ED Family Dental Blog

Scrolling through social media, answering a few messages, or watching one last video can feel like a relaxing way to end the day. But if you regularly use your cell phone right before bed, you may be making it harder to get the restful sleep your body needs. And if you also have sleep apnea, poor sleep can take an even greater toll on your daily life.

Understanding how these habits and conditions affect your rest can help you make changes that support better sleep and overall well-being.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes interruptions in breathing while you sleep. These pauses can affect your sleep quality, energy levels, and overall health. If someone in your family has sleep apnea, you may wonder whether you’re more likely to develop it, too. So, is sleep apnea hereditary? The answer is yes, genetics can play a role, although they’re only one piece of the puzzle.

Pets bring comfort, companionship, and plenty of joy to our lives. In fact, a survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association discovered that dogs can be found in roughly one-third U.S. homes. For many people, sleeping with a dog or cat nearby is part of their nightly routine. But if you have sleep apnea, you may wonder whether your furry friend could be affecting the quality of your sleep.

Between causing serious discomfort and slipping out of place at inopportune moments, ill-fitting dentures can be troublesome enough on their own. But did you realize they could potentially be a life-threatening issue? Research indicates that people with ill-fitting dentures could be more likely to develop oral cancer. To help you protect your oral and overall health, here’s what you need to know about this connection.

While they aren’t “real” teeth, dentures can still be a potential source of pain. Patients who use these prosthetics will sometimes suffer sore spots along their gums. With that said, a question arises: How exactly do you get rid of denture sores? Your Astoria practice takes this issue seriously, so we’re here to provide some answers for you. Just keep reading to learn about denture sores, their home remedies, and when they require a dentist’s help.

Has it been several months or years since you lost your teeth? You might’ve waited on getting them replaced, but you likely know how they impact your confidence and eating habits. It’s likely you now want to get them replaced, but are dentures still an option for you, even if your jawbone has weakened since? Here’s how this prosthetic may be able to help you get your full smile back.

Wisdom teeth—also known as third molars—are the last set of teeth to develop, typically emerging in your late teens or early twenties. For many people, the question isn’t if they’ll get wisdom teeth, but whether they need to have them removed. The answer isn’t always straightforward: not everyone needs their wisdom teeth taken out, but many do.

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, usually appear between the ages of 15 and 25. While some people have enough room in their mouths for these teeth to emerge properly, others may experience impacted wisdom teeth. An impacted tooth is one that doesn’t have enough space to fully erupt or grows at an angle, often causing discomfort and potential oral health problems. Recognizing the warning signs early can help prevent complications and guide you toward timely treatment.

Tooth extractions aren’t your dentist’s preferred option, but sometimes they are necessary to preserve the health of the rest of your smile. The good news is that modern tooth extractions are very safe, but there is still a small chance that complications can occur. Approximately 2-5% of people develop a complication called “dry socket.” This is when the blood clot that forms during the healing process becomes dislodged. Fortunately, this condition can usually be prevented by closely following your aftercare instructions. Here are some ways that you can help your smile heal quickly and without issue.

As you jump into the new year, you may be setting resolutions to follow for yourself. You might think of some that benefit your overall health, but don’t forget to include your smile in it, too! There is no time like now to get the stronger grin you deserve. Thankfully, it can be as easy as building the right habits! Here are five you can stick to during 2026 to keep your teeth and gums in great shape.