Resources
Read practical guidance on oral health, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, children's dental care, and treatment planning before your next appointment.
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Dental CareSmile On Dental is proud to announce that Dr. Kholofelo Machaba-Selatole has been named an official finalist for the Oral Health Excellence Award at the 3rd Annual Limpopo Medical Awards 2026. Here is how you can show your support and cast your vote.
Dental CareA wisdom tooth trapped halfway through the gum creates a food-trapping flap called an operculum, frequently causing painful recurrent infections (pericoronitis). Discover why it happens and how dentists resolve it.
Dental CareWhen a tooth is agonizing, you want it out immediately. Learn when emergency dentists can perform same-day extractions and when complex anatomy, medical risks, or planning require a staged visit.
Dental CareEating the wrong foods after an extraction can dislodge the healing blood clot, trap sharp crumbs in the socket, and cause severe dry socket pain. Follow this dentist-approved recovery diet plan.
Dental CareKnowing exactly when you can safely brush your teeth, rinse with salt water, work out at the gym, drive, and return to work prevents complications and ensures a smooth, comfortable healing process.
Dental CareSports mouthguards and night guards look somewhat similar, but they are engineered for opposite biomechanical purposes. Learn why using a sports guard for sleeping damages your bite and increases clenching.
Dental CareA broken tooth that doesn't hurt can be deceiving. The lack of pain often means the nerve is dead or the break hasn't reached the pulp yet. Learn the structural and biological factors dentists evaluate when deciding between repair and removal.
Dental CareHearing that a tooth must be removed can feel overwhelming. Asking the right clinical questions about procedure type, bone preservation, replacement timing, and recovery ensures you make confident decisions.
Dental CareNot all tooth extractions are identical. Understand the clinical differences between a simple forceps extraction and a surgical extraction involving gum flaps, bone relief, and tooth sectioning.
Dental CareOver-the-counter boil-and-bite mouthguards seem like an easy fix, but their bulky, soft plastic can actually increase clenching and permanently shift your bite. Compare the clinical differences with custom laboratory guards.
Dental CareA common misconception is that wearing a night guard cures bruxism. Learn the true clinical purpose of a night guard: preventing catastrophic tooth wear, protecting restorations, and reducing muscle strain.
Dental CareA night guard should feel snug and secure, not painfully tight. If your teeth feel sore or your morning bite feels misaligned upon removing the guard, a quick dental adjustment is essential.
Dental CareA night guard spends 8 hours a night in a warm, moist bacterial environment. Learn the right cleaning techniques, what household products destroy acrylic, and how to prevent odor and cloudy buildup.
Dental CareNight guards are durable, but heavy grinding eventually wears through the acrylic layer. Learn the key signs of guard wear, average lifespans, and why wearing a worn-out guard puts your teeth at risk.
Dental CareBoth worn enamel and active cavities trigger tooth sensitivity, but their biological mechanisms and treatments are completely different. Learn how dentists use visual loupes, tactile tests, and digital X-rays to distinguish wear from decay.
Dental CareGum recession leaves root cementum and porous dentin vulnerable to rapid wear, decay, and sharp temperature sensitivity. Learn what causes gum recession and how dentists protect exposed roots and restore comfort.
Dental CareSensitive toothpastes are clinically effective at relieving discomfort, but they treat the nerve response, not the underlying mechanical or bacterial cause. Understand how active ingredients work and when dental treatment is required.
Dental CareSharp pain when breathing cold air on a winter morning can stem from simple exposed dentin or a structural tooth fracture. Learn the critical clinical differences and tests dentists use to tell them apart.
Dental CareDaytime clenching (awake bruxism) and sleep grinding (nocturnal bruxism) affect teeth, muscles, and jaw joints differently. Understand the distinct clinical signs, causes, and treatment approaches for both.
Dental CareStart with a dentist when odour persists despite several weeks of good oral care, then seek medical review when no oral cause explains it or wider symptoms are present.
Dental CareWhen only one tooth reacts sharply to cold water or ice cream, it usually points to a localized issue—such as microscopic enamel wear, a leaking filling edge, early decay, or a hairline crack rather than generalized sensitivity.
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