Are My Gums Supposed to Be Pale?

One of the most common signs of gum disease is dark pink or red gums. While discoloration is a dangerous indication that something is wrong, your gums shouldn’t be devoid of color either. When our Smiles of Arcadia dentist’s patients ask us, “Are my gums supposed to be pale?” the answer is always no. Pale gums may mean that you are suffering from an undiagnosed condition.

Are My Gums Supposed to Be Pale?

Keep reading to learn what pale gums could mean for you and what you should do if you notice the symptoms of pale gums. You should schedule an appointment with our dental experts ASAP!

Causes of Pale Gums

In order to further understand how pale gums can be treated, let’s look at the biggest causes of pale gums. Underlying conditions or causes can include:

  • Menopause
  • Oral lichen planus
  • Leukoplakia
  • Anemia

Many of these conditions indicate a lack of iron and other essential vitamins and nutrients within the body. When these nutrients cannot be supplied to the gums, they will turn pale and receive less blood. These conditions, such as anemia, can also be caused by external medications used to treat other diseases. Those undergoing chemotherapy may suddenly become deficient in nutrients and resources needed to keep teeth and gums healthy.

Associated Symptoms

In addition to paling gums, you may also notice other symptoms that are causing pain or discomfort. It is important that you tell your dentist about your oral health problems as quickly as possible. Call your trusted expert if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Swollen or painful gums
  • Fever
  • Loosening and missing teeth
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Metallic taste in the mouth that won’t go away
  • Increased face and jaw pain
  • Constant bad breath
  • Receding gum lines
  • Tender gums
  • Constantly bleeding gums
  • Hormone imbalances

Based on the specific causes and symptoms surrounding your pale gums, your dentist may prescribe a specific treatment to bring you back to good oral health ASAP.

Best Treatments for Pale Gums

The treatment that your dentist will prescribe to you depends on what is causing your condition in the first place. If your gums are paling due to anemia, you may be prescribed iron pills and other supplements to add nutrients to your blood. Other more serious conditions may require a visit to your heart health doctor for integrated treatment.

As you are invested in a treatment option for your underlying condition, you should also make a plan for the improvement of your oral health. Healthy gums should be pink, but not too pale or too dark. At Smiles of Arcadia, we recommend a daily oral health routine to get your dentistry needs back on track.

Preventing Gum Problems

Want to keep your gums healthy? You should invest in a good dental hygiene routine. Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day; ideally, you will brush your teeth once in the morning and once at night. You should also try to floss once a day to get rid of food particles in between your teeth. Anytime you eat something high in sugar or teeth-staining ingredients, brush your teeth as soon as you can.

Most importantly, you should schedule regular visits to your dentist’s office at least twice per year. This can help you stay on the lookout for oral health issues that can be stopped before they get worse.

Upgrade the Health of Your Gums Today

Pale or darkening gums are a sign that something is wrong. Get to the bottom of your underlying condition and seek out professional gum disease treatment with our professionals at Smiles of Arcadia today. Help us put your dental health back in your hands. You deserve to save your smile!


Tips for Keeping Dentures Comfortable

When you first get your dentures at your Arcadia dental office, they may feel a bit strange in your mouth. As with any dental appliance, there’s an adjustment period where your mouth gets used to the feel of the appliance. Fortunately, this adjustment period usually only lasts a few short weeks. During this period, your dentist will ask you to eat and speak as normally as you can. The good news is there are a few tips and tricks you can use to keeping your dentures comfortable.

Tips for Keeping Dentures Comfortable

Use Dental Adhesive

Dental adhesive isn’t strictly necessary for denture use, but it can help you feel more secure during those first few weeks. As you get used to your dentures, you’ll notice some slight movement when you eat and speak. This is normal as long as it doesn’t cause your dentures to dislodge. However, it makes a lot of people uncomfortable when they first get their dentures. To help combat this feeling of insecurity. When you get your dentures in Arcadia, talk to your dentist about what dental adhesives work best for the type of dentures you have.

Ask About Implant-Anchored Dentures

Conventional dentures create a seal along your palette and gum line. For the most part, that seal is all you need to hold your dentures in place. However, there are other options if you’re looking for an even more secure fit. Implant-anchored dentures use a few, well-placed dental implants to lock your dentures into place. These implants are drilled directly into the jawbone, reducing bone loss and preventing your dentures from shifting during normal activities.

