Most children and adults should see their dentist for a regular cleaning and check up every six months. People at a greater risk for oral diseases should have dental check ups more than twice a year. Tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, pregnancy, periodontal and gum disease, poor oral hygiene and certain medical conditions are some of the many factors that your dentist takes into consideration when deciding how often you need your dental cleaning and check up.
Going to your regular check ups will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy as well as detect any early problems such as gum disease, oral cancer and cavities.
The best way to maintain good oral health is to visit your dentist on a regular basis.
by Tammy Davenport About.com
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Dentist Pleasanton - Treating Dental Emergencies - Smiles by Design Livermore
Treating Dental Emergencies
If a dental accident occurs, the first thing to remember is to remain cool, calm and collected. Review and memorize these following steps now, and then you'll know what to do in case of an emergency. Remember that the advice of a dental professional should be gotten at any time when there is an injury to your teeth or mouth.
Dental Emergencies
Unlike a chipped or cracked tooth, some dental hygiene injuries are not obvious. Damage to the mouth can cause trouble that may not be seen, but could result for you in the loss of one or more teeth. So check with your dentist as soon as possible if an injury occurs to the teeth or mouth.
If a tooth is knocked out during an accident:
* Do not scrub or clean the tooth.
* Place the tooth in a small container of milk, saline solution if available, or a special tooth-preserving solution available at your pharmacy.
* See your dentist as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes. Don't forget to take the tooth with you.
With prompt attention, a permanent tooth may be re-implanted into the tooth socket and remain normal and healthy.
If a dental accident occurs, the first thing to remember is to remain cool, calm and collected. Review and memorize these following steps now, and then you'll know what to do in case of an emergency. Remember that the advice of a dental professional should be gotten at any time when there is an injury to your teeth or mouth.
Dental Emergencies
Unlike a chipped or cracked tooth, some dental hygiene injuries are not obvious. Damage to the mouth can cause trouble that may not be seen, but could result for you in the loss of one or more teeth. So check with your dentist as soon as possible if an injury occurs to the teeth or mouth.
If a tooth is knocked out during an accident:
* Do not scrub or clean the tooth.
* Place the tooth in a small container of milk, saline solution if available, or a special tooth-preserving solution available at your pharmacy.
* See your dentist as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes. Don't forget to take the tooth with you.
With prompt attention, a permanent tooth may be re-implanted into the tooth socket and remain normal and healthy.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tracy Dentist - Choosing a Tooth Brush - Smiles by Design in Livermore
There are so many toothbrushes on the market, what is the right choice? Now days with all the different designs, colors, materials and attachments one never knows what to choose for their toothbrush. Guess what, the most important thing about your toothbrush is to use it at least 2-3 times a day. Also, as equally important is how long you spend brushing your teeth. The design is secondary.
The Smiles by Design team recommends that you spend 2-3 minutes brushing 2-3 times a day. This ensures complete plaque removal especially in those hard to reach areas
.
Electric and manual toothbrushes
Our dental team highly recommends an electric toothbrush. The pulsations break up plaque efficiently. Many models now have timers to remind you to brush longer.
It is always nice to have a backup manual toothbrush. When choosing a manual toothbrush, look for a compact head with very soft, rounded bristles.
The Smiles by Design team recommends that you spend 2-3 minutes brushing 2-3 times a day. This ensures complete plaque removal especially in those hard to reach areas
.
Electric and manual toothbrushes
Our dental team highly recommends an electric toothbrush. The pulsations break up plaque efficiently. Many models now have timers to remind you to brush longer.
It is always nice to have a backup manual toothbrush. When choosing a manual toothbrush, look for a compact head with very soft, rounded bristles.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tracy Dentist - Stress does effect your Oral Health - Smiles by Design in Livermore
All of us experience stress in our lives. But too much stress in your life can also effect your gums, teeth and your overall oral health.
