Dental Health

Most homes have a standard first-aid kit—and with the demanding schedules of the average American family today, it’s smart to keep one in your vehicle, too. Whether at home or away from home, active kids like to run, play, climb, and jump off things—and sometimes emergency dental injuries follow. Whalen Dentistry thinks it’s a great… (Read More)

At Whalen Dentistry, our bad news is usually limited to the diagnosis of a dental infection we can treat without much difficulty. We’d like to keep it that way, which is why we may broach more sensitive subjects at times—specifically around the ages of 11 and 12, when doctors might recommend a Human Papillomavirus (HPV)… (Read More)

Very few opinions are universally shared, but we’re willing to bet on one: the best dental checkups are the ones where Whalen Dentistry says the beautiful words: “No cavities!” At-home oral hygiene routines are the most effective tool people of any age have to keep their teeth healthy, but when it comes to pediatric dentistry,… (Read More)

We’re no strangers to extreme temperatures and dry weather, and our lips are proof. Most of us experience chapped lips at some point during the year; it’s not uncommon to see lips suffering from annoying, painful cracks. Here at Whalen Dentistry, we keep abreast of the oral health needs of Cornelius, so here are a… (Read More)

No one wants to think about the words “abscessed tooth” applying to their own mouth but to paraphrase Sun Tzu, it’s a good idea to know your enemy. Causes of an abscessed tooth include: Tooth decay Gum disease A cracked tooth When a tooth is compromised by one or more of these conditions, bacteria may… (Read More)

The World Health Organization defines health as “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Sadly, in our fast-paced culture, many of us settle for less-than-healthy or even truly sick conditions every day. We allow ourselves to be tired, achy, stressed, and in pain more… (Read More)

Oral hygiene is the foundation of good dental health. Brushing and flossing regularly is the best way to keep your smile healthy and clean. Consider this your personal cleaning tutorial on the art of dental hygiene, instructed by Dr. Ryan Whalen and the skillful hygienists at Whalen Dentistry. Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss & Mouthwash Before we… (Read More)

We all know someone who asks for extra ice just so they can chew on it. And we’ve probably all heard that chewing ice is not healthy for your teeth. So what’s the truth? Is it best to put a stop to ice chewing? Absolutely, and for more reasons than most people are aware of…. (Read More)

Xerostomia is the technical term for dry mouth, the condition that results from absent or reduced saliva flow. It is not a disease on its own, but it may be a side effect of medication or radiation treatments.  Xerostomia affects about 20% of the elderly population—not because of their age, but due to the increased… (Read More)

Biofilm is quite literally a “film” or layer of biological matter that forms on teeth, in sink pipes, on river rocks, and more. Biofilm is made of many different things. Think of it as concrete, which contains cement as well as a slew of other materials. It’s likely you’ve been aware of biofilm on your… (Read More)