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4 Reasons Diet Soda Is Just as Bad for Your Teeth as Regular Soda

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 00:55:32 GMT

On paper, diet soda seems to have a lot of advantages. The zero-calorie and sugar-free drink will help you cut down on consumption and provide you with a lot of the same features as a regular soda. Unfortunately for your mouth, diet soda will cause potential dental issues. Even though the elimination of sugar is positive, certain dental risks still come with these drinks.

A lot of things are OK in moderation, but education and knowledge will help you make the best decisions and prevent dental issues in the long run. Learn all of the ways diet soda is just as bad for dental health as regular soda.

1. Acids & Enamel Wear

One of the key issues with any form of soda is the acids present. The carbonation of soda features acids that can break down the enamel on your teeth. If you go a long time without brushing after consuming diet soda, then the soda will remain on the teeth and break away at the enamel.

When enamel wears away, your teeth become more vulnerable to cavities and decay. If you choose to drink diet soda, rinse your mouth out with water afterward or brush your teeth. If you’re on the go, then stick with some fresh water to keep your mouth clean.

The process is not instant but eventually, your mouth will develop soft spots. Dental x-rays can capture the soft spots and showcase areas where enamel may have worn away. Once worn away, enamel doesn’t just grow back. You may need fillings or crowns to help protect the tooth again.

2. Caramel Coloring & Tooth Stains

Many of the traditional dark-colored sodas use the same caramel coloring whether you drink regular soda or diet. The caramel coloring gives the soda its classic look but could present staining issues for your teeth. Similar to coffee, excessive soda consumption could lead to tooth stains in your mouth.

Over time, you may notice a general yellowing of your teeth. The white vibrant luster of the teeth could fade over time and result in stains from the soda dyes. One of the main ways stains may accelerate is through the acids present in soda. When the acids weaken the enamel, the dyes reach under layers of the teeth and can result in more permanent stains.

After some time you may consider a whitening treatment, but you shouldn’t rely on whitening your teeth over and over again. Try to cut down on soda consumption to retain the color of your teeth.

3. Caffeine & Dry Mouth

One of the main reasons a person may drink diet soda is for the caffeine. Many people rely on a daily dose of caffeine to boost their energy and keep them alert through work or other activities. Unfortunately, whether you drink diet soda or regular soda, the caffeine still impacts the mouth in the same way. Caffeine will often cause dry mouth.

Extended periods of dry mouth can cause a lot of dental issues. Without a proper saliva flow, the bacteria in your mouth remains on your teeth and gums. An increase in bacteria could lead to inflamed gums and the eventual formation of gum disease like gingivitis. Without proper treatment, infections could grow and lead to serious problems for your teeth.

Try to limit the amount of diet soda you consume on a daily basis. A dentist can evaluate the dryness of your mouth and will see any signs of swollen gums or teeth issues. If you feel like your mouth is dry from soda, then drink a lot of water to help refresh your mouth and wash away the harmful bacteria.

4. The “Diet” Effect

Knowing that you’re drinking something with zero calories could have a big impact on your psychological state of mind. When you have drinks with no calories, you may feel like you could make up those calories with other food options. The “diet” effect could lead to more unhealthy food choices. You could consume more, but you also risk the health of your teeth.

You may have more sugars or carbohydrates, which could break down enamel and eventually form cavities. Instead of just focusing on the diet aspect of a drink, try to make better healthy food choices all around.

Some studies have shown that the effects of diet soda are also caused by artificial sweeteners. The sweeteners can make the body feel more hungry and result in more food cravings. Check to see what sweeteners are included in the diet sodas you drink.

When you cut down on diet soda consumption, you will eliminate the sweeteners and could help your overall health along with your dental health.

If you have concerns over diet drinks and your oral health, make an appointment with us at Valley Oak Dental Group . We will provide you with the best care and solutions for any oral health issues you have suffered through.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dementia and Dental Health

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:55:47 GMT

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have racked up some solemn statistics across the globe. These conditions, which can impair memory, problem-solving skills, and self-care habits, trouble another 10 million people each year. A variety of underlying factors can influence their development, including dental problems.

Whether you care for someone who has dementia or you simply want to reduce your risk for this disease through smart lifestyle changes, you can benefit from learning about the complex relationships between dementia and dental health. Take a moment to study the following frequently asked questions on this important issue.

How Might Dental Problems Affect Dementia Risk?

Medical science has uncovered several new insights regarding the way dental problems may relate to dementia. One study from the National Institute on Aging found associations between the development of Alzheimer’s disease and levels of P. gingivalis, a strain of bacteria that causes periodontal disease.

Researchers note that seniors with periodontal disease showed a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. They theorize that the body may respond to P. gingivalis by creating beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques figure prominently in the brains of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

Tooth loss (which often stems from periodontal disease) and dementia also appear to share some common ground. A separate study found that each lost tooth raised participants’ risk for dementia by an additional 1.1 percent . Each new case of tooth loss also boosted their risk for general cognitive impairment by 1.4 percent.

How Does Dementia Threaten Oral Wellness?

Just as oral disease can influence dementia, dementia can play a role in the development of oral diseases. This association occurs indirectly, stemming from problems that individuals with dementia may have maintaining a proper daily oral hygiene regimen.

Individuals with dementia may display changes in overall self-care behaviors, from forgetting to shave to neglecting their brushing and flossing routines. The neglect can allow plaque and bacteria to accumulate, resulting in periodontal disease and tooth loss. Dementia can also cause manual coordination issues that complicate dental hygiene efforts.

Seniors with dementia may use dentures to help them compensate for many years of tooth loss. These appliances must also receive regular cleaning and maintenance. A senior who has dementia may neglect denture cleaning and fit adjustments, resulting in periodontal disease, infections, and mouth sores.

What Dental Practices Can You Adopt to Reduce Your Overall Dementia Risk?

While you can’t necessarily eliminate all the factors that play into your lifetime dementia risk, you can take steps to reduce the risks created by poor dental care. Maintain your regular schedule of dental checkups and cleanings, following your dentist’s self-care and treatment recommendations to control dental problems early.

Regular brushing and flossing may not sound like a revolutionary technique for reducing your dementia risk, but it can definitely help you reduce the levels of harmful bacteria in your mouth. Make a point of flossing every day and brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Professional cleanings can remove any plaque you can’t eliminate.

If you wear dentures, follow your dentist’s instructions for keeping them clean and storing them correctly. Get them relined or replaced as needed to prevent fit problems that might cause trouble.

How Can You Help Loved Ones With Dementia Care for Their Teeth and Gums?

If you serve as the caregiver for a loved one with dementia, you may already understand the need to help this individual get through activities of daily living, including personal hygiene tasks. You can help them look after their dental and oral health by making sure they follow best practices for brushing, flossing, and denture care.

The types of assistance you may need to provide will vary according to the dementia’s specific effects on your loved one. In some cases, a person with dementia may have forgotten the individual steps involved in everyday dental hygiene. You may need to show them how to brush and floss, using yourself as an example.

An individual who knows what to do but finds the specific actions difficult may benefit from some modification to their dental hygiene tools. For instance, they may find flossing sticks easier and more comfortable to use than traditional dental floss, or they may need to switch from an electric toothbrush to a simpler manual toothbrush.

If your loved ones can’t perform everyday dental hygiene tasks anymore, you can step in and administer that care yourself. Try a few different types of toothbrushes and flossing instruments until you find the combination that works best for both of you. Remember to clean your loved one’s dentures and schedule dental appointments.

Valley Oak Dental Group can help you stay on top of your dental and oral wellness as you work to keep debilitating issues such as dementia at bay. We can also help your loved one who suffers from dementia to enjoy a higher standard of dental health. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

Tooth Problems Associated With Swollen Lymph Nodes

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 20:00:41 GMT

Swollen lymph nodes can appear all over your body and are typically a sign that your body is trying to fight something off. In many cases, swollen lymph nodes may appear when you go through dental issues. The lymph nodes could swell up on the neck or the back of the head. The swelling is typically temporary, especially when you’ve recently gone through dental issues.

Learn about some of the dental causes of swollen lymph nodes, your treatment options, and when to seek a dentist for professional help. The sudden appearance of a swollen gland may seem alarming, but knowing the direct connection will help you feel better until the swelling goes away.

Swollen Gums

One of the more basic ways your lymph nodes may swell from mouth issues is from swollen gums. Swollen gums can occur for a number of reasons. Improper tooth care, like a lack of adequate brushing or flossing can lead to gum diseases like gingivitis.

As the bacteria builds up, your body may try to fight off the bacteria and you could have swollen lymph nodes as a result. One of the best treatments for swollen gum issues is a dental cleaning. A professional can clean deep inside the gums to remove excess bacteria build-up. With less bacteria to fight, swollen lymph nodes will go down.

Swollen gums could also occur from mouth trauma. Mouth injuries could result in damaged and swollen gums. As the injury heals, your lymph nodes may swell. The nodes could stay swollen until after the gums have healed. Monitor the shape and size until they fully go away.

Infected Gums

Some swelling gums may be advanced beyond basic swelling and include deep infections. One of the more common infections that will cause lymph node swelling is a root infection like an abscess. If a tooth or gum abscess occurs, then you could run into major health issues. Lymph nodes will swell to help and fight the infection, but a dental treatment is often needed.

One of the main dental treatments to consider is a root canal. A root canal will treat the infection directly, prevent the loss of your teeth, and can reduce any pain inside your mouth. Swelling lymph nodes is one of the key signs of a root infection, but is often paired with physical pain or issues like sensitive teeth.

Post-Dental Treatments

In some cases, you may notice swollen lymph nodes after visiting the dentist. The swelling is typically normal and attributed to procedures beyond just a basic cleaning. For example, if you had any dental work done like fillings, crowns, or root canals, the swelling lymph nodes could be a sign that your body is directing more blood flow to repair and heal your mouth.

A dentist can give you information on the lymph nodes, including the average time before the swelling goes down. If swelling persists for longer periods of time, then you may need to contact your primary care doctor for a follow-up and lymph node exam. In some cases, you may need to do blood work to check blood counts or signs of other issues.

Mouth Sores

Sometimes, you will develop sores on the inside of your mouth. The sores could appear on the inside of your cheeks or the gums. The sores are typically known as canker sores, although there are some other varieties. You will notice the pain associated with the sore as the area feels very tender and raw.

When a sore develops, you may also notice swollen lymph nodes. This swelling is a common symptom of mouth sores and may go unnoticed when compared to the pain inside your mouth. A canker sore may take a couple of weeks to go away, and the swelling will typically follow the same trajectory.

The sores could appear inside of your mouth for a number of reasons. Some of the more common issues associated with dentistry include mouth infections, food allergies, and vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin deficiencies can also cause dental problems. For example, a vitamin D deficiency may cause issues like weak jaw bones and gum disease.

Bring up the frequency of any canker sores to a dentist. Not only can they examine the sore and provide a pain relief gel, but they can help rule out any dental issues that may be the direct cause of the problem. If a dental issues does appear, then the dentist will guide you through a treatment option to reduce sores and prevent swelling lymph nodes.

For more information on mouth issues and swollen lymph nodes, contact our office at Valley Oak Dental Group . We will help treat your mouth with the utmost care and can help you get through any oral issues you may have. Our dentists will take your swollen lymph nodes into accounts during the diagnosis and treatment of any dental conditions.

5 Reasons to Choose a Dental Membership Plan Over Dental Insurance

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 20:04:05 GMT

Dental health is so important, but dental insurance is not always included in a regular health insurance package or it costs extra to include. Instead of getting your own dental insurance, you have the option to pay for an annual dental plan. You purchase a dental plan directly from the dentist of your choice, and the plan includes set appointments, cleanings, and other perks.

As you make a decision between dental insurance and a dental membership, look at all of your options and the advantages that come with a membership plan.

1. No Deductibles

When you sign up for a dental insurance plan, the plan will often include a large deductible before the insurance even kicks in. In some cases, the deductible could be thousands of dollars. The high deductible means that you will have to pay several out-of-pocket costs before insurance covers the rest. Often, the deductible could cost more than a whole membership plan.

On the other hand, once your membership plan is pad for, you have a set list of guaranteed procedures and appointments as a part of the plan. The membership typically lasts for a whole year, so you know exactly when the plan begins and ends. You do not have to constantly check your deductible amount and pay extra out-of-pocket expenses.

2. Eliminate Extra Waiting

When you have a dental membership plan, you control your own schedule and timeline. You do not have to wait for a certain amount of time to pass before you need a cleaning. You do not have to wait for insurance approval to cover certain procedures. A plan will often include an emergency visit that will help treat toothaches and other dental problems.

An insurance company, conversely, could delay a procedure as you wait for approval. Even then, you may still have deductible costs or extra out-of-pocket fees.

3. Avoid Co-Pays

Even when you have deductibles covered, dental insurance may require a co-pay every time you go to the dentist. The co-pay is typically a smaller fee, but the extra costs can add up over time. When you purchase a dental membership, you do not have to pay any co-pays or extra fees. You simply show up to your appointment and leave without any extra transactions.

The elimination of the co-pay helps with tight budgets. After paying for the membership once, you can rest easy knowing you have dental care taken care of for the rest of the year. If you lose a job or have sudden expenses, you do not need to worry about the cost of dental work.

4. Custom Plan Options

With a dental insurance plan, the health insurance company may limit the number of cleanings and visits covered, regardless of your health. With a dental membership, you have the opportunity to set up your own custom plan.

For example, if your mouth is more vulnerable to swollen gums, then you can choose a plan with three cleanings a year instead of two. If you have concerns about changes in your jaw, then you can select a plan that includes multiple x-ray appointments. Your plan can cater to your personal needs and not some general criteria set up by a health insurance company.

There are typically multiple packages available through a plan as well. The packages feature some of the more common options. For example, if you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, then you may choose a plan with a regular check-up and a deep cleaning.

5. No Surprise Costs In the Future

Not everything is covered in a dental membership, but you will have a clear-cut understanding of any potential future costs associated with your plan. When you sign-up, you can read through the add-on procedures and extras that cost money. Examples include root canals and fillings. As a part of the membership plan, you are also entitled to extra discounts.

The discounts are set for members and will help you budget out any future procedures you may need. Along with the add-on costs, you could enroll in payment options so you do not have to pay the full amount all at once. The savings add up over time, especially if you need emergency work done on your teeth and have no other options.

Some of the cosmetic features may come at a discount as well. For example, you may want a teeth whitening procedure done by professionals. A discount will provide you with extra savings and allow you to go back to the same office you’re already comfortable with.

For more information on dental membership plans, reach out to us at Valley Oak Dental Group . Our website gives you all of the details about each plan, but our receptionists and experienced employees can guide you through the process as well. Once you see the differences the membership makes, you may end up choosing the option annually.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crown Lengthening

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 20:09:09 GMT

A generous amount of healthy gum and bone tissue can help keep the teeth firmly anchored in the jaw. However, sometimes people can do with a little less of this tissue, especially when they face a potentially challenging dental procedure or show more gum than teeth when they smile.

Fortunately, a type of oral surgery known as crown lengthening can literally eliminate this obstacle by safely removing just the right amount of tissue to help you address your dental challenge without compromising the stability of your teeth. If you think you might benefit from crown lengthening, check out these frequently asked questions.

When Might Your Dentist Recommend a Crown Lengthening Procedure?

Dentists typically recommend crown lengthening when you need a permanent crown for an especially problematic tooth. A permanent crown strengthens and restores a weak or damaged tooth by capping the entire natural crown of the tooth. Permanent crowns extend almost completely down to the gumline.

Unfortunately, some teeth don’t have enough healthy material to make normal crown attachment possible. You may run into this problem if you’ve lost a lot of tooth material to a fracture or severe decay. In these situations, your dentist may need to expose more of the tooth before preparing it for this kind of restoration.

Crown lengthening may also prove necessary if you suffer from decay or damage (such as a fracture) below the gumline. Your dentist might find it impossible to access the decay and treat it properly without first removing a certain amount of the surrounding gum or bone tissue.

How Does Crown Lengthening Relate to Gum Recontouring?

Gum recontouring, or gingivectomy, involves gum tissue removal to expose more of the crowns of the teeth, making it a kind of crown lengthening procedure. However, this procedure limits itself to the removal of soft tissue. Patients often undergo gingivectomy purely as an elective cosmetic procedure to enhance their smile.

Other forms of crown lengthening surgery may involve removing both soft tissue and bone. For example, in a technique known as apically repositioned flap surgery, the oral surgeon creates a flap of tissue, moves it aside to remove underlying tissues as necessary, and then stitches the flap back into place.

Another kind of crown lengthening procedure, surgical extrusion, involves actually moving the tooth to make damage below the gumline easier to repair. If you undergo this procedure, your oral surgeon will probably splint the treated tooth to a neighboring tooth to keep it stable as you recuperate.

What Can You Expect Before and During a Crown Lengthening Procedure?

Whatever kind of crown lengthening procedure you schedule, your oral surgeon will prepare by taking X-rays of your teeth and jaw, going over your medical history with you, and asking you about any medications you currently take. You may need to stop taking drugs that have a blood-thinning effect or interact with anesthetics.

If you plan to undergo crown lengthening to aid with a permanent crown, your dentist may go ahead and install a temporary crown first. Temporary crowns don’t need to cover as much of the tooth surface as their permanent cousins; they simply protect a weak or damaged tooth in the interim.

When you arrive for crown lengthening surgery, you’ll receive both a sedative to help you relax and a local anesthetic to numb the treatment site. Your oral surgeon will then remove the gum or bone tissue, sterilizing the surgery site before closing it with stitches.

How Can You Optimize your Recuperation From Crown Lengthening Surgery?

Reduce the pain and swelling that accompany crown lengthening surgery with ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs. You may also receive prescriptions for stronger painkillers or antibiotics if necessary. Your oral surgeon will recommend that you avoid stressful physical activity for a couple of days.

Steer clear of hot foods and beverages for at least 24 hours following a crown lengthening procedure. Avoid rinsing your mouth with water (which may promote or prolong bleeding) and brushing the unhealed tissues. Your dentist may recommend a special mouth rinse to use instead.

You’ll recuperate more quickly and easily if you take special care when eating and drinking. Confine your diet to soft, bland foods to avoid irritating the tissues as they heal. Steer clear of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Don’t use drinking straws, since the negative pressure they create may reinjure your gums.

Although you should start feeling better in a matter of days, the full recovery period for a crown lengthening procedure can take weeks or even months, depending on what kind of procedure you had and what part of your mouth received the procedure. The front of the mouth may take longer to heal than the rear of the mouth.

If you need to make some extra space along your gumline for either cosmetic or functional reasons, turn to the experts at Valley Oak Dental Group. Our experienced team can advise you on the procedure and administer it with the high standard of skill you expect and deserve. Contact our office today .

4 Non-Dental Toothache Causes

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:11:38 GMT

When you experience the dull or stabbing pain of a toothache, you may (quite rightly) schedule an immediate appointment with your dentist to get that painful tooth fixed. Imagine your surprise, then, when the dentist tells you that your tooth shows no signs of damage or disease and that the pain must come from another problem.

Many injuries or ailments in one part of the body can transmit pain signals along your nerves to another part of the body, a phenomenon called referred pain. Teeth can fall prey to referred pain from a variety of non-dental sources. Take a look at four possible health challenges that might translate into a toothache.

Sinusitis

If you’ve ever had a bad cold, you know all too well how much pain your sinuses can produce. Your face hosts several pairs of these chambers, which normally contain air but also manufacture mucus. Some of these sinuses sit directly above the nerves that transmit sensation to your upper row of teeth.

If you develop sinusitis (inflammation or infection of the sinuses), the combination of swelling and mucus overload may press on the nearby nerves, which then send pain signals into your teeth. The result can feel very much like a common toothache. When the sinusitis finally recedes, the pain should recede also.

You can often identify a sinusitis toothache by the other symptoms that accompany a sinus infection. These symptoms may include a stuffy nose, nasal discharge, clogged ears or earaches, a hoarse or sore throat, fatigue, and fever. If bacteria has caused the infection, you may need a prescription for antibiotics.

In some individuals, sinusitis can turn into a long-term chronic condition. If your sinusitis-induced toothache never seems to let up, you may need treatment for a deviated septum, tumor, or some other underlying issue that blocks your sinus passages.

TMD

TMD stands for temporomandibular disorder, although you’ll also hear people call it TMJ after the joint itself. You have a temporomandibular joint at the rear of each side of your lower jaw. The joints not only attach the jawbone to the skull, but they also allow for the complex jaw motions necessary for eating and speaking.

TMD and dental health share a complex relationship. While a tooth misalignment or bruxism (chronic tooth grinding) can contribute to the development of TMD, the pain you feel may actually come from the resulting strain in the jaw joints. A blow to the face or head can also trigger TMJ, which may then cause toothaches.

If your TMD stems directly from tooth alignment issues, your dentist may reshape your tooth surfaces or recommend orthodontic treatment to help the upper and lower jaw mesh together without jaw strain. Other recommended treatments may include stress management techniques or a night guard to control tooth grinding.

If your TMD refers pain to your teeth despite normal tooth alignment, you may need non-dental medical care. For instance, damaged or degenerated temporomandibular joints may benefit from surgical procedures, injections of medication such as Botox or corticosteroids, and physical therapy.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

When a major nerve called the trigeminal nerve malfunctions, major toothaches often result. This nerve distributes sensations to the face while also relaying other crucial information to the brain. Pressure on the nerve can send sharp, agonizing pain into your teeth and other parts of your mouth, a condition called trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia sufferers can experience devastating symptoms triggered by the lightest touch to the face or teeth. You may experience toothache-like pain on one side of your face or on both sides. The bouts of pain may prove mercifully short at first, only to get longer and harder to tolerate as time goes by.

Anything that places abnormal pressure on the trigeminal nerve, such as a nearby tumor or blood vessel, can cause trigeminal neuralgia. Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis can also contribute to its development. Your risk for trigeminal neuralgia increases as you age.

Fortunately, advanced medical techniques can help you overcome this painful problem. For example, the precise delivery of radiation can shrink a tumor that presses against the trigeminal nerve, while a technique called microvascular decompression can ease pressure from blood vessels.

Heart Problems

You might never associate a toothache with heart trouble unless your pain comes and goes with stressful activity. This kind of toothache may indicate that narrowed coronary arteries have trouble sending enough oxygen to your heart. The heart then goes into spasm (a condition called angina pectoris), relaying pain to the jaw.

People with known heart conditions should pay attention to any toothache that comes on suddenly with physical strain. Persistent jaw or tooth pain might provide you with an invaluable early warning of an impending heart attack, even if you don’t experience other typical heart attack symptoms.

No matter what causes your toothache, contact Valley Oak Dental Group to schedule an exam as soon as possible. Our team can evaluate the tooth surfaces, take X-rays, and either correct a dental problem or let you know whether you need to seek non-dental care for referred toothache pain.

4 Reasons to Book Dental Cleanings After Amusement Park Vacations

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 20:14:25 GMT

Amusement park resorts and vacations offer memorable experiences, exciting rides, and lots of great food. While on vacation, you also want to consider your dental health. While you do not need to brush your teeth between rides, amusement parks offer a lot of temptations and possible hazards to your oral health. Amusement Parks – Manteca, CA – Valley Oak Dental Group

At the same time you book an amusement park vacation, you should book a dental appointment for the days following the trip. Learn about the various factors a dentist will look for and how an exam can benefit your oral health for the long haul.

Sweet Treats & Cavities

Amusement parks are known for a variety of sweet treats like ice cream, cotton candy, and packaged candy. Many locations have their own signature desserts loaded with sugars. While sugar is alright in moderation, the sweet treats at an amusement park can quickly add up and impact your oral health.

If you spend a whole day at an amusement park without any proper oral treatment, you could make your mouth vulnerable to cavities. Sugar breaks down and can cause enamel to wear away. Even if you don’t have a full cavity formed in your mouth, you could have soft spots forming.

Dentists will perform x-rays to get a complete look inside the mouth and then follow up the x-ray with a detailed oral exam. They will see where cavities may form and some of the areas you need to focus on for future brushing and flossing.

The sooner you seek out a dental exam, the better the chances of catching a cavity before it becomes too big or results in the need for a treatment like a filling. Ideally, you want to have fresh water to drink with sugary treats to help wash away some of the sugar. Pocket-sized flossers could also help eliminate plaque build-up as well.

Drinks & Tooth Stains

Along with cavities, amusement park treats could lead to tooth stains. You may seek out caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea to help you through the day. Vending machine products like sodas are common at amusement parks. Dessert drinks like slushies, milkshakes, and fruit-based drinks could all lead to tooth stains as well.

For example, many berry-based drinks could lead to tooth stains. Darker berries like blueberries and blackberries contain pigments and acids that could lead directly to stains on your front teeth and areas where you cannot see.

After a trip, consider a full mouth exam and tooth whitening treatments. A full treatment will remove stains from your teeth and give you a naturally white smile. While one amusement park trip will not likely stain your teeth right away, it could become a major contributing factor, especially if you take amusement park trips on an annual basis.

Intense Rides & Tooth Grinding

Amusement parks feature some pretty intense rides like roller coasters or haunted adventures. As you go through rides, you may not realize how often you clench your jaw or grind your teeth together. When you grind down your teeth, you could cause further damage like chips and cracks.

A dentist can compare previous x-rays or dental work to see major changes in your teeth. A dentist can also see any tooth grinding damage through a basic oral exam. The tooth grinding could expand beyond just an amusement park as well. For example, you may grind your teeth in your sleep.

If a dentist notices major tooth grinding, they may recommend a daytime mouth guard for future amusement park trips. A daytime mouth guard is clear in color and shaped to fit behind your back molars. The mouth guard will prevent tooth to tooth contact when you are on intense rides.

With a little damage prevention, you will protect your teeth and prevent the need for veneers, fillings, or crowns for damaged teeth.

Dehydration & Dry Mouth

Many amusement parks are located in warmer climates or only open during warmer months of the year. A full day in the heat and humidity could lead to a dry mouth. Going on fast rides could also lead to a dry mouth as you whip and cruise at high speeds. A dry mouth allows bacteria to grow and thrive. When you mix in sugary foods, the problem only gets worse.

Extended dry mouth could cause gums to inflame and lead to problems like gingivitis. Along with staying hydrated at an amusement park, a full dental cleaning will help eliminate bacteria in the gums. A dentist will recognize bacteria growth in the gums and can spot inflamed gums quickly.

Advanced treatment options may include a deep cleaning of the teeth that goes beyond a typical cleaning appointment. A dentist could also recommend advanced cleaning products to use at home.

Book your post-vacation appointment with us at Valley Oak Dental Group . Our experienced dental team will treat your mouth, address problems, and ensure you walk away with a happy smile.

Bone Loss and Your Dental Health: Key Considerations

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 20:17:54 GMT

Whether you plan to undergo dental implant surgery in the future or you simply want to maintain a strong, healthy set of natural teeth for as long as possible, you need healthy bone in both your upper jaw and your lower jaw. However, certain conditions and circumstances can threaten that jawbone’s health.

Fortunately, once you understand the factors involved, you and your dentist can work together to keep both your teeth and their supporting bone tissue in good shape. Take a look at the following key considerations about bone loss and your dental health.

How Your Jawbone and Teeth Support Each Other

Your teeth and the bones of your jaw share an interactive relationship, with each component supporting the health of the other. Healthy teeth that are held in place by strong ligaments stimulate the jawbone to repair and replenish itself. Meanwhile, a healthy base of bone maintains the sockets surrounding the tooth roots.

For this reason, problems that threaten your teeth may also threaten your jawbone and vice versa. Thin or weak bone in your jaw can contribute to tooth loss. Without the constant stimulation provided by tooth roots, the bone tissue grows thinner and weaker, potentially setting up an ongoing cycle of dental problems.

Why Bone Loss Occurs

Bone remodels itself as new bone cells replace old ones. Whenever the pace of deterioration outstrips the regrowth process, you end up with bone loss. Underlying conditions can accelerate this process. For instance, women with osteoporosis have three times the tooth loss risk of those who don’t have this bone-weakening problem.

Periodontal disease, a common inflammation of the gums, can lead to tooth loss (and thus bone loss). The loss of teeth due to extractions or injuries can also deprive the jawbone of its usual regrowth triggers. Bite abnormalities that place uneven pressures on your teeth may allow some parts of the jawbone to lose density.

Don’t assume that the replacement of lost teeth with dentures or bridgework will stop this kind of bone loss. These appliances may help you talk and chew, but they merely sit on the jaw instead of extending into the jawbone. Since they can’t stimulate the jaw to generate new bone cells, the bone loss may only grow worse.

How Bone Loss Can Complicate Dental Implants

If you have lost one or more teeth and want to prevent that loss from encouraging bone loss as well, dental implants can succeed at that goal where other dental restorations fail. A dental implant features a post that is surgically implanted in the jawbone. This post stimulates bone maintenance just as a natural tooth root would.

Unfortunately, dental implants require a certain amount of healthy bone in which to anchor themselves, with new bone tissue growing around the threaded posts to secure them in place. If you have already lost a lot of bone height or density, you may need to address that situation before you can proceed with your implants.

How Dentists Respond to Bone Loss

Your dentist can see signs of bone loss in the X-rays commonly taken during routine dental exams. A dentist who notices a loss of bone height or density will look for any obvious causes that require treatment. For instance, you might need root planing and scaling to remove tartar if you suffer from periodontal disease.

Bone loss caused or encouraged by malocclusion (abnormal bite alignment) may signal the need to get that malocclusion treated. Your dentist may correct a minor misalignment with bonding, crowns, or other restorative techniques. If you need to have your teeth straightened or shifted, you’ll receive a referral to an orthodontist.

Bone grafts can provide your jawbone with welcome enhancement. You may need this procedure to build up your jawbone for dental implants, or to support teeth loosened by severe periodontal disease. Your dentist will expose the bone, place natural or synthetic bone material in it, and then close the gum tissue with sutures.

How Smart Preventative Strategies Can Help Prevent Bone Loss

Your everyday wellness choices can make a big difference in your jawbone health. Give your bone generous amounts of dietary calcium, along with enough Vitamin D to activate that calcium’s bone-building value. Dairy products, leafy greens, fish, and nuts all provide calcium, while sunlight causes your body to make Vitamin D.

Don’t neglect or delay your regular dental exams. These exams can catch bone loss problems (and common causes such as periodontal disease) in their early stages, allowing for the best possible response to treatment. If the trouble involves poor dental hygiene, your dentist can advise you how to brush and floss more effectively.

Valley Oak Dental Group can help you monitor your jawbone health, keep your teeth from loosening, and make sure you have sufficient bone for any dental implants you might need. Contact our dental office today to schedule an evaluation and discuss your jawbone health with our team.

5 Things Dentists Look for During a Routine Cleaning Besides Cavities

Thu, 20 May 2021 20:22:23 GMT

During a normal cleaning routine, X-rays and oral exams will often highlight signs of cavities or soft spots on the teeth. While cavities are often the main objective in an exam, dentists will look for many other ailments inside your mouth.

Learn what to expect from your next dental cleaning and educate yourself on all of the mouth issues a dentist will look for. When you know what a dentist looks for, you can ask more questions and receive instructions to improve your oral health in the future.

Teeth Grinding

Medically known as bruxism, a dentist can almost immediately tell if a person has been grinding their teeth. Teeth grinding can wear away teeth, expose enamel, and chip teeth. Constant jaw clenching can also result in jaw issues and pain for long periods of time.

In many cases, people will grind in their teeth. The extra stress applied to your mouth could impact your sleep as well. If a dentist does notice excessive grinding, they may recommend that you use a mouth guard while you sleep. A mouth guard will protect your teeth and prevent further damage.

If major damage has already occurred, a dentist may recommend veneers or tooth bonding to repair your teeth.

Gum Health

Even though a dentist’s cleaning is focused on the teeth, gum health is just as important. The bright lights connected to a dental chair allow a dentist to look inside your mouth and see your gums. The gum color is important, along with any swelling or bleeding of the gums.

A change in the gums is typically a sign of gum disease. When a dentist uses their tools to clean between the teeth and gums, they will look for bacteria build-up. If your gums bleed easily, you could have the start of a gum disease like gingivitis. Gum exams occur during the floss portion of the exam. Any form of gum bleeding could mean you need a deeper cleaning.

Your mouth could be prone to bacteria growth, but that just means that you need to take extra care to keep it healthy.

