Tale of the Tooth

The importance of proper oral hygiene.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:47:00 GMT

People every year attempt life changing resolutions; we thought that if we shared the importance of proper oral hygeine that it might be easier to stick to your New Year's Resolutions.

1. Prevent tooth decay
Dental plaque can cause cavities if it’s left between teeth. When mixed with sugar, the bacteria that live in plaque can start the process of tooth decay. This is why it’s bad for plaque to be left in your mouth. Brushing alone does not clean in between teeth, only dental floss can remove plaque in those areas.
2. Prevent gum disease
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease (periodontal disease). It is caused by an buildup of plaque around gums and between teeth. Plaque also contains bacteria that is harmful for the gums. Flossing is very important to remove all plaque accumulated after a meal.
3. Prevent Halitosis
Dental plaque is one of the causes of Halitosis, and if it’s left between your teeth, it will generate a bad smell in your mouth. This odor comes from the metabolism of the bacteria contained in plaque. Bad breath can also be caused by gum disease and tooth decay which are also primarily caused by plaque.
4. Prevent tartar build-up
Tartar is actually dental plaque that has become hard from the saliva’s calcifying action. Good oral hygiene measures, which include brushing and flossing, can slow down the buildup of tartar, but does not actually remove it. Some people produce tartar more than others. Come to La Mesa Village Dental to schedule your regular dental cleanings to remove tartar.
5. Reduce the risk of heart disease
As mentioned earlier, the mouth is an entry point to harmful bacteria that may eventually reach the body organs, including cardiac tissue. Dental plaque, which contains dangerous bacteria, must be eliminated to prevent micro-organisms from reach the heart through the blood stream and cause heart disease complications.
6. Avoid the complications of diabetes
There is scientific evidence that people who suffer from diabetes can have their condition complicated by gum disease. Diabetics usually have a weaker immune system and take more time to fight inflammations and infections, including the ones that start in the mouth. That’s why oral hygiene, which includes daily brushing and flossing, is very important to prevent diseases, or disease complications, such as diabetes.
La Mesa Village Dental will be closed from the 23rd of December through January 2nd. 2012. If you want to get perfect holiday photo friendly smile please call us at (800) 891-5808 or fill out a form online to book an appointment now!

Top 5 Holiday Dental Tips

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:23:00 GMT

We hope you are enjoying this Holiday season with one holiday down and two more major one's on the way here are some things to think about and some things to avoid an untimely emergency visit to our office.

1. Crack nuts with a nutcracker, not your teeth. Many men, woman, and children crack their teeth over the holidays; thinking their teeth are made of steel. Squirrels were made for that, not humans. Truth is, under that hard enamel shell is a very sensitive nerve running through a root surrounded by soft living tissue. Crack the shell, and I'm not talking about the nut, and welcome pain. Yes, cracking a tooth is an intensely painful experience resulting in the urgent need for a root canal and crown. Be smart, save your teeth, use a nutcracker.

2. Beer bottles and teeth don't mix. No beer is worth damaging your teeth over. You might think that is silly, but it has happened. A patient came in with a cracked front tooth. He told us that he went to a party and he really wanted a beer…and now he has a dental implant and crown with a new smile. This could have been avoided if only he carried a bottle opener on his keychain.

3. Skip the caramel balls. We will say it again, skip the caramelized popcorn balls. We know it's probably a family tradition, but unless your family is going to pay your dental bill when you accidentally munch too hard on a single unpopped kernel of popcorn and end up cracking the cusp of the tooth or crack or molar to the root then skip the caramels balls.

4. Brush and floss your teeth after every meal . The single greatest cause of brush teeth dental decay is food (usually sugar) left on or around the tooth. Brushing and flossing is an obvious solution, it removes excess food and cleans the surface of the tooth. But who remembers to bring their toothbrush and dental floss to a Thanksgiving dinner party, other than dentists. You do...or at least you should. Swing by our office and we will give each of your family members a FREE toothbrush and floss.

5. Don't bite candy canes. I know, it's not Christmas yet, but the day after Thanksgiving someone will whip out candy canes and start decorating your Christmas tree. Don't give in to the temptation to bite down on that candy cane. And just wait until next week when we blog about eating toffee with nuts. And last of all, and most importantly, be thankful for your teeth and a health smile. And if you are not, give us a call and we will help you get a reason to smile.

La Mesa Village Dental will be closed from the 23rd of December through the 2nd of January so if you want to get perfect holiday photo friendly smile please call us or fill out a form online to book an appointment now!

Top 4 Christmas Tips

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:14:00 GMT

Here are some tips and ideas this holiday season to protect your most valuable asset; your smile

1. An electric toothbrush

If you haven’t got an electric toothbrush already, now is the time to brush up on what’s out there and invest in one.

Look for a model with a removable rather than a fixed head. Doing this allows the head to be replaced when the bristles start to turn outwards and means the brush doesn’t have to be binned when this happens.
For people looking to really go all out when they go electric then the Philips Sonicare Toothbrush is for you. This often retails at $ 50 but with features like a massage setting it is the most popular electric toothbrush.
At the other end of the price scale are electric products such as the Wisdom Deep Clean Micro Power Toothbrush. This has less whistles and bells than the Sonicare but does retail at under 7.50

2. The world’s ‘best’ toothpaste

If you are going to upgrade your toothbrush then you should upgrade your toothpaste as well. Oral-B made a lot of buzz in July when they released their Pro Expert Toothpaste and, with great fanfare, it was quickly known as being “the best in the world”.
But there is a catch the prices. Have you ever hear the saying ‘you get what you pay for?” This also includes toothpaste. At launch, Pro-Expert cost around$5.45 for a 75ml tube compared to rival Colgate Total Advanced’s cost to $3.75 for a 100ml tube. Different people require different toothpastes – ask your us about which toothpaste is right for you.

