Get Your Wedding Day Whites from Your Dentist in The Woodlands

Your wedding is a time to celebrate love. A lot of planning has gone into creating the perfect day. From the dress and the hair to the flowers and the photos, your wedding has demanded a lot of attention. You’re ready, the date is set, the cake is ordered… how’s your smile?

While there are many tricks in the book to get your smile looking whiter than it actually is (wear dark lipstick!), these tricks are only masking the problem. The truth is, getting your ideal wedding smile isn’t difficult, and no dark lipstick is needed!

An important first step to getting your ideal smile is stopping by my dental office in The Woodlands. We’ll discuss your desires and look into a variety of smile-perfecting options that can transform your smile from dull and dingy to wedding white. In fact, scheduling an appointment with your dentist in The Woodlands should always be the first step you take before doing anything to your smile, including simply whitening it.

Although often cheaper, over-the-counter whitening treatments can cause damage, and they may not even give you the results you want. It’s common for the solution in these products to irritate your gums and even cause tooth pain or sensitivity if the ingredients are too strong. Also, there are times when the solution isn’t strong enough to give you the results you want.

By first visiting your dentist in The Woodlands, you can rely on us to determine which treatment is best for your smile and the results you want. Whether we use a professional whitening system, veneers, or tooth bonding, we’re sure to get you the wedding-day whites that you want. Call our office to schedule your appointment today!

What Do You Know About Oral Cancer?

April is Oral Cancer Awareness month and I’d like to make sure all of the patients at my dental office in The Woodlands recognize how serious oral cancer is, know the risk factors associated with oral cancer, and understand the steps you can take to help with early detection.

The American Dental Association estimates that 42,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. Of the 42,000, only a few more than half are expected to survive longer than five years after diagnosis. While oral cancer is not particularly difficult to treat, the fatality rate is so high because the cancer is often caught too late. This is why a proactive approach to early detection is so important.

A self-exam performed every month at home can help catch oral cancer early, and can contribute to successful treatment. Once a month, grab a mirror and a bright light and check out your mouth for some of the common symptoms of oral cancer. Some things you should look for are red or white patches of tissue, a sore that doesn’t heal on its own, abnormal lumps or thickening of tissues, and difficulty swallowing.

In addition to your once a month self-exam, it’s very important that you keep your regularly scheduled appointments with your dentist in The Woodlands. While it’s common for oral cancer to not seem to have any symptoms early on, our team is trained to see and catch any suspicious areas. Again, an early diagnosis means that we can start treatment before the cancer gets too widespread and greatly improves your chances of survival.

As with almost any disease, there are a variety of risk factors that can increase your susceptibility to oral cancer. Tobacco use, in addition to heavy drinking, are the most common factors that contribute to oral cancer. Furthermore, the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) can also put someone at increase risk for oral cancer.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we’ve discussed, if you’re at increased risk for oral cancer, or you are in need of a checkup, call my dental office in The Woodlands as soon as possible. I can’t stress enough the importance of early detection and early treatment. Don’t put your life in danger. Schedule an appointment today.

Making Dentistry Fun in The Woodlands

Usually our blogs are full of useful and educational information on maintaining your dental health. But at The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle, we’re not only about educating, we also like to share some of the fun facts about dentistry we find so interesting.

As you probably know, there are some foods that are better for teeth than others. A little known healthy snack for your grin is cheese. Cheese is packed full of calcium and phosphorous which can reduce the pH level in plaque and helps remineralize tooth enamel.

Speaking of tooth enamel, it is, in fact, the strongest substance in your body. But that doesn’t mean your teeth can be used for ripping open a pesky package or to crack open that tightly sealed bottle. Using your teeth as tools can result in chipped or broken teeth in The Woodlands, and nobody wants that!

Another fun fact about your mouth is that, on average, you’ll produce about 25,000 quarts of saliva during your lifetime. How much is that exactly? Well, it’s enough to fill two swimming pools! Saliva doesn’t only serve to keep your mouth moist, it actually helps keep decay at bay, so producing that much saliva is a good thing!

Even though we promised to cover fun facts in this blogs, we can’t help but include a little at-home tip for good oral health. On average, people only brush their teeth for about 48 seconds every day. That’s not even half of the time we recommend! Both our dental office in The Woodlands and the Academy of General Dentistry recommend brushing for at least 2 minutes each time!

At the dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle, we’re all about making sure your smile is kept in its best shape and educating you on how to make that happen. But we’re also about making dentistry fun and interesting. So if you’re overdue for your oral exam, or if you’re looking for a new dentist in The Woodlands, give us a call today!

Cavity Myths Debunked by Your Dentist in The Woodlands

At The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle, we always try to make sure our patients know the truth about their dental health. That includes educating you about what types of things may or may not contribute to dental problems and what should truly be of concern. Cavities are no exception. Let’s separate fact from fiction.

We’ll start with one of the most widely-accepted myths, one that is so close to the truth that it seems like a fact. That’s the idea that sugar is the prime cause of cavities. In reality, the sugar itself isn’t doing the damage. It’s the acid produced by bacteria in your mouth that causes the decay. Here’s what happens: You eat carbohydrates, like sugar; the bacteria are triggered to make acid. The acid, in turn, can eat into your teeth, creating a cavity.

