition where someone experiences brief but frequent lapses in breathing throughout the night. This negatively impacts sleep quality and can lead to all sorts of issues that affect your general health. As a matter of fact, it can even impact how long you live. Read on to learn more about the connection between sleep apnea and life expectancy as well as how your dentist can help so you can live life to the fullest!

February is not just a celebration of the love you have in your life, but your literal heart! The second month of the year is American Heart Month, which means there is no better time to pay special attention to one of the most important organs of your body. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, you will want to do everything you can to care for it. But did you realize that heart health is not just about watching what you eat and exercising? Your oral health can directly impact it as well. Here’s how the state of your mouth and your heart are connected.

As a new year approaches, it is not uncommon for people to take the last weeks of December to think about the things the goals they’d like to achieve in the coming months. In fact, it’s estimated that about 50% of Americans make resolutions. Many of the desired changes are related to your physical well-being but why not also include your oral health? If you would like a healthier, happier smile in 2023, here are five resolutions to help you achieve one!

If you’ve ever heard the expression “you are what you eat,” you should know that there’s quite a bit of proverbial truth to it; eating healthy foods inevitably leads to a healthier body! But it isn’t just your body that’ll benefit from a nutritious diet—your smile will flourish, too! Certain foods can actually play a positively impactful role in your oral health and prevent serious problems from developing. Keep reading to learn more from your dentist about some of the mouth-friendly foods out there that’ll directly benefit and safeguard your smile.

Like many other people, you might have a drink or two before bed. That’s understandable — many people use nightcaps as a sleep aid. In truth, this nightly habit could do you more harm than good. You see, alcoholic items cause and worsen sleep apnea in Stephens City. Your bedtime beer can severely harm your health if you’re not careful. As proof of these claims, your local dentist is here with evidence. Read on to learn why alcohol and sleep apnea don’t mix, including how to snooze better.

While there is always a sense of excitement during the holiday season, it can be a challenge to come up with new stocking stuffer ideas year every year. Why not start including fun and unique ones that also benefit your loved ones’ oral health? This will not only bring a change from the usual candy and filler gifts but provide something they can consistently use that will keep their pearly whites healthy! Here are three stocking stuffer ideas from your dentist in Stephens City that are sure to bring healthy smiles in 2023.

If you appreciate someone, a great way to let them know is to show that you care about their health. Pampering someone when they’re sick or cooking them a nutritious meal can make them feel loved. As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s good to think about what we might be taking for granted, and how best to show gratitude.

Teeth are one of those things that we might not show our appreciation for often enough. They help us eat, talk, and smile. They’re also forced to bear the brunt of some of our worst eating habits. If you want to show your teeth some thanks, there’s no better way than to protect your oral health over the holidays. Here are a few ways to do that.