Stress and anxiety can cause the following
Mouth canker and cold sores
Clenching of your teeth and teeth grinding
Poor care of your teeth and unhealthy eating routines
Gum disease
So how can you prevent these health problems in your mouth?
Just being aware of the importance of hygiene and healthy eating may help. Making sure you are on a good exercise routine can help you relieve stress and give you the energy to tend to your oral hygiene and cook healthier meals. Exercise will also boost your immune system -- and that, too, is good for your oral health.
Stress and anxiety can cause the following
So how can you prevent these health problems in your mouth?
Just being aware of the importance of hygiene and healthy eating may help. Making sure you are on a good exercise routine can help you relieve stress and give you the energy to tend to your oral hygiene and cook healthier meals. Exercise will also boost your immune system -- and that, too, is good for your oral health.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Tracy Dentist - Interesting Fluoride Facts - Smiles by Design in Livermore
Fluoride Facts
Fluorine, from which fluoride is derived, is the 13th most abundant element and is released into the environment naturally in both water and air.
Fluoride is naturally present in all water. Community water fluoridation is the addition of fluoride to adjust the natural fluoride concentration of a community’s water supply to the level recommended for optimal dental health, approximately 1.0 ppm (parts per million). One ppm is the equivalent of 1 mg/L, or 1 inch in 16 miles.
Community water fluoridation is an effective, safe, and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation benefits Americans of all ages and socioeconomic status.
Children and adults who are at low risk of dental decay can stay cavity-free through frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride. This is best gained by drinking fluoridated water and using a fluoride toothpaste twice daily.
Children and adults at high risk of dental decay may benefit from using additional fluoride products, including dietary supplements (for children who do not have adequate levels of fluoride in their drinking water), mouthrinses, and professionally applied gels and varnishes.
Good scientific evidence supports the use of community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride dental products for preventing tooth decay for both children and adults.
Adjusting the level of fluoride in drinking water first used fluoride as a preventative for tooth decay in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fluoridation of drinking water has been used successfully in the United States for more than 50 years.
Fluoridation of community water has been credited with reducing tooth decay by 50% – 60% in the United States since World War II. More recent estimates of this effect show decay reduction at 18% – 40%, which reflects that even in communities that are not optimally fluoridated, people are receiving some benefits from other sources (e.g., bottled beverages, toothpaste).
Fluoride’s main effect occurs after the tooth has erupted above the gum. This topical effect happens when small amounts of fluoride are maintained in the mouth in saliva and dental plaque.
Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and solid by preventing the loss of (and enhancing the re-attachment of) important minerals from the tooth enamel.
Of the 50 largest cities in the United States, 43 have community water fluoridation. Fluoridation reaches 62% of the population through public water supplies, more than 144 million people.
Water fluoridation costs, on average, 72 cents per person per year in U.S. communities (1999 dollars).
Consumption of fluids–water, soft drinks, and juice–accounts for approximately 75 percent of fluoride intake in the United States.
Children under age six years may develop enamel fluorosis if they ingest more fluoride than needed. Enamel fluorosis is a chalk-like discoloration (white spots) of tooth enamel. A common source of extra fluoride is unsupervised use of toothpaste in very young children.
Fluoride also benefits adults, decreasing the risk of cavities at the root surface as well as the enamel crown. Use of fluoridated water and fluoride dental products will help people maintain oral health and keep more permanent teeth.
Courtesy of adha.org
Fluoride is naturally present in all water. Community water fluoridation is the addition of fluoride to adjust the natural fluoride concentration of a community’s water supply to the level recommended for optimal dental health, approximately 1.0 ppm (parts per million). One ppm is the equivalent of 1 mg/L, or 1 inch in 16 miles.
Community water fluoridation is an effective, safe, and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation benefits Americans of all ages and socioeconomic status.
Children and adults who are at low risk of dental decay can stay cavity-free through frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride. This is best gained by drinking fluoridated water and using a fluoride toothpaste twice daily.
