How Sugar Affects Your Teeth

We know it’s not something you want to hear or maybe you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true, sugar negatively impacts your teeth in a big way. We at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park take pride in educating our patients about the importance of restricting sugary foods and drinks. It would be ideal to cut these out of your diet completely, but we understand that sometimes there’s nothing better than a crisp soda on a hot day. More attention should be paid to, say, how many sugary beverages you drink in a day or week. Is it really adding up? If so, consider restricting your intake for the sake of your teeth.

Sugar easily coats the surface of your teeth and attracts the “bad bacteria,” such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. These destructive bacteria feed on the sugar and disturb the natural pH of your mouth, to the point where the acidity is too much for your teeth. Over time, the enamel on your teeth is broken down little by little. This isn’t so good, since tooth enamel cannot be replaced. Once that natural barrier is gone, it’s gone for good. 

If you can’t give up sugar completely, then consider these tips to fight tooth decay:

- Watch what you eat and drink. Make sure to incorporate healthy options, such as fibrous vegetables.

- Restrict the sugar. Try drinking more water, your teeth will thank you (and so will your body).

- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing two to three times a day.

- Visit your dentist regularly. Your dentist will be able to take a closer look inside your mouth, monitor anything suspicious, and give your teeth a good professional cleaning. 

Bayberry Dental Care is located on 8014 W 171st St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit bayberrydentalcare.com or call 708-802-8300.

 

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Gingivitis is so common that many people fail to recognize its symptoms as problems. Lots of people are used to bleeding, swollen gums, and women who are pregnant suffer them at especially high rates. But at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park, we provide patients with deep cleanings and protection against gingivitis, relieving them from gum sensitivity.

Gingivitis literally means “gum inflammation” and it usually results from infections in the gum pockets. As plaque builds up below the gum line, bacteria secrete acids that trigger the body’s immune reaction. Progesterone increases the amount of blood flowing into the gums, and during early and late pregnancy, the amount of progesterone a woman produces rapidly increases. With extra blood, the gums become much more sensitive to the toxic enzymes secreted by plaque, making gingivitis likelier. If left untreated, it could progress into periodontitis.

The best way to combat pregnancy gingivitis is to double down on oral hygiene. More attentive brushing and flossing will keep plaque from building up, although overbrushing can injure the gums, too. Ultimately, some bleeding is expected, but you can prevent gingivitis from becoming serious. If you have any questions about your oral hygiene protocol, we’d be happy to provide you with a cleaning and demonstrate flossing techniques. You might also want to try non-alcoholic mouthwash.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Alzheimer's Disease and Oral Bacteria

If you’ve kept up with your brushing and flossing, you might see some unexpected benefits later in life. That’s the conclusion of several recent studies investigating a link between oral bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease. Patients suffering from gingivitis can expect compassionate treatment at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park, but we wanted to pass along this news to inspire our readers to keep up their oral hygiene.

One of the bacteria species that causes gum disease is Porphyromonas gingivalis. It secretes an enzyme called a gingipain that is commonly found in brains and spinal fluid, but is especially common in people with Alzheimer’s. Testing on animals revealed that gingipains destroy brain cells and trigger the production of substances that comprise the neural plaque that disrupts Alzheimer’s patients’ neurological function.

Additional recent studies have shown that P. gingivalis is able to spread from oral infections into neural fluid, including in the brain. Scientists do not expect oral bacteria to be the sole cause of Alzheimer’s, but they say this could be an important piece of the puzzle and are developing new drugs based on this research. We know that Alzheimer’s patients have difficulty maintaining their oral hygiene, and this could create a feedback loop. However, patients may be able to prevent Alzheimer’s from beginning by keeping their teeth clean and keeping regular dental appointments.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Asthma and Tooth Decay

We work hard a Bayberry Dental Care to assist patients with particular dental health needs. If you struggle with asthma, you may be at increased risk for developing caries and other oral infections. With respect and a gentle touch, we’ll teach you how to manage this condition and reverse decay you may already be suffering.

In people with asthma, the throat and nasal tissues are swollen. Due to difficulty breathing through their noses, they may resort to mouth breathing, particularly while asleep. This significantly increases their risk of dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. Saliva doesn’t just make swallowing food debris easier, it also neutralizes the acid that oral bacteria secrete and that is transferred to teeth from drinks such as soda. Keeping the mouth at a neutral pH level also makes it less hospitable to fungus.

