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By now, everyone who sees a dentist regularly should know they need to brush their teeth on both sides for two minutes twice a day and floss at the end of the day.  Doing this right is not easy because there are hard to reach places of the mouth, which is why it’s important to have your dental hygienist, who has special tools, provide a professional cleaning twice a year. 

It is also vital to have a full preventative and oral health exam by your dentist twice a year and a digital x-ray once a year to prevent small problems from becoming big ones. Leaving any of these good habits out could ultimately result in the loss of teeth.

What is often not fully appreciated is the need to use the right type of toothbrush and replace it periodically. First, the brush needs to state that it has soft bristles and you need to use it correctly, scraping from the gum line to the tip of each tooth. It might seem that harder bristles would do a better job of cleaning off the food particles and bacteria, but these can damage your teeth and gums.

You should also ask your dentist if any ongoing oral health issues might improve if you used an electric toothbrush. As vigorously as they scrub, they will not cause any harm and you still need to brush for two minutes each time with the proper technique. In the case of both electric and manual toothbrushes, check for the recommendation seal of the American Dental Association (ADA), which will confirm that it has been tested for effectiveness and safety.

Another consideration in choosing a toothbrush is the size of the head. A large one can scrub a bigger area at one time, but a smaller head will allow you to reach places that are not easy to clean, such as your molars in the back of both upper and lower arches. If you have crowded teeth, you should also use the tiny brushes that are shaped like a big plastic toothpick with bristles at the end, enabling you to get into the crevices a regular toothbrush cannot easily clean out.

If you have been using the same toothbrush for 3-4 months, it is probably time to replace it because the bristles wear down and fray, so you will not get the same protection from decay and gum disease when you brush. You should also change brushes after illness, since brushes can convey bacteria and viruses. Even if you have not been sick, you can buy special toothbrush head covers that will keep them clean and even antiseptic. Keep track when you start using a new brush.

Ask your dentist or hygienist for their recommendations.

Read More Resources Below:

• Managing a Chipped Tooth Emergency
• Common Factors that Result in Bad Breath

A chipped tooth is a very common occurrence. It can happen from playing sports, a car or bike accident, a fall, a blow to the face, chewing on a pen, pulling off clothes with teeth, munching on ice, eating hard nuts or candy, chewing on bones or hard bread, eating corn on the cob or unpopped popcorn kernels, or fruits and vegetables with pits.

If it happens during our office hours (Mon.-Fri. 9 am-6 pm), call for an emergency appointment, otherwise evaluate how urgent it is and, if necessary, go to the nearest urgent care clinic for help.

But not all experiences with chipped or cracked teeth should be treated the same. A hairline crack or minor chipping that does not appear to split the enamel can wait for the dentist to examine it, while a fracture would need a dental crown to hold it together. Sometimes these can occur from wear and tear, grinding teeth at night, or a misaligned bite. You may be able to tell the extent of the injury if you bite down gently and feel more pain or have more sensitivity to cold or hot liquids or foods.

If the chipping is significant and there is bleeding, put a cold pack on and off the outside of the face near the injury every 15 minutes for a couple of hours to prevent swelling. Rinse your mouth with salt water to reduce the risk of infection. Most drug stores carry Dentemp or a similar product to treat a chipped tooth temporarily. You can manage the pain with ibuprofen or aspirin (or even the traditional numbing agent clove oil). Avoid biting down on that tooth until treatment. 

When you are able to come in, we will determine the depth of the chip or crack by close examination, but also through a digital x-ray (which involves minimal radiation). In cases of minor chipping, the remedy will probably be to simply put a dental veneer on the front to cover the damage, both to keep it protected and restore your smile to normal.

More Readings on Cosmetic and General Dentistry:

• Common Factors that Result in Bad Breath
• Tips for Buying or Replacing a Toothbrush

Most people who have bad breath don’t even realize it because friends and family might be too embarrassed to say something. It’s difficult to smell your own breath, but if you suspect the odor is a problem there are a number of things you can do to prevent and treat it. Not surprisingly, Pro Health Dental can provide a number of solutions and plenty of advice.

It starts with making sure you brush for two minutes after breakfast (rather than letting food particles attract bacteria all day) and the same after dinner. Change your toothbrush every few months and keep it covered and clean and ask us about the best toothpaste for your case. Then floss when you know you won’t be having a later snack or glass of wine. Doing it thoroughly and consistently eliminates a major cause of stinky breath.  

It will also help to use a dentist-grade mouthwash that kills bacteria, not a mere breath freshener. In some cases, you may need to add a water pick or use an additional soft-bristled small brush to clean out crevices.

Equally important is to be sure you have your teeth professionally cleaned by your dental hygienist who has the tools, techniques, and antibacterial solutions that not only can remove tartar, but kill any bacterial infections in the gums before they create problems more serious than halitosis (the technical name for bad breath).

