Dental calculus or tartar accumulates overtime depending upon how much plaque is on one’s teeth. Plaque forms on the teeth in layers and if not removed frequently it hardens and becomes dental calculus. Dental calculus /tartar is composed of mineral salts, food, and other debris. Dental calculus is a hard (calcified) substance that appears on the tooth surface as a yellowish-white color or yellowish-brown color.
Dental calculus can form either above or below the gum-line. When the tartar forms beneath the gum tissue or at the gum-line it can be very dangerous. This accumulation of dental calculus/tartar is a resting place for bacteria that is harmful to the gum tissue and underlying bone tissue surrounding the teeth. If this tartar build-up resides at or below the gum tissue for an extended length of time it causes infection and bleeding. Over time, this leads to periodontal disease which is a disease that causes bone and tissue loss surrounding the teeth. Dental calculus/tartar forms in layers above the gum-line and if left for an extended amount of time can lead to cavities. The areas where dental calculus/tartar form quickly are; the tongue side of the lower front teeth and the cheek side of the upper back teeth. Tartar/calculus build-up occurs in these locations frequently because they are adjacent to 2 major salivary glands.
Frequent visits to the Dental Hygiene department at my Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office will help keep dental calculus at bay. My Dental Hygiene team has years of experience with dental calculus removal techniques as well as trained eyes to spot any beginning tissue inflammation. My team of Dental Hygienists’ will also provide you with education and tools to use at home to better assist you with your daily oral health. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness to visit our Dental Hygiene team at (951)686-3666.
Lasers are becoming increasingly popular in assisting dental hygienists with dental cleaning appointments. My dental hygiene team has extensive training in the prevention of periodontal disease using the periodontal laser. If gingival (gum) inflammation and bleeding is present during your routine cleaning, the periodontal laser is used to detoxify the infected areas. If periodontal pocketing is also detected with bleeding present, the periodontal laser is used to heal the infected area. Our dental hygiene team uses the periodontal laser to detoxify and heal the infected areas and in some cases use the laser to remove diseased tissue. Removing diseased gum tissue will allow your body to heal itself more efficiently. When the gum tissue is detoxified there is less bacteria present thus keeping the tissue healthy and free from infection. Our dental team believes in using non-invasive procedures to prevent and treat periodontal disease. Many other offices still use antibiotics as their first line of defense in treating gum disease. In most cases, treating periodontal disease with antibiotics is providing only a “band-aid” to the condition. Therefore, the periodontal laser is superior for its tissue removal and detoxifying abilities. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office for further information on treating gum inflammation and periodontal disease (951)686-3666.
Oral cancer is considered the sixth most common cancer in the world. Tobacco and alcohol use are considered well known risk factors in developing oral cancer. Recently, human papillomavirus better known as HPV is Typically, oral cancer manifests itself painless however by the time an individual feels pain, it is typically too late to treat. Our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office is dedicated to oral cancer prevention. Our dental team highly recommends all patients be screened once a year for oral cancer. Velscope technology is used along with a clinical examination to detect the early stages of cancer. The Velscope oral cancer screening is non-invasive and only takes a few minutes. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office for a complete oral cancer screening at (951)686-3666. Below are the most common areas where oral cancer manifests itself in the mouth.
- Tongue: The sides of the tongue are the most common locations when finding oral cancer. Typically, cancer on the tongue is found on the left side. Examine both sides of the tongue on a regular basis for red or white lesions.
- Floor of the mouth: This is the second most common area in the mouth for cancer. Cancerous lesions on the floor of the mouth look like a red-white patch or ulcer.
- Buccal mucosa: The cheek tissue can also get cancerous lesions that appear as a red-white patch.
- Gingiva: Cancer also can manifest itself along the gumline as a red-white thickening of the tissue.
YES….acid reflux is extremely harmful to tooth enamel. Acid reflux, GERD, and heartburn causes stomach acid to flow up from the esophagus into the mouth. Once the acid enters the mouth it mixes with saliva and creates an “acid bath” on the teeth. Although enamel is very strong, it cannot withstand the constant acid attack thus the breakdown of enamel occurs. GERD commonly causes dry mouth which causes an added risk of tooth decay because the acid does not rinse off of the tooth surface efficiently. One’s diet also affects acid rising in the stomach. A diet with excessive wine, spicy foods, and coffee can cause high levels of acid in the stomach which in turn causes high acid levels in the mouth. Acid reflux and GERD are often undetected by physicians because in many cases no symptoms occur. Our Riverside Dental Wellness Office often discovers undiagnosed cases of acid reflux and GERD with our clinical examination and Carifree acid level test. Depending on the level of acid in your saliva we may recommend that you visit your primary care physician for an evaluation. If it is determined that you have acid reflux or GERD your physician will place you on a medication to decrease the level of acid in the stomach. Using acid reducer medication along with acid neutralizing mouth rinse and toothpaste will help to protect your enamel. If you suspect that you may have tooth erosion or cavities from acid reflux or GERD please contact our Riverside Dental Wellness office at (951)686-3666.
There are many types of headaches that individuals suffer from on a daily basis. I myself have experienced that “head in a vice” feeling on multiple occasions. Also, waking up to later experience a tension headache is never a good way to start the day. Here at my Riverside Dental Wellness office, treating headaches is of top priority to our dental team. Headaches that appear on a daily basis are in many cases related to a “bite” issue or a “clenching/grinding” issue. This is where my expertise comes in to play as I examine your jaw alignment, teeth alignment, and determine if there is excessive wear on your teeth. If your condition is diagnosed as clenching or grinding then an appliance to wear at night while you sleep is recommended. If your condition is diagnosed to be a bite or jaw discrepancy, I will refer you to an Orthodontist for further evaluation. In many cases, adult orthodontics will fix these discrepancies. When a properly aligned bite or jaw is in place, headaches subside and your bite will be protected from excessive tooth wear. However, if wearing braces is not what you envision for the health of your mouth, don’t worry there are other methods I can use to treat your bite or jaw discrepancy. If you suffer from headaches, cluster headaches, and/or migraines please contact my Riverside Dental Wellness Office at (951)686-3666,
Tips on Preventing Headaches:
- Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water especially when it is hot and dry.
- Avoid caffeine. What caused caffeine headaches is a lack of caffeine in your body. Once you have broken your body’s need for caffeine, you will be able to determine if the caffeine is the cause of your headaches.
- Avoid eyestrain. Have your eyes checked by your eye doctor to determine if changing your prescription or adding glasses to your daily routine eliminates your headaches.
- Migraine headaches can be triggered by food. Common triggers are chocolate, wine, cheese, and nuts.
If these changes in your diet and lifestyle do not help your headache, please contact my Riverside Dental Wellness Office.