The Importance of Oral Hygiene

Posted

Nobody wants to have receding gums, bad breath, or yellow teeth. But there’s more to oral hygiene than appearances. Yes, we all want pretty white smiles; but maintaining proper oral health is also essential to our overall health. The health of our mouths is closely connected to the health of our bodies, and our Temecula dentists would like to impart the importance of oral hygiene.

Mouth and Body, Together as One

Research has shown that gum disease can lead to more serious problems than tooth loss and a less-than-esthetically-pleasing smile. People with gum disease, also called periodontal disease, are more likely to suffer from other inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Poor oral hygiene also puts you at risk for the following complications:

  • Stroke—bacteria in the mouth may bind with plaques in the arteries of the brain and form clots, causing a stroke.
  • Heart attack—much like with stroke, oral bacteria may bind with plaques in the arteries leading to the heart and cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Oral Health Problems

Failure to maintain proper oral hygiene can cause several oral problems, including gum disease and tooth decay.

Gum disease—Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can be reversed if it is caught early. If allowed to progress, however, gingivitis can develop into full-blown periodontitis. This more serious form of gum disease can lead to loss of gum tissue and teeth.

Tooth decay—Tooth decay occurs when bacteria form a sticky film on the teeth and gums called plaque and reacts with the sugars in the foods we eat to create acids. These acids eat away at the protective enamel on teeth and cause tooth decay.

At-home Oral Care

Proper oral hygiene starts at home. It only takes a few minutes each day to safeguard yourself against a host of oral health problems and more serious total health complications.

  • Brush your teeth twice a day
  • Floss once a day
  • Use an antibacterial mouth rinse to help fight plaque (more…)

Dental Hygiene Quiz from Riverside Dentists

Posted

. Check to see which questions you got right by clicking “Read More.”

Q1. How many times a day should you floss?

A. At least twice

B. Once a day

C. Flossing is unnecessary

D. Every hour

 

Q2. What type of toothbrush bristles should I use?

A. Hard

B. Medium

C. Soft

D. It doesn’t matter

 

Q3. True or False: can alleviate tooth sensitivity?

 

Q4. How often should I change toothbrushes?

A. Annually

B. Every three months

C. Daily

D. There’s no need to change toothbrushes (more…)

Choosing a General Dentist in Riverside County

Posted

Your total health starts with your mouth, and oral care starts with your general dentist. A general dentist is the dental professional who evaluates your oral health, ensures your teeth and gums are healthy, and refers you to a specialist if need be. Today, our Riverside County dentists explain what a general dentist does and offer some at-home oral hygiene tips.

What’s a General Dentist?

A general dentist offers a wide range of services. He or she can refer you to a specialist, if necessary, but has expertise in a multitude of fields, including:

  • Orthodontics
  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Restorative dentistry
  • Teeth cleanings
  • Endodontics (root canal treatment)
  • Dental surgery

To become a general dentist, one must complete at least three years of undergraduate coursework, often with an emphasis in science, before completing four years of dental school. A prospective dentist must then pass a licensure exam in the state in which he or she wants to practice dentistry.

The Front Line

Your general dentist can identify small problems in your oral health and treat them before they get out of hand. He or she can closely monitor changes in your oral health because you should be scheduling visits every six months. General dentists watch closely for signs of tooth decay, which can eventually cause tooth loss; gum disease, which can also cause tooth loss; and oral cancer, which can be fatal. Early diagnosis and treatment improves the prognosis of an oral cancer sufferer.

Your general dentist’s office is also where you get your teeth cleaned. Twice-yearly cleanings allow a hygienist to remove plaque and tartar that builds up over six months, and he or she can polish away six months of coffee and/or tobacco stains. (more…)

Osteoporosis and Oral Health

Posted

In the United States today, there are approximately 10 million people living with osteoporosis, a medical condition in which bones become fragile and brittle. An additional 34 million Americans have low bone density, increasing their risk for osteoporosis and broken bones. Studies have suggested that osteoporosis could be linked with oral health. Today, our dentists from Riverside Dental Group explain the connection between gum disease and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis primarily affects women. Eighty percent of people suffering from the disease are female. Osteoporosis causes the bones to weaken. Unfortunately, people can’t feel their bones weakening. They might have osteoporosis and never know it until they break a bone. The disease can lead to broken bones from minor falls, or something as simple as a sneeze, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Some people are more at risk for developing osteoporosis. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, low sex hormones, inactivity, and being naturally thin are all risk factors for the disease.