A patient suffering from dry mouth may benefit from using artificial throat moisturizers. They can also stimulate saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum and increasing their water intake. While it is inadvisable to stop taking asthma medications without a doctor’s advice, patients may want to ask about alternatives if their medication is causing dry mouth as a side effect. They should also be aware that throat muscle relaxants can open the sphincter to the stomach, allowing acid reflux to occur, and that inhalant medication commonly contains sugars that will need to be brushed off teeth prior to bed.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Benefits of Sealants

You can be a good brusher, but as long as there are deep natural grooves in your teeth, they’ll be at risk for decay. We highly value prevention at Bayberry Dental Care. To protect our patients from caries, we offer sealants that shield their teeth from decay and deprive bacteria of hiding places.

Our molars and premolars are made up of raised points, called cuspids, with indentations in between. Those indentations can easily get filled up with food debris, and children, in particular, have a difficult time cleaning them. Dental sealants are bits of plastic that are used to fill in indentations, smoothing them out and providing an extra layer of material that acid would have to break through to harm a tooth. They are commonly put on molars and premolars as soon as their surfaces are fully erupted.

The sealant placement process is easy. After brushing the teeth, we’ll apply an etching acid to them that will increase their surface area, allowing the plastic to more easily bond with enamel. We’ll then use a special light to harden the plastic. The sealant is thin enough to allow the cuspids to continue grinding food. Patients with sealants sill have to brush and floss regularly, but they get 80% fewer caries in the teeth that have been treated.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Bad Breath and Oral Health

If you have chronically bad breath, there may be more to it than just what you eat. At Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park, we are concerned with the relationship between oral health and the rest of the body. Halitosis, or bad breath, could be an indicator of an issue related to oral infection or a condition with consequences for the oral cavity.

When food particles get trapped, the bacteria that consume them give off a foul odor. Bacteria can also eat things we wouldn’t find appetizing, such as nasal drip that lands on the tongue. For that reason, patients should use a tongue scraper each day and brush their tongue along with their teeth. They may also want to try antibacterial mouthwash, which comes in nonalcoholic varieties for children.

Halitosis can also be caused by dry mouth. Saliva neutralizes acid and helps wash away food debris. Medications commonly cause dry mouth as a side effect. Patients should ask their doctor about changing them if this is causing bad breath and caries, but they should not stop taking medication on their own. An autoimmune disorder could cause the salivary glands to become inflamed, preventing them from secreting adequate saliva. Diabetes can also contribute to bad breath due to changes it causes in how the body breaks down chemicals, as well as its suppression of the immune system and diabetic people’s resulting vulnerability to gum disease. This becomes less of an issue when insulin levels are controlled.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Arthritis and Gum Disease

If you have pain in your joints, gum disease may be to blame. May is National Arthritis Month, and to help our patients prevent joint inflammation, we at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park want to pass along some important new research into how oral bacteria may be related to rheumatic disorders.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the patient’s immune system attacks their synovium, the soft tissue that lines joints. The synovium thickens in response, becoming stiff and painful. The causes of rheumatism have remained elusive, although we know that smoking and genetics are contributing factors. Synovium and gum tissue share a similar cellular make-up, and scientists were interested in whether they became inflamed in response to similar factors.

Research found that the acid produced by a certain kind of pathological oral bacteria causes excessive deformation of proteins, a process called hypercitrullination. The immune system overproduces antibodies to eliminate the proteins and compromised cells, and the antibodies attack synovium. Scientists have also found some evidence that treating gum disease reduces arthritis symptoms in people with rheumatism, so we hope that our patients won’t delay coming in for their regular deep cleanings.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Electric Toothbrush

There is nothing wrong with using a traditional toothbrush to clean your teeth as long as you’re cleaning the right way. When using a traditional toothbrush it is crucial that patients brush their teeth for all two minutes to clean properly. But studies have shown that a large number of people don't clean their teeth for the appropriate amount of time. Dentists at Bayberry Dental Care recommend an electric toothbrush to get the most effective clean possible.

With a traditional toothbrush, there are an estimated 300 strokes per minute while cleaning, compared to the thousands of strokes per minute an electric toothbrush produces. This translates to cleaner teeth with less plaque buildup and gum disease. There are a variety of electric toothbrushes to choose from and a variety at different prices. It is recommended that you ask someone at Bayberry Dental Care to find out which toothbrush is best for you.

Dr. Kathleen Falsey stresses brushing properly is the most important thing, but for anybody who has trouble brushing and is looking for better oral hygiene should consider an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush will clean the spots you may miss with your traditional brush and help prevent additional plaque buildup from occurring.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

Flossing

Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS of Bayberry Dental Care encourages patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, and the staff here likes to see patients set themselves up for a lifetime of good oral health.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively:

• A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using.


