Dr. Richard C. Adams | Carolina Oral Surgery | Fayetteville NC

Which one will you choose to cut back on to achieve better oral health this month?

We honor the bravery of our heroes, remember those we lost, and reflect on the unwavering spirit that binds us together on Patriot Day.

In the pharmacy section of every grocery store, one side of an entire aisle is often dedicated to dozens of toothpaste options. We want to help our patients find the right things to look for to help narrow that selection down.

Whitening toothpastes are great, but remember that they can't eliminate deeper stains or change a tooth's natural color. The abrasive ingredients in whitening toothpaste can polish the teeth and the peroxide in them can break down some surface-level stains. Using it twice daily can lead to visible results after several weeks, but always look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance when choosing one!

Any braces-wearers should make sure to avoid whitening products, toothpaste included, to keep from ending up with discolored patches in the spots where the brackets were.

For tooth sensitivity, over-the-counter sensitivity toothpaste can help. It helps to rebuild and strengthen the enamel and reduce discomfort. The dentist can prescribe a stronger toothpaste if the over-the-counter options aren't strong enough.

There's been a lot of buzz around ingredients like activated charcoal and aloe vera despite there being little evidence to support the benefits they supposedly provide. Charcoal is very abrasive and might actually do more harm than good to the enamel. Toothpaste with these ingredients also tends to skip fluoride, which is essential for rebuilding tooth enamel.

Achieve and maintain healthy gums with these 5 simple steps! From brushing and flossing to regular check-ups and a balanced diet, these habits will keep your smile in tip top shape.

We want to know what tune you're loving right now! Share your favorite song at the moment and let’s create the ultimate playlist together!

We honor the hard work, dedication, and resilience of workers around the world. Your contributions make a difference every day. Happy Labor Day!

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Keep your smile bright and your teeth healthy by repeating these simple steps daily for a winning grin.

If a child continues their finger or thumb-sucking habit past their toddler years, it can negatively affect the growth of their jaws and the position of their teeth.

There's no need to worry about a baby or toddler with a thumb-sucking habit or a pacifier. These are perfectly healthy self-soothing habits that help a child feel safe and happy in a new or stressful situation (and most situations are potentially new and stressful for them). And when Baby feels safe and happy, that's more relaxing for the parents too!

Eventually, these habits begin to do more harm than good. Most children will grow out of them on their own by age 4, but if not, vigorous thumb-sucking can change the way developing adult teeth will come in and can even alter the shape of their dental arches. If they're still showing no signs of stopping, it's time to consider intervening.

It can be easier to discourage a pacifier habit because simply trimming off the end will make it much less appealing until the child loses interest. It's trickier to discourage thumbsucking. Foul-tasting topical aids don't always work. We recommend being encouraging and praising successes over punishing failures. Try to provide activities that keep both hands too busy for thumbsucking. At night, socks over their hands can be a helpful tactic!

Happy Tooth Fairy Day! Celebrate with us by commenting a 🦷 for an extra sprinkle of good luck today!

We're dedicated to making your smile our passion! From routine check-ups to advanced treatments, our goal is to provide personalized care that ensures your dental health and enhances your smile's natural beauty.

Happy Monday! Let’s embrace the fresh start and new opportunities that this week brings. Wishing everyone a productive and positive day ahead!

If your dentist doesn’t like tea, I guess you can call them ‘Denis.’ ;)

Of course we smile when we feel happy, but there's evidence to show that the link between smiling and happiness might go both ways — the simple act of smiling can make us feel a little better! Even a fake smile releases endorphins (the feel-good hormone), so it might be worth smiling in the face of a rough day; it might just improve.

That simple endorphin boost from smiling gives us a lot of other benefits far beyond a mood boost. Endorphins reduce pain and relieve stress because they function a lot like painkillers. Unlike painkillers, however, they don't cause side effects!

Over time, endorphins can have cumulative positive effects on our health. The simple habit of smiling more can lead to long-term health benefits such as increased resilience against illnesses and a decreased risk of getting cancer. The better we are at managing our stress, the fewer stress-induced mutations our cells will go through, making cancer less likely.

Studies show that people perceive smiling faces to be younger and more attractive, but a lifetime of regular smiling and the benefits it brings can actually contribute to living longer. And it's easier to smile confidently with healthy teeth and gums!

This is a reminder to keep on going no matter the ups or downs! You got this!

Regular flossing can boost gum health and reduce bleeding. Continue flossing daily to improve your oral health!

Sum up your perfect day in just 3 words!

These are a few common causes of bad breath so take care of your oral health to keep your breath smelling fresh!

A new month means new opportunities! We look forward to making every moment count.

Tooth decay is the second most common disease in the United States! Protect your smile with regular dental care.

Embrace the new school year with a fresh, new smile! Visit us to start the year off right.

With a winning grin like yours, you deserve a gold medal!

We understand that a healthy, confident smile is more than just aesthetics—it's about feeling your best every day. From routine cleanings to advanced cosmetic procedures, our experienced team is dedicated to crafting smiles that radiate happiness and confidence.

As parents, every milestone a new baby reaches is incredibly exciting, and sometimes we can get impatient and even start worrying long before we should. To get out in front of that tendency, let's lay out the average schedule of baby teeth development and eruption.

The process of growing teeth (called odontogenesis) begins in week six of pregnancy and continues after the teeth have begun erupting because the roots still have some growing to do. Babies typically get their teeth two by two, starting with the bottom front teeth somewhere between six and ten months old. Next are usually the top front teeth between months eight and twelve. After that, they get their bottom lateral incisors, then the top lateral incisors.

You might expect the canines to be next, but nope! Next up are the lower molars, then the upper molars, and only then is it time for the canines. Completing the set of baby teeth is the second set of molars, which will usually arrive by age three.

There's no need to worry if baby teeth seem slow to arrive, but if there still aren't any by the 18-month mark, a dentist should take a look. No matter whether teeth are early or late, though, bring them to the dentist once the first tooth erupts!

Keep smiling bright! Remember to stay on top of your dental appointments for a healthy, radiant smile.

Comment a vacation spot that you fell in love with!

Keep your smile healthy for a healthier you!

We want to give a big shoutout to all our wonderful patients! We appreciate you more than words can say! Thank you for being the reason we love what we do.

Anyone who swims or scuba dives frequently could encounter some unique dental issues if they aren't careful. Let's take a closer look at the big ones.

The longer teeth are exposed to acidic chlorine ions in pool water, the more likely they are to develop brown or yellow stains. These are called swimmer's calculus. As good as chlorine is at keeping a public pool sanitary for all swimmers, it can become acidic enough to affect tooth enamel. Swimmers can minimize this effect by swimming with their mouths closed as much as possible and drinking plenty of water to rinse traces of pool water off of their teeth.

Scuba divers have a different set of concerns, particularly "tooth squeeze" or barodontalgia. That feeling of pressure building up in the ears when diving to the bottom of the pool is very similar to what happens inside each tooth, especially teeth with untreated cavities or ineffective dental treatment. The pressure can build to such a degree that it can even fracture teeth, which is why we strongly encourage divers to visit the dentist before starting a new diving season.

Divers often also deal with ill-fitting scuba mouthpieces, which can lead to jaw strain and even TMD symptoms. We recommend getting a custom-fitted mouthpiece to protect the teeth and jaws.

Where do your eyes tend to wander while in the dental chair? We’re curious to know!