Wisdom Teeth Growth

If you have not had your wisdom teeth taken out, then a dentist will make a wisdom tooth inspection a part of your regular cleaning. If you receive X-rays, a dentist can look over the images to see if your wisdom teeth have grown or moved in your jaw. A dentist will also look inside your mouth to see if any of your teeth are breaking through the gums and affecting other teeth.

If wisdom teeth push too much on other teeth, then you could run into oral issues. If a problem does occur, then a dentist will set up a referral to proceed with wisdom teeth extraction.

Tonsils

The tonsils are another area that a dentist will focus on. During an appointment, a dentist will perform a quick visual exam on the tonsils. Basically, the dentist will look for any signs of issues. Some of the more common issues may include swollen or enlarged tonsils. A dentist can spot any growths or unusual changes with the tonsils.

Another issue a dentist may notice is the presence of tonsil stones. The stones typically form when bacteria in your tonsils feed on food particles and other things like mucus. Smaller tonsil stones typically present no problems, but larger ones can cause discomfort and may grow up to the size of a grape. A dentist can help extract larger tonsil stones.

If tonsil issues persist, a dentist may have your tonsils removed to prevent problems in the future.

Oral Cancer Screening

Another element of a tooth exam you likely won’t even notice is an oral cancer screening. Dentists are trained to recognize any visual signs of oral cancer. Some of the earliest signs a dentist looks for are major changes to your mouth, tongue, and gums, an increase in sores, and red or white patches.

Typically, if they don’t spot anything, the dentist will not even mention the screening. However, they may focus more on the oral cancer screening if you have any risk factors like tobacco use.

Before your exam, you will list the risk factors on your paperwork so the dentist is aware. For example, if you have excessive sun exposure without proper protection, then you could be at risk for getting skin cancer on your lips.

If the dentist spots any of the early signs, then they may move forward with additional tests. Painless tests may include a dye test that highlights abnormal cells or a special light test that also shows abnormal cells.

Book your cleaning appointment with us at Valley Oak Dental Group to take advantage of all the extra services. Our professional dentists and hygienists offer the training and experience to ensure your mouth is healthy.

4 Differences Between CEREC Crowns and Traditional Crowns

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 20:24:53 GMT

If you have cracked, chipped, or decayed teeth, then one of your options for repair and restoration is a crown. A crown completely covers the tooth without replacing it. As you consider your crown options, a dentist may offer a traditional crown or a CEREC crown. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Crowns – Manteca, CA – Valley Oak Dental Group

Both options come with benefits, so a patient’s decision on the crown is typically on their personal preference. The more you educate yourself about the different treatment options, the more confidence you will build for your final decision. Learn about what sets CEREC crowns apart, how each crown works, and how they protect your teeth.

Instant Creation

A traditional dental crown can take several days to properly make and order. During this time, your tooth is protected using a temporary crown. Dentist offices with CEREC technology can create a permanent crown right on the spot. The office is equipped with a special printer used exclusively for dental crowns.

The process is similar to using a 3D printer. During your appointment, a dentist will perform a 3D scan of the tooth you need a crown for. The scan is converted to a digital CAD file for precise measurements. Once printed, the crown is fitted and placed inside your mouth.

The instant CEREC crown process has multiple benefits. You do not need to return to the dentist for multiple appointments. You do not need to adjust work schedules around. You will alleviate pain quickly.

A temporary crown could be placed in your mouth for two weeks as an outside lab creates your final crown. The temporary crown does not sit as tightly as a regular crown, and you could suffer from additional tooth pain or damage during this time. For example, the temporary crown may fall off and expose your damaged tooth.

You will spend two weeks protecting the crown and changing your eating habits. As the risks increase, you will need to pick an option that fits your lifestyle and ability to adjust for the temporary period.

Less Invasive

A CEREC crown is a less invasive feature than a traditional crown. A dentist may need to drill and shape a tooth to fit a temporary crown or a traditional crown, but a CEREC crown is inserted with minimal pain. The crown helps you avoid any dental anxiety or fears associated with drills and other dental tools.

With the exact fit, a dentist does not need to make major adjustments or force a crown on. You will also experience less discomfort afterward. The formation of the crown provides a recognizable comfort to your mouth and you can chew or drink near the crown without any pain or sensitivity.

Crown Materials

A CEREC crown is typically made with ceramic. Ceramic material is not uncommon in the dental world. Ceramic is also used for dental bonds, bridges, and some implants. Over the years, ceramic has proven to be a reliable material for teeth. The ceramic color also allows the CEREC crown to blend more naturally inside your mouth.

While the ceramic material is strong and lasts long, it does not bond to teeth as well as a traditional metal crown. Metal crowns often combine a mix of ingredients like metal and porcelain to create a strong barrier for teeth. The combination of materials will bond to the tooth to prevent coming loose in the future.

The crown does have a metal finish, which may be noticeable when you speak, eat, or pose for pictures.

With proper care, a CEREC crown can last for multiple decades, but hard impacts can damage the crown more easily than the metal. The impacts are not typical occurrences but rare instances like a car crash or an object that smashes into someone’s face.

Cracked Tooth Protection

A crown is common for cracked teeth. The crown keeps the tooth intact and prevents the need for extraction. Unfortunately, some tooth cracks may go below the gum line and near the root of the tooth. The CEREC scanning technology only covers the visible part of the tooth. Anything underneath the tooth does not remain protected by the crown.

So if your crown extended beyond the gums, your only choice may be a traditional crown. A traditional crown can go deeper over a tooth and help prevent more damage or decay. You do not need to worry about second-guessing your options in this situation. Through a dental exam or X-rays, a dentist will determine how deep a crack goes.

From there, you will know your crown options and the best steps moving forward. The extra time used to create a permanent crown will result in years of protection for your tooth.

If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group . We can help you with any dental emergencies and have the CEREC technology on-site to provide you same-day crowns if needed.

5 Things You Should Know About Gum Recession

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 20:30:46 GMT

Gum recession not only looks unattractive, but it can also cause significant discomfort and pose risk for your long-term dental health. You can safeguard your teeth against this phenomenon once you understand its causes, effects, and treatment options. Keep the following five points about gum recession in mind.

1. Gum Recession May Mean Periodontal Disease

If you see parts of your tooth roots that your gums previously covered, you may struggle with periodontal disease. Approximately half of all Americans over the age of 30 suffer from this chronic condition. It occurs when the immune system produces gum-destroying inflammation in response to bacteria around the gum line.

During the first stage of periodontal disease, a reversal condition called gingivitis, your gums may actually appear overgrown due to swelling and puffiness. However, as the condition advances, the gums shrink and recede from the teeth, exposing the roots and potentially causing the teeth to loosen.

If you think you have any stage of periodontal disease, schedule a dental exam and treatment as soon as possible. Your dentist can remove the plaque and tartar that attract bacteria to your teeth and gums. This treatment may not cure your gum recession, but it can keep it from getting worse.

2. Certain Habits and Practices Can Cause or Worsen Gum Recession

You don’t have to suffer from periodontal disease to develop receding gums. Other habits, some of which you may practice without even realizing it, can also cause or aggravate gum recession. For instance, brushing your teeth with too much force can damage the gums until they recede.

Bruxism, the unconscious habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, may also trigger gum recession. This habit may stem from a variety of underlying causes, from emotional stress and bite misalignment to a sleep disorder. It places extreme stress on the teeth, damaging not only tooth enamel but also surrounding gum tissue.

Many people who have tongue or lip piercings don’t realize that their oral jewelry may contribute to gum recession. Constant or repeated friction from these items can eventually wear away the gum tissue, leaving exposed tooth roots in their wake.

Additionally, if you use tobacco, you raise your risk for gum recession. The tarry substances in tobacco products can make your dental plaque even stickier and harder to remove than usual, making your gums easy prey for periodontal disease.

3. Exposed Tooth Roots Can Cause Problems of Their Own

You need to also take heed of the potential issues caused by the gum recession itself. For instance, plaque can collect on exposed tooth roots that much more easily, increasing your risks for tooth decay in these parts of the tooth (which lack protective enamel).

Exposed tooth roots can also prove highly sensitive to changes in temperature. You may find that cold or hot foods and beverages cause the affected teeth to ache, forcing you to avoid some of your favorite menu items. The loss of gum tissue can also make your teeth appear unnaturally long or otherwise unattractive.

4. Your Dentist Can Treat Gum Recession

Even if you have already developed receding gums to some degree, your dentist can offer treatment options to reverse or minimize the recession. If you don’t have severe gum recession or you simply don’t like how your teeth look, gum-colored restorations can often close ugly gaps and make recession less visible.

Cases of more severe gum recession may call for gum grafting surgery. Your dentist can take a flap of skin from another part of your mouth and attach it to the receding gums. The skin may come from the roof of your mouth or from the gum tissue around a neighboring tooth.

5. Smart Dental Care Practices Can Prevent Gum Recession

Whether you already have receding gums or you merely wish to avoid getting them, some smart home dental care practices can help you steer clear of future problems. Start by modifying your tooth brushing routine as needed. For example, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle pressure to avoid gum injury.

A regular brushing and flossing routine plays a critical role in controlling the amount of plaque that accumulates around (and even beneath) your gum line. The more consistently you pursue this routine, the less trouble you’ll have with bacterial inflammation, gun inflammation, and periodontal disease.

If your teeth show early signs of premature wear due to bruxism, and you know that you have a lot of stress in your life, look into stress-relief techniques that can help you stop grinding or clenching your teeth. You can also ask your dentist to create a custom-fitted night guard that reduces pressure on your teeth and gums.

Valley Oak Dental Group can help you keep your gums and teeth in optimal shape for decades to come. Contact us today with your questions or appointment requests.

5 Ways a Keto Diet Can Impact Dental Health

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:39:06 GMT

Every few years, a new diet trend seems to spread through culture. One of the newest trends is the Keto diet. The diet eliminates almost all carbohydrates from a person’s daily meals and includes key options like cheese, eggs, and meat. While a Keto diet can help transform a body and induce weight loss, you should also be aware of its impact on your dental health.

A Keto diet comes with both positive and negative impacts on your dental health. When you learn about the impacts, you can use preventative measures to ensure your smile remains healthy through the dental process.

1. Dry Mouth

Mouths maintain a balanced pH based off the foods you eat. When you eliminate carbohydrates from your daily diet, the pH balance in your mouth is naturally thrown off. As a result, increased acids in the mouth could cause your mouth to dry out more. A mild dry mouth may seem easy to handle, but eventually the problem could worsen.

A dry mouth can bring a lot of discomfort. If your tongue becomes dry, you may not enjoy eating and drinking. The dryness also prevents bacteria from being washed away with saliva. Germs can stay longer on your teeth and eventually cause enamel to wear down.

When you are on the Keto diet, y increase your water intake to prevent dry mouth. You could also rely on mouthwashes specifically targeted for dry mouths. The mouthwashes will clear away bacteria and provide extra moisture. Traditional mouthwashes may dry your mouth out further because of the alcohol content.

2. Cavity Reduction

While the pH levels may change in your mouth, a Keto diet will prevent sugar exposure to your teeth. Sugar is one of the main causes of cavities and gum issues. As sugar breaks down, it can cause a buildup around your teeth, break away enamel, and eventually cause a cavity.

When eating a Keto diet, you have to cut down a lot of sugar, including sweet treats like candy and drinks like sweet tea. This is one of the main oral benefits associated with the diet and is hopefully a lifestyle change you can enjoy for years to come in the future. A lack of sugar can also help prevent inflamed gums and gingivitis.

3. Bad Breath

Towards the beginning of a Keto diet, you may not notice any obvious changes with your oral health. After a few days, the ketosis process begins, and you may notice a major change with your breath. Keto breath may include a metallic taste in your mouth that remains there for several days.

You may also a taste or smell similar to nail polish remover. The process occurs when ketones break down in your stomach and rise up to your mouth. Fortunately, Keto breath will not cause harm to your teeth but may have an impact on how you socially approach others.

To help prevent the onset of bad breath, increase the water you drink. You may also choose to add an extra brushing session to your day. Everyone’s body reacts differently, so in severe cases, you may chew sugar-free gum to temporarily help with bad breath.

4. Plaque Reduction

A reduction in carbohydrates has many benefits for the mouth. Carbs like bread and pasta can stick to teeth and naturally break down like sugar, causing an excess of plaque buildup in the mouth. When you eliminate the carbs, you will reduce the natural plaque buildup in your mouth and help prevent gum disease.

Aided with daily flossing and annual cleanings, your oral health can remain on track, and you will not need to rely on advanced dental treatments like fillings or crowns.

5. Tooth Damage

One of the core elements of a Keto diet is a rise in meat consumption. While meat will help your body reach ketosis, you also want to be cautious when consuming excessive amounts of meat. Any meats with bones like ribs, chicken, or steak can cause possible tooth damage. Bones may crack or chip teeth and result in the need for dental procedures.

Some meats may be tough to chew through and could result in a clenched jaw or grinding teeth. You may also get pieces of meat or fat stuck in your teeth. If your teeth are not properly cleaned out, the food particles could cause inflamed gums. The gaps between your gums may lead to more bacteria growth and potential problems like gingivitis.

After meals where you eat a lot of meats, consider flossing or using a specialty tool like a water floss pick. A dentist can help teach you the best flossing methods to keep your gums cleared out and prevent bleeding.

As you embark on a Keto diet, book an appointment with one of our professionals at Valley Oak Dental Group. We can do a full evaluation of your mouth and provide you with the proper steps to maintain a healthy smile through your diet.

4 Ways Video Gaming Can Impact Your Dental Health

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 20:44:42 GMT

Playing video games comes with a lot of benefits, but as a gamer, you should be aware of the adverse effects gaming can have on your dental health. While you may not directly associate the health of your teeth and gums with video games, you often have a lot of factors to consider.

Learn exactly how video games impact your dental health, ways to prevent problems, and solutions a dentist can help solve in the long run.

1. Mindless Snacking

Video games and snacking often go hand in hand as players like to enjoy quick snacks they can grab and chew on while playing games. Unfortunately, the snacking can get out of control as players become unaware of exactly how much they consumed.

A research study published in the Appetite, a science journal, showed that when gamers play, they do not realize how much they actually eat. Snacking on sugary snacks can expose teeth to a lot of sugars and acids, which could eventually lead to cavities.

The effects on teeth can worsen if you pair snacks with sugary drinks like fruit juice or soda. Many junk food companies cater their foods towards gamers, including built-in sponsorships for chips, candy, and breakfast tarts. Avoid these snacks, or eat them in moderation. Try replacing the foods with healthier options like cut-up fruit and vegetables.

Set alarms to brush your teeth, add an extra cleaning each day, and add in other cleaning methods like mouthwash or floss picks. The more you snack, the more you should focus on your dental health treatment options. A dentist can see areas of your mouth prone to cavities through X-rays and exams. If you have any soft spots, you will want to treat your mouth with care.

2. Dry Mouth

If you enjoy online gaming, then you may use a headset to voice chat with other players. For long game sessions, you may notice you constantly suffer from dry mouth. A dry mouth does not produce adequate amounts of saliva to properly eliminate acids from making contact with your teeth.

The acid exposure can break down the enamel in your mouth and result in tooth decay or gum disease. Even when sitting in a single position to play video games, you should remain well-hydrated. Water works best when trying to stay hydrated, but you can try a couple of quick solutions to help as well.

Chew some sugar-free gum during long gaming sessions. Try sour snacks like pickles to help increase the saliva in your mouth. Fruits like lemons or lime will help as well.

3. Long Video Gaming Sessions

You may find that you can easily get lost in a video game, playing long into the night. Unfortunately, a lack of sleep can create some dental problems. As your body becomes fatigued and craves sleep, you will often see a spike in inflammatory hormones. Those hormones can impact the gums, leading to inflamed gums and the potential risk of gum diseases like gingivitis.

Ideally, you want to limit gaming sessions and ensure you get the proper amount of sleep. Try to set a gaming schedule to reduce inflammation of the gums. If your gums are swollen, a dental exam can provide a better look. You may need to book a deep cleaning appointment for your gums to clear out bacteria and help reduce swelling.

If the swelling and inflation persist, then you may need extra cleanings throughout the year. The inflamed gums will create gaps prone to bacteria and germs. As you try to adjust your sleep schedule, keep your dental health on track as much as possible.

4. Teeth Grinding

As you play intense games and tough levels, you may not even be aware that you can grind your teeth and clench your jaw. The force on your teeth could wear them down, cause small cracks, and result in changes to your smile. Pay close attention the next time to play to see if you grind or clench your jaw.

A dentist can see signs of teeth grinding immediately through an oral exam. If the grinding has gotten too out of control, a dentist may fit you with a mouth guard you can wear while you play. After wearing the mouth guard for extended periods of time, you will often naturally form a more comfortable and relaxed jaw position.

You may also seek out other methods to help. For example, chewing on sugar-free gum could reduce the amount your clench your jaw, and the gum can act as a buffer between your teeth. When you play, ask other people in your home to view your gaming habits to see how often you clench your jaw and if you have specific trends to be on the lookout for.

Contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group to find out more information on our dental services. We will help you continue to enjoy video games with a healthy smile.

5 Prosthodontic Options to Consider

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:46:32 GMT

Modern dental science presents various restoration options for individuals with tooth loss or damage. The field known as prosthodontics includes such common forms of restoration as veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. However, the sheer range of possibilities can complicate the search for your ideal solution.

Since different types of prosthodontic restorations offer different benefits, you can narrow down the selection process once you understand more about each type. Take a look at how five restoration options compare.

1. Veneers: Cosmetic Coverings for a More Dazzling Smile

Many people who have cracked, jagged, gapped, or discolored front teeth feel self-conscious whenever they smile, laugh, eat, or talk. Unfortunately, 48 percent of Americans regard a smile as the most memorable feature when first meeting someone, with three out of four adults considering an unattractive smile an obstacle to career success.

Veneers cover up chips, cracks, and other imperfections in your front teeth. These porcelain appliances, measuring a mere one millimeter in thickness, attach to the visible surfaces of the teeth. Your dentist will remove a similar thickness of enamel from the teeth before cementing the veneers into place.

Veneers can instantly improve your smile, lasting for several years with proper care. (Porcelain lasts longer than composite veneers.) However, since they only cover the fronts of the teeth, the rear surfaces remain vulnerable to decay and damage. Veneers cannot provide as much structural reinforcement as crowns.

2. Crowns: Functional and Protective Supports

Unlike veneers, crowns cover the entire tooth down to the gumline. This extra coverage can lend a badly cracked, broken, or weakened tooth the extra strength it needs to remain usable. Crowns also protect the covered areas of the tooth against decay. You can get crowns in porcelain, gold, zirconia, or translucent ceramics.

Crowns can restore full chewing strength and function to your hard-working molars. They can also restore both function and beauty to your front teeth, although this strategy may cost more than veneers. However, crowns cannot fix fractures that extend down into your tooth roots, a condition that typically calls for extraction.

3. Bridges: Removable or Permanent Gap Fillers

When you need to replace one or more missing teeth, a dental bridge can accomplish this goal handily. A bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base. A removable bridge (also called a partial denture) attaches to your remaining teeth with hooks, while a permanent bridge attaches to permanent crowns.

Both removable and permanent bridges can employ porcelain teeth colored to match your own teeth as closely as possible. While removable bridges offer easier cleaning, with no need for crown preparation and fitting, permanent bridges sit more securely and prevent your natural teeth from shifting.

Keep in mind that permanent bridges rely on the stability and health of surrounding natural teeth. If a tooth that would normally anchor your bridge appears to have a short future ahead of it, your dentist may recommend a removable bridge or even an implant-based bridge instead.

4. Implants: Permanent Fixes for Lost Teeth

Whether you have one tooth or an entire mouthful of teeth, dental implants often offer the most durable and natural-looking tooth replacement option. A metal post surgically implanted into the jawbone acts as an artificial tooth root. Once the post has fused with the surrounding bone, the dentist tops it with a permanent crown.

In addition to single-tooth implants, you can replace several teeth in a row with an implanted partial denture. You can even anchor an entire upper row or lower denture onto a series of implants. The implants prevent any slippage of the denture while also helping the bone in your jaw retain its density and shape.

Implants don’t necessarily make sense for everyone. The implantation takes months to heal completely, forcing the use of temporary appliances in the meantime. Implants also cost more than other dental restorations. If you have poor bone density, you may need to undergo a bone graft before receiving implants.

5. Full Dentures: Non-Invasive Total Teeth Replacement

If you don’t want to pay top dollar for implants or undergo the surgical procedures associated with them, full upper or lower dentures can replace a missing row of teeth quickly, easily, and affordably. Upper dentures attach to your palate through suction, while lower dentures rely on over-the-counter dental adhesives.

The material you choose for your dentures will make a difference in their appearance and durability. Acrylic plastic dentures offer the most affordable option, but they can wear down after a few years of use. Dentures of porcelain or other relatively strong materials cost more, but they also last longer and look more realistic.

Your dentures must fit properly if you want to avoid slippage or discomfort. Since your jawbone loses density without the presence of tooth roots (or implants), you’ll need to reline your dentures periodically to adjust their fit to your current mouth configuration.

Valley Oak Dental Group can provide any of the prosthodontic restoration options listed above. Contact our office to schedule a consultation and receive expert advice on which restoration makes the most sense for your situation.

5 Reasons to Use Dental Benefits by the End of the Year

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 20:54:28 GMT

A dental insurance plan is ideal in case of emergencies, but as the end of the year approaches, many dental plans will end on December 31st and reset in the new year. If you’ve barely used your insurance, then you will want to take advantage of your available benefits. Learn about the reasons and how you can help your smile and wallet at the same time.

1. Wasted Money

A dental insurance plan will typically include an annual maximum of benefits. The maximum covers the amount of money allocated on your dental services. When you do not take advantage of the benefits, you are essentially wasting money, especially as you pay into your dental plan on a monthly basis.

When the whole amount resets into the new year, any appointments or treatments you make in January or February will go against your new total. When you make an appointment for December, you can ensure you don’t waste any money and get treatment for your mouth.

You never know what dental emergencies will come up in the future, and do not want to pay out of pocket money if you use up all of your benefits early within the new year. You may also have dental insurance changes in the new year if you plan on getting a new job or you want to change dental plans.

When you use your annual maximum, your health premiums will not rise, so there is nothing going against you for using the benefits you are entitled to. Some plans may include specific details for the number of appointments you can attend. Check out the details of the plan to see if you have any available appointments left.

2. Preventive Care

One of the main ways to use your benefits is through preventive care. You can help prevent major problems in the future with a routine dental appointment. One part of preventive care you should consider are dental x-rays. Through x-rays, dentists will see the early formation of cavities, tooth decay, or changes to your mouth like the presence of wisdom teeth.

When a dentist analyzes your x-rays, you can make a follow-up appointment for treatment and try to get your services completed before the new year. For example, if a small cavity forms, a dentist can schedule a filling before the cavity gets worse, causes pain in the future, and requires an emergency appointment after the new year.

3. Extra Cleaning

Along with preventive care, you can take advantage of an extra dental cleaning towards the end of the year. Many dental plans allow two cleanings a year or one cleaning every six months. If you’ve only had one cleaning throughout the calendar year, then December is an ideal time for another cleaning.

Not only will many dental insurance plans cover the cleaning, but the time of year is ideal for cleaning your mouth. The holiday season is known for a lot of treats like candy canes, pies, and baked goods. A dental cleaning will help remove any plaque or tartar build-up that has occurred. You can head into the new year with your teeth feeling clean and healthy.

4. Restorative Care

If you have nagging mouth issues, then the end of the year is an ideal time to take care of problems. Use your dental benefits for restorative care treatments. The treatments may include simple options like tooth extractions or more advanced treatments like bridges.

You could even consider restorative care like an upgrade to your smile. For example, if you have an older metal filling in your mouth, the fillings could become loose or painful over time. A dentist can replace the filling and make your teeth more secure. A dentist could apply sealants to your back molars to help prevent food and acid from decaying the teeth.

5. Dental Referrals

Along with the treatment within the office, you may seek out a dental appointment for referral needs. For example, if your teeth have shifted, you may get a referral to an orthodontist. So within the same appointment, you can have a cleaning and set up another appointment that your insurance may cover.

If your insurance covers an orthodontist, then you can squeeze in an extra appointment to have your teeth examined or get fitted for mouth corrections options like braces or retainers. You may also seek referrals for dental specialists. For example, if you have inflamed gums, you may see a periodontal specialist for a deep cleaning of your teeth.

Knowing about an upcoming lapse in insurance benefits, a dentist may help you fast track the referral and try to get an appointment before the end of the year. This is why an appointment in early December is the ideal option so you can have three weeks to plan any follow-up appointments while still under your current year coverage.

Make an appointment with our dentists at Valley Oak Dental Group . We will help you use your insurance benefits and give you a healthy smile that can last long into the new year.

5 Things You Should Know About Tooth Enamel

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:00:01 GMT

When you admire someone’s white teeth, you see only the outermost layer of surprisingly complex structures. Human teeth possess a dense assembly of nerve tissue and blood vessels surrounded by a harder material called dentin, with a topmost layer of enamel providing essential protection and chewing strength.

The more you understand about tooth enamel, the more easily you can recognize threats to its health and structural integrity, and the more effectively you can protect your teeth against those potential issues. Give some thought to the following five important points regarding tooth enamel.

1. Tooth Enamel Has Extraordinary Strength and Hardness

Tooth enamel consists mainly of a mineral known as apatite. This substance earns a ranking of 5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, outperforming gold, steel, iron, and silver on this scale. In fact, no biological material on Earth can claim a greater hardness than tooth enamel.

This hardness and resilience allow teeth to hold up under decades of biting and chewing. Since the human jaw can apply about 175 pounds of biting force, your teeth would stand little chance of lasting if they didn’t have apatite in their enamel.

2. Even the Strongest Enamel Can Sustain Critical Damage

Even very hard objects can break, including teeth. A sharp impact can crack, chip, or fracture the healthiest tooth enamel, while thin or eroded enamel may prove especially vulnerable to breakage. Unfortunately, this erosion or progressive weakening of enamel occurs all too easily and frequently.

If your tooth enamel consisted entirely of apatite, it would never decay. However, the mixture of organic and inorganic materials that make up tooth enamel allows acids to infiltrate through tiny pores, destroying the organic components. A combination of sugars, starches, and bacteria can create this erosion and decay.

Decay can cause a hole called a cavity to develop in the tooth enamel. If the cavity reaches all the way through the enamel, the dentin and other tissues within the tooth may all suffer decay and infection. A deep crack or chip in the enamel can permit the same destructive infiltration, causing pain and disease.

3. Yellow Teeth May Indicate Thin Enamel

The more years of service your teeth provide, the thinner your enamel may grow. Decades of biting, chewing, and exposure to acidic substances can strip tooth enamel of minerals without necessarily causing cavities or other damage. As the enamel thins and grows translucent, the yellow layer of dentin beneath it may become more visible.

For this reason, many older individuals notice a yellowish color overtaking their smile. They may mistake the discoloration for tobacco or food stains, only to discover that tooth whitening procedures cannot correct it.

4. You Can’t Grow New Enamel, but You Can Strengthen What You Have

You’ll never have more tooth enamel than whatever your teeth originally contained. Teeth cannot regenerative this non-living material once it has started to thin out or chip away. Thankfully, you can still take steps to optimize the strength and mineral content of your remaining enamel, which can greatly slow further enamel loss.

Tooth enamel grows weaker when it loses minerals such as calcium and phosphates. Fluoride toothpastes and other forms of fluoride treatment can compensate for these losses by drawing calcium and phosphates out of your saliva and restoring them to whatever enamel you still have.

If you choose to optimize your enamel strength by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, take care to brush the smart way. Brushing with too much force, or immediately after ingesting acidic foods, can aggravate enamel erosion. In addition to twice-daily brushing, floss your teeth once a day to remove starches and sugars.

Certain dietary strategies can enhance your efforts to protect your tooth enamel. Limit your consumption of acidic foods and beverages, or at least drink such beverages through a straw to limit contact with enamel. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to normalize the pH balance in your mouth.

5. Dental Care Can Help Compensate for Enamel Damage

If your tooth enamel has become damaged despite your best efforts to protect it, don’t fret. Modern restorative dentistry can restore the strength of your teeth and the beauty of your smile. For instance, your dentist can cover yellowing front teeth with veneers, thin porcelain restorations that look just like healthy enamel.

If your enamel requires more restoration than simple veneers can provide, you may benefit from permanent crowns. A crown covers the entire visible surface of the tooth, protecting it against additional breakage or damage and guarding against infection. Today’s ceramics can duplicate your natural tooth enamel color with ease.

Don’t forget to schedule periodic preventative dental care as a means of keeping your enamel safe and healthy. Your dentist can find and treat any minor problems before they grow into major enamel damage. You can also benefit from professional cleanings that get rid of dental plaque and associated bacteria.

Whether your tooth enamel could use some professional support or you just want to keep your enamel as healthy as possible for many years to come, Valley Oak Dental Group can help. Contact our clinic today to schedule an examination, cleaning, or treatment.

4 Symptoms That Call for a Dental Evaluation

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 21:01:55 GMT

Regular dental checkups and cleanings can help individuals minimize or prevent many dental and oral issues. Even with this preventative routine in place, however, occasional problems can develop. These problems can snowball into painful or dangerous conditions unless you schedule care sooner rather than later.

Once you know how to recognize certain characteristic symptoms of common dental problems, you can take action and get the professional evaluation you need before those problems worsen. Keep an eye out for these four trouble signs.

1. Tooth Pain or Sensitivity

You may need little prompting to recognize and respond to a sharp pain or dull ache in a tooth. Most commonly, toothache pain stems from decaying enamel. Bacteria and acid erosion may eat holes in the enamel. These cavities can eventually expose the sensitive pulp tissue within the tooth to heat, cold, and pressure.

If you feel pain in a dental crown when you bite on hard foods or consume hot or cold substances, the problem may lie with the crown itself. You may need to have a temporary crown replaced with a permanent crown, or a permanent crown may need adjustment or replacement. You might even have an infection beneath the crown.

Toothaches don’t always indicate a problem with the affected teeth themselves. Conditions such as sinusitis, TMJ, heart or lung disease, trigeminal neuralgia, and occipital neuralgia can refer pain signals to the teeth. A dental evaluation can confirm or eliminate tooth damage or disease as the culprit.

Teeth can also naturally grow more sensitive as you age due to a progressive thinning of the enamel. Your dentist may suggest that you combat this increasing sensitivity with a toothpaste or other dental hygiene product designed to reduce it.

2. Red or Bleeding Gums

Red, puffy, bleeding gums typically point to an inflammatory problem called gingivitis. This condition occurs when bacteria attached to dental plaque and tartar trigger responses from the immune system, resulting in inflammation that does more harm than good for the gum tissue.

Gingivitis can lead to more serious periodontal disease, or periodontitis. At this stage, toxins begin to break down the connective tissues that hold the teeth firmly in place, potentially leading to tooth loss. If you have periodontitis, you’ll need regular deep cleanings and other treatments to control the condition.

You may find that a more careful, thorough approach to brushing and flossing can reverse a mild case of gingivitis and prevent the problem from recurring. If these corrective measures don’t help, schedule a dental appointment so that your dentist can examine your gums and administer any necessary treatment.

3. A White Spot Near the Gum Line

If you have a toothache accompanied by the appearance of a white spot near the gum line, you may have an abscess. In an abscess, an infection in the root or jaw produces small, pus-filled pockets around the infection site. These pockets may remain invisible to the naked eye, or they may make their way to the gum surfaces.

In addition to oral pain and damage, the bacteria in a dental abscess can travel to other parts of the body, creating additional problems there. You should always request immediate treatment for a suspected dental abscess. Your dentist can drain the abscess and administer antibiotics to rid the gums and jaw of bacteria.

4. Cracked or Broken Tooth Enamel

A cracked or broken tooth usually causes acute pain, but it can also serve as a gateway to infection. The gaps in the enamel allow bacteria to invade the pulp chamber all the way down to the tips of the roots, potentially causing a jaw abscess or systemic infection as well as a toothache.

Your dentist can usually solve this problem by fitting the damaged tooth with a permanent crown. However, if a tooth fracture extends all the way down the side of a tooth root, a crown cannot protect the tooth adequately. In this situation, your dentist may extract the tooth and recommend replacement with an implant.

A minor chip or crack on a front tooth may need nothing more than a dental veneer. This thin shell of porcelain adheres to the damaged enamel surface to hide the damage while also protecting the tooth against further damage. If you need to mitigate more extensive damage on teeth that experience stronger forces, you should go with a crown.

