Taller Dental

09/15/2024

I was playing softball this morning and while playing, a guy collapsed on the field. I ran over and did CPR till the ambulance came. We hope he’s OK.

05/06/2024

Sleep apnea affects over 18 million adults and up to 20% of habitually snoring children in the United States alone. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by brief, repeated interruptions to normal breathing during sleep. It can have many short and long-term effects on a person’s health and is also very harmful to oral health

Common ways sleep apnea is treated include nighttime dental devices that adjust the position of the jaw and tongue and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines.

Please discuss these problems at your visit with Dr. Taller
https://www.drtallerdental.com/sleep-apnea-comes-in-different-types/

04/14/2024

The human body isn’t all the same pH. Our skin is happiest when mildly acidic (with a pH of about 5.5), but blood should be slightly basic (7.4). For our teeth and gums to stay as healthy as possible, we want our oral pH to remain neutral the majority of the time. An unhealthy mouth is more acidic, which can seriously damage tooth enamel over time. Tooth enamel is extremely hard so that it can withstand a lifetime of chewing, but it begins eroding at a mildly acidic pH of 5.5.

What can we do to help our saliva do this critical job? We can avoid sipping on or snacking on sugary drinks and treats. Every time we consume something acidic or containing sugar or starch, our saliva starts neutralizing our oral pH. That’s why we recommend keeping the treats to mealtimes instead of continuous sipping and snacking.

Consume Less Sugar and Acid.

Acidic Foods can harm teeth. The human body isn’t all the same pH. Our skin is happiest when mildly acidic (with a pH of about 5.5). Read more...

04/09/2024

Some photos from the solar eclipse in upstate New York.

03/03/2024

BLEEDING GUMS ARE the most common symptom of gum disease, but that’s not the only thing that can cause this problem.

Over time, plaque builds up along our gum lines if we aren’t careful enough in our brushing and flossing routines. Eventually, plaque hardens into tartar, which irritates the gums, making them more likely to bleed and leading to gingivitis, or gum disease.

More advanced gum disease is periodontitis, where the infection impacts the jaw and supportive tissues connecting the teeth to the gums as well as the gums themselves. Tooth loss is a major concern at this stage, so don’t let it get this far!

Overbrushing Damages Gum Tissue

It’s also possible (though uncommon) to damage gum tissue to the point of bleeding by brushing too hard. Remember when you’re brushing that you’re cleaning soft, living tissue, and gentle brushing is enough.

BLEEDING GUMS ARE the most common symptom of gum disease, but that’s not the only thing that can cause this problem. Gingivitis-Periodontitis

02/05/2024

Knowing the symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer is incredibly important.

We oral health professionals are on the front lines of the battle against oral cancer, and we want to recruit our patients to fight with us.

Oral Cancer Risk Factors

By far the biggest risk factor is to***co use. Another is frequent, heavy alcohol consumption. Oral cancer affects twice as many men as women and people over age 45 are at greater risk. Other risk factors include too much sun, HPV, and neglecting oral hygiene. Children are less at risk, but that can change if they start smoking or va**ng.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer symptoms include red or white patches in the mouth, a sore that doesn’t heal, strange thickness in the cheek, an unusual lump, numbness of the mouth or tongue, a persistent feeling of having something stuck in the throat, chronic bad breath, and difficulty chewing or swallowing.
https://www.drtallerdental.com/knowing-symptoms-oral-cancer-is-important/

01/02/2024

Lip ties and tongue ties are what we call it when the thin pieces of tissue that connect the upper lip to the gums and the tongue to the floor of the mouth are thicker and tighter than usual. These pieces of tissue are called frenula (frenum singular).

A normal frenum is supposed to be thin and highly elastic. This allows free mobility of the lips and tongue, which we need in order to chew, swallow, and talk normally. When the frenum under the tongue is too restrictive, it makes it harder to pronounce words correctly or chew effectively. Some people with tongue ties can’t even touch their tongues to the roofs of their mouths! They also can’t use their tongues to clean pieces of stuck food away.

Fortunately lip and tongue ties are easy to correct, thanks to a simple surgery called frenectomy. A frenectomy removes or corrects the abnormality. It can be done quickly and there isn’t a long recovery period afterward.

Lip ties & tongue-tied are what we call it when the thin pieces of tissue that connect the upper lip to the gums & the tongue to the floor of the mouth

12/06/2023

What does a toothbrush have to do with cold and flu season?

