Riverside Dental Reviews Worst Habits for Dental Health

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Recently we reviewed some basic tips for maintaining your good oral hygiene. This week, Riverside Dental Group is going to point out that what you don’t do is just as important as what you do to maintain a clean and healthy mouth and strong teeth. We develop habits in all areas of our lives as part of our daily routine. Below is a list of common bad habits that are destructive to your oral health and tips to help avoid, or abandon, these habits if you suffer from them.

  • Smoking—The destruction that tobacco brings upon your dental health is no secret. Aside from lung diseases such as emphysema and lung cancer, the harmful chemicals in tobacco can also lead to gum disease and oral cancer. These chemicals can irritate the gums—causing them to recede from the teeth and expose the roots—and interfere with gum tissue cells, making smokers more vulnerable to periodontal (gum) disease.
  • Crunching—It seems natural to chew on the ice cubes left over after you finish a refreshing soda or iced tea, but the rigidity and bitter cold temperatures of ice can damage the structure of your teeth. The pressure can fracture your teeth or cause cracks to form in the enamel, which is the protective layer of your teeth, and lead to more serious dental problems down the road. Popcorn kernels, hard candy, pens and pencils, and the pits of fruits such as peaches, plums, and mangos, are also among the things that you should avoid crunching between your teeth. (more…)

Riverside Dentists Recommend Trying These Healthy Sugar Alternatives

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How Sugar Causes Cavities

Sugar is one of the most notorious villains of dental health. When sugar invades your mouth it combines with plaque and saliva to form enamel-eroding acid. Some of the usual offenders for sugar are obvious. Candy and sweet treats are some of the worst foods for your oral health, but did you know that sugar also lurks in unexpected places like refined carbohydrates?

How Carbohydrates Can Contribute to Tooth Decay

Have you ever noticed that white bread in sandwiches or dinner rolls often stick to your teeth? In this chemical reaction, the sugar fermentation from the bread actually softens your tooth enamel temporarily, making them susceptible to tooth decay. Replacing sugar with healthier alternatives is one way you can protect your teeth from acid erosion and cavities while enjoying something sweet.

Xylitol Protects Enamel and Fights Plaque

For sugar replacement that might actually be good for your teeth, our Riverside dentists recommend xylitol. Found in the fibers of fruits and vegetables, xylitol is extracted from berries, oats, mushrooms, and corn husks. Xylitol is non-fermentable, so it will not develop sugar after combining with saliva, unlike some carbohydrates. Even more beneficial for cavity prevention. xylitol helps remineralize enamel. As a result, your teeth have better defenses against bacteria and plaque. In fact, xylitol actually fights against plaque by attracting and starving the harmful bacteria in your mouth.

Stevia Replaces Sugar in Baked Goods

Since xylitol is non-fermentable, this sweet alternative is not recommended for making bread. For baking, our Riverside dentists recommend stevia. A sugar alternative from the sunflower family, stevia is also called sweet leaf or sugar leaf. This sweetener is often used in low-carbohydrate alternatives and may even help reduce hypertension. (more…)

Welcome to the Dental Associates of Corona blog!

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Welcome to the Dental Associates of Corona blog! We’re so happy that you’re taking an active interest in your dental health and health care. Over the next few months, the pages of this blog will be filled with everything you ever wanted and needed to know about the health of your teeth and gums, the beauty of your smile, and top-notch dental care in Corona.

Some of the topics you can expect to see discussed on this blog include:

  • Basics of Brushing and Flossing
  • Why Going to the Dentist Every Six Months is so Important
  • Can Cosmetic Dentistry Transform Your Smile?
  • Healthy Eating for a Healthy Smile
  • Who are Your Corona Dentists?
  • Much, Much More (more…)

How Your Mouth Behaves Like An Ecosystem

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Not All Oral Bacteria Are Harmful

You may be surprised to find that your mouth has anywhere from 10-50 billion oral bacteria that thrive or die under specific conditions controlled by your oral hygiene, lifestyle habits, and diet. Unique types of bacteria are responsible for oral health issues like tooth decay, halitosis (chronic bad breath), and gum disease. At the same time, positive bacteria help your mouth protect itself against these harmful pathogens.

Smoking Kills Good Bacteria

Microbiologists study how healthy mouths are coated with a thick “forest” of good bacteria which prevents pathogens from touching down on your mouth. Recent research by a professor of periodontology at Ohio State University describes how smokers mouths are toxic to these helpful oral bacteria. In fact, the chemicals from smoking actually cause your body to turn against these positive bacteria, making your mouth a friendlier environment for pathogens that cause gingivitis, bad breath, and cavities. Professor Kumar describes the phenomena like a yard with weeds. An imbalance in the chemical composition of the soil allows weeds to sprout up and choke out healthy plants in the same way that smokers’ mouths destroy good bacteria.

The Ecosystem Inside Your Mouth

The mouth behaves so much like a forest that ecologists are taking an interest in how the 50-75 different species in the mouth cohabitate. According to a recent NPR story, studies show that different types of bacteria congregate in certain areas of the mouth, much the way that different animal species choose specific parts of the forest to live. For example, the bacteria on the back of your tongue may be a different species than the bacteria on the tip of your tongue. (more…)

Common Questions about Gum Disease Treatment

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Who is a periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who is certified through advanced course work, experience, and studies in periodontics, one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Periodontists specialize in treating gum disease  using specific techniques, as well as preventing and diagnosing periodontal disease. Since gum disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss, periodontists also specialize in one of the most effective tooth replacement techniques, dental implants. At Riverside Dental Associates, we have an experienced periodontist on our team to help you reclaim your oral health from the ravages of periodontal disease.