If your tongue feels a neatly excavated hole in your tooth that seems to have come from out of nowhere, you may have lost a filling while biting into a particularly chewy or hard food. The loss of a filling doesn’t typically cause pain, but the remaining hole may trap food and start to decay. Be sure to get the filling replaced.

Valley Oak Dental Group can take a look at those trouble signs in your mouth, perform treatments, and make dental hygiene or lifestyle recommendations to help you keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition. Contact our clinic today for an appointment.

Should You Postpone Your Next Dental Procedure or Visit?

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 21:04:43 GMT

Why shouldn’t you postpone necessary dental procedures or office visits? If you’ve waited weeks, months, or more for dentist-recommended work, take a look at the questions to ask right now.

Why Did the Dentist Recommend the Procedure?

The reason behind the recommendation can help you to decide whether you need to schedule a make-up appointment immediately or if the procedure really can wait. Purely cosmetic dental procedures, such as in-office whitening, aren’t emergency issues. Even though you should always discuss the postponement of a procedure with the dentist, most patients can safely wait for a cosmetic visit.

Recommended procedures you shouldn’t wait to schedule include:

Dental fillings. Left untreated, dental decay can progress into a serious infection or permanently damage the tooth. Prompt treatment stops the decay process, improves your mouth’s health, and can alleviate oral discomfort.
Dental crowns. Dental crowns can help to strengthen a weakened tooth and correct cracked, chipped, or worn teeth. The sooner you get the crown, the lower the risk of additional damage, wear, or pain.
Tooth extractions. The dentist may need to remove a severely decayed or damaged tooth. Not only can this procedure eliminate dental discomfort, but it can also stop an infection from spreading.
Along with these procedures, you shouldn’t put off visits related to pain, swelling, unexplained bleeding, or dental injury. A chipped or cracked tooth, painful area of your mouth, or other similar issues require immediate in-office attention.

Should You Wait for Gum Care?

Are your teeth decay-free? Even though you may not have cavities, dental damage, or tooth-related issues, may still need an in-office appointment.

Don’t postpone your next dental visit if:

You have bleeding gums. Do your gums bleed when you brush or eat? This is a sign of periodontal, or gum, disease.
You have swollen or red gums. Red, swollen gums are another sign of gum disease. Like bleeding when you brush, this symptom requires professional attention.
You have loose or sensitive teeth. Some seemingly tooth-related issues are periodontal problems. Loose or sensitive teeth coupled with other signs, such as bleeding or swollen gums, signal a periodontal infection.
Prompt periodontal treatment is necessary to control gum disease. The sooner you schedule an appointment, the sooner you’ll see and feel relief.

Should You Wait for Routine Appointments?

You’ve scheduled your filling, crown, or other restoration. But what about routine checkups and cleanings? Even though you may not think a routine oral care appointment is necessary right, you could have an unknown issue. The cost of an appointment, dental insurance, time issues, and other similar concerns may result in missed routine care.

Before you skip your next appointment:

Talk to the dentist. The dentist can provide you with the facts on routine care. Beyond general care, the dentist can also help you to understand why this service is necessary for you as an individual.

Consider your at-home oral care routine. If your brushing and flossing routine is less than ideal, you need a checkup and cleaning to refresh your oral health.

Assess potential problems. Do you have oral discomfort, bleeding gums, or swollen gums? Even though it may seem minor, an oral issue could have a serious cause. Not only do regular visits include a cleaning, but the dentist will also look for potential problems.

Ask your dentist how often you should schedule routine appointments. Some patients may only need annual or biannual visits, while others may need visits more often. An existing issue, such as gum disease or an infection, may require multiple office visits each year.

Should You Schedule an Appointment If It Seems Too Expensive?

Cost is a major factor in the decision to schedule immediate dental work. While a routine cleaning may not come with excessive costs, restorations, extractions, and other in-office procedures may seem pricey.

Even though dental appointments may seem out of your price range, you shouldn’t let finances keep you away from the office. If you’ve postponed dental care because of the costs:

Ask about payment plans. The dental office may offer payment plans that make the cost of the procedure reasonable. Talk to the office or billing staff about spreading out payments over time to keep the costs within your price range.
Ask about discount plans. Some private companies offer dental discount programs. Unlike dental insurance, these won’t have deductibles or co-payments. Instead, discount plans reduce the costs by procedure or percentage.
Ask about insurance. Your insurance may cover more than you think. Before you postpone a procedure, ask the dental office staff to pre-authorize the claim with your insurer. This will give you a better idea of the total costs to expect.
The dentist and their staff want to help you achieve a healthy mouth. If you don’t think you can afford dental care, the practice may have ideas you haven’t heard or thought about.

Do you need to schedule a dental appointment? Contact Valley Oak Dental Group for more information.

Is Facial Asymmetry Around the Jawline a Cause for Concern?

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 21:07:22 GMT

While no face is perfectly symmetrical, people with uneven jawlines may be concerned about how asymmetry affects their oral health. Read on to learn what might be causing your facial asymmetry, whether or not it’s a problem, and how to treat it.

What Causes Facial Asymmetry?

As people age, their faces can naturally become more asymmetrical because while bone growth stops at puberty, cartilage growth does not. However, there are many other potential causes of facial asymmetry, such as secondary health issues, lifestyle factors, and trauma.

Health Conditions

People suffering from idiopathic masseter muscle hypertrophy, which cause an enlargement of muscles in the cheeks, can experience asymmetry.

Some conditions, like Bell’s Palsy, may weaken of paralyze one side of your face, so as you favor the stronger side of your mouth, facial asymmetry can develop.

Some spinal conditions, like torticollis, can cause abnormal positioning of vertebrae and neck muscles, thus causing a chain reaction in how you hold your head and how you use your jaws. Even if you don’t have a spinal condition, poor posture that’s never corrected can set you up for facial asymmetry.

Lifestyle Factors

Tobacco products contain chemicals that can constrict blood vessels, which can cause your cheeks to lose elasticity. People who smoke are at risk for osteoporosis and decreased bone density in their jaws, which can affect facial symmetry.

Even favoring one side of your mouth when chewing can lead to facial asymmetry as the tooth cusps will wear more on one side and facial muscles will be unbalanced in strength.

Trauma

If you’ve been in some kind of accident that’s affected your face, your jaws may be uneven after healing. If teeth are lost after an accident or from a procedural extraction, the bone in that area atrophies, thus changing the shape of your face.

When is Facial Asymmetry a Problem?

For some people, their facial asymmetry only affects their appearance and can be treated with cosmetic procedures. However, facial asymmetry can be a real problem if it causes functional issues. Sometimes facial asymmetry doesn’t even cause an issue, but is a side effect of an undiagnosed issue, such as obstructive sleep apnea or temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD).

For instance, people who suffer from idiopathic masseter muscle hypertrophy not only have asymmetry, they usually have TMJD and bruxism (tooth grinding). People with TMJD may have difficulty eating, jaw pain, and clicking or locking jaw joints. People suffering from bruxism may be prone to decay or experience small enamel fractures from premature tooth wear.

Some facial trauma can result in not only facial asymmetry, but a condition known as TMJ ankylosis. Ankylosis is fusion of the TMJ to the jaw bones, which causes decreased range of motion and stiffening of the jaws. If a person is still going through puberty, then this kind of condition could cause an undergrowth of the mandible, or lower jaw.

When is Orthognathic Surgery a Good Option for Facial Asymmetry?

Orthognathic surgery, or jaw surgery, is usually a good option if you have extreme facial asymmetry or dental problems that cannot be fixed with orthodontic treatment or other dental procedures. For example, if you have asymmetry because of tooth loss, then bone grafts and dental implant may correct your problems without further surgical intervention.

If you don’t have extreme facial asymmetry, then your dentist may recommend non-invasive methods first. For instance, if your facial asymmetry causes TMJ issues, then your dentist may recommend treatments such as:

Intra-oral massage
Muscle relaxants, like Botox
Cortecosteriod injections
Mouthguards or other dental appliances

If these types of treatments aren’t helping you manage pain, then jaw surgery could be considered.

There is no one-size-fits-all jaw surgery. Your condition and symptoms will dictate the type of jaw surgery that you have.

If your facial asymmetry has caused sleep apnea, your doctor may perform a maxillomandibular advancement surgery. During this surgery, your dentist will cut both the upper and lower jaws and advance them forward. Pre- and post-operative sleep studies that measure your oxygen saturation are objective measures to see if the surgery helped.

If you have something like masseter muscle hypertrophy, your doctor may not advance the jaws like he or she would to treat sleep apnea. Instead, he may resection overgrown muscle and/or reshape and smooth bone enlargements on the lower jaw.

Whatever jaw surgery you opt for to treat facial asymmetry, you’ll need to do a lot of planning. You’ll need to make dental appointments so your dentist can take x-rays, impressions, and measurements of your head.

You may even need to get orthodontic treatment to get your teeth in the right position before surgery. And, like any other major surgery, you’ll have to set aside time off from work or school for adequate healing, especially if you have your jaws wired shut and need to stay on a liquid diet.

Reach out to us at Valley Oak Dental Group to learn more about jaw surgery and how to treat facial asymmetry.

5 Things You Should Know About Sports Mouth Guards

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 21:09:44 GMT

Human teeth may handle everyday biting, chewing, and speech with ease, but they do less well with extreme biting forces and impacts to the face or jaw. For this reason, dentists often fit their patients with a customized mouth guard to protect the teeth from abnormal stresses and damage.

If you engage in regular athletic activity, you may find yourself looking for a sports mouth guard only to encounter a dizzying array of choices, questions, and considerations. Here are five key things to understand about the proper selection and fitting of a sports mouth guard.

Differences Between Sports Mouth Guards and Night GuardsSports mouth guards - Valley Oak Dental Group

Mouth guards play two principal roles in dental health and wellness: protection during rigorous activity that might result in tooth damage, and protection against bruxism, which is unconscious grinding or clenching of the teeth and typically occurs during sleep. However, one mouth guard cannot serve both of these purposes.

Sports mouth guards feature thicker, bulkier designs, often with a semi-rigid outer shell encompassing a softer inner material. This bulkier design might prove awkward for sleepers, and does not protect against the specific stresses of bruxism. But it offers enhanced protection against impacts such as punches, kicks, and falls.

Night guards, on the other hand, feature designs and materials optimized for lightness and comfort. A single, thin layer of rigid or semi-rigid plastic provides a barrier between the top row of teeth and the bottom row. This barrier protects the teeth against each other by absorbing rubbing, grinding, and clenching forces.

Activities That Call for Sports Mouth Guards

Sports mouth guards make sense for any activity that might pose the threat of a dental injury. The most obvious examples include sports such as boxing, martial arts, wrestling, hockey, lacrosse, football, field hockey, and soccer. These activities feature flying fists, feet, and objects that can chip, break, or even knock out your teeth.

Other activities may present a less urgent but still significant danger to your teeth. For instance, sports such as gymnastics, mountain biking, and skateboarding make you vulnerable to falls and collisions. An accident that drives you face-first into the ground, wall, or pole could destroy your teeth unless you wear a sports mouth guard.

Types of Sports Mouth Guards

Sports mouth guards come in a variety of forms, styles, and fits. Some inexpensive products allow for no customization at all, giving you only a generic, one-size-fits-all solution. These products can prove excessively bulky and uncomfortable while offering little actual protection against impacts. They also fall out easily.

Boil-and-bite mouth guards represent the next step up from the stock mouth guards. These products feature a thermoplastic material that takes on a rough approximation of your bite when warmed by boiling water.

You’ll enjoy better protection, comfort, and retention in the mouth from a boil-and-bite mouth guard than you would from a stock mouth guard. However, you may find it tricky to get an accurate mold, and your boil-and-bite guard may wear out relatively quickly due to the thinness of the material.

Customized sports mouth guards provide the highest degrees of comfort, fit quality, durability, and cushioning ability. These mouth guards also allow for easier, clearer speech. While they cost more than other types of mouth guards, dental insurance or a dental membership plan may cover part of the cost.

The Custom Mouth Guard Fitting Process

Custom sports mouth guards require a professional fitting at the dentist’s office. The dentist takes an impression of your bite using a putty-like material. Technicians use this negative impression to create a positive stone model. The stone model serves as the base for the creation of your custom mouth guard.

Dentists can choose between two techniques to create custom sports mouth guards. These include vacuum forming and pressure lamination. In the vacuum forming process, suction pressure pulls a single layer of polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene copolymer (EVA) plastic over the stone model to create the finished mouth guard.

The pressure lamination process employs positive pressure instead of negative pressure to fit the mouth guard precisely to the stone model. It also makes use of multiple layers of EVA instead of just one. The multiple layers allow for greater pressure during the molding process, resulting in a precise fit and unrivaled durability.

Sports Mouth Guard Usage, Care, and Maintenance

Always brush your teeth and rinse out your mouth before you insert your sports mouth guard. This simple step can greatly reduce the accumulation of bacteria that might otherwise promote gum disease. Don’t chew on the mouth guard, since this habit can weaken the material or even make holes in it, shortening its useful life.

After you remove your sports mouth guard, brush and rinse again to get rid of any bacteria transferred from the mouth guard. Brush and rinse the mouth guard as well before putting it away.

Store your sports mouth guard in a suitable container, preferably one with air vents that will deter dampness and mold. Don’t forget to clean your mouth guard container periodically as an extra measure against bacteria.

Valley Oak Dental Group can evaluate your need and readiness for a sports mouth guard, recommend the ideal product for your specific needs, and provide a customized fit for optimal safety and comfort. Contact our dental clinic today for more information.

Considering Dental Implants? 4 Mini Implant Facts

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:21:32 GMT

If you have one or more missing teeth, then you should learn about all of your dental implant options. While many types of dental implants are available, standard implants and mini implants (MDIs) are the two most popular implant options today. Compared to the relatively larger sizes of traditional implants, mini implants have posts that range from just 1.8 to 3 mm in diameter.

A standard dental implant has three parts, including a post or screw, a crown, and an abutment that connects the crown to the post. Alternatively, mini implants have just a post and a crown — the post top is designed for direct connection to the crown.

Now that you know how these implant types differ in size and structure, learn four mini implant facts that can help you decide if you may be a good mini implant candidate.

Mini Implant Placement is Relatively Quick and Easy

One of the main advantages of mini implants when compared to standard implants is their quick and easy placement and healing time.

Traditional Implant Placement

Before a traditional dental implant can be placed, an oral surgeon must perform a procedure. They make an incision in the gum tissue in the location where the implant will be to expose the bone underneath. Once this bone is exposed, the surgeon drills a hole about the size of the implant post into the jawbone. Finally, the surgeon places the dental implant in this hole and sutures the gum tissue back together.

After this initial post placement, you must then allow your gum tissue to heal and wait several weeks or months while this post osseointegrates with your jaw before the implant crown can be placed. Some implant professionals do offer same-day crown placement after a standard implant post is placed if a patient is a good candidate for this early placement.

Mini Implant Placement

No flap procedure is necessary before mini implant placement. Instead, a thin hole is drilled right into your jawbone through your gum tissue, then the mini implant post goes right into this hole. Finally, the implant crown goes directly on top of this post.

Since your bone and gum tissue is disturbed much less during mini implant placement, osseointegration is typically complete much more quickly after MDI placement. Additionally, a person experiences minimal discomfort during this healing time.

Mini Implants Work Best When Replacing Front Teeth

While mini implants do have their unique advantages, they do have their limitations when compared to standard implants. Mini implants are great options when replacing front incisors, canine teeth, and often bicuspids, although they are typically not good options for molar replacement. Why?

Since people put so much force on molars when chewing and mini implant posts are so thin, they not quite as strong as traditional implant posts and could break or bend if they support molar crowns.

However, some dentists choose to use two mini implant posts to support one molar crown when this is a better option for a patient’s unique jaw shape and bone density.

Mini Implants Are Good Options When Advanced Bone Loss Is Present

Once a tooth is lost, the jawbone that once supported the tooth can begin to atrophy when chewing no longer stimulates the jawbone. When this atrophy becomes severe, often too little natural jawbone is left to support a standard dental implant without performing a bone grafting procedure before implant placement.

However, mini implants can often go to patients with severe jawbone loss without the need for a bone grafting procedure before placement, because less natural bone is removed before these implants are placed.

Mini Implants Have a Slightly Higher Failure Rate

Mini implants do have a slightly higher failure rate than traditional implants. While only a small percentage of traditional dental implants fail over time, mini implants do have a failure rate that often ranges higher than that. This higher failure rate is mainly due to the fact that these small-diameter implants are more likely to bend and break when subjected to extreme force when chewing.

However, you can reduce the chance of the failure of any type of dental implant by caring for it properly as your dentist instructs. Be sure to follow implant aftercare instructions to aid post osseointegration and reduce the chance of implant infection.

In addition, avoid chewing on very hard foods, such as hard candies, and using your teeth as tools when you have a mini implant in place. Avoid placing excess stress on the implant, which could contribute to implant failure over time.

Consider these four mini implant facts when deciding if you may be a good candidate for mini implant placement. Contact the dental professionals at Valley Oak Dental Group to discuss all of your dental implant options today. We look forward to speaking with you.

4 Cosmetic Dental Options Ideal for On-Camera Smiles

Tue, 26 May 2020 21:33:00 GMT

With an increase of digital meetings and workers who stay at home, people are finding themselves on digital calls more than ever. As you face appears close-up on a webcam, you may want changes to your smile. The cosmetic changes will help add confidence and allow you to repair some elements of your teeth that have changed over the years. Read on to learn about cosmetic dental procedures.

Teeth Whitening

One of the basic treatments for your teeth is a teeth whitening. When your face is on a webcam, the color of the teeth is instantly noticeable. A boost in whiteness will give your smile a bright look. While whitening kits are available for home use, a dental appointment provides brighter shades and full coverage of your mouth.

A dentist uses a light-activated gel kit to brighten your smile. The gel is placed in the mouth for 15 minutes at a time. The whitening processes helps with a number of discoloration issues. For example, coffee and tea could stain teeth. Genetic issues also lead to faded tooth colors.

An in-office whitening works with multiple types of teeth and gives you a bright smile which lasts for several months. Whenever you’re doing live feeds or video meetings, you can talk and smile without worrying about the focus on your teeth.

Dental Implants

If you have any missing teeth, dental implant procedures will help fill the gap to your mouth and restore a full smile. The dental implant process is completed through multiple appointments. The first appointment will include scans of your mouth. Through the scans, a dentist will have the proper size and measurements needed for the implant.

The next appointment will place the anchor in jaw. The root of the implant is placed directly in the jawbone so the implant feels and moves like an actual tooth. The third appointment includes the tooth installation. Once healed, your tooth and mouth will act as normal. The implant will feature colors to match your current teeth so the tooth blends in.

If you have larger sections of your mouth with missing teeth, consider a dental bridge. A bridge consists of two or more fabricated teeth. For example, if you are missing multiple bottom teeth, a dental implant will replace the teeth in a single section. The permanent installation of a dental bridge allows your smile to feel natural and like real teeth.

If you have gaps with a tooth still in place, the remaining tooth could act as an anchor for the bridge. The tooth may have a crown placed over the top for extra strength and support on the bridge. Unlike implants where an anchor point is attached to the jaw, the bridge is cemented right on the gums.

Veneers

While dental implants provide full tooth replacement, veneers can fix chipped or broken teeth. A veneer is porcelain piece placed on the exterior of your tooth. The veneer has the strength to protect the tooth and provide comfort inside your mouth.

A veneer is custom-shaped to match the other teeth in your mouth. If you chipped a corner off the tooth, the veneer will cover the whole tooth. Along with chipped and broken teeth, a veneer fills gaps in your mouth by expanding the sides of teeth so the smile looks even.

The veneer installation is typically painless and completed in less than an hour. If you want more than one veneer, then the process could take longer and require multiple appointments beyond the initial consultation.

Restorations

If you seek out multiple changes within the same process, consider a dental restoration. A dentist will complete a full exam of your mouth and determine the restoration process. For example, a dentist could fill a tooth which has small chips in them.

A restoration process may also include crowns to go over teeth. Crowns an alternative option beyond an implant or veneer. The crown will cover the tooth completely. While older crowns were fabricated with metal, newer composite crowns come in more natural colors to blend your teeth in.

For a faster and less permanent change to your smile, you may consider dentures. When you use a web cam, you may wear the dentures and remove them when not needed. The dentures match the shape of your gums and are ideal for when a lot of teeth are missing.

For example, if you suffered from gum disease and lost a majority of your teeth, you may consider whole mouth dentures to replace your smile.

A consultation is the first step in any cosmetic procedure process. A dentist will complete a full oral exam and x-rays to determine what cosmetic options are best for your mouth.

Contact us today at Valley Oak Dental Group to make an appointment and start on your cosmetic dental journey. We have years of experience and performed procedures on all mouths and smiles.

5 Benefits of Dental Membership Plans

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 21:35:56 GMT

Going to the dentist without insurance quickly adds up with each appointment. As an alternative, consider signing up for a dental membership plan. This pre-paid membership is paid directly to the dentist offices and covers a whole year of visits. Memberships work differently than insurance, so for first-time membership purchases, learn about the benefits and what is included in your membership.

1. 12-Month Membership

A dental membership is based on a 12-month window. The membership lasts for a whole year but is not based on a calendar year. For example, if you sign up for a membership in July, the full membership will last until July of the next year. You do not lose your membership benefits at the end of December.

With the flexibility of the membership, you may time out the membership sign-up date to match your affordability. For example, if you typically file for a tax return in February, consider the annual membership from March to March. When each March rolls around, you will use part of the tax return to pay for the membership so you can easily afford payments.

If your job offers a quarterly bonus or holiday bonus, you may time the membership around the dates. Budget and plan accordingly to easily fit the membership into your spending.

2. Fixed Costs

When you pay for the membership, you are guaranteed the services offered in the membership. There are no extra fees or charges associated with the included services. Many of the membership packages include annual x-rays. If the dental office upgrades x-ray equipment or raises prices for the services, you are not impacted by the changes.

The fixed costs give you a whole year with any of the price changes. If changes are made to the annual price, the dental office will inform you well ahead before your membership renewal. Along with the initial cost savings of a membership, the fixed cost savings could add up year after year.

3. Discounted Treatment Plans

A membership covers the basic essential services. For adults, the services include two cleanings, an exam, and x-rays. Through the appointments, a dentist may find other problems that need additional treatments. Additional appointments may include fillings, root canals, or pulled teeth.

While the extra treatments are not a part of the membership package, discounts are included. The discounted treatment plans may include a percentage off the service. The percentage off amount is more ideal than a set value off. For example, if you have $30 dollars off a service, the $30 is set no matter the total amount.

However, if you have 30% off a service, your savings will only increase with the cost. A $100 appointment will save you 30 dollars while a $200 dollar appointment will save you $60. The percentage off goes a long way to savings, especially if you need multiple services in a single year.

4. Adult Oral Screenings

Adults with a dental membership have an oral screening included. The oral cancer screening includes many components to spot any early signs of cancer. The exam will help detect any signs of cancer in the mouth, lips, tongue, or jaw before the cancer has a chance to spread.

A screening consists of several elements. A physical exam includes a dentist visually inspecting the whole mouth for any signs of cancer. Through their training and expertise, the dentists know what to look for through the screening.

More extensive screenings may include a physical exam to check the tissue and gums around the mouth. A dentist feels for any soft spots, tumors, or areas of concern. Taking part in each screening each year allows a dentist to notice any differences in the mouth. Significant changes could be an early warning sign to look out for.

5. Children’s Fluoride Treatments

While adults have oral screenings, a child’s membership includes fluoride treatments. Fluoride is an essential part of oral health, especially as children’s mouths grow and change. Fluoride protects the mouth against acid wear. Strong teeth are essential, especially for children with a sweet tooth.

While many kinds of toothpaste and water contain fluoride, a full fluoride treatment adds an extra layer off protection for the child. The treatments are done at the regular cleaning and completed twice a year.

A fluoride treatment is a painless process done at the end of an appointment. A dentist applies the fluoride directly to the teeth and the treatment stays on for at least 30 minutes . After the appointment, drinks and food should be avoided for this period of time.

Building oral health habits in a child early on will turn into a lifetime of healthy choices. The fluoride will prevent cavities and more expensive treatments later on. Adults also have the chance to have fluoride treatments as part of the membership plan.

For more information on our membership plans, contact us directly at Valley Oak Dental Group . We will help you get set up with a dental plan and go over all the details, along with making your first appointment.

Help Your Kids Stay on Track With Dental Care During Divorce

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:37:41 GMT

Children often experience many changes during a divorce, but they don’t need to miss a step when it comes to their dental care. Your children’s oral health is affected by both their daily choices and habits. Regular visits to the dentist’s office is another big part of taking care of your children’s dental and overall health. Here’s how to help kids stay on top of their dental care during a divorce.

Get Duplicates of Toothbrushes and Other Dental Care Tools

Children who are going between two homes sometimes keep track of a lot of different items. When possible, get duplicates so kids won’t have to be consistently packing for each home. When it comes to dental care, make it as easy as possible for kids to stick to the healthy habits you worked hard to teach them. That includes having a toothbrush they love at each parent’s house.

Also make sure that your kids have floss, or the interdental cleaning device they like to use, and mouthwash in each home. If you have a dental care chart to track your kids’ habits, consider putting it online in a shared file so they can easily track their habits no matter which house they are in.

Establish Clear Rules for Dental Care in Your Co-Parenting Agreement

Most divorcing parents create some sort of co-parenting agreement so that they can amicably co-parent in the aftermath of a divorce. This plan establishes the ground rules and is specific about how the kids will continue to receive care and live their daily lives. Be very specific and clear about how you expect your children’s daily dental care schedule to be handled.

Since each child will have their own individual dental care needs but also stick to similar healthy habits each day, you and your ex need to figure out how to best supervise your kids’ dental care routine. Young children will need more supervision than older kids, but pay extra attention to kids of all ages during a divorce.

As part of the divorce agreement, be clear about who will pay for dental care appointments and later needs your kids may have. Decide who will pay for braces and other significant treatments children may need in the future. Being clear about these choices during a divorce will ensure that your kids get the care they need as they grow up.

Keep Dental Care Fun

Children who enjoy the time they spend taking care of their teeth are more likely to want to do it. Bring some extra joy to your kids’ dental care routine by offer small rewards when they do a good job of brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash without being asked. You may even have a little treasure chest of small trinkets that kids that look in to choose a small reward.

Make dental care extra fun by playing upbeat tunes during children’s morning and evening dental care schedule. When you play a two-minute song while they’re brushing their teeth, it helps kids easily determine how long they should be brushing.

Ask Open-Ended Questions When Dental Problems Come Up

Sometimes kids go through a phase where they don’t want to brush their teeth, or they may change how often they want to brush or floss. If a child expresses disinterest in the dental care habits they once followed, ask some open-ended questions to help get to the bottom of the problem.

Can you tell me how you feel when you go to brush your teeth?
What do you think will happen if you won’t take care of your teeth?
Will you make a list of the pros and cons of taking care of your teeth?
Do you experience pain in any part of your mouth when you brush?

Ask follow-up questions and try to stay calm no matter how kids reply to each question. If a child is experiencing pain when they brush their teeth, your dentist can help get to the bottom of the problem. That way, kids will feel good about brushing their teeth and be able to stay in control of their dental health.

Keep Teeth-Friendly Snacks in Your House

Stock plenty of healthy snacks in your cupboard so it’s easy for kids to grab a teeth-friendly snack when they’re hungry. Some snacks that are good for dental health include calcium-fortified tofu, soy yogurt, celery sticks, carrots, leafy greens, and almonds.

Get a New Dental Insurance Policy for Each Child if You Lose Your Insurance

Unfortunately, sometimes insurance policies change or need to be cancelled during a divorce. While you are figuring out what your new insurance plans will be, make sure that your children won’t lose dental care coverage at any point in the process.

Finally, contact the Valley Oak Dental Group today to make an appointment for a cleaning and check-up for each of your children. We accept many different types of insurance. As the health care specialist for your family’s dental health, we are happy to work with parents to ensure that their kids get the customized dental care they need to thrive.

3 Ways to Pay for Dental Care Without Dental Insurance

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 21:39:54 GMT

Paying for dental care when you don’t have dental insurance isn’t as terrible a proposition as many people might believe. You may even find that some of the solutions out there are even better than using dental insurance. No matter your situation, you don’t have to avoid dental care because you think you can’t afford it. Here are several ways you can pay for dental care without dental insurance.

1. Look for Free or Discounted Local Services

Several options for free or nearly free dental services are out there. A few places to check include:

Dental schools
Public or free dental clinics
Volunteer or donated labor dental clinics

Free doesn’t mean you will receive bad service. Even at dental schools, the students won’t go to work on you without supervision and close guidance from their supervisors.

Some of these services offer free procedures or heavily-reduced ones for people with no insurance or no income, which can mean you need to qualify or prove eligibility. Nevertheless, some of these services also help whoever walks through the door no matter their financial situation.

Typically, free services won’t expand to more involved procedures. You can usually expect the basic dental services, such as x-rays, cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, and maybe root canals. However, these are precisely the services people need most often. Some places may offer more procedures but it depends entirely on the facility.

Such places often have little to no advertising, so you may have to do some digging. Start with a typical query in a search engine and research from there. Your local health department may have some information as well.

2. Pay Partly Out of Pocket

The cost of dental services vary, but you may find yourself surprised at how affordable many of them are. When considering out of pocket payment for dental work, you should look online and compare average prices for similar procedures. Often, there are several things dental insurance won’t cover, so you still may have to pay for it yourself.

Do you have a dental insurance plan that only allows for a very limited amount of usage? Paying for certain things yourself can help you retain your insurance so you can use it for something a little more costly. The average dental plan utilizes a 100/80/50 coverage structure:

100% coverage for preventive care like x-rays and cleanings.
80% coverage for the most basic procedures like fillings and extractions.
50% coverage for slightly more involved procedures like bridges and crowns.

Insurance companies don’t all agree on what constitutes basic procedures and the more involved ones. So, these percentages may remain static across different types of dental insurance, but what they cover under each tier isn’t always the same.

Many types of care, like orthodontic services, are rarely part of the basic dental coverage plan. Having insurance doesn’t guarantee you will pay the lowest price. If you do have dental insurance, take some time to study your insurance, copays, and eligible services. You may find that paying out of pocket for some things just makes more sense.

Paying with your own money also opens a few possibilities. Many of these depend on the dentist you’re working with, but some things you can try include:

Arranging a payment plan
Asking for a cash discount
Asking for a tax-free price
Negotiating the price
Speaking candidly about your situation

When paying for your dental work, you should also take a close look at your dental needs. If your dentist suggests several procedures and appointments, you can prioritize the most urgent things. In this way, you can pay for the most urgent issues and work on lesser issues over time.

3. Join a Dental Membership Plan

Many dentists now offer dental membership plans people can opt into instead of dental insurance. For many people, these plans can cost far less than traditional dental insurance and offer more benefits. Dental practices can offer these plans directly, which means they don’t have to inflate costs to account for third parties.

Most of these dental membership plans ask for a yearly fee to cover the costs associated with the typical recommended dental regimen recommended for most people. For example, a membership plan can include:

Cleanings
Exams and x-rays
Fluoride treatments
Screenings

These plans also tend to have hefty discounts compared to other dental services. For many people, these plans provide everything needed.

When considering a dental membership plan, take some time to do the math and see if the plan will work better for you than insurance. If you have no insurance, then these plans can offer you the care you need today with no waiting periods.

You may find other ways to afford dental work without insurance while researching these tips. The Valley Oak Dental Group consists of dental professionals who cover every type of dental procedure. Whether you have insurance or not, contact us about our dental services, financing options, or membership plan today.

How to Care for Your Teeth if You’re Away From Home

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:41:35 GMT

If you spend long periods of time away from home, you need to care for your teeth even when your normal toothbrush, dental floss, and mouthwash aren’t on hand. Bacteria and plaque accumulate throughout the day regardless of where you are. Here are some tips to help you care for your teeth and keep them healthy when you aren’t home.

Avoid Sugar-Laden Foods

The most effective way to fight tooth decay is to prevent the bad bacteria that cause cavities in the first place, and you can greatly reduce the bacteria in your mouth by watching what you eat. Bacteria need certain food to grow on, and they won’t have any if you don’t eat the type of food that they like.

Specifically, the harmful bacteria that cause cavities thrive on sugar. Both Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which are two bad strains of bacteria, process sugar that’s found in the mouth. If there’s no sugar in your mouth, then they won’t cause as much damage because there’ll be less material for them to consume.

