Patient Education Archives | Page 14 of 14 | Diamond Dental of Sacramento

When Heartburn Comes with the Check
When Heartburn Comes with the Check

Patient Education

When Heartburn Comes with the Check

It might be a big Italian meal—meatballs, lasagna, red wine— or a serious encounter with stuffed jalapenos. Whatever your preference, if you suffer heartburn, you’re going to pay for it. Every month, 40% of the population suffer heartburn. An unlucky 10% reach for the antacids or acid blockers daily. Heartburn is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, the escape of acids from the stomach back into the esophagus. There is a burning sensation behind the breastbone, maybe a sour taste in the mouth. Mild- to-moderate [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2015-11-10T00:00:40-08:00November 10, 2015|Patient Education|

Is Your Mouth Older Than…
Is Your Mouth Older Than…

Patient Education

Is Your Mouth Older Than…

A mouth at age 50 enters a whole new world marked by a set of problems you never dreamed of when your mouth was filled with bubble gum and the latest slang. Celebrate Great Taste! Expect taste buds to fade gradually with age. But the senses of taste and smell can disappear quickly in diabetics—or overnight as a result of stroke, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s Disease. Have the loss checked out—and make food more palatable with herbs and spices. Don’t Swallow Bitterness! Menopause often leads [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2015-11-03T00:00:02-08:00November 3, 2015|Patient Education|

Sterilization
Sterilization

Patient Education

Sterilization

Keeping Our Office Safe For You We follow all guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and American Dental Association, particularly sterilization procedures for instruments used in the mouth. This means high speed drills too. Our autoclave is state-of-the-science—it’s monitored regularly by an independent testing laboratory to verify complete effectiveness. All clinical personnel wear masks and gloves when treating patients. After every patient, we cleanse our hands, then put on a new pair of gloves, right in front of you. Countertops, dental chairs, [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2015-05-05T00:00:55-07:00May 5, 2015|Patient Education|

Can Kissing Cause Cavities?
Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Patient Education

Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Sorry to say, it can. In fact, anything involving contact with saliva—a kiss, parents tasting their babies’ food, sharing of tableware and toothbrushes—can transmit decay-causing bacteria. Soon after birth, infants start to get those bacteria that inhabit the mouth and cause cavities. These germs are usually transferred by the babies’ mothers or other family members. When one so innocent can be SO susceptible, we need to provide our mouths with the best defense against the enemy. Brushing and flossing are a good beginning, as they [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2015-03-17T00:00:10-07:00March 17, 2015|Patient Education|

Manual or Mechanical?
Manual or Mechanical?

Patient Education

Manual or Mechanical?

Back and forth goes the argument—what toothbrush is best? Gadgeteers can spend $150 for an electric brush designed to rotate and oscillate, with angled neck, sure-grip handle, dual speed control, and even a timer. Researchers say that rotation-oscillation electric brushes remove plaque and reduce gingivitis better than any other kind—but only slightly better. Do-it-yourselfers can pick up a manual toothbrush for under $3 at the pharmacy. Replace it every three months for two years—the warranty period on the electric brush—and you can save big [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2015-03-10T00:00:41-07:00March 10, 2015|Patient Education|

EMERGENCY! Save that Tooth!
EMERGENCY! Save that Tooth!

Patient Education

EMERGENCY! Save that Tooth!

Dental emergencies happen. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, don’t delay. Call us immediately for an emergency visit. Re-implanting a tooth works best when done within 30 minutes. After two hours, the procedure is unlikely to be successful. Call us after any blow to the mouth. A chipped tooth can be repaired, and any blow hard enough to chip a tooth is hard enough to move teeth out of alignment, even break the jawbone. Other dental emergencies include pain, swelling, or a lost [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2015-02-10T00:00:04-08:00February 10, 2015|Patient Education|

Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem
Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

Patient Education

Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

What’s long, slender, hard, sharp, indigestible and potentially hazardous? That common and seemingly harmless sliver of wood called a toothpick. Reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association point to toothpicks as causing thousands of injuries a year, mostly to young children. Youngsters aged five to 14 were most likely to be injured by toothpicks, and children under the age of five were 20 times more likely to seriously injure their eyes or ears. Adults should also treat the toothpick with a little [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2014-12-23T00:00:25-08:00December 23, 2014|Patient Education|

Heart Disease and Dental Care
Heart Disease and Dental Care

Patient Education

Heart Disease and Dental Care

Do I need to take an antibiotic before my dental appointment? Patients who have had rheumatic fever, heart murmur, heart valve replacement or orthopedic joint replacement are at risk for a condition called infectious endocarditis. The American Dental Association recommends these patients take a “pre-med” prior to dental work. Here’s why: Bacteria which normally inhabit a mouth can get into your bloodstream during the simplest dental procedure. When that bacteria travels to the heart it might affect the heart or joints. Pre-medication works to [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2014-07-15T00:00:49-07:00July 15, 2014|Patient Education|

Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?
Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?

Patient Education

Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?

Do the walls of your house vibrate at night? Does your dog or cat sleep with his paws over his ears? If so, you may find some benefit in this article. In some men or women, snoring can be reduced or eliminated simply by wearing an oral appliance at night. The appliance enlarges the airway by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward. The appliance fits snugly onto the teeth of each arch with the teeth slightly apart. The procedure to make the appliance is [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2014-07-01T00:00:34-07:00July 1, 2014|Patient Education|

Quitting Chewing Tobacco
Quitting Chewing Tobacco

Patient Education

Quitting Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco affects your dental health as well as the rest of your body. If you use smokeless tobacco and have thought about quitting, we can help. How do you kick the habit? We can help you kick your chewing tobacco habit. In addition to cleaning teeth and treating bad breath and puffy, swollen gums associated with tobacco use, we may decide to prescribe a variety of nicotine replacement therapies, such as the transdermal nicotine patch or chewing gum that helps to wean addicted [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2014-06-10T00:00:17-07:00June 10, 2014|Patient Education|

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