Are Christmas cookies a part of your holiday tradition? Do you have an annual day of baking delicious treats with recipes passed down from generations before you? If peppermint bark, chocolate fudge, iced sugar cookies, hot cocoa or spiced cider are just a few of your favorite splurges, then indulge us for a moment.

We often underestimate the dangers of the holiday season. There are several scenarios that may warrant a dental emergency. You chip a tooth on grandma’s peanut brittle. Your cousin doesn’t understand the rules of flag football and your tooth is knocked out by a tackle. Extreme pain from pesky pot roast stuck between your teeth. But how do you know when it’s time to call your dentist?

Growing up, I remember getting “ulcers” on the inside of my bottom lip fairly often. These shallow sores were often white or yellow in the center with a red outline. I didn’t know much about them or how to treat them. These “ulcers” are actually canker sores and there are several different types and severities.

Thanksgiving is one of the most anticipated holidays. Not only do you get to spend time with friends and family, but you get to eat delicious foods that only come around once a year. Before you dig into your favorite dishes, it’s important to know how these foods affect your teeth. Make sure your teeth are just as grateful as your stomach by the end of your Thanksgiving dinner.

You use your toothbrush twice a day every day, but do you give it much thought? Do you browse the toothbrush aisle in the same way you browse for a new pair of shoes? Probably not. In most cases, we grab a toothbrush, use it every day, but don’t consider whether or not it’s effectively cleaning our teeth.

Believe it or not, there is a right way to brush your teeth! You have been brushing your teeth twice a day for most of your life and you may be doing it wrong. Brushing your teeth the correct way keeps your gums healthier and your mouth cleaner. Today is a new day, so learn the best way to brush your teeth and put it into practice. You’ll be glad you did!

Are you concerned that your child will have to experience the physical and emotional pain you went through when metal brackets overshadowed your winning smile? It doesn’t have to be painful for you or your children. At Anderson & Atkins DDS, we’ll help prepare you—and your kids—for braces.

Do you often feel a sharp pain in your teeth as you take a gulp of ice water? Does a spoonful of piping hot soup cause you to wince? Teeth sensitivity occurs when nerve cells in your teeth are exposed.

For athletes at the professional level, losing a tooth during a game might be a price of playing and rite of passage, but for the average hobbyist, losing a tooth can be a traumatic and expensive endeavor. In actuality, the cost of preventing such an injury is much more cost effective.

It’s that time again. Days are a bit shorter and the school supply aisles are stocked and ready to go. Before you pack your child’s backpack and send them off to their first day of school, make sure to remember to add a dental check-up to your back-to-school list.