Oral Health – Page 3 – Steveston Smiles

Kissing And Cavities
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Kissing And Cavities

Children, Oral Health

Kissing And Cavities

WE HOPE ALL OF our patients are excited for Valentine’s Day! We also hope the topic we’re about to discuss won’t spoil the romantic mood, but we need to talk about what kissing does to oral bacteria. The Bacteria In Our Mouths Our mouths are home to many species of microscopic organisms. Most of them are harmless, and some are even beneficial, but some cause tooth decay and gum disease. The worst offenders are streptococcus mutans and porphyromonas gingivalis. Streptococcus mutans eats the leftover sugars and starches that stick to our teeth after we eat, and then it excretes enamel-eroding acid. Porphyromonas gingivalis is strongly linked to advanced gum disease, or periodontitis. Managing Our Oral Bacteria As bacteria reproduce very quickly, a good oral hygiene routine is essential for keeping the harmful bacteria [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2019-02-09T20:04:34-08:00February 9th, 2019|Children, Oral Health|

Bad Oral Health Fads
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Bad Oral Health Fads

Oral Health

Bad Oral Health Fads

FADS AREN’T ALWAYS ABOUT hairstyles and slang; they can also be about the way we take care of our bodies, including our teeth. It’s important to be able to tell the difference between something that is popular and something that has the support of the dental health community. That’s why we’re going to take a critical look at a few of the recent oral health fads. Charcoal Toothpaste You might’ve seen this seemingly paradoxical product in the store: activated charcoal toothpaste, which will turn your teeth black when you brush but supposedly whiten them in the long run. If you haven’t seen it in the store, you’ve probably seen people using and singing its praises on social media. The problem with these products and home-made pastes is that there is no scientific support for the claims [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2019-01-20T22:37:30-08:00February 5th, 2019|Oral Health|

Nitrous Oxide: Having A Gas At The Dentist
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Nitrous Oxide: Having A Gas At The Dentist

Oral Health, Services

Nitrous Oxide: Having A Gas At The Dentist

MOST OF US HAVE at least heard of laughing gas, the whimsically-nicknamed sedation method used by dentists, even if we haven’t had it ourselves. But what exactly is laughing gas, and why is it so closely associated with dentistry? Nitrous Oxide From Discovery To Dentistry Laughing gas is a colorless, odorless gas. It consists of two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom bonded together. The way it works is not entirely clear, but studies do indicate that it reduces a patient’s perception of pain and increases the release of dopamine. In 1772, Joseph Priestly first isolated the compound nitrous oxide. It wasn’t until 1799 that Humphry Davy discovered the relaxing, euphoria-inducing effects that earned it the name laughing gas. Several decades later, in the 1860s in Germany, nitrous oxide found its place in dentistry, [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2019-01-20T22:23:58-08:00January 20th, 2019|Oral Health, Services|

What To Do When You Have A Toothache
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What To Do When You Have A Toothache

Oral Health

What To Do When You Have A Toothache

A TOOTHACHE IS never fun to deal with, and they can happen for a variety of reasons. Do you know what to do when one strikes, especially if it happens at the beginning of the weekend and you can’t get quick access to professional dental care? Toothache Causes The most common reason a tooth might initially feel painful is tooth decay, but it isn’t the only reason. Tooth pain can also be the result of pulp inflammation, an dental abscess, a cracked tooth, or even gum disease. Impacted teeth (teeth that are blocked from coming in where they should by bone, gum tissue, or other teeth) can also be painful. Tooth sensitivity can lead to discomfort as well, and sometimes the cause is merely a sinus infection or congestion. Reducing Dental Pain Before Your Appointment [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2019-01-07T23:46:40-08:00January 8th, 2019|Oral Health|

When To See The Dentist
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When To See The Dentist

General, Oral Health

When To See The Dentist

BECAUSE PREVENTION IS such a major part of good dental care, it’s critical to visit the dentist for regular checkups. In most cases, two regular dental cleanings a year will be all you need, but not always. So what are the signs that you shouldn’t wait until your next scheduled appointment to come back? For this blog post, we’ve listed the top five. 1. Aches Of Any Kind If you’re experiencing tooth pain, that could mean a cavity has gotten to the point where the dental pulp is getting infected. Don’t tough it out thinking it’ll just go away on its own. Other types of pain you should bring to the dentist are an aching jaw and frequent headaches. These are often connected to oral health issues such as bruxism (teeth-grinding), and the [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2018-09-18T03:03:00-07:00October 2nd, 2018|General, Oral Health|