Children and adults at high risk of dental decay may benefit from using additional fluoride products, including dietary supplements (for children who do not have adequate levels of fluoride in their drinking water), mouthrinses, and professionally applied gels and varnishes.
Good scientific evidence supports the use of community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride dental products for preventing tooth decay for both children and adults.
Adjusting the level of fluoride in drinking water first used fluoride as a preventative for tooth decay in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fluoridation of drinking water has been used successfully in the United States for more than 50 years.
Fluoridation of community water has been credited with reducing tooth decay by 50% – 60% in the United States since World War II. More recent estimates of this effect show decay reduction at 18% – 40%, which reflects that even in communities that are not optimally fluoridated, people are receiving some benefits from other sources (e.g., bottled beverages, toothpaste).
Fluoride’s main effect occurs after the tooth has erupted above the gum. This topical effect happens when small amounts of fluoride are maintained in the mouth in saliva and dental plaque.
Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and solid by preventing the loss of (and enhancing the re-attachment of) important minerals from the tooth enamel.
Of the 50 largest cities in the United States, 43 have community water fluoridation. Fluoridation reaches 62% of the population through public water supplies, more than 144 million people.
Water fluoridation costs, on average, 72 cents per person per year in U.S. communities (1999 dollars).
Consumption of fluids–water, soft drinks, and juice–accounts for approximately 75 percent of fluoride intake in the United States.
Children under age six years may develop enamel fluorosis if they ingest more fluoride than needed. Enamel fluorosis is a chalk-like discoloration (white spots) of tooth enamel. A common source of extra fluoride is unsupervised use of toothpaste in very young children.
Fluoride also benefits adults, decreasing the risk of cavities at the root surface as well as the enamel crown. Use of fluoridated water and fluoride dental products will help people maintain oral health and keep more permanent teeth.
Courtesy of adha.org
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Dentist Pleasanton - Alcohol Free Mouthwash - Smiles by Design Livermore
Using Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Most people are using a mouthwash as part of their daily routine in carrying for their teeth, but are quickly discouraged by the alcohol content found in mouthwash today. People who rinse for the recommended length of time with an alcohol-containing mouthwash which might contain as much as 20 percent alcohol are quite unhappy. Others are concerned that the high percentage of alcohol is enough to cause illness in children or teens who experiment by drinking mouthwash for the alcohol content. Also, some recovering alcoholics avoid mouthwash because the alcohol content has been shown to trigger a relapse.
But alternatives are available-you can find alcohol-free mouthwash that provides similar oral health benefits to a typical alcohol-containing product. Consider a mouthwash with CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride). This ingredient is found in many health care products and is used in Crest’s Pro-Health Rinse. CPC has been shown to be safe and effective. In a mouth rinse, it binds to the surface of germs and causes them to burst, which helps reduce their buildup on the teeth.
Most people are using a mouthwash as part of their daily routine in carrying for their teeth, but are quickly discouraged by the alcohol content found in mouthwash today. People who rinse for the recommended length of time with an alcohol-containing mouthwash which might contain as much as 20 percent alcohol are quite unhappy. Others are concerned that the high percentage of alcohol is enough to cause illness in children or teens who experiment by drinking mouthwash for the alcohol content. Also, some recovering alcoholics avoid mouthwash because the alcohol content has been shown to trigger a relapse.
But alternatives are available-you can find alcohol-free mouthwash that provides similar oral health benefits to a typical alcohol-containing product. Consider a mouthwash with CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride). This ingredient is found in many health care products and is used in Crest’s Pro-Health Rinse. CPC has been shown to be safe and effective. In a mouth rinse, it binds to the surface of germs and causes them to burst, which helps reduce their buildup on the teeth.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Livermore Dentist - Tooth Decay - How to Avoid It - Smiles by Design Livermore
Preventing Tooth Decay
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is the formation of dental cavities and involves three major factors:
* Food or beverages consumed (your diet)
* Bacteria in plaque
* Your current state of oral health
Unfortunately bacteria interacts with the food you eat and waste products are produced in the form of acids. These acids will cause a breakdown and deteriation of areas below the surface of the tooth which results in tooth decay.
