When most people go the dentist office, they think that the only thing the dentist is going to look at is their teeth and if they have any cavities. While examining your teeth does take a majority of the time, a dentist also checks at your entire head and neck region. We look at your gums, your lips, your tongue, your neck and your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). All of these components comprise your oral cavity and all of these areas should be checked thoroughly when you have a comprehensive dental exam.
Let’s go through each of these and explain what a dental exam is all about:
The first step is evaluating everything outside your mouth. We check your TMJ for any pain, clicking or popping. Your TMJ is the hinge that opens and closes your mouth and is located just in front of your ears. The TMJ is just like any other joint in your body. Your TMJ can crack just like your knuckles, knees or back. Problems can occur when the joint opens too far or doesn’t open far enough. If it opens to far, you can dislocate the TMJ and your mouth will be stuck open. If it doesn’t open far enough, you cannot eat or clean your teeth properly. So we want to make sure that the joint is healthy and functioning properly.
A dentist should also check your head and chin areas to feel for any swollen lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes are signals that your body is fighting some type of infection. It can be an infection from something as simple as a sinus infection; it can be from a gum or tooth infection; or, it can be something more serious like the early signs of lymphoma.
Staying on the outside, we examine the lips. Living in sunny southern California, we are exposed to a lot of sun. With excessive sun comes potential damage from UV rays. Many individuals who spent their youth in the sun approach an age where damage begins showing up as a small sore that does not heal. These small seemingly innocent spots need to be evaluated for types of skin cancer. Treated early, these skin cancers have excellent outcomes.
Let’s turn our focus to what dentist’s look for inside your mouth. Every time you have an exam, a dentist is also doing an oral cancer screening. We look for any abnormal white, blue or red lesions that can be found on your lips, tongue and palate. The most common place for oral cancer to be found is underneath your tongue. It is also the hardest place for a person at home to check.
Dentists also look at the size of your tongue and palate. We are screening for something called sleep apnea. Recently, this has been receiving more attention due to the sudden deaths of several high profiled athletes and stars like Reggie White and John Candy. While sleeping, your tongue and soft palate relaxes and moves into a position that blocks your airway. It can end up suffocating you while your sleeping. It’s extremely important to diagnose sleep apnea early and get the treatment necessary.
Lastly, the most important thing dentists look at besides your teeth are your gums. Your gums are the soft tissue foundation for your mouth. Your teeth are held in your mouth due to the strength and health of your gums. If you are building a house, you want to have a strong, stable foundation to build on. Likewise, you want your teeth to have a firm foundation to chew on. This foundation is your gums. We determine the health of your gums tissues in many different ways. We look at color and shape; however, the most important way dentists determine the health of your gums is by taking measurements called probing depths. We place a ruler between your gums and your teeth and take measurements. Good measurements are 1,2,3’s. A measurement of 4 or over means your gums are inflamed and potentially infected.
Now, here is the most important point about gum disease. Gum disease is a slow progressing, chronic disease that causes the foundation around your teeth to collapse. It causes the bone to dissolve and the gums to recede around your teeth. It is common for it to be completely painless until a gum infection occurs or a tooth falls out. Most patients who have periodontal disease have teeth that look longer than normal and have big spaces between their teeth. This occurs because the gums have receded leaving more tooth showing.
So the next time you visit your dentist, make sure to ask how everything else in your mouth looks as well; while teeth are extremely important, it is not the only thing that dentist look at.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com or call us at 714-842-7431.
Dr. Jonathan Ford
16511 Goldenwest St.
Suite 107
Huntington Beach, Ca 92647
www.FordDentalGroup.com
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Child’s First Dental Visit:
A guide on what to expect and how to prepare your child for his or her first visit
According to the guidelines created by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, a child’s first visit should be around their first birthday or 6 months after their first tooth comes in. Most children have their teeth erupt between the ages of 6 months and 1 year of age. Even though the teeth that erupt at an early age will eventually fall out, it is extremely important to take care of these teeth and protect them from decay. If a tooth needs to be taken out due to infection or a large cavity, it can cause an array of problems in the child’s permanent teeth. Decay in children’s teeth can lead to cavities in permanent teeth, and a missing baby tooth can cause severe tooth crowding as the new permanent teeth erupt with inadequate space.
