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Baby Teeth | Oral Hygiene

May 16, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , ,

 

Brushing Baby Teeth

Even before baby teeth start to show; it’s a good idea to get into the habit of wiping their gums (Healthy Gums and Teeth Page) with gauze or a soft wet washcloth during bath time or before bed time. At this point, the tooth paste is still not necessary. Simply place the gauze around the finger and gently rub that on the gum.

Bacteria (Bad Breath Fight | Following Tips To Reduce The Bad Breath Page) in the mouth usually can not cause cavity (Cavity Treatment and Prevention Page) or gum disease (Gum Disease | Gum Disease Treatment Page) before the baby teeth are erupted, but it can be hard to tell when the baby teeth are starting to come out, so you’ll want to start early. Getting a baby to get used to getting his/her teeth clean helps in the long term so they can learn to have it done themselves.

 

Maintaining Healthy Baby Teeth

Baby Teeth Oral Hygiene Info.

Baby Teeth Oral Hygiene

As your child’s baby teeth start to erupt beginning around 6 months old, look for a baby toothbrush with a small head.  Use a tiny amount of fluoride (Children Oral Health | When and How to Teach Them? Page) toothpaste. A dot the size of a grain of rice is usually adequate. Twice a day brush inside and outside of each tooth as well as chewing surfaces. Because you are using such a small amount of tooth paste for the baby teeth you do not need to have your child rinse out unless he/she likes to do that. As soon as you see the bristles of the tooth brush being worn out, change the brush to a new brush (Teeth Brushing Mastering Tips Page).  Since most baby teeth have enough gap between them to be able to clean, you do not have to worry about flossing, but it is recommended to practice that so your child gets used to the idea of flossing (Dental Flossing Mastering Instructions Page) at the time of brushing.

 

Baby Teeth | Fluoride

Baby teeth can also benefit from a little fluoride. The fluoride prevents development of cavity, strengthening teeth, and making them more resistance to acids and harmful bacteria. Please be aware that a little of fluoride is very helpful in development of healthy teeth (Healthy Gums | Healthy Teeth | A Lifetime Commitment Page), too much of it can cause a condition called fluorosis (Dental Fluorosis Wiki Page). It causes white spots to show up on the permanent teeth as they erupt.

Most municipal water supplies are fortified with adequate fluoride so it is a good idea to call the department of water in your area and ask how much fluoride they mix in the water. If the amount of fluoride content of less than 0.3 parts per million, ask your child’s doctor or dentist whether you should give your child a fluoride supplement.

For more questions about baby teeth | Oral Hygiene, or if you want to schedule your teeth whitening appointment please contact our office.

  • 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • (310)820-7010

contact@westladentalcare.com


Oral Cancer Prevention

May 9, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. ,

 

Oral Cancer Prevention

Not all cases of oral cancer and the cancer of oropharyngeal (National Cancer Institute) can be prevented, however site the risk of getting these cancers can be reduced.

 

Following are the Main Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

  • Age.
  • Race – The risk is higher in African Americans.
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco.
  • Having more than three alcoholic drinks per day.
  • Long time exposure to sun.
  • Any previous head or neck cancer also increases the risk.

 

Steps To Help Prevent Oral Cancer

  • Brush and floss your teeth regularly. An unhealthy mouth reduces the immune system so your body can’t fight the disease.
  • Have alcohol in moderation. Do not binge, no more than one or two drinks a day.
  • Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
Prevent Oral Cancer

Prevent Oral Cancer and Build Your Immune System With Exercise and a Healthy Lifestyle

  • Decrease your sun exposure. Remember to place sunscreen to your lips.
  • Exercise regularly, it helps to boost your immune system.
  • Replace frying and grilling with baking, steaming or boiling foods. Eat lots of beans, berries, cabbage and broccoli.
  • Visit your dentist on a regular base for oral cancer screening. Also conduct self exam and if you see anything unusual contact your dentist.
  • Wear properly fitted dentures. Avoid oral irrigation such as ill-fitting dentures or night guards.
  • Treat any pre-cancerous growths. If there are lesions you are not sure of have that check by a doctor. In many cases they do a biopsy. If the biopsy shows evidence of early cancer, remove those lesions.

 

For more questions about oral cancer prevention, or if you want to schedule your teeth whitening appointment please contact our office.

  • 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • (310)820-7010

contact@westladentalcare.com


Zoom Whitening for Teeth – What is Dental Zoom Whitening?

May 2, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. ,

 

What Is Zoom Whitening For Teeth?

What is zoom whitening for your teeth, and what are the facts that go along with it? Well there are many options for teeth whitening and there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Zoom whitening is a process of bleaching teeth (Teeth Whitening | Bleaching) that is used throughout the United States and other countries for lightening discoloration of enamel and dentin. There are many causes for staining teeth (Dental Care | 7 Basic Things You Should Do) including drinking coffee, tea, soda, red wine as well as cigarettes, cigars and even smokeless tobaccos.

The zoom whitening system is an in office system of teeth whitening (Teeth Whitening | Lifelong Teeth Whitening Tricks) that utilizes a 25% hydrogen peroxide gel combined with Zoom’s LED light.

First the gums and cheeks are covered for protection against the gel touching the soft tissue. Once the gel is applied to the teeth surfaces, the zoom light helps to accelerate the bleaching process. When the hydrogen peroxide is broken down, the oxygen enters the enamel (Understanding the Connection Between Sugar) and dentin of the tooth to bleach the stains leaving the tooth structures unchanged.

 

Zoom Whitening Process

Zoom Whitening

Zoom Whitening for Teeth Procedure

The process of applying the hydrogen peroxide (Hydrogen peroxide Wiki page) gel continues for three times at intervals of 15 minutes each. Individuals with strong gag reflex or anxiety may have difficulty undergoing the process.  Some may experience sensitivity during the treatment. This procedure is not recommended for children under 13 years old or for pregnant and lactating women. A regular teeth cleaning (Healthy Gums and Teeth) is highly recommended prior to the zoom whitening. It removes the tarter (Bad Breath Fight | Following Tips To Reduce The Bad Breath) as well as stains to give better results. Most people have no or very little teeth sensitivity for the next day or so however there have been cases that the individual complain of severe pain that lasted a day or so. These cases are very rare and the sensitivity is temporarily and will not last. It is very difficult to predict how white the teeth would end up. In most cases the teeth color will improve greatly however there are cases that the result were not as one expected to be. In these cases take home bleaching is recommended to follow after the zoom whitening to provide the maximum result.

For more questions about zoom whitening or if you want to schedule your teeth whitening appointment please contact our office.

  • 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • (310)820-7010

All About Dental Implant

April 25, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

All About Dental Implant

Right now, dental implant is the best option for replacing missing teeth. Instead of placing denture teeth on the gums or anchoring adjacent teeth for a fix bridge, dental implant are long term replacements for missing teeth.

Dental Bridge Image, dental implant imageOn average about 69% of adults are missing or more teeth mostly due to gum disease or failed root canals as well as accidents. Till twenty years ago, the only choice was to make a fix bridge when possible and removable dentures when fix bridges were not possible. Advances in implant have made it possible for almost all cases to enjoy placement of dental implant to replace those missing teeth.  Dental implant are made up of a metal called titanium. It fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration.  Dental implants don’t slip or make noises like fake teeth. They never get cavities but just like natural teeth they are susceptible to getting gum disease so regular brushing and flossing like natural teeth is highly recommended.

The design of an implant consists of three parts: the titanium part that fuses with the jaw bone, the abutment portion that screws on top of the implant and protrudes above the gum, and the crown that is made by the dentist that can be screwed or glued on top of the abutment.

dental implants imageDental Implant As A Replacement

Implants can be placed as replacements of a single tooth or placed as a fix bridges replacing a number of missing teeth. Implants can also be placed under the removable dentures to make them more stables.

The success rate of dental implant is based on many factors. It has been reported between 85 to 90 percent. When it fails, it is usually due to poor oral hygiene or the lack of fusion to the jaw bone. Success rate for dental implant is less for those who have poor oral hygiene, smoke, those who grind or clench their teeth as well those with systemic diseases such as diabetes.

In general, most dental insurances do not cover dental implant but in the past few years more and more insurances started to cover the procedure. The cost of dental implant can be more than the cost of removable dentures or fix bridges but in the long term it costs less since it does not have to be replaced every few years.


Mercury Free Dentistry | What is Dental Amalgam?

April 18, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

Dental Amalgam | What is Mercury Free Dentistry?

The use of dental amalgam or silver fillings has been approved by FDA till recently. Dental amalgam contains about 50% mercury.  However by 2008, the FDA officially changed its position admitting that mercury vapors emitted while chewing can negatively affect a person’s health. American dental association still holds the position that amalgam fillings are safe for widespread use.

mercury free dentistry imageHistory of Dental Amalgam and Mercury Free Dentistry

Dental amalgam has been used since late 1800’s and still are being used in many countries due to strength and longevity. However they are those who are very sensitive to this material and as soon as it is removed from their mouth their general health improves greatly. They are no test to indicate who might be sensitive and since mercury can be found in many food such as seafood, it makes it more difficult to pinpoint where is the origin of mercury in the body.

Some people by removing the amalgam fillings, “Mercury free dentistry,” can reduce the amount of mercury in the body and even though it is not a cure for all, it can not do any harm. According to the EPA, amalgam used in dentistry can release mercury vapor when chewing. Inhaled or ingested, this vapor can potentially lead to brain, liver, lung, and kidney damage. While more studies are needed to determine if the amount of vapor released by amalgam is capable of producing adverse effects, five states now have informed consent laws requiring dentists advise patients of the dangers of, and alternatives to amalgam.

At West LA Dental we practice mercury free dentistry, which means that we do not fill cavities with dental amalgam. They are few alternative to mercury fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are made from a composite resin material that can be matched to your tooth color. There are also some additional mercury free dentistry alternatives and more expensive options such as gold or porcelain inlay and onlay which can be made in the lab and be glued into the cavity.


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