• The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line and isn’t necessary to floss properly. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about oral hygiene and the services we provide, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Have You Had A Cleaning This Year?

Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS and the staff of Bayberry Dental Care encourage all our patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for regular professional cleanings.  During the holidays, we want everyone looking forward to the New Year and maintaining great oral hygiene!  However much you brush and floss, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional. 

It’s important to see a professional regularly not just to clean your teeth, but also to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be missing a spot or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, a hygienist thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist. Come see us for a cleaning to make a great impression during the holidays, and start the year off with your best smile!

To learn more about dental health and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Diabetes and Gum Disease

If you suffer from diabetes, you are especially vulnerable to gum disease. We treat all our patients with compassion at Bayberry Dental Care, and we want them to understand how their oral health ties into their overall health. In the cases of people with diabetes, we are committed to providing the support they need to keep their gums strong and free of pain, and we want them to know more about why working with us is so important.

Studies consistently show that people with uncontrolled blood sugar have elevated levels of gingivitis symptoms such as bleeding gums, redness, and soreness. The exact connection is not completely understood, but we do know that people with diabetes have a more difficult time fighting infections in general. Inflammation is the immune system’s initial response to an infection or injury. It helps to isolate pathogens, but prolonged inflammation can ultimately damage tissues. If gingivitis progresses into periodontal disease, the gums and jaw bone tissue will recede, leaving teeth loose and sensitive.

At regular dental examinations, we provide thorough cleanings that will help stop gingivitis from developing. We also provide scaling and root cleaning to remove decay from the gum pockets that patients can’t reach on their own. Despite their elevated risk, it is possible for people with diabetes to maintain good oral hygiene. Best of all, there is evidence that other diabetes-related inflammation tends to improve as patients’ oral health improves.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Oral Hygiene Tips for the Holidays

We wish all our patients at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park a Happy Thanksgiving! At this time of year, there are many sweets and feasts to look forward to. But that doesn’t mean tooth decay takes a break, so to help our patients have a good holiday season, we wanted to provide some tips on oral hygiene.

As we discussed in our post about baby bottle tooth decay, sugary residue poses more of a threat to teeth than the sugar content of any specific food. A lot of the sugary drinks that are popular this time of year—pumpkin spice lattes, eggnog, hot chocolate, apple cider, and alcoholic beverages, are drunk slowly, allowing residue to cling to the teeth for a long time. People also consume more hard candies, which tend to dry the mouth out in addition to sticking to teeth and to eat sticky toffees. But even complex starches, such as those found in winter squash, can fuel tooth decay if debris gets caught in hard-to-reach spaces.

The best way to maintain oral hygiene is regular brushing and flossing, but this may not always be easy during family or social gatherings. Another strategy is to chew sugar-free gum, which will dislodge food particles and stimulate saliva production. You may also try keeping bottles of fluoridated water on hand. Taking swigs from them in between consuming other drinks will wash away sugar and strengthen your enamel.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

ADA Seal of Acceptance

When you shop for oral care products, is the ADA seal of acceptance something that you look for? When a product has been stamped with the American Dental Association seal of approval, this simply means that it has been scientifically evaluated by independent experts to be safe and effective for the patient. Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS of Bayberry Dental Care encourages patients to use oral care products that advertise that they are from the American Dental Association to guarantee optimal oral health.

Not every dental product possesses the ADA seal of approval, but this doesn’t mean that it won’t get the job done. When a product has the ADA seal of approval, this just means that the company selling the product may or may not have submitted their product for review. There are thousands of products on store shelves from white strips, to flossers, and toothbrushes, that can help protect your mouth and prevent oral diseases.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral care or dental health, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Proper Flossing Technique

Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS provides the best dental care for patients, and encourages them to continue a great routine of care at home.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively:

• A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using.


• The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line, and isn’t necessary to floss effectively. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about flossing, oral hygiene, and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300. 

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Dry mouth isn’t just frustrating; it also increases the risk of oral infections. At Bayberry Dental Care, we offer treatments for getting this condition under control and preventing the damage it causes, but we want our patients to know why they should seek help.

Saliva helps to keep bacteria from growing out of control by removing food debris. It also provides teeth with an environment in which they can maintain their protective membranes, decreasing the odds of a crack developing through which bacteria could infect their pulp. Many cases of dry mouth occur as a side-effect of medications, but older women are particularly at risk for Sjögren’s disease, which dries out the eyes, as well as the mouth.

