HealthWorks Waltermart, Novaliches Q.C.

13/09/2025

When a tooth is lost and not replaced, the mouth doesn’t stay the same for long. The opposing tooth often begins to over-erupt into the empty space, since teeth naturally seek contact. At the same time, the neighboring teeth drift or tilt toward the gap, gradually collapsing the alignment. This shifting creates irregular spaces that easily trap food, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease between adjacent teeth.

As the space closes unevenly, it also becomes more difficult to place an artificial tooth later—whether an implant, bridge, or denture—because the available room and proper bite support are lost. Functionally, missing teeth reduce the efficiency of chewing, forcing other teeth to take extra load, which can cause wear, fractures, or jaw strain over time.

Beyond function, missing teeth also affect speech clarity and facial aesthetics. The lips and cheeks lose proper support, which can make a face look sunken and older. If multiple teeth are missing, the bite may collapse, altering jaw position and leading to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort.

Replacing missing teeth promptly is therefore not just about restoring a smile—it’s about protecting oral health, function, and long-term stability.

12/09/2025

Many people assume baby teeth don’t matter because “they’ll fall out anyway,” but this is one of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry. Primary teeth act as natural placeholders, guiding the proper alignment and eruption of the permanent teeth growing underneath. If these teeth are neglected—whether due to untreated cavities, trauma, or early loss—the permanent teeth can erupt in the wrong position, leading to crowding, misalignment, or even impacted teeth.

The roots of baby teeth sit very close to the developing buds of adult teeth. When infection spreads through an untreated cavity, it can travel beyond the roots and directly affect the permanent teeth beneath. This may cause discoloration, enamel defects, or malformation in the incoming tooth. In severe cases, the infection can even damage the surrounding bone, making future eruptions more complicated.

Caring for baby teeth is therefore not only about preventing pain or infection in childhood, but also about protecting the future smile. Regular dental check-ups, timely treatment of cavities, and proper home care create a healthy environment for permanent teeth to grow strong and correctly positioned. What happens in the early years leaves a lasting imprint—healthy baby teeth are the foundation for a lifetime of oral health.

11/09/2025

Human tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body — even harder than steel on a hardness scale. Yet, it’s also brittle. Unlike metal, enamel can’t bend; once it cracks or chips, it cannot repair itself naturally.

A small fracture from biting something hard, night grinding, or untreated decay can silently spread until the tooth shatters. Researchers are working on materials that can mimic or even repair enamel — but for now, prevention is the only defense.

Because when enamel breaks, there’s no going back.

10/09/2025

📌For All Your Dental Needs!
📍2 Branches to Serve You .
📋By Appointment Only, No Walk In
🖇HMO accredied ☑️☑️☑️

HOLYCROSS BRANCH Novaliches
(Monday - Saturday 10:30 a.m- 6:00 p.m)
0908 3239856/ 02 7 576 9967
WALTERMART BRANCH ,The Junction
Place Talipapa, Novaliches
( Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
0966 3815996
0920 2652569

27/08/2025

📌For All Your Dental Needs!
📍2 Branches to Serve You .
📋By Appointment Only, No Walk In
🖇HMO accredied ☑️☑️☑️

HOLYCROSS BRANCH Novaliches
(Monday - Saturday 10:30 a.m- 6:00 p.m)
0908 3239856/ 02 7 576 9967
WALTERMART BRANCH ,The Junction
Place Talipapa, Novaliches
( Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
0966 3815996
0920 2652569

26/08/2025

Daily brushing isn't enough to prevent cavities and gum issues. Dentists say it's about daily mouth care. Simple mistakes can harm your teeth, but a few easy changes can ensure a healthy smile.

1. Use the Right Technique While Brushing
Electric toothbrushes (oscillating-rotating or sonic) outperform manual brushes in removing plaque and reducing gingivitis.
But remember, technique matters more than the tool. Edmond Hewlett of the ADA emphasizes choosing the brush you’ll use correctly, while Harvard’s Tien Jiang notes manual brushes can be equally effective if used properly.

2. Don’t Rinse Your Mouth After Brushing
Dentists recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, then spitting without rinsing. This leaves a protective layer of fluoride on your teeth.
If rinsing is unavoidable, do it lightly or wait at least 20 minutes before rinsing to let fluoride do its job.

3. Learn How to Floss Properly
Flossing once daily—ideally before bed—cleans where brushes cannot: between teeth and under the gumline.
Research shows flossing plus brushing reduces plaque and gingivitis far better than brushing alone. Proper flossing prevents cavities, gum disease, and even bone loss.

4. Avoid Consuming Low-pH (Acidic) Beverages Too Often
Acidic drinks slowly dissolve enamel, especially those with pH below 4. Many sodas, juices, and sports drinks fall in this danger zone.
Occasional consumption is fine, but frequent sipping erodes enamel. Neutral water or non-citrus sparkling water is a far safer choice.

5. Don’t Chew Ice or Use Teeth as Tools
Chewing ice creates tiny cracks in enamel that can spread into fractures. Using teeth to open bottles, tear packets, or hold objects does even worse—causing chips, breakage, and long-term damage. Teeth are for chewing food, nothing else.

Strong oral health isn’t built on one big change—it’s built on small daily decisions. Protect your teeth today, and they’ll protect your smile for life.

🔬Source: Based on expert tips shared in The Washington Post (Wellness, 2025)

25/08/2025

21/08/2025

When patients hear the word “radiation,” it often causes unnecessary concern. However, modern dental X-rays are among the safest medical imaging tools used today. The amount of radiation is extremely small—comparable to everyday sources we barely notice. For example:

Eating a banana exposes you to natural radiation from potassium; a single dental X-ray delivers about the same amount as eating a few bananas.

Spending a few minutes in sunlight actually exposes you to more radiation than a dental X-ray.

A short airplane flight exposes you to several times more radiation than a full set of dental X-rays.

Advances in technology have made dental X-rays even safer. Older film-based X-rays required higher radiation doses, but today’s digital sensors reduce exposure by up to 90% while producing clearer, more detailed images. These improvements help dentists catch problems earlier and treat them more effectively.

Dentists also take multiple safety measures to protect you, including using lead aprons, thyroid collars, and strictly following the ALARA principle—keeping radiation “As Low As Reasonably Achievable.” This means X-rays are only taken when necessary for diagnosis or treatment planning, never without a clear purpose.

In short, the radiation from dental X-rays is minimal, carefully controlled, and far outweighed by the benefits of early detection. Rather than posing a risk, dental X-rays are a vital tool for maintaining your teeth, jaw, and overall health.

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Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace a professional medical evaluation. The accompanying image is for illustrative purposes only.