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Throughout the history of dentistry, one of the most common conditions that irritate patients is malocclusion. This term refers to a problem in how the top and bottom teeth join together. Patients have an ideal bite when the upper teeth is positioned slightly ahead of the lower teeth. “Overbites” and “underbites” occur, but there are additional ways misalignment can occur.

Tooth Misalignment

If teeth become crowded or even too far apart, there is a chance of a bad bite. A slight misalignment might not point to any related issues. However, moderate to severe malocclusion creates an increased risk of other dental health issues such as difficult chewing and speech patterns, headaches, hearing difficulties, decay, jaw pain, and gum disease.

When these conditions are allowed to inhibit your oral health, the lasting effects can be serious. Once the conditions worsen, the resulting treatment becomes more costly. There are treatments and options at your disposal to treat potential bite problems. Consider scheduling an appointment at your dentist and determine whether this condition is currently affecting you. If the problem is diagnosed early, you can benefit from having effective treatment performed with any serious complications.

Adolescence represents an important period for the development of one’s oral health. By the time children reach their teenage years, all baby teeth have been lost and replaced with permanent teeth. This means that for this age group, oral hygiene habits go a long way towards affecting the oral health of patients in adulthood. Educating adolescents about the importance of following a healthy diet and their implications on oral health can make a difference in having healthy smiles in adulthood.

So what makes a tooth-friendly diet? Here are some characteristics.

Fruits and Vegetables

Eating a sufficient amount of crunchy fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, celery, apples, and pears can help boost saliva production. Saliva can work to remove bad bacteria that produce dangerous acids that harm tooth enamel.

A tooth-friendly diet also avoids acidic foods, which can increase the risk of developing cavities and other dental conditions. Although oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit, lemons, and berries are regarded as healthy sources of nutrition, they can also wear away tooth enamel. To be fully protected against these risks, dentists recommended to brush after each meal or swish with mouthwash to remove excess acid from the mouth.

Milk, Yogurt, Cheese

Teeth benefit from having calcium and other minerals in terms of improved strength and durability. Children following a tooth-friendly diet often consume a recommended daily amount of calcium. These can be found from yogurt, cottage cheese, and regularly cheese. For those who have less tolerance to dairy products, calcium-fortified soy milk and orange juice provide acceptable options as well.

Sugar-Free Foods

One of the essential elements of following a tooth-friendly diet is avoiding candies and treats containing an excessive amount of sugar. Children who have a sweet tooth opt for sugar-free substitute instead of regular candy. Chewing sugar-free gum or drinking sugar-free beverages provide better long-term benefits for teeth. They also do not wear away tooth enamel – providing a dentist-approved substitute.

At Pro Health Dental, our Mission Viejo dentist and team understand that preventative care is at its best when patients continue to practice healthy teeth and gum cleaning habits. It is important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine that consists of brushing and flossing. Most people brush their teeth, but only a committed few make the effort to floss. While we prefer patients to floss, it is understandable that many may not find the procedure exciting. However, even with these details, it is still an important practice that delivers unique benefits.

Here are the essentials of flossing that are worth knowing:

Purchase the Right Floss

Any patient can purchase floss from a variety of stores. For patients with space between their teeth, a thicker floss should be used. Those that have straight teeth can use thinner versions.

Use the Recommended Amount of Floss

It is important to avoid using the same strand of floss. A fresh strand is better and more effective for cleaning the spaces between each tooth.

Floss Gently

When it comes to flossing, accidents are a possibility, especially when it is done aggressively. The gums can be irritated and experience minor bleeding when patients do not do it gently. By using a more gentle approach, the floss will gradually clean the tight spaces without irritating or damaging the gums.

Do Not Overlook the Gums

Flossing is helpful for removing plaque from the spaces between teeth and at the base of the gums. When flossing, gently maneuver the floss between the teeth and gums to remove any persistent food particles. With consistent, but gentle flossing, you can reduce the risk of gum disease.

