Whether you are one of the folks who goes willingly for your check-up, or are hesitant about getting dental work done, Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia wants to see you every six months to make sure you’ve got excellent oral health.
There is a direct connection between poor dental health and underlying, systemic conditions. To put it another way, a healthy mouth can help you maintain a healthy body.
Oral bacteria and inflammation may be associated with a host of health issues, from heart disease and endocarditis, to premature birth and low birth weights. Oral bacteria can spread from the mouth into the blood and cause serious, even life-threatening infection of the heart valves.
We aren’t trying to frighten anyone, but clearly your oral health is a serious issue. It’s a good reason (maybe the best) to brush and floss daily (twice a day is better), and see us at Premier Dental Esthetic in Arcadia every six months for a cleaning and checkup. We provide family dentistry, along with teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Schedule an appointment with us today.
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Body piercings are a common form of self-expression. This post is about oral piercing, and its effects on oral health.
Since this is a dental blog, you may be expecting all sorts of alarms about the dangers of piercings. You are right. Unfortunately, these piercings and the jewelry they accommodate can lead to serious troubles with not only your teeth and mouth, but your entire body.
Oral piercings can cause tooth damage, tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth loss, bone recession, compromised immune system function and, in rare cases, death. Any oral piercing opens you up to harmful infections and complications. The mouth is full of germs and introducing foreign objects permanently is not natural for your body’s health.
A tongue piercing can result in difficulty chewing with unnatural chewing patterns that may lead to swallowing problems. The jewelry produces excess saliva from the salivary glands, which throws off the natural balance of your oral cavity. Permanent nerve deterioration, excessive bleeding, and allergic reactions can also develop.
Metal jewelry also can easily come in contact with your teeth, leading to cracked, chipped, or damaged teeth. Your teeth are built to last a lifetime. Chips, cracks, and enamel erosion compromise their durability and shorten their life span.
Complications with some piercings ensue by the introduction of hepatitis and herpes simplex viruses, and even more complications have occurred with bacteria entering the bloodstream and eventually lodging in the heart valve. In rare cases, such infections are fatal.
Though not technically a piercing, some California people drill small holes in their teeth to place rhinestones or other jewelry. Drilling into a tooth is harmful for many reasons, including damage that can make a root canal necessary. The jewel also can attract bacteria that can directly go into the drilled cavity of the tooth.
At Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia, we are providers of family and cosmetic dentistry. We encourage patients with oral piercings to remove their jewelry before it puts their health at risk. If plan to keep yours, we urge you to have regular dental cleanings and check-ups. We will set up a schedule for regular visits so we can discover and correct problems in their early stages before they become more severe.
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One common reason people give for not flossing their teeth is that it’s too difficult to fit into their day. If that sounds at all like you, here are some suggestions for when to fit flossing into your day. The team at Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia assures you that flossing, along with brushing, is essential to dental hygiene, and can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other issues.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t ignore the buildup of dirt and dust on your kitchen floor, would you? Of course not. The same is true with flossing. Brushing can get a lot of the debris from your teeth, but not all of it. They go hand-in-hand.
The most common time to floss is right before bed, but make sure you aren’t too tired to do a good job.
Right when you wake up is also an option, but if food is left between teeth all night, it can lead to plaque.
Try just after lunch, before you go back to work.
Floss while you’re stuck in traffic. It’s easier one-handed with the pre-strung floss picks. (You might get some odd looks from other drivers, but it’s worth it.)
Keep some floss in your gym bag so you can floss after you exercise.
While you’re watching the nightly news.
From time to time we’re asked: should I floss before brushing, or after? It doesn’t really matter –just floss!
At Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia, we help our patients get the smiles they want with cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment.
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You’ve got a sweet tooth you’re trying to control. Then you find yourself at a social event with loads of sweet treats, there for the taking. What to do? Here are a few ideas, not necessarily endorsed by your dentist in Arcadia CA:
1. Lock yourself in a closet. 2. Sew your mouth shut. 3. Wear a shock collar that’s sensitive to sugar particles.
At Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS we understand how hard it is to avoid sweets, especially during sugar-filled holidays. We encourage both unfettered joy and healthy living for all of our Arcadia patients.
Moderation in candy intake can help with the prevention of dental caries, but so can consistent brushing and flossing and regular cleanings and check-ups at Premier Dental Esthetics. Keeping the mouth clean and being meticulous are strong indicators of a happy mouth.
We’re not here to tell our patients to avoid sugar altogether. We’re not even here to tell you just to sneak a little. Eat as much as your child will let you – just be sure and brush thoroughly afterward. Keep in mind that eating a candy bar and then brushing is better than sucking on a lollipop for a half hour.