3. Sports mouth guards

Mouth guards have certainly been in the news this year with several England rugby players being fined for wearing sponsored ones in the World Cup.
These devices are used to prevent injury in contact sports such as hockey, rugby and football. Wearing one can increase your enjoyment of these occasionally rough-and-tumble sports. It also looks very professional as well.
Inexpensive mouth guards such as the Shock Doctor Gel Max for around 23.30 You can also seek a dentist who is willing to take an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made mouth guard.

4. Delicious food and drink

With a little planning there is no reason why you can’t consume tasty food and drink which is healthy for your teeth over the Christmas period. Treat yourself to a Christmas hamper of foods which are good for your oral health and you can approach the festive season with increased confidence.
Researchers suggest that Green tea is good for preventing plaque and decay. Studies suggest that it can also reduce bad breath – a nice thought to know for people who like to kiss under the mistletoe.
On the food front, cheese is something which is fine for your smile. Whether it’s crumbly or hard, cheese can help balance your mouth’s pH and produce saliva; killing the bacteria which lurk around the mouth. Here's a fun fact; turkey contains phosphorous which helps create our bones system and makes teeth stronger and healthier by protecting from teeth decay.
Have a great Christmas!

La Mesa Village Dental will be closed from the 23rd of December through the 2nd of January so if you want to get perfect holiday photo friendly smile please call us or fill out a form online to book an appointment now!

Have a great Christmas!

What You Should Know About Halloween Candy

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:15:00 GMT

Halloween is a fun time for children and adults across American but there are many over looked threats from the candy received during this time of year.

La Mesa Dental is a family and cosmetic dentist in La Mesa San Diego, California sees numerous cases of broken, chipped, and cracked teeth from hard candy and long term damage from other types of candy children and parents eat. This damage can be very painful, expensive, and last the life of your teeth

Here are 4 things every candy lover should know from La Mesa Dental

1. Biting on hard candy can cause stress fractures, chips, or cracks in teeth not to mention the removal of brackets from braces

2. Chewable candy can get logged into hard to reach areas causing cavities from lengthy exposure to teeth.

3. Typically hard candy worse for your teeth due to the length of time if stays in your mouth and because of the likelihood that you will eventually bite down possibly causing damage to your teeth.

4. After enjoying candy make sure to brush and floss your teeth. Cavities occur not from the sugar in the candy but from the bacteria which feeds on sugars that are not removed from your teeth when you brush and floss.

Do You Fear The Dentist?

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:42:00 GMT

I have always wondered why so many people fear the dentist. I have spent plenty of time helping people overcome their fears. Here is what I believe to be true.

Knowledge is power. First, whether grounded in reality or not people’s fears are real to them. Often times all that is necessary is talking with and educating patients about all that is going on. Once all questions have been answered there is less chance for one’s imagination to run wild.

Remember you’re the boss; it’s your mouth and you call the shots.

Secondly, I always let my patients know that they are the ones in control of their appointment and can stop at any time and for any reason and that helps a great deal.

Finally, using a gentle technique along with the proper combination of anesthetics and anxiety reducers (Novocain, Nitrous Oxide, Valium, etc.) is key to providing a relaxed and painless experience for my patients.

We can help you overcome your fear of the dentist. Please call us today to set an appointment (800) 891-5808. La Mesa Village Dental 4730 3rd St. #C La Mesa CA 9194

Diabetes Blood Sugar and Peridontal Disease

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:39:00 GMT

Did you know that diabetic patients are more prone to develop periodontal disease and can lead to diabetic complications?

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections.

In fact, periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes. Those people who don’t manage their diabetes are especially at high risk.

A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease than well-controlled diabetics are.

Research has emerged that suggests that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways. Periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

The best defense is a good offense!

Please call us to set up an appointment with our office at (800) 891-5808.
La Mesa Village Dental 4730 3rd St. #C La Mesa CA 91941

Is there a link between tooth loss and breast cancer?

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:40:00 GMT

There is a study out there that suggests there is a link between tooth loss and breast cancer. The study says women may be over 11 times more likely to suffer from breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease.

If gum disease is not treated quickly, the teeth may possibly fall out. Did you know that more teeth are lost through periodontal disease than through tooth decay? Gum disease is serious business. Gum disease is caused by the bacteria in dental plaque and as it gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose.

There has been data in the past that suggests that infections in the mouth can affect other areas of your general health. It is thought that bacteria from the mouth can get into the blood stream and affect the heart, causing a higher risk of heart disease for people with gum disease. People with gum disease are also thought to be at a higher risk of strokes, chest infections, and pregnant women are 7 times more likely to have a premature baby with a low birth weight.

I don't think that I need to convince anyone that gum disease is bad, so how do you prevent gum disease? Unfortunately gum disease develops painlessly and there aren't many ways in which you can detect problems developing. Look out for inflamed gums causing them to be red, inflamed and bleed easily, and foul taste in your mouth, awful breath, loose teeth and normal mouth infections.

The best way to prevent and treat gum disease is to ensure you remove all the plaque from between your teeth by brushing for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Gum disease starts between your teeth so it is important that clean between your teeth at least once a day with inter-dental brushes or dental floss as this is the area where gum disease starts. Regular visits to the dentist can also help to identify early signs of gum disease.

The best defense is a good offense!

Please call us to set up an appointment with our office at (800) 891-5808.
La Mesa Village Dental 4730 3rd St. #C La Mesa CA 91941