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There can be a variety of reasons why your gums bleed when you floss. If you just adopted a daily flossing routine, your gums may not be accustomed to your new regimen yet. In this case, bleeding is normal and should subside within a week. Bleeding gums may also be caused by other factors, such as a vitamin deficiency, ill-fitting dentures, or a side effect of blood-thinning medication. For some patients, bleeding can be a warning sign of gum infection. […]

As we age, almost everyone will experience some kind of teeth staining or discoloration. These stains can interfere with the aesthetics of your smile, which can in turn negatively impact your confidence. However, although some degree of tooth discoloration is inevitable, you can help slow the process by avoiding the common causes of staining. Some of the most common sources of tooth discoloration are: Food: Certain foods, including coffee, tea, berries, cola, and tomato sauce, can stain teeth over time. […]

Having a toothache can be a debilitating problem that affects your ability to go about your day like normal. This pain can lead to headaches and even cause a loss of appetite. To determine whether your discomfort will go away on its own or if you should see your dentist, it can help to understand why you are having a toothache in the first place. See below for common causes of oral pain and discomfort, and whether or not you […]

With orthodontic treatments like traditional braces and Six Month Smiles^®, a series of wires and brackets are utilized to slowly shift the teeth into a straighter position. Traditional braces use metal wires and brackets, while the Six Month Smiles system involves tooth-colored nickle titanium wires and clear brackets. To help braces stay in good condition and do their job properly, Dr. Robin Rutherford recommends his orthodontic patients adjust their diet to avoid certain types of foods. While this doesn’t have […]

The purpose of gum disease treatment is to remove harmful bacteria from the teeth and gums. Although gum disease can’t be reversed once it has progressed past its beginning stage, gingivitis, the condition can be managed to minimize future damage to the mouth. At The Art of Dentistry, Dr. Robin Rutherford prefers a non-surgical approach to gum disease treatment whenever possible. In addition to scaling and root planing, Dr. Rutherford may conduct saliva testing to diagnose the exact type of […]

Well-known actress Carrie Fisher recently passed away at 60 years old following a heart attack. Although the cause of her death was reported as “undetermined,” it was just released that an extremely common health condition was a contributing factor—sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissues in the back of the throat relax to the point that the breathing passage is narrowed, or sometimes completely closed. This can lead to snoring, difficulty breathing, and numerous breathing pauses throughout the […]

While traditional braces often take up to two years or more to straighten crowded or crooked teeth, Six Month Smiles^® is designed to correct misalignment in just six months. By focusing on gently guiding the front teeth that are visible when you smile toward their ideal position, the overall treatment time with this innovative orthodontic treatment can be dramatically reduced. However, one of the most significant benefits of Six Month Smiles^® is the ability to improve the beauty of a […]

Oral cancer is a prevalent disease that is characterized by malignant cells forming in the mouth and/or throat. The symptoms are typically very subtle, meaning that without a screening the cancer might spread too quickly before it is detected. This is why an oral cancer screening is so important. At The Art of Dentistry, Dr. Robin Rutherford performs this preventative screening utilizing VELscope^® Vx technology to detect oral abnormalities before symptoms appear. It can help reveal cancer cells at their […]

A smile makeover entails a combination of different cosmetic and restorative dentistry procedures. The goal of a smile makeover is to comprehensively address aesthetic and structural concerns with the teeth and gums. Ultimately, each procedure is custom-tailored to meet the needs of the individual patient, and can be used to achieve straighter and brighter teeth, a proportionate gum line, and a smile free from tooth imperfections. Candidates for a smile makeover typically have multiple dental issues they wish to correct […]

Those who suffer from sleep apnea have a number of treatment options readily available to address their condition. Although treating sleep apnea can be a fairly straight-forward process, discovering whether you suffer from the common condition can be more difficult. Many people who experience the symptoms of sleep apnea don’t realize they have it. Oftentimes, sleep apnea can be dismissed as “just snoring.” Unfortunately, in addition to snoring, sleep apnea patients also frequently experience pauses in breathing at night or […]