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Extraction Procedures

July 10, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , ,

Extraction Procedures 

When you were a kid, losing your tooth was something to be excited about, perhaps achieved by tooth (Baby Teeth | Oral Hygiene) jiggling, biting into a piece of bread or an apple, or tying a string around the tooth and giving it a tug. As an adult, tooth loss (Discuss Tooth Implants With Your Santa Monica Dentist) or extraction are hardly causes for celebration, however sometimes there are no choices but to pull a tooth which is also known as an Extraction Procedure.

Causes For Extraction Procedures

Although permanent teeth are meant to last for our entire life, there are times that they can’t be saved. The most common reason for loosing a tooth or an extraction procedure is having great amount of decay (Understanding the Connection Between Sugar and Tooth Decay) or as a result of accident to trauma.

There are other reasons such as:

  • Not having enough space for all teeth to fit in your jaw. Sometimes as a result of orthodontics, the extraction is necessary to remove a tooth so the others can be align (Teeth Bonding) properly. There are some of us that have smaller than average mouth and all 32 teeth can not fit in our jaws.

 

 

  • High risk of infection:  In people that the immune system is compromise perhaps as a result of chemotherapy (Chemotherapy Wiki Page) or diseases such as AIDS, or an organ transplant the infection in a tooth be a risk to general health of the patient and extraction would be a safer treatment.

 

 


Chocolate & Tooth Decay

June 6, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

Chocolate & Tooth Decay

Your kids will love you for this.  Believe it or not, chocolate can actually be good for your teeth.  Recent studies coming from Japan, England, and the U.S. support the fact that chocolate is effective at fighting cavities (Healthy Gums and Teeth Learn More), plaque (Dental Care | 7 Basic Things You Should Do), and tooth decay in the mouth.  Chocolate  can actually prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is a multi-factorial phenomenon and the erosion process of the enamel on the tooth surface is what causes cavity. Acid (Healthy Gums and Teeth) produced by the breakdown of food carbohydrates in the mouth is the cause of this erosion.  For tooth decay to form, plaque bacteria (Bad Breath Fight Learn More) on the tooth surface breaks down starch, and changes sugars to form weak acids, mainly lactic acid, which slowly demineralize the tooth surface and making it soft.

Cocoa Beans & Tooth Decay

Children Oral Health ImageHowever not all of chocolates have this effect. The cocoa in the chocolate is the effective part of the chocolate that is actually useful.  Cocoa beans contain tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids (Flavonoids Wiki Page).  These are strong antioxidant that benefits your mouth and teeth.  Tannins are responsible for chocolate’s slightly bitter taste and are responsible for the sweet’s dark pigments.  Tannins prevents bacteria from sticking to the tooth and as a result preventing cavity.  Polyphenols works to neutralize the microorganisms that cause bad breath, prevent periodontal disease or gum infections, and fights tooth decay.  Flavonoid also works to slow tooth decay.

There are three kinds of chocolate (dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate).  Dark chocolate is the one that is processed the least and is the closest to the cocoa bean. This makes it the healthiest option of the three.  For best results, the chocolate should be 70 percent cocoa or higher.

The Appropriate Amount Of Chocolate To Fight Tooth Decay

Eating 3-4 oz of dark chocolate a day is a great way to take advantage of this magic compound and lower the chance of getting cavities. It’s an easy and fun recommendation your dentist (Best Dentist in Santa Monica) can make; it’s been called the food of the gods, a supposed aphrodisiac, and the drink that Casanova favored.  With the recent studies, it’s now more true than ever, that chocolate is considered to be a super-food. Chocolate has over 300 chemical compounds in it, making it one of the most complex foods we know of. Many of which compounds can be good for our health.


Bleeding Gums

May 30, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , ,

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are a sign that you may or are in the danger of having periodontal disease or gum disease. However persistence gum bleed could be a sign of other problems as well such as:

Bleeding Gums May Lead To

– Gingivitis: A sever case of gingivitis (Flossing Benefits Learn More) can cause bleeding gums and swellings.

– Cirrhosis:  A severe scarring and poor function of the liver caused by alcohol, virus or exposure to toxins. Some medications can also cause this disease.

– Pernicious anemia: It is an autoimmune disease that body does not make enough health red blood cells causing B-12 deficiency.

– Low platelet count: Also known as thrombocytopenia. It would cause the blood not to clot properly.

Healthy Gums Image

Healthy Gums

– Leukemia: Cancer of blood cells. The signs of this disease includes bleeding and bruising, bone pain, weight loss, fatigue, and sweating at night.

– Tooth decay: Cavities are holes that are form in the tooth. It is caused when bacteria (Fight Bad Breath Learn More), acids (Cavity Prevention Learn More) and food turns into plaque (Teeth Whitening Tips) . In sever cases when much of the tooth structure is missing, the gum can grow into the cavity hole and cause severe inflammation of the gums that can result in gum bleeding.

– Factor V, X, VII deficiency: A rare blood clotting disease that causes spontaneous bleeding including gums.

– Pregnancy: No matter what you do, the gums might be more inflamed (Inflamed Wiki Page) and bleed easier when one is expecting. It is as a result of hormonal changes in body.

– Vitamin C deficiency: This occurs when one does not eat enough fruits and vegetables in diet leading to swollen and painful gums (Maintain Oral Hygiene) that bleed easy.

Bleeding Gums Overview

The most common reason for gum disease (Gum Disease Treatment) though is poor oral hygiene (Dental Check Ups). Brushing (Brushing Tips) twice a day and flossing (Dental Flossing Instructions) once is a must for everybody to maintain healthy gums and teeth (Healthy Gums & Teeth).If plaque is not properly cleaned it leads to gingivitis which is a reversible disease. If gingivitis is not properly treated by better hygiene and seeing your dentist for professional teeth cleaning, it could lead into gum disease which is not reversible.

For more questions about Bleeding Gums or if you want to schedule an appointment please contact our office. (310)820-7010 | contact@westladentalcare.com | 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025. Thank you so much for taking time to learn about bleeding gums, remember your teeth are only as good as their keep.  Have wonderful day!

 


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


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