Give Your Mouth a Break

To prevent discomfort, most dentists advise patients to take their dentures out for between six and eight hours per day. Sleeping without your dentures is an easy way to give your gums and palette the break they need to recover from the pressure exerted by your dentures. Of course, you also need to make sure your dentures don’t dry out overnight. To keep your dentures moist whenever they aren’t in your mouth, you should keep them in a glass of water. This will protect your dentures from being damaged by dry conditions, making them more comfortable and longer-lasting.

Get Your Dentures Fitted Regularly

Your mouth changes slightly over time, especially if you don’t have dental implants to help preserve the jawbone. Unfortunately, that means that your perfectly fitted dentures might not be as comfortable in six months or a year. In order to make sure that your dentures always fit you properly, visit your endodontist every six months for an examination and fitting. During this appointment, your dentist will be able to check the condition and fit of your dentures. Generally speaking, a pair of dentures can last up to ten years with proper care, but they may require relining or rebasing every once in a while to help maintain a comfortable fit.

Keep Your Dentures Clean

Keeping your dentures clean is the easiest way to ensure that your gums and other oral tissues remain healthy. As a bonus, proper denture care will actually extend the life of your dentures. Fortunately, denture care is pretty straightforward. Simply brush your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush or denture brush using liquid soap. Rinse your dentures well, then allow them to soak in clean water while you sleep.

Maintaining the Smile You Want

Dentures are a great solution for patients who want a relatively easy solution for missing teeth. With proper care, you can comfortably use dentures for years without having to worry about enjoying the everyday activities you always have.


Take Your Kids to the Dentist During COVID? Yes or No?

Due to the importance of children’s oral health in relation to their overall health, regular dental appointments are a necessary. It is still important to take your kids to the dentist during COVID due to the major benefits and very low risk of exposure at the dentist. In fact, dentists had already been taking much of the protocols needed to protect people from the virus before it had even happened. Due to the nature of dentistry, things like sanitization, cleanliness, and reducing the risk of communicable illnesses was already a major part of dental office protocol. Consider the following tips so your child can stay safe at the dentist during COVID.

Safety Tips for Dental Appointments During COVID

The pandemic has brought so much uncertainty to so many things that were often taken for granted in our day-to-day lives before it hit. Instead of fearing the unknown, focus on taking cautious steps towards getting back to normal while also maintaining your family’s safety. To help keep your child safe at the dentist, try and incorporate the following.

Dental Office Protocol:

Talk with the dentist’s office before your child’s appointment. Ask what their safety protocols are in advance so you are prepared on the day of the appointment. Talk with your child about how the checkup may be different from the last time so they are also mentally prepared for the changes.

Arrive Early:

You should get to your appointment early. But wait until your appointment time to walk in to reduce your exposure in the office. Some offices have helpful protocols where you can check in from outside the office. This helps improve efficiency and reduce your exposure time.

Grab the Essentials:

Even if the dentists’ office has helpful safety protocols in place, be sure and pack your own essentials just in case. Have some extra masks and hand sanitizer on hand. This can help reduce some anxiety as you will be prepared with the necessary essentials.

Outdoor Break:

Instead of waiting for your child in the dentists’ office, wait in the car or outside to avoid being indoors. Staying outdoors is much safer and can reduce your chances of contracting the virus.

The Importance of Children’s Dentistry

It is recommended that children visit the dentist by the time they turn one, or once their first tooth erupts, whichever is sooner. After their first visit, it is normally recommended that they get a dental checkup every six months. Research shows a direct link between childhood dental health and adult dental health outcomes. Getting your child to the dentist and building those habits early on is a great indicator that they will also take good care of their oral health as an adult. Research has also shown that children’s oral health is also linked to better outcomes in school. This includes their grades and attendance record. Setting your child up for success is invaluable, so it’s important to invest in their oral health early.

It is helpful to find the right kids dentist in Arcadia. If your child likes their dentist and the experience, it is more likely they will want to go back. Having a positive attitude and outlook about the dentist can help your child feel more comfortable. While their six-month checkups are integral to their oral health, at-home habits are highly important as well. Focus on dental health at home and make it a family affair. This can build not only healthy habits, but also create great memories.

Best Dentist in Arcadia

If you are looking for a children’s dentist, contact Premier Dental Esthetics. Their dentists can provide you with the best care possible. And ensure you get the right treatments for your unique dental needs. Contact the best dentist in Arcadia to make an appointment today!


Get Your Teeth In Shape, Pasadena!

Get Your Teeth In Shape, Pasadena!

