Our Dental Blog

Dr. Drews, Dr. Lake, Dr. Patel and the whole team of dental health care professionals at Drews Dental provide latest news, helpful tips, hot topics, and fun facts about oral health and dentistry.

worn pair of shoes

Beaver Teeth and Belt Sanders

My wife’s teeth look a lot like her shoes, and although I tell her to go to T.J. Maxx and buy herself a new pair (of shoes – they are about 10 years old), she’s stubborn and insists they’re just fine. She is approaching 40, which means she’s been chewing

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nerdy guy with bright white teeth

Why You Don’t Want A Toilet Bowl White Smile

Have you ever met someone for the first time and, as you go to shake their hand, they smile and you must resist the urge to shield your eyes because their teeth are like a solar eclipse? It makes me want to just go and punch their dentist. These days

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using your mouth as a substitute bottle opener

There’s No Such Thing As “Soft Teeth”

When people find out that I am a general dentist, they usually have one of two reactions: recoil in horror, clamp their mouths shut, and mumble some excuse about having to go home and wash the cat; or, proceed to go into great detail about childhood dental trauma, poor genetics,

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woman whispering to her friend about her bad breath

How To Tell Someone They Have Bad Breath

The plague of bad breath; sometimes it’s hard not to put your foot in your mouth, especially if someone else’s mouth smells like feet! As a general dentist, I have immunity when it comes to discussing halitosis with my patients – or my wife, who eats enough garlic to fend

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close up of a woman's mouth stretching chewing gum out

Can Chewing Gum Clean Your Teeth?

When you were a young child, your parents probably told you a few (hundred) times that candies and sweets would “rot your teeth.” Yes, that’s mostly true, but there are a few exceptions. Cavities only occur when you have the right “Cavity Combination” in your mouth. Your Parents Were Right –

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man with a toothache

Sensitive Teeth After a Filling, Why?

One of the most common mistakes that people make is visiting their dentist ONLY when they already have a toothache. Usually, initial stages of tooth decay can be reversed by practicing good oral hygiene, but when caries has progressed to the deeper layers of your tooth, causing pain and sensitivity,

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The Use of Waterlase in Modern Dentistry

We all know cavities are preventable, but even I miss flossing my teeth on some nights. When we get a cavity, it’s not a fun experience to fix it. Children, and even adults, are fearful to seek dental treatment because of past experiences that were traumatic. Many times the patient

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magnifying crowded front teeth

Why Are My Front Teeth Getting Crowded?

Everyone wants to be at the front of the crowd, plane, or line at the DMV, and this is no different when it comes to your teeth. As we age, our teeth have a tendency to shift towards the front or midline (dental vocab. word of the day is, ‘mesial’)

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woman holding her nose to avoid a bad smell

Bad Breath & How To Prevent It

Whenever I have a new patient in my chair, I always ask this same question: “As your dental provider, what would you like me to do to improve the health of your mouth?” One of the most common responses I get is, “How do I get rid of bad breath?” 

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3 Or More Sugary Sodas A Day = 62% More Dental Decay!

We all know soda’s bad for us, but reading a statistic helps put a new spin on just how bad it can be for our teeth. A University of Michigan analysis of dental checkup data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey notes that adults who drink three

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Bruxism and Stress

Our bodies are profoundly affected by stress during our daily routine. Many times, the effects of this stress can manifest in surprising and subconscious ways that can be compromising to our total health. One of these effects, teeth grinding, is now estimated to affect over 40 million Americans, including both

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Fresh Oral Health Resolutions That Go Beyond Brushing

You’ve spent nearly your whole life brushing and flossing your teeth and attending regular dental appointments in order to keep your mouth healthy. But there are plenty of reasons why you might want to go beyond these basic steps to achieve even better oral health in the new year. Whether

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A Bite Out of History – Grape Juice, Chewing Gum, & Cotton Candy

Isn’t it ironic ?! Dentist Thomas Bramwell Welch (1825-1903) of Vineland, New Jersey, created an unfermented grape sugar in 1869 that he called “Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine.” In 1869, William F. Semple (1834-1922), a dentist in Ohio was the first inventor to patent chewing gum. Semple hoped that people would

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What Causes Discolored Teeth?

Stained or discolored teeth can turn an otherwise attractive smile into a an unsightly grin. Even though it’s may only be a cosmetic issue, it can also impact your ability to interact with the world at large. While there are two basic causes of discolored teeth, intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic

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Dr. Drews big smile

I’ll Give You Four Reasons to Smile!

That’s me. Smiling. What am I smiling about? It could be my dog sitting and wagging his tail while farting, any scene with ‘Bubbles’ from “The Trailer Park Boys,” or driving up to the toll booth to find the attendant has gone on a break and I don’t have to

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Is Fruit Good or Bad for Your Teeth?

Many people have asked me whether or not fruit is bad for your teeth. The answer is that it depends. We all know that the main reason people like fruit compared to vegetables is because of the sugar. The question is, does the sugar in fruit cause tooth decay? There

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Veterans Day honors ALL American Veterans, both Living and Dead

Veterans Day honors ALL American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. But on this day we it is nice to keep you’re your thoughts those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our

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Hey Parents, Things You Should Know About Your Child’s Mouth

Often, oral health in kids is lost, ignored, or forgotten. The ‘these are baby teeth that will fall out one day’ attitude may result in dental problems in your kids. Truth is, dental issues (and other oral disorders) can have a profound impact on our children and the burden of

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