The first dental visit’s goal is to introduce the child to a dental environment. It is more of a meet and greet for the child and the dentist. If the child is able to sit in the dental chair by him or herself, that’s fantastic; however, most of the time, a parent will sit with the child, while the dentist describes what each tool is used for. Simple things like a dental mirror, air/water spray and suction are completely foreign to a child. So it is important that each of these things are shown to a child so they become comfortable with them and their new environment.
The next step is an exam. A dentist will “count” the child’s teeth to see how many teeth have erupted. The primary purpose for counting a child’s teeth is to check for any cavities. It is extremely important to catch decay in children’s teeth early. Children’s teeth are much smaller than adult teeth and the outer layer of a child’s tooth (enamel) is much thinner; thus more susceptible to decay.
The last step during a child’s visit is to clean their teeth. This can be done several different ways. In our office, we prefer to have the child sit in a parent’s lap facing the parent, and have the child lean back with their head in the parent’s lap. The dentist can then go around with a toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste and really clean the child’s teeth. It also allows for an opportunity to teach the parent and child the proper brushing techniques. If this goes well, a dentist can eventually start using some of the dental instruments of the child and get him or her acclimated to the dental environment. Lastly, if the child is older than 2, a dentist will apply a fluoride gel to the child’s teeth. The gel is applied on the child’s teeth with a small brush and is very well tolerated. The fluoride helps prevent cavities from forming by strengthening the thinner outside layer of the enamel.
In most cases, young children do not need x-rays. They are not needed due to the fact that most children naturally have spaces between their teeth. The spaces allow the dentist to view the entire tooth. In adults, the spaces between teeth are extremely tight; the only way to check for decay between someone’s teeth is through x-rays.
Now that a child’s first visit has been described, let’s review the do’s and don’ts of preparing the child for his or her first visit. The most important thing to remember is that a child has never been to a dentist before, so they have no idea what to expect. Parents are usually surprised that children have fun at their first visit. The dental chair goes up and down, just like a roller coaster. The instruments spray water, just like water guns. The toothbrush makes fun noises and tickles their teeth. Parents- it is essential that you keep your own feelings about a dentist in check (if they are negative). Avoid words like shots and drills because they won’t even come up during the first visit; and hopefully, for several visits. Also, please do not threaten your children with visits to the dentist, it only makes the visits harder on the child and dentist. The most important thing is to remember is that the child has never been to a dentist before. So, if the first visit creates a positive, upbeat, painless atmosphere, it makes a trip to the dentist much easier for everyone in the future.
Here are some other suggestions that make the first trip more enjoyable. There are lots of children’s books available that discuss brushing your teeth, taking care of your mouth and going to the dentist. Reading any of these books introduces the dental world to children and makes it real to them.
Another suggestion would be to work on brushing the child’s teeth at home. Getting the child used to something in their mouth is extremely important. The earlier that you can do this, the easier it is for the parent and dentist to brush the child’s teeth.
Lastly, telling the child what to expect is a big help. Describing the dental chair, the mouth mirror and that the dentist cleans their teeth helps tremendously in preparing the child. The more a child knows about the dentist, the easier it will be.
I hope this helps and can alleviate some of the stresses involved in a child’s first dental visit. Please email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com or call us if you have any questions.
Ford Dental Group
16511 Goldenwest St. Suite 107
Huntington Beach, Ca 92647
714-842-7431
www.FordDentalGroup.com
According to the guidelines created by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, a child’s first visit should be around their first birthday or 6 months after their first tooth comes in. Most children have their teeth erupt between the ages of 6 months and 1 year of age. Even though the teeth that erupt at an early age will eventually fall out, it is extremely important to take care of these teeth and protect them from decay. If a tooth needs to be taken out due to infection or a large cavity, it can cause an array of problems in the child’s permanent teeth. Decay in children’s teeth can lead to cavities in permanent teeth, and a missing baby tooth can cause severe tooth crowding as the new permanent teeth erupt with inadequate space.
