Moreno Valley Dentists Discuss Relieving Toothache Pain

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If you have been unfortunate enough to have had a toothache, you know that it is a painful experience. Pain throbs around the tooth and gum area, sometimes accompanied by a headache. Toothaches make it difficult to chew. Tooth pain makes sleep difficult. Why do we have tooth pain? What can we do about it? Riverside Dental Group explains basic facts about toothache pain and treatment.

Possible Causes of a Toothache

When someone describes a toothache, the pain may come from the tooth, the jaw, or the gum in the area of the tooth. Some causes directly relate to problems with the teeth while others do not. Possible causes of toothache include:

  • a dental cavity, the most common cause
  • an exposed tooth root, due to receding gums
  • a cracked tooth, possibly due to injury or teeth grinding
  • nerve pain from exposure or damage
  • an abscessed tooth, a condition in which the dental pulp, or nerve, becomes infected
  • an ear infection
  • a sinus infection (more…)

Tooth Loss Creates Problems in a Zipper and in Your Jaw

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Gideon Sundback designed the modern zipper in the early 1900’s. Since then, the design has been improved greatly. Early manufacturing materials included only metal while today’s zippers can be made from plastic and other sources. You find zippers in clothing, on backpacks, purses, tents, boat windows, sleeping bags, suitcases, and in many other applications. When a tooth is missing on a zipper, the zipper doesn’t function properly. In fact, the item the zipper supports doesn’t function properly. When you lose a tooth from your mouth, a similar problem occurs. Riverside Dental Group discusses how missing teeth can result in an improperly functioning mouth.

Causes of Tooth Loss

The main cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease. Generally, gum disease results from poor dental care, although some medical conditions, such as diabetes, are linked with gum disease. People who do not brush and floss properly each day trap food and bacteria in their mouths (more…)

Riverside Dentists Help You Sort Through Teeth Whitening Options

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An ideal smile shows bright white teeth. Most children and young adults achieve this goal. As we age, our teeth discolor from food stains and from natural processes. Many people can get their bright smile back through teeth whitening methods. The problem becomes choosing from various over-the-counter (OTC) and dental office methods to be used at home or in the dental office. Riverside Dental Group describes teeth whitening options and considerations to help you.

Types of Teeth Whitening

When considering teeth whitening options, know your teeth, your time, and your budget. Yellowish or brownish teeth respond best to teeth whiteners. Teeth whitening requires healthy, natural teeth for an effective process. If your teeth meet those criteria, consider the relative cost, convenience, and amount of time for the level of results offered.

  • Baking Soda (OTC): Brush your teeth with a pea-sized amount of baking soda mixed with a few drops of water for the least expensive teeth whitening experience. Once per week will provide a small but noticeable improvement for only a dollar or so per month. (more…)

Good News for Chocolate Lovers from Temecula Dentists

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Do you have chocolate cravings? Do you wish you had a chocolate bar right now? Chocolate cravings are common. The need for chocolate may stem from physical or psychological needs. Good news for the chocolate lovers: chocolate eaten in moderation may benefit your dental health. Please do not rush out and buy all of the chocolate in the candy store. Read your Temecula dentists’ information on how chocolate can have a positive impact on your teeth.

Hooray for Cocoa Beans

The cocoa beans in chocolate contain flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins. Polyphenols and tannins have been identified as substances that inhibit the growth and acid production of plaque-producing bacteria. Less plaque means fewer cavities and incidences of gum disease. (more…)

Riverside Dentists Discuss How Turkeys Chew Without Teeth

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Thanksgiving came and went, but many people still have a little turkey left over for delicious sandwiches. People throughout the country devoured food over the holiday and probably consumed that food with the help of their teeth. Taking care of teeth is certainly important around the holiday season since people see an uptick in consumption sugary treats and starches. Turkeys don’t eat their food in quite the same way as humans. The dentists from Riverside Dental Group discuss how turkeys chew without teeth.

Bird Time

The avian digestive system operates quite differently from our human digestive system. For starters, we typically do not begin the digestive process by breaking our food into a paste. The turkey uses strong saliva to break down their food before sending food down into their stomach. Strong stomach acids continue the digestive process. Finally, the turkey stomach sends their food through the intestinal system for nutrient extraction. Humans can’t use our saliva alone to convert large food items into a paste. Humans benefit greatly from teeth, especially when consuming hard fruits and vegetables or tough meats.

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Corona Dentists: Turkeys Chew Food without Teeth

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Now that Thanksgiving smells fill the air, oven-roasted turkeys star in the show. Around the country, people will set their sights on devouring a hearty holiday feast filled with vegetables, sugary treats, and starchy side dishes. Thanksgiving can present a difficult challenge for teeth. When thinking about eating a holiday turkey, the thought might arise of how turkeys chew. In fact, turkeys use their entire digestive system to help them break down and chew food. The Corona dentists from Dental Associates of Corona discuss how turkeys chew without teeth.

Turkey Food

The way turkeys chew involves a couple components of the avian digestive system. First, turkeys use their saliva to efficiently break down food. Humans also use saliva, but do not break down food with same efficiency. Then, the turkeys use their strong stomach acids to continue to break down their food. Sadly, humans still require their teeth to chew, but studies show that over 50% of people will suffer from adult tooth loss at some point. Losing a tooth could signal the presence of gum disease.

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Riverside Dentists: Thanksgiving Tooth Stain Quiz

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As the holidays continue in full swing, more people will begin preparing their holiday feasts. No table should go without a holiday fowl cooked to perfection. Thanksgiving provides families with togetherness, joy, and an opportunity to share in a glass of red wine. As families gather this time of year, the dentists from Riverside Dental Group thought they would develop a short true/false quiz to inform and educate and about tooth stains during the holidays.

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Temecula Dentists: Brighten Your Smile, Outlook for the Holidays

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This time of year, many people face an increase in the amount of stress and anxiety they must endure. The holidays generally serve as a time for togetherness, joy, and tranquility. So, why do people experience increased stress levels? Perhaps stained teeth result in stress for people. Feeling inhibited about smiling can negatively impact a person’s mood. Additionally, pitching a beautiful smile with confidence can convey high self-esteem and wellbeing. The Temecula dentists from The Oasis Family Dental discuss how to brighten your smile and your outlook this holiday season.

Holiday Teeth Staining

One common problem that people run into this time of year involves stained teeth. Many people consume coffee on a regular basis, smoke, and indulge in darkly pigmented sodas and other food products like soy sauce. Over the course of the year, these products can leave teeth stained, discolored, or yellowed. Other holiday favorites like red wine can certainly lead to tooth stains. One quick way to fight red wine tooth stains: eat cheese before indulging.

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Riverside Dentists: Dental Concerns for Thanksgiving

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As the holidays approach with increasing quickness, more and more people begin to plan their holiday feasts. Nearly every table throughout Riverside and the rest of the country will feature a holiday turkey or goose. In addition to the holiday fowl, a variety of starches, vegetables, and sweet treat will likely end up on plates everywhere. The dentists from Dental Associates of Riverside discuss how to keep teeth healthy and bright during the holiday season.

Cranberry Advantages

Recent studies indicate that compounds found inside cranberries can potentially limit tooth decay. The compounds inhibit the ability of harmful bacteria to cling to the surface of teeth known as tooth enamel. When bacteria receive a dose of sugars or carbohydrates, they launch an all-out assault on tooth enamel. These assaults are commonly referred to as acid attacks. Someday, scientists hope to incorporate these compounds into toothpaste, throat lozenges, and sugar-free gum.

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