Think of it this way: Each time you eat, your teeth are being attacked. Your body does provide a counterattack by rinsing the food or acid away with the mouth's saliva. The saliva acts as a buffer and helps to neutralize the acid. This series of attacking and rebuilding is like a constant battle raging in your mouth. It’s your body’s defence in protecting your teeth from everyday problems.
There are three factors to look at in help preventing tooth decay.
Food And Beverages
Foods and beverages that are eaten between meals don't help in preventing the decay process. Sticky foods, such as caramels and raisins, should be avoided as between-meal snacks, because the acid attack becomes too much for the saliva to prevent and repair. Eating these same foods during a meal, however, allows for the tug-of-war to be a winning situation for a person and their teeth.
If children are allowed to fall asleep with a baby bottle, or if they’re given the bottle to carry around with them, and the liquid, whether it be milk, fruit juices or other drinks, can be used by the bacteria to produce acids, and tooth decay can rapidly occur. To help prevent tooth decay, limit your intake of sugary, sticky foods and sweetened beverages between meals.
Bacteria In Plaque
The plaque on your teeth should be removed by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day. Usually, a clean tooth can stay healthy. Certain bacteria are more likely to cause decay because they can use the sugars and starches you eat better than others.
Your Current State Of Oral Health
The third primary part of the tooth decay situation is your teeth and mouth. This includes everything from the way the teeth are shaped, formed and positioned, to your saliva, dental treatment and oral health habits. Your saliva is very important in many ways, including slowing the loss of mineral from the teeth and replacing it in the remineralization process. But sometimes, certain conditions or medication change the amount and type of saliva in your mouth, allowing the tooth decay process to progress all the way to cavities.
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is the formation of dental cavities and involves three major factors:
* Food or beverages consumed (your diet)
* Bacteria in plaque
* Your current state of oral health
Unfortunately bacteria interacts with the food you eat and waste products are produced in the form of acids. These acids will cause a breakdown and deteriation of areas below the surface of the tooth which results in tooth decay.
Think of it this way: Each time you eat, your teeth are being attacked. Your body does provide a counterattack by rinsing the food or acid away with the mouth's saliva. The saliva acts as a buffer and helps to neutralize the acid. This series of attacking and rebuilding is like a constant battle raging in your mouth. It’s your body’s defence in protecting your teeth from everyday problems.
There are three factors to look at in help preventing tooth decay.
Food And Beverages
Foods and beverages that are eaten between meals don't help in preventing the decay process. Sticky foods, such as caramels and raisins, should be avoided as between-meal snacks, because the acid attack becomes too much for the saliva to prevent and repair. Eating these same foods during a meal, however, allows for the tug-of-war to be a winning situation for a person and their teeth.
If children are allowed to fall asleep with a baby bottle, or if they’re given the bottle to carry around with them, and the liquid, whether it be milk, fruit juices or other drinks, can be used by the bacteria to produce acids, and tooth decay can rapidly occur. To help prevent tooth decay, limit your intake of sugary, sticky foods and sweetened beverages between meals.
Bacteria In Plaque
The plaque on your teeth should be removed by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day. Usually, a clean tooth can stay healthy. Certain bacteria are more likely to cause decay because they can use the sugars and starches you eat better than others.
Your Current State Of Oral Health
The third primary part of the tooth decay situation is your teeth and mouth. This includes everything from the way the teeth are shaped, formed and positioned, to your saliva, dental treatment and oral health habits. Your saliva is very important in many ways, including slowing the loss of mineral from the teeth and replacing it in the remineralization process. But sometimes, certain conditions or medication change the amount and type of saliva in your mouth, allowing the tooth decay process to progress all the way to cavities.
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