Thus, you can prevent a lot of dental decay by simply not eating sugary foods. Avoid pastries, breads, and desserts that are laden with sugar when possible, and instead, have these at home where you can brush your teeth soon after eating.

Finish Meals With a Slice of Cheese

Cheese is beneficial to teeth for several reasons. The most obvious reason may be that cheese has calcium, which is necessary to maintain strong teeth. This isn’t the only reason to eat cheese, though, and it’s not why you should end your out-of-house meals with cheese. Cheese also helps maintain a healthy pH in the mouth.

Acidic pH measurements, especially those below a pH of 5.5, increase the risk of tooth erosion because the enamel can wear away. Researchers have demonstrated that cheese effectively helps maintain higher pH levels in the mouth, and the effect was measurable even 30 minutes after study participants consumed some cheese.

While cheese can help strengthen teeth and balance pH anytime you eat it, you’ll get the most benefit if you have a slice or two at the end of your away-from-home meals. Those pH-balancing effects will last for some time and minimize how much damage occurs before you get home and are able to brush.

Drink Lots of Water

Water helps maintain a healthy mouth in two distinct ways.

First, water acts as a natural mouth cleanser when you drink it. The liquid doesn’t wash your mouth out like a mouthwash would, but it does flush excess food particles out of your mouth and down your throat. This reduces how much food those two strains of bad bacteria have to feed on.

Notably, the sugary foods that Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus feed on are easily dissolved in water and washed away. While this isn’t an excuse to have as many sugar-laden foods as you want, you can mitigate the negative effects of a baked item somewhat by having a glass of water if you do eat something with sugar.

Second, water also helps manage pH in the mouth by diluting any acidic food or beverage you have. While water might not have the same low-pH-combatting properties as cheese, it will reduce the proportion of acids in your mouth and help slow tooth decay as a result.

Since water is used to flush both food particles and acids from the mouth, you should drink it regularly. Have water with each meal to ensure food doesn’t remain in your mouth, and continue to drink a glass periodically between meals if you have a snack or acidic drink like coffee.

Chew Gum After Meals

As an alternative or supplement to cheese and water, you can also chew gum after meals to help reduce acids and remove food from your mouth. Of course, the gum must be sugar-free in order to be effective — sugar-sweetened gum would only increase the presence of sugar and bad bacteria in your mouth.

Clinical studies have shown that chewing gum for 20 minutes after a meal is an effective way to fight tooth decay. The gum won’t wash down food like water does, but it will increase your salivary output and the extra saliva that your mouth produces will act as a rinse that removes food. Additionally, gum also helps mitigate acids that are in the mouth.

After a meal is also the most natural time to chew gum, for this is usually when people want to remove leftover tastes from their mouth and freshen their breath. If you normally have an after-meal mint as a breath freshener, switch to a stick of gum, and you’ll also do your teeth a favor.

To maintain healthy teeth, all of this should be accompanied by regular dental visits. For a dental cleaning , contact Valley Oak Dental Group.

9 Things You Can Do to Keep Your Permanent Teeth

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:46:59 GMT

Many adults fear the possibility of losing a permanent tooth. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to prevent permanent tooth loss. Knowing the risk factors and what you can do to prevent this problem can help you keep your own teeth throughout your adult life.

1. Brush Your Teeth Twice Daily

Brush your teeth at least twice each day — once in the morning and once in the evening before bed. When brushing your teeth, spend about two minutes total, gently brushing your teeth in small circular motions with the toothbrush.

If you notice problems like blood on the toothbrush, this could be a sign of gum disease. Make an appointment with your dentist to have the problem inspected.

2. Stop Smoking

Smoking can affect healthy tissues in the mouth in negative ways. Smoking can slow the healing process if your mouth is damaged. Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of your immune system, which can, in turn, lead to gum disease and infections. All of this can impact the health of your teeth and may lead to tooth loss.

If you have a smoking habit, seek help from a healthcare provider to help you get past your addiction. Your doctor may be able to prescribe you a nicotine patch or may be able to recommend a support group that can help you quit smoking.

3. See the Doctor

Some conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, increase your risk for tooth loss. These conditions must be diagnosed and managed with help from a healthcare provider. See your doctor regularly to help you identify these conditions. Follow treatment recommendations to improve your health and reduce your risk for tooth loss.

4. Know the Risk Factors for Tooth Loss

Sometimes hormone changes and even some medications can be a risk factor for permanent tooth loss. Osteoporosis can contribute to permanent tooth loss, and even pregnancy can contribute to loosening of the teeth.

If you are at risk for tooth loss because you have one of the above conditions, alert your dentist. Once your dentist is aware, they can help protect you from potential permanent tooth loss.

5. Know the Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a common cause of tooth loss. Knowing the signs of gum disease can help you seek treatment if this problem occurs to you. Some of the signs include:

Bleeding while brushing
Red, inflamed gums
Sores in the mouth
Receding gums
Halitosis (bad breath)

If you are experiencing the signs of gum disease, contact your dentist to get an expert opinion.

6. Wear Fitted Mouth Guards When Playing Contact Sports

If you play a high-impact sport like hockey, wear fitted mouth guards to protect your teeth at practice and at official games. Once a tooth is knocked loose because of an impact to your head, reversing the damage may be impossible.

7. Eat Right

Eat foods that improve bone strength and bone density. Foods high in calcium and vitamin K are both good for strengthening the bones.

Dairy products like milk and cheese are high in calcium, while broccoli, yellow peppers, and chili peppers are all high in vitamin K. Eat a well-rounded diet and consume lots of vegetables to get the vitamins and minerals your teeth need to stay strong.

8. Become More Health-Conscious as You Age

Age is one of the risk factors of tooth loss. People over 35 are more likely to lose their teeth than adults who are younger than 35. As you get older, you’re also more likely to develop other risk factors that contribute to tooth loss, like osteoporosis and diabetes.

You can protect yourself from this problem by becoming more health-conscious in older age. Take dietary supplements if your doctor recommends it. See your doctor regularly, and get exercise. Take care of your body to help you avoid the problems that can lead to tooth loss later in life.

9. See the Dentist Regularly

It is recommended that some people see the dentist once per year, others are recommended to see the dentist twice per year. Whichever your dentist recommends to you, see the dentist regularly to stay on top of your dental health.

Your dentist can identify problems that could put your teeth at risk, and will also be able to remove plaque and keep your teeth clean. This will help you get the most out of your teeth and will prevent problems like gum disease, which could lead to tooth loss.

Contact Your Dentist to Protect Your Teeth

A permanent tooth can be expensive to replace. See your dentist regularly to prevent problems. For more information about how you can protect your teeth, contact one of the experts at Valley Oak Dental Group . We’ll be happy to answer your questions and give you more information.

A Guide to Maximizing Your Dental Benefits Before Year’s End

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 21:54:19 GMT

Whether you opted into your employer-sponsored dental insurance coverage for the first time in 2019 or you have had dental insurance for years, you may not be maximizing your dental benefits as much as you can. The end of the calendar year is quickly arriving, so check your dental insurance policy to see if your dental benefits reset at the beginning of the new calendar year, because most do.

The end of the year is a prime time to obtain dental procedures before you yet again have to meet your dental insurance deductible, especially if you have not yet met your dental policy’s maximum annual benefit. Read on to learn more.

Maximizing Your Dental Insurance Benefits

Here’s how you should use up your dental benefits at the end of the year to maximize your return on your investment in dental insurance premiums.

Obtain Your Bi-Annual Dental Exam and Cleaning

Most dental insurance policies cover 100 percent of the cost of two dental exams and teeth cleanings each year. If you only obtained one exam this year and are tempted to skip your second, then don’t. Your dentist will remove hardened tartar from your teeth during your dental cleaning that can contribute to the development of cavities and gum disease that can be costly to treat.

In addition, many dental problems are near impossible to detect at home, making your dentist’s oral exam extremely important. If your dentist catches a cavity that has formed or realizes you need a more extensive and pricey dental treatment, then you can arrange to obtain this treatment before the calendar year resets to help meet your annual maximum benefit and before another deductible is required.

Ask Your Dentist About Multi-Phase Procedures

If you have been intentionally delaying obtaining a pricey dental procedure, because the cost of this treatment exceeds your maximum annual benefit, then ask your dentist if this treatment can be completed in phases. Splitting your dental treatment into phases at year’s end can often help you maximize your dental insurance benefits.

For example, if you need a root canal and crown, then your dentist may be able to perform the root canal procedure and bill your insurance company shortly before the end of the year. Then, they can add the necessary crown to your tooth after the beginning of the new calendar year. This will allow the cost of the crown to be covered by the next year’s annual maximum benefit if the cost exceeds the current year benefit.

Using Your Remaining FSA Dollars for Dental Needs

Now is also the time to look at your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) balance and determine if your remaining funds will roll over into the next calendar year or not. Many employers do not allow employees to roll over FSA funds, making it important to use them before the end of the calendar year.

Many people lose their FSA account dollars at the end of the year unnecessarily due to simply not understanding the numerous ways these funds can be utilized.

Although it may sound surprising, FSA dollars can be used to cover the following:

Dental Deductibles and Co-Pays

If you think FSA dollars only cover healthcare equipment, then think again. FSA dollars can typically be used to cover both dental coinsurance payments and deductibles. Remember this tip to help reduce your dental out-of-pocket expenses immensely.

Dental Transportation

Whether you take public transportation to the dentist, a taxi-cab, or drive your own car, FSA funds can be used to cover dental transportation costs. If you drive your own vehicle to the dentist, you can obtain reimbursement of 20 cents per mile driven. However, you can obtain complete reimbursement of the cost of a taxi-cab ride or a ride share service.

Dental Implants

Unfortunately, dental implants are still not typically covered by most dental insurance policies due to these devices not typically being medically necessary. However, you can obtain reimbursement from your FSA for the cost of these devices and the professional fees associated with obtaining them.

Denture Supplies

Your FSA dollars cannot be used to purchase toothpaste or floss since these are considered general health supplies. However, they can be used to cover the cost of denture cleaning supplies and sealants, since these products are used to maintain a piece of dental equipment.

Orthodontic Supplies

Dental supplies unique to those who wear braces, such as orthodontic wax and elastics, can also be added to your FSA reimbursement claim. Just as with denture supplies, these items are considered important for the maintenance of dental equipment.

Dental Mouth Guards

While FSA dollars cannot be used towards custom-made mouth guards designed for use during sports play, they can be used to cover the cost of a dental mouth guard designed for nighttime teeth-grinding protection or TMJ treatment. Sports mouth guards are not covered due to the IRS determination that they help protect general health and are not official medical supplies.

Now that the calendar year is quickly coming to an end, be sure to maximize your dental insurance policy benefits and use up your FSA dollars before your account is reset. Contact the staff at Valley Oak Dental Group to schedule a dental exam and necessary dental treatments now.

5 Things to Know About Carbonated Beverages and Oral Health

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 21:56:15 GMT

The addition of a little fizz to your daily drink often provides unique tastes and flavors people prefer over flat water. Unfortunately, drinking too many carbonated beverages could result in some major problems for your teeth and gums down the line.

While you do not need to eliminate carbonated drinks all together, help protect your teeth and smile by knowing facts about the drinks and ways to ensure you have proper oral health.

1. Sodas and a Double-Dose of Danger

Drinking a non-diet soda isn’t just bad for your calorie intake and weight — the consumption of a sugary carbonated beverage has many consequences for teeth. Take a look at the sugar first.

The sugar presented in soda is liquid sugar. This means the sugar is not bypassing your teeth and gums to digest in the stomach. The sugar literally coats your teeth and gums, eating away at areas and causing potential cavities. If you crave a soda, try to choose a sugar-free option to prevent sugar exposure to your mouth.

The second problem associated with sodas is the carbonation used in the bottles and cans. The CO2 used in the soda goes through a chemical process which transforms into an acid. The acid is simply known as carbonic acid, and acid is not good for your teeth. The pH levels of the soda actually lower with the carbonation, and a lower pH is not good for your teeth.

Mainly, the acids will attack at the enamel on your teeth. The protective layer is essential for keeping your smile healthy and cannot be replaced once it has worn away. Even if you drink a diet soda with no sugar, the acids still present a danger to your tooth enamel.

A routine dental inspection will help check the enamel and any wear with your teeth.

2. Seltzer Water and Citric Acid

Many people who enjoy the fizz but want to eliminate sugar or sugar alternatives will drink seltzer water instead. Seltzer water is sold under a variety of different marketing terms all essentially meaning the same thing. As you shop, you may come across seltzer water, sparkling water, or bubbly water among others.

The facts remain the same. The drink contains CO2, and your teeth are still exposed to acids which could break down enamel. Another oral health concern found in seltzer water is the use of citric acid. The acid may be used to add flavors to the water, but ultimately will lower the pH levels in the water and create potential harm for your teeth.

Check the ingredients on the seltzer water to see if citric acid is added or not. Sometimes the acid may listed as “natural flavors,” so it may be hard to tell, but you should assume that flavors like lemon or grapefruit will have the increased acid.

3. Brushing Teeth After Carbonated Beverages

After the consumption of a carbonated beverage, a person may assume you should brush your teeth you try and get rid of the acid. In actuality, brushing your mouth right away may not be the best option. If your teeth have been exposed to acid, the enamel and teeth could be soft.

If you brush your soft teeth, more damage may occur. After you consume a carbonated beverage, rinse out your mouth with some water instead of going straight to the brush. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing again.

4. Carbonated Beverages and Food

Want to prevent acids from breaking down enamel in your teeth? The best time to drink a carbonated beverage is when you eat a meal. The food you eat will help raise the pH levels back up and prevent your mouth from suffering from major damage due to acid.

Anytime you crave a carbonated beverage, try to drink it with food or at least have a snack. The problems occur when you drink carbonated beverages on their own. The mixing of food and carbonated beverages typically applies to sugar-free options.

Consuming sugary beverages with food will still coat the teeth with sugar and increase the calorie consumption.

5. Carbonation Beverages and Temperature

Another way to lower the amount of acid exposed to your teeth is to consider the temperature of the beverage. When sodas and sparkling water are consumed at room temperature, the pH level will be higher, resulting in less acids exposed to your teeth. The colder the drink is, the lower the pH level will be. If you want a colder drink, add ice to the beverage instead of putting the drink itself in a fridge.

The world of drinks can be complicated when it comes to oral health. Being aware of your teeth, their condition, and the drinks you consume will help you achieve a healthy smile.

For more information on our dental services and processes, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group . We can help you get a healthy smile, answer any questions you may have, and give you more tips about different drinks.

FAQ About Children and Sensitive Teeth

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 21:59:28 GMT

If your little one has been refusing certain foods, turning their nose up at a cold glass of water, and complaining their mouth hurts, the cause of your child’s discomfort and irritability could be a common oral health issue: sensitive teeth.

Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions you might have about your child’s sensitive teeth.

Why Does My Child Have Sensitive Teeth?

Enamel erosion is one main cause of tooth sensitivity in children. Teeth are covered with a hard substance called enamel. Under the enamel is another protective layer called dentin. Dentin directly covers the tooth’s root and features several small tubes or canals. The root is filled with a system of nerves. When enamel is eroded or damaged, the dentin isn’t properly protected.

Enamel erosion occurs for several reasons, including tooth decay, cavities, teeth grinding, or damage to the tooth caused by an accident, such as your child falling on the playground.

When your child loses their baby teeth, the pain associated with permanent teeth poking through the gumline is very common. Children with new permanent teeth may also experience tooth sensitivity because their brand-new teeth become irritated as they become accustomed to their new environment.

Children with allergies often complain of sore, sensitive teeth as well. This occurs because of the pressure swollen and irritated allergies place on the gums and teeth.

What Are the Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth in Children?

Children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, have trouble verbalizing what they are feeling, including their discomfort. Some children with sensitive teeth will resist brushing their teeth because doing so is uncomfortable. Consuming hot or cold foods and beverages can trigger sensitive teeth as well.

If a child’s tooth sensitivity is called by enamel erosion, the exposed dentin allows hot and cold food and drinks to reach the tooth’s root. This stimulates the nerves inside the roots that leads to pain and discomfort.

Watch your children’s reaction when they are exposed to hot and cold foods and beverages. For example, does your child turn away from a popsicle or not want to drink a cup of hot cocoa? When your child does consume something hot or cold, do they make a face or express they are in pain?

Talk to your dentist immediately, if you suspect your child has sensitive teeth.

How Will My Dentist Diagnose Sensitive Teeth?

Your dentist will perform an oral examination and ask you several questions about your child’s eating habits and oral hygiene habits. Tooth decay, cavities, or damage to the teeth are signs the issue is sensitive teeth. X-rays can help your dentist determine if the tooth decay and damage is superficial or if there is more damage beneath the enamel.

Tell your dentist about your child’s eating habits and oral hygiene routine. Be honest about how often you brush your child’s teeth, which products you use, and how your child reacts to having their teeth brushed. Provide a list of all the foods and beverages your child either won’t consume or causes a negative reaction, such as crying or wincing.

The more information you provide your dentist, the more accurate a diagnoses they can make.

How Will My Dentist Treat Sensitive Teeth?

Treatment for your child’s sensitive teeth is dependent upon the cause of the sensitivity. For example, if your child’s enamel is worn and their tooth sensitivity is caused by tooth decay, your dentist may recommend a dental sealant. The sealant helps protect the teeth from any further damage or irritation.

Take your child to the dentist as often as recommended. For example, your dentist may want to schedule visits every two to three months, rather than twice a year. More regular cleanings and monitoring can help prevent further decay. If only a single tooth is sensitive, and there is extensive decay, a root canal is often the best option to help your child find relief.

If the tooth sensitivity is because the newly erupted teeth are fragile and irritated, your dentist might recommend treating the symptoms at home.

What Can I Do at Home to Help My Child Find Relief?

Maintain a regular oral hygiene routine with your child, which includes brushing twice-a-day and flossing. Ask your dentist about fluoride treatments. Fluoride is a safe way to help strengthen your child’s teeth, which will in turn help reduce tooth sensitivity. Specialized toothpastes are available, but your dentist may not recommend one for children under a certain age, such as 12.

Talk to your dentist before making any changes to your child’s oral care routine, including using sensitive toothpaste. Avoid trigger foods and beverages, such as popsicles, ice cream, and sticky treats like taffy.

Tooth sensitivity is a problem that can occur in both children and adults. If you have any more questions, contact the professionals at Valley Oak Dental Group.

Schedule Tooth Whitening for a Great Back-To-School Smile

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 22:14:45 GMT

Head back to class with a fresh new smile when you whiten your teeth. Here’s what you should know about professional tooth whitening, as well as the side effects and people who shouldn’t use tooth whitening.

Teeth Need Treatment Before Tooth Whitening

When you schedule you a consult for teeth whitening at your dental office, your dentist will examine your teeth thoroughly. The dentist looks for problems with your teeth that can affect the success of your whitening procedure.

After the examination, the dentist will correct any problems with your teeth. For example, if you have cavities, the dentist will treat the affected teeth. If your tooth has discoloration due to dead pulp in the tooth, the dentist bleaches the pulp area during a root canal procedure before scheduling your tooth-whitening treatment.

The dental hygienist or dentist professionally cleans your teeth. Tooth-cleaning treatment removes surface plaque, bacteria, and debris that may interfere with the whitening agents that bleach teeth.

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Dental Stains Are Noted Before Whitening

During your dental examination, your dentist determines the type of stains present on your teeth. Some tooth stains are easier to remove than other types of tooth discoloration. The two main types of dental stains are intrinsic and extrinsic stains.

Intrinsic stains are discolorations beneath your tooth enamel. A variety of conditions can cause intrinsic staining, including the following:

Thinner enamel due to aging
Long-term antibiotic use
Overexposure to fluoride (fluorosis)
Cavities
Amalgam tooth repairs
Intrapupal bleeding
Pulp necrosis

Extrinsic dental stains show up on the surfaces of teeth. Personal habits and teeth degradation cause extrinsic stains on teeth. Some causes of extrinsic dental stains include the following:

Tobacco use
Coffee and cola consumption
Red wine and/or tea consumption
Highly pigmented foods and beverages
Whitening toothpaste use

Whitening technology can whiten many stains, including those from coffee drinking and tobacco use. However, some stains, including those resulting from childhood antibiotics, are not easy to bleach with the available whitening products.

Various Dentist-Prescribed Products Whiten Teeth

Your dentist might perform the tooth-whitening procedure in the office, but they can also give you prescription tooth-whitening products to apply at home with your dentist’s support.

These tooth-whitening products are professional-grade, and they often require custom fittings to make the teeth trays fit the unique contours of your mouth. This evenly distributes the whitening agent around your teeth without harming your gums or wasting any of the whitening solution.

Your dentist can take impressions of your teeth to make sure the trays you use are customized to your mouth. After they take the impressions in dental putty, they’ll send them to the manufacturer to make the trays. The process usually takes a few weeks, so schedule your appointment ahead of time.

Your dentist will also record the current shade of your teeth to compare once you start whitening treatments. When you come back for a visit, your dentist will be able to see how much the color of your teeth has changed.

Once you have your trays, your dentist will walk you through the proper ways of whitening your teeth. Usually, you fill the special mouthpiece with a peroxide gel that bleaches the teeth in the comfort of your home. Your dentist will also explain how you can get the best results from your whitening kit.

At-home dental whitening takes a week or two. You’ll wear the special peroxide-filled mouthpiece for an hour or two each day during the treatment period. However, some at-home dental whitening treatments are for overnight use. Talk to you dentist to learn what kinds of kits they offer.

Tooth Whitening Can Cause Side Effects

As with any product or treatment, some people experience side effects after undergoing tooth-bleaching procedures. Some patients report increased sensitivity in their teeth for several days after the initial whitening treatment. Teeth may become sensitive to cold beverages and foods, but the sensitivity normally disappears after whitening treatment is complete.

Additional side effects of tooth whitening include:

Gum discomfort
Sore throat
White patches on gumline

Like whitening-related tooth sensitivity, the above side effects should stop after the final whitening procedure.

Tooth Whitening Is Not for Everyone

Some patients are not eligible for peroxide-based tooth bleaching. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry does not recommend cosmetic bleaching for children who have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, since the tooth color may mismatch when all of the permanent teeth have erupted.

Other types of patients not eligible or advised to receive tooth whitening include:

Patients with tooth-colored crowns
Patients with tooth-colored dental implants
Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Patients under 16 years of age
Patients with tooth sensitivity
Patients with allergies to peroxide
Patients with worn tooth enamel

Since hydrogen peroxide bleaching agents can cause pain and sensitivity in the gums, patients with gum disease should not do tooth-whitening procedures. If a patient has receding gums with discoloration below the normal gumline, bleaching agents will not whiten the below-gumline stains.

Schedule your back-to-school tooth-whitening treatment in Manteca, Ripon, or French Camp, California, by contacting Valley Oak Dental Group today.

Why Dental Fillings Fail and What to Do About It

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 22:16:54 GMT

When you have a cavity, your dentist repairs it with a restorative process that most patients call fillings. The decayed portion of your tooth is removed, and then the remaining space is filled with a substance that bonds to your tooth without compromising the overall health of the tooth. Fillings are the most common dental-restoration procedure.

However, people can make the mistake of thinking that dental fillings last forever. While the replacement portion that fills the gap is hardwearing and long-lasting, it is not the same as the strength of your natural enamel. Fillings do not last forever, and when they do fail, they leave the rest of your tooth open to further decay.

Regular dental care helps to monitor fillings to make sure they are still functional. With good dental hygiene, a typical filling has a long lifespan, but some behaviors can accelerate its decline. Learn about what causes fillings to fail, what you can do to care for them, and how to know if you might need a replacement.

Why Failed Fillings Are So Serious

Failed fillings, especially ones that have not yet fallen out, are serious because once the seal between the filling and your tooth has broken, there is a gateway for bacteria to enter the space behind the filling. You can’t clean behind a filling with a brush or with floss, so the rate of decay is rapid.

Some people can go from simply needing a small replacement filling to needing a root canal procedure just because the filling is no longer effective.

What Causes Fillings to Fail

There are several factors that affect the lifespan of a dental filling. These include:

The size of the filling. Larger cavities require larger fillings. Larger fillings have a larger surface area and larger perimeter, which means they have greater exposure to bacteria in your mouth. Teeth with large cavities are not as strong, which means they might not support the filling as long.
The age of the filling. Older fillings are more likely to crack, wear down, or chip.
Your dental hygiene habits. Some fillings can fall out if the tooth begins to decay further, and the decay can reach behind or beyond the original perimeter of the filling.
Grinding and clenching. Your teeth can withstand a tremendous amount of force from biting, but fillings, while strong, cannot take the same amount of stress.
The type of filling material. There are a few different types of fillings. Silver amalgam fillings, for example, are less popular because they don’t match the color of your teeth. But, these fillings are more durable than the prettier composite fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are more likely to wear out fast.

Another factor that reduces the effectiveness of your fillings over time is your own lifestyle. Studies show that smoking and drinking alcohol can reduce the lifespan of dental fillings.

How People Can Prevent Filling Failure

Your best defense against filling failure is your own good dental hygiene and lifestyle habits. Brush and floss every day, taking special care to clean teeth that have had trouble in the past. Do not overlook the need for floss. Not flossing is the reason why people get cavities between their teeth to begin with, and even after fillings, these between-teeth areas need daily care.

If you think you might have trouble with clenching and grinding your teeth, talk to your dentist about getting a mouthguard to wear at night.

Finally, do not postpone regular dental cleaning and screening. Each time you go to get your teeth cleaned, the dentist can check your existing fillings. The x-rays will also show the early signs of filling failure, with spots of decay beginning to form along the edges of the tooth where the filling is located.

Without these early methods of detection, you have no real way of knowing whether your filling is no longer working the way it should, unless it completely falls out.

What Are the Other Signs to Watch For?

Unfortunately, most of the other signs that your fillings have started to go bad are also signs that the decay and harm to your tooth are much greater. You might notice that your floss gets stuck in between your teeth when you floss because the edge of the filling is catching the string where the tooth edge has worn away.

Another sign is pain. As decay moves behind the filling, it gets closer and closer to the sensitive nerve of the tooth. Your tooth might also experience greater sensitivity to hot and cold. Without the seal between the filling and the tooth, the dentin (the soft interior of the tooth) is exposed to the temperatures of the foods you eat, and your nerves often will register this sensory input with pain.

For more information about repairing old fillings, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group .

4 Things Every Parent Should Know About Childhood Gum Disease

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 22:19:23 GMT

Gum disease isn’t just a problem endured by adults. Children can suffer from gingivitis and other periodontal diseases, too. If you suspect your child has gum disease — or if your child’s dentist has diagnosed the condition after examining your child — here are four things you should know.

The Differences Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Gingivitis and periodontitis aren’t interchangeable terms for gum disease, even though the two words are often presented together in discussions about gum disease. Both gingivitis and periodontitis are conditions that affect the support systems of the teeth, which include the gums.

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease and affects the pink gingiva, or gum tissue. Gingivitis is caused by plaque, which is the sticky substance that develops on teeth from leftover food and beverage particles. Bacteria in plaque attack both teeth and gums, causing inflammation. The bacteria that cause cavities are the same ones that cause gingivitis.

When gingivitis and other oral health issues are not addressed and treated, periodontitis may occur. Periodontitis is the infection, inflammation, and destruction of tissue and bone in the periodontium. The periodontium includes all of the structural elements that support the teeth.

Parts of the periodontium include the following:

Gingiva. This is the pink gum tissue.
Periodontal ligament. This structure suspends the tooth. The end is embedded in the cementum.
Alveolar bone. This bone holds the other end of the periodontal ligament.
Cementum. This is a calcified substance that covers the root of the tooth.

When gingivitis and other problems progress to periodontitis, the structures of the periodontium grow loose and decay. Gums may pull away from the teeth.

The Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Gum Disease

Healthy gums are pink, firm, and snug against the teeth. Healthy gums don’t bleed when they’re touched or brushed, and they don’t bleed when a child is chewing.

Signs of pediatric gingivitis include the following:

Red gums
Inflamed gums
Tender gums
Bleeding gums after brushing or flossing
Receding gums

Children may have signs of gingivitis, including inflamed or red gums, yet feel no pain from the condition. If bleeding has occurred for weeks or months, children may believe that gum-bleeding is normal.

The Causes and Types of Pediatric Periodontal Diseases

Pediatric periodontal diseases develop for a variety of reasons and result in several types of conditions in children. One of the main causes of periodontal disease in adults and children is poor diet. Inadequate brushing and flossing of teeth also contribute to periodontal conditions.

Since saliva washes away plaque, children with dry mouths can develop periodontal diseases. Children who breathe through their mouths due to nasal congestion or injury may develop gingivitis or periodontitis. Children who breathe through their mouths while sleeping can also have dry gums that are more prone to develop bacterial growth and periodontal diseases.

The three main types of serious childhood periodontal diseases include:

Chronic gingivitis
Aggressive periodontitis
Generalized aggressive periodontitis

Chronic gingivitis is preventable and treatable with good oral hygiene habits. Aggressive periodontitis can lead to severe loss of bone. Aggressive periodontitis is often present even when teeth have little or no plaque on them.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis may develop when a child reaches the teenage years. The entire mouth may be affected, and abundant plaque is often present. Generalized aggressive periodontitis can cause all of the teeth to become loose.

Fluctuating hormone levels during puberty can sometimes be associated with periodontal diseases, including aggressive periodontitis, in adolescents. Children with diabetes may develop periodontal diseases as a result of unstable insulin levels.

A fourth type of pediatric periodontal disease is associated with systemic diseases in children, including auto-immune diseases. Chronic disease-related pediatric periodontitis (CPP) can be localized to one area of the child’s mouth or present in more than 30 percent of the child’s periodontium. CPP progresses slowly to moderately, but the disease sometimes manifests in periods of increased bone and tissue destruction.

Several childhood systemic diseases are associated with CPP. Systemic-disease related CPP is rare and often is first noticed between the eruption of the child’s first tooth and the age of four or five.

CPP is associated with the following systemic diseases:

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome
Cyclic neutropenia
Agranulocytosis
Down syndrome
Hypophosphatasia
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency

If your child has one of these systemic diseases, pay special attention to their oral health.

The Treatment of Pediatric Gum Disease

Gingivitis can be managed with a dental cleaning and polishing at the dentist’s office, followed by more vigilant home dental care. Encourage children to eat healthy snacks and drink tooth-friendly beverages.

In cases of severe pediatric periodontal disease, your child may need surgical treatment. In some cases, the roots of teeth are scraped and polished to remove plaque and create a better surface for gums. Your child’s dentist may prescribe antibiotics and other medications to help your child’s body fight infection and rebuild oral tissue.

When your child is diagnosed with a periodontal disease, your dentist will explain all of the available treatment options. You’ll also receive support from the dental team to help your child gain improved oral hygiene habits.

If your child’s gums are puffy, bright red, or bleeding, contact Valley Oak Dental Group today and schedule an examination of your child’s gums by one of our caring, skilled dentists.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cavities

Mon, 20 May 2019 22:23:17 GMT

Cavities are one of the many dental problems that people can experience throughout the course of their lifetime. Knowing what a cavity is, how to tell when you have a cavity, and what you can do if you get a cavity can help you take care of your teeth. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Cavity?

A cavity is a hole in tooth enamel caused by decay. The enamel is the hard outer shell of the tooth. Cavities occur when foods that contain carbohydrates build up on the tooth enamel. Carbohydrates break down into sugars, which are then eaten by bacteria. Bacteria break the sugars down into acids. This is what causes the teeth to soften and decay.

As the tooth begins to decay, a hole appears in the enamel. At first, the hole is small and shallow, but if the decay is allowed to go on untreated, this is when a cavity may form. Cavities penetrate into the vulnerable, inner parts of the tooth, known as the dentin and the pulp.

These parts of the tooth break down much more easily than the enamel. The inner parts of the tooth contain blood vessels and nerves, so when they are damaged this can be painful.

What Are the Signs of Cavities?

The most obvious sign that you have a cavity is a visible hole in your tooth. However, these holes are not always easy to see. Some of the other signs of a cavity include pain, sensitivity to cold and heat, and dark stains on the tooth.

Some of these symptoms can be a sign of other dental problems, so if you’re experiencing one or more of these signs, see a dentist. Your dentist can help you determine the exact cause of the symptoms and what you can do to alleviate them.

Who Is Most at Risk to Get Cavities?

Children are at high risk for cavities because they don’t always brush their teeth very well. They also tend to eat a lot of sweet things.

