Blog Archive

Even people who’ve lived with diabetes for years often don’t know that they have a threefold higher risk of developing gum disease than those without diabetes. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, which makes it an ideal time to explain how these two conditions intersect. The board-certified dentists at Trident Dental...

Temporomandibular joint disorders are a group of disorders involving the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and linked structures. As many as 12 million Americans suffer from a TMJ disorder, suffering jaw and other pain that can linger and worsen over time.   The board-certified dentists at Trident Dental in Houston,...

Tooth enamel is tough. It’s the hardest substance in the human body, ahead of bone. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be damaged.  Your enamel can crack from the trauma of biting something hard, grinding your teeth (especially while you sleep), or because you have an overly large filling that’s...

By age 8, over half of all children in the United States have had at least one cavity.  That might not sound overly concerning since primary teeth eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. But that’s not the case. The health of baby teeth is vital for several reasons. Among...

You’re at a dental checkup. Your dentist tells you it’s time to take X-rays. Are they really necessary?  The answer is yes. Dental X-rays give your dentist a starting point to develop a customized dental plan for you. X-rays show what’s happening in your gums, the tooth roots under your gums, and...

 Invisalign® has transformed the smiles of over 10 million teens and adults in the United States since its introduction 25 years ago. That includes many celebrities, such as Tom Cruise, Justin Bieber, and Serena Williams.  Can these nearly invisible, game-changing aligners correct your orthodontic issues? The board-certified dentists at Trident...

Tooth extractions are common, especially when it comes to impacted (or partially impacted) wisdom teeth. While extractions are generally safe and effective, one of the potential complications that can arise is a dry socket.  The board-certified dentists at Trident Dental want you to know more about the potential complication of...

If you or a loved one has ever had a toothache, you know how important it is to see a dentist right away. It may be an abscess, which is a bacterial infection. This means you may have trouble chewing food and eating. You may have a sour taste in...

Brushing your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, flossing properly at least once a day, and seeing our expert team at Trident Dental twice a year for a routine dental exam and cleaning are the three foundational elements of good oral health.  The American Dental Association (ADA) and countless...

Most adults have 28-32 teeth, depending on whether or not they had their wisdom teeth removed. Having a full set of teeth means you can bite, chew, and talk with ease — but unfortunately, about 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth.  Tooth loss happens with decay and...

Flossing daily is one of the most important things you can do to prevent food debris and harmful bacteria from building up between your teeth. Only about a third of American adults floss every day. And, even those who do may be missing spots or using less-than-ideal technique. At Trident...

Gum disease is very common. In fact, about 46% of adults show signs of the condition. However, just because it’s common doesn't mean it can’t have a big impact. While you may know that this inflammatory disease affects your oral health, if it’s allowed to progress, it can affect your overall health, too....

Whitening discolored teeth can have a dramatic impact on your appearance. When your teeth are bright, you can look younger and healthier. Marketers know this, and that’s why you see so many advertisements for various products that are supposed to whiten and brighten your teeth.  The problem is, it can...

Dental implants are the most natural and functional tooth replacement possible. They mimic your natural teeth so precisely that you’ll probably forget you ever lost a tooth. And nobody around you will be able to tell you have implants either. If you’ve lost a tooth because of damage or decay,...

Dental emergencies are common. They can be caused by a sporting mishap, a car accident, or a host of other reasons. Establishing a relationship with a dentist when you aren’t having an emergency is important, so you’ll know where to go when you suddenly have an issue. At Trident Dental in Houston,Texas,...

Braces are orthodontic equipment that can have significant benefits for your teeth. However, while your braces are working to realign or straighten your teeth, you have to figure out how to work around them for eating, speaking, and, most importantly, dental hygiene. Braces create more places where food, debris, and plaque...

If you’re among the 90 million Americans who suffer from snoring, or the millions more within earshot of a friend or loved one who snores, you’re all too aware of the impact disruptive sleep has on your daily life. It’s not just about the restless nights or the groggy mornings, or even...

Wisdom teeth may not seem terribly “wise.” Although the large molars at the back of your mouth served a function at one point, when humans had wider jaws and needed to chew rugged food like game, they’re basically useless today. Regardless, their name doesn’t stem from how “smart” it might...

Your teeth can withstand a lot of pressure, but they can get chipped or cracked with enough force. When you crack a tooth, you may experience fear and a sharp or stabbing pain as a result of the tooth root and nerves being exposed to the air. Our experienced and...