The first dental visit’s goal is to introduce the child to a dental environment. It is more of a meet and greet for the child and the dentist. If the child is able to sit in the dental chair by him or herself, that’s fantastic; however, most of the time, a parent will sit with the child, while the dentist describes what each tool is used for. Simple things like a dental mirror, air/water spray and suction are completely foreign to a child. So it is important that each of these things are shown to a child so they become comfortable with them and their new environment.
The next step is an exam. A dentist will “count” the child’s teeth to see how many teeth have erupted. The primary purpose for counting a child’s teeth is to check for any cavities. It is extremely important to catch decay in children’s teeth early. Children’s teeth are much smaller than adult teeth and the outer layer of a child’s tooth (enamel) is much thinner; thus more susceptible to decay.
The last step during a child’s visit is to clean their teeth. This can be done several different ways. In our office, we prefer to have the child sit in a parent’s lap facing the parent, and have the child lean back with their head in the parent’s lap. The dentist can then go around with a toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste and really clean the child’s teeth. It also allows for an opportunity to teach the parent and child the proper brushing techniques. If this goes well, a dentist can eventually start using some of the dental instruments of the child and get him or her acclimated to the dental environment. Lastly, if the child is older than 2, a dentist will apply a fluoride gel to the child’s teeth. The gel is applied on the child’s teeth with a small brush and is very well tolerated. The fluoride helps prevent cavities from forming by strengthening the thinner outside layer of the enamel.
In most cases, young children do not need x-rays. They are not needed due to the fact that most children naturally have spaces between their teeth. The spaces allow the dentist to view the entire tooth. In adults, the spaces between teeth are extremely tight; the only way to check for decay between someone’s teeth is through x-rays.
Now that a child’s first visit has been described, let’s review the do’s and don’ts of preparing the child for his or her first visit. The most important thing to remember is that a child has never been to a dentist before, so they have no idea what to expect. Parents are usually surprised that children have fun at their first visit. The dental chair goes up and down, just like a roller coaster. The instruments spray water, just like water guns. The toothbrush makes fun noises and tickles their teeth. Parents- it is essential that you keep your own feelings about a dentist in check (if they are negative). Avoid words like shots and drills because they won’t even come up during the first visit; and hopefully, for several visits. Also, please do not threaten your children with visits to the dentist, it only makes the visits harder on the child and dentist. The most important thing is to remember is that the child has never been to a dentist before. So, if the first visit creates a positive, upbeat, painless atmosphere, it makes a trip to the dentist much easier for everyone in the future.
Here are some other suggestions that make the first trip more enjoyable. There are lots of children’s books available that discuss brushing your teeth, taking care of your mouth and going to the dentist. Reading any of these books introduces the dental world to children and makes it real to them.
Another suggestion would be to work on brushing the child’s teeth at home. Getting the child used to something in their mouth is extremely important. The earlier that you can do this, the easier it is for the parent and dentist to brush the child’s teeth.
Lastly, telling the child what to expect is a big help. Describing the dental chair, the mouth mirror and that the dentist cleans their teeth helps tremendously in preparing the child. The more a child knows about the dentist, the easier it will be.
I hope this helps and can alleviate some of the stresses involved in a child’s first dental visit. Please email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com or call us if you have any questions.
Ford Dental Group
16511 Goldenwest St. Suite 107
Huntington Beach, Ca 92647
714-842-7431
www.FordDentalGroup.com
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
8 Ways to Prevent You from Getting Cavities
As a dentist, the most common question I get from patients is: How can I protect my teeth from getting cavities? Unfortunately, there is not one specific way - you have to take several steps to help your teeth from decay.
Before I give you these tips, let’s start with a little background information that will explain why these suggestions will help. A cavity forms in our mouths when the outside layer of your tooth (enamel) is penetrated by a combination of bacteria and its byproduct, acid. A bacteria called S. Mutans breaks down the food in your mouth and turns that food into acid, which is very strong and can literally form holes in your teeth. Dental decay is the most common childhood disease and toothaches are the leading reason for children to miss school.
Now that we know how cavities form, let's look at 8 specific tips for prevention:
1. Brushing
Why is brushing your teeth so important?