Low Bone Density and Gum Disease

A study published in the Journal of Periodontology followed 1,256 postmenopausal women, looking for a connection between gum disease, also called periodontal disease, and bone loss in the oral cavity. The results showed that women with periodontal bacteria were more prone to bone loss in the mouth. Another study in the Journal of Periodontology suggested that women who supplement with estrogen, the female sex hormone, within the first five years after menopause can slow progression of periodontal disease. The study indicated that estrogen supplementation by women with signs of osteoporosis seemed to inhibit inflammation of gum tissue and decrease destruction of the fibers and bone that support teeth. (more…)

Welcome to Our Blog

Posted

At Oasis Family Dental, we want our patients to be as educated as possible about oral health, trends in dental treatment, and healthy living. Our Temecula dentists at Oasis Family Dental believe that educated patients are best equipped to make informed decisions about their dental care and healthcare. This blog will deliver information about nutrition, oral hygiene, dentistry, and anything else we feel will improve quality of life for you and your family, in a format similar to a family magazine.

Oasis Family Dental

Our Temecula dentists Dr. Y. Stephen Sugiono, Dr. Tonia Cantrell, Dr. Norman Carter, and Dr. Stephen Taylor offer a variety of general and more specialized services.

  • General Dentistry—Also known as “family dentistry,” this includes preventive, restorative and esthetic dental services.
  • Cosmetic Dentistry—Our dentists focus on the functionality of your teeth but also work hard to improve the appearance of your smile, utilizing veneers, porcelain crowns and whitening.
  • Implant Dentistry—Many patients who have lost teeth and want the look and feel of full smile can benefit from implant dentistry. Artificial teeth are attached to titanium rods that are inserted in the jaw bone.
  • Pediatric Dentistry—Oral health begins long before children get their adult teeth. Dental hygiene and professional checkups are important during childhood to ensure a beautiful and healthy adult smile. Pediatric dentists communicate with children in a way they can understand and provide necessary dental services with the child’s age in mind. (more…)

What You Didn’t Know About Your Jaw Explained by Moreno Valley Dentists

Posted

explain how teeth keep your jawbone healthy, and what to do if you have missing teeth.

How Your Teeth Connect To Jaw Joint Health

Did you know that a misaligned bite can be detrimental to your jaw? We use our temporomanidublar joint to chew, open our mouths, and speak. Therefore, it only makes sense that when your is amiss, your jaw muscle health can be affected. TMJ disorder is a condition related to issues with your temporomandibular joint. One of the main causes of TMJ disorder is malocclusion, or misaligned bite. This is because the jaw muscles constantly struggle to hold misaligned teeth in the correct position. The symptoms of a malocclusion can be harmful not only to your teeth, but also to your overall health.

How Missing Teeth Contribute to Alveolar Atrophy

Alveolar atrophy is one of the hidden detrimental effects of . This phenomena involves jawbone shrinkage due to a lack of stimulation from tooth roots. When a tooth is missing, that section of your jawbone seems to be no longer needed; therefore, your body will stop sending nutrients to that part of the jaw. The result is a weaker jawbone, deteriorated from lack of use. (more…)

What You Eat Can Help or Harm Your Dental Health

Posted

Your diet affects more than your weight or overall health. What you eat also affects the health of your mouth. Your mouth is constantly coated by a thin biofilm of bacteria and plaque. When certain ingredients in food and beverages come into contact with this biofilm, they secrete harmful acids that attack tooth enamel. Your Corona dentist gives advice on maintaining a diet that will benefit your dental health.

Refined Sugar and Your Teeth

Refined sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates cause a reaction in plaque when they meet. The byproduct of plaque absorbing and processing these substances is lactic acid, which saps minerals from your teeth in a process called demineralization. Because your enamel is made of mineral crystals (i.e., calcium and phosphate), after acid drains the tooth’s minerals, the enamel cannot remineralize and is vulnerable to attack. As summer dawns upon us, lemonade and iced tea become the popular thirst-quenchers of the season. Aside from their sugar content, lemonade and other fruit juices also contain harmful acids. If you consume a sugary beverage, try to do so quickly in one setting, as opposed to prolonged sipping over time. Also, rinse your mouth with water after finishing your drink to flush away any food debris, bacteria, and lingering plaque. (more…)

Riverside Cosmetic Dentists Explain the Porcelain Veneers Process

Posted

.

Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation

At our , our cosmetic dentist will discuss your smile desires with you. Would you like to close smile gaps that not only look embarrassing but add excessive wear to your teeth? Are you tired of noticing your chipped tooth in the mirror or is a jagged edge catching your tongue? Perhaps your teeth have permanent stains form medications or just unslightly yellowing. You might be surprised to find that porcelain veneers can actually cover all of these smile imperfections at once.

Unique Veneers Specifications

After our has determined the right type of veneers for you, we will take an impression of your teeth. This impression will be used in the fabrication of your veneers to give you optimal attachment. Our cosmetic dentist will determine the exact shade of your smile so that your dental restorations blend seamlessly and appear natural. The specifications and impression re sent to a ceramics lab for your porcelain veneers to be sculpted by skillful hands.

Smile Makeover Completion

When your veneers arrive at our Riverside dental office, our cosmetic dentist can place the veneers in one office visit. This process involves preparing your teeth for optimal attachment, placing them with dental bonding, and hardening the bond with a curing light. During the entire process, our dentist will make adjustments to the restorations to match your facial structure, occlusion, and smile makeover desires. After a quick polishing, your new smile is ready to show off to the world. (more…)

3 Rules for Chewing Gum from Riverside Dentists

Posted

encourage you to go ahead and chew your gum. But before you pop a piece in your mouth, remember these three rules: 1. choose a sugar-free gum; 2. consider xylitol; and 3. no marathon chewing.

How Sugar-Free Gum Can Prevent Cavities

Our Riverside dentists agree that brushing your teeth after every meal is a good relies on sugar, reintroducing this acid forming substance into your mouth can actually have opposite effects by contributing to cavities. Along with encouraging saliva to wash away bacteria, sugar-free chewing gum can also help dislodge food particles stuck between your teeth.

How Xylitol Fights Back Against Gum Disease and Tooth Decay

May gum manufacturers have taken sugar-free gum one step further by introducing this miracle ingredient into their product. A natural sweetener, xylitol tastes similar to sugar but actually kills pathogens instead of feeding them. Xylitol attracts the bacteria responsible for tooth decay and , traps them, and starves them. Look on the ingredients list for sugar-free gum made with xylitol. Trident is one of the major brands of chewing gum with this sugar alternative.

Spit Your Gum Out to Prevent TMJ Issues

Fifteen minutes is the maximum time you should chew your gum. Any time over that could result in jaw muscle exhaustion. Continued excessive gum chewing may even create problems with your jawbone health, known as . Set a timer on your phone if you must, but avoid chewing gum for long periods of time as the harmful effects may outweigh the benefits. (more…)

Interesting Facts about Our Furry (Slimy or Scaly) Friends’ Smiles

Posted

Fluoride Treatment… for Felines

If you are a frequent reader of our . However, did you know it can do the same for cats? Studies show fluoride supplements in cat water can improve their oral health. Keep fluoride away from your puppy though. Fluoride is considered poisonous for dogs.

The 24,972nd Molar: Snail Wisdom Teeth

The average human mouth can hold up to 28 teeth. That’s why when erupt, they typically crowd surrounding teeth or become impacted. Wisdom teeth, called the third molar, come in behind your two back molars on the top and bottom of your smile. Did you know that snails’ mouths, although microscopic, can hold up to 25,000 teeth? Less impressive, armadillos rack up an average of 104 teeth.

Nature’s Feathery Dental Hygienist

The crocodile bird has a tough job. This smile creature hops into the open mouth of a crocodile to remove food particles and parasites. Out of gratitude for alleviating reptile toothache, the crocodile rewards his feathery friend by not eating him. Don’t have a tiny bird to clean your teeth every night? Try flossing daily to prevent plaque buildup and instead.

Severe Pachyderm Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding for humans can cause serious damage to your teeth and your overall health. Some symptoms of teeth grinding, called bruxism, include earaches, headaches, sensitive teeth, and chipped teeth. Teeth grinding, for elephants, is just all in a day’s work. Overtime, elephants grind their 7 inch molars down to a nub. This is no matter, however, because the elephant will simply grow a new tooth. This happens about six times over the elephant’s lifetime.  (more…)