There have been reports in the mainstream media on “oil pulling” and its benefits for dental and general health. The claims state that oil pulling—swishing oil in the mouth—whitens teeth, and improves dental health and overall health. Oil pulling is an ancient, traditional folk remedy that has been practiced for centuries in India and southern Asia. The practice involves placing a tablespoon of an edible oil (e.g., sesame, olive, sunflower, coconut) inside the mouth, and swishing or “pulling” the oil through the teeth and mouth for anywhere from 1-5 minutes to up to 20 minutes or longer. Is oil pulling good for your mouth? Currently, there are no reliable scientific studies to show that oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth …
What is Oral Thrush?
Oral thrush – or oral pseudomembranous candidiasis – is a fungal infection of the mouth common among denture wearers, infants and people with weakened immune systems. The most common human fungal infection, thrush presents as slightly raised removable plaques (resembling cottage cheese) on the tongue or inner cheek. It can also affect the roof of the mouth, gums, tonsils or back of the throat. There are three other forms of oral candidiasis infections: Erythematous candidiasis appears as red patches on the roof of the mouth and tongue. Hyperplastic (chronic) candidiasis resembles the more common type, but cannot be scraped off. Angular cheilitis looks like red sores that develop in the corners of the mouth. Oral Thrush …
5 Star Dental Office Review
I had a great experience. Dr Durant is the best and my new partial feels great !!! Thank you !!! Reply by Owner: Thanks so much for the kind words Larry. And we do agree, Dr. DuRant is as good a dentist as there is in Beaufort. Great to hear your partial is feeling so good and as always, it was wonderful to see you at you appointment. The whole office appreciates you being such a long time patient and a pleasure to see when you come in. Take care and please let us know if you need us. Schedule A Risk-free Consultation We welcome new patients and look forward to helping you achieve the best dental health possible. We encourage you to read all our reviews. To schedule an appointment in our Beaufort SC dentist office, contact us at …
Medications & Dental Health
Many people don’t realize that medications, whether they are over-the-counter drugs or prescription treatments, can take a toll on their teeth. A lot of medications include symptoms that are damaging to your oral health such as dry mouth, oral thrush, burning mouth syndrome, and various gum issues. What is even more threatening is if you are taking more than one type of medication, it can be much harder to pinpoint the exact source of the problem. Dry Mouth The most common symptom of medications that leads to oral health issues is dry mouth, which can lead to tooth decay and other oral symptoms. Most patients don’t realize the severity of issues dry mouth brings until it is too late. Medications that are linked to dry mouth include …
Dental Benefits: Use Them or Lose Them
When it comes to dental benefit plans, millions of people each year are ringing in the New Year leaving money on the table. According to the National Association of Dental Plans, only 2.8% of people with PPO dental plan participants reached or exceeded their plans annual maximum. Many people also have Flexible Spending Accounts, which help pay for dental and medical care with pre-tax dollars. Whether you’re paying for dental care through a benefits plan or using an FSA, your current plans will most likely run out on December 31. Don’t let your hard-earned dental dollars go to waste. Here is a breakdown of what these benefits are, when you need to use them by and how to make the most of your benefits. Dental Benefit Plans Many people …
What Exactly Is Lidocaine?
Do you ever stop and wonder what Lidocaine actually is? In an effort to better educate our patients, Here’s a short description and explanation of the product. What’s In Lidocaine? Lidocaine, sometimes referred to as Lignocaine, is a medication used to numb a specific area of tissue. Also known as a local anesthetic. To allow for larger doses for numbing, Lidocaine can be mixed with small amounts of epinephrine. It can also help to decrease bleeding and to make the numbing effect last longer. It helps relieve pain and vascular spasms as a recommended treatment of injections. Lidocaine is an antiarrhythmic medication of the class Ib type. This means it works by blocking sodium channels and thus decreasing the rate of contractions of the …
Dental Implants for Missing Teeth/Uncomfortable Dentures
If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don't want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to your dentist to see if dental implants are an option for you. Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. In fact, the development and use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. They are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for …
Covid-19: Yes, it’s Safe to Go to the Dentist
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things about our daily lives. Your regular visits to the dentist have changed, too. In March, the ADA recommended that dentists postpone all but emergency procedures until April 30 at the earliest to help reduce the spread of the virus; save masks gloves and other personal protective equipment and help keep patients who need emergency treatment from going to busy hospital emergency rooms. Now that this date has passed and states have reopened, dental practices are seeing patients for the full range of dental services. An October 2020 report published in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that fewer than one percent of dentists nationwide were found to be COVID-19 positive …
5 Star Patient Review
You did a fantastic job correcting a problem created by another Beaufort dentist. I appreciated your willingness to take me on as a patient, your kindness and your professionalism. We do not DO Social Media but you certainly have my permission to share my review on your site. I look forward to using your services as my "Dental Home" while I reside in the Beaufort area. Reply By Owner: Hi Junette. Thanks so much for the kind comments and trusting us with your dental care. It was a pleasure meeting you. Our office looks forward to seeing you for years to come. As a new patient you might not know this but Dr. Covington is available 24/7 for existing patients. Hopefully you don't, but if you do have a dental need outside our working …
Heart Disease & Oral Health
Take care of your gums...help your heart? The American Heart Association recently published a statement supporting an association between gum disease and heart disease. The article noted that current scientific data do not indicate if regular brushing and flossing or treatment of gum disease will decrease the incidence, rate or severity of the narrowing of the arteries (called atherosclerosis) that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. However, many studies show an as-yet-unexplained association between gum disease and several serious health conditions, including heart disease, even after adjusting for common risk factors. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth and is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. …