Children aren’t the only at risk group, however. There are many factors that come into play when determining who is at risk for getting cavities. Genetics are believed to play a big role when it comes to who is most likely to get a cavity.

Genetics affects factors like the hardness of your tooth enamel, the effectiveness of your saliva, and whether or not you have a strong desire to eat sweet foods. If your tooth enamel is soft, you like to eat sweet foods, and your saliva doesn’t break down food the way it’s supposed to, then you may be at higher risk for cavities.

What Should You Do if You Have a Cavity?

If you have a cavity, your dentist will help you decide what to do next. Some cavities can be treated with fillings. A filling is a plug for the hole in your teeth. If your cavity is very severe, your dentist may recommend a crown. This is a cover for your tooth enamel.

Either way, you’ll need to work with your dentist to ensure that you get the proper treatment for your cavity. If you don’t get proper treatment, you could develop an infection, lose the tooth, or develop even more severe dental problems.

How Can You Avoid or Prevent Cavities?

Sugary foods can play a big role in whether or not you get cavities, so cut back on sweets whenever possible. Frequent snacking throughout the day can also cause cavities because your teeth are more frequently exposed to foods that break down into sugars and acids.

Brush your teeth after eating to remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth. See your dentist as often as the dentist recommends. If you develop a pain in your mouth, see the dentist as soon as possible.

Use fluoride toothpaste. If your water isn’t fluoridated at home, ask your dentist or doctor about fluoride supplements. Floss at least once per day to remove foods from between your teeth, and use mouthwash after brushing at least once per day.

Finally, purchase a dental mirror and start inspecting your teeth on a monthly basis. You may actually see a hole forming in your teeth, which could help you catch the problem in its early stages.

Even if you don’t see a hole, you’ll still be able to see the areas on your teeth where plaque has built up. This will help you determine where you need to brush your teeth and can help you keep your mouth cleaner.

Work with Your Dentist

If you have more questions about dental hygiene and best practices for tooth care, contact your dentist. Your dentist can answer your questions and help you take better care of your teeth. For more information about cavities, contact Valley Oak Dental Group.

Why Children’s Teeth Don’t Always Shed or Erupt Properly

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 22:24:58 GMT

Sometimes, problems in a child’s mouth cause their baby teeth to be retained and/or their permanent teeth to erupt improperly. Here’s what you should know if your child has issues with baby-tooth shedding or permanent-tooth eruption.

Tooth Shedding and Eruption Follow a Schedule

Normally, babies cut their first teeth between six and ten months of age and start losing their baby teeth around six to seven years of age. Permanent teeth begin erupting shortly after the first baby teeth are shed.

Some kids cut their first baby teeth months earlier or later than normal, or they have permanent-tooth eruption earlier or later than normal. Each child is an individual, so nothing is wrong if their tooth eruption is not by the book, as long as the baby teeth are shed and permanent teeth do eventually erupt.

However, parents should keep an eye out for problems with baby-tooth retention that lasts too long. If your child doesn’t lose their baby (also called primary) teeth within a year of the expected shedding date, the retained baby teeth can cause permanent-tooth eruption issues.

Too-early removal of baby teeth can also cause issues with eruption of permanent teeth. If baby teeth are removed too early due to trauma, infection, or other causes, the eruption of permanent teeth will be delayed.

Baby-Tooth Retention Has Several Possible Causes

Baby-tooth retention occurs for several reasons. Your dentist will perform X-rays and other diagnostic tests to discover the cause of retained teeth.

Some of the reasons for retained baby teeth include:

Obstructions
Genetics
Misalignment of a permanent tooth
Trauma
Infection
Late eruption of a permanent tooth
Ankylosis, or fusing of baby tooth to bone

According to Colgate, in 2.5 to 6.9 percent of baby-tooth retention cases, no permanent tooth is under the baby tooth. Trauma, endocrine disorders, and genetics may all play roles in absent permanent teeth. The condition affects more girls than boys.

In some cases of missing permanent teeth, dentists will try to use the baby tooth as an anchor for a permanent restoration. If the baby tooth is crooked or otherwise unsuitable, the dentist removes the retained primary tooth and installs a bridge or implant to replace the missing permanent tooth.

Ectopic Eruption of Permanent Teeth Requires Attention

When a permanent tooth emerges from the gums in a spot where it shouldn’t be, the condition is called an ectopic eruption of the tooth. As with baby-tooth retention, there are several possible causes of ectopic tooth eruption.

Issues that may cause ectopic permanent-tooth eruption include:

Trauma to primary tooth
Genetics
Retention of primary tooth
Extra teeth
Cleft lip or palate
Ankylosis of primary tooth

Overcrowding of the jaw can also lead to ectopic eruptions of permanent teeth. This type of abnormal tooth eruption is due to a too-small jaw size for the shape or orientation of permanent teeth. Ectopically erupted teeth may emerge from the gums above the primary teeth, in gums next to the cheek, or in the gum area under the lips. Ectopic teeth may also erupt into the palate or even the nose.

Ectopic eruption can occur with molars, incisors (front teeth), and canine teeth. In some cases, ectopic eruption of permanent incisors causes early loss of the primary tooth as the root is resorbed.

Treatment for Ectopic Tooth Eruption Varies

In some cases, an extra tooth grows next to a permanent tooth, causing the tooth to be crowded and erupt at an odd angle in the gums. In the case of an extra (or supernumerary) tooth, the dentist may extract the extra tooth and use retainers to urge the remaining permanent tooth into normal position.

If a retained baby tooth is the issue, the dentist may remove the baby tooth and see if the permanent tooth corrects itself. If the permanent tooth continues to grow in an abnormal position or the ectopic tooth can’t correct itself, the dentist will use orthodontic therapy to realign the tooth in the mouth.

Dentists may use fixed orthodontic appliances at first to provide a strong framework for the ectopic tooth. After the tooth position improves, the child may need to wear a removable retainer for a few months to keep the ectopic tooth moving in the right direction.

When molars erupt ectopically, the condition may not be visibly noticeable at first. However ectopically erupting molars can cause significant pain in the back teeth of children with the dental condition.

A decaying baby molar may be the cause of an ectopic permanent molar eruption. A decaying primary molar can cause infection in adjacent teeth, leading to chewing problems and inflammation.

Once the bad baby molar is removed, the ectopically erupting molar will often self-correct as it emerges from the gums. The dentist may install a temporary space maintainer to help guide the molar into the right position.

If your child is not losing their baby teeth as they should or they have permanent teeth erupting in the wrong spots, contact Valley Oak Dental Group right away. We offer compassionate, expert pediatric dental care for young Californians in Manteca and throughout all of San Joaquin County.

Electronic Cigarettes and the Impact on Your Oral Health

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 22:26:55 GMT

E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, are becoming a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes. Fewer chemicals are in e-cigarettes, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a negative impact on your health, including your oral health. This is because e-cigarettes still contain nicotine, which will damage your gums and teeth.

Here is some important information about the impact of electronic cigarettes on your oral health.

Increased Risk of Oral Cancer

Traditional cigarettes contain tobacco leaves, which are treated with a variety of chemicals. Many of these chemicals, such as arsenic, benzene, and ethylene oxide are linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including oral cancer.

Because of these health risks, many smokers switch to electronic cigarettes, believing that they are safer since they don’t contain tobacco or carcinogenic additives used to treat tobacco.

Electronic cigarettes use a liquefied nicotine that is combined with flavoring and other additives. These additives include dangerous chemicals, such as propylene oxide, acrylamide, and crotonaldehyde. Another common and highly dangerous additive found in electronic cigarettes is formaldehyde, which is linked to oral cancer.

Visit your dentist if you smoke e-cigarettes and have any of the following symptoms:

Persistent sore throat
Oral swelling
Oral sores that won’t heal properly
Painful gums and tongue
Ear pain
Issues with swallowing, talking, or chewing

Early detection is the one of the best ways for you and other healthcare professionals to develop an effective treatment plan.

Increased Risk of Gum Disease

The combination of nicotine and artificial flavoring found in e-cigarettes limits blood flow throughout your body, including your gums. This means your gums don’t receive the oxygen they need to remain healthy, which leads to gum disease. Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a gum infection that can cause swollen and irritated gums, tooth pain, sensitive teeth, and bleeding.

The continued use of e-cigarettes will make gum disease, or gingivitis, worse. This can lead to severe tooth decay or tooth loss. An abscess, which is a pocket of infected fluid that forms on the gums, can occur, as well.

Smoker’s breath is a common side effect of smoking traditional cigarettes. The sweet flavor and smell of e-liquid combined with the lack of smoke lead some to believe that bad breath and e-cigarettes aren’t related. Unfortunately, the tooth decay that is associated with gum disease can also cause bad breath.

Increased Risk of Dry Mouth

Nicotine also inhibits the production of saliva, which leads to dry mouth. Saliva plays a critical role in your oral health. For example, saliva makes chewing much easier, protects the mouth from bacterial and viral infections, and eliminates bacteria from teeth. Dry mouth is uncomfortable and if not treated, will eventually lead to tooth decay.

Quitting electronic cigarettes is the first step to eliminate dry mouth. You can also increase saliva production in other ways. Chew sugar-free gum, avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol, and turn on a humidifier in the bedroom to help protect your mouth by increasing saliva.

Increased Risk of Bruxism

Nicotine is a stimulant, and in addition to making you jittery, it can have an unexpected impact on your oral health. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is exacerbated by nicotine use. Tooth damage, tension headaches, and jaw pain are all consequences of tooth grinding. Sleep bruxism is also made worse by e-cigarettes.

Aside from quitting, wearing a mouth guard at night can help protect your teeth from damage. Your dentist can fit you with a custom mouth guard and provide you additional tips to control your tooth grinding. For example, some medications, such as antidepressants, and stress can place patients at risk for bruxism.

Increased Risk of Mouth Inflammation and Sores

Nicotine stomatitis is a condition that occurs when you smoke traditional cigarettes, pipes, or electronic cigarettes.

The inflammation associated with nicotine stomatitis typically only impacts the roof of the mouth and occurs when the e-liquid is heated and contacts the upper palate. The resulting irritation worsens over time because of the continued exposure to nicotine and the other chemicals found in e-liquid. While nicotine stomatitis may be unpleasant, researchers have not linked this condition to cancer.

Still, if you are concerned about developing this condition, look for these early signs of nicotine stomatitis:

Damage to the mouth’s mucous membrane
White patches on the upper palate
Sores and spots on the upper palate and tongue

Quitting electronic cigarettes is the first step to finding relief from the pain and irritation of stomatitis. Over-the-counter pain relievers, rinsing your mouth with cool water, and avoiding spicy foods can also help you find relief.

As you can see, the habitual use of electronic cigarettes has several potentially negative effects on your oral health, including increasing your risk of developing oral cancer. If you have more questions, do not hesitate to contact the professionals at Valley Oak Dental Group .

The Secrets to Successful Dental Implant Placement

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 22:29:26 GMT

Dental implants use modern medical technology to enhance smiles. Implants can replace one tooth or a whole row of teeth — but only if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Learn what you should know about patients who receive successful dental implants.

Implant Candidates Have Thorough Preliminary Exams and Treatment

A dental implant consists of a metal anchor, an abutment, and a replacement tooth made of metal alloys, ceramic, resin, or another material. The anchor is surgically placed into the jawbone. The replacement tooth is fastened to the abutment and anchor for a secure hold when you chew and talk.

Your mouth should be in optimum health when implants are installed in your gums. For example, if you desire a dental implant to replace a tooth lost to facial trauma or surgery, any gum or jaw swelling must be resolved before your dentist can assess the site for implant compatibility.

Certain health conditions disrupt implant success, including:

Diabetes
Leukemia
Smoking

Your gums and teeth should be clean and free of cavities or gum disease when you have implants installed. A dental implant may hide a developing cavity and make it harder to reach later. Gum disease can affect the area around a new implant and cause painful infections and swelling.

Your dentist will want to treat all adverse dental conditions so your mouth is a clean canvas for your implant upgrade. A tooth cleaning can also help your dentist establish the correct color for your replacement tooth.

Implant Patients Undergo Pre-Treatment and Measurement for Implants

Your dentist will use a variety of tools and programs to measure and create your implant components. Measurements must be precise to ensure that the implant fits snugly between adjacent teeth and isn’t a hindrance to chewing and speaking.

X-rays and other methods are used to visualize your jaw bone. If there isn’t enough strong bone in place to insert the anchor properly, your dentist may recommend undergoing bone grafts or other treatments to prepare the jaw for your dental implant.

Some dental offices make impressions of teeth and send the impressions off to specialized labs. Your tooth replacement is crafted and sent back to your dentist for attachment to the anchor’s abutment. Some dentists mill their own tooth replacements. Both types of artificial teeth are attractive and safe.

Implant Recipients Are Patient

Secure, stable dental implants are often installed in stages. You’ll make several trips to the dentist’s office to undergo the progressive steps of your individual implant treatment. Your dentist will explain each of the steps in your implant plan so that you know exactly what to expect and can plan future events.

You’ll wear a temporary dental prosthesis between treatments after the damaged tooth has been removed. Your entire implant procedure may take 2 to 6 months to complete.

Be patient when awaiting your permanent dental implants. Complete healing and resolution of dental problems between treatments are necessary for implant victory.

Implant Patients Follow Aftercare Instructions

After each step in your dental-implant plan is completed, dental staff give you important verbal and written instructions for aftercare. The instructions are based on research and experience with post-implant patients, who now number around 3 million per year.

Current research shows that bacteria in the mouth can affect implant success. Bacteria create a biofilm around the implant site. Infections and swelling from excessive bacteria can disrupt the anchor’s stability and cause pain under the tooth’s edges.

Follow oral hygiene instructions to the letter when you want to avoid bacterial buildup around your implant site. Brush, floss, and rinse teeth with a mouthwash as recommended by your dentist. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before rinsing to remove even more bacteria from your oral cavity.

After dental-implant procedures, avoid foods that are sugary, acidic, or tacky. Caramels and morsels of tough meat can loosen fresh anchor inserts before they have a chance to settle in place. Sodas and soft drinks contain sugar and other ingredients that are harmful to teeth, so drink more water after undergoing implant-related dental work.

Refrain from smoking and excessive alcohol use. Don’t chew on ice or other hard substances.

If you’re having trouble cleaning around your temporary tooth, ask your dentist’s office for advice about how to keep the problem areas clean and free of food particles. The dentist’s office has special tools and products to help with oral hygiene challenges.

Implant Patients Communicate With Their Dentists

Expect some mild to moderate swelling, pain, and bruising at your implant site. Contact your dentist if you have more serious problems with your implant.

When caught in time, small problems with anchors and teeth can be easily corrected. If you wait too long to report a serious problem, an infection or another issue may necessitate the removal of a new dental implant.

Contact your dentist immediately if you experience:

Excessive bleeding
Discolored gums
Unbearable pain
Swollen face or jaw
Loose anchor or tooth
Fever and other signs of infection

Your dentist wants your implants to be successful so that you can love your smile again. Follow your dentist’s orders — and alert the dentist to serious dental concerns — to ensure that your dental implant will be a gleaming success.

Schedule an appointment for your new dental implants in San Joaquin County, California , by contacting Valley Oak Dental Group today.

Maximize Your Dental Benefits Before the Year Ends

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 22:34:32 GMT

Another year is reaching its end. Plan the parties and stock up on the confetti, but also remember that it’s time to review your health care coverage. If your dental insurance plan resets on January 1, schedule your needed dental work now to maximize your benefit. Here’s how to make the most of this year’s dental plan.

Check Your Coverage

The calendar year ends on December 31 for most dental coverage. Whether your coverage is through an employer-sponsored or individual plan, you generally can’t roll over unused benefits when the year is over. Now is a great time to discover how much dental coverage you have remaining before the year runs out.

Some dental plans reset at other times of the year, and some plans allow grace periods to use up any remaining benefit. Check your plan for yourself or call your plan’s toll-free number to learn the actual dental-benefits deadline.

While you’re researching your plan’s deadlines, investigate the treatments covered by your plan. What percentages of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental work are paid for through your provider?

Another key question to ask is have you met your dental treatment deductible for the year? If you have, you’ll maximize your benefit by scheduling preventive and other covered treatments for every eligible person on your plan.

Don’t Forfeit FSA Funds

With some flexible spending accounts (FSAs), you can roll over a portion of the money contributed to your dental-care account. For example, some FSA plans allow a two-and-a-half-month grace period, while some allow rollover of up to $500 of the funds.

However, your paycheck is being reduced every week to keep your FSA account flush. Don’t throw away any of that hard-earned money.

FSA plans cover most treatments intended to keep the teeth and gums healthy. FSA plans also cover some dental supplies.

According to the IRS, covered dental supplies are those related to:

Dental fillings
Braces
Extractions
Dentures
Other dental ailments

Tooth-whitening and other cosmetic dental supplies may not be covered by your plan. However, if someone on your plan has braces or another covered dental appliance, you may be able to use end-of-year funds to purchase dental care items related to their treatment.

Go over your FSA policy with a fine-tooth comb to learn which dental services and supplies can be paid for with the account funds. Each dental plan is unique, so learn how to maximize yours before you forfeit your own pre-tax pay at year’s end.

Schedule Preventive Treatments

Preventive care is often 100 percent covered by dental plans. If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned for a while, call your dentist and schedule a teeth-cleaning session before the year’s end.

According to the IRS, preventive dental treatments include:

Teeth cleaning
Sealant application
Fluoride treatment

Check your family’s records to ensure each covered person has received preventive dental care this year. When you have everyone’s teeth cleaned and sealed at the end of the year, you maximize your dental benefit and enjoy healthier teeth at the start of the new year.

Spread Out Extensive Treatment

Has your dentist advised you to undergo extensive treatment to save your teeth or alleviate gum disease? Do you need a root canal now and a crown in a few months?

Some dental treatments take months or more to complete. Your teeth or gums may need to heal from one procedure before the next is scheduled. One advantage of extended treatments is your opportunity to spread out the out-of-pocket expenses.

Schedule the first part of your extensive dental treatment before the year ends. You start your treatment early and use up the remainder of your benefits. Even if your total treatment will use up most or all of next year’s dental benefit, you save some of the treatment cost by splitting the work over two calendar years.

Ask Your Dentist About Next Year’s Plans

Start maximizing next year’s dental benefit by discussing your dental future with your dentist. If your dentist anticipates that you’ll need more extensive treatments in the coming year, work with the dental office to determine which procedures are covered by your policy.

Over the coming year, the dental office can help you schedule covered treatments and procedures to spread out your co-pay and other out-of-pocket expenses. If other family members need treatment, your dental office can add up the projected total fees to determine if you’ll go over your yearly maximum benefit amount.

Be proactive in using your dental benefits each year. You may not be able to have all of your desired dental work performed before the year ends. However, knowing your maximum benefit amount can guide your dentist and you toward dental solutions that are effective and within your budget.

Schedule your end-of-year dental procedures by contacting Valley Oak Dental Group today. We work with your insurance company and you to provide you with the best dental care in Manteca, California , and the surrounding region.

Common Myths and Misconceptions About Cavities

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 22:36:56 GMT

In 2012, researchers estimated that around 91 percent of adults between 20 and 64 suffered from some level of tooth decay on their teeth. Tooth decay is an epidemic that if left untreated can lead to cavities. While a lot of information about preventing and treating cavities is out there, this information might not be accurate unless it came from your dentist.

Here are a few of the most common myths and misconceptions associated with dental cavities.

Sugar Is the Direct Cause of Cavities

When you were young, chances are your mother told you to stay away from candy, chocolate, soda, and other sugary sweets. This is because of a common misconception about cavities: they are only caused by the overconsumption of sweet, sugary treats.

In reality, the sugar found in your favorite treats isn’t the only culprit. Sugar is found in carbohydrate-heavy foods, such as breads, rice, and potatoes as well. When the sugar from these and other foods mixes with the bacteria found inside your mouth, it creates acids. It is these acids — not sugar itself — that actually lead to tooth decay and, if left untreated, cavities.

My Infant Cannot Develop Cavities

Your infant is barely eating solid foods, but you’ve noticed something that looks like a cavity forming on their tooth. If you’ve heard that infants and babies cannot develop cavities, you’re sorely mistaken.

The bacteria that causes cavities can be introduced into your baby’s mouth in several ways. For example, if you test the temperature of your baby’s food in your own mouth, you may transfer the bacteria inside your saliva to your baby’s mouth.

Here are a few ways you can prevent the formation of cavities in your infant’s mouth:

Avoid putting your baby to sleep with their bottle
Never give your baby anything besides water, formula, or breast milk
Encourage your infant or young toddler to drink from a regular cup (not a sippy cup) rather than a bottle
Brush your infant’s teeth and gums at least twice a day.

Ask your dentist if your city’s water is fluoridated. If not, ask about the benefits of fluoride and the treatments available to your infant.

I Will Know Immediately If I’m Developing a Cavity

If you’ve ever had a cavity, you know how painful the experience can be. However, many patients do not realize they are forming a cavity in one of their teeth until the decay is very advanced. Having regular checkups will allow your dentist to pinpoint the early signs of cavity formation and, hopefully, save the tooth.

The early warning signs of a cavity are tooth sensitivity, pain while chewing, and black or brown staining on the affected tooth. If you notice any of these signs, contact your dentist.

I Will Know Immediately If I’m Developing a Cavity

Suffering from sensitivity to hot and cold in a single tooth is a potential sign you have a cavity. However, if you are suffering from sensitivity throughout your mouth, another culprit could be to blame. Here are a few of the most common causes of tooth sensitivity:

Bruxism. Otherwise known as tooth grinding, bruxism weakens your tooth enamel, which in turn exposes the inner portion of the tooth. This portion is connected to the tooth nerves, which leads to sensitivity.
Vigorous brushing. Using too much force when brushing your teeth will break down the enamel, leading to sensitivity.
Mouthwash overuse. Several types of mouthwash contain chemicals, including alcohol, which can cause sensitivity.
Gum disease. When gums begin to recede, which occurs because of gum disease, it will leave the nerves vulnerable to irritation.

The overuse of whitening toothpaste can also lead to enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.

After I Have a Filling, I Don’t Need to Worry About That Tooth Anymore

When the tooth decay becomes severe and a cavity forms, your dentist will need to perform a procedure that eliminates the bacteria from the affected tooth. Once this is done, a filling is placed in the tooth, which helps put an end to the cavity-related pain. However, just because the filling is in place doesn’t mean that it is safe from further issues.

For the filling to remain intact, and to prevent further cavities from forming, the cavity-causing bacteria needs to be kept in check. A dentist can help create a plan to prevent further deterioration and cavities. This typically includes regular brushing and flossing and at least two visits to the dentist each year. If a patient follows a dental hygiene routine, they can help protect their filling for several years.

Tooth decay and cavities are a common problem for children and adults alike. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Valley Oak Dental Group , Inc. We’re happy to offer advice and help you set up dental appointments for the whole family.

4 Fast Facts About Root Canal Treatment

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 22:39:03 GMT

Everyone has heard the term root canal. However, many patients are confused about the what, why, and how of root canal therapy.

You may be advised to undergo root canal therapy, or you may have a family member who needs the treatment. Here are four quick facts about root canal treatment to help you understand a bit more about the procedure.

Root Canal Treatment Fixes Issues Inside the Tooth

Teeth have more than what you see on the surface. An intricate endodontic system is tucked inside the hollow center of each tooth, and this area is also called the root canal.

The endodontic system is made up of a material commonly called pulp. Pulp provides a cushioned pathway for nutrients and sensation to reach the tooth.

Pulp contains:

Tiny blood vessels
Nerve pathways
Connective tissue

The blood vessels oxygenate, warm, and nourish teeth, while nerve tissue allows you to feel heat, cold, and trauma in the tooth area. Connective tissue anchors your teeth to your mouth.

When there are issues with your endodontic or root-canal system, root canal treatment is needed. You may refer to the treatment as having a root canal done. To get technical, you’re undergoing endodontic treatment in the root canal area.

Root Canal Therapy Becomes Necessary for Multiple Reasons

The nerves in tooth pulp are sensitive to stimuli. Certain disruptions or changes in a tooth’s root canal will cause you to feel intense pain in the affected tooth.

Some common causes of endodontic pain include:

Blunt-force trauma to the tooth
Dental decay from cavities
Recent dental procedures including fillings
Periodontal disease and infection
Cracks and chips in tooth
Eroded or missing fillings

Root canal therapy is performed to soothe intense tooth pain. The damaged or infected pulp is removed along with the nerve tissue that causes you to feel excruciating tooth pain.

Root Canal Treatment Is Reserved for Special Tooth Pain

Your dentist won’t perform a root canal for tooth pain alone. Many causes of tooth pain subside with time and proper treatment. Swelling from trauma eventually goes down, antibiotics eventually clear up gum infections, and fresh fillings protect inner teeth from the pain of decay, bacteria, and temperature sensitivity.

Root canal therapy is necessary for pain when the affected tooth:

Becomes dark or discolored
Develops a pimple or cyst on nearby gum
Swells up under gum line
Affects your ability to eat and drink
Develops deep recurring infections

Your dentist will try to save as much of the healthy pulp as he or she can. This careful approach means you may be able to save an infected tooth after a root canal procedure.

Root Canal Treatment Is Safe but Requires a Few Visits

When you undergo treatment in your root canal, you may need to visit your dentist two or more times to ensure the treatment is effective. The dental staff will go over all of the details of the procedure and answer any questions and worries you may have about root canal therapy.

According to the American Association of Endodontics, 40,000 root canal treatments are performed every day in the U.S., which adds up to 15 million root canal procedures per year. Dentists have been performing these treatments for a long time, and dentists now have modern tools to help them expertly navigate inside your teeth.

Treatment steps in the first visit of a root canal procedure may involve:

Preparing mouth for treatment
Numbing the dental area
Accessing root with miniature drills
Cleaning up tooth and pulp
Shaping inner chamber of tooth
Flushing area free of debris
Applying treatment solutions including antibiotics
Packing and temporarily filling the tooth

If there are still infection and inflammation in the tooth area, your dentist may leave the area open to let the fluids drain. In other cases, teeth can be sealed permanently the same day that the root canal procedure is performed.

An Epic Toothache May Be an Epic Abscess

Wed, 02 May 2018 22:55:04 GMT

An abscess forms in the body as a response to infection. It’s designed to contain the savage battle going on between your immune system and the invading germs. The abscess keeps the infection from spreading — at least for a while.

Abscesses form in the tooth or jaw as a result of bacterial infection of the gums and/or teeth. One of the red flags signaling an abscessed tooth is the awful pain that some patients feel in the affected areas of their mouths. Here are some other facts about abscesses that you should know if you feel a throbbing, stabbing pain in your tooth or jaw.

Abscesses Start With Cavities

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re not alone. According to a study done by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the average American consumes over 150 pounds of sugar per year. When you have tooth decay, you know how much it hurts to eat sugary foods. That’s because sugary and acidic foods break down teeth.

Sugar on your teeth feeds the bacteria in your mouth. Well-fed oral bacteria start to form the hard plaque between and on the surfaces of teeth. Plaque erodes a tooth, makes a cavity, and opens the tooth up to further colonization by the bacteria.

When the bacteria reach the dentin, and later the pulp of the tooth, an abscess is likely to form. An abscess is a serious dental condition that must be treated as soon as possible.

Abscesses Cause Tenderness and Tingling

Some people feel a tingling, numbness, or itching in their jaws before an abscess forms. The affected tooth or teeth may be sensitive to pressure, cold foods, and sugary drinks.

The affected tooth and gum area may also feel as if it’s raised slightly. The tooth may feel loose or unanchored in the jaw. If you look in the mirror at the tender area, the gum may appear pale and swollen or red and inflamed. A hard or semi-hard cyst can also form on the jaw.

For some people, the pain is excruciating. An abscess can feel like intense throbbing, a bad headache, a painful earache, or someone jamming a metal spoon into your jaw repeatedly. The area may feel under pressure and about to burst.

That’s because the abscess is under pressure and about to burst. All of that immune-system-meets-bacteria-death-match business is going on like mad inside the abscess. As bacteria increase, your body’s immune cells must rush to the area to kill the infection.

When it gets too crowded in the abscess for all of the dramatic cell-to-cell engagement, the abscess bursts. The symptoms of a burst abscess include:

Pimple or raw place inside the mouth
Unpleasant taste of blood or metal
Reduced sense of pressure
Relief from pain

After the abscess bursts, you still need to see your dentist right away. Because even after bursting, a small abscess can grow and grow until half of your face swells up.

Abscesses Can and Must Be Treated

A dental abscess may seem like a small matter that will go away on its own. Unfortunately, you need antibiotics and a deep cleaning of your tooth or teeth if you want to fully get rid of the abscess. Untreated dental abscesses have led to critical and fatal brain and heart infections in people who didn’t receive proper dental treatment. Abscesses are that serious. Infection of the jaw area can also permanently eat away at your jawbone.

Fortunately, dental abscesses are easy to treat. Your dentist knows exactly what to do to help you feel relief. Your dentist finds the source of the infection and installs a tiny, painless drain to help draw out the abscess. If the abscess is sizable or in a tricky location, your dentist will let the antibiotics work and the pus drain for a few days before working on the tooth.

If the tooth can be saved, a root canal or other procedure may be performed on the tooth. This removes the infected (and painful) nerve in that tooth. A cap may be recommended to protect the tooth from further infections.

If the tooth is beyond repair, it will be pulled. If you need more chewing surface due to the absence of the pulled tooth, an implant or bridge can be made for you.

Abscess-Related Pain Responds to Some Remedies

If you must wait to see your dentist, there are some things you can do to ease your pain. First, try to brush your teeth gently but thoroughly. Use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill some of the bacteria in your mouth. Other tips include:

Use floss to dislodge any trapped food
Swish warm salt water around
Avoid hot and cold foods
Use an ice pack on swelling

Your dental office has more tips and tricks for short-term comfort and will treat your abscess like a dental emergency .

If you have serious pain or swelling in the gums, cheeks, or jawline, contact Valley Oak Dental Group right away.

Protect Your Preteen Athlete From Premature Tooth Loss

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 22:58:14 GMT

To help your preteen do their best in sports, you might encourage them to eat healthier meals and to get plenty of sleep at night. However, one of the most important things you can for your loved one is protecting their teeth from sport-related injuries.

Some sports can require players to jump over, pursue, and tackle other players. If your loved one is struck in the mouth, then some of their teeth may be knocked out. Even if your loved one still has their baby teeth, the damage caused by the impact can trigger a chain reaction of dental problems.

This post discusses what could happen if your preteen loses teeth to sporting injuries and what you can do to treat and prevent the dental problems that premature tooth loss can cause.

What Are the Effects of Premature Tooth Loss?

Teeth play many roles in keeping your preteen healthy. Teeth allow your loved one to speak clearly and properly in school and in everyday life, and teeth your preteen to eat the healthy meals you prepare and serve each day without choking.

Teeth make it possible for your child to swallow food safely by cutting, dicing, slicing, and pulverizing it into tiny pieces. If your child loses a tooth during a sporting injury, then they can’t break down food properly — which could present a choking hazard if food were to stick or lodge inside your loved one’s throat as they attempt to swallow.

In addition to being a potential choking hazard, premature tooth loss can affect your preteen’s permanent teeth in the future. Teeth can shift or move into empty tooth sockets. The teeth hidden inside the jawbone above the sockets won’t have enough space to erupt. The hidden teeth can cause pain in the jaw over time.

Some children and teens experience malocclusion when their teeth shift. Malocclusion, or poor bite, describes teeth that crowd, lean, stick out, tilt, or turn sideways in the jaw. These teeth can move too close together, or they can develop large gaps between them. The abnormal positions make it difficult to chew food.

One of the results of malocclusion is that teeth can possibly build up with plaque and bacteria. The substances can decay your preteen’s teeth, or they can lead to gingivitis (gum disease). Both of these dental issues can become worse without timely treatment.

The issues mentioned above are just a few of the dental problems your preteen can experience from premature tooth loss. However, with the help of a dentist, you can keep your loved one’s teeth safe during sporting events.

What Protective Measures Can You Take?

If you and your child haven’t been to the dentist in the last six months, then schedule a visit with a dentist near you. A dentist can examine your preteen’s teeth to see if they have any type of injury, such as chips and fractures. Some injuries can hide in the back of the mouth or close to the gum line. If the dentist finds a dental problem, they’ll schedule the appropriate treatment for it.

If your loved one doesn’t have any tooth problems, then a dentist will take steps to keep it that way. One of the most helpful ways to keep teeth safe during contact sports is a mouth guard, also known as teeth guard.