At Pro Health Dental we provide mercury-free fillings in order to provide a safe and worry-free environment for our valued patients.  We all have started to worry about the world around us. More and more, we try to incorporate those healthy decisions into our lives that have a positive impact on ourselves, on others, and our environments. You have to value your health. If you don’t have your health, nothing else really matters much, does it?

If you’re concerned about you and your family’s health, then we’d like to point something important out to you. This article is about dental amalgam, and why you should choose a dentist who offers mercury-free fillings.

What is amalgam?

Amalgam is a material used for filling cavities. It’s carried in most dental offices. Many practitioners refer to amalgam fillings as “silver” fillings, which sometimes misleads the consumer. But that’s why we’re here, to give you the facts. Amalgam is actually made up of nearly 50% mercury.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin, a toxin that is poisonous or destructive to the nerve tissue, which can adversely affect function in both developing and mature nervous tissues. A tiny, little dental filling may seem like too small amount of mercury to have a negative effect, but it turns out that American dental offices are second in mercury use in our nation. Once implanted in the mouth, dental amalgam releases this toxin into your body. The mercury used in amalgam fillings can provide detrimental effects to our bodies and our environment.

Health Risks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told the FDA that they had a responsibility to warn consumers about the dangers of amalgam, especially when it comes to the danger it poses to children. Dental amalgam can in some cases be contributed to neurological problems, brain disease, and also immune deficiency diseases in dental patients.

Amalgam fillings are also subject to rising and falling of temperature. This can cause the metal to expand, shrink, or warp in severe weather conditions, whether hot or cold. This can lead to small, painful cracks in your fillings.

Amalgam also requires proper handling when disposing. The EPA has concluded that a percentage of dental mercury eventually ends up in our own water sources. Rivers and lakes are adversely affected, endangering wildlife that rely on these sources of water for sustenance.

Benefits of Mercury Free Dentistry

Mercury free dentistry explores healthier, safer alternatives to mercury. Composite fillings are a safer alternative that is being explored by progressive dental offices around the country like Pro Health Dental.

You have the power to choose a dentist who believes in taking care of clients and the environment, all while running a successful business. You can feel good about knowing that you’ve made the right choice in addition to these other health benefits:

• Crowns are made with beautiful porcelain to correct larger amounts of decay.
• Fillings are made with a completely environmentally and biologically safe, toxin-free epoxy resin.
• Composite fillings will protect your teeth against future cracks.
• Composite fillings and crowns can be matched to your original tooth color for a more natural look and finish.
• Help contribute to the effort to save national wildlife and American water sources.

By choosing Pro Health Dental, you are choosing a mercury free environment. You are helping your family’s health as well as your surrounding world. If you have any lingering questions or concern about amalgam, composite or other dental materials, please contact us today.

It’s important to stay on top of your oral health for a number of reasons beyond getting a glowing review at Pro Health Dental. That is, If you don’t take care of your by properly brushing, flossing, and scheduling regular visits with us, you may find yourself spending thousands of dollars down the road in restorative dental care.

You wouldn’t know it, but a full mouth reconstruction can cost anywhere between $50,000 and $80,000. If you practice good oral hygiene habits as well as preventive dentistry, you can avoid these exorbitant dental costs in the future. We’ll go over some of the basics that might help you save a lot of coin.

First off, preventive dentistry generally emphasizes the importance of ongoing dental hygiene procedures — daily practices you can develop in order to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases and complications.

Effective preventive dentistry combines practices you can do on your own at home in conjunction with chairside treatments and counseling by certified dental professionals.
The American Dental Association (ADA) quite vocally recommends at least two dental checkups annually for professional cleaning, management, and assessment. Sticking with your bi-annual check-ups will help you and your dentist catch disease in its early stages, which is always better than letting a problem run its course.

