Don’t procrastinate about dental work!

When you have dental issues or just need routine care, you may try to put off making an appointment at Afton Dental Common reasons for procrastination are not having the time or fear of pain. Avoiding Dr. Hill is not a good idea, though. Putting off dental care can turn small problems into large ones.…

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The History and Mythology of the Tooth Fairy

While the last baby teeth generally aren’t lost until age ten or 11, most children stop believing in the tooth fairy by the time they’re seven or eight. Of course, children are more than happy to play along with the game when there’s money at stake! While it is impossible to know what the tooth…

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Xerostomia: What does that mean anyway?

Does your mouth always feel like it’s dry? If it does you may be suffering from xerostomia. Xerostomia is defined as dry mouth resulting from reduced or absent saliva flow. There are various medical conditions that can cause this type of dry mouth, which you can ask more questions next time you visit us at…

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Why should I have my child’s wisdom teeth removed?

The wisdom teeth are the last of the permanent molars to emerge from the gums. This can occur as early as age 17 or as late as 21. Though some teens and young adults experience a completely normal tooth eruption with ideally aligned molars that pose no health threat, this is not the case for…

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Oral Health Concerns Specific to Pregnant Women

A lot of changes occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Hormone fluctuations are responsible for many of those changes, including the need for additional attention to the teeth and gums. Women who are expecting are at an increased risk for oral health complications, including gingivitis and tooth decay, which can lead to irreversible damage.…

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Minimally Invasive Dentistry

As the field of dentistry advances and the use of technology in the field increases, the concept of minimally invasive dentistry has emerged. Preservation of a healthy set of natural teeth for each patient should be the objective of every dentist. Minimally invasive dentistry is characterized by the following core beliefs: Regard original tissue as…

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Good Nutrition Leads to Healthy Mouths

At Afton Dental, we know the most common oral health diseases are tooth decay and periodontal disease (or gum disease), and both are among the easiest to prevent. One of the most common ways we recommend to boost your oral health is by improving your diet, because you (and your mouth) truly are what you…

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How to Handle a Dental Emergency

Whether it’s a broken tooth or injured gums, a dental emergency can interfere with eating, speaking, or other day-to-day activities. According to the American Dental Association , you can sometimes prevent dental emergencies like these by avoiding the use of your teeth as tools or by giving up hard foods and candies. Even if you…

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What is hand-foot-and-mouth disease?

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, or HFMD, is a type of contagious viral illness that causes a rash in the mouth and on the hands and feet of infants and young children, and, while rare, adults. Characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a…

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What is a cavity?

Cavities are the reason why most people fear going to the dentist. But they’re also the reason you should be visiting Dr. Hill on a regular basis. Specifically, cavities are the breakdown of teeth caused by acid from food, bacteria, and plaque that inhabit the inside of the mouth. While many people simply think that…

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