First, by brushing your teeth, you are physically removing the residual food particles that were not swallowed while you were eating. If your mouth is clean, the bacteria has nothing to breakdown; therefore, it cannot produce acid that causes cavities. If you do a poor job brushing or don’t brush at all, the bacteria have a feast in your mouth and breakdown the food particles into acid, which creates cavities.
The second reason for brushing your teeth is to physically remove the bacteria from your mouth. Bacteria in your mouth like to build shelters for protection, this shelter is called Plaque. Plaque is the whitish film that forms on your teeth. By physically removing the plaque on your teeth, you are removing the bacteria and helping to avoid cavities.
Now, to avoid getting cavities, every tooth needs to be free of plaque and food. So brushing your teeth is not a 30 second process. You need to devote about 2 minutes to brushing your teeth making sure every nook and cranny is clean. The bacteria can also live on the surface of your tongue, so make sure to brush your tongue as well.
2. Flossing
There are 5 surfaces to every tooth. Only three of those surfaces can be cleaned with a toothbrush. The other two surfaces are between your teeth. It is impossible to clean the surfaces between your teeth with a toothbrush. So if you are not flossing, you are leaving a huge amount of bacteria and food in your mouth that will cause cavities to form between your teeth.
Look at it this way- if you don’t floss, you don’t clean 40% of the tooth’s surface area.
It does not matter what type of floss you use. It is just important that you use it correctly and remove the pesky plaque between your teeth.
3. Fluoride
What is fluoride, how does it work and where can I find it? These are the three most common questions I get regarding fluoride.
First, Fluoride is found naturally in the earth. It can also be manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and put in many common dental products.
Fluoride can help prevent cavities from forming in several different ways. The first way is by protecting your teeth. When fluoride is applied to your teeth, it chemically combines with your teeth to form a stronger, more impenetrable tooth; therefore, making it more resistant to cavities. The second way that fluoride works is by acting on the bacteria. The fluoride is poisonous to the bacteria and prevents it from digesting the sugars in your mouth. If the bacteria cannot process the food and sugars you leave in your mouth, they don’t create the byproducts that cause cavities. Fluoride is an essential tool in cavity prevention.
Lastly, where does one find fluoride? Well, if you live in Huntington Beach or the surrounding areas of Southern California, you don’t have look for it, it comes to you. Fluoride is found in our tap water. The water department regularly monitors the level of fluoride in the water to make sure it’s at the optimal level to help prevent tooth decay. However, the fluoride in tap water is not enough to prevent tooth decay for most people. The majority of people need another source of fluoride. It can be found in almost any type of toothpaste. It can be found in mouthwashes like Act. It's even in gels that are administered and prescribed at dental offices. Whichever way you use it, it will help in the prevention on tooth decay.
4. Taking care of family members teeth
What happens when a family member comes down with a cold or the flu? Most of the times they pass it on to their loved ones. Why does this happen? It happens because we pass the germs, bacteria, and viruses to each other through some type of physical contact. Unfortunately, the same thing happens with the cause of tooth decay. The bacteria, S. Mutans, gets passed on - it can happen by sharing food utensils, kissing, sharing drinks or anything where saliva is passed between individuals. Therefore, to help protect the family from getting cavities, it is important that every member of your family takes care of their teeth.
5. Diet
This one is fairly straightforward and simple. Your diet has a huge impact on the number of cavities that you get. A diet higher is sugar gives the bacteria in your mouth more food to eat. The more food the bacteria has to eat, the more acid it produces, and this eventually causes more cavities to form.
If you are also eating really sticky, chewy candy, the candy sticks to your teeth. The longer it stays in your mouth, the longer the bacteria create acid, and this directly leads to cavities. So by avoiding foods like taffy, gummy bears, and Swedish fish, your teeth have a better chance of staying healthy.