Prevention Early On

If you have children, begin their teeth cleaning rituals when their first tooth erupts. Visit a pediatric dentist when this happens, or at the very latest bring them in when they’re around 12 months of age. This will help to establish comprehensive oral health habits for your child that they can incorporate into their lives, providing a sturdy foundation.

Preventive Strategies

There are many preventive measures you can take to ensure the long-term oral health of you and your loved ones. Strategies for children and adults will include a combination of any number of in-office and at-home treatments and procedures, including:

At-home oral hygiene — The most important prevention technique that you can ever learn is properly brushing and flossing at least twice a day (or after every meal). This helps to remove plaque, which is a film-like coating that forms on your teeth. If left unchecked, plaque will build up and produce tartar. Tartar is a hardened, sticky substance that generates acid-producing bacteria which cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Fluoride use — Fluoride, despite its negative connotation with some, strengthens your teeth and also prevents tooth decay. Fluoride treatments can be provided in any dental office. Dentists will also recommend using toothpastes and mouth rinses at home that contain fluoride. Though some conspiracy theorists may beg to differ, public water fluoridation (which is ranked as one of the 20th century’s 10 great public health achievements) actually provides a major source of our daily fluoride.

Regular dental visits — In conjunction with good brushing and flossing habits, regular dental visits are the cornerstone of any good preventive oral health plan. It’s an unfortunate reality that most most dental conditions can be quite painless at first. That means, if you don’t schedule and keep your regular visits with Pro Health Dental, you may not be aware of your dental problems until they’ve already cause a significant amount of damage. Be sure to schedule regular dental check-ups for yourself and your family every six months. If you are at higher risk for dental problems, schedule visits even more often.

Oral Screenings — Your dentist should also be performing oral cancer screenings. It’s important to check for signs of abnormal tissues, no matter if you smoke or not. Especially for children, checking oral growth and development should be a part of your regular dental evaluations.

Diet — There’s a reason why Americans are among the most overweight and out of shape people in the world. It’s because diet can be one of the hardest things to change. Many of us don’t look at food simply as fuel. It’s a way of life. And you could be addicted to certain harmful foods and not even know it’s a problem. But a balanced diet is as much a dental aid as brushing and flossing. Bacteria that produce plaque feed on sugars and carbs that you eat. Calcium-poor diets will actually increase your chances of developing periodontal disease and lead to jaw and bone deterioration.

X-rays — X-rays give dentists the ability to look for signs of dental problems that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Cavities between teeth and problems below the gum line are all easier to identify via X-rays.

Mouth guards — Mouth guards are important for kids and teens. They can be worn during sports activities to protect against broken teeth. Mouth guards also are used to treat sleep disorders like bruxism (teeth grinding), which will help save the integrity of your teeth. Bruxism can wear down your teeth and contribute to TMJ.

Orthodontics – An abnormal bite (malocclusion) can impair your eating and your speaking. Crooked teeth can be harder to keep clean then a more nicely arranged set of pearly whites. Dental braces or clear teeth aligners like Invisalign or Invisalign Teen, will help reduce the prominence likelihood of future dental problems.

Sealants — Sealants are made up of composite material, thin coatings that are placed on the chewing surfaces of your back permanent teeth that can help protect both children and adults from tooth decay.

Avoid smoking and drinking — You should avoid these activities for your overall health anyways. But smoking, chewing tobacco, and adult beverage consumption can seriously affect your oral health in a major way. Dry mouth, tooth discoloration, plaque buildup, gum disease, tooth loss, and even oral cancer are just some of the ramifications of drinking and using tobacco.

Last Thoughts on Preventive Dentistry

Consistent dental care for chronic dental diseases/conditions is an absolute essential for deterring or reversing damage to your oral health. Patient education is also of utmost importance at Pro Health Dental. Patients who understand the outcome and consequences of poor dental health are far more likely to see their dentist to construct a preventive dentistry gameplan. Instilling great oral health habits early on will significantly help ensure a legacy of dental health.