Drinks which are high in caffeine, alcohol, and sugar are contributors to dry mouth. Patients should try cutting back on them and chewing sugar-free gum or candy in order to stimulate more saliva production. They may also need to buy throat moisturizers as a substitute if they cannot get a medication causing dry mouth changed. Humidifiers can help people with dry mouth to sleep better at night, and with better sleep, the overall performance of their immune system should improve.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit BayberryDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Gingivitis

When you visit Bayberry Dental Care for a routine cleaning, one of the first things Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS looks for is gingivitis. If your gums are bright red or bleed easily when she is brushing and flossing your teeth, she may suggest some oral hygiene reinforcement.  Gingivitis – the earliest stage of gum disease – is reversible, but prevention is more important. If plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, your gums will suffer the consequences.

The primary cause of gingivitis is plaque buildup due to a poor oral hygiene routine. When plaque is not adequately removed, it causes an accumulation of tartar which only Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS and her team of hygienists is able to eliminate.  Gingivitis prevention begins at home by brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and regularly rinsing your mouth with an ADA approved antiseptic mouthwash.

If you have questions or concerns about periodontal disease, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Childhood Bad Breath

At Bayberry Dental Care, Dr. Kathleen Falsey runs an office that is friendly to children. Like everyone else, children sometimes suffer from bad breath, but a lack of brushing may not be the only reason for this.

When teaching children to brush, it’s important to teach them that their tongues need brushing as much as their teeth. Bacteria find a welcoming environment on the tongue, as well as in the tonsils, and build-up in these areas produces a bad smell. Nasal drip also increases bacteria growth. While adults are probably aware that a sinus infection causes nasal drip, they may not know that a foreign object stuck in the child’s nose can have the same result. Mouth sores can also contribute to bad breath.

Besides infections, dry mouth is another cause of bad breath. Children can easily become dehydrated during play, but dry mouth is also a common side-effect of medications. Some medications for ADHD and anxiety are known to cause bad breath. Children who breathe through their mouths tend to dry out a lot. And, of course, dry mouth itself puts a patient at greater risk for infections.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit BayberryDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Nighttime Oral Care

The toothbrush should be the last thing to touch your teeth before bed and Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS of Bayberry Dental Care would like to explain why. Keeping your smile healthy is not just a day job. If you don’t brush before bed the food and beverages you consumed throughout the day will linger and cause bacteria to increase throughout the night. Allow us to explain why leaving brushing out of your bedtime routine is a bad thing.

“I’m too tired to brush my teeth,” might be something you tell yourself often, but it’s time to break the habit. When we sleep, we don’t swallow and the lack of saliva flow creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Therefore, if you hit the hay before brushing your teeth, bacteria has plenty of hours to feed off the sugars and acids present in your mouth while your body’s natural defenses are down. If you can’t get past the excuse that you are “too tired” we advise you to keep a toothbrush on your nightstand, because even a dry brush is better than none at all.

If you have questions about oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Sugar and Teeth

If you don’t want tooth decay, the solution is simple, cut sugar out of your diet. Dr. Kathleen Falsey of Bayberry Dental Care understands that this is unrealistic, which is why she encourages patients to at least tame their sweet tooth. Sugar is the culprit when it comes to cavities, and though we love to see you in the office, we would much rather you take preventive measures to keep your smile healthy. Allow us to explain the effects that sugar has on your teeth.

After you eat sugary food and beverages the bacteria that form together to become plaque feed off the sugar and uses it as energy. Eventually, these bacteria can eat through the layers of your teeth if you don’t brush it away. If left untreated, plaque can turn to tartar which can only be removed by Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS. Schedule regular dental appointments so that any signs of tooth decay can be treated early and as always, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.

If you have questions about oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.

Cleaning Dentures

The Bayberry Dental Center provides dental care to patients of all ages and is dedicated to providing all clients with information about preventive care appropriate to their needs. Caring for dentures varies from caring for natural teeth in some significant ways, so we want to make sure our patients know how to maintain their oral hygiene.

It is a good idea for patients to keep two sets of soft-bristled toothbrushes: one for their mouths and one for dentures. They will need to remove their dentures on a nightly basis and continue brushing their mouths twice a day while the dentures are out, making sure to get into any support structures which may have been implanted. Brushing the gums before placing dentures back in each morning stimulates blood flow. Patients will also need to brush the entirety of the denture with toothpaste made specifically for dentures because the minerals in ordinary toothpaste are unnecessary and may scratch the dentures’ delicate plastic.

Keeping in mind how fragile dentures are, patients should never keep them in hot water. However, dentures do need to be kept moist at all times and should be allowed to soak in room-temperature water or cleaning solution at night. It is natural and expected that a patient’s mouth will continue to change shape after a denture is fitted, necessitating refittings over the course of their life. Adjustments and repairs should only be made by dental professionals.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit BayberryDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.