Sports mouth guards are unique devices that cover the top row of teeth. Some athletes wear guards on their bottom teeth if they have previous dental work completed. In any case, guards create a protective barrier or cushion between your preteen’s upper and lower teeth.

A dentist will generally custom-fit your loved one’s mouth guard in the office or in a separate laboratory. Although it’s possible to purchase a mouth guard from your local retail store, the device might not fit or work as efficiently as a custom-fitted appliance. Custom-made guards fit, look, and feel better to patients.

How Should Your Preteen Use and Care for Their Mouth Guard?

Your preteen should wear their guard during every sporting event, including practice. If your loved one removes their guard for any reason, then they should place the device inside its protective case and not on an unsanitary surface.

In addition, you should clean your loved one’s sports mouth guard as recommended by a dentist. If your preteen is able or willing to do so, allow them to clean the guard during their regular oral care routine. Be sure to dry the appliance thoroughly before putting it away for the day or evening. Moisture can allow germs to grow on the appliance.

Protecting your preteen’s teeth from premature tooth loss begins with a simple mouth guard. If you’re ready to move forward with your loved one’s dental care, then contact our dental team at Valley Oak Dental Group today.

6 Signs of Dental Discomfort in Nonverbal Children

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 23:00:59 GMT

As an adult, you know the signs of common dental ailments and emergencies such as infections. Unfortunately, when your children experience the same symptoms, they may not only not understand what’s happening to their teeth but also may not be able to express their discomfort to you.

This issue with identifying dental problems is particularly common with children who are nonverbal, either due to their age or to another characteristic such as autism, delayed speech development, or a behavioral issue affecting speech.

Luckily, in most cases, parents can identify the need for their child to see a pediatric dentist by watching for nonverbal clues that their child is experiencing discomfort, such as the following six.

1. Avoidance of Hard or Chewy Foods

If you’ve ever had a serious dental problem, you know that oral discomfort can worsen when you attempt to eat foods that put a lot of pressure on the affected tooth. Hard or crunchy foods ranging from apples to nuts can exacerbate the issue, as can chewy or sticky foods like sweets.

If your child usually enjoys apple slices with lunch or gummy candies as a treat but suddenly shows disinterest or even vehement disgust with these items, he or she may have a toothache rather than a new food preference.

2. Avoidance of Hot, Cold, or Sugary Foods

Children with oral pain may react just as strongly to foods that cause sensitivity as they do to foods that put pressure on their sore teeth. Increased sensitivity often points to dental caries, the precursor to cavities.

Children can develop sensitivities to heat, cold, or sugar. In this case, your child may wait for hot cocoa to cool completely, put off drinking water until it comes to room temperature, or turn down his or her favorite soda.

3. Cheek, Eye Area, or Ear Area Rubbing

As you know if your child has ever had an earache, children often self-comfort and attempt to relieve pain by rubbing the affected area. Often with oral pain, rubbing at the specific tooth is impractical or impossible so children will rub at the sites of secondary pain.

Dental infections, cavities, and delayed tooth eruption can cause secondary pain that appears in the cheekbones, sinus area, or thermomandibular joint (TMJ) near the ears. Your child may touch or push on these areas incessantly when in pain.

4. Inability to Sleep

If you’ve ever had a serious injury, you know that extreme pain can often affect the way that you sleep, including keeping you from falling asleep and waking you up even when you manage to get to sleep. Oral pain in particular can affect sleep because many individuals sleep with a pillow or hand putting some pressure on their teeth.

If your child has a bothersome tooth, he or she may fuss more than usual around bedtime and may fall into a pattern of tantrums to avoid sleeping. He or she may perceive the act of sleeping as a cause of additional pain.

Once your child settles in for the night, he or she may take a typical sleeping position only to change it many times. Sometimes children will fuss or cry when they realize that they cannot sleep in their usual position.

Additionally, you may notice that a child who typically sleeps easily and soundly through the night begins to take more bathroom trips, wake up to get into your bed, or wake up crying during the night.

5. Strong Emotional Responses When Chewing or Verbalizing

Before children make the connection between eating or verbalizing and their oral pain, they may express high levels of frustration with these activities. For example, your child may attempt to eat one of the foods discussed in sections one and two only to throw them across the room when they trigger a higher pain level.

Your child may also throw fits at meal time, cry more often, or give up on typical patterns of verbalizing.

6. Unusually Aggressive Behavior or Mood Swings

The emotional impact of oral pain doesn’t always occur in obvious situations like the hypotheticals discussed in the last section. Many children who experience oral pain exhibit behavioral changes even when they aren’t faced with specific triggers like hard foods.

Your child may seem angry, aggressive, despondent, depressed, or each of these emotions in turn as his or her pain changes throughout the day or progresses as the dental condition becomes more advanced.

If you notice your child exhibiting any combination of the nonverbal symptoms listed above, schedule an appointment with his or her pediatric dentist as soon as possible for assessment. Prompt evaluation ensures that your child receives the correct treatment with as little pain as possible.

For gentle and compassionate comprehensive pediatric dental services, trust the expert dental team at Valley Oak Dental Group.

3 Ways Seasonal Allergies Affect Your Oral Health

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 23:03:03 GMT

If spring is in the air, pollen and other allergens are probably in the air as well. While the start of the spring season may bring a welcome change in the weather, it often also brings aggravation and discomfort to allergy sufferers.

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you may notice that your oral health problems increase during allergy season. This may not be a coincidence. You might think of seasonal allergies as simply affecting your respiratory system, but they can also have a negative impact on your mouth and oral tissues. Take a look at some of the ways that your seasonal allergies may be having a negative impact on your oral health.

1. Bad Breath

At first glance, bad breath may seem like a minor problem while you’re battling congestion and postnasal drip. However, bad breath can be off-putting to others and can be embarrassing in professional or personal interactions. Bad breath can also affect the taste of food and drinks, which can detract from your enjoyment of your meals.

If you can’t seem to improve your bad breath no matter how much brushing and flossing you do and you also have a sore throat, the problem may be caused by your allergies. Allergies that cause postnasal drip result in a lot of mucus draining from your sinus cavity into the back of your throat. The bacteria in that mucus can result in a throat infection.

The bacteria that causes your throat infection can also give off an unpleasant scent, which then comes out of your mouth when you breathe. The result? Bad breath that’s difficult to get rid of because the smell originates in your throat. No amount of brushing and flossing will get rid of it.

You may need an antibiotic to get rid of the bacterial infection. In the meantime, mints and gum can cover the scent temporarily. Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe the sore throat and get rid of the smell. The antibacterial properties of the salt can also help reduce the bacteria that are causing the problem.

2. Dry Mouth

Often allergy sufferers experience dry mouth in addition to their other allergy symptoms. Dry mouth can have several causes. If you frequently have a stuffy nose, breathing through your mouth can cause it to dry out. Many allergy medications can also cause dry mouth.

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is often dismissed as another uncomfortable symptom by allergy sufferers. Many don’t see dry mouth as a dental problem. However, saliva is important to your dental health.

Saliva protects your teeth from decay and washes bacteria and food particles away from your teeth. It also aids in digestion, making it easier for you to chew and swallow food. If your mouth is dry, you don’t have enough saliva. A lack of saliva can not only make it harder for you to eat and speak, but it can also lead to more cavities and tooth decay.

One way to combat dry mouth is by increasing your water intake. Staying well-hydrated is crucial to producing enough saliva. If your allergy medication is causing dry mouth, switching medications might help. Your dentist may also be able to recommend medication or special rinses that can increase your saliva production and keep your mouth moist.

3. Toothaches

If your teeth hurt, your first thought may be that you have a cavity or a tooth infection or that you’ve injured your teeth in some way. But when you’re suffering from seasonal allergies and you develop a toothache, that pain could be another allergy symptom.

Like so many other allergy symptoms, toothaches can be caused by mucus. When your allergies are acting up, mucus can build up in your sinuses, causing congestion. Your maxillary sinuses, located on either side of your nose, sit on top of your upper jaw.

When those sinuses become congested, they put pressure on your teeth and the nerves in your mouths, resulting in toothaches and tooth sensitivity. You may notice pain only when you eat or drink something cold or hot, you may feel it when you move your head, or you might feel the pain constantly.

If your tooth pain is caused by congested sinuses, taking a prescription or over-the-counter anti-allergy medication that relieves the sinus congestion should relieve the pain. If your teeth feel fine until your allergy medication wears off, it’s a good sign that your tooth pain is allergy related. However, if you’re still feeling pain after the congestion has been relieved, schedule a visit with your dentist to find the source of the pain.

Spring allergies can be enough of a hassle without adding dental problems to your plate as well. If you’re a seasonal allergy sufferer, ask your dentist about things you can do to treat or prevent allergy symptoms that affect your oral health.

Are Your Gums Receding? Find Out Why

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 23:07:13 GMT

As you’re brushing your teeth, you might notice more sensitivity near your gum line. Or when you get a family picture printed for your wall, you might notice that your teeth appear longer than normal. These are the first signs of receding gums.

A number of things can contribute to gum recession, but early intervention by a dentist is important to help prevent the problem from progressing to the point of danger. Severe gum recession can sometimes require surgery to correct, and it can lead to other dental health troubles, so it’s better to find out why your gums are struggling early on and nip the problem in the bud.

Here are some common causes of gum recession and what you can do to prevent them.

Brushing Too Aggressively

Do you feel like you really have to dig in in order to get your teeth feeling clean? Pushing hard when you brush doesn’t clean your teeth better; it only makes your gums angry. They become irritated and inflamed, and when they heal, they pull back a little tighter than they did before.

When you repeat this process over days and days of brushing, your gums migrate higher and higher up the tooth, eventually exposing the softer, less protected portions of your teeth. That’s what causes the sensitivity when you brush, drink cold water, or eat sweets.

Instead of pushing hard or using a harsh brush, choose a gentle, extra soft brush. Use circular or short, angled strokes instead of a back and forth motion, and meet the gums at an angle instead of brushing straight across them.

If you have a hard time holding back the force, it might be a good idea to use an electric brush that you simple move to each part of your mouth — no pressure required.

Smoking and Other Tobacco Use

Tobacco is one of the leading causes of periodontal disease or gum disease. Gum disease is one of the causes of receding gums. When you have even mild gum disease, your gums are infected with bacteria that cause inflammation. Inflammation leads to recession, and recession puts your teeth at higher risk for decay and eventual tooth loss.

If you are struggling with an addiction to any tobacco product, speak with your doctor and your dentist about alternatives that can help you quit. As you work on beating the addiction, you should be extra vigilant in caring for your teeth and gums with brushing, flossing, and mouthwash.

Poor Tooth Alignment

Braces aren’t just for looks — they can help reduce the stress on your gums. Poor tooth alignment can cause gum recession because some teeth bear more of the burden of chewing than others. Also, some teeth are more difficult to clean, so the gums around these hard-to-reach areas might be unintentionally neglected.

Your dentist can help you know if crowded or unevenly spaced teeth contribute to gum recession. It’s likely that some portions of the gums will look normal, but the gums in trouble areas will show some signs of recession. It’s common to see receding gums on the upper canines, for example, when teeth are under strain from misalignment.

Clenching and Grinding

Clenching and grinding your teeth do not just harm your teeth — your gums absorb a lot of the impact from these habits, and as a result, they begin to pull back.

If you know that you have trouble with unconsciously clenching your teeth, work on relaxing your mouth. Catch yourself in the moment and breathe deeply to keep your teeth from meeting. The only time your teeth should meet together with force is when you are biting or chewing your food.

For grinding, your dentist can give you a mouth guard to protect your teeth at night and reduce the stress on your gums. If you grind your teeth from anger or nervousness, practice another outlet, like twisting some paper or clenching your hands tightly and then releasing them.

Skipping the Floss

Poor dental hygiene is another sad reason for gum recession, and the most commonly skipped item is flossing. Some people avoid flossing because they don’t have time, because they think it hurts, or because it’s challenging to reach in the back of their mouth. Some may lack dexterity.

Your dentist can help you find a solution. You might:

Change floss. Some flosses are better for close-set teeth. Some floss might shred or split, leading you to give up. Try some floss samples to find a better match.
Persist. If your gums are already red and sore, flossing will hurt a bit at first, but continuing to skip will only make the problem worse.
Use a water flosser or floss pick. Water flossers might be a good alternative for people who have trouble maneuvering string, or floss picks with string can be useful, especially for children.

Never give up on flossing your teeth. Not only will you prevent between-teeth decay, but your gums will stay healthy as a result of daily flossing.

For more information on correcting and treating gum recession, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group Inc.

4 Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy When You’re Feeling Sick

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 23:09:34 GMT

With winter weather, it also seems like there’s an increase in illness. Stomach bugs, the flu, colds, coughs, and even respiratory and sinus infections can leave you feeling terrible and trying to make it through as best you can.

Your dental health is probably far from your mind when you’re suffering through a winter illness. However, illnesses can leave lasting negative effects on your teeth if you’re not careful. Here are some tips to help you care for your teeth so that your teeth don’t have to suffer the consequences when you’re sick.

1. Stay on Top of Brushing and Flossing

The first thing that goes out the window when you’re sick is your daily routine. Instead of going to work you may not even get out of bed. Most people rely on their routines to stay consistent with dental hygiene. Make brushing and flossing a high priority even when you may not feel like following your regular morning and evening schedule.

In order to remember, you may need to set an alarm on your phone or simply brush each time you eat. It can also be hard to stick with flossing because many people experience gum and tooth pain when they are ill, but the temporary discomfort of flossing sore teeth is worth the reward of healthy teeth.

2. Follow Home Remedies With Water

When over-the-counter remedies aren’t available or can’t help all of your symptoms, it’s natural to use home remedies for a cold, stomach bug, and flu — like hot tea, vitamin c drinks, crackers, throat lozenges, and cough drops. These remedies can make your cold feel better, but they can end up harming your teeth because:

Hard cough drops and lozenges often have added sugar. When you suck on them, they work to help clear your airway, but they are also like candy. Try and find sugar-free cough drops or make sure that you swish with water after sucking on one to help prevent the sugars from coating your teeth and gums.
Teas, especially teas with added lemon and honey, can be sweet and acidic. They can accelerate tooth decay. Getting enough fluids is important for regaining your health, but make sure you always follow these drinks with some water to help dilute the effect they could have on your teeth.
Juice, soda, and basic crackers can cause cavities. These simple sugars provide food for bacteria, even though they might be the only things that settle your upset stomach. Swishing and spitting out a bit of water after sipping on some juice or eating a cracker can limit their negative impact.

Water is your best friend when you’re ill. You should always have a bottle close by to help follow your at-home remedies.

3. Protect Against Dry Mouth

Similarly, it’s also important to keep your mouth moist when you’re sick. If your nose is stuffed up, then you breathe through your mouth for long periods of time, especially during sleep. Dry mouth drastically accelerates tooth decay, so you should make sure you do what you can to encourage saliva production. You can try:

Running a humidifier at night to help add moisture to the air you breathe. This also helps with cold symptoms in general, so it’s a win-win situation.
Keeping a bottle of water by your bed to sip when you wake to cough or blow your nose. Even just a little water brings some moisture back into your mouth.
Using decongestants to try get your nose clear as soon as possible. If you can’t take decongestants because you are pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor about approved medicines.
Staying hydrated throughout the day. Keep saliva flowing by sipping water. If you’re struggling to stay hydrated, then you can help bring more saliva into your mouth by sucking on sugar-free mints.

Dry mouth is one of the main sources of discomfort when you have a seasonal illness, but you can do what you can to keep your teeth from also feeling the effects.

4. Take Care After Throwing Up

Unfortunately, catching a stomach bug often means that you struggle to keep food in your stomach. After vomiting, you might want to brush your teeth to help get the taste out of your mouth and to help protect your teeth from the acidic contents of your stomach.

However, don’t rush to brush. Instead, swish your mouth with water. Adding a little baking soda to the water can also help. You could also suck on a basic anti-acid to help neutralize the effects of vomiting. The high acidity in your mouth when you throw up actually softens your enamel. Brushing the soft enamel right afterwards can cause even more damage. After drinking the water, wait a while to brush, and then brush very gently.

For more information about caring for your teeth when you’re sick, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group .

7 Advantages of Professional Whitening

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 23:11:30 GMT

Many individuals who aren’t satisfied with their smiles want to achieve a whiter, brighter look. When you decide to undergo whitening treatment, you may feel tempted to pick up an at-home kit the next time you’re in the grocery store.

However, you are more likely to be confident in and happy with your new and improved smile if you seek whitening treatment through your dentist. Here are the seven main advantages that professional tooth whitening has over at-home options.

1. Brighter Results

Whitening products sold over-the-counter promise incredible results, but these products may not be able to deliver unless the discoloration of your teeth is fairly mild. To make these kits cheaper and easier to use, the included whitening agents have a lower concentration of the active ingredient than professional grade whitener does.

To illustrate the difference, at-home treatments typically contain approximately 3 percent peroxide, while professional whitener may contain as much as 35 percent. This stronger grade can remove more stubborn stains, giving you brighter results.

Additionally, when you work with a dentist, you often have the option to choose your exact goal shade so you are able to get the results you desire.

2. Complete Treatment

At-home whitening treatment kits are generally one-size-fits-all. Unfortunately, no two mouths are exactly the same. The standard trays included in many of these kits will fit some mouths better than others, and you won’t be able to tell if they’ll fit yours until you’ve used them.

When you work with a professional whitening expert, the trays used will be made just for you, which ensures a more even application and thorough treatment.

3. Fewer Risks

Whitening is rarely a comfortable experience. Many individuals who undergo whitening have tooth sensitivity and discomfort as a result. In some cases, contact with the whitening agent can damage the gum tissues and undermine the strength of the tooth enamel.

When you undergo professional treatment, your dentist covers your gums to protect them from contact and conducts the whitening at a controlled pace. This approach prevents over-bleaching and minimizes discomfort during and after the procedure.

4. Lasting Results

Most over-the-counter whiteners take a while to work, and the results don’t last for very long after they do begin to work. This fleeting result occurs because of the weakness of the whitener solution.

When you see a dentist for whitening, the initial treatments remove all the stains on your teeth. Then, once your teeth are at your ideal shade, your dentist can give you maintenance kits you can use between appointments so your smile looks beautiful for a longer period of time.

5. Patient Education

When you make changes to your smile, it’s important to do so in accordance to professional recommendations. While a white smile is a common goal, the path to whiter teeth isn’t a universal one.

Your dentist can help you determine the causes of your tooth discoloration and create a whitening plan that reflects your needs. Your dentist can provide alternatives to whitening if your desired shade isn’t achievable with traditional whitening.

For example, discoloration caused by root canals and similar procedures cannot be lightened through whitening. Instead, your dentist may recommend a veneer for the affected tooth or teeth.

Additionally, your dentist can prepare you for the whitening process and appropriate maintenance afterward. You may need to make changes to your diet in order to keep your ideal shade. If you go with box whitening, you may notice your results fade and never know the cause or how to fix the underlying problem.

6. Personalized Treatment

When you use a box treatment, the kit instructions cannot accommodate any special concerns you may have. You also may not be able to identify potential problems with a kit yourself. For example, you may not realize that some of your previous dental work will affect your whitening results.

Office whitening gives you the opportunity to discuss your smile goals with a professional who can help you achieve them. Your treatment can be tailored to address your schedule, problem areas and other individual concerns.

7. Shorter Wait Time

As mentioned in section four, over-the-counter whitening kits generally take several weeks to show any results. If your teeth are too stained for the kit to take care of, you may never see results and not know why.

When you see a dentist for whitening, you walk away from your initial appointment with whiter teeth. Current in-office whitening methods, such as ZOOM!® teeth whitening, may take as little as one hour to give you a brighter, more confident smile.

If you think that whitening could be the smile adjustment you’re looking for, discuss your options with your dentist. For expert tooth whitening consultation and treatment, trust Valley Oak Dental Group . We specialize in ZOOM!® teeth whitening, one of the most effective treatment options currently available.

Will Mouthwash Really Keep Your Mouth Healthy?

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:13:42 GMT

You don’t want to get a cavity, so you brush and floss every day. But what about using mouthwash? You may wonder if it can help prevent tooth decay or bad breath, or you may wonder if it can take the place of brushing your teeth.

Many people are not sure if they should use mouthwash, but answers are available. This blog will cover what types of mouthwash you can buy, how effective they are, and how to use them.

Choose the Right Mouthwash

There are two main types of mouthwash: cosmetic and therapeutic.

Cosmetic

Cosmetic mouthwashes do not prevent cavities, but they can help with bad breath for a short amount of time. They also help rinse out debris and get rid of some bacteria. Some cosmetic mouthwashes may have teeth whitening agents in them. However, many people use them simply because they like the tingly, fresh feeling cosmetic mouthwashes provide.

Unfortunately, if you have bad breath, mouthwash is not a lasting solution. Most cosmetic mouthwashes only mask the problem instead of curing it, and the effect only lasts up to three hours. Bad breath may be a symptom of a serious problem like an oral infection. Instead of using mouthwash to hide the scent, visit your dentist to get help.

Therapeutic

Therapeutic mouthwashes do the same things as cosmetic mouthwashes, plus more. They also help control plaque and bacteria, and they reduce your risk of gingivitis. Some are specifically made to prevent cavities, and some contain fluoride, which strengthens your teeth. Some washes are anti-tartar, meaning they prevent the hard buildup your dentist scrapes off your teeth when he or she cleans them.

Overall, therapeutic mouthwashes are much more effective for your oral health than cosmetic mouthwashes. However, when choosing either type, look at the ingredient list. If the mouthwash contains alcohol, skip it. Alcohol lowers your saliva production, which gives bacteria more of a chance to thrive. Additionally, washing your mouth out with alcohol can irritate your mouth and lead to oral sores.

When looking for a mouthwash, check for a seal of acceptance from the American Dental Association (ADA). Their testing is objective, scientific, and meant to protect you.

Keep Your Mouth Healthy

If you’re hoping to find out that rinsing with mouthwash is just as effective as brushing your teeth, you’re going to be disappointed. The ADA is firm that rinsing with mouthwash “is not a substitute for brushing or flossing.” Instead, mouthwash is an additional way to keep your oral health intact.

Many people do not need a mouthwash at all-they find that brushing and flossing is enough. However, if you have any oral health issues, your dentist may advise you to use a good therapeutic mouthwash. You may benefit from the extra fluoride or tartar protection.

If you do want to take extra care of your teeth, a reliable mouthwash can help. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry studied 139 adults with mild or moderate inflamed gums and plaque. All of the study participants brushed their teeth and flossed twice daily and used a mouthwash-either a placebo or an antiseptic mouthwash.

The study lasted six months. At the end, those using real mouthwash had less plaque, gingivitis, and bleeding at the gums than those using a placebo. All in all, if you do want to improve your oral health, a mouthwash may be a helpful addition to your routine.

Use Mouthwash Effectively

When using your mouthwash, make sure to always read the bottle’s directions or your dentist’s instructions. However, here is some general advice:

Do not use less than the recommended amount, and do not dilute the mouthwash.
Swish the mouthwash for at least 30 seconds.
Gargle for 30 seconds before spitting the mouthwash out.

If you struggle to keep the mouthwash in your mouth for an entire minute at a time, you can spit the mouthwash out after swishing, take a break, and then get new mouthwash for gargling.

Many people have questions about if they should brush first or use a mouthwash first. The answer is usually that it doesn’t matter. However, if either your toothpaste or your mouthwash has fluoride, you should use that item last.

For example, if your mouthwash has fluoride, use it last: brushing your teeth after will get rid of the fluoride, which needs to stay in your mouth to do its job. After using a product that contains fluoride, don’t put anything else in your mouth, including food and water, for at least 30 minutes.

Remember that these instructions are for adults and older children. Children under six years should not use mouthwash at all-they may swallow it.

Though it’s no substitute for brushing and flossing, mouthwash can be an effective addition to your oral health care routine. If you have questions about if mouthwash is a good idea for you or about which mouthwash you should get, talk to your dentist. The professionals at Valley Oak Dental Group will be happy to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, keep brushing and flossing!

Avoid Losing Valuable Dental Benefits at Year’s End

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 23:15:45 GMT

With insurance costs, dentists’ fees and the cost of dental materials all rising, it’s a smart move to use your dental benefits before they expire at the end of the year. If you don’t use up your benefits, you lose that money.

In addition, you may be giving up dental care that might otherwise cost you thousands of dollars. However, you can use your dental insurance plan wisely by keeping these key points in mind.

Make the Most of the Premiums You Pay

Don’t let the premiums you pay for dental coverage go to waste. Get your money’s worth by taking full advantage of the benefits your dental insurance plan offers. Even if you don’t currently have any dental problems, insurance plans typically pay for routine checkups and dental cleanings—both of which help prevent small problems from becoming bigger problems.

Although dental benefit plans generally pay a lower percentage toward fillings, crowns and root canal treatment, these plans pay more toward preventive dental care. However, even for preventive procedures, dental insurance plans might have limitations, including how many times during a benefit period you can see a dentist for checkups and professional teeth cleanings.

Take Advantage of Current Benefits Before the Plan Changes

At the beginning of a new benefit period, there may be new requirements or changes to your dental insurance, for example, dentist fees, insurance deductibles and copays may increase. The benefit period, or policy year, is the length of time for which you are eligible to receive coverage.

Most plans are based on a calendar year, but the benefit period for some covers the fiscal year or the 12 months from the plan’s effective date.

Any changes to your coverage can impact the dental treatments you choose since you must pay the remainder of the cost after your dental insurance has paid its percentage. Additional out-of-pocket expenses include the annual deductible, which you must satisfy before your insurance plan pays anything.

A plan may also change its limitations and exclusions. Most plans don’t cover every dental expense and may change the number of visits or procedures they allow. A plan may even change the age limits for receiving certain benefits such as orthodontics.

Therefore, you need to know what procedures your plan covers and how much the insurance will help cover individual dental treatments and procedures.

Understand How Your Deductible Works

The annual deductible is a specified dollar amount you pay out of pocket before your dental insurance starts to pay its percentage of the cost of dental treatment you receive. Not all plans have a deductible but must do, and some plans that have deductibles still over coverage for routine preventive services.

How dental plans apply deductibles varies as well. While some plans apply the deductible to all covered services, not all do. Your plan may only require that you pay toward the deductible when receiving certain services. Keep in mind that copayments are usually not applied toward your deductible.

Higher deductibles mean lower premiums, but if you need a lot of dental services other than routine checkups and cleanings, a lower deductible dental plan may be the better choice for you. The trade-off for a lower deductible plan is paying higher premiums.

Make Your Maximum Benefit Amount Count

The maximum benefit amount is the total dollar amount your dental insurance will pay toward non-routine dental claims for that benefit period. Most plans limit the annual benefit maximum to $1,500, but some plans have a higher limit. Although the coverage your plan offers renews every year, the plan doesn’t carry over any unused benefits. Therefore, if you need dental work and haven’t used up your annual maximum, do so before the end of the year.

If you think you may need extensive dental work and the cost will exceed your annual maximum, you can divide the treatments over the end of one year and into the beginning of the next. Otherwise, if you reach your maximum amount before the benefit period ends, you must pay the cost of any additional dental work you receive before the next benefit period begins.

Dentists know that patients often don’t completely understand how their dental benefits work, particularly when it comes to annual maximums. Many patients aren’t even aware that their dental plan includes an annual maximum.

Therefore, some dentists notify patients—especially those who need treatment—who still have unused benefits so that they have the opportunity to schedule an appointment before their benefit period ends. Your dentist may inform you of an unused benefit amount and let you know of dental problems that they haven’t treated yet.

If you’ve been putting off a visit to your dentist, the realization that you will lose benefits at the year’s end may be incentive to get you there.

If you haven’t yet reached your annual benefit maximum and have some unfinished dental work, the dental team of Valley Oak Dental Group offers a wide range of dental services to meet your needs. Contact our team today!

Lost Tooth? Don’t Wait to Have It Replaced With an Implant

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 23:18:28 GMT

As soon as a tooth is removed from your jaw, the jawbone beneath it starts to deteriorate. This can have a lasting impact on your oral health, the appearance of your smile, and your tooth replacement options in the future.

If you’ve recently had a tooth removed or are scheduled for an extraction, the best time to consider having a missing tooth replaced with an implant is right now. Only a dental implant can stop the bone loss that occurs post-extraction. The sooner you have it inserted, the better.

Here’s a closer look at the implant process and why promptly replacing your missing tooth with an implant really is the best thing you can do for your smile.

Why Is It Important to Act Quickly?

Each of your teeth have roots that anchor them into the jawbone. Whenever you chew or clench your teeth, the motion stimulates the jawbone, and when the tooth and roots are removed, the bone tissue begins to die and recede. Loss of jawbone structure due to tooth loss can cause a number of problems, including:

A change in appearance as your facial tissues sink inward where bone is missing
Damage to the neighboring teeth as the bone beneath them begins to erode
Difficulty wearing dentures later in life

When an implant is inserted in place of the missing tooth, it stimulates the jawbone just as a natural tooth would. This prevents loss of bone structure.

A dental implant is essentially a titanium screw that is inserted into the jawbone. Over time, the bone integrates with the metal, making the implant stable. If you wait too long to have an implant inserted after a tooth extraction, your jawbone may not be strong enough to support it.

Some patients can still receive an implant after undergoing bone grafting procedures, but this is a lengthy process that’s better avoided by having your tooth replaced promptly.

What Makes an Implant a Better Choice Than a Bridge?

Several decades ago, before dental implant procedures were common, dentists often recommended that patients replace missing teeth with dental bridges. A bridge is essentially a false tooth that anchors to each of the neighboring teeth. It replaces the visible crown portion of the tooth, but not the roots.

Though they do improve the look of the smile and provide a chewing surface, dental bridges do not stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone loss like implants do. Implants also offer a number of other benefits over bridges.

Implants Protect the Neighboring Teeth

Since bridges are anchored to the teeth on either side of the empty socket, they put a considerable amount of strain on these teeth and can lead to decay. Implants protect the neighboring teeth by preventing their roots from shifting.

Implants Look Completely Natural

Most bridges are somewhat obvious if you look at them closely, but a dental bridge looks exactly like a natural tooth once your mouth has healed.

Implants Are Easy to Care For

With a dental bridge, you always have to worry about bacteria and food particles getting caught between the bridge and gums. This is not an issue with implants since they’re anchored into the jaw like a natural tooth. The only required care is to brush and floss around the implant as you would a natural tooth.

What Does Dental Implant Surgery Involve?

Some patients fear having implants inserted because it is a surgical procedure. However, it is a very safe procedure that has been perfected over the decades and has a success rate of up to 98%. Your dentist will use sedation and anesthesia to make sure you’re comfortable during the surgery. Practicing good oral hygiene and avoiding smoking after your implant surgery will minimize the risk of infections and side effects.

Generally, implants are inserted in a three-stage process.

Stage 1: Inserting the Implant

This is the most involved procedure of the three and is typically performed under sedation and local anesthesia. Your dentist inserts the titanium post into your jawbone and sutures your gum tissue closed. Over the next six months or so, the implant is left alone so your jawbone can integrate with it and create a stable base.

Stage 2: Attaching the Abutment

During this quick procedure, your dentist re-opens the gums and attaches a piece called an abutment to the implanted post. The abutment is what will attach your crown (the visible portion of the tooth) to the implant. Your gums are stitched around the abutment and left to heal for another week or two.

Stage 3: Placing the Crown

Once your gums are sufficiently healed, the crown, which looks just like a natural tooth, is attached to the abutment. Your dentist will carefully select the color of your crown so it matches your other teeth.

Don’t compromise the health of your remaining teeth by failing to replace the one that’s missing. Having a dental implant inserted takes time, but it’s worth it in the end. Schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about the implant process.

A Parent’s Guide to Sports Mouth Guards

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 23:44:21 GMT

Sports can play an important role in a child’s physical and social development. Not only can organized sports keep your child active, but team sports can help him or her build interpersonal skills.

But almost no sport is played without some risk of injury. You always make sure your child has on shin guards before taking to the soccer field and shoulder pads for football, but what about the areas that aren’t protected by standard sports gear?

Even sports where mouth guards are not required to play can cause oral injuries. And a 2011 survey ordered by Delta Dental Plans Association reported that 68% of children playing sports where they were at risk for a dental injury did not regularly wear mouth guards.

In this blog, we cover that basics of sports mouth guards so that you can make more informed decisions about your child’s gear.

How Does a Mouth Guard Protect Your Child?