Contact Pro Health Dental today if you have any lingering questions about Preventive Dentistry. We look forward to working with you to help you achieve an amazing smile.

When it comes to dental floss, what’s the best kind? Well, if you ask a dentist, they’ll tell you the best dental floss is the floss you’ll actually use. That could be Teflon floss, dental tape, nylon floss, waxed floss, and flosses with or without flavors – there are a lot of choices! There are also a number of ways to get your flossing done that don’t have you wrapping a long string of floss across your fingers and deftly maneuvering your hands in such an enclosed space. Enter the oral irrigator, the vibrating flosser, and the dental pick! Which might be best for you?

Dental Pick

If you’re prone to ignore flossing, you may want to consider a good ol’ fashioned dental pick. You’ve no doubt seen these before (sometimes cast aside on the sidewalk!) … they look kinda’ like a plastic toothpick with a strand of dental floss strapped across a wide u-shaped tip. The simplicity and compact nature of these little portable floss “picks” seem to add to their convenience, and kids seem to love them when they’re first learning to floss. We’ll bet you can find at least one colleague in your office who has a few in their purse or desk for those moments when lunch lingers on the teeth a bit longer than appreciated! We’ll even give you a packet of these for free the next time you come in!

Electric Flossers

Depending on the brand, electric flossers are known by a variety of names, and searching for these handy little devices can be somewhat maddening online (trust us!). You may be best just wandering into the drug store or supermarket to explore in person! There are vibrating flossers, power flossers, and air flossers. Picking the one that’s right for you depends on the task at hand. Power flossers and air flossers seem best if you’re dealing with space concerns near the gumline, and may be a good substitute for an interproximal toothbrush. A vibrating flosser, on the other hand, looks much like a dental pick and because of its design, can cover the entire length of the tooth. The next time you’re here at Pro Health Dental ask which is best for you.

Oral Irrigator

An oral irrigator is a device that uses a pulsating stream of water to remove plaque and food debris from between your teeth. There are a variety of instruments on the market, and your dentist can recommend one based on the health of your gum tissue and budget. Oral irrigators are remarkably effective at keeping gum tissue healthy, and have been shown to reduce pocket depth due to periodontitis. “Pocket depth,” refers to the depth of the gum tissue that immediately surrounds your teeth. You may not know it, but that’s what your dentist or hygienist is testing for when they’re poking that instrument in your mouth during an exam and calling out numbers! Mention this blog post and receive 10% off at your next visit!

It’s worth noting that each of these devices, while recommended, should be considered as supplements to normal flossing – still your best choice. But, if you have dexterity concerns, are purchasing something for a youngster, or just want to ensure your teeth are the cleanest they can be, these tool are great options!

Pro Health Dental offers top notch Invisalign treatments in addition to traditional braces for our cherished patients. If you’re insecure about crooked or misaligned teeth, then we have several options that can fit your individual lifestyle for you to consider, one of which being the exciting and innovative Invisalign clear braces treatment.

Drawbacks of Conventional Braces

Conventional braces can quite ostentatious, to say the least. Metal braces are noticeable, putting you on the radar, even if you want to be more incognito. Who really wants to hang around sporting a huge hunk of metal in their mouth, anyway? Metal braces can be extremely cumbersome, uncomfortable, and they can limit your lifestyle in many ways, including diet. It can be a real drag staying away from the hard, sticky foods that you love. Metal braces only become more and more inconvenient the older we get. There aren’t many adults brave enough to undergo such a life-altering process that late in life. It’s such a sad irony, the fact that braces might make you feel insecure, when all you’re trying to do is improve your smile.

Benefits of Invisalign

One major benefit to Invisalign that we can mention upfront is your appearance. Invisalign trays are barely noticeable. Even if somebody is looking, they would be hard-pressed to see your transparent Invisalign treatment. You can’t get food stuck in your Invisalign trays like traditional metal braces. This way you don’t have to worry about checking the mirror after every meal and snack to make sure there isn’t any debris in your teeth. Eat whatever you want, because you don’t have to worry about any diet restrictions outside of what you normally would for your own personal health and safety.

