Can Soy Milk be Bad for Your Teeth?

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In a health-conscious world, the word “soy” receives mixed reviews. Some praise soy for its health benefits as an alternative to such foods as milk and meat, while some consider it useless, if not downright harmful, to our physical wellbeing. A new study from University of Melbourne’s Dental School in Australia suggests that soy milk may actually be more harmful to your teeth compared to cow’s milk. Your Corona dentists explore the study and what it may mean for soy milk consumers.

Production of Acid

Bacteria constantly form in your mouth and accumulate into a biofilm known as plaque, which coats your entire mouth. The bacteria is a mix of helpful and harmful microbes, and in a healthy mouth, the bacterial population can be controlled by natural defenses like saliva and tooth enamel. When you eat or drink, the bacteria metabolize sugars and carbs and excrete lactic acid on the surface of your teeth. Acids weaken your enamel, and sap minerals from your tooth so the enamel cannot regain its strength. When the enamel is sufficiently weakened, bacteria have access to the interior of your tooth, where they can cause decay and severe sensitivity. Cow’s milk contains high volumes of calcium and phosphate, the same minerals your enamel is made of, and that acids siphon from your tooth. By drinking milk, you can assist your enamel in remineralization by providing a source of calcium and phosphate. Cow’s milk also has the added benefit of neutralizing acids, lessening their attack on your teeth. (more…)

Can a Temecula Prosthodontist Help Me?

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Have you lost teeth due to a traumatic injury, tooth decay, or gum disease? If there was a type of dentist who specialized in restoring the function and esthetics of your mouth, would you want to see that dentist? Well, that specialty exists. It’s called prosthodontics, and it’s one of the services offered by our Temecula dentists. Today, we’ll hear from our Temecula dentists about prosthodontics and how it can help people with missing or deficient teeth.

Prosthodontics Defined

A prosthodontist is a dentist who receives two to three years of additional training to focus on the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation to restore the function, esthetic, and feel of natural teeth for patients with missing or deficient teeth. Prosthodontics is one of only nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. A general dentist must complete seven years of college and dental school before taking and passing a licensure exam in the state in which they intend to practice. A prosthodontist must do that, but then complete an additional two to three years at a university or hospital.

Areas of Expertise

A prosthodontist uses the many options available to develop a personlized treatment plan employing one or many of the following treatments:

Crowns—A crown is an artificial cap that is placed over a tooth to restore its look, feel, and function.

Implants—An implant is a rod or cylinder, made of titanium or titanium alloy, that is inserted into the jaw bone. An artificial tooth is then placed on the implant, creating the feel and appearance of a natural tooth.

Dentures—Dentures can either be full, in which an entire upper or lower arch is replaced with a prosthetic device, or partial, in which many natural teeth are retained, but supplemented with prosthetic teeth to restore a full bite.

Veneers—A veneer is a thin layer of material placed on a tooth to improve its appearance and function. (more…)

Moreno Valley Dentists Explain Periodontal Disease

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Periodontal (gum) disease affects 75% of Americans and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Unfortunately, once gum disease develops, you cannot cure it. You can, however, treat gum disease and prevent it from completely destroying your oral health and structures. In order to raise awareness of the perils of gum disease, your Moreno Valley dentists offer this important information on preventing the progressive condition.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Many people do not realize that tooth decay and gum disease are not the same thing. Tooth decay results when the bacteria in your mouth digest sugars and starches and produce acids that attack your tooth enamel. The acids weaken enamel until bacteria are able to slip past it and infect the interior of your tooth. Gum disease, by contrast, occurs when bacterial plaque causes an inflammatory reaction in your gums. The suspected main cause of gum disease is the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, or P. gingivalis. This microbe is known to incite the body’s inflammatory response to infection. P. gingivalis is also the suspected link between gum disease and chronic inflammatory diseases like heart disease and diabetes. When your gums are infected, bacteria can enter your blood stream through the soft, infected gum tissue. When P. gingivalis enters the blood stream, it can incite the same inflammatory response in other body tissues. (more…)

Why do Gums Suffer with Age?