On the sports field, most oral injuries affect the teeth directly. These injuries fit into the following categories:

Avulsion. The term “avulsion” describes any injury where a tooth is completely dislodged from its socket. In the case of permanent teeth, a dentist may attempt to put the natural tooth back in place or may have to replace the tooth with a dental prosthetic, like an implant.
Fracture. Any chip or crack in a tooth falls into this category. These injuries can cause high levels of pain and may increase the patient’s risk of oral decay. Your child’s dentist may need to use a filling, crown, or veneer to repair the damage.
Luxation. The term “luxation” applies to any injury that moves a tooth without dislodging it completely. For example, the tooth may become pushed forward or pulled back. A dentist may be able to move the tooth back into place, but luxation increases the chance that patient will need orthodontic work in the future.

Mouth guards significantly decrease the risk of all three types of common sports-related dental injury. When an athlete has a mouth guard in, the guard absorbs a portion of the force of any impact so that the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth suffer less damage.

Mouth guard use also reduces the risk of related injuries, such as bitten tongues and cheeks, teeth cutting through the lips, and jawbone injuries.

Where Should Your Child’s Mouth Guard Come From?

You can find a child’s mouth guard in any sporting goods store. However, not all mouth guards are created equal.

Many of the mouth guards from sporting goods retailers are stock models. These models come pre-formed in a specific shape and cannot be modified to better fit your child’s mouth if they don’t line up immediately.

Some sporting goods stores also offer mouth guards that can be heated up, either by boiling or in the microwave, and then bitten down on to take an impression of the wearer’s teeth. These guards typically fit better than pre-formed models but take up more space in the mouth, which can be uncomfortable. And you may need new impressions regularly.

The primary issue with these two mouth guard options is that the best mouth guard for any athlete is one that he or she will wear for as long as it’s needed. Stock mouth guards are notoriously uncomfortable and may cause mouth abrasions due to their solid plastic edges.

Heat and bite mouth guards are a better option than stock models, but they are often too thick for younger children and children with smaller mouths to keep in place.

The third option is a custom mouth guard created by your child’s dentist. These mouth guards are fabricated from a mold of your child’s teeth. Custom mouth guards consist of higher quality materials that many athletes find more comfortable than other options.

While custom mouth guards do cost more than other models, parents should weigh the cost of the mouth guard against the potential cost of dental injuries, both financially for them and financially for their child. Additionally, most custom mouth guards cost less than the other sporting equipment your child is already expected to wear to each meet, match, or game.

When Should Your Child Wear His or Her Mouth Guard?

Athletes should use mouth guards whenever there is a risk of oral injury. This rule includes official games, as well as practice periods and casual games.

Mouth guards are mandatory in football, lacrosse, and ice hockey. However, dental experts recommend that mouth guards be worn for:

Baseball and softball
Basketball
Boxing
Cycling
Gymnastics
Martial arts
Surfing
Volleyball
Wrestling

Children should also wear mouth guards during personal recreational activities with a high risk of dental injury, such as rollerblading and skateboarding.

If you aren’t sure whether or not your child needs a mouth guard for a sports activity, consult with your child’s pediatric dentist. The dentist can assess your child’s risk for dental injuries and emergencies and make recommendations based on the sports your child plays.

At Valley Oak Dental Group , we offer fitted mouth guards that are individually designed to fit each child athlete’s teeth perfectly.

3 Habits That Can Affect Your Child’s Dental Health

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 23:46:23 GMT

Seemingly innocent habits can ruin your child’s teeth, and that includes habits like thumb-sucking and going to sleep with a bottle. It isn’t hard for babies to fall into some potentially harmful habits that can affect their future oral health. Therefore, it’s important to help your child break any harmful habits that he or she forms or not start certain habits to begin with. Breaking harmful oral habits is one way to ensure the development of healthy primary and permanent teeth.

1. Thumb-Sucking

Thumb- or finger-sucking can help soothe a baby who relies on the habit for security. However, the action can have some harmful consequences as well, especially if your child continues the habit after age 3 or 4. While most children eventually outgrow thumb-sucking, not all do. If your child hasn’t stopped the habit by the time his or her permanent front teeth come in, constant thumb-sucking can push the teeth out.

This habit can also cause changes in a child’s jaw structure—changes that can affect the teeth. Besides crowded teeth, malocclusion or misalignment of the teeth, thumb-sucking can cause breathing problems, difficulty chewing and speech problems when the jaw doesn’t close properly.

Increased Risk for Dental Problems

Your child may be more at risk from the harmful effects of thumb-sucking if he or she has upper gum protrusion or an overbite runs in the family. A severe overbite, where there is excessive overlap of the upper and lower teeth, can cause headache pain, clenching and grinding of the teeth and jaw joint (TMJ) pain.

Although hereditary overbites are common, thumb-sucking adds to the problem by pushing the upper teeth forward, causing protrusion. As the thumb pushes the upper teeth and jawbone forward, it also pushes the lower jaw backward, moving the lower teeth inward.

Ways to Stop the Habit

Because of the possible dental effects, it’s important to help your child break the habit of thumb-sucking.

Offer other methods of security. Show your baby early on that there are things other than sucking their thumbs that are soothing and provide comfort. Try singing to or massaging your child whenever you notice the thumb going toward the mouth.
Try a diversion technique. Distract your young child’s attention from thumb-sucking with fun activities that keep both hands busy. Choose activities that your child likes to do.
Get help from a professional. When all else fails, talk to your child’s dentist. If the habit continues past age 4, a dentist can fit your child with a mouth guard or palatal appliance.

While there are different orthodontic devices available, some of the appliances keep the thumb from pushing on the teeth or make thumb-sucking uncomfortable. A dentist can also explain to your child how the habit can have a detrimental effect on his or teeth.

2. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

When you put your baby to bed with a bottle, the frequent exposure of the primary teeth to liquids that contain sugar increase the risk of tooth decay. You can help reduce the risk by filling your baby’s bottles with formula, milk or breast milk. Avoid filling bottles with juice or sugar water.

Although milk contains calcium and phosphorus, which protect tooth enamel, milk—including breast milk—contains lactose (natural sugar). Natural sugars aren’t as harmful to the body as added sugars, but any sugar can cause tooth decay.

Give your infant time to finish a bottle before putting him or her to bed. Drinking from a bottle allows for prolonged exposure of the teeth to liquids that contain sugar. The liquid from a bottle pools around a child’s teeth, giving decay-causing bacteria the food they need to stick to teeth and form plaque.

3. Sippy Cups

Once your baby outgrows drinking from a bottle, encourage him or her to drink from a regular cup, not a sippy cup. Sippy cups that are both convenient and prevent spills may seem like a practical solution if your child doesn’t yet do well drinking from a regular cup. However, a study published in the Journal of Dentistry for Children showed that nearly a third of toddlers with tooth decay drank from a sippy cup.

Drinking from a sippy cup is very much like drinking from a baby bottle. Both contribute to an abnormal swallowing pattern. Prolonged use of a sippy cup can lead to poor oral motor development, which can cause difficulty swallowing and poor speech skills. But when drinking from a regular cup, a child learns to control the muscles of the mouth and lips better.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents only use sippy cups to help their children make the transition from a bottle to a regular cup. Allow your child to drink from a sippy cup at meal and snack times and not throughout the day. Take the cup away as soon as your child finishes drinking.

If you have concerns about these or other issues that affect your child’s oral health, the pediatric dental team of Valley Oak Dental Group can provide information on children’s dental care, beginning at infancy through to the teen years.

A Family’s Guide for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy This Summer

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 23:51:39 GMT

When the warmth and freedom of summer finally hit, the health of your teeth might be the last thing on your mind. However, some common summer activities and diets can actually make the warm months one of the most dangerous times of the year for your dental health.

This guide can help you understand common summer dangers so you don’t inadvertently harm your teeth. This guide is especially important to consider if you have children, because kids are less likely to remember or place a priority on dental hygiene, especially with the excitement of summer activities.

Food and Beverages

You probably do your best to feed your family nutritious foods during the school season, but once summer hits, it can be easy to get a little lax. Here are some of the biggest dental culprits you should watch out for when it comes to food and drinks.

Cold Drinks

The biggest threat to your teeth during the summer comes from food and beverage choice. Hotter weather means a higher consumption of drinks like lemonade, soda, and chilled juice. Some people will sip these cold beverages throughout the day, constantly exposing their teeth to higher sugar and acidity.

If you are going to drink sugary beverages, it’s best to do so with a straw and to do it all at once. Try to use water as your main refreshment. Not only will it hydrate you better, but it’s safer for your teeth.

Snacking

Summer is also a time where snack consumption goes up. Children have a less structured routine because there is no school, and they are generally more active. This correlates into more snacking throughout the day. A reliable meal schedule is best for tooth health because it limits the exposure to starches that coat the teeth until they are brushed.

You might not be able to fully prevent kids (or yourself) from snacking during the summer, especially during vacations, long weekends, and road trips. Plan to provide tooth-healthy snacks like whole fruits and vegetables, low-sugar yogurt, almonds, string cheese, and lean meats.

Try to save refined breads and sweets for special occasions, or provide them with dinner or breakfast to make sure the residue is washed away with morning or evening brushing.

Ice

Many people like to chew on ice during the summer for a cooling effect. Chewing on ice is very dangerous to your teeth, especially if you have existing fillings and crowns. It’s better to chew on chilled carrots or apples instead of ice. If you like to have ice in your mouth, suck on chips instead of chewing on them.

Talk to your dentist if you can’t break the ice-chewing habit. They may have some suggestions for more interventions.

Sports and Activities

Summer is the season of increased time outdoors, in the pool, or engaged in summer sports. Your child may take swimming lessons, the family may go rollerblading or hiking, or youth might join local summer soccer teams and baseball leagues. These are all healthful activities, but you need to know the risks and plan for them.

Swimming

Slips and falls on slippery pool decks are one of the leading causes for emergency dental visits during the summer. You can also hit your teeth on waterslides or shallow pool bottoms if you are not following the rules of the facility. Speak with each family member about pool safety, and be relentless in enforcing basic safety rules.

Remember that chlorine can accelerate tooth decay. If you or your child is in competitive swimming classes or spends plenty of time in your personal backyard pool, be sure to check that the pool’s pH is properly balanced at all times. Poor pool pH softens enamel and causes brown staining on your teeth.

Always brush your teeth after swimming so fluoride can help restore any minimal chlorine damage while strengthening your enamel.

Sports

Before enrolling your son or daughter into summer sports, be sure to speak with the dentist about whether or not your child will need a mouth guard. Sports injuries are one of the main reasons for premature tooth loss, and wearing a mouth guard can help protect vulnerable teeth from traumatic injury.

Wearing a mouth guard is even a good idea for some home-based activities like rollerblading or bike riding, especially for kids who are more prone to accidents.

Dehydration

More days spent running, climbing, swimming, and exploring means less attention to liquid intake. Even taking day trips to the lake or the zoo can result in dehydration during very warm days. Dehydration reduces saliva production. Saliva helps to protect your teeth from bacterial damage. Always take plenty of water with you to activities, and keep extra bottles in the car at all times.

Loss of Routine

Each family should take some time to decide how they will re-establish routine during the summer. It’s easier to remember to brush teeth with a solid bed time and departure time for school and daycare. It’s tougher in the summer, especially when on vacation.

Set alarms on your computer or phone to remind yourself and your kids to brush teeth morning and night, even when camping or visiting relatives.

For more information on summer tooth care, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group Inc.

Wisdom Teeth: Do Yours Need to be Pulled?

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 23:54:10 GMT

Many have told frightening tales about wisdom tooth removal and the painful recovery, so you may naturally feel apprehensive about getting yours removed. Extracting wisdom teeth is a very common dental procedure; about 85 percent of the general population get their wisdom teeth removed because this third set of adult molars can cause painful dental problems.

How do you know if your wisdom teeth should be removed? This guide can help you learn about wisdom teeth and the symptoms that indicate your wisdom teeth will only cause pain and damage.

Growth Trends

Wisdom teeth are the final teeth to erupt in your mouth. It takes years for the teeth to develop under the gum, and even after they emerge, the roots continue to deepen and develop. Dentists carefully watch wisdom tooth development on teenage x-rays because even early growth patterns can indicate whether or not the teeth will cause problems later on.

Unfortunately, these teeth are often too large for the space left in your mouth. As a result, the teeth can grow forward, backward, or sideways instead of straight. When this happens, your dentist may refer to the tooth as “impacted”–– meaning the tooth cannot fully emerge and function as a proper molar because your other teeth are in the way.

Impacted teeth should be taken very seriously. They cannot grow properly, so the pressure can have devastating effects on neighboring teeth or even on your jaw bone. The impacted tooth can develop severe decay, introduce infected abscesses, or even cause the destruction of neighboring molars.

Common Problems

It’s when teeth are impacted or have the possibility of becoming impacted that your dentist will often recommend removal. However, impacted teeth are not the only reason why wisdom teeth are often troublesome. They can also cause:

Increased risk of decay. These teeth are at the very back of your mouth. Even if you have room in your mouth to accommodate wisdom teeth, they are challenging to brush and floss well.
Trouble with your bite. Sometimes wisdom teeth grow in straight, but they still can affect the alignment of how the rest of your teeth fit together when chewing. Your bite will be affected, especially if you’ve had braces.
Unforeseen problems. Your teeth may feel fine for several years before the roots deepen and strengthen enough to cause pain. By this time, however, extraction is much more challenging because the bone has more fully hardened around the now large wisdom tooth.
Difficulty chewing. You get used to the way your teeth feel in your mouth. Suddenly, with new molars, it is easier to accidentally bite your tongue or cheek when you chew or even when you talk.

Generally, most people elect to remove their wisdom teeth just to prevent the more painful or irritating dental problems the teeth could cause later.

Advanced Symptoms

Some people feel immediate pain as their wisdom teeth start to grow larger and move closer to the surface. Others don’t feel anything at all. However, you should contact your dentist if you experience:

Persistent headaches. The pressure of growing wisdom teeth can intense headaches. Even if you have no pain in your mouth, headaches are often a sign that your teeth need to be removed.
Difficulty chewing. You should always be able to chew your food pain-free. If trouble chewing occurs in conjunction with wisdom teeth growth, your dentist should take a current x-ray to find out if your wisdom teeth are starting to become impacted.
Bleeding in the gums. Sometimes gums can bleed when you brush, but this is only when your dental hygiene has been poor. Impacted wisdom teeth cause your gums to become inflamed, and they will bleed easily when you brush or even when you chew your food.
Stiffness in your neck or jaw. You might not have pain, but impacted teeth do still affect your nerves. You may feel some discomfort when opening your mouth or when turning your head side to side.
Bad flavors in your mouth when your food should taste good. This is a sign of an infection that has significantly progressed around a tooth.

Any of these more advanced symptoms almost always mean you will need wisdom tooth extraction.

Maintaining Wisdom Teeth

If you’ve managed to escape the above risks and problems, you are one of the lucky few who may avoid wisdom tooth extraction. However, it’s still important that you take the time to brush carefully, as these teeth are still more prone to cavities. You should practice exemplary dental hygiene to keep these teeth healthy.

Your dentist may also recommend keeping your wisdom teeth if you have temporomandibular disorder because removing wisdom teeth that are not causing major problems can make symptoms worse.

For more information on wisdom tooth problems and removal, contact Valley Oak Dental Group Inc .

Dental Crowns: How to Know Which Material Is Right for You

Tue, 02 May 2017 23:56:51 GMT

Dental crowns are one of the most common types of cosmetic and restorative dentistry. They provide support for cracked, broken, decayed, or misshapen teeth. There are many reasons for getting dental crowns, but many patients are surprised to learn that crowns vary widely in cost and even appearance.

Here’s what you need to know about different materials used to make permanent dental crowns, so you can choose which material is right for your smile.

Gold

Gold was the most common material used for crowns before other materials were developed. Because pure gold is too soft for crowns, dentists use an alloy. Gold still offers plenty of advantages over other materials:

Thinness. Other crown types typically need to be thicker to provide proper support. Because gold is malleable, less of the tooth has to be filed away to fit the crown.
Durability. Some people need crowns because they have damage from clenching or grinding their teeth. Other crown types are less forgiving, so gold is the best option, especially for molars. Gold crowns can last for decades without replacement.
Lower reactivity. One of the reasons dentists use gold instead of other metals is because gold is the least likely to cause irritation to the delicate tissues in your mouth.

The obvious downside of gold crowns is the color—they are not the best choice for a uniform smile. However, if only one of your back teeth needs to be capped, don’t be so quick to dismiss gold. It is one of the most accurately fitting types of crowns with the longest lasting results. They are also the least abrasive on your other teeth.

Porcelain

There is nothing like a porcelain crown when it comes to full cosmetic effect. A nicely crafted porcelain crown is a work of art, and offers these benefits:

Realistic. It matches the shape and size of your original tooth exactly. Porcelain has the semi-transparent appearance of real teeth.
Strong. Porcelain is a strong material, so it takes a good deal of force to damage the crown.
Decreased sensitivity. Porcelain provides a good buffer for hot and cold sensations, making it more comfortable for you to enjoy hot soups and cold drinks.

Unfortunately, there are some downsides to porcelain. Porcelain is actually harder than your natural enamel, so when you chew or grind your teeth, the porcelain crown can actually damage neighboring teeth. This is why porcelain crowns, while beautiful, are not the best option for those who have trouble with bruxism and clenching.

Porcelain crowns are also thicker than metal gold caps, requiring that more of your original tooth be filed away to make room for the fitting. If your tooth is already unstable, a different material may be needed. They can also be more expensive because of the artistry involved in their creation.

Porcelain crowns will eventually need replaced in your lifetime, as they typically last from 5 to 15 years. You can extend their life by chewing carefully, avoiding hard foods like ice and brittle candy, and not using your teeth to chew fingernails or open packaging.

Porcelain Bonded to Metal

Some crowns are made with porcelain fused to metal. These were the result of trying to marry the beauty of porcelain with the functionality and longevity of gold. The most common types of bonded porcelain crowns are made with gold.

The lower layers of the crown are gold, while the final layer is made with porcelain. This helps to offset the blatant appearance of an all-gold crown. These crowns are very durable, but there are some drawbacks. The metal layer beneath the porcelain can stain the gum line to look dark gray or black. The gold layer will also give the crown a more opaque look.

These combination crowns are most suitable for patients who still have trouble with grinding their teeth but who really don’t like the idea of an all-gold cap, or for those who have several gold-based crowns already and need a replacement to match to the others.

Zirconia

The drawbacks of gold and porcelain crowns can be mitigated with zirconia-based crowns. Zirconia is derived from the metal zirconium, and it mostly mimics the properties of ceramic materials. It is exceptionally strong, providing an excellent base for a porcelain finish. These crowns can be stained to look identical to real teeth. You’ll find it nearly impossible to tell the difference.

Other benefits include less tooth removal and reduced brittleness. These ceramic-like crowns do not need to be as thick as porcelain crowns, and they will not break as easily. These crowns are still a new science, however, so they are less common than bonded, metal, or porcelain crowns.

Composite Resin

One of the least expensive options for crowns is dental resin crowns. These are not as strong or as durable as the materials listed above, so they need to be replaced much more often. However, they can be a good “temporary” permanent crown until you can save money for longer lasting option.

For more information on crown materials and costs, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group Inc.

Your Guide to Adjusting to New Dentures

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 23:59:46 GMT

When people find out they need dentures, they often feel apprehensive. They worry that their new teeth will slip and slide and feel uncomfortable. They also worry that people will notice their new pearly whites.

Modern dentures can relieve many of these worries. Modern dentures are custom-made to fit snugly in your mouth. Your dentist makes an impression of your mouth before giving you your new dentures. The impression ensures that your dentures will fit the shape of your mouth and gums.

But even custom-made dentures take some getting used to. Follow these steps to make the adjustment easier.

1. Use Adhesives

Over time, your tongue and lips will learn how to keep your dentures in place. But until your tongue and lips get used to dentures, your dentures may move out of place. To prevent this, apply a small amount of adhesive to your dentures. Then press your dentures firmly in place.

If you’re using a paste adhesive, you need just one three or four small dabs. If you’re using a powder, you can cover the dentures lightly with the powder.

2. Eat Carefully

While you become accustomed to your dentures, eat soft foods such as:

Yogurt
Apple sauce
Mashed potatoes
Eggs
Fish
Beans
Cottage cheese
Pasta
Rice

Avoid anything sticky or chewy, which can cause your dentures to break. Hot foods, cold foods, and acidic foods can cause your dentures to wear down.

Before you eat, cut your food into small pieces. Avoid chewing on just one side of your mouth, or your dentures might slip to one side. With time and practice, you’ll be able to eat more normally.

3. Practice Speaking

With your new set of dentures in your mouth, you might find it difficult to speak at first. You may need to speak more slowly to avoid producing a clicking sound.

The more you practice speaking with dentures, the easier it will get. Before you wear your dentures in public, practice by reading out loud or talking with a close family member or friend.

4. Rinse With Salt Water

Parts of your gums might feel sore when you first wear your dentures. Rinse your mouth out with warm salt water to relieve the soreness. If the soreness gets worse, talk to your dentist. Your dentures may need an adjustment.

5. Clean Your Dentures

Brushing your dentures removes food and plaque and prevents your dentures from getting stained. It also removes any residue left by the adhesive. Brush your dentures each morning with a denture cleaner or with soap and water. Do not use toothpaste, which can scratch your dentures.

Each night, soak your dentures in an overnight cleaner. This keeps your dentures moist and prevents them from drying out. It also gives your gum tissues a break, which can help you avoid discomfort and infection.

6. Clean Your Mouth

Even though you no longer have natural teeth, you should still brush your mouth to remove food and plaque. Brush your gums, your tongue, and the roof of your mouth before putting in your dentures.

7. Continue to See Your Dentist

Your dentist should continue to check your dentures to ensure you have the right fit. The wrong fit can cause pain and might even cause mouth infections. Your dentist may need to adjust your dentures periodically, since bone loss causes changes to your mouth over time. You should also get your dentures replaced every five to ten years. If your dentures need repair, bring them to a dentist right away.

Follow these tips for a smooth transition to wearing dentures. Keep reading our blog for more top dental tips.

Eating Disorders and Teeth: What You Need to Know

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 00:02:28 GMT

Your diet has one of the most significant effects on your total oral health. Drinking too much soda can accelerate tooth decay, while drinking wine or coffee can lead to stains. Some dietary problems are particularly harmful; eating disorders affect the whole body, including teeth.

Since eating disorders can affect people of all ages, it’s important for you to know the risks and signs of eating disorders. If you’re a parent, you can catch the behavior and put your child in treatment before any serious damage is done. If you’re a roommate, spouse, or friend of someone who struggles with body image, you can likewise take action to get them help.

Here’s how eating disorders affect the teeth, what you can do to realize there is a problem, and why relying on your dentist as a health professional can help stop related tooth diseases before they progress too far.

Tooth Problems

The most common eating disorders are bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Those with bulimia go through episodes of binging and purging, either through induced vomiting or laxatives. They might also “purge” through hours of excessive exercise. Anorexia is controlled starvation where the person gradually but decisively reduces their nutrient intake to almost nothing.

The effects of these disorders on the body are marked, but the teeth are affected in the following ways:

Increased decay, especially on the backside of the teeth. The increased decay comes from the acidic nature of stomach contents. Occasional vomiting during illness is normal, and the teeth can handle it. Daily or even weekly vomiting will take its toll. In severe cases, the enamel completely erodes and teeth begin to lose their height.
Bleeding gums. Both bulimia and anorexia will lead to a lack of vital nutrients. The soft tissue of the gums is sensitive and will bleed more frequently due to poor vitamin and mineral balance.
Dry mouth. Eating disorders enlarge salivary glands, leading to less saliva. Dry mouth increases the risk of dental caries.
Cracks and sores. Nutrient deficiencies of iron, vitamin D, calcium, and B-vitamins will make the mouth more prone to canker sores, bad breath, and decreases moisture. It’s not uncommon to see white-tinged gums or cracked lips from excessive dryness. Increase sensitivity caused by these wounds will make brushing and flossing painful.

As you can see, dental trouble from eating disorders can lead to serious dental injury, like gum disease and advanced decay. Fortunately, this damage happens gradually, and your dentist should notice the damage to the teeth.

Help From the Dentist

Dentists are often the first line of defense when it comes to catching disordered eating, so you should always use and recommend a dentist your trust. If you or your loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important that you or your loved one are honest with your care providers when they ask about the tooth damage.

Eating disorders have many stages for recovery. It might take months before harmful behavior begins to subside. Your dentist can provide solutions to protect the teeth from too much harm as you work through treatment. Your dentist will likely discuss:

Restorative solutions for damaged teeth. When you (or your loved one) are fully in recovery, if you need restorative or cosmetic treatment like crowns, implants, or whitening, your dentist can devise a timeline for when these treatments will be wise.
Protective methods to save teeth from further damage during healing. Unfortunately, as with many behavioral disorders, eating disorder recovery does not happen with the flick of switch and some medication. Healing requires time and patience, and slip ups occur. Your dentist can provide a dental care plan to navigate the ups and downs of recovery.
Continued examinations. It helps for recovering individuals to be accountable to a dentist. As such, it’s important to stick with cleanings and x-rays both during and after recovery.

Your dentist can give you more in-depth information about the right care for your specific situation.

Help at Home

Recovering individuals need plenty of home support. Be aware of the signs of eating disorders, and try to remain supportive of attempts to heal. For dental health care at home, you can remind yourself or a loved one to:

Rinse out your mouth after meals or after a relapse. Brushing directing after purging can be harmful to the teeth, but it’s still important to dull corrosive effects by rinsing.
Take prescribed vitamins and minerals. These will help to prevent tissue damage in the mouth.
Stay out of the bathroom after meals, and perhaps take a short walk out of the house during this time. This activity can help curb the desire to purge immediately after meals.

You should also refrain from commenting on weight. Don’t use ultimatums or increase shame by saying things like, “You’re harming yourself and your family.” Instead, provide words of encouragement and empowerment.

Also, never reduce the severity of an eating disorder with statements like, “You can choose to feel better,” or “You can improve if you only put your mind to it.” These statements simplify the complexity of eating disorders, which normally have several triggers and underlying psychological causes.

For more information on how your dentist can help you or someone you know with the dental problems caused by an eating disorder, contact us at Valley Oak Dental Group Inc.

Eat Your Way to Healthier Teeth With These 11 Nutrients

Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:12:07 GMT

You know that the foods you eat impact the health and appearance of your teeth. However, most of the connections you know about between your diet and oral health focus on the negative. For instance, you probably know that sugar and soda cause cavities, and wine, strawberries, tea, and coffee can all cause stains.

Luckily for you, there are also many foods that will help you keep your smile pristine. To preserve and improve your teeth’s health, maintain adequate levels of the following 11 nutrients.

1. Antioxidants

When it comes to healthy eating, foods rich in antioxidants top most lists. This high rate of inclusion stems from the fact that antioxidants help combat bacteria and cell damage.

In your mouth, antioxidants decrease inflammation and can reduce your risk of gum disease. Find your daily dose of antioxidants in nuts, beans, berries, and apples.

2. Anthocyanins

In recent years, scientists have begun to study the relationship between anthocyanins—or a certain type of pigment—and oral health, and the results are promising. Early results from a study funded by the Center for Advanced Functional Foods Research and Entrepreneurship (CAFFRE) suggest that anthocyanins decrease the formation of plaque and may even reduce the risk of oral cancer.

Anthocyanins are found in certain stone fruit, like plums and cherries, and in eggplant.

3. Arginine

The amino acid arginine hasn’t been studied as much as antioxidants, but studies show a possible correlation between arginine and healthier mouths. According to a study published in PLOS One, arginine could prevent tooth decay by disrupting plaque buildup.

Red meats and nuts both contain arginine.

4. Calcium

Calcium is a major contributor to both healthy bones and strong teeth. This nutrient supports jawbone and tooth health by encouraging remineralization that builds enamel back up after it becomes damaged.

Calcium is present in most dairy products, as well as in seafood. If you don’t consume dairy or meat, you can get your calcium from tofu, leafy greens, and calcium-fortified foods.

5. Folic Acid

Folic acid aids in cell growth and regeneration, which helps oral tissues stay healthy and teeth stay stable. However, folic acid is only stored in the body for short periods of time before it’s processed, which means you must consume it regularly for it to positively affect oral health.

The best dietary source of folic acid is cruciferous vegetables, which are vegetables that have a deep green color and a leafy structure. Some cruciferous vegetables include cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, and cabbage.

6. Magnesium

The right amount of magnesium helps protect bones and teeth from damage. Like calcium, magnesium is an essential component of building and maintaining a strong jawbone and enamel.

Whole grains, from oats to wheat, contain magnesium. You can also get magnesium from bananas, leafy greens, and avocados.

7. Phosphorous

Calcium and phosphorus are the two main components of tooth enamel, so increasing your intake of these nutrients can fortify your teeth against erosion, staining, and other damage.

Along with consuming enough calcium, make sure you get your needed phosphorous from nuts, seeds, eggs, and red meats.

8. Polyphenols

The relationship between polyphenols and improved oral health still needs some research. However, a study published in in the Journal of Dentistry reports that polyphenols may stop plaque-causing bacteria from growing.

You can find polyphenols in in green and black tea, flaxseed, and cocoa.

9. Probiotics

Probiotics are a type of beneficial bacteria already found in the body. You can also consume dietary probiotics to balance out detrimental bacteria in your mouth, which improves your gum health and reduces your risk of tooth decay.

Find probiotics in low-fat yogurts, as well as in certain other fermented foods like miso paste or sauerkraut.

10. Vitamin C

When it comes to healthy eating, vitamin C gets almost as much attention as antioxidants—and for good reason. Vitamin C aids in multiple essential bodily processes that improve oral health. For instance, it helps your body produce collagen proteins and reduce inflammation, both of which contribute to healthier gum tissue.

Most fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C, but you can add kale, oranges, or bell peppers to your diet for an extra boost.

11. Vitamin D

When you think of vitamin D, you may think of its impact on your skin first. But vitamin D also helps your body absorb calcium more effectively. Without vitamin D, the calcium and phosphorous you consume are less helpful.

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, but you can bolster the amount of vitamin D in your body by eating eggs and cold-water fish.

Keep Your Teeth Healthy

You may have different dietary needs based on your activity level, current oral and overall health, and medical history. Remember to consult with your dentist and your primary care physician when deciding to make changes to your diet. These professionals may recommend adding specific foods to your diet or using supplements so you can have the right nutrient levels.

Use these guidelines and advice from your care providers to eat your way to a brighter, healthier smile.

Fun Flossing Facts

Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:04:16 GMT

Fun Flossing Facts

Pregnancy and Dental Health: What You Should Know

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:16:50 GMT

After you found out you were pregnant, you likely visited your doctor to start prenatal care. You want to do everything you can to keep yourself and your baby healthy during your pregnancy. You may note every future doctor’s appointment to ensure your baby is strong during the next several months. And you plan to take prenatal vitamins, exercise, eat healthy, and drink plenty of water so you can stay healthy as well.

However, don’t forget one important aspect of your overall health: your dental hygiene. Pregnant women experience multiple changes in their bodies-and their mouths are no exception.

Below, we’ve provided a guide to help you maintain good oral health during your pregnancy. Read on to learn how your mouth may change during the next few months and what you can do to keep your mouth and your baby as healthy as possible.

Hormones Will Affect Your Dental Health

During your pregnancy, your body’s hormone levels increase. As those levels get higher, you are more at risk for developing certain dental health issues.

For example, many medical professionals believe that rising HCG levels cause morning sickness and nausea, and certain tastes and smells may make you feel sick. If the taste or smell of your toothpaste causes you to feel nauseous, you may not want to brush your teeth as often.

As a result, you may have more plaque buildup on your teeth and more bacteria in your mouth-and all of these factors can negatively impact your dental health.

Pregnancy can cause some women to develop gingivitis or gum disease. You may also notice tooth erosion, dry mouth, loose or mobile teeth, and cavities.

Recent research suggests that women who have untreated oral health issues like gum disease during pregnancy are more at risk for delivering premature, underweight babies-and these children are more at risk for developing health issues like hearing and vision problems and cerebral palsy.

While you can’t do anything about the changing, rising hormones levels you’ll experience during pregnancy, you can take extra measures to maintain good oral health and protect yourself and your growing child.

Morning Sickness Doesn’t Have to Stop You From Dental Care

One measure you can take during pregnancy is to keep brushing and flossing your teeth, even if the smell and taste of your toothpaste don’t sit well with you.