These days Pasadena residents are more conscious of their health than ever. Many of us are trying to stay active, eat a balanced diet, and better manage stress. When you feel healthy, attractive, and happy, you smile more often. You want your smile to compliment and enhance your physical and mental condition. Here at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS, we want to make sure that our patients have healthy, attractive teeth.

Eating right is a great step towards great oral health. A balanced diet that is low in sugar and high in nutrients will support dental health at every age. And, of course, water is always the beverage of choice for those who want healthy teeth.

Daily brushing and flossing are essential healthy habits for your mouth. Also, regular check-ups and cleanings with your  dentist are a must.

Another way to get those teeth looking beautiful is by undergoing some routine cosmetic dentistry procedures. If you want to close spaces between the teeth, improve your gumline, or repair chips or cracks in the teeth, then dental bonding, gum recontouring, crowns, or porcelain veneers might be what you need..

The team at Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia would love to talk to you about teeth whitening, veneers, and other smile makeover possibilities. We offer general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, family dentistry, orthodontics and a long list of other procedures. Call us today for an appointment.

 

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007

 


Tooth Sensitivity Treatment

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment in Arcadia Have you ever been eating an ice cream cone when you suffered a sudden jolt of pain in one of your teeth? If the enamel has eroded, or the gums have receded, the dentin layer of the tooth is exposed. The substances that cause tooth pain travel to the pulp where the nerves of the tooth are located. Ouch!

Premier Dental Esthetics in Arcadia can help treat your tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity can be an indication that something is wrong. It may be caused by a cavity, gum disease, gum recession, or bacteria build-up in a crack in a tooth.

A number of circumstances can result in gum recession including consuming acidic foods and drinks, teeth grinding, or cracked teeth. Surprisingly, one cause of gum recession is brushing too hard. That’s right; it is possible to brush too forcibly!

If your teeth are sensitive following a professional teeth whitening such as the ones we do here at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS, the sensitivity will probably be gone in a few days.

If you experience constant or intermittent pain in your teeth or gums, call us right away to make an appointment. We take tooth pain seriously.

There are numerous treatments for tooth sensitivity including desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatments, and gum grafting. Of course, if you need a restoration, that is the first order of business.

At Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS in Arcadia, we offer a full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures, as well as family dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

 

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007

 


Adequate Results vs. Incredible Results

Arcadia Teeth Bleaching A Pasadena cosmetic surgeon has specialized schooling in addition to the training a general surgeon completes. Likewise, a true cosmetic dentist has completed rigorous courses in addition to dental school. Of course, many Arcadia general dentists offer cosmetic dentistry treatment.

Teeth whitening, crowns, porcelain veneers, and dental bonding are some of the common procedures in the Pasadena, California area.

In many cases, South Temple City general dentists achieve satisfactory results. However, there is a difference between adequate results and incredible results. San Gabriel cosmetic dentists have the skills and experience to create absolutely beautiful smiles.

You have probably seen attractive front teeth crowns performed by a general dentist. They are often perfectly shaped, correctly aligned and pleasingly white. But have you ever seen front teeth crowns done by a true artist? The color, translucency, and texture take the crowns to the ultimate level of breathtaking beauty.

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry, ask your dentist about his or her specialized training.

 

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007

 


Straight Teeth For Young Smiles And Not-So-Young Smiles

Can't afford braces? There are few dental advancements that are more appreciated than modern braces. Teeth straightening hardware of past generations had many drawbacks. It ordinarily involved a whole orthodontic tool kit—full metal bands, headgear, elastics, spacers, and wires poking every which way. If you played an instrument that required the use of your mouth, well, it wasn’t pretty.

Some orthodontic patients found their conventional braces uncomfortable, bulky, and downright ugly. They also provided many hidden nooks and crannies for bacteria to quietly drill into your enamel.

If you are too young to remember old school braces, you can’t truly appreciate the state-of-the-art ceramic braces, clear braces, and Clear Aligner aligners available today. Even traditional metal braces are now smaller, less conspicuous and more comfortable.

The advancements in orthodontic treatments and reduced treatment times is one reason many adults have chosen to have their teeth aligned if they were unable as a kid.

Does that mean you don’t need to have your son or daughter seen by an orthodontist if you suspect tooth alignment problems? Absolutely not! If facial attractiveness and increased self-esteem are not essential reasons to straighten your child’s crooked teeth, consider the fact that crooked teeth and bite misalignment can impact speech development and make it hard for your child to eat a healthy diet. Crowded teeth also make proper brushing difficult, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

The American Association of Orthodontics counsels parents to have their child evaluated by an orthodontist when they are young. It is critical to identify problems with teeth and jaw development early. Your orthodontist or pediatric dentist will know the proper age to begin treatment if required.

