Dental Tips & Articles
Dental Health Blog
Top four baby teeth myths BUSTED!
Quick summary Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth to grow straight, support proper face structure, and ensure good nutrition. Children with cavities in baby teeth are three times more likely to develop cavities in adult teeth. You should start cleaning your...
How Much Calcium Do We Need For Healthy Teeth?
Quick Summary Calcium strengthens teeth, repairs enamel, and makes them more resistant to decay by coating teeth in a protective film that wards off harmful acids and bacteria. Daily calcium needs range from 500-800 mg for young children to 1,300 mg for teens and...
Plaque vs. Tartar: What’s The Difference?
Quick Summary Plaque is a soft, sticky film containing millions of bacteria that builds up on your teeth daily and can be removed with brushing and flossing, while tartar is hardened plaque that can only be removed by a dental professional. Even with excellent at-home...
Smoking Puts Your Oral Health At Risk
Quick Summary Smoking is the biggest controllable risk factor for oral cancer, with approximately 8 out of 10 oral cancer patients being smokers. Smokers are two times more likely to develop gum disease than nonsmokers because tobacco weakens the body's ability to...
Take Care Of Your Tooth Enamel
Quick Summary Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and acts as a protective outer layer, but it cannot regenerate once damaged. Sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and beverages erode enamel, while calcium-rich foods like dairy, kale, and soybeans...
Diabetes And Your Oral Health
Quick Summary Diabetes increases your risk of gum disease and tooth loss because it decreases your ability to fight harmful bacteria in your mouth, and infected gums can allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream and cause blood sugar spikes. The relationship is...
What Parents Need To Know About Thumb Sucking
Quick Summary Thumb sucking is normal for infants and typically stops on its own between ages two and four, but past age four it should be discouraged because prolonged sucking can push teeth and jaws out of alignment, change the roof of the mouth, and affect speech...
The Spooky Truth About Sugar Your Health, Teeth and Gums
Quick Summary Sugar feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth that produce acids, leading to tooth decay and cavities, and excess consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Added sugars in processed foods pose greater risks than naturally occurring...
Make Your Game Day Snacks More Smile Friendly
Quick Summary Swapping traditional game day snacks for nutrient-rich alternatives protects your teeth from decay and staining while still delivering satisfying flavor and crunch. Leafy greens provide essential vitamins for gums, Greek yogurt offers calcium without...
Trick Or Treat! Our Dental Team Is Ready For Halloween!
Quick Summary MComie Dentistry celebrates Halloween by having the dental team dress up in costumes, creating a festive atmosphere for patients who visit the office during the holiday. Past costumes have included Batman and Robin dental hygienists, Ant-Man, and various...
Meet Dental Hygienist Kristin
Quick Summary Kristin is a dental hygienist at McOmie Family Dentistry in Chattanooga with 13 years of hygiene experience and 5 years as a dental assistant, totaling 18 years in the dental field. She focuses on improving your dental health through professional...
What Is A Dental Assistant?
Quick summary Dental assistants are specially trained professionals who assist dentists with all procedures, while dental hygienists focus on teeth cleaning. In Tennessee, dental assistants must complete a year-long Registered Dental Assistant program and maintain...