How can a periodontist help me?

During the first appointment, the periodontist will examine your health records for specific medications, diseases, or hormonal conditions that may contribute to gum disease or hinder successful treatment. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause are all characterized by hormonal changes that affect the course of periodontal disease. Our Riverside periodontist will also take into account any diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory diseases that you may have had before or after gum disease.

How does a periodontist diagnose gum disease severity?

Our experienced periodontist will determine the severity of your periodontal disease by assessing gum recession, probing periodontal pockets, and taking x-rays to check for bone damage beneath the gum line. As periodontitis progresses, gingival tissue recedes further, the pockets between teeth and gums become deeper, and eventually, the infection reaches the jawbone. (more…)

Your Dental Health in Moreno Valley

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At Dental Associates of Moreno Valley, we strive to help our patients achieve and maintain healthy, beautiful smiles. Most people know that brushing and flossing contribute to healthy teeth and gums, but what many people don’t know is that the formula for quality dental health is tri-fold. It takes brushing, flossing, and receiving professional dental care to maintain a truly healthy smile. Moreno Valley dentists Dr. James Lampasi, Dr. Johnny Koo, Dr. Tonia Cantrell, Dr. Norman Carter, Dr. Stephen Taylor, and our entire team are here to help you receive the dental care you need and deserve.

General Dental Care in Moreno

The American Dental Association recommends that you see the dentist every six months for professional dental cleanings and checkups, and we agree. If you have good oral health, we’d like to see you in our dental chair for routine dental appointments every six months. If you’re overcoming a dental health condition, we’d like to see you more often to ensure that your treatments are working. (more…)

Welcome to the Dental Associates of Moreno Valley Blog!

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Welcome to the Dental Associates of Moreno Valley blog! Here, you’ll find all of the information you ever wanted to know about your dental health and your dental care at Dental Associates of Moreno Valley in Moreno Valley, California.

Your Dental Care in Moreno Valley

At Dental Associates of Moreno Valley, we offer comprehensive dental care, which means that we provide dental treatments and services of all kinds to patients of all ages from across the greater Riverside area. Some of these services include:

General Dentistry

  • Dental Cleanings
  • Dental Exams
  • Children’s Dentistry (more…)

Brushing Up On the Basics: Oral Hygiene Tips from Riverside Dentists

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If you are like most Americans, you probably learned how to care for your teeth at a young age. There was probably a week dedicated to getting to know your teeth in the second grade where an animated tooth told you to brush in the morning and before bed and go easy on the candy. While you may think you know everything you need to know about at-home dental care, you may have lost some of that knowledge along the way. Freshen up your adult oral hygiene routine by brushing up on the basics of caring for your smile.

When is the best time to brush your teeth?

Many people think brushing your teeth immediately after eating is an excessive, yet effective way of brushing your teeth. However, new studies show that brushing your teeth directly after eating might actually be harmful for your tooth enamel. When you eat soft breads, pastries, and other fermentable carbohydrates, your enamel temporarily becomes soft. This is because the enamel is being attacked by sugars and acid formation. Harsh brushing at this stage could actually do more harm to your teeth than good. This is why more dentists recommend brushing before bed and when you get up in the morning.

Why do I have bad breath in the morning?

In fact, brushing at these times in the day is crucial to protecting your teeth. Your mouth relies on saliva to wash away food particles, dead cells, and bacteria to keep your mouth fresh and clean. During the night, your saliva production dramatically drops, leaving you that stale breath feeling in the morning. Brushing before bed will remove the food particles and bacteria that can wreak havoc on your teeth overnight. In the morning, brushing your teeth removes the buildup of dead cells that your saliva did not wash away during your sleep. (more…)

Prosthodontic Treatment and Oral Surgery in Riverside, CA

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Last week, we discussed the orthodontic, periodontic, and endodontic services we provide to our Riverside, CA dental patients at Dental Associates of Riverside. Today, we’d like to discuss two other dental services we offer that go beyond the realm of general and preventive dental care: prosthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

What is Prosthodontic Treatment?

Prosthodontics is the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of our patients. (more…)

How much do you know about TMJ disorder?

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TMJ Disorder Questions

Q1. Which of the following does not describe TMJ disorder?

A. Issues with jaw pain

B. TMD

C. Temporary mouth joint disorder

D. Temporomandibular joint disorder

 

Q2. Which of the following is the temporomandibular joint?

A. A joint in your neck

B. The hinge joint for your lower jaw

C. Your knee joints

D. None of the above

 

Q3. True or False: Teeth grinding is both a symptom and a cause of TMJ disorder.

 

Q4. Which of the following is not a symptom of TMJ disorder?

A. Bruxism, or teeth grinding

B. Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods

C. Earaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain

D. Excessive tooth wear and loss of enamel

 

Q5. What are some effective treatments for TMJ disorder?

A. Correcting malocclusion

B. Nightguards

C. Stress relief

D. All of the above (more…)