Another misconception is that cavities are harmless in baby teeth. Quite the opposite is true. If cavities in baby teeth are left untreated, they can actually develop into abscesses and can cause some serious pain. If this occurs, not only is the child in pain, they’re also at risk for spreading the infection to other areas of the body.

And lastly, some people think that if they have a cavity in The Woodlands, they’ll know it because it will cause pain. That’s definitely not that case. Mild tooth decay doesn’t really come with any symptoms. It’s when the cavity becomes more advanced and causes damage to the nerve that we typically start to experience the pain associated with a cavity. This is just one of the reasons it’s important to keep up with your oral exams with your The Woodlands dentist.

Regular check ups with Dr. Shirley Cagle at her dental office in The Woodlands can help catch any decay before it turns into a bigger problem, like needing a root canal. In addition, once a cavity starts, it will always continue to grow. This makes catching a cavity early so important for a healthy, pain-free smile.

If you’re overdue for your dental check up, call Dr. Cagle’s The Woodlands dental office to set up an appointment today. We’ll perform an in-depth exam to see what’s going on in your mouth and we’ll make sure to get your smile in top shape.

The Pros & Cons of Kissing from Your Dentist in The Woodlands

During the month of February, there’s a lot of talk about love and hearts, roses and candy, kisses and hugs. And while you probably already know our stance on those little candy hearts and boxes of chocolate (easy on the sweets!), you may be surprised to learn that at The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle, we also have some thoughts on how kissing can affect your oral health.

That’s right, a lesson on the pros and cons of kissing from your dentist in The Woodlands. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense to take kissing advice from a dentist. After all, we know all about your mouth.

Let’s start with a positive of puckering up. Kissing is, in fact, good for your teeth. The act of kissing increases saliva production, and saliva helps to remove plaque and wash it away. So next time you’re smooching, remember that it can be beneficial not only for showing your love, but also for your teeth!

While an increase in saliva production is good for your mouth, there are a bunch of other reasons kissing may not be so good for the health of your smile. We all know that kissing can spread colds, but did you know that kissing can also spread gum disease? Research has shown that when you lock lips, it’s just as easy to catch gum disease as it is to catch a cold. If your loved one has active gum disease, you should be aware that it is possible to transfer this major dental danger.

The main lesson in kissing? It can be good for you and your health, but it’s very important to maintain your regular cleanings and checkups to make sure your mouth is in tip-top kissing shape and to avoid passing gum disease to others. Overdue on your professional cleaning or dental checkup in The Woodlands? Give Dr. Shirley Cagle a call today!

National Toothache Day: Celebrate Being Toothache Free in The Woodlands

Every year on February 9th, we commemorate National Toothache Day. And while having a toothache is no holiday, being toothache free is something we can definitely celebrate.  The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle likes to use National Toothache Day to remind all of our patients how to stay toothache free and why keeping up with your dental care is so important.

In fact, avoiding toothaches isn’t all that difficult, and it starts with a good dental hygiene protocol at home. By making sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes each time, and by flossing at least once a day, you’re already taking the first steps to being toothache free. Flossing and brushing away the day’s bacteria aids in keeping your pearly whites clean and germ free. And if your teeth are clean, there’s less chance for plaque and bacteria to get comfortable and start causing problems.

In addition to your at-home hygiene routine, keeping up with professional cleanings and checkups with Dr. Shirley Cagle in The Woodlands is just as important for a toothache free mouth. Professional hygiene visits take your teeth to a whole new level of clean, and our hygienists work deep below the gum line to remove anything you may have missed. Your regular checkups are also a great time for Dr. Cagle to catch any potential problems before they turn into major issues.

If you are experiencing a toothache in The Woodlands, don’t wait for the pain to pass. A toothache is your body’s way of telling you that something’s not quite right, and you should listen. Don’t live with the discomfort of a toothache. Give Dr. Shirley Cagle a call and we’ll work together to determine the cause of the pain and get you back to being toothache free and smiling.

Stressed? Your Oral Health May be at Risk.

We all get stressed. It’s a part of life. And while we’re all familiar with what stress does to our bodies –anxiety disorders, panic attacks, irritability – our mouths can also be affected by stress. In fact, researchers have found a significant link between stress and certain oral health conditions. At The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle, we’d like to talk a little bit about why staying calm isn’t just important for your mind and body, but why it’s also crucial to the health of your mouth.

Stress can cause us to grind our teeth at night, and sometimes, we don’t even realize we’re doing it. Nighttime tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, can lead to tooth damage and even problems with your TMJ (jaw) joint.

Additionally, several studies have confirmed that long-term stress affects our immune systems which can increase our susceptibility to infections. This is especially concerning for your dentist in The Woodlands as a lowered immune system can increase your chance of periodontal disease.

Dry mouth also often results from conditions caused by stress or can be a side effect of some medicines used to treat depression and other diseases. Dry mouth may sound like it’s just uncomfortable, but it can actually lead to a chronic sore throat, difficulty swallowing and speaking, and can even increase the risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and mouth infections.

Although avoiding all stress isn’t possible, learning to handle it and relieve it in healthy ways can help keep your mouth, and your body, in good shape. However, if you have, or even think you have, any of the conditions or symptoms we discussed above, don’t hesitate to call the dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle in The Woodlands.  We can discuss what’s going on in your mouth and work together to fix it.