Perhaps surprisingly, the famed Mayo Clinic reports that a white-coated tongue, especially in the morning, is the result of sulfur compounds accumulating in the mouth that will cause smelly breath and contribute to potential gum disease. It needs to be scraped off ASAP.

A dry mouth enables bacteria to accumulate because saliva normally cleans it off. If you suffer from this, drink more water and less alcohol and coffee, while reducing or quitting smoking, since these dry the mouth. Chewing on sugar-free hard candy or sugarless gum can stimulate saliva. If that doesn’t help, ask us about a medication that may be needed.

If you wear Invisalign aligners, a retainer for post-orthodontic treatment, a mouthguard at night, or dentures, be sure you clean them at least once a day with an appropriate cleaning solution (such as one designated for dentures, but be sure to watch for any discoloration that occurs that occurs on the oral device). 

Set an appointment for a full dental exam to be sure your oral health is where you want it to be.

More Readings on Cosmetic and General Dentistry:

• What to Avoid to Maintain Healthy Enamel
• A Dental Implant can Help Slow Down Bone Loss
• Dental Implants are More than Just Restoration

The outer surface of your teeth is enamel, the hardest mineral in your body, even stronger than your bones. Yet it is vulnerable to erosion and damage and cannot be rebuilt. Once penetrated, periodontal bacteria can enter into the softer dentin and even the inner core of teeth, ultimately leading to cavities, painful dead roots, and loss of teeth. One common symptom of damaged enamel is tooth sensitivity (for which there are special toothpastes, but they cannot restore it).

Fortunately, enamel can be protected. Let’s start with the basics of oral care: use a soft-bristled brush (hard ones harm enamel) to brush from the gum line to the top of each tooth on both sides for two minutes after breakfast and dinner. You only need to floss once before you go to sleep, but be thorough, holding the string against each side of every tooth. Also, use a periodontal mouthwash. Because no one has the tools or techniques of a dental hygienist, it is also vital that you have a professional cleaning at least twice a year.

Second, avoid too much sticky or hard foods, whether popcorn kernels, hard bread, gummy candy, dried fruit, and even protein bars (brush right afterwards for the sweet stuff).

Likewise, minimize sodas, which have acid carbonation that erodes enamel. Too much juice or coffee can leave sugar on the teeth and gums which will attract bacteria. Drink water ASAP after consuming these or even floss or brush, if you can.

If you have acid reflux, talk to your dentist or doctor about how to prevent it (if you binge drink, be aware that vomiting erodes enamel).

A chronically dry mouth will result in eroded enamel. Saliva neutralizes acids and rinses off bits of leftover food to prevent the build-up of plaque, the sticky bacterial film on teeth that leads to periodontal disease. This is sometimes the side effect of medications and the symptoms can be bad breath. There are dental mouthwashes and over-the-counter solutions that can help correct this. Even chewing sugar-free gums stimulates saliva.

Avoiding accidents that can chip the enamel is obviously important. When you play sports (even so-called non-contact ones like mountain biking and skiing), wear a mouthguard customized by your dentist (off-the-shelf ones do not provide adequate protection).

If you are told by a partner that you grind your teeth at night, your dentist can repair the damage and create a personalized nightguard, which you wear while you sleep.

Stop bad habits that can damage enamel, like pulling off clothes or opening packages with teeth, chewing on pens and pencils, fingernails and ice. 

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity or are concerned that your enamel has been worn down, set an appointment today to have Dr. Ada do a complete dental examination.

More Readings on Cosmetic and General Dentistry:

• Common Factors that Result in Bad Breath
• Dental Implants can Help Slow Down Bone Loss
• Dental Implants are More than Just Restoration

As we grow older, everyone has a tendency to lose teeth, mostly because of a lack of proper brushing and flossing, as well as missing regular cleanings by a dental hygienist. She has special tools to remove the bacterial film that adheres to food particles which were not removed immediately. Over time, this turns into hardened tartar, which requires professional techniques to scrape off.

If cleaning is not done effectively, the periodontal infection of the gums causes them to gradually pull away from the tooth they hold in place. In addition, cavities can develop over time. There is no pain, but this process does cause bleeding when you brush. It is often too late to save the tooth by the time your hygienist or dentist does an examination and the tooth may need to be extracted.

As we grow older, everyone has a tendency to lose teeth, mostly because of a lack of proper brushing and flossing, as well as missing regular cleanings by a dental hygienist. She has special tools to remove the bacterial film that adheres to food particles which had not been removed immediately. Over time, this turns into hardened tartar, which requires professional techniques to scrape off.

If cleaning is not done effectively, the periodontal infection of the gums causes them to gradually pull away from the tooth they hold in place. There is no pain, but this process does cause bleeding when you brush. It is often too late to save the tooth by the time your hygienist or dentist does an examination and the tooth may need to be extracted.