6. Seeing a dentist regularly for cleaning
If plaque stays on your teeth for an extended period of time, it calcifies and forms an extremely hard layer called Calculus. Calculus is a bacteria’s version of a well built home. Just like a well built home, calculus can protect the bacteria from a lot of harsh natural conditions. With this protection, the bacteria can then multiple and create more cavities in your mouth. Brushing your teeth cannot remove the calculus. It is too tough and hard for a toothbrush to remove. The only thing that can remove the calculus is a proper dental cleaning. A dentist and dental hygienist are trained to use specialized equipment that can destroy and remove the dental calculus. We have ultrasonic instruments that vibrate at over 300 thousand vibrations per second to remove the calculus and return your teeth to a healthy state.
7. Sealants
The chewing surfaces on your teeth are composed of thousands of microscopic spaces that a single toothbrush bristle cannot get into and clean. Without being able to cleaning these tiny spaces, the areas become prone to forming cavities. With advances in dental technology, dentists are now able to flow a liquid into these small spaces and chemically harden it with a special blue curing light. This process is called “sealing” your teeth.
This process requires no drilling and is completely painless. With these microscopic spaces covered, bacteria cannot get into these areas of the tooth and a cavity is avoided.
8. Chew Sugarless gum
Saliva is extremely important in the prevention of cavities. Within saliva, there are lots of chemicals and enzymes that our bodies naturally produce; these components help fight tooth decay. They help kill the bacteria in our mouths and help neutralize the acid that the bacteria produce. By chewing sugarless gum, our bodies naturally create more saliva, which in turn, protects you teeth. If you are unable to brush your teeth after a meal, the next best thing is to chew gum. The saliva creates a good defense system and helps prevent cavities from forming.
I hope you found these tips helpful, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like further insight on any of the tips above. You can email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com or visit our website, where you will find practical dental health information.
Dr. Jonathan H. Ford
Ford Dental Group
16511 Goldenwest St
Suite D
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714-842-7431
www.forddentalgroup.com
Before I give you these tips, let’s start with a little background information that will explain why these suggestions will help. A cavity forms in our mouths when the outside layer of your tooth (enamel) is penetrated by a combination of bacteria and its byproduct, acid. A bacteria called S. Mutans breaks down the food in your mouth and turns that food into acid, which is very strong and can literally form holes in your teeth. Dental decay is the most common childhood disease and toothaches are the leading reason for children to miss school.
Now that we know how cavities form, let's look at 8 specific tips for prevention:
1. Brushing
Why is brushing your teeth so important?
First, by brushing your teeth, you are physically removing the residual food particles that were not swallowed while you were eating. If your mouth is clean, the bacteria has nothing to breakdown; therefore, it cannot produce acid that causes cavities. If you do a poor job brushing or don’t brush at all, the bacteria have a feast in your mouth and breakdown the food particles into acid, which creates cavities.
The second reason for brushing your teeth is to physically remove the bacteria from your mouth. Bacteria in your mouth like to build shelters for protection, this shelter is called Plaque. Plaque is the whitish film that forms on your teeth. By physically removing the plaque on your teeth, you are removing the bacteria and helping to avoid cavities.
Now, to avoid getting cavities, every tooth needs to be free of plaque and food. So brushing your teeth is not a 30 second process. You need to devote about 2 minutes to brushing your teeth making sure every nook and cranny is clean. The bacteria can also live on the surface of your tongue, so make sure to brush your tongue as well.
2. Flossing
There are 5 surfaces to every tooth. Only three of those surfaces can be cleaned with a toothbrush. The other two surfaces are between your teeth. It is impossible to clean the surfaces between your teeth with a toothbrush. So if you are not flossing, you are leaving a huge amount of bacteria and food in your mouth that will cause cavities to form between your teeth.
Look at it this way- if you don’t floss, you don’t clean 40% of the tooth’s surface area.
It does not matter what type of floss you use. It is just important that you use it correctly and remove the pesky plaque between your teeth.
3. Fluoride
What is fluoride, how does it work and where can I find it? These are the three most common questions I get regarding fluoride.
First, Fluoride is found naturally in the earth. It can also be manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and put in many common dental products.