More than you’d think! It’s never fun to battle a cold or a bout of flu, but that’s no reason to slack off on taking care of our teeth and gums.

It can feel like a lot of work to keep up with brushing and flossing when we’re not feeling well, but it’s worth it. Getting rid of more oral bacteria can only help by giving your immune system less work to do!

Stuffy Noses Can Lead to Cavities?

Indirectly, not being able to breathe through our noses does make us more vulnerable to tooth decay. When we’re forced to breathe through our mouths, it dries up our saliva. This can be a major problem because saliva is the first line of defense against harmful oral bacteria. It washes away leftover food particles and keeps our oral pH neutral so that our enamel can stay strong.

Sometimes it’s the medicine we take that dries out our mouths (antihistamines, pain relievers, and decongestants are all big offenders), so make sure to drink plenty of water and breathe through your nose whenever possible.
https://www.drtallerdental.com/what-does-a-toothbrush-have-to-do-with-cold-and-flu-season/

11/11/2023

Reducing the number of sugary, acidic drinks in your diet will improve your health. Sugary, acidic drinks like soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even fruit juice can harm your teeth.

Sugar + Acid Harms Your Smile

Oral bacteria in our mouths metabolize sugars in our drinks. This reaction creates an acid byproduct that erodes our teeth. If you have a healthy balance of bacteria in your mouth, you suffer less decay, but no one is completely free of harmful oral bacteria, even with great genes and perfect brushing habits.

In addition to the sugar, these drinks are loaded with acid. Acidity in soft drinks takes a more direct route than sugar, eroding your teeth without the help of oral bacteria. Each attack of the teeth lasts about 20 minutes and when you take another sip, it starts over again. This is why diet and “sugar-free” sodas do just as much damage as regular soda.
https://www.drtallerdental.com/soda-many-of-us-drink-at-least-one-a-day/

10/12/2023

Most of us remember what it was like to have our adult molars come in. Well, teething is a similar experience for toddlers which can be quite distressing for both them and their parents. Here’s a few helpful tips
1. Keep an eye out for the emergence of teeth, typically starting around the six-month mark. Lower front teeth usually appear between six months and the first birthday. During this period, you may notice that your child might exhibit a decreased interest in breastfeeding, excessive drooling, refuse foods they previously enjoyed, experience difficulty sleeping, or become generally irritable. They might also start avoiding or excessively biting, chewing, and sucking on various objects within their reach.
2. Understand the Stages of Teething
Teething occurs in stages, rather than all at once or in a uniform manner. The eruption stage involves the baby teeth gradually breaking through the gum tissue from the jaw bones. Following this stage is cutting, when the teeth finally emerge and become visible. Both stages can be painful, can’t express their discomfort. Instead, they may exhibit crankiness, tiredness, and fussiness regarding their food and eating habits.
3. Soothing Techniques for Teething Babies
There are several ways to help alleviate the discomfort experienced by teething babies and toddlers during this phase of development. If possible, continue breastfeeding, as it can help reduce teething pain. Additionally, provide them with something safe to chew on, such as a teething toy. These toys can aid in the teething process by facilitating the cutting of teeth through the gums while providing . Make sure you choose safe teething toys.
Dr. Taller is here to address any questions or concerns you may have about teething and the challenges that accompany it. Let us help you ensure that your child’s oral health journey begins on a positive note.
Contact us today to ensure your child’s oral health receives the care it deserves.

10/01/2023

As a parent, you spend a lot of your time worrying that your child’s teeth will develop cavities. Obviously, it’s critical to teach them how to brush and floss and encourage them to do so daily, but there’s something else that can help prevent childhood tooth decay: dental sealants.

40% of children develop cavities by the time they begin school. This is a result of poor oral hygiene and frequent consumption of sugary drinks and snacks, and it’s why it’s so important to help them build strong oral health habits at an early age. The human mouth contains many species of bacteria, some of which consume the leftover sugar on our teeth and then excrete acid onto them. As tough as tooth enamel is, it’s very vulnerable to acid, so this causes tooth decay.
https://www.drtallerdental.com/dental-sealants-for-children/

09/05/2023

Two out of every five kids develop one or more cavities by the time they turn eleven. That makes dental caries the most common disease of childhood. The good news is that it’s very preventable when parents prioritize their kids’ dental health and avoid child decay.
https://www.drtallerdental.com/child-decay/