Then a bigger problem than one lost tooth begins. The lack of stimulation of the tooth that was there by chewing, which keeps the bone underneath healthy, stops, causing the bone around the socket to be reabsorbed into the jaw. At the same time, the neighboring teeth lean towards the gap, becoming loose themselves. Without doing something to stop this misalignment, more teeth will fall out or need to be extracted.

Some 69% of American adults 35-44 have already lost at least one tooth, and 26% of those 74 or older have no more teeth. Speaking clearly and being able to chew well become much more difficult the more teeth are missing.

Fortunately, there is one thing that can both stop this process and restore a healthy bite: dental implants. The key to this miracle is a small screw made of biocompatible titanium that Dr. Ada painlessly inserts into the bone under the socket, which over several months integrates into the jaw. Once healed, it is attached to an artificial tooth that looks exactly like the one you lost and which will be matched to the shade of your remaining teeth. No one will know that you weren’t born with all those teeth when you flash a full smile.

If you have lost many teeth already, you might wonder why not just pull the rest and replace everything with a relatively inexpensive denture, like so many do. Unfortunately, while a normal denture might restore some ability to speak and chew, it does not stop bone loss, which is why it has to be adjusted to be refitted about every five years. However, it is possible to anchor a denture into the jaw with implants. 

If you have many lost teeth, but do not want a denture, you can also consider having the artificial teeth placed on a platform that is anchored, which requires fewer single implants.

The first step in solving the challenges of missing teeth is to have a full dental exam, including a digital x-ray, which involves minimal radiation and will reveal the health of not only your teeth, but the underlying jawbone. In some cases where there is a lack, bone grafts can be made to allow dental implants to be placed.

Call today for an appointment to explore your best options to replace missing teeth.

Read More About Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry Services:

• Dental Implants are More than Just Restoration
• How Dental Fillings Can Help Treat Cavities
• Foods that Contribute to Chipped Teeth

Dental implants are a very popular option for tooth replacement. It consists of titanium posts and a tooth-looking restoration. Dentists often recommend implant restoration for people who are either missing one or more teeth due to the many benefits. If you are still looking at your various options, make sure to visit a cosmetic dentist in Mission Viejo.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are a new-age and innovative solution that is preferred because of the many common problems associated with traditional restoration options. Let’s take a look at some of the amazing benefits of dental implants. 

High Durability

Perhaps one of the very best benefits of getting dental implants is that they are specifically built to last. The rods made of titanium that are placed inside the jawbone help to replicate the normal and natural functions of the natural root structure. This forms a solid bond through osseointegration. 

With the best care and maintenance, dental implants can survive an entire lifetime of use. This means that patients only need to undergo the tooth replacement process once. They can also enjoy the solution for many years to come.

Better Stability

When people lose many teeth, the traditional methods are dental bridges or dentures. However, dentures are removable and become prone to slipping or moving within the mouth when talking or eating. Dental restorations on the other hand are highly stable and will never move. 

Better yet, they ensure that patients are still able to eat without concerns. That means that you can enjoy your favorite meals without the hassle.

Restore Confidence

With dental implants, as well as the attached restoration, you can achieve the closest match to natural teeth available when it comes to tooth replacements. Dental implants feel, look, and function like real teeth. This means that it is incredibly hard to tell them apart.

Most patients often feel far more confident because of their brand-new smile. 

If you are currently missing a tooth, the longer you wait to get it replaced, the more at risk you are for oral health complications such as dental misalignment and deterioration. Getting dental implants will restore the full function of your smile and make you feel far more confident than ever before. To learn more about this excellent procedure, you should book your appointment with Pro Health Dental.

The journey towards your dream smile should start today! Visit your Mission Viejo dentist to get the dental implant process started.

Dental veneers and dental bonding have similar uses, such as covering chipping, stains, and gaps in your smile, as well as giving misshapen teeth a new appearance. Both can also protect and cover a tooth’s dark root, if it has been exposed because of gum recession.

So which one does the better job at the best price, how do they compare on durability, and what can they do for your smile that is different from each other?

Bonding consists of tooth-colored composite resin (biocompatible plastic), matched to your natural tooth shade (which is why they are often preferred to fillings for cavities). It is less expensive than veneers, but bonded teeth typically last 3-5 years (though with care, they could be good for as much as 10). That compares with at least 10 years for veneers.

Bonding also stains much more easily than veneers, so it’s important to brush your teeth after eating dark foods or drinking coffee, tea, colored sodas, or red wine. Veneers, however, are not invulnerable, so the same practices are a good idea, as well as stopping or reducing smoking.

Bonding can be placed in a single sitting in the dental chair, which involves some slight etching of the surface of the tooth to adhere it firmly, then hardening with a special light. The process takes about 30 minutes per tooth. If there are many repairs needed, a second visit will be scheduled.