Protect Your Smile With A Custom Mouthguard
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Protect Your Smile With A Custom Mouthguard

Children, General, Oral Health

Protect Your Smile With A Custom Mouthguard

THE CRISP SMELL OF FRESHLY CUT GRASS on the soccer field, the gleam of the basketball court before a game, the cheering fans at the football stadium, the feeling of the baseball bat, familiar in your hands… There’s no doubt about it–playing sports can be a magical thing. We love when our patients are having fun and being active, but unfortunately, sports-related dental injuries happen all the time. That’s why we make custom mouthguards in our practice, so you and your children can always play it safe! Wear A Mouthguard And Reduce Your Risk Of Injury You may be surprised to learn that up to 40 percent of dental injuries are sustained during sports activities. In fact, not wearing a mouthguard makes you 60 times more likely to sustain an injury to the face and mouth! Wearing [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2018-09-18T03:16:49-07:00September 25th, 2018|Children, General, Oral Health|

Teaching Your Child To Floss
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Teaching Your Child To Floss

Children, Oral Health

Teaching Your Child To Floss

FLOSSING IS AN ESSENTIAL part of keeping our teeth clean and healthy. So how do we pass this crucial habit on to our children? This is one hurdle of parenting we’re happy to help you clear! Why Does Flossing Matter? You might wonder why it’s so important to include flossing when it’s hard enough to get your children to brush. Keeping baby teeth healthy is crucial because they are placeholders for adult teeth, and a toothbrush alone simply cannot get rid of all the decay-causing plaque lurking in between them. Just as important is that the earlier children learn good dental hygiene habits, the easier it will be for them to continue those habits into their teens and adulthood. When To Start Flossing Your child probably won’t have the dexterity to floss their [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2018-08-29T02:49:22-07:00September 18th, 2018|Children, Oral Health|

How A Nail Biting Habit Affects Teeth
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How A Nail Biting Habit Affects Teeth

Oral Health

How A Nail Biting Habit Affects Teeth

NAIL BITING IS A HABIT shared by between a quarter and a third of children and nearly half of teenagers. Compulsive behaviors don’t always have negative effects on a person’s physical health, but this one definitely does. In addition to leaving the nails torn and uneven and doing damage to the nail beds, nail biting can lead to a variety of oral health complications. Nail Biting Versus Teeth And Gums You might think that your teeth are much tougher than your fingernails, but over time, nail biting can cause significant damageto both teeth and gums. Here are some of the biggest ways this happens: Erosion, chipping, and cracking: the grinding friction of teeth against nails can gradually wear the enamel away, or even cause teeth to chip or crack. Malocclusion [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2018-08-29T02:23:26-07:00September 11th, 2018|Oral Health|

Fun Tooth Fairy Ideas
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Fun Tooth Fairy Ideas

Children, Oral Health

Fun Tooth Fairy Ideas

THE EXCITEMENT OF LOSING a tooth and waiting for the Tooth Fairy to come is something almost every child looks forward to, but how can parents make sure this rite of passage lives up to the hype? If you’ve been looking for ways to improve your Tooth Fairy game, we have a few ideas you could use! The Tooth Fairy’s Origins The idea of a fairy who quietly swaps a child’s tooth for money or a small gift overnight isn’t a very old one, but there have been traditions associated with children losing their first tooth since the time of the Vikings, when the teeth were often buried to ensure a happy life for the child or considered good luck in battle. These days, many cultures have the Tooth Fairy or a [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2018-08-18T23:50:12-07:00August 22nd, 2018|Children, Oral Health|

The Negative Effects Of Mouth-Breathing
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The Negative Effects Of Mouth-Breathing

Children, Oral Health

The Negative Effects Of Mouth-Breathing

WE ALL KNOW WHAT it’s like to have a cold, with a nose so stuffy that you can’t breathe through it. At times like that, we breathe through our mouths instead, and that’s pretty much how it should work. Mouth-breathing is an emergency backup, not the default. There are many negative effects of mouth-breathing full-time, particularly if the habit begins in childhood. Why Does Mouth-Breathing Become A Habit? Many things can lead to a mouth-breathing habit. A small child might get a cold and then simply continue breathing through his mouth when his nose clears. A problem with bite alignment can make it difficult to keep the mouth closed. Persistent allergies, overlarge tonsils, or a deviated septum could make nose-breathing difficult or impossible most of the time. Fortunately, these problems can often [...]

By Steveston Smiles|2018-08-08T03:49:39-07:00August 8th, 2018|Children, Oral Health|