Dental braces date back to 1819, when Christophe-Francois Delabarre, a French orthodontist, wrapped wires around his patient’s teeth to prevent shifting.  Today, we have more comfortable and less painful methods to straighten teeth, but we also have almost invisible aligners.  The average orthodontic treatment lasts about 18 months. With so...

You probably know that brushing is important for adults, but do you know it’s equally important for children? It’s easy to overlook the role good dental hygiene plays in children because they’ll lose their baby teeth.  However, kids can still experience oral health issues, including tooth decay and problems with...

When blood shows up on your toothbrush or dental floss, it can feel alarming. Thankfully, most causes of bleeding gums are treatable. At the same time, addressing these symptoms early is important for guarding against serious health problems down the line. Our expert team at Trident Dental in Houston, Texas,...

Dental implants are a great solution for lost, missing, or severely damaged teeth. Dental implants look, feel, and function just like your original teeth! At Trident Dental of Houston, Texas, our team of general and cosmetic dentistry experts provide new and existing patients with dental implants. The dental implant process...

Invisalign® helps millions of patients every year to correct their smiles with easy to wear and maintain see-through aligners. It’s discreet, faster than metal braces, comfortable without any wires, and — best of all — most people won’t even know you’re undergoing teeth straightening.  At Trident Dental in Houston, Texas,...

Root canals are one of the most common dental surgeries, but they have a reputation as one of the most unpleasant. If your dentist has recommended a root canal, you might be wondering what happens if you just skip the appointment. Even if there’s no pain now, the infection will...

Getting your teeth whitened usually produces dazzling results. It’s a great investment in yourself to have brighter, whiter teeth. But unfortunately, the results don’t last forever. While you may count on teeth whitening to last for about a year, the benefits can wear off sooner. You can take some important...

Almost everyone has clenched their teeth at some time in their lives. But, when teeth grinding is a nightly occurrence it can lead to complications in your oral health, including the development of TMJ. At Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, our experts not only help patients get straighter teeth, but...

Nearly half of all Americans have gingivitis (gum disease), even though it is preventable. Gingivitis can cause swelling, redness, irritation, and deep pockets that form between your gums and your teeth. Untreated, this early stage of gum disease can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and is...

Full or partial dentures can be an excellent choice for replacing missing teeth. With today’s technology and materials, today’s prosthetics fit and function comfortably and look completely natural. At Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, our expert dental team takes great care in treating tooth loss with the most advanced solutions,...

If you want straighter teeth but don’t want to go through the challenges associated with conventional braces, there’s never been a better time. Thanks to Invisalign®, gone are the days of requiring a mouth full of metal for a straighter smile.  This advanced treatment uses a series of clear aligner...

Wisdom teeth usually appear in your late teens or early twenties, although they can emerge as early as age 7. For others, this third set of molars may never break through the gum line.  Whether wisdom teeth are visible to the eye or only on an x-ray, they are more...

If you’re missing a tooth, you should know this: There are many more good reasons to fill that void in addition to how it makes you look, or how self-conscious it makes you feel. There are actually medical concerns that tooth replacement options can address.  The team at At Trident...

Proper dental care begins even before the teeth have erupted through the gums, and it continues throughout your entire lifespan. Sadly, several factors work against you, including the warm, moist environment in your mouth — the perfect breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and...

Are you ignoring tooth pain because you fear you’ll be told you need a root canal? This procedure may sound scary, but it’s a routine way to save a decaying tooth — and it hurts far less than the pain you can experience with a damaged tooth.  At Trident Dental,...

We live in a fast-paced world, where we currently average a measly total of 6.8 hours of sleep a night, and 40% of Americans get less than 6 hours. So, it’s no wonder that 50-70 million U.S. adults have a sleeping disorder, and sleep apnea is the most prevalent, with...

If you’ve lost one, two, or even all of your teeth, you’re not alone. By the time Americans reach age 50, they’ve lost an average of 12 teeth, including their wisdom teeth.  Going around with gaps in your mouth isn’t good for your oral health, though. Those gaps can lead...

You wake one morning and lunge for a glass of water to soothe your parched mouth and the problem resolves itself quickly. If, however, this describes the state of your mouth more often than not, you’ve likely got xerostomia, the medical term for chronic dry mouth.  The team at Trident...

Some of the foods and beverages you consume each day may be working against your oral health, and you may not even realize it. The skilled providers at Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, are dedicated to helping you have healthy teeth and gums. The Trident team has put together the...

