1. Brush regularly. Brushing for 2 minutes twice daily will remove the sticky plaque that forms on your teeth along with bacteria. Toothpaste with whitening crystals will help to remove daily surface stains from the tooth surface. My preference is to use an electric toothbrush with a 2 minute timer as my brushing tool for at home.
2. Floss daily: Flossing removes the daily build-up of plaque and bacteria in-between the teeth. Consistent removal of build-up in-between the teeth will help decrease your chances of gum disease.
3. Frequent Dental/Dental Hygiene visits. It is ideal to have 2 dental exams a year and a minimum of 2 dental hygiene visits per year. The frequency of dental visits depends on the health of the oral environment. Most individuals who have excellent homecare and no evidence of periodontal disease or history of decay will only need 2 visits per year. It is wise to have these visits so that our dental team can catch any problems that may arise on a smaller level. If you are in need of a dental exam or dental cleaning please call our Riverside Cosmetic Dental Office to schedule an appointment (951)686-3666.
4. Have a healthy diet and lifestyle. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly is not only beneficial for your body and extremely beneficial for the health of your mouth too! For example, vitamin C helps maintain healthy gums and calcium helps keep the teeth and the bone surrounding the teeth strong. Also, foods and drinks containing sugar and citric acid can cause cavities so it is best to limit them.
5. Don’t smoke or use chewing tobacco. Tobacco significantly increases your risk for periodontal disease which leads to bone-loss and tooth-loss over time. The risk of you obtaining oral cancer is much greater than that of an individual who does not use tobacco products.
In dentistry, the “cracked tooth syndrome” can be in many ways a more difficult tooth to diagnose. The discomfort the patient feels is not often directed at one particular tooth, commonly it is associated to multiple teeth. The pain associated with a cracked tooth is a “sharp pain” when biting down. Typically this sharp pain will go away once the pressure is removed from the tooth. It is also more common to have “cracked tooth syndrome” on a back tooth because these teeth receive the most pressure in the mouth.
Here at our Riverside Cosmetic Dental Office, we have the ability to look extremely close at the tooth surface with our intra-oral camera. This high-tech camera allows us as well as you the patient to see a magnified picture of the suspected tooth. Many times the suspected tooth does not show any trauma on x-rays or clinically, which is why using the intra-oral camera is so beneficial to determine what is going on with the tooth. If the suspected area still does not present itself with a solid diagnosis, then a referral to the Endodontist is necessary. Some cracked teeth are able to be saved however many are not. Here at our Riverside Cosmetic Dental Office we will explore all possible causes and treatment options of your cracked tooth. Please contact us if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cracked tooth or if you think you may be at risk (951) 686-3666.
As we are already 4 months into 2010, many of us have either pushed New Year’s resolutions of getting more fit aside or are still going strong at the gym. Here in Southern California our lives leave little time for many of us to commit to regular exercise regimes. With that said, I wanted to share some “eye opening” research that has recently come out in regards to Gum/Periodontal disease and our waistlines. A study preformed by the Harvard School of Public Health indicates that obesity increases the rate of Periodontal disease by 29%. Researchers link this startling news to the fatty tissue that is deposited around the waistline. I don’t know about you, but this study has motivated me to get moving!
Here at our Riverside Dental Office, our Dental Hygienists’ treat Periodontal disease with the latest technology possible including Periodontal Lasers. With a thorough Periodontal “deep” cleaning and use of the Periodontal Laser, your gums become sterile allowing your body to naturally heal itself. The Periodontal Laser is also used in routine cleanings to keep your tissue as bacteria-free as possible. It is extremely important for us to help guide you on your journey for better oral health as well as total body health. Please call our Riverside Cosmetic Dental Office if you think you may have or be at risk for Gum/Periodontal disease (951)686-3666.
The notion of an 8-hour dream-filled night is in most cases impossible for most of society. Our days get busier and evenings are longer leaving us little time to rejuvenate with a good nights rest. So, I thought it would be a good idea to briefly discuss the topic of “sleep apnea.” Sleep apnea is a blockage that stops a breath from occurring. It is frightening to me that sleep apnea goes undiagnosed for approximately 90% of individuals who suffer from it. Even more frightening to me is that these individuals do not know they have a sleep apnea disorder. Below is a list of symptoms associated with sleep apnea:
- Abnormal daytime sleepiness
- Restless sleep often accompanied by loud snoring
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease better known as GERD
- Morning headaches
- Insomnia
- Unexplained weight gain and difficulty in losing weight
- Trouble concentrating
- Mood changes, anxiety and depression
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Decreased sex drive
There has also been evidence suggesting a strong link between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular problems such as heart attack.
Treatments available but the most successful treatment is the CPAP machine (continuous positive air pressure) but the problem with the CPAP is compliance. This device is cumbersome and must be worn at all times while you sleep. It can also cause a severe dry mouth which can lead to many dental problems. An alternative treatment is a dental device called a mandibular advancement splint, MAS for short. Which is much more comfortable and has been shown to be effective for mild and moderate sleep apnea. Usually these devices will also greatly reduce snoring. The topic of sleep apnea is one that needs great attention. If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed above, please call our Riverside Cosmetic Dental Office at (951)686-3666.
Recent studies have discovered the direct relationship between our total body health and the health of our gums. If the gums are not healthy, the immune system kicks into gear and the inflammatory process begins. This inflammatory process causes “pus and bleeding” under the gum tissue which causes the body to react to the tooth and gum in a negative way. Basically, the inflammatory cells cause tissue destruction and over time bone-loss and tissue-loss occur around the teeth.
I recently ran across an article that discusses the link between gum disease (periodontal disease) and catching the flu virus. Interestingly, the influenza virus causes the same inflammatory process that occurs with cardiovascular inflammation. Meaning that when patients have active gum infection, the infection goes directly into the bloodstream and attaches to the blood vessel walls. When the influenza virus is introduced to the body with this type of inflammation, its onset can be more severe and longer lasting.
The key to decreasing your chance of having a more severe reaction to the influenza virus or contracting the virus is to have healthy gum tissue. When the gums are healthy your heart is also healthier. Our Riverside Cosmetic Dental Office is dedicated to your health. Please visit our office to be sure that your gums, heart, and total body are in good health (951)686-3666.