Good oral hygiene should begin when the first baby tooth grows into the mouth. It’s very important to take great care of the smile because if you don’t, many problems can occur and you will experience pain and suffering you never thought imaginable. So, it’s important to care for your child’s smile as well. However, we know it may be a bit confusing and overwhelming to do so. But, we are happy to tell you it’s easier than you might think, and we are happy to help you by providing the following tips:

Babies
It’s important that you care for your child’s smile as soon as their first baby tooth grows into place. You can do so by using a children’s soft-bristled toothbrush and children’s fluoride toothpaste. Brush their teeth twice a day and start flossing once they have two teeth grown in next to each other. You can also begin bringing your child into the dental office for their first checkup at this time to help them become more familiar with and comfortable in the dental chair.

Young Children
At this age, young children tend to get a little more independent, which is good! However, make sure when they brush their teeth that they perform a proper cleaning job. Most kids younger than age seven do not have the manual dexterity required to thoroughly and effectively clean the mouth. To help your child properly clean their smile, let them brush for a couple minutes and then take over. Scrub their smile to the best of your abilities and feel free to teach your child simple tricks along the way.

Middle-Schoolers
Once your child starts middle school, you will have less influence on what your child eats throughout the day. This might be dangerous for their smile. We recommend packing your child a lunch each day with fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. These foods will help your child’s teeth remain healthy and strong. Also, remember to remind your child to brush twice a day and floss once a day.

Teens
Whether your teen has braces or not, it’s very important that they properly care for their smile. If you have trouble encouraging your teen to do so, just remind them that if they don’t care for their teeth and gums they will begin to have yellow, decayed teeth with constant smelly breath. This should help them want to care for their smile more and more each day. Remember to have them brush, floss, and rinse daily.

No matter what age your child is, it’s very important to do everything you can to promote good oral hygiene in the home. It is also extremely important to keep up with your six month dental checkups so your dentist can help prevent gum disease and other major dental issues. If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule your child’s next checkup, call our office today at 949-642-9928!

Being mindful of your oral health, it is important to stay on top of your regular brushing and flossing routine. Even little bits of food particles and bacteria in the mouth can easily develop into plaque. If plaque is not removed regularly it will eventually harden into tartar. Tartar buildup at the gum line constantly exposes gum tissues to bacteria.

Long-term tartar buildup is known to be the leading cause of gum disease. Fortunately, regular daily brushing, flossing and twice annual dental checkups can manage tartar buildup and help keep gum disease at bay.

The American Dental Association estimates that 47% of the adults over the age of 30 have gum disease to some degree. Research conducted by the CDC has also found that 64% of people over age 65 have moderate to severe gum disease known as periodontitis.

Advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, can cause your teeth to recede from the gums exposing pockets that can harbor serious infection. This can damage the roots of your teeth, weaken the cement holding dental work in place and can also cause a loss of material in the bones that anchor your teeth.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush and mildly abrasive toothpaste will help to remove bacterial plaque off of the surfaces of your teeth. Adding flossing to your daily routine is the best way to remove food particles and bacteria from between teeth and along the gum line which your toothbrush cannot clean.

Hardened tartar can only be removed by the professional tools and techniques used by your dentist. This makes it is especially important for you to keep your six months dental checkups and cleaning appointments.

If you are due for your next dental cleaning, or have questions about tartar control, please feel free to call us at 949-642-9928 to schedule an appointment and help you keep your healthy smile!

Cavities can appear even when taking good care of your teeth. If you have health issues or a family history making you more vulnerable to dental caries, you may still get a cavity no matter how well you brush and floss every day. No matter what the cause, cavities caused by tooth decay need to be filled. Left unresolved the damage to the enamel can be so extensive that it requires all of the enamel to be replaced with a crown. The biting surface of your molars or premolars might require large fillings known as like inlays and onlays.

The difference between the two is essentially related to the amount of decay that needs to be treated. Most often they are associated with gold or porcelain fillings which are crafted in a dental lab.

An inlay refers to a filling that only covers the biting surface. An onlay is typically somewhat larger and might include a portion of the side of the tooth as well as the biting surface.

A crown is reserved for situations where a large area of decay has compromised too much tooth enamel. During a crown procedure your dentist removes excess enamel leaving an abutment. A temporary crown is then cemented over the top while a dental lab prepares a permanent crown made from porcelain or gold.

If you have questions about what type of filling you might need, we invite you to give us a call at 949-642-9928 to schedule an appointment. We are here to help restore your healthy smile!

Smoking is a dangerous habit that not only damages your lungs, but it also damages your entire oral cavity! Our dental office strongly recommends that you quit smoking if you are a smoker. If you continue to smoke, you are highly likely to suffer from severe dental issues, like gum disease and oral cancer.

So, to help you quit the dangerous and unhealthy habit, we encourage you to use the following five tips:

No. 1: Have a plan
It’s best that you have a plan when you decide to quit. Pick a day and stay committed to remaining smoke free every day following your designated “Quit” day. You can also receive additional help by visiting smokefree.gov and by calling the toll-free number: 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You can also download an app to track your progress.

No. 2: Don’t do it alone
Make sure you have the support from your family and friends as you go on this smoke-free journey. Tell your loved ones that you have decided to quit and you need their help. Tell them exactly what you need them to do and give them any tips that will help you resist the smoking temptation. We also recommend spending time with people who do not smoke and also asking for advice from those you know who have quit smoking.

No. 3: Stay busy
If you stay busy, you won’t think about smoking as often. Make plans to go out to dinner or a movie with your non-smoking friends. You can also keep your mouth busy by chewing sugarless gum throughout the day.

No. 4: Avoid smoking triggers
Do your best to stay away from people, places, and things that tempt you to smoke. Some things that could trigger the smoking habit could be stress, coffee, alcohol, and hanging out with people who smoke. We also strongly recommend throwing away your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays and go to places that do not allow smoking.

No. 5: Reward your accomplishments
Each hour that goes by that you are smoke free is an accomplishment, so reward yourself as the day goes by! This will help you stay motivated and clean. Just think, with all of the money you are going to save on cigarettes, you will be able to receive many rewards or even one big reward!

These tips will help you along your journey, but it’s recommended that you consult with a professional as well. Like mentioned previously, you can get help by visiting smokefree.gov or by calling the toll-free number 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You can also ask your dentist for advice. So, call our office today and feel free to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you!

If you feel pain or discomfort from eating hot and cold foods you should not ignore the underlying cause. Cavities, tooth decay, and cracked or fractured teeth with exposed dentin are common causes of tooth sensitivity. In most cases these problems will need to be addressed and remedied by your dentist before the pain will subside. Early action is important to mitigate an issue like this before it can advance into something more serious.

Injuries, blows to the face and playing contact sports can cause fractures to your teeth. In some cases these fractures can expose the dentin or pulp of the tooth. The dentin can be very sensitive. If left unchecked it can lead to an infection in the root of the tooth leading to a root canal to remove decay and inflammation.

Old fillings, especially large ones, are more prone to failure over time than small fillings. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and bacteria can gain access to the microscopic edges of a large filling. Over a long period of time this bacteria can weaken the cement holding the filling in place.

Tooth sensitivity is one of the earliest symptoms of a large filling that has been compromised. Seeing your dentist as soon as possible can help remedy the issue before the dentin becomes infected. If you have a damaged tooth that is causing you pain from regular eating and drinking, please feel free to call us at 949-642-9928 to schedule an appointment and restore your healthy smile!