Wisdom teeth extraction is one of the more common milestones for people in their teens and early 20s, becoming almost a rite of passage for many young adults.  But older adults also have their wisdom teeth extracted, usually because of bothersome symptoms or to prevent more serious problems from developing....

Do friends and family frequently offer you a mint? Do you wake up with a bad taste in your mouth every morning? Do you fear that your halitosis is causing co-workers to avoid getting too close to you? If you have bad breath, you’re not alone. More than 80 million...

Here at Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, our skilled providers offer a wide range of dental services with a gentle touch. Still, we know that dental anxiety is a real fear for many patients.  If you’re one of them, you don’t have to be embarrassed.  We want to do everything...

Your wisdom teeth typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. If they surface correctly, they can give you more support for chewing. But, if they have trouble emerging because they’re impacted — which usually means there’s not enough room for them to come out — you can experience...

COVID-19 has changed nearly every aspect of the world as we know it. As a result, people everywhere are taking precautions and changing their lifestyles in ways we never imagined, including visiting the dentist.  Here at Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, our experienced team remains committed to helping you and...

Tongue scraping is a somewhat controversial subject in the dental world, as many people have misconceptions about its use and efficacy. When all is said and done, though, you have nothing to lose by doing it and — quite possibly — a lot to gain.   Here at Trident Dental...

Getting your kids to brush and floss their teeth can be a battle. But establishing healthy dental habits now is important for your child’s teeth and overall health. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and our dental specialists at Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, want to share their best...

Wisdom teeth are one of those nonessential body parts similar to the appendix that can be traced back to the days when humans ate foods like leaves, roots, nuts, and meat. Not having the benefit of cooking their food and using utensils like forks and knives, humans needed these flatter...

Is some mild discoloration or a few minor imperfections forcing you to hide your smile from the world? Even small chips, cracks, and gaps can take a terrific smile down a notch, causing you to feel hesitant about grinning or laughing. Cosmetic veneers were developed just for people like you,...

You brush. You floss (most days), but that doesn’t mean you’re doing what you should for your oral health. Too many of us believe our oral hygiene is “good enough,” but there are many common mistakes out there people are making that can ruin their teeth. At Trident Dental, located...

Periodontal disease is extremely common. Up to 42% of Americans suffer from this gum disease and it is a primary reason for tooth loss.  Gum disease is reversible, especially if treated early on. At Trident Dental, we evaluate your gum’s health and, when necessary, recommend a deep cleaning to halt...

Halloween treats are hard to resist, but some wreak havoc on your teeth more than others. The Trident Dental team offers the following tips on which treats are best avoided, which ones you should be cautious about, and which are the least harmful to dental health.  What to avoid Candies...

There’s no hiding it — root canals aren’t fun. If you’ve been told you need a root canal, it’s normal to have questions and worries about the procedure. Fortunately, a root canal isn’t the painful, scary procedure it used to be. In fact, modern root canals are similar to routine...

Having wisdom teeth removed is a rite of passage for many teenagers and young adults, but sometimes tweens also need the procedure. Regardless of your child’s age, wisdom tooth extraction isn’t a pleasant experience, but as a parent, you can provide aid and comfort so that your child’s healing proceeds...

For years, braces were the way to go if you needed to straighten your teeth or adjust a bad bite. But when Invisalign clear aligners became available, people began ditching the metal wires for a more comfortable, less-obtrusive solution to perfecting their smiles. Now, more than 5 million people worldwide...

Smiles that light up a room or dazzle with a brilliance all have one thing in common — they’re powered by bright, white teeth. Whether age is starting to take its toll on your enamel, leading to yellowing teeth, or staining is piling up, your smile may be falling short...

If you’ve ever lost a tooth due to disease, trauma, or some other cause, you know how upsetting the whole experience can be. Our teeth don’t just help us bite and chew — they also help us maintain an attractive, friendly smile, and when one or more teeth are missing,...

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you’ve got a lot of company. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA), about 22 million Americans have sleep apnea, putting them at risk for serious medical problems, like heart attack and stroke. For men and women diagnosed with sleep apnea, getting effective...

Even though February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, you should be helping your children take care of their teeth all year long. Read on to learn five tips you can use to instill good dental hygiene habits in your children. And for all your dental needs, make sure you...

When it happens, it seems like there’s nothing worse than having to deal with a cracked tooth, painful abscess, lost crown, or loose permanent tooth. Of course, we at Trident Dental are here for all your dental emergencies. Still, the steps you take to manage the problem before you reach...