Little Smiles & Big Smiles

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re indulging in anything dyed green today, try to rinse your mouth to prevent staining before you’re able to get home to brush and floss.

03/17/2026

We all know that sugary snacks are bad for your teeth, but do you know how to identify high-sugar content using the product labels? Sugar goes by many names, including corn syrup, corn sweeteners, dextrose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, honey, maple syrup, and molasses. A quick rule of thumb is to avoid foods that list any form of sugar as the first ingredient. Choosing options with lower sugar content will help to keep you and your teeth healthy.

03/12/2026

We get a lot of questions about pacifier use and if it’s going to negatively affect a toddler’s teeth. Watch this video to learn about when it's time to limit pacifier use.

If your child is still using a pacifier, watch this video to learn about when to stop and to limit pacifier use.

03/10/2026

Mouthwashes containing alcohol are known to dry out your mouth, which causes an increase in the bad bacteria that can lead to tooth decay. Switch out alcohol-based mouthwashes for ones containing xylitol to help with saliva production.

03/05/2026

Many people rely on denture adhesives for a snug, comfortable fit. Here are a few different products to consider …
- Denture pads (sometimes called cushions) use a natural vacuum effect to keep your dentures in place. They can be trimmed for a custom fit.
- Adhesive strips are pre-cut with a sticky backing, so no creams or powders are required.
- Adhesives creams are the most popular and can be applied to wet or dry dentures.

If dentures don’t fit properly, even with adhesives, they may need to be relined. Ask how we can help.

03/03/2026

Maintaining a good oral health routine can help prevent pneumonia. Recent studies have found that improved oral care for seniors reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia, which is believed to be caused by breathing bacteria into the lungs. Not only that, denture-wearers can reduce their risk by removing the denture while they sleep. So remember to brush and floss after each meal and visit us regularly!

02/26/2026

A glass of orange juice tastes pretty terrible if you’ve just brushed your teeth, but it has nothing to do with the minty flavour of your toothpaste. Orange juice is sweet, but it’s also a little sour. The foaming agent in your toothpaste temporarily blocks the taste receptors on your tongue that register whether something is sweet — which means you can only taste the sour part of the juice.

02/24/2026

Accidents happen. The most important thing to remember when someone has broken a tooth is not to panic.

First, take a look around for the tooth. If it’s an adult tooth, and it’s clean and whole, place it back in the empty socket. If you can’t place it back in the mouth, keep the missing tooth moist by packing it in milk or saliva. If it’s a baby tooth, bring it along to the dental office just in case we need to see it.

Next — call us! Let us know what happened and we’ll get you in as soon as we can. If for some reason you can’t get through to us, then head to the emergency room and call us for a follow-up appointment.

02/19/2026

Dry mouth (or “xerostomia”) is a common side effect of 15 of the top 20 prescribed medications. Dry mouth can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. Depending on the medication, there are a few strategies that can help. Reach out to us or your doctor to develop a plan.

02/17/2026

Did you know that children should have their first visit to a dentist about six months after their first tooth appears or by age one? Excellent dental health starts early - reach out today!

02/12/2026

A bridge is a great way to replace one or more missing teeth by literally “bridging the gap” between your remaining teeth.

Using the teeth on either side of the gap as supports, we secure a fixed bridge made up of realistic-looking artificial crowns that will need to be brushed and flossed, just like natural teeth.

Curious if a fixed bridge would be a good long-term solution for your missing teeth? Call (978) 343-2630 to learn more.

02/05/2026

Root canal treatment is a vital procedure for saving a damaged tooth. It has a reputation for being uncomfortable, but with modern anesthetics and technology, most patients should feel little or no pain. Call Little Smiles and Big Smiles today to learn more.