As I stand over my sink and ponder the frayed bristles of my favorite toothbrush, I wonder if I should replace it. It’s a good question. We all brush our teeth on a daily basis. Like a good pair of jeans, it seems the more we use a toothbrush, the more comfortable it gets. As…
Dental Health
Teeth: What Have They Done For You Lately?
Welcome to the Montz and Maher Dental Group blog! Today we are going to explore the secret life of our teeth. The shape of each tooth gives a clue to what it does. The incisors, or your front teeth, are sharp. Their job is to cut food and their curvature helps move food inside the…
What is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a scale that can measure daytime sleepiness based off of your total score on a questionnaire. The questionnaire is made up of eight possible situations, each of which you give a score of 0-3 based on your likelihood to fall asleep in the particular situation, with zero being “no…
Lack of Sleep Slows Reaction Time
Life in Houston, like other places in Texas and around the country, is relentlessly fast-paced. In the course of the day, each of us makes thousands of quick decisions. Many of these are trivial: “Boxers or briefs?”, “White or wheat?”, “Paper or plastic?”, or “Call or text?”. However, some split-second judgments have significant consequences; “I…
What Medical Conditions are Linked to Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Snoring can make for a bad night’s sleep, for you and your bed mate. But if it happens because you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it may be the sign of a bigger problem. Sleep apnea is the involuntary cessation of breathing while you are asleep. There is increasing evidence that untreated obstructive sleep apnea…
Is Your Low-Carb Diet Giving You Dragon Breath?
Categories: Dental Health, Family Dentistry
Many individuals mistakenly believe that all bad breath is linked to substandard brushing. The truth is that there are myriad causes of halitosis. Your dentist can help you pinpoint the cause of your problem and discuss how to cure bad breath. Your diet considerably affects your breath. Because foods begin to be digested the second…
Montz and Maher Dental Group Treats 3 Urgent Dental Issues
Our mouth and teeth work hard for us. Consider how much they suffer day after day. It’s not surprising that occasionally problems develop. As an urgent care office, we are uniquely qualified to treat a wide range of oral dilemmas. Here are three of the most frequent: 1. Abscessed Tooth An abscess is a serious…
Why Your Child Needs Pediatric Dental Cleanings
In today’s post, we examine children’s dental cleanings. Does your child need a professional dental cleaning if you practice dental hygiene at home? Short answer? Yes. Let’s talk about it. Both tasks are essential. They reinforce each other. They work in tandem to protect your child’s smile as they grow. David C. Montz encourages patients…
Are Dental Implants An Option If I Have Receding Gums?
Dentists have to make a lot of judgment calls. Implant dentists are no exception. A dental implant specialist must identify which patients are good candidates for implant surgery. Dental implants have a high success rate when performed correctly. Success depends on many factors. An important decision is whether the patient has enough healthy bone to…
Why You Should Take Snoring Seriously
Snoring isn’t just an annoyance. It can have major health consequences. What is Snoring? Snoring is caused by a blockage in the airway. The obstruction can be caused by: Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue—when muscles relax they can collapse onto the airway. Alcohol use and sleeping pills can make this more likely.…