Comfort is also a big advantage that Invisalign has over traditional metal braces. Invisalign clear braces can be removed completely, though it is recommended that you keep them in for most of a 24 hour period for maximum results.

You also don’t have to worry about irritation or inflammation in your mouth due to cuts or abrasions that metal braces tend to incite. This causes all sorts of discomfort, and can even cause an infection. Metal braces contain wire and protruding metal that can scratch your gums and mouth all over, making it painful to speak, much less eat. Invisalign is sleek and smooth, no way to get shanked in the mouth.

The structure of Invisalign braces is also found to be appealing to patients. You will undergo a sort of planning that is completely computerized and visualized, meaning you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect and how long your Invisalign treatment program will be. Metal braces can often turn into a trial-and-error scenario that doesn’t give you anywhere near as clear an idea of how long you can expect to have your braces. You might even end up having to wear your braces for much longer than you originally were quoted by your dentist.

Invisalign makes your teeth much easier to clean than braces. You don’t have to worry about a water pick, if you don’t want to. You also don’t have to reach into every nook and cranny of your teeth and navigate in between brackets and wires like you would with traditional braces. There is no special tooling required to get started with your Invisalign treatment besides the trays that you will be given.

Contact Pro Health Dental today to learn more about the ways that Invisalign can benefit you. Together, we can determine the most proactive plan to help you achieve the smile that you’ve always dreamed of.

Technological advancements in the field of dentistry have forever changed the way people clean, care for, and repair their teeth. One of the most exciting and state-of-the-art procedures available is laser dentistry. But before you sign up for an appointment, here are a few things you should know about the procedure.

What is laser dentistry?

The use of small, concentrated beams of light to either remove or shape tissue. Lasers can be used for a variety of different procedures, including but not limited to:

• Performing biopsy procedures
• Removing or reshaping bone and gum tissue during crown lengthenings
• Treating root canal infections
• Speeding up the tooth whitening process
• Removing overgrown tissues, often caused by certain medications
• Shaping and removing gum tissue during impressions for crowns
• Removing muscle attachments that are limiting movement
• Fully exposing partially grown wisdom teeth
• Reducing discomfort of cold and canker sores

What are the benefits of laser dentistry?

Compared to traditional surgical methods, laser dentistry is far less invasive and disruptive to the delicate tissue of your mouth. It can also speed the healing and recovery time of various soft tissue procedures, particularly gum surgeries, as lasers decrease bleeding and pain by cauterizing as they cut.

Lasers are also useful for working with hard tissue treatments. When used alongside water, they are strong enough to replicate the use of a drill but can do so without the whirring sound or heat from friction.

Many teeth bleaching systems are enhanced with laser light. These lasers can help activate deep-penetrating whitening agents in your teeth, illuminating your smile in a way that can never be accomplished with over the counter whitening kits.

Lasers also have diagnostic benefits. They can be used to detect cavities and even trace amounts of tooth decay. Dental care providers can also bounce a soft light off the surfaces of your teeth in order to study the strength and structure of each individual tooth.

Is laser dentistry safe?

Used in accordance with accepted dental care practices, lasers are just as safe as any other dental instrument. The only big difference you’ll notice is that you’ll be asked to wear special eyeglasses during procedures to protect your eyes.

Dental lasers are still a relatively new invention and one that is constantly upgrading and changing. If you think you may be a candidate for laser dentistry, schedule an appointment with your dental care provider. And if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Pro Health Dental.

You should see your dental care provider every six months, but it would be nice to be able to avoid any surprise emergency visits. Be proactive with your oral health by taking preventative steps towards stopping cavities and tooth decay before they start.

Tips for Preventing Cavities

Brush with fluoride toothpaste after meals: You should be using a fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice a day and ideally after every meal. The same goes for flossing. If you can’t brush after eating, at least try to rinse your mouth out with water.

