July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. The Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) advocates for scientific research and promotes awareness of Arthritis and Autoimmune conditions. It is not just the aging population that are afflicted with arthritis. Nearly 300,000 children in America have been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (ANRF, 2019). Key symptoms include joint pain, reddened joints and swelling that does not dissipate. If joints in the hands and arms are affected, oral health may become difficult to maintain. Flossing is...

Hope you are smiling during the Fourth of July holiday. There are many things that make you smile during this time of year like freedom, family, friends, fireworks and many fun summer activities. While celebrating your freedom, remember to never neglect your oral health. To help keep your celebrations as joyful as possible we’ve put together a few dental tips that will keep your smile as bright as the fireworks. Eat healthy foods Incorporate healthy foods into snack options for...

In celebration of Father’s Day, we want to take a moment to think about fathers and thank them for all the efforts they put into raising children. To be the best father, you must first take care of yourself. One aspect of self-care is oral health. You have the opportunity to lead by example by establishing habits like brushing, cleaning between your teeth and seeing your dental professional. Here at TePe we would love to give you some simple tips...

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we want to take a moment to think about mothers and thank them for all the efforts they put into raising children. After birth there may be seemingly endless sleepless nights that then evolve into the many actives, appointments, transportation, and the million other things mothers manage to do. To be the best mother, you must first take care of yourself. One aspect of self-care is oral health. Here at TePe we would love to...

TePe Interdental brushes are small brushes specially designed to clean between your teeth, where a regular toothbrush does not reach. The wire holding the bristles is plastic coated and is safe to use around dental implants and natural teeth. The handle is short and broad for a steady grip.  Choosing the Correct Size  TePe Interdental brushes come in nine sizes, which might seem overwhelming at first. We recommend asking your dental professional to help you or to find your most suitable size...

Valentine’s Day is associated with hearts, flowers, cards—and sweets. Let’s talk about what to think about when receiving and giving Valentine’s sweets. Since it is Children’s Dental Health Month, the focus will be on how we can help prevent cavities for children during the holiday. Here are some tips on maintaining healthy teeth, even when consuming sweets. Sweets and cavities Cavities are a leading chronic condition affecting children in the United States (CDC, 2019). Frequent consumption of sweets, i.e. sugar,...

Do you think it is normal for your gums to bleed? After you are done brushing your teeth and you spit into the sink, have you noticed any blood? Do you notice bleeding when you clean between your teeth? Bleeding is not normal. Often people assume they did something wrong, like pressing too hard, poking the gum tissue or using the wrong technique. Although this may occur, many times it is not the reason. Bleeding gums are often related to...

It is important to take care of yourself and your developing baby during your pregnancy. Many pregnant women have gingivitis, also called gum disease. Pregnant women with this condition are at risk of premature labor, pre-eclampsia and low-birth-weight babies. Like I said in my last blog post, if you are experiencing a bad gag reflex during your pregnancy the TePe universal care specialty toothbrush is a great option. The contra-angle of the toothbrush handle allows the toothbrush to stay away...