Veneers consist of hard dental porcelain or ceramic material, but they can be chipped or cracked if the patient bites his or her nails, chews on pens or utensils, or uses her teeth to open bags or pull on clothing. Because veneers cannot be whitened, if there is concern about discoloration showing through translucent veneers, a professional whitening from your cosmetic dentist should be done before they are placed.

Even just one veneer, however, requires two visits, since each needs to be custom-crafted by a skilled dental lab to look exactly like a natural tooth that is perfect. Your dentist will first file off a little bit of the enamel, which will enhance the ability of the veneer to stay on the tooth, but also so that the result doesn’t cause your new tooth or teeth to stick out artificially. Then an impression mold is made of the area where it is to be placed and sent to the lab. 

To find out whether dental bonding or veneers are the best solution for you, call for an appointment today at Pro Health Dental, cosmetic dentist in Mission Viejo, to have a full dental exam.

Read More From Your Mission Viejo Dentist:

• What Makes a Patient a Veneers Candidate?
• The Value of Fastbraces and How They Work
• How Dental Crowns are Valuable to Your Smile

If you have been told that you need a dental filling because of an existing cavity, you’re definitely not alone. In fact, tooth decay can occur at any age. Over 92% of adults over the age of 20 within the United States have at least one cavity, according to Healthline. 

If you need a dental filling, you need not worry. It is a very simple procedure that removes the decay and restores the tooth. It only takes around an hour to fill one tooth and can be performed in the dentist’s office. 

What Types of Fillings are Available?

When you visit your dentist, they will give you an option to choose between several different types of fillings. Each one comes with advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at a few of them below.

Metal Fillings

The earliest fillings known were made of metals such as gold or silver. While gold fillings are still available, they are far less common than they used to be because of the price. The silver fillings are often made with a combination of copper, tin, or mercury mixed with silver.

They are a durable and affordable option. However, they do distort the natural color of your tooth. 

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings on the other hand are made from acrylic resin mixed with either glass or quartz particles. The result is a natural-looking tooth without discoloration. People prefer this option as it doesn’t contain hazardous materials such as mercury.  

Though they are strong, they aren’t as durable as metal fillings. They are also more expensive. 

Glass Ionomer Fillings

Much like composite fillings, glass ionomer fillings are the same color as your natural tooth. They are far more expensive than the other options. However, they are not even half as strong. 

However, they do help prevent future cavities because of the glass containing fluoride.

Cavities are a very normal part of life for most people. If you are currently dealing with one, you shouldn’t worry, because they are a very easy fix. Tooth decay is very common in people of all ages. 

In fact, by the age of 64, most adults in the United States have had at least one dental filling. The procedure is very simple and has very little recovery involved. Better yet, it can be performed in the dentist’s office.

Contact Pro Health Dental today to get your treatment on track.

Additional Resources to Read:

• Taking Care of Your Teeth Provides the Best Example for Your Children
• How Dental Crowns are Valuable to Your Smile
• Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures and Services

Everyone knows how much people tend to make snap judgments. This is especially true when it comes to decisions about our immediate appearance. This includes our clothing, natural attractiveness, cosmetics, and smile. 

While it isn’t always fair, it is only human. This can affect things from jobs to dates. We always want to ensure that we put our best face forward to use it to our advantage.

Veneers Deliver a Picture-Worthy Smile

Unless you are always proudly flashing a stunning full smile and are never self-conscious about what others think, you are likely a great candidate for porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are placed on the front of your teeth to give you your ideal smile. Most people do need extra cosmetic help with the natural teeth they were given. 

So, don’t be too hard on yourself. In fact, there are very few of us with a perfect smile. This is because of many different genetic factors that can contribute to overcrowded mouths with teeth that are either too close or overlapping. Or you may be dealing with the opposite! 

Perhaps there are gaps between your teeth that make you wonder if you should get this cosmetic treatment. Permanent teeth just don’t always grow in at the exact size as others of the same type. Even a misaligned bite can cause chaos as it leads to biting or grinding your teeth at night. 

Habits that Veneers can Change

Perhaps the reason you want veneers is because they have been cracked or chipped in accidents. Or maybe you indulge in bad habits such as biting on pens or using your teeth to pull tags off of clothing. There are also other bad habits that ruin our teeth such as the excessive drinking of coffee, tea, red wine, or other beverages with strong colors. 

If you are going to consume these beverages, you need to immediately brush your teeth afterward. However, sometimes the damage is done and deemed irreversible. In this case, this cosmetic treatment is likely your best bet.

Here at Pro Health Dental, we provide the most sophisticated type of veneers possible. Each of our veneers is thin, strong, but requires very little or no removal of the front of the tooth. Set an appointment with us here at Pro Health Dental so that we can get started. 

We strive to bring you the smile of your dreams with our expert treatments. Let us help you today!