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Periodontitis, or gum disease, causes excessive gum bleeding and bone loss, which eventually leads to tooth loss. In fact, periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the US. The swelling and bleeding associated with gum disease is caused by an over-active immune response to the bacteria in your mouth. As we grow older, we become more susceptible to inflammatory diseases, including gum disease. Your Corona dentists explore new research from Queen Mary, University of London that may explain why gum disease is more common with old age.

The Immune System Controller

When your body detects infection, your immune system immediately reacts to combat the infection. White blood cells are your immune system’s agents in this battle and a common sign that your body is fighting infection is inflammation. When harmful bacteria colonies increase in number in your mouth, your body responds by sending white blood cells in response to the threat, and your gums often become inflamed while your immune system goes to work. The University of London study revealed that gum health deterioration is associated with a drop in the levels of a chemical called Del-1. The purpose of this protein is to restrain the immune system by preventing white blood cells from attacking the mouth (thus reducing inflammation). (more…)

Get to Know Your Gum Disease Terminology

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What is periodontal disease?

is another word for gum disease. This involves an infection of the gums that wreaks havoc on many aspects of your health. Typically a result of incomplete oral hygiene, bacteria and plaque builds up along the gum line, allowing for the gum tissue to become infected and inflamed. Without treatment, periodontal disease will progress to devastating side effects for your dental health including tooth loss and jawbone deterioration.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the early form of gum disease. It presents its symptoms with gum bleeding during brushing, puffy, deep red-looking gums, and sometimes . Gingivitis is usually the first sign of gum disease, so periodontal treatment at this stage is absolutely necessary to prevent further complications. Usually a thorough dental cleaning and continued meticulous oral hygiene will keep gingivitis at bay.

What is a periodontal pocket?

A periodontal pocket is the space of separation between your gum tissue and teeth when gum disease is present. As the gingival infection grows, the gum tissue detaches from the tooth from the crown to the root. This allows plaque and bacteria to create a cesspool of infection. Our can measure the depth of these pockets to determine the severity of your gum disease and implement an effective treatment plan.

What is scaling and root planing?

One of the most successful , this non-surgical therapy removes infection in periodontal pockets from around the tooth and below the gum line. This process is called scaling. For the root planing, your Riverside dental hygienist will use special tools to smooth the tooth root and make it less hospitable to bacteria and periodontal pockets. Sometimes scaling and root planing will be accompanied by antibiotics to expedite healing. (more…)

Dental Exams in Temecula

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You might think that if your teeth are straight and white, your smile is in perfect shape. This may very well be true, but looks can be deceiving. It doesn’t take tooth pain or a visible problem to necessitate a visit to the dentist. You should visit your dentist every six months for dental cleanings and checkups for the maintenance of your healthy smile, if nothing else. Today, our Temecula dentists would like to share with you what you can expect at a dental exam.

Now or Later

One of the benefits of visiting your dentist every six months is that he or she can closely monitor your oral health for signs of changes. In fact, because dentists recommend semi-annual visits, they are often the first to notice symptoms of diseases or problems that can either progress or cause other problems if left untreated. Many people are hesitant to get a dental exam because they don’t want the dentist telling them the things they need to have treated; but preventive dentistry and early treatment are almost always less costly than treating ailments in their later stages. Sometimes waiting could cost you your life.

Oral Cancer

A dental checkup allows your dentist to check your mouth for signs of oral cancer. Malignancies in the mouth, lips, and throat affect more than 40,000 new patients each year. One fifth as many will die. But early detection and treatment can dramatically improve the chances of successful treatment.

Gum Disease

During a dental checkup, your dentist can check for signs of gum disease. If detected and treated in its earliest stage, gingivitis, gum disease can be reversed. If gum disease progresses, it can eventually lead to tooth loss. Also, a hygienist will remove plaque from between teeth and under the gum line. This will help prevent gum disease.

Shine Your Smile

Brushing, flossing, and even over-the-counter tooth-whitening products can’t produce the results that a dental hygienist can. He or she will remove unsightly plaque and tartar from your teeth and polish away stains from coffee, tobacco, and aging. (more…)

The Importance of Oral Hygiene

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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

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. 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

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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

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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…)