Fluoride can help prevent cavities from forming in several different ways. The first way is by protecting your teeth. When fluoride is applied to your teeth, it chemically combines with your teeth to form a stronger, more impenetrable tooth; therefore, making it more resistant to cavities. The second way that fluoride works is by acting on the bacteria. The fluoride is poisonous to the bacteria and prevents it from digesting the sugars in your mouth. If the bacteria cannot process the food and sugars you leave in your mouth, they don’t create the byproducts that cause cavities. Fluoride is an essential tool in cavity prevention.
Lastly, where does one find fluoride? Well, if you live in Huntington Beach or the surrounding areas of Southern California, you don’t have look for it, it comes to you. Fluoride is found in our tap water. The water department regularly monitors the level of fluoride in the water to make sure it’s at the optimal level to help prevent tooth decay. However, the fluoride in tap water is not enough to prevent tooth decay for most people. The majority of people need another source of fluoride. It can be found in almost any type of toothpaste. It can be found in mouthwashes like Act. It's even in gels that are administered and prescribed at dental offices. Whichever way you use it, it will help in the prevention on tooth decay.
4. Taking care of family members teeth
What happens when a family member comes down with a cold or the flu? Most of the times they pass it on to their loved ones. Why does this happen? It happens because we pass the germs, bacteria, and viruses to each other through some type of physical contact. Unfortunately, the same thing happens with the cause of tooth decay. The bacteria, S. Mutans, gets passed on - it can happen by sharing food utensils, kissing, sharing drinks or anything where saliva is passed between individuals. Therefore, to help protect the family from getting cavities, it is important that every member of your family takes care of their teeth.
5. Diet
This one is fairly straightforward and simple. Your diet has a huge impact on the number of cavities that you get. A diet higher is sugar gives the bacteria in your mouth more food to eat. The more food the bacteria has to eat, the more acid it produces, and this eventually causes more cavities to form.
If you are also eating really sticky, chewy candy, the candy sticks to your teeth. The longer it stays in your mouth, the longer the bacteria create acid, and this directly leads to cavities. So by avoiding foods like taffy, gummy bears, and Swedish fish, your teeth have a better chance of staying healthy.
6. Seeing a dentist regularly for cleaning
If plaque stays on your teeth for an extended period of time, it calcifies and forms an extremely hard layer called Calculus. Calculus is a bacteria’s version of a well built home. Just like a well built home, calculus can protect the bacteria from a lot of harsh natural conditions. With this protection, the bacteria can then multiple and create more cavities in your mouth. Brushing your teeth cannot remove the calculus. It is too tough and hard for a toothbrush to remove. The only thing that can remove the calculus is a proper dental cleaning. A dentist and dental hygienist are trained to use specialized equipment that can destroy and remove the dental calculus. We have ultrasonic instruments that vibrate at over 300 thousand vibrations per second to remove the calculus and return your teeth to a healthy state.
7. Sealants
The chewing surfaces on your teeth are composed of thousands of microscopic spaces that a single toothbrush bristle cannot get into and clean. Without being able to cleaning these tiny spaces, the areas become prone to forming cavities. With advances in dental technology, dentists are now able to flow a liquid into these small spaces and chemically harden it with a special blue curing light. This process is called “sealing” your teeth.
This process requires no drilling and is completely painless. With these microscopic spaces covered, bacteria cannot get into these areas of the tooth and a cavity is avoided.
8. Chew Sugarless gum
Saliva is extremely important in the prevention of cavities. Within saliva, there are lots of chemicals and enzymes that our bodies naturally produce; these components help fight tooth decay. They help kill the bacteria in our mouths and help neutralize the acid that the bacteria produce. By chewing sugarless gum, our bodies naturally create more saliva, which in turn, protects you teeth. If you are unable to brush your teeth after a meal, the next best thing is to chew gum. The saliva creates a good defense system and helps prevent cavities from forming.
I hope you found these tips helpful, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like further insight on any of the tips above. You can email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com or visit our website, where you will find practical dental health information.
Dr. Jonathan H. Ford
Ford Dental Group
16511 Goldenwest St
Suite D
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714-842-7431
www.forddentalgroup.com
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Confused Over Which Dental Products to Buy When Walking Down the Dental Products Aisle?