Purchase bland toothpastes and floss so you can still care for your teeth without getting nauseous. Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day and to floss at least once a day. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush as well. Harder bristles may irritate your already sensitive gums.

Additionally, if you’ve thrown up any time during the day, you’ll need to take a little extra care to keep your teeth in good shape. The stomach acid in your vomit can cause your teeth to erode. However, after you’ve thrown up, don’t brush your teeth right away. The motion pushes acid around and deeper into your teeth, which can cause your teeth to erode faster.

Instead, rinse your mouth out with a solution made of water and baking soda. This mixture will reduce the pH level of your mouth and remove much of the acid. Wait a little while after rinsing before you brush your teeth.

Dental Checkups Are Safe During Pregnancy

Another way you can ensure your dental health is to visit your dentist regularly during your pregnancy. As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, schedule an appointment with your dentist. He or she will clean your teeth and perform a routine checkup, and all of these basic procedures are safe.

During this visit, your dentist will also create a dental plan that you should stick to for the remainder of your pregnancy. This plan will likely include additional cleanings and checkups each trimester to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and that you aren’t at risk for developing gum disease or other dental issues. Your dentist may also provide you with tips you can use in between appointments.

If part of your treatment plan includes taking X-rays of your mouth, don’t worry. The American Dental Association (ADA) considers X-rays safe during pregnancy. Other procedures, like root canal treatment, are also safe, but you’ll want to wait until at least your second trimester to have them done.

Any time your dentist recommends a procedure, ask him or her the best time to schedule the treatment based on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Cravings Can Impact Your Teeth

Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of being pregnant is realizing how many different cravings you have. Some women may crave sweet treats like candy and ice cream while others crave acidic foods like pickles, oranges, or grapefruits.

Make sure the foods you crave won’t harm your teeth. For example, too much sugar can cause more bacteria to grow in your mouth, and the bacteria can cause problems like gum disease. Similarly, acidic foods can strip away your tooth enamel if you eat too much over time.

Any food is good in moderation, but ask your dentist what tips you can use at home so you can eat the foods you crave without harming your teeth and gums.

Pregnancy will come with a lot of surprises and unknowns, but one thing is certain: you can still keep your mouth healthy during your pregnancy. Use the information above to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and don’t hesitate to contact the dentists at Valley Oak Dental if you have any questions.

Is Flossing Really Necessary?

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:20:07 GMT

Every dentist appointment is the same: you cringe when your dentist asks you whether you floss. You promise your dentist you’ll start flossing, but then you promptly forget.

If you question the importance of flossing, you’re not alone. Some people claim flossing is unnecessary because there’s little scientific proof that flossing prevents tooth decay.

But despite the arguing voices, there are plenty of common sense reasons to floss. Flossing the correct way can improve your dental health in many ways.

1. Flossing Cleans Every Part of the Tooth

You brush your teeth because you want to remove food particles and plaque. But brushing only cleans about 60% of your tooth’s surface. What about all the particles that hide between and under the gum line? Flossing removes those small bits and protects your teeth from developing decay in hard-to-reach places.

Without flossing, the particles hidden between and around your teeth create a breeding ground for bacteria. As bacteria grows, plaque begins to form. Plaque is a strong indicator of unhealthy teeth and gums. Flossing reduces this undesired plaque buildup.

2. Flossing Prevents Gum Disease

When you brush and floss, you think first about protecting your teeth, but you might forget about your gums. As plaque between your teeth and under your gum line hardens, it forms tartar. This tartar causes your gums to turn red and swell. If it continues to spread, it could cause severe gum disease. And if gum disease is left unchecked, it could cause tooth loss.

In a review of 12 studies, researchers found that people who both brushed and flossed were less likely to have gum disease than people who brushed but did not floss.

3. Flossing May Prevent Other Diseases

Since flossing can prevent gum disease, it can help prevent other related diseases as well.

When mouth bacteria are allowed to grow and fester, they can contribute to the development of other diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. In an analysis of several studies, researchers found that people with periodontal disease were more likely to have coronary heart disease. They concluded that periodontal disease could be a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

How to Get the Most Benefits from Flossing

If you don’t see any of these benefits from flossing, you might not be flossing the correct way. Many people floss simply by moving a piece of floss in between their teeth. While this may remove large debris that’s easy to reach, it leaves many dangerous particles untouched.

To see the full benefits of flossing, you need to remove particles hidden between the contact points of the teeth and under the gum line. To do so, follow these steps:

Get a long string of floss. Wrap the ends around the middle fingers on each hand.
Use your thumb and forefinger to grasp the floss.
Curve the floss and glide it into the small gap between two teeth.
Move the floss up and down to remove particles between the tooth and around its curved sides.
Keeping the floss curved around your tooth in a C shape, remove food particles near the top of the tooth and under the gum line.
Use a new section of floss to repeat the above steps on the adjoining tooth.
Repeat the process between the next two teeth.

This flossing method will help you dislodge food particles that brushing alone will not.

If you find using floss difficult, there are other types of floss that can make the process easier. Y shaped flossers, pics, and brushes can more effectively reach in the hidden areas of your teeth.

Most dentists recommend that you floss at least once a day.

Some people argue that there is little proof flossing prevents tooth decay. However, there is proof that flossing cleans your teeth, prevents gum disease, and keeps other diseases at bay. Floss the correct way and keep your teeth healthy all year long.

Oil Pulling and Your Teeth: 3 Things You Should Know

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 00:23:19 GMT

In recent years, oil pulling has peaked in popularity. Red-carpet celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley swear by the technique, asserting that oil pulling naturally whitens teeth and freshens breath. And naturally, thousands upon thousands of fans have followed suit, claiming to have almost miraculous results.

But is oil pulling as beneficial to your teeth as it seems?

Here are a few of the most important things you should know about oil pulling and its effects.

1. It’s in a Scientific Gray Area

Oil pulling isn’t a newly discovered trend in pseudo-science. In fact, the technique has long been a traditional Ayurveda treatment for reducing dry mouth and inflammation.

Researchers have had plenty of time to conduct a few studies on oil pulling’s effectiveness. In one study, experts found that oil pulling reduced S. Mutans (bacteria known to cause cavities and tooth decay) levels in two weeks. Researchers concluded that oil pulling could maintain and even improve oral health.

But the American Dental Association isn’t too impressed with the research just yet. The conducted studies often had a cultural bias, a small sample size, and a lack of negative controls. Additional clinical evidence is needed to fully determine the oral effects oil pulling has and whether it compares to other oral hygiene practices.

While anecdotal evidence shows promise, you might want to keep your toothbrush and floss handy until more information becomes available.

2. It Can’t Treat Gum Disease

According to a study published in the Nigeria Medical Journal, oil pulling with coconut oil reduced plaque formation and plaque-induced gingivitis. Adolescents who practiced oil pulling for 30 days exhibited a statistically significant decrease in gingival indices.

However, researchers have not proven whether oil pulling removes enough bacteria to decrease the risk of cavities, nor have they compared the effectiveness to the brushing and flossing. While oil pulling could work well for those with relatively healthy teeth and gums, the technique doesn’t present a reliable cure for gingivitis and gum disease.

In severe infections, the gums inflame, swell, and pull away from the teeth, creating pockets that even more bacteria can hide. As gingivitis progresses, these pockets increase from a healthy two or three millimeter depth to a four or five millimeter depth (or more).

As the oils slide along the gum’s surface, they likely won’t fight or remove plaque lodged deep within the gums. Only a professional scaling (scraping) and root planning can clean tartar from below the gum line, so don’t skip out on your dentist appointment just yet.

3. It May Lead to Side Effects

Many people assert that oil pulling causes no side effects and that the technique is completely safe for anyone to try. But as with many other aspects of oil pulling, the side effects need additional study and analyzation.

Some practitioners warn against using improper oil pulling techniques. If performed incorrectly, oil pulling could result in muscular stiffness and exhaustion, excessive thirst, and dry mouth. Others have noted diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea, and flu-like symptoms.

In a few rare cases, individuals who inhaled the oils while oil pulling developed lipoid pneumonia. Symptoms of the condition varied from asymptomatic to life-threatening, but lipoid pneumonia often results in a chronic cough, chest pain, and intermittent fever.

Talk to Your Dentist Before You Try Oil Pulling

Oil pulling has the potential to improve oral health when combined with other solid habits. Rinsing your mouth regularly could stimulate saliva production, which in turn fights bacteria and lifts stains.

But oil pulling isn’t for everyone, even if it does seem to give your favorite celebrities a winning smile or your best friend fresh breath. If you try to use the technique as a cure-all or a substitute for scientifically proven practices, you may find yourself with more cavities than you anticipated.

If you are curious about trying oil pulling, talk to your dentist about the risks and whether it would benefit your teeth and gums.

The Tooth Hurts: 8 Causes of Dental Pain

Fri, 08 Jul 2016 00:26:53 GMT

It’s been a long day, and you’re just sitting down with a bowl of your favorite ice cream. As you put on your current television obsession, you scoop a bit of ice cream into your mouth.

And then it hits: an overwhelming, stinging pain in several of your teeth.

Tooth pain isn’t fun for anyone. It can be distracting and frustrating, and it can quickly turn a great day into a sour one. But what causes tooth pain? There are actually a lot of dental conditions that can cause tooth pain, and each seems to have its own brand of intense and biting pain. Below, we’ll discuss eight causes of tooth pain and what type of pain you might experience with each condition.

1. Thinning Enamel or Receding Gums

If you’re experiencing some sharp sensitivity to cold and hot foods and beverages, you may have an issue with your enamel or gums. Avoid the hot coffee for a while and schedule an appointment with your dentist. He or she can help you find the right solutions to strengthen your enamel and restore your gums.

Until you make it to your appointment, stick to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Also, try not to brush too hard, as doing so can have a negative impact on your gums.

2. Decay

Decay is the top cause of tooth pain, and it can lead to other painful dental issues. If one of your teeth is a bit sensitive to hot and cold foods, a small portion of your tooth is starting to decay. But if you’re experiencing a severe, sudden pain when you bite down, the decay may have overtaken your tooth.

Go see your dentist if you suspect decay is the problem. They can evaluate your tooth and determine the best course of action.

3. Cavities

Sometimes, decay can result in a cavity. Most cavities may go unnoticed until you see the dentist, but if the cavity grows enough, you may be left in a painful situation. Cold and hot foods will bring out that sharp sensitivity in the affected tooth, or biting and chewing will result in a bolt of intense pain.

Luckily, most cavities are quick fixes. Visit your dentist to get a filling and return to your pain-free life.

4. A Loose or Damaged Filling

While fillings are handy and wonderful appliances, they can sometimes turn against you. A damaged or loose filling can provoke a sharp pain whenever you bite down. Chewing gum will be painful, and enjoying a steak will be impossible. Take a trip to your dentist and have him or her take a look at your fillings. If your fillings look a little worse for wear, your dentist can replace or repair them.

5. Damaged Pulp in the Tooth

When a mouthful of cold lemonade turns into an extended bout of pain, you may have damaged pulp in one of your teeth. Pulp can be damaged by extensive decay or some kind of trauma to the tooth, and inflamed or dying pulp can cause lingering, painful sensitivity to hot and cold foods.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist before the problem gets worse. You may need a root canal to prevent worse issues, but you can enjoy that cold lemonade again.

6. Temporary Pulp Inflammation

After certain dental treatments, you may experience temporary sensitivity to cold and hot foods. But don’t fret; the sensitivity should go away after a few days or so. However, if the temperature sensitivity persists after a couple weeks, check in with your dentist to ensure nothing’s wrong.

7. Abscessed Tooth or Infection

If you let tooth decay sit too long or your tooth took a beating in the annual family football game, an infection or a tooth abscess can develop. With an abscessed tooth or an infection, you may experience a constant, throbbing pain in your tooth. If you suspect this is the problem, see your dentist immediately before the situation gets out of hand.

8. A Cracked Tooth or Other Trauma

Teeth are fairly resilient most of the time, but breaking a tooth isn’t as difficult as you think. A tooth may unexpectedly crack while chewing on a handful of nuts, or you may break a tooth during a rousing game of street hockey.

When you have a crack in your tooth, it can lead to quite a bit of pain. Chewing can be extremely uncomfortable. Sharp, shooting pain can surge through your broken tooth, and your damaged tooth may also have severe sensitivity to that hot soup or chilled soda. Be sure to visit your dentist right away to repair your tooth.

No matter what kind of dental pain you’re experiencing, call a qualified, reliable dentist, such as Valley Oak Dental Group . We can take a look at your teeth and determine what’s causing your pain before offering the best solution for the situation. Don’t let tooth pain take over your life; schedule an appointment and get back to pain-free living.

What is Fluoride, and Why Does It Matter?

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 00:29:11 GMT

You’ve likely heard about fluoride your whole life, especially in a dental context. You’ve heard about fluoride treatments, fluoride toothpaste, and fluoridated water. Dentists seem to recommend it. However, you may not know what exactly fluoride is or why it’s so important to your teeth.

On the other hand, you may have heard that fluoride is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Many people are opposed to water fluoridation and deny that fluoride has any benefits. While it is true that fluoride can have adverse health effects, when used at recommended levels, it can protect your teeth and strengthen your bones.

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is an ion of the chemical fluorine and most often occurs as a salt. Many people are exposed to it naturally through the water they drink and the food they eat, but natural fluoride levels aren’t consistent around the world.

Fluoride matters to humans because it strengthens teeth and bones and prevents tooth decay. Because fluoride is a mineral, it bonds with your tooth enamel, hardening it and repairing damage.

No matter how well you brush and floss, your enamel will weaken or wear away over time and as a natural part of aging. Fluoride can reverse some of your enamel loss, which makes it harder for cavities to form.

A lack of fluoride leads to weak bones and increased cavities, so doctors recommend that adults get between three and four milligrams of fluoride a day. This small amount can easily be achieved by following your daily oral care routine.

Where Can I Find Fluoride?

Some foods and drinks, such as tea, contain fluoride. Tea leaves absorb excess fluoride in their environment, transferring the mineral to you when you enjoy a cup of your favorite hot beverage. A cup of black tea will give you about 10 percent of your fluoride requirement for the day.

Another great source of fluoride is seafood since ocean water contains high fluoride deposits. Other foods like fruits and vegetables that grew with fluoridated water also contain trace amounts of the mineral. However, most people get their daily recommended dose from drinking water and using fluoridated toothpaste.

Although fluoride is naturally present in water, the amount varies, which means that some areas receive more than the recommended dose, while others don’t receive enough fluoride. To counteract these variable levels, 25 countries, including the United States, recommend supplementing the national water supply with fluoride. Other countries provide fluoride to citizens by adding it to table salt.

You can also apply fluoride topically through toothpaste and dentist-administered fluoride treatments. These options have the most immediate effect on your teeth. Most commercial toothpaste contains trace amounts of fluoride, just enough to give your enamel a boost. But, you can get prescription toothpaste that contains more fluoride if you need to take in extra fluoride.

When you receive fluoride treatments, your dentist might use a gel or foam tray or a varnish. In each case, the treatments contain a much higher fluoride concentration than toothpaste or enhanced water, so you’ll only need one or two treatments a year.

Will Fluoride Harm Me?

Many people worry that consuming fluoride or using fluoridated toothpaste will lead to fluoride poisoning and permanent damage. It’s true that fluoride is toxic in high doses and can lead to bone deformities. However, according to the World Health Organization, fluoride only becomes dangerous when ingested at levels of 1.5 milligrams per liter.

In other words, fluoride can hurt your health if you ingest around 100 mg a day. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends community drinking water in the United States contain 0.7 milligrams per liter. These numbers are far below harmful levels and in line with the amount found to benefit teeth.

However, fluoride does pose more of a risk to children. Since the toxicity of fluoride depends on the weight of the individual, the smaller you are, the easier it is to ingest harmful levels. If you want your children to avoid ingesting too much fluoride, use only tiny amounts of fluoridated toothpaste to clean your child’s teeth until they turn three. Otherwise, drinking fluoridated water is fine, and even necessary, for developing strong teeth.

If you live in a neighborhood with fluoridated water and you regularly brush your teeth, you don’t need to worry about getting any additional supplementation (beyond annual dental treatments.) Contact your local water provider to see if your water contains fluoride. If it doesn’t, talk to your dentist about what your other options are.

Fluoride sometimes has a bad reputation, and you may be hesitant to expose yourself to this mineral. However, the WHO and the CDC both recognize the importance of fluoride to human health, particularly for those prone to tooth decay or brittle bones.

Talk to a dentist at Valley Oak Dental Group for more information about fluoride and whether you might be at risk for tooth decay.

Want to Improve Your Teeth? Break These 6 Bad Habits

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 00:32:53 GMT

There always seems to be room for improvement when it comes to your dental and oral health. Many people want to improve how their smiles look, and those who have good oral and dental health want to maintain their pearly, straight smiles.

If you’ve tried cosmetic dentistry, orthodontic care, or other dental services to improve your smile but still suffer from crooked, chipped or otherwise damaged teeth, your bad habits may be the culprit.

Below, we list six bad habits that negatively impact your dental and oral health. Read on to learn which common habits damage teeth and what you can do to break your habits and better your smile.

1. Brushing Your Teeth Too Hard

You know that you need to brush your teeth twice daily to maintain good oral health. But did you ever think that brushing could actually damage your teeth? If you brush your teeth too hard, you can cause the enamel to wear down, increase your teeth’s sensitivity to the cold, and irritate your gums.

Use gentle strokes and repetition to thoroughly clean your teeth when you brush them. Additionally, you should always use a soft-bristled toothbrush. The bristles on this kind of toothbrush are strong enough to remove plaque from your teeth, but are still soft enough that they won’t cause damage.

2. Clenching Your Teeth

Do you ever wake up in the mornings with a stiff, sore jaw or headaches? Chances are you have a condition called bruxism, or teeth grinding. Most people grind their teeth as a result of stress, anxiety, sleep apnea, or another condition.

Occasional teeth grinding or clenching won’t cause too much harm to your teeth. However, consistent grinding or clenching can wear down your teeth abnormally fast. To avoid damaging your teeth from teeth clenching or grinding, reduce your stress and anxiety levels. If another condition causes bruxism, treat that issue as soon as possible.

Sometimes, however, you may need to sleep with a night guard to protect your teeth from the effects of nighttime grinding and clenching.

3. Consuming Harmful Foods and Drinks

You don’t often think of all foods and drinks being harmful to your body. However, many foods can severely damage your teeth if you consume enough of them over a period of time. The following foods and drinks can cause damage to your smile:

Soda
Coffee
Cough drops
Gummy bears
Lemons and other acidic fruits
Sports drinks
Starch foods, like potato chips
Wine

Though consuming these foods in moderation is alright, eating and drinking them in large quantities can cause a lot of damage to your teeth. If you do eat or drink these items on a regular basis, cut back.

When you drink that glass of wine with dinner or snack on potato chips, simply rinse your mouth out with water after you’ve finished. The water will wash away remaining food particles and sugars that will harm your teeth if they stay in your mouth for too long.

4. Playing Sports Without Protective Gear

If you enjoy playing contact sports, you know you must wear protective gear to keep your body safe during each game. You should also wear protective gear over your head or in your mouth (depending on the sport) to protect your mouth and teeth from harm.

Wear mouthguards while you play to protect your teeth, tongue, gums, and mouth from damage. You should also wear headgear in sports like football and hockey to prevent serious damage. If you get hit in the face or mouth by another player or by a piece of sporting equipment, your mouthguard and other protective gear will reduce your chances for losing a tooth or severely biting your tongue.

5. Sucking on Fingers

This bad habit applies specifically to children, but if left unaddressed, sucking on fingers can cause damage that affects a child into their teens and adulthood. Once a child’s permanent teeth emerge, he or she should not suck on his or her fingers-especially the thumb.

Sucking on a thumb or on fingers can cause the teeth to misalign. When a child’s teeth become misaligned, he or she could have develop other serious issues such as breathing and chewing problems. Talk to your child’s pediatrician for tips on breaking this bad habit.

6. Using Your Teeth as a Tool

At some point or another, everyone has used their teeth as a tool. You may have used your teeth to hold a writing instrument if your hands were occupied. Maybe you used your teeth to cut tape or open up a package.

This use of your teeth can cause you to accidentally chip, crack, or otherwise damage a tooth. Though it may seem easy to use your teeth for different tasks, don’t use them improperly. Don’t use your teeth as a tool.

How to Get Started

Use the tips in this blog to break any habits that could be harming your smile. Visit your dentist regularly as well to receive biannual checkups and exams. If you want additional tips on how to break these habits or how to further improve your smile, consult with your dental expert.

Halitosis and You: Overcoming Bad Breath

Sat, 21 May 2016 00:38:11 GMT

You’ve got an important interview coming up-one that you hope will lead to fantastic new opportunities. You carefully prepare, arrive a few minutes early, and anxiously wait for the door to open. Eventually, you find yourself across a desk from the interviewer. You shake hands, open your mouth to say hello, and immediately feel ashamed. The smell of your bad breath has just filled the room.

Bad breath, or halitosis, happens to most people, and it strikes at the most inconvenient times. You don’t want your stale breath to ruin that important interview, date, or special moment with friends or a loved one. But how do you keep your breath fresh, even if it’s been a few hours since you last brushed and flossed?

Understanding Halitosis

Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria in your mouth. Your saliva is filled with bacteria at all times, but if that bacteria builds up, it can give off a foul odor that hurts your reputation and your relationships.

It’s difficult to know if you have bad breath because your nose adjusts to your body’s odors extremely quickly. And to be frank, everyone has bad breath from time to time, like just after waking up or eating something garlicky. But you may have been told by a trusted love one that you have bad breath frequently, and if so, it’s time to take action.

If you’re concerned that you have frequent halitosis and that those in your life are too embarrassed to tell you, try this little test: smell your floss after you use it this evening. If your floss smells badly (or has blood on it), your breath almost certainly smells stale and sour.

Frequent Causes

So you have bad breath-now what? Understanding the causes of that smelly bacteria buildup can sometimes help you to freshen your breath. Here are some main causes of halitosis:

A dry mouth. Your saliva serves an important purpose: it rinses your mouth and washes away bacteria and food particles that cling to your teeth and gums. But if you have a dry mouth, your mouth doesn’t produce the saliva it needs to keep breath fresh. Breathing through your mouth, taking certain medications, or suffering from a salivary gland problem could be the cause.

Gum disease. Some bacteria in your mouth can build up to form a sticky yellow substance called plaque. This bacteria is a hotbed for disease, and it can damage your gums and decay your teeth. Many people can dislodge the plaque by brushing and flossing, but some people have an overabundance of plaque or already have advanced gum disease.

Smoking. Tobacco is filled with chemicals that cause severe health problems and a long list of unfortunate symptoms, one of which is bad breath. Smoking also causes loss of taste and smell, lung and throat cancer, and faster tooth decay. If you smoke frequently and have bad breath, you don’t have to look much further for a cause.

Food. Some foods are smellier than others, especially when mixed with the natural chemistry that occurs in your mouth, throat, and stomach. Foods with garlic or onion often cause bad breath, as does coffee. Additionally, all kinds of foods leave debris in your mouth, even after you’ve swallowed. These remnants often cause that stale breath smell.

Eliminating Bad Breath

There is an additional cause of halitosis that you should be aware of. In some cases, halitosis is a warning sign of a more severe medical condition; everything from acid reflux to diabetes, kidney disease, or a serious sinus condition. That’s why it’s so important that you see your dentist frequently.

If you suffer from the effects of bad breath, your dentist can identify the cause of halitosis and ensure that it isn’t the result of a more serious medical condition. If he or she suspects that something is wrong, you may need to speak with your physician to learn more.

In most cases, however, halitosis is simply the cause of smelly bacteria in your mouth, and it can almost always be treated through your own efforts. Your dentist will help you learn about how you can personally eliminate bad breath, but here are some ideas that often do the trick:

Brush and floss. You should be cleaning your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day. If you still suffer from bad breath, you may want to brush and floss after eating as well.
Scrape your tongue. Your tongue collects all kinds of bacteria-in fact, if you stick your tongue out, you’ll probably see a coating on the back of your tongue that looks a bit white or brownish. Scrape away that coating with a tongue scraper or toothbrush, and your breath will immediately improve.
Clean your dentures or retainer each day.
Use a mouthwash to kill bacteria or dislodge food debris. (Remember, don’t ever replace brushing and flossing with a mouthwash rinse.) Drink lots of water, chew a sugar-free gum, or eat healthy snacks. Doing so stimulates your saliva flow and helps keep your breath fresh. Stop smoking and avoid smelly foods.

Your dentist will help you overcome bad breath. Don’t live with the embarrassment of stale, stinky breath-get help today!

Acid Reflux and Dental Health: What You Need to Know

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 00:41:14 GMT

Your teeth feel more sensitive than usual lately, especially when you eat or drink something cold. You suspect that you might have another cavity, but can’t understand how-after all, you brush and floss twice a day, and you even use mouthwash faithfully. Why are you getting so many cavities when you take such good care of your teeth?

What many people don’t realize is that tooth decay is caused by more than just built-up plaque or food-borne bacteria. One major culprit of severe tooth decay and other oral health issues is acid reflux disease.

If you never experience heartburn, you might assume you don’t have acid reflux disease. But even if you don’t experience chest pain after eating, you may have other acid reflux symptoms. Read more below to find out if you may need to speak with a doctor and dentist about acid reflux disease.

What Is Acid Reflux Disease?

Acid reflux disease is relatively common among Americans-in fact, the US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that at least 7 million Americans suffer from this disease. But what is acid reflux?

A little anatomy lesson is needed to understand acid reflux disease. When you swallow food, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid, which helps break down the food so that it can be absorbed into your body and give you the energy and nutrition you need.

Acid is hard on the stomach, of course, so the lining of your stomach simultaneously creates mucus, which protects your stomach. Your throat does not create this protective mucus, but it has another defense: a ring of tissue in your lower esophagus. This ring opens to let food into the stomach and closes before stomach acid can splash up into your soft throat.

When you have acid reflux, however, your esophagus doesn’t close quickly enough, and stomach acid damages your throat every time you eat.

What Are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux disease is no laughing matter, especially when you consider the symptoms. Acid on flesh doesn’t feel very good, and your throat may be experiencing that kind of pain every time you eat a meal.

Sometimes, that pain is revealed in the form of heartburn: that burning discomfort you feel in your chest after eating. Other symptoms may include:

Bloating
Sour burping and regurgitation
Constant hiccups
Dysphagia, a reaction that feels like there is food stuck in your throat
A chronic sore throat or constant cough Bloody stools or vomiting

No one wants to live with symptoms like that, and you don’t have to. A gastroenterologist can treat your acid reflux disease.

But if you’re not experiencing any of these symptoms, why should you worry about acid reflux? Your dentist might have an opinion about that, and for good reason. Acid reflux doesn’t just damage your throat and your stomach-it also eats away at your smile.

What Are the Dental Implications?

The stomach acid that rushes back into your throat has a pH level of 2.0, which is extremely acidic and chemically corrosive. The enamel on your teeth-that extra layer that protects the sensitive nerves in your teeth-has a pH level of 5.5. In other words, when stacked against stomach acid, dental enamel doesn’t stand a chance.

Once the enamel on your teeth has eroded away, you can’t get it back. And because enamel is the only thing protecting your teeth from bacteria, tooth decay and painful oral issues are often the result of acid reflux. In fact, aside from heartburn, rapid tooth decay is usually how dentists and doctors figure out that a patient has acid reflux.

Symptoms like tooth decay and heartburn don’t have to occur simultaneously for you to be certain that you have acid reflux. You may only experience heartburn, but don’t be fooled. Your teeth are also taking a lot of abuse from that splashing stomach acid as well.

What Can You Do About Acid Reflux?

If you suspect that you may suffer from acid reflux disease but don’t have any symptoms beyond tooth pain, the very first thing to do is contact your dentist or doctor with your suspicions. You dentist can inspect your teeth and throat, refer you to a gastroenterologist, and help you develop a dental plan that protects your teeth from further decay.

In this case, brushing your teeth frequently more may be a detriment, rather than a benefit, to your dental health. This is because tooth-brushing can work acid deeper into your teeth and destroy your enamel faster. If you have acid reflux disease, your dentist might advise you to take the following steps:

Stop smoking immediately.
Avoid acidic, spicy, and fried foods and eliminate dairy from your diet.
Do not brush your teeth until about an hour after you’ve eaten. After you eat, rinse your mouth with water.

Your dentist will know how best to protect your teeth and repair any damage that your acid reflux may have caused. Don’t wait to seek treatment, and consult with your dentist and doctor as soon as possible if you think you may have this disease.

Children and Teeth: 5 Tips to Encourage Good Oral Health

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 00:51:13 GMT

For you, brushing and flossing your teeth seems like an easy habit to maintain. After all, you’ve taken care of your teeth in this manner since you were a child. But you likely didn’t always adhere to these good oral habits when you were younger. If you have children of your own, they may not enjoy brushing or flossing their teeth either.

However, your children should develop good oral health habits as soon as they cut their first tooth-if not sooner. Even if one of your children doesn’t have a tooth, you should still teach him or her to care for his or her gums.

Sometimes children aren’t the most accommodating when it comes to caring for their teeth. But as their parent, you want your children to stay healthy-and you definitely want them to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Yet if your children put up a fight when they need to brush their teeth, you may find it difficult to meet this goal.

In the blog below, we provide a few tips that you can use to promote good oral health in your children-regardless of how much they like or dislike brushing and flossing. Read on to learn some additional steps you can take as a parent.

1. Choose the Right Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Even if your children don’t like to brush their teeth, you can still find ways to help them develop the habit. First, you should choose the right kind of toothbrush and toothpaste for your children to use. Make sure to purchase a kid-friendly, fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens and supports teeth, so you’ll want your children to use this kind of toothpaste as they brush.

You’ll also want to buy child-sized, soft-bristle toothbrushes for your children. Baby teeth require more delicate care, and the smaller brush and softer bristles make this form of care easier to achieve.

To further excite your children about brushing their teeth, let them pick out their own toothbrushes. Look for toothbrushes with their favorite TV characters or colors on them.

You can even let them pick a different flavor of toothpaste. Though plain mint toothpastes may be your preference, children don’t always like the taste of mint. Consider different flavors like strawberry, bubblegum, or watermelon.

2. Lead by Example

The easiest way to promote good oral health in your children is to show them why oral hygiene habits are important. As your children prepare for bed, brush your teeth with them. Children tend to adopt the same habits and mannerisms their parents have. So, if they see you brush and floss regularly, they’re more likely to follow in your footsteps.

3. Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks

According to dental experts, cavities are five times more common in children than asthma. Additionally, cavities are considered the number one disease that affects young children.

To promote good oral health and reduce your children’s risk for developing dental caries, limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks they consume each day. Use the following tips as you set limits:

Don’t give your children soda. These drinks contain high levels of sugar and phosphoric acid that can seriously damage your children’s teeth.

Swap out most drinks for water or milk. If you do give your children juice to drink, water it down if possible.

Avoid giving your children sugary treats close to bedtime. The sugars in these foods can stay in your children’s mouths as they sleep, giving bacteria a chance to grow and affect their teeth.

During the holidays, limit the amount of candy your children consume. For example, during Halloween and Christmas, you can create a candy bank and let children have one or two pieces each day.

Setting limits may seem difficult, but these rules can protect your children’s teeth from damage. If your children don’t understand why they can’t eat too much sugar, explain to them that too many sweets can hurt their teeth. You can also talk to your dentist and have him or her explain this concept to your children.

4. Provide Well-Balanced Meals

Additionally, your children should eat well-balanced meals and snacks to ensure good oral health. Limit the amount of starchy foods they consume. Bacteria can turn these starches to sugars, and then the bacteria consume those sugars and produce an acid which can damage teeth.

Instead, provide meals that include a range of fruits and vegetables. Also include meats, dairy, and good fats (like avocados or nuts).

A well-balanced diet contains vitamins and minerals your children need to stay healthy overall. And those same vitamins and minerals are crucial for good oral health. The more balanced your children’s diet, the better their oral health will be.

5. Visit Your Dentist

Finally, remember to visit your children’s dentist at least twice a year. He or she can examine your children’s teeth and catch any dental issues before they develop too far. Your dentist can even teach your children good brushing and flossing techniques to make these routines more fun.

If your children don’t brush or floss as often or well as you’d like, try some of the tips listed above to encourage good oral health. You can also ask your children’s dentist for further tips and advice to keep their teeth healthy and strong.