Visit your dentist regularly: Professional teeth cleanings and regular oral exams can’t be replicated at home, regardless of your oral care routine. Keeping on schedule helps you diagnose problem areas before they become major issues.

Drink tap water: You don’t have to all the time, but most tap water is infused with fluoride, which helps decrease tooth decay.

Rinse with fluoride: Are you seeing a pattern? A fluoride rinse is a fast and easy way to reach areas that can be hard to reach via other means of cleaning. It’s also a common recommendation for those who are at a high risk of developing cavities.

Avoid grazing: The constant snacking and sipping of beverages other than water makes teeth cleaning between meals all but impossible and helps mouth bacteria develop acids that can break down tooth enamel.

Know what you’re eating: There are certain foods and drinks that are better for you than others. Fresh fruits and veggies are good as they can increase saliva flow. Tea, sugar-free gum, and unsweetened coffee can help wash away food particles. But try your best to avoid foods that get stuck in the pits and grooves of your teeth. Those are already danger areas even without food particles being stuck in them for a prolonged period of time.

Ask about dental sealants: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all school-age children receive sealants, which are protective plastic coatings that are applied to the back teeth. They seal off the grooves in chewing areas that often collect food, and can last up to ten years before they need to be replaced.

Ask about antibacterial treatments: If you’re particularly prone to dental problems, like due to a specific medical condition, talk to your dentist about mouth rinses and other treatments that are antibacterial.

As is always the case with your health, being proactive is the key. Stay on top of your oral health, and if you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us at Pro Health Dental.

Nowadays if you want straight teeth, you have some options, including Invisalign, which is a type of orthodontic treatment that uses clear (although not technically invisible) aligner trays to straighten your teeth without the use of traditional metal braces.

Below are some perks and considerations if you’re thinking about talking to your dentist about Invisalign.

Perks of Invisalign

They’re practically invisible: Totally clear and fit to your teeth, it will be hard for people to see that you’re wearing Invisalign, which is exactly the point for many patients, particularly older ones who think they’re too old for braces.

Eat what you want: With traditional braces, you have to remove a lot of foods from your diet because they run the risk of disrupting your metalwork. Since your Invisalign aligners are removable, you just take them out before mealtimes.

Your oral care routine stays the same: Traditional braces require you to brush and floss around wires and brackets, but with Invisalign, you simply remove the aligners and continue with your standard oral care routine.

It could help you lose weight: While not an “official” benefit of Invisalign, let’s be honest. The fact that you have to take out your aligners and brush your teeth after every meal may help cut down on that snack grazing throughout the day and/or that midnight meal.

It’s practically painless: Unlike traditional braces, where the tightening process was often a torturous affair, Invisalign aligners slide right onto your teeth pain-free.

Invisalign Considerations

You may not see them, but you can hear them: Since you’re still wearing something on your teeth, once you start talking, certain words and letter combinations can create a lisp. However, this gets better over time as you get used to the aligners.

You have to wear them: It may sound obvious, but this isn’t the retainer from your childhood. In order to get the most out of your aligners, you should wear them at least 20 hours a day (although 22 is the preferred amount). Since you won’t be wearing them when you’re eating, that means they’re in your mouth almost 24/7.

You have to brush between meals: After all, invisible aligners aren’t much of an aesthetic benefit if you have spinach stuck inside them. So you’ll need to carry a travel toothbrush (or two) and be adamant about teeth cleaning after everything you eat.

They might take longer than you think: The average Invisalign patient will have to wear their aligners for a year, but like other forms of teeth alignment, sometimes that treatment can be extended for the use of “finishing” aligners to really get that smile perfect.

Invisalign is a tremendous option for many people looking to straighten their teeth, but it’s important that you look over the details before making a decision. If you think Invisalign may be right for you, contact a dental consultant at Pro Health Dental and we’d be happy to set up an appointment.