Nitric Oxide and the Oral Microbiome

Many times we think of a clean mouth as a sterile mouth, but we need a proper balance of bacteria in our oral microbiome in order to be healthy and to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is most known for its role in heart health for being a potent vasodilator (keeps your arteries and veins … Continued

Ozone

At Santa Theresa Smiles we use ozone for cleaning and disinfection purposes. Ozone’s antimicrobial properties make it a good method for sterilizing equipment and disinfecting surfaces in dental settings. What is ozone? Ozone is oxygen with an extra atom. It is chemically unstable or “excited” and carries a negative charge which means it tries to … Continued

Mouth Taping

We’ve already discussed the difference between mouth breathing and nasal breathing and how detrimental mouth breathing is to your health. Becoming a nasal breather is something you can train your body to do over time. One of the ways you can train yourself to be a nasal breather is through mouth taping (the the practice … Continued

Nasal Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing

Nasal Breathing Nasal breathing involves inhaling and exhaling air through the nostrils. The nose serves several important functions when it comes to breathing: Filtration: The nasal passages are lined with tiny hairs and mucus-producing cells that help trap and filter out particles like dust, allergens, and microbes from the inhaled air. Humidification: The nasal passages … Continued

Frenuloplasty—What is it and what should I expect?

A frenuloplasty is a surgical procedure that involves the modification or removal of the lingual frenulum, which is a small fold of tissue that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A restriction of the lingual frenulum (tongue tie) restricts the movement of the tongue and can lead to a

Tongue Ties in Adults—What’s the big deal?

Most people think of children when they think of tongue ties and frenectomies. About 25% of children have a tongue tie. Likewise about 25% of adults also have a tongue tie. Myofunctional Therapy (Myo). Professional Myofunctional Therapists work with patients to help them change the way they use the muscles in and around their mouths. … Continued

Nutrition’s Role in Dental AND Overall Wellness

Nutrition and diet play a crucial role in maintaining optimal oral health and overall well-being. As an integrative dental office, we believe that maintaining overall health and dental health requires looking at the foods we eat because the mouth is the gateway to the entire body and doesn’t exist as a separate entity from the … Continued

How does a dental office help with sleep apnea?

While not often the first thought when you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, Airway trained dentists are a wonderful solution to sleep apnea that more and more people are seeking out. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep, often accompanied by loud snoring. One common type … Continued

What is Airway Dentistry?

You may have heard the term airway dentistry and not know what it means or why it’s being talked about. It is a relatively new topic that focuses on the structure, function and behaviors of the oral cavity (the bite and palate specifically). These areas are related to breathing, speaking, swallowing, and chewing. Airway dentistry … Continued

An Integrative Approach to Oral Health

Santa Teresa Smiles is an Integrative Dental Office. But what is an integrative dentist? Integrative Dental Care approaches your oral health while considering your overall health. It considers the process and materials used as a part of the solution to helping your body heal. Also called Biological or Environmental dentists, we operate from a place … Continued