When it comes to caring for the teeth of our patients, the team at Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia works tirelessly to make quality cosmetic dentistry and general dentistry available. Schedule your next appointment with us today.
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We all lead stressful lives, and maybe that’s why more and more people seem to have stress-related dental issues. That concerns us at Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia, because stress can really do a number on your oral health.
Mouth sores, teeth clenching and grinding, gum disease, and poor oral hygiene can all be exacerbated by stress.
Anyone who difficulty managing stress needs to realize it can increase the risk of getting mouth sores such as cankers and cold sores. Most canker sores only last 7-10 days, but for relief from the irritation, we recommend an over-the-counter topical anesthetic from any drug store.
Clenching and grinding the teeth is common for stressed-out folks, and often it’s done unconsciously. At Premier Dental Esthetics, we can determine if a night guard or other dental appliance is appropriate to minimize the effects of grinding.
Gum disease is exacerbated by stress because stress can result in an increase in dental plaque, which in turn contributes to the development of gum disease.
And many people under stress are more likely to neglect their oral hygiene routine. Many also tend to eat more sugary snacks when they’re under stress.
If you’re concerned about the effect stress can have on your oral health, schedule an appointment at Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia. We offer family and cosmetic dentistry, gum disease treatment, children’s dental health, and emergency dentistry.
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Benjamin Franklin once said that it’s easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. At Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia, we believe this is as true for dental hygiene as it is for anything else.
For parents in the Arcadia area, teaching your children good oral hygiene techniques early in life will benefit their smile throughout their life. If you wait too long to teach them how to brush and floss, or if you don’t make sure they are doing it enough, you’re setting yourself up for a lot of work down the road.
It can be hard to convince an older child that they should be spending two or three minutes brushing their teeth each morning and night. But, if they’ve done it for as long as they can remember, then their habits should be sufficient to avoid excessive dental decay.
Teach your kids to aim for:
Clean teeth
Pink gums
The best way to keep and maintain children’s dental health is with a consistent oral hygiene program at home, and visiting Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. We provide family and cosmetic dentistry, and emergency dental care.
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Who could have guessed? New research is linking diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with a lower risk of gum disease, or periodontitis. At Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia, the lesson seems clear: eat more fish.
Gum disease is an issue for millions of Americans. When gum tissue pulls away from a tooth, it forms a pocket. This pocket is a warm, moist place for bacteria to flourish. If gum disease (periodontitis) goes untreated, the tooth and jaw bone are at risk.
During dental examinations, I carefully measure gumline pockets and examine all teeth for gum disease.
The new research says that people with diets rich in PUFAs were up to 30 percent less likely to have gum disease than those who ate little or none of that type of fat. Foods high in PUFAs include salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring.
PUFAs can be found in certain vegetable oils, too. These include safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and margarines made from them. Almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and flax seeds are also high in PUFAs.
The possible prevention of gum disease is not the only reason to eat high PUFA foods. These foods pack a nutritional punch and have many health benefits. The next time you are stocking up at the grocery store, you may want to add some salmon and walnuts to your list.
Diet alone will not treat or prevent gum disease. It’s essential to have a good dental health routine that includes daily brushing and flossing, and regular trips to the dentist. If it’s been a while, schedule an appointment with Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia. We provide family and cosmetic dentistry.
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Many of us in Arcadia don’t think of teeth as living body parts. Teeth seem to have a steady hardness, and dependably grind food whenever we want them to. But teeth are dynamic organisms, and keeping them clean is essential to good oral health.
Teeth are a complex system of highly specialized tissues. The protective enamel that covers the softer interior is made of minerals. Enamel can lose some of its density (a process called demineralization) when coming in contact with acids. One of the functions of saliva is to re-mineralize the enamel, by diluting and neutralizing these acids.
This process isn’t instantaneous, however. While the enamel is soft, the tooth is vulnerable to losing a microscopic outer layer of enamel. If the erosion continues, the much softer dentin is exposed. Eventually, the tooth may need to be extracted.
The list of acidic foods may surprise you. It includes eggs, asparagus, chicken, cottage cheese, honey, fish, ham, butter, sour cream, aged cheese, and yogurt with active cultures.
A general rule of them is that foods with a high sugar or artificial sweetener content are highly acidic.
Now let’s talk about drinks. You probably already know that soda pop and wine are not good for your teeth. Pasadena teens that sip soda all day can have acid erosion while their young teeth should be at their strongest. In addition to soda, energy drinks are very popular in California and Pasadena cosmetic dentists are noticing the effects on their dental patients’ tooth enamel.