If you are confused by all of the different brands of toothbrushes, toothpastes, floss and mouth rinses, you are not alone. I was utterly confused the last time I strolled down one of those dental product aisles. I was wondering how could there be 30 different types of floss, what do the different sizes and flavors and strengths mean?
I want to offer some suggestions and let you know which products are the best in each category.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please give us a call (714) 842-7431, or email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com
I want to offer some suggestions and let you know which products are the best in each category.
1)Toothbrushes- YES!!! Mechanical toothbrushes are better than manual toothbrushes. They do a better job at removing the plaque and stain. The mechanical motion (oscillations) of the tooth brush help in removing the plaque, plus most of them include a timer that ensures you brush for a full two minutes. However, there is not a huge difference between the brands, so use whichever one you prefer. There is one down side to the mechanical toothbrushes and that’s the cost.
If cost is an issue, manual toothbrushes can be more than sufficient. The key in buying a regular toothbrush is not the color or number of bristles; it is how SOFT the toothbrush is. The SOFTER the better!!! You can do a tremendous amount of damage to your teeth if you are using a hard toothbrush, so look for extra soft or soft and avoid medium and hard bristles. Also, look for toothbrushes that are either a 30 or 35 head size to be sure you are able to reach the back molars.
2)Toothpaste- Again, there are a tremendous number of toothpastes out on the market. There are different flavors. Some have fluoride; some don’t have fluoride. Some have whitening products; some don’t. Some toothpastes foam; some don’t. Some are for sensitive teeth; some can cause sensitivity. So which toothpaste is right for you?
We get sent thousands of toothpaste samples every year and we have narrowed down what we think are the best toothpastes.a)ClosSys- It can be a little bit of a challenge to find, but it does a great job keeping plaque and tartar under control. It’s active ingredient, Chlorine Dioxide, is amazing at controlling bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontal disease.
b)Sensodyne Pronamel- This is a fairly new product on the market, but we have seen great results with it. It has similar ingredients as Sensodyne toothpaste, which helps people with sensitive teeth, and the manufacturers have added fluoride to it. This combination helps those with sensitive teeth in two ways. The potassium nitrate ingredient from Sensodyne helps desensitize the nerves, while the fluoride helps clog the nerve tubules. The Sensodyne Pronamel toothpaste also helps combat the acid wear on your teeth, which is caused by sodas, citrus fruits and acid reflux. In addition, Pronamel toothpaste does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS). SLS is a foaming agent in toothpastes, which can contribute to the increase in canker sores. There is also a children’s formulation, but it is not recommended for children under the age of 2.
You are probably wondering why I haven’t written about any whitening toothpastes. The reason is due to the fact that most of the whitening toothpastes don’t work very well. The toothpastes companies are not allowed by the FDA to put in strong enough concentrations of the whitening product. It is a marketing gimmick aimed at making the consumer buy more expensive toothpaste. The whitening toothpastes usually have a finer pumice type that removes stain but does not actually chemically whiten.
3)Floss- This one is fairly simple: Use the type of floss with which you are the most comfortable. As long as you are using some type of floss system that cleans between your teeth, a dentist/ dental hygienist will be happy. There are different widths, consistencies, flavors, strengths, and the list continues with a whole array of options. It just comes down to which one you prefer and which one works best for you. Remember you only have to floss the teeth you want to keep!
4)Mouthrinses- All mouthrinses are not the same. Most of the mouth rinses just cover bad breath (halitosis) for a short period of time. There are a few on the market that have been shown to be effective in relieving bad breath and also help reduce gingivitis-causing plaque and bacteria. The brands we recommend are Listerine and the ClosSys.a)Listerine- has alcohol and several other essential oils in the bottle, which makes it very difficult for some people to tolerate. For Listerine to work effectively, you must rinse for the entire 30 seconds. For those who suffer from dry mouth problems, avoid the alcohol mouthwashes because they can lead to increase in dryness. If you can tolerate the burn, then Listerine is a great product.
b)ClosSys Mouthrinse- I briefly wrote about ClosSys toothpaste above, so I won’t go into detail here. Again, the active ingredient, Chlorine Dioxide, does amazing work in making your mouth healthly and really takes care of bad breath (halitosis) for an extended period. The other great thing about this mouthwash is the fact that there is no alcohol. It is much easier to tolerate than Listerine and there is no burning sensation.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please give us a call (714) 842-7431, or email me at drjonathan@forddentalgroup.com
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Smile Bright This Summer
50% off in-office and custom bleach trays during the month of July
Teeth must have been cleaned within 6 months of bleaching
Now is the time to get that whiter smile you have always wanted!
