When you hear a dentist say that they treat patients “comprehensively,” you might not quite get what that means. It means that they understand the body as a whole and the way that various conditions can interact. A good dentist doesn’t treat individual diseases—they treat a person, completely.

This concept is particularly relevant to dentistry, as recent science suggests that what happens in the mouth can significantly affect the rest of the body. Serious issues like oral cancer are a threat, but even just gum disease can increase your risk for a myriad of other conditions. If you’re curious about how gingivitis can affect the rest of the body, here are a few diseases that gum disease might put you at an increased risk for.

If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, you might have noticed a new addition to the process: your dentist will now take your blood pressure whenever you see them. For some people, that might seem kind of strange—why would your dentist care about your blood pressure?

As it turns out, there are a few reasons why they would need to know this information. Here’s a little bit more information about why your dentist cares about your blood pressure levels.

If you always start the day with a hot cup of coffee, then you probably know how it can stain your teeth thanks to the tannin it contains. So if you’ve recently gotten veneers as part of a smile makeover, you might worry that they could suffer from the same problem. Can you drink coffee with veneers in Canonsburg, or will you have to skip your daily cup of Joe to protect your new grin? Here are the facts.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Then October may be your favorite month – it’s the month of candy! Whether you love sour gummies or prefer decadent chocolate, it’s of the utmost importance that you keep your oral health in mind. After all, sugar is one of the biggest culprits of tooth decay. Don’t worry – here are a few easy tips to help prevent cavities.

When it comes to your teeth, which would you prefer: a) brush your teeth to prevent plaque, or b) just let the cavities come, and get them fixed after the fact? Most people pick (a). It doesn’t take that much effort to brush your teeth, and it makes the possibility of needing to be treated for something more serious less likely. Sometimes, however, people struggle to apply that principle to other types of preventive care. The fact is that early detection and prevention are the best ways to deal with any disease. If you need proof, here are three good reasons to prioritize early detection when it comes to oral health problems.