4 Tips For A Younger Looking Smile

THERE ARE COUNTLESS methods we use to try and turn back the clock on our appearance. Whether it’s hip wardrobes and hairstyles or costly cosmetic surgeries, people go to great lengths to recapture the look and feeling of their youth.

Despite all of these anti-aging fads and gimmicks, studies show your smile can do more to make you look younger than anything else!

Good Oral Hygiene Keeps Your Smile Looking Younger, Longer

The simplest thing you can do to keep Father Time at bay is to practice good oral hygiene habits. Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly promotes healthy teeth and gums and keeps your smile looking and feeling clean. If we ignore these simple habits, we put our smiles at risk of harmful bacteria which can lead to unsightly effects such as:

• Cavities,
• Tooth discoloration or tooth loss,
• And periodontal disease.

Maintaining good oral health throughout your life doesn’t just preserve the appearance of your smile, but it can preserve your overall health too. Bleeding gums caused by periodontal disease can allow bacteria from your mouth to enter your bloodstream and affect other parts of the body. Research suggests gum disease can increase our risk for serious health problems, including…

• Diabetes
• Endocarditis and cardiovascular disease
• Osteoporosis
• Strokes
• Alzheimer’s Disease

For a few tips on how to floss properly to fight off that harmful bacteria, check out the video below!

Brighten Your Smile With Professional Tooth Whitening

Even when you take good care of your teeth, over time they naturally yellow. Micro-fractures, thinning enamel, and built-up stains all make your teeth look duller and older. But, that can be changed with tooth whitening!

There are several tooth whitening solutions, each with their own unique benefits. From over the counter whitening strips to in-office whitening treatments, we can help you decide which whitening solution is best for your smile.

Cosmetic Dentistry Can Give You The Look You Want

Whether you need just few touch-ups or would like an amazing dental makeover, cosmetic dentistry can provide exactly the look you want. Cosmetic dentistry has both therapeutic and aesthetic benefits. Treatment can repair your teeth and correct your bite, and at the same time give you the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted!

Be Confident In Your Smile

One of the best ways to appear more youthful is to smile more! This can start a wonderful cycle too! Smiling more can actually make you happier, and make you want to smile more.

We love our patients and love seeing your bright shining smiles each day. If you have any questions about how we can give you a healthier, more beautiful smile, give us a call and set an appointment to visit our practice or let us know in the comments below!

Thank you for brightening our day.

Top image by Flickr user Sean_Wright used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions

Plaque vs. Tartar: What’s The Difference?

WE OFTEN GET THE QUESTION from our patients, “What’s the difference between plaque and tartar?” Many people think they are the same thing. There is an important difference between the two, however, and it can help explain just why a daily oral hygiene routine is so crucial, as well as twice-yearly visits to your dentist.

What Is Plaque?

Dental plaque is that soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and under your gums throughout the day. And guess what? It contains millions of bacteria! When you eat—especially carbohydrates or sugar—you’re not the only one getting a meal, so are the bacteria on your teeth. After “eating,” these bacteria produce acids that erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities.

That’s why good daily oral hygiene is essential to preventing tooth decay and protecting your smile from the bacteria in plaque. To prevent plaque buildup, remember to brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Drinking water and chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can also help!

ADA Dental Plaque

What Is Tartar?

So if that’s plaque, what’s tartar? Tartar is what accumulates on your teeth when plaque is not removed. If plaque is left on your teeth for too long, it will harden into tartar and is much more difficult to remove. In fact, tartar can only be removed by a dental professional–you can’t get rid of it with regular brushing and flossing. Tartar removal is one of the reasons that visiting your dentist every six months is so important!

Plaque buildup that hardens into tartar can cause more than just cavities. It can cause tooth discoloration and sensitivity as well as gum recession and periodontal disease. To reduce plaque buildup and tartar from forming, make sure you are brushing and flossing daily.

Come And See Us Every Six Months

No matter how great your oral hygiene is, plaque and tartar formation are inevitable. So come in to see us every six months! Our job is to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile that’s plaque- and tarter-free!

Thank you for your trust and loyalty.

Don’t Let Gingivitis Keep You From Smiling

YOU’RE SITTING IN THE DENTAL CHAIR, everything going as planned at your checkup, until your dentist tells you that you have gingivitis. If you haven’t heard of gingivitis before you’re probably thinking, “What is gingivitis? Is it serious? Is it treatable?”

We’ve compiled all the information you need to know about gingivitis so you can keep your smile healthy!

What Is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums characterized by gum irritation, redness, swelling and sometimes bleeding. Symptoms of gingivitis are fairly mild and can even be painless. Visiting your dentist regularly is important so gingivitis can be diagnosed, especially if symptoms are not obvious.

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal, or gum disease, and should be taken seriously. If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to full-blown gum disease, which can lead to receding and damaged gums as well as bone and tooth loss.

What Causes Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. When plaque is not removed by proper brushing and flossing, bacteria-filled plaque hardens and turns into what is called tartar. Plaque and tartar buildup around the gum line cause gum irritation and inflammation or, in other words, gingivitis.