We provide many cosmetic dental procedures at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS in Arcadia. Did you know that porcelain veneers can solve some less-extreme tooth alignment issues? If your teeth are fairly straight but your smile is compromised by a couple of damaged or chipped teeth, reasonably priced porcelain veneers may be your one-visit solution.

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007


Get On Top Of Your To-Do List by Calling Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS

porcelain veneers price Pasadena

Is it time to get your life back in order, Arcadia? Call it Spring Cleaning. Call it a Hard Reset.  I like to call the small and simple tasks cling-ons. These are things like refill a prescription, change your furnace filter, get your oil changed, replace the lightbulb or make a dental appointment.

If you’ve been pushing dental work onto the back burner, maybe it’s time to just get it out of the way and move on to your other tasks. Call 626-445-2536 to set up a consultation. Once and for all determine your dental needs and create a straightforward, incredible, all-encompassing plan.

Here at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS we see patients for many smile corrections including the following:

dental implants
general dentistry
cosmetic dentistry
family dentistry
orthodontics

Dr. Peter Young strives to provide singular service to our amazing patients in Arcadia, California. At your consultation feel free to ask about veneers, implants, invisible braces, bridges and all things dental. We answer cosmetic dentistry questions all day long and Dr. Young knows how to clearly explain the pros and cons related to various treatment plans.

Since 1997, Arcadia patients have enjoyed having Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS nearby, ready to provide comprehensive dentistry, general dentistry, and high value dentistry.

Move through your to-do list today – change your oil, check. Replace that lightbulb, check. Make a dental appointment, check. It feels great.

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007


Does My Dentist Treat Bad Breath?

Cure Bad Breath In South Temple City When my South Temple City dental patients ask me if mouthwash cures bad breath, I tell them that treating bad breath with a mouthwash is like drenching yourself with cologne instead of taking a shower. Mouthwash is only a temporary mask for odor caused by poor oral hygiene, tongue bacteria, or digestive problems.

The best-selling mouthwashes have a significant amount of alcohol, which can even exacerbate bad breath by drying out the mouth. Some bacteria grows even faster in a dry environment.

To eliminate bad breath, you need to find the cause. To get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between teeth, pay more attention to thorough flossing and brushing.

A haphazard thirty-second brushing won’t prevent halitosis (or cavities). Try to brush for at least three minutes. It may seem like overkill if you have been a speed-brusher but remember that there is a lot of area to cover on multiple planes.

Devise a system to brush every reachable surface of every tooth. Then floss carefully around every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides. Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also.

 

Schedule a deep dental cleaning at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS with the best hygienist and request a refresher (no pun intended) course on brushing and flossing.

If your tongue is the culprit, you might want to start using a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping has become quite popular especially among the college crowd.

A tongue scraper is a cleaning tool that works like a squeegee to scrape bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

We treat many dental patients with bad breath. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. (Leaving bad breath untreated can be more embarrassing.)

Schedule an oral exam and halitosis consultation by calling 626-445-2536. Our specialty is comprehensive dentistry and we also provide general dentistry. Thanks for visiting our blog.

 

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007

 


Patient Education Is A Priority At Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS

Monrovia family dentist

Hi. My name is Dr. Peter Young. I have enjoyed serving the Arcadia and Pasadena areas since 1997. One of the things that I pride myself on is giving my patients the oral health education they need to have a healthy smile.

Here at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS we know that optimal dental health depends on good habits, so we want you to have all the information you need to practice those habits.

When my patients are in need of a dental procedure such as a filling or a crown, we take the time to explain the treatment and why it needs to be done. We also explain how to care for your teeth post-procedure.

In addition to having healthy teeth and gums, I also want my Pasadena dental patients to have the beautiful smile they deserve. That’s why I also work to make my patients aware of the many effective cosmetic dentistry procedures that are available in and around Arcadia. Procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers are simple, but can have amazing results.

If you are in the Arcadia area and are looking for a highly skilled dentist with experience as well as superior communication skills, give us a call here at 626-445-2536. We can answer any questions you have about cosmetic dentistry procedures such as dental implants or complete smile makeovers. Some of the most popular procedures done in our office are:

 

cosmetic dentistry
orthodontics
dental implants
family dentistry

Call us today to book an appointment!

 

Contact Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS:

626-445-2536

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301 W Huntington Dr. Ste 217
Arcadia, California
91007