Temecula Dentists Advise on How to Choose the Perfect Toothbrush

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The most important tool for maintainin at Oasis Family Dental offer these pointers for finding the best toothbrush for you.

Pick the Right Size for Your Mouth

Ideally, the toothbrush you pick out should be large enough for you to effectively reach and clean every one of your teeth, while the handle needs to be long enough for you to successfully maneuver it in your mouth. The heads of most toothbrushes sold in the stores are an inch long and half-an-inch wide.  For most people, that should work fine.  If it does prove to be the wrong size for you, talk to your dentist about what size he or she recommends.

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Corona Dentist Explains Dental Evidence of Stressful Living

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We often think of stress as bad, but a certain amount of stress is actually good. Our bodies and minds need stress to help them become, and remain, strong. The problem arises when we become overwhelmed by stress. Too much stress comes with a price, mentally and physically. Evidence of stress can present as frustration, irritability, lack of concentration, overeating, poor diet, and insufficient exercise. Some people become depressed, while others experience chronic headaches, bodily aches and pains, weight fluctuations, or insufficient sleep. Stress can negatively impact dental health, as well, as your Corona general dentist explains in this post. (more…)

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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