Other factors may contribute to the development of gingivitis such as hormonal changes (especially during pregnancy), smoking, certain medications or illnesses and genetic predisposition.

Is Gingivitis Reversible?
Finding out you have gingivitis can be worrisome but here’s the good news: good oral hygiene habits and professional dental cleanings can, in most cases, rid you of gingivitis.

Proper oral hygiene not only prevents gingivitis, but treats it as well. Professional cleanings as recommended by your dentist, daily brushing and flossing, and regular use of an antibacterial mouthwash can keep bacteria found in plaque at bay, effectively preventing and treating gingivitis.

So, yes, gingivitis is reversible! By treating it early and following the instructions of your dental care provider, you can treat gingivitis and smile on!

Keep Your Smile Healthy
A smile shouldn’t only be happy, it should be healthy too! Your oral health is the gateway to your overall health and wellness. So if you’ve been diagnosed with gingivitis, practice proper oral hygiene care and you’ll have your healthy smile back in no time.

If you have any questions regarding your oral health, call us today or leave us a Facebook message. We’re always glad to address your concerns!

Diabetes And Your Oral Health

DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MOST prevalent chronic diseases today. In fact, 29.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and millions more living with the condition don’t even know they have it.
You may know that diabetes can result in other health complications such as vision loss, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. But many are surprised to learn of the impact diabetes can have on your mouth.

Diabetes Is Linked To Oral Infection And Disease
Periodontal, or gum, disease affects 22 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes. What’s more, one in five cases of total tooth loss is linked to diabetes. These statistics can be distressing, but a proper understanding of the association between these two diseases is the first step in preventing complications.

So, first and foremost, why does diabetes affect oral health?
We have billions of bacteria living in our mouths. If that bacteria is allowed to build up, it can lead to gum disease–swollen, bleeding gums as well as bone and tooth loss. Because people with diabetes have a decreased ability to fight off harmful bacteria, they are more susceptible to gum disease. Poor blood glucose control also increases the likelihood of gum problems.

The relationship between diabetes and gum disease, however, is two-way. Because infected gums are an easy access point for bacteria to enter the bloodstream, bacteria from the mouth can cause blood sugar spike and fluctuate, making diabetes harder to manage.

Beyond gum disease, there are other oral infections and problems associated with diabetes including thrush, dry mouth, cavities and ulcers.

Keep Your Dentist Involved
Keeping us involved is the most important thing you can do to prevent gum disease and other oral complications linked to diabetes. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or if there are changes in your condition, let us know. Keep us informed of your medications and your doctor’s recommended treatment plan. Come in to see us regularly–every six months or more if deemed necessary.

Other things you can do to manage your oral health and diabetes include:

Develop good oral hygiene habits
Quit smoking
Control your blood sugar
Your Health Matters To Us
Every aspect of your health is important to us, not just your the health of your mouth. If you have questions about how your dentist can help you manage your diabetes, contact us. We are your partners in ensuring both your oral and overall health.

Thank you for being our valued patients and friends!

LANAP Dentistry in Monterey, CA: Why You Need It

Technology is continuing to improve dentistry and as an LANAP dentistry in Monterey, CA, we are using the best of it. As a patient, you need to consider what the value of using technology has been in your life. For example, if you could have an iPhone that has all the touch screen options, can help you to find information, get directions, instantly call people, use your social media, and more. While the idea of using a flip phone becomes incredibly strange. Well, the same is true when it comes to dentistry.

Why visit a dentist with old technology that can be more irritating when you could visit one that can keep you comfortable during your entire appointment? In most cases, we find that the only reason patients do not take advantage of options like LANAP Dentistry is because they are simply unaware of it. With that in mind, here is information about LANAP dentistry in Monterey, CA. We also recommend calling us or visiting our office if you have any other questions.

What is LANAP Dentistry?

LANAP dentistry stands for Laser-assisted new attachment procedure and is a gum disease treatment with FDA approval. A form of laser therapy, LANAP dentistry is a minimally invasive solution that can help to regrow gum tissue and fight against bone loss due to gum disease. Using a laser, we are able to remove the bacteria that causes gum disease to begin with. Since the laser fiber is as small as a few human hairs, it does not irritate the gum tissue while removing the bacteria. By comparison, traditional gum treatments require the use of metal dental tools to scrape the bacteria off of the teeth after the gums have been pulled away. A traditional procedure can be painful and uncomfortable due to how invasive it is.

Our process works incredibly well because we are targeting the cause of the swelling and irritation, while also working to restore your health to what it was before the gum disease. Since we can use this procedure to decrease the amount with which your gums recede, we can restore your gums and cover more of your tooth structure without the need for a gum grafting procedure. We can treat your entire mouth in only two visits, around two hours for each. A traditional deep cleaning and gum grafting procedure can take far longer.