Ford Dental Group
714-842-7431
Teeth must have been cleaned within 6 months of bleaching
Now is the time to get that whiter smile you have always wanted!
Ford Dental Group
714-842-7431
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Oral and Overall health – get the connection
There is mounting evidence of a connection between oral health and a person’s overall health. It is well documented that a high percentage of health conditions have an oral component such as swollen or bleeding gums, ulcers, dry mouth, bad breath, metallic taste and various other changes in the oral cavity. Since most people have regular oral examinations, their dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem in its early stages. Some health problems that your dentist may become aware of include the following:
www.forddentalgroup.com
Diabetes. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people without diabetes. Researchers think this is because diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, and the gums are among the tissues likely to be affected.
Cancer. As part of a routine dental exam, the dentist screens patients for oral cancers including cancer of the head and neck. Other cancers the dentist may recognize include skin cancer, cancer of the jaw bone and thyroid cancer.
Heart disease. Studies have shown that people with moderate or advanced gum disease have a greater prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, than patients with no gum disease, gingivitis or early periodontitis. However, studies have not established that one causes the other — a difficult task because many of the risk factors for gum disease and CVD (smoking, poor diet and nutrition, diabetes, being male and having a low socioeconomic status) are the same.
Kidney disease. When the kidneys do not function properly, the by-products of incomplete protein breakdown are released. As a result, a patient with kidney disease may have bad breath and may also notice an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Other signs are dry mouth and a metallic taste. With dry mouth, the amount of saliva is reduced and its normal cleansing effect is diminished. This allows bacteria to increase, potentially leading to the development of gingivitis and gum disease.
Anxiety. Did you know that emotional anxiety can affect your oral health? Stress affects the immune system, which fights against the bacteria that cause periodontal disease, making a person suffering from anxiety more prone to gum infection.
Other medical conditions. There are more than 120 medical conditions – many of them life-threatening – that can be detected in the early stages by a dentist, including thyroid problems, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep and breathing disorders, skin rashes, bruxism (teeth grinding), HIV, tuberculosis, drug abuse, anorexia, digestive disorders and upper respiratory problems.
www.forddentalgroup.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
About Ford Dental Group
Phone Number: 714.842.7431
Fax: 714.841.7148
E-Mail: forddental@gmail.com
Website: http://www.forddentalgroup.com/
Dr. Jonathan Ford was born and raised in Huntington Beach, graduating from Marina High School. He attended the prestigious Ivy League institution of the University of Pennsylvania, earning a BA and graduating with Cum Laude honors. Dr. Ford received his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania as well.
Dr. Jonathan Ford is passionate about educating the community and other medical doctors about dental health. He has given the grand rounds lecture at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, which stressed the importance of oral health and overall health.
Jonathan is an avid sports fan and enjoys running in his free time. He has completed 2 half-marathons and is contemplating running a full marathon one day. He is also a member of Huntington Beach Kiwanis.
Ford Dental Group is a modern, friendly dental practice composed of 3 general dentists, 1 periodontist and 9 highly trained staff whose goal is to provide the best dental health possible, one smile at a time.
The services include aesthetic cases (veneers, tooth whitening), implants; and of course, routine dental procedures like dental cleanings, fillings and crowns. For those people with busy work schedules, Ford Dental Group offers both early morning and evening appointments.
For more information, visit the website at www.FordDentalGroup.com or
to set up an appointment call 714-842-7431.
Tags: Ford Dental Group, Ford Dental, FordDental, FordDentalGroup, Jonathan Ford, Jonathan, Ford, JonathanFord, Dentists, Huntington Beach, CA, Dental Care, Julie Ford, Scott Ford, Ford Dentists, California Dentists
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