As we are well into fall and approaching winter, many individuals are experiencing the onset of cold sores. A cold sore is a form of the herpes simplex virus which we are all exposed to typically at a young age. The virus lives in the nerve cells of the skin once an individual has been infected with this form of herpes simplex.
Each person reacts to the herpes simplex virus differently. For some individuals, they only experience one cold sore in their life time, while others experience cold sores on a regular basis. Cold sores are highly contagious when they are in the “weeping” stage when pus is present, rather than if they are in their dry stage.
Here at my Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office, we use a laser to disinfect the cold sore infection. Many of our patients who experience cold sores on a routine basis have the cold sore lesion treated by the laser approximately 3 times in the infected area in order for the cold sore to never resurface again. The laser must be used at the onset of the cold sore when the “tingling” sensation is occurring. If the lesion is already present, the laser can reduce the discomfort along with help “dry” up the cold sore.
Things that can aggravate the herpes simplex virus:
Emotional Stress
Fatigue
Illness (cold or the flu)
Injury to the lip or skin around the lip
Excessive exposure to sunlight
Pregnancy
Menstruation
Weakened immune system
If you are interested in treating your cold sore with the latest in dental technology please contact my Riverside Cosmetic and Dental wellness office. Located just off of the 91-freeway in Riverside. (951)686-3666.
So you think you have a cavity?! Your tooth has a dark spot on it and what do you do? Or, your tooth all of the sudden is sensitive to cold or sweets. These symptoms are typically a result of tooth decay. When symptoms of sensitivity to cold or sweets occur it means that the cavity has penetrated through the enamel into the tooth surface. Inside the tooth is where the “pulp” resides rather the nerve of the tooth which is why the tooth becomes sensitive. When the tooth is visibly darkened on the enamel or around a restoration it may or may not be sensitive but more often than not there is a cavity present.
Here at my Inland Empire Biological and Dental Wellness office we offer cutting edge technology when it comes to all aspects of dental treatment and care. Our primary goal is to protect and preserve your tooth structure. During your dental examinations and dental hygiene visits we examine your teeth using our DIAGNOdent laser. The DIAGNOdent laser detects tooth decay in it’s earliest stages thus allowing less invasive dental procedures to remove the tooth decay. Using the DIAGNOdent laser is a quick and non-invasive procedure and will detect cavities in seconds!
Detecting the cavity early allows us to remove and repair the breakdown of the tooth structure and in most cases without having to numb the tooth!
If you are curious whether or not you have a cavity or are experiencing symptoms of a cavity please call my Inland Empire Biological and Dental Wellness office to schedule an appointment. (951)686-3666.
As children all over our country prepare for a night of costumes and candy one thing looms on the mind of parents ” how do I protect my child’s teeth?” The over-indulgence of these sweet treats is not only a concern for our children’s health it is also a concern for the wear and tear on their tooth enamel. Here are a few tips from our Inland Empire Biological and Cosmetic Dental office:
Contrary to popular belief…you should NOT brush your teeth immediately after eating candy or sugary sweets. It is better for the tooth enamel to rinse with water after consuming candy and wait 20 minutes before brushing. The rise in acid in the mouth needs to balance out before brushing. We do not want the toothbrush to “brush in” the acid on the tooth enamel surface.
- Also, the best time (rather appropriate time) for any type of sweet treat consumption is directly following a meal. The sugars will be digested slower with a meal in hopes to not spike the blood insulin level.
- Candies that are better for your teeth of course are sugar-free and even better are candies containing Xylitol.
- Avoid the sour candies as well as the sticky-gooey candies; as they can get stuck on the tooth surface for an extended amount of time.
- Let them get their fill…..It is better for their health as well as their teeth if on Halloween night they fill up on sweets and then get rid of the rest. This trick will help your waistline as well!
If you and your family are looking for a dental office that feels like home please contact one of my friendly staff members to schedule an appointment at (951)686-3666. My Inland Empire Biological and Cosmetic Dental office is located just off of the 91-freeway in Riverside, California.
As we support October for the awareness of breast cancer, I thought it would also be important to discuss the oral complications that can arise in patients with cancer. Oncologists these days typically require a full oral exam prior to any type of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. That being said, my Inland Empire Biological Dental Wellness office works closely with oncologists to ensure the stability of the oral environment.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy not only destroy cancer cells, both therapies also cause major damage to normal tissue cells. Here is a list of the complications that can arise in the mouth when undergoing cancer treatment:
- Dry Mouth
- Bone Loss
- Mouth Sores
- Tooth Decay
- Jaw Pain
- Taste Changes
- Increased Bleeding
- Fungal Infections
- Viral Infections
- Bacterial Infections
The best way to prevent these oral complications is to have routine dental hygiene cleanings as well as meticulous oral hygiene at home. Here are a few guidelines for protecting your oral tissues and teeth during and after cancer therapies.
- Visit your dental hygienist every 3 months for routine cleanings and examinations
- Brush teeth and gums with an extra soft toothbrush or electric toothbrush every 4-6 hours for 2-3 minutes
- Use a Xylitol-based toothpaste to decrease tissue irritation along with warm water
- Use an antibacterial rinse when possible; Avoid mouth rinses containing alcohol
- Floss 2 times/day
- If dry mouth occurs use Xylitol-based mouth rinses, chewing gum, and mints throughout the day and drink plenty of water
- Avoid acidic foods and drinks especially those containing citric acid and high fructose corn syrup
If you are looking for a compassionate dental team to assist your dental needs please contact my Inland Empire Biological Dental Wellness office at (951)686-3666.
Inflammation of the body has in recent years gained a lot of attention as being the main cause of many of the diseases that we as Americans deal with on a daily basis. Our body is a complex system which when in a state of balance will function without disease. However, for the majority of the population our bodies are in a constant battle of finding balance. Whether an imbalance from stress, disease, illness, toxins, or an acidic environment our complex system is continuously striving for balance. As a dentist who believes in a natural and preventative approach to medicine, my belief is that reducing inflammation in gums will decrease inflammation in the body.
Recent research has shown that inflammation of the gums (periodontal disease) is associated with dementia and alzheimer’s disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory infection which when left untreated causes inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation of the gums over time creates inflammation of the tissues in the central nervous system and causes damage to the nerve cells. In studies by the U.S. National Health and Examination Surveys, patients with increased gingival pocketing, gum infection and bone loss, and tooth loss tested significantly lower in cognition than those without. The cognition testing consisted of measuring memory, response speed, attention, and coordination. Thus, healthy gums decrease one’s inflammation in the body and the risk of dementia and alzheimer’s disease.
To ensure that your gums are healthy, please contact my Biological and Dental Wellness office located off of the 91 freeway in Riverside, California (951)686-3666.