Corona Dentist Asks: Could Your Toothbrush Be Making You Sick?

Many people don't think about their toothbrush beyond using it twice a day and putting it back in it's proper place next to the sink. That's why Dr. Patel, a Corona dentist, is posting about the health of not just your mouth, but of your toothbrush as well. What you find might alarm you:

Do you know what's lurking on your toothbrush? 

Your toothbrush is loaded with germs, say researchers at England's University of Manchester. They've found that one uncovered toothbrush can harbor more than 100 million bacteria, including E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, and staphylococci ("staph") bacteria that cause skin infections. 

But don't panic. Your mouth wasn't exactly sterile to begin with. 

Mouthful of Bacteria 

"The bottom line is, there [are] hundreds of microorganisms in our mouths every day," says Gayle McCombs, RDH, MS, associate professor and director of the Dental Hygiene Research Center at Old Dominion University. 

That's no big deal. Problems only start when there is an unhealthy balance of bacteria in the mouth. McCombs says. 

"It's important to remember that plaque -- the stuff you're removing from your teeth -- is bacteria," says dentist Kimberly Harms, DDS, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. "So you're putting bacteria on your toothbrush every time you brush your teeth."

Corona Dentist

Could Your Toothbrush Be Making You Sick? 

Probably not. Regardless of how many bacteria live in your mouth, or have gotten in there via your toothbrush, your body's natural defenses make it highly unlikely that you're going to catch an infection simply from brushing your teeth.

To continue reading this article, Dr. Patel recommends heading over to the article source at Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-2/the-ugly-truth-about-your-toothbrush?page=1

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Corona Dentist Advises: 7 Secrets To A Healthier Smiles

What can you do about your oral health? Corona dentist, Dr. Rakesh Patel, has found an article detailing 7 easy secrets to getting your smile back in tip-top condition. In this post, figure out what you can do to get a great smile and maintain it:

When it comes to lighting up some of Hollywood's brightest smiles as well as tending to the pearly whites of the average Joe, New York City dentist Steven Roth, DMD, does it all. With more than 25 years of cosmetic and restorative dentistry experience, he created a technique that allows patients to "test drive" cosmetic dental procedures (such as temporary veneers) before taking the plunge. We chatted with Roth from his Manhattan office, SmilesNY, and asked him to share the seven things he always tells every patient. 

1. You probably aren't seeing the dentist enough.The standard twice-a-year visit (covered by most dental plans) is only half enough. Adults should see the dentist every 90 days. I know it sounds like a lot (and believe me, I get some resistance from reluctant patients), but, after just three months, the bacteria we clean out of your mouth during a check-up -- it's all recolonized! I know it can seem expensive, especially if you have to pay for the additional visits out of pocket, but it's well worth it from a health perspective. If you think about what you might spend on regularly cutting or coloring your hair, it's really not far off from that. 

2. If you're scared of the dentist because you think it's going to hurt, you're not seeing the right dentist.Today we can manage every single aspect of discomfort with the right medications to handle the annoyance of keeping your mouth open for a long period of time, or anesthesia for more extensive, invasive procedures like root canals. You name the issue, we can address it. 

Corona Dentist

3. If you wait until you feel pain, it's way too late.Know this: Most dental issues don't cause pain at first. Cavities, before they become deep, are painless. Gum disease -- also silent. But once you're wincing in pain, that means there's probably already an infection or the pockets of your gums have become riddled with bacteria. Bottom line: Make frequent check-up appointments to nip invisible-to-you problems in the bud, and put your dentist on speed-dial should you notice any problems.

To read the full article, Dr. Patel, your Corona Dentist, recommends visiting Web MD for the full read: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/7-secrets-healthier-smile

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Corona Dentist Discusses: Tooth Enamel: What Helps, What Hurts

Tooth sensitivity is something most people suffer from on a daily basis. Whether sensitivity is derived from worn down enamel or a cavity, sufferers know how painful the affliction can be. That's why Dr. Patel, a Corona dentist is offering this blog post o patients and readers who encounter tooth sensitivity on a a regular basis:

The outer surface of teeth, called enamel, is designed to last a lifetime. "Enamel is the hardest substance in the body," says dentist Leslie Seldin, DDS, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. Some wear and tear of tooth enamel is inevitable. But Seldin says there's plenty you can do to keep your enamel strong. Start with these eight steps. 

1. Limit Sugary Soft Drinks and Foods
Sugar leads to the production of acids in the mouth, which soften and eventually wear away at enamel. Chewy candies that stick on your teeth are particularly damaging. So are soft drinks. Along with sugar, soft drinks may contain citric acid and phosphoric acid, making them even more acidic. Artificially sweetened soft drinks are a smarter choice than sugary soft drinks. But sugarless sweeteners are acidic and may erode enamel over time. The best choice when you're thirsty: a glass of water.   

2. Help Yourself to Foods That Protect Enamel
Calcium in foods neutralizes acids in your mouth. Calcium is also an essential mineral needed to keep bones strong. Milk, cheese, and other dairy products all help protect and strengthen enamel, says Pamela L. Quinones, RDH, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy to help keep fat and calