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Floss | Flossing Benefits

May 23, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , , , ,

Floss | Flossing Benefits

 

A 2008 survey revealed that only 49% of Americans floss daily and 10% never floss (Master Flossing Learn More).  That is very unfortunate because flossing is even more important than brushing (Master Brushing Learn More) when it comes to preventing gum disease (Gum Disease Treatment) and tooth cavity (Cavity Treatment Learn More).

Dental floss (Dental Care 101) is a tool you should be used daily to remove food and bacteria (Fight Bad Breath Learn More) build-up from in-between your teeth where the brush can not reach.  If you don’t floss on regular basis, you’re more site likely to have plaque build-up (Oral Hygiene Learn More), which can lead to cavities, tooth decay (Tooth Decay Learn More), gingivitis and eventually gum disease.  When gum disease is left untreated, it can be a risk factor for heart disease, or diabetes. In addition, bacteria can cause bad breath. Therefore, flossing can help improve the appearance of your mouth as well as your dental hygiene and overall health.

 

What are Flosses Made From?

Zoom Whitening Teeth Info.

Zoom Whitening Teeth

Flosses are made from different materials. It is commonly made out of plastic or nylon; it is a thin thread that you put between your teeth and pull in order to clean the gaps (Dental Bridge Learn More). When you pull the tread, food and debris and bacteria should come out of the gaps between the teeth.

Some flosses are made out of dental ribbon rather than out of plastic or nylon strings.

Ribbon floss is more comfortable. It is much easier for those who have bleeding gums or are sore when flossing.

 

Flossing Benefits When You Have Braces:

If you or a member of your family currently wears braces (Wiki Page Dental Braces), flossing is even more important. Food debris and bacteria can easily lodge around braces and cause permanent damage to your teeth such as cavity, decalcification or gum disease. However, you have to be careful when flossing so the braces are not damaged. Always use waxed floss if you have braces. Un-waxed floss has less of a slippery surface and are therefore more likely to get caught in your braces. If enough floss gets tangled, it can pull a brace out of alignment or sometimes break it.

 

 


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

Visit Your Dentist Regularly, and Not Just for Cleanings!

July 31, 2013 Afshin Golyad DDS. ,

westladentalcare-office-002All too often we here at West LA Dental care find ourselves treating patients who don’t fully comprehend how integral a part of overall care their oral healthcare really is. If you had a broken wrist or a strange, irritating rash or had suffered from days of nausea, you wouldn’t shrug and hope those afflictions just got better on their own, would you? Of course not! Leaving a wound or skin condition or internal issue untreated only makes it get worse.

Well ignoring a persistent toothache or jaw pain or numbness or any other unusual condition in your mouth can be just as irresponsible as leaving another part of your body untended. If you have never heard the phrase “Good overall health starts with good oral health,” then let your friendly West Los Angeles dentists here be the first to drive that one home, because it is one old saying that couldn’t be much more true!

Your mouth is good for more than talking, smiling, and eating: it is also one of your body’s first lines of defense against potentially harmful things trying to enter your system. Good, healthy saliva flow along with proper chewing by strong, healthy teeth breaks down foods for easier digestion. This process also starts to break down any harmful bacteria that could be coming along for the ride!

But beyond helping to keep your body safe from potential “invaders” and helping you get the nutrients you need, you need to make sure to come and see your dentist in West LA for another reason: the mouth is not only an important part of your body in and of itself, but it is also a crucial place for diagnosing other maladies that could be taking place in your body. An experienced oral healthcare professional can learn much about the state of your overall physical wellbeing by conducting a thorough oral examination. Even serious diseases that seem totally unrelated to the mouth, such as certain cancers, can give clues to their presence in your mouth.

At West LA Dental Care we treat each and every oral examination we conduct as a chance to examine our patient’s overall health through the window of oral health. If you go to a random Santa Monica dental office or find some Los Angeles dentist based off their ads for this or that cosmetic treatment, chances are good that you will get a quick checkup, a quick cleaning, and be billed and sent on your way. We feel that our dental patients should see us not just as hygienists or providers of cleaning and cosmetic services, but as part of a team committed to their long-term, even lifelong health. We want you to see your dentist for more than just those twice annual cleanings or when you have a cavity; we encourage you to visit your dentist the same way you would visit your internist for a physical. The best time for your West LA Dental Care professional to make sure your in great shape, after all, is when you feel like you and your mouth are in great shape!


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