LANAP Dentistry in Monterey, CA: Why It's Better
There are several benefits to LANAP dentistry over traditional methods, including:

• The LANAP procedure is less painful
• You will have minimal sensitivity after the treatment
• The recovery process is quick and there is little downtime, meaning you can get back to work
• You will experience little to no gum recession

Visit Us for LANAP Dentistry in Monterey, CA

Our LANAP treatment focuses on healing and regeneration. Rather than simply focusing on removing the bacteria that is causing the disease, we also seek to restore your health regenerate both your gum and bone; the restoration promotes new gum and bone growth. This treatment is an all-encompassing treatment rather than a narrow one, which improves your health dramatically.
Learn more by calling our office today.

Periodontist  >  Gum Recession

Common Causes of Gum Recession

Gum recession can be extremely scary and painful to experience. However, there is really no need to worry if you're willing to seek out the treatment you need to stop the gum recession immediately. In the meantime, there are several steps you can take while you are still at home that may serve as an effective way to stop the gum recession or at least limit it until you have the ability to visit our clinic. If you do have gum recession. you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to discuss our non-invasive solutions. Coming in to consult with us will allow us to address any oral health matters and find out what other health measures need to be taken in order to stop and reverse your gum recession. Gum recession is a relatively common occurrence and can happen to anybody for any number of reasons. Gingival recession, also known as gum recession, is the process by which the gum tissue is recessed and lowers its position on the tooth. When this happens, the roots of the teeth can become exposed. Life habits, genetics, and tooth positioning can all influence gingival recession.

Causes of Gum Recession 

Overly aggressive brushing and flossing of your teeth can actually lead to gum recession. According to the Journal of Periodontology, you need to make sure you are brushing and not scrubbing your teeth. It is a common myth that you need to use an extremely hard bristle toothbrush to get your teeth properly clean. As a matter of fact, the American Dental Association highly recommends using a medium to soft toothbrush, because an overly hard toothbrush can damage your teeth and gums.

One of the most common causes of gum recession comes from your genetics. Your gums' characteristics are determined by your DNA, and if one or more of your parents have gum recession, you stand an extremely high chance of also having the condition. In addition to your genetics, you may have abnormal tooth positioning, which can also lead to gum recession because the teeth are not in proper alignment with each other. Naturally, good oral health habits, having a dental relationship that involves coming into the clinic at least once every six months, and keeping an eye on your gums can help offset and even restrict this condition from occurring.

Did you know that grinding your teeth in the night, a condition commonly known as bruxism, can actually lead to gum recession as well? If you find that you often wake up in the morning with a headache, or have been told by a significant other that you grind your teeth in your sleep, you will want to consult with your dentist. Bruxism is actually an extremely common condition and can be easily and comfortably treated with the help of a mouth guard or using one of many other options available.

Trauma to your gums as a result of an accident can result in the gums receding, but by far the most common reason why people tend to experience this condition is as a result of poor oral health.  Fortunately, we can improve your oral health and treat your gum recession in our clinic.  Call our office to schedule your treatment today.

Periodontist  >  Laser Dentistry

Dental Implants in Monterey Are the Best Way to Replace Teeth: Compare Your Options

Dental implants in Monterey are the best way to replace teeth that have been lost because they allow you to have a solution that looks, feels, and acts exactly the same as your natural teeth. There was a time, not so long ago, when people who lost their teeth had very limited options for replacing them. Most people would choose to replace the teeth with dentures. While dentures as a solution were very good for the time period, dental implants in Monterey have long since surpassed them by way of being more convenient and a better option for people to replace their lost teeth.

Comparing Solutions 

When you stop to examine dental implants in Monterey vs. dentures you will immediately realize the advantages that dental implants in Monterey provide you with. The first and most obvious advantage is that, unlike dentures, dental implants are a permanent solution that cannot be removed and do not need to be removed in order to be cleaned.  Dentures have to be removed on a regular basis for cleaning which means that you are taking your teeth out of your mouth, cleaning them, putting them in a solution, and then replacing them hoping that the adhesive you use will hold them in place. You have none of these challenges with dental implants.

Understanding the Solution

There is a common misconception that the tooth you see is actually the dental implant. Dental implants in Monterey are actually the tiny post which is underneath the tooth that you see on top of the gum. The visible tooth is actually called a dental crown and is a perfect replica of the tooth we are replacing. Dental crowns can be placed even if you do not have a dental implant. The dental implant itself is a tiny titanium screw which is directly placed into the jaw bone. This tiny screw acts in lieu of your tooth root and provides the jaw bone with the stimulus necessary for growth and development. In addition, because the dental implant is placed directly into the jaw bone it provides an extraordinarily safe and secure way for your dental crown to be attached. What this means in layman's terms is that when you get dental implants, you are getting a product that is an identical man-made replica of your naturally occurring teeth, complete with the root structure.
As we mentioned earlier, dental implants are a permanent solution. Once the tooth has been placed, it is not going to need to be taken out, replaced, or specially cleaned for the duration of its life cycle. From the perspective of oral hygiene, this also gives you a leg up over dentures. With dental implants, all you need to do is brush your teeth, and the dental implants will be clean just like your natural teeth will. So for people who want a convenient, secure, long-lasting solution to tooth loss, dental implants are definitely the way to go. If you have thought about getting dental implants, have questions about them, or want to find out if you will be a great candidate for dental implants in Monterey you should call us to schedule a consultation today.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Implant Dentistry