Diamons

cavities

Photography by Dr. Padval

Older and Healthy…a Natural Match

The words "aging" and "healthy" don't have to be either/or propositions. Fact is, in some ways we grow healthier as we age. We've built up so many antibodies that our resistance to virus increases. Years of brushing with fluoride toothpaste actually strengthens tooth enamel. A little effort on your part now can help insure you'll feel as good as you'll look—years from now. As mouths age, the potential of periodontal disease is ever present. So brushing and flossing become more important than ever—along with [...]

By |2018-02-13T08:00:16-08:00February 13, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Vending Machines: Cavity Dispensers

Vending machines put out all kinds of stuff. But vending machines at work or school can dispense cavities right along with the candy and soda pop that we love so much in afternoon pick-me-ups. So-called soft drinks don't do teeth any favors. Not even diet soda. That's because sugar isn't the real culprit. It's carbonic acid—the stuff that gives soft drinks their fizzy bubbles can be deadly to tooth enamel. A sugary uncarbonated drink like Kool-Aid is actually easier on teeth than, say, Diet [...]

By |2017-07-11T00:00:33-07:00July 11, 2017|Patient Education|

To Prevent Cavities…

Don't filter out fluoride! In the years since fluoride first was added to city water supplies, dentists have seen tooth decay in kids cut in half. Fluoride really works! If you've got youngsters at home, make sure they get all the decay-fighting fluoride they need. There's nothing wrong with home water filtration systems or bottled drinking water. But it's possible the fluoride has been filtered out– or kids are receiving none at all. A safe, effective fluoride level is 0.7 mg per liter. If [...]

By |2017-05-09T00:00:42-07:00May 9, 2017|Preventative Dentistry|

Ask About MI Paste

MI Paste, a calcium-phosphate remineralizing paste, is a safe and effective way to treat a variety of oral health conditions. It may also be the most effective way to reduce cavities in mature adults, especially when combined with the use of high-fluoride toothpastes. MI Paste can be used to: Reduce high oral acid levels, either from drinking too many soft drinks or from pregnancy Reverse tooth sensitivity before and after professional cleaning Treat those periodontal problems caused by diabetes Restore enamel gloss after whitening [...]

By |2017-04-18T00:00:21-07:00April 18, 2017|Preventative Dentistry|

Root Surface Caries

We are Growing Older... As the population ages—more gracefully than ever, of course— we're keeping more teeth. Along with wisdom and experience, however, come different health problems. Among them, cavities on the surface of the tooth root, what we call root caries. Growing up, most decay is found on the surface of teeth, usually the crown. But gum tissue has a way of receding as the years go by, and this exposes the root to bacteria that cause decay. Periodontal (gum) disease worsens the [...]

By |2017-03-28T00:00:59-07:00March 28, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Alcohol and Your Health…

Just the Facts There's so much conflicting information regarding drinking alcohol blasting at us these days. A glass of red wine is good? Is even drinking at all a good idea? It's a matter of proportion. The facts are these. First, alcohol affects women more than men. Because men tend to be heavier in muscle mass, their bodies can process slightly more alcohol with fewer negative consequences than women's. But there's something else: the amount of an enzyme known as gastric alcohol dehydrogenase that's [...]

By |2017-03-14T00:00:35-07:00March 14, 2017|Patient Education|

What Causes a Toothache, Besides Cavities

"My tooth hurts. It must have a cavity." Well, maybe it does. However, other conditions can cause a tooth to be sensitive to hot or cold foods, to the pressure of chewing... or to just plain ache. A few of these other toothache possibilities are: Shrinkage of the gum down below the top part of the tooth (crown) onto the tooth surface. This part of the tooth (cementum) is as sensitive to hot and cold as the part of the tooth (dentin) affected by [...]

By |2016-03-08T00:00:25-08:00March 8, 2016|Restorative Dentistry|

Psssssssst—Secret Sugar

Lurks in Every Pantry Your sugar bowl sits on the table, and you lift its lid only to sweeten your morning coffee. You deserve a medal for exemplary nutritional behavior! Are you sure? Most folks eat more of it than they realize—150 pounds per year average. That’s 6 ounces—3/4 of a cup—every day. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight, many of them children. Doctors predict that an epidemic of diabetes will follow the obesity epidemic. Lose that sugar bowl and you still consume it in cakes, [...]

By |2015-12-01T00:00:41-08:00December 1, 2015|Patient Education|

Fluoride—You Never Outgrow Your Need

You grew up with fluoride. Your teeth show it in the very fact that you still have them. Before 1945, by the time your nest was empty, your mouth was often empty as well. But when cities began adding it to water supplies, tooth decay took a nose dive. Most of us never gave it a second thought, just turned on the tap and downed the cure. Fluoride reverses the demineralization of your teeth. It strengthens them, prevents plaque and caries, wards off gum disease [...]

By |2015-05-19T00:00:26-07:00May 19, 2015|Preventative Dentistry|

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 |2015-03-17T00:00:10-07:00March 17, 2015|Patient Education|