Does smoking hurt my teeth?

Smoking has a serious effect on your teeth, gums, and mouth. “Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other forms of tobacco cause...
Smoking has a serious effect on your teeth, gums, and mouth. “Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other forms of tobacco cause oral cancer, gum disease, and other oral health problems.” (CDC, 2020). Here are some fast facts about tobacco use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020): Over 40% of adults aged 20 to 64 who currently smoke cigarettes have untreated tooth decay. Adults aged 65 or older who smoke cigarettes are twice as likely to have untreated...
Read more

What size of interdental brush do I need?

Did you know that brushing alone only removes about 60% of the plaque on your teeth? The rest of the...
Did you know that brushing alone only removes about 60% of the plaque on your teeth? The rest of the plaque is found BETWEEN your teeth. Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. It must be removed regularly, or it can cause gum inflammation, cavities, and bad breath. TePe® Interdental Brush Original comes in nine sizes, which might seem overwhelming at first. We recommend asking your dental professional to help you find the...
Read more

Is it better to floss before or after brushing?

Cleaning between your teeth, also known as interdental cleaning, is important because it cleans where a regular toothbrush simply cannot...
Cleaning between your teeth, also known as interdental cleaning, is important because it cleans where a regular toothbrush simply cannot reach. You might use floss, floss aids, interdental brushes, rubber bristle brushes, and/or water flossers. We know that both brushing your teeth and cleaning between your teeth are very important.  As a general recommendation, Everyone should brush for 2 minutes twice a day and clean between your teeth once a day.   Is it better to clean between the teeth...
Read more

TePe® Bridge and Implant Floss

  TePe® Bridge and Implant Floss is a thick and flexible floss. The floss is spongy with two stiff plastic...
  TePe® Bridge and Implant Floss is a thick and flexible floss. The floss is spongy with two stiff plastic ends, making it easy to grip and insert. The TePe Bridge and Implant Floss is specially designed for daily cleaning of implants, bridges, and braces. It is also suitable for periodontal care.   When using the bridge and implant floss, you can soak the spongy middle portion in a mouth rinse if desired. Insert one stiff end between the teeth...
Read more

What does Bleeding Gums mean for my Oral Health?

Have you noticed bleeding when brushing or cleaning between your teeth? Swollen and bleeding gums are early signs that your...
Have you noticed bleeding when brushing or cleaning between your teeth? Swollen and bleeding gums are early signs that your gums are inflamed and there is an infection. A healthy mouth has gums that are light pink in color and fit firmly around each tooth. There is no bleeding when you brush or clean between your teeth. A healthy mouth has no bleeding. Bleeding is not normal. Bleeding is a sign of infection. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. Inflamed...
Read more

Your Mouth and Body are Connected Studies Show

Your mouth is a window into your body. The mouth can show signs of general infection, side effects to medications,...
Your mouth is a window into your body. The mouth can show signs of general infection, side effects to medications, nutritional deficiencies, signs of systemic diseases, and more. By having good oral hygiene and visiting your dental professional regularly you are taking care of your entire body! Here are some examples of where research has identified a correlation between oral and general health. Heart Disease Diabetes Pneumonia Arthritis Preterm birth / low birth weight Cancer Neurodegenerative diseases Obesity Osteoporosis Periodontitis...
Read more

Is there a Correlation Between Diabetes and Gum Dise...

Let’s look at an example of how the mouth and body are related. There is a direct correlation between periodontitis...
Let’s look at an example of how the mouth and body are related. There is a direct correlation between periodontitis and diabetes. Among the US population 11.3% (37.3 million people) have diabetes, with approximately 1 in 4 not aware of having the disease. The total US population with pre-diabetes is 38% (96 million people aged 18 years or older). Did you know November is American Diabetes Month to raise awareness of diabetes symptoms, promote healthy living, and ensure people are...
Read more

TePe Interspace™ Brush - Designed for Cleaning in Ha...

TePe Interspace™ is an angled single tuft pointed brush to improve cleaning in difficult areas to access. The removable brush...
TePe Interspace™ is an angled single tuft pointed brush to improve cleaning in difficult areas to access. The removable brush tips can be attached to either side of the handle to change the angle of the brush head, giving better access for hard-to-reach areas. Yellow tips have soft bristles. Blue tips have medium bristles. TePe recommends using the soft texture on natural tooth structures and the medium texture on attachments for overdentures, orthodontic appliances, and other possible appliances. Ask your...
Read more

Wisdom Teeth & What Products Are Recommended for Cle...

Wisdom teeth, also known as your third molars, will start to make an appearance between the ages of 17 and...
Wisdom teeth, also known as your third molars, will start to make an appearance between the ages of 17 and 21. These are commonly known as wisdom teeth, because they come through at a later age. Some people get all four, others only a couple, and yet others never get any of their wisdom teeth. When there is enough room and they come into the mouth correctly, healthy wisdom teeth can help you chew. It is important to have a...
Read more

When & How to Properly use Dental Floss

Your toothbrush only cleans 3 of the 5 surfaces on your teeth, leaving the 2 surfaces between the teeth ignored....
Your toothbrush only cleans 3 of the 5 surfaces on your teeth, leaving the 2 surfaces between the teeth ignored. Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. It must be removed regularly, or it can cause damaging gum inflammation, cavities, and bad breath.   Cleaning between your teeth, also known as interdental cleaning, is important because it cleans where a regular toothbrush simply cannot reach. It might not be FUN, but it is...
Read more

Common oral conditions for older adults

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by 2060 the number of US adults aged 65 years...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by 2060 the number of US adults aged 65 years or older is expected to reach 98 million, 24% of the overall population. This is a growing demographic in the United States. Being disabled, homebound, or institutionalized (e.g., seniors who live in nursing homes) increases the risk of poor oral health. The ability to access routine professional oral health services, have proper oral health education, and daily oral hygiene are...
Read more

Oral Care Needs As We Age

May is Older Americans Month, established in 1963 to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons. The theme...
May is Older Americans Month, established in 1963 to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons. The theme for 2023 is ‘Aging Unbound’, exploring diverse aging experiences and discussing how communities can combat stereotypes as we expand our thinking about aging—and how all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included.   Plaque retention in the aging population is exacerbated by the presence of dental restorations (e.g., crowns, bridges), missing teeth, and gingival recession. The aging population...
Read more