Dr. Cocco's Blog

When you replace your teeth with dentures, you are making a great step in the right direction towards improving your overall health. Dentures can help you speak clearly, chew properly, slow jawbone degradation, and smile with confidence. But despite their many benefits, dentures still do not have some of the perks you can expect from dental implants or your natural teeth, such as the ability to eat a variety of nutritious foods.

After you put your brand-new dentures in your mouth, you love the way they look. They appear natural and don’t feel bad at all too. You want this amazing feeling to last as long as possible! Keeping this feeling and teeth in good shape means having to take care of your dentures. But what is involved with maintaining prosthetic teeth? Keep reading to learn some steps you’ll need to take to preserve them.

Teeth come in a variety of shades and tones naturally. Many factors affect the color of your teeth, like genetics, smoking, or drinking coffee. However, society attributes an attractive smile to youth, confidence, and success, which are important qualities in any profession. While you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, stains and discoloration might be sending the wrong message. Here’s how teeth whitening could be the key to launching your career.

(more…)

If you’re frustrated by a splotchy or discolored smile, you may feel tempted to pick up a whitening kit from your local drugstore. Did you know, though, that this can be risky? Teeth whitening ingredients often contain abrasive bleaches that can erode your enamel, but that’s not the only concern. You might have hidden issues that can be painfully triggered by these over-the-counter treatments. Keep reading to learn more!

Sports are a fun and popular way to socialize and get exercise for people of all ages, but it’s important to take the proper precautions before play so you can stay safe. While contact sports like football, soccer, and hockey are notorious for causing dental injuries, wearing a mouthguard can provide your smile with the protection it needs to stay safe out on the field. While you can buy an athletic mouthguard at a sporting goods store, your dentist can provide one that is customized to fit your mouth. Here’s why a custom mouthguard from your dentist is the way to go.

The American Cancer Society estimates that doctors will diagnose around 54,000 new cases of oral cancer in 2023, and that the same disease will account for over 10,00 deaths. It’s unfortunately a fairly common condition, and given its severity, being examined for it often is important.

This is also because it’s possible for oral cancer to spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer metastasizes, the condition becomes much more dangerous, so here’s what you should know about how quickly that can happen.

Are you a fan of contact sports like wrestling, football, or boxing? If so, it’s essential that you protect your teeth and gums in the process. Around 5 million teeth are dislodged due to contact sports injuries every year, whether it’s a knocked-out tooth, serious soft tissue injury, or loose restoration – that’s why wearing a mouthguard is so important! To learn more about which sports require participants to wear a mouthguard and how a mouthguard protects your smile, keep reading.

Oral cancer is one of the most predominant types of cancer in the world; in fact, 54,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the US, and roughly 40% of those cases have a grim outlook. But as serious and widespread as oral cancer might be, did you know that regular oral cancer screenings can offer significant protection from the disease? Keep reading to learn more about how!

Veneers are one of the hottest cosmetic treatment options around, and several patients these days are turning toward this awesome solution to achieve the bright smile they’ve always dreamed of. However, there is no perfect substitute for your natural teeth, and despite their effectiveness, veneers can still fall off without any apparent warning. But when this happens, there’s no reason to panic—your dentist can help! Keep reading to learn more about why veneers sometimes fall off and how you should go about handling the situation.

If you’re looking to keep your child’s smile looking and feeling great year-round, you want to make sure that you’re using the right products. Since February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, a local dentist is here to share three helpful items you can use to ensure cavity-free teeth as well as tips that are designed to encourage better oral hygiene at this stage in your child’s life.