If you drink soda or energy drinks often, you may want to have some water or chew sugarless afterward. Stimulating saliva production can speed up the remineralization process.
Brushing and flossing twice a day is the best way to avoid enamel damage from acidic foods and drinks, and thereby maintain your oral health. And be sure to visit us at Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia twice a year. We provide family and cosmetic dentistry.
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Today’s post focuses on professional dental cleanings. You might wonder if you need a professional dental cleaning if you already practice dental hygiene daily at home.
The answer is that both processes are important because they work in tandem to maintain oral health.
Dr. Peter Young encourages patients to practice preventative dentistry by:
Dental cleanings increase the effectiveness of your daily oral care by removing the plaque and tarter that can accumulate regardless of daily brushing and flossing. In fact, when plaque hardens, it can only be removed with the special tools used by a hygienist.
A hygienist will first use a vibrating ultrasonic tool to dislodge the largest pieces of tartar. This process may tickle a bit. The hygienist will then use tools with finer attachments to remove the smaller pieces of calculus. When all plaque and tartar is gone, polishing is the final step in the cleaning process.
The goal is to make your tooth surfaces as smooth as possible, to prohibit food particles from lodging in little spaces that are difficult to clean. If you are having an exam during the same visit, your technician may take dental x-rays. X-rays can reveal cavities while they are small and can be easily filled.
Let your hygienist know if your teeth are sensitive so he/she can make your cleaning as comfortable as possible. After the cleaning, a fluoride treatment may be given to help strengthen your teeth.
Before your hygienist leaves, you may want to ask if there are areas you can improve. Your hygienist can tell you which tooth surfaces had the most build-up. If the back teeth are presenting a problem, you can talk to Dr. Young about sealants.
If you have braces, you may want more frequent dental cleanings because food can easily lodge between the wires.
Call Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS at 626-445-2536 to schedule a professional cleaning today! Your smile will thank you.
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In 1997, Dr. Peter Young established Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS in Arcadia. Dr. Young is a reputable dental professional dedicated to preventative dentistry.
The goal of preventative dentistry is to preserve oral health so that no restorative dental work ever becomes necessary. In other words, preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and enamel wear. Dr. Young says, “Brushing your teeth and flossing is a good beginning to preventative dentistry. It is also imperative that you get bi-annual exams and dental cleanings. With little ones, dental sealants might be a good option.”
Dental sealants are a thin plastic covering, typically used on the very back teeth. These teeth are especially susceptible to trapped food particles, and at the same time tend to be the hardest ones to brush. The goal of a sealant is to guard a tooth against decay, which is always preferable to filling a cavity.
Despite efforts to keep children’s teeth healthy, many Arcadia children develop several cavities during their childhood years. Since the rate of tooth decay ordinarily declines with age, if teeth remain intact during childhood, there is a better chance that these teeth can stay healthy for decades.
Fillings, inlays/onlays and crowns do a great job at saving teeth from extraction, but they don’t last forever. When a 10 year-old gets a cavity in a brand-new permanent tooth, that tooth will probably need periodic attention throughout his life – even if no additional decay occurs. Once the enamel has been eaten away by acids, the tooth is forever weakened.
Sealants act as a barrier between food particles, plaque, and the teeth. The good news is that sealants are easy to apply and last for years. After Dr. Young applies the sealants, they will be checked with each visit and re-applied as needed. If you are interested in sealants for your child (or yourself), check your dental insurance policy – they may be a covered benefit. Even if not covered by your dental insurance, sealants are a wise investment.
Brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings help ensure that teeth are strong and clean and will last a lifetime. Changing your toothbrush every few months and using a toothpaste with fluoride are also essential components of proper oral care.
Children should be taught how to properly brush while young. However, parents should still supervise brushing and go over the teeth after the child brushes. If your child struggles with flossing, a water irrigation tool may be useful. Floss picks can also be easier to handle than a string of floss. Traditional flossing done correctly, however, is the most effective way to clean between teeth.
Don’t believe that dentures are an inevitably for people when they reach their golden years. We have some patients in their seventies with all teeth intact. Call Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS for an appointment. We can help you develop a plan to keep your teeth in top shape. Healthy, white, strong teeth are the foundation for a lifelong, beautiful smile.
If your teeth and gums are healthy, but you don’t like your smile because of cosmetic issues, call 626-445-2536 to schedule a cosmetic dental consultation. Dr. Young offers comprehensive dentistry, along with cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. Come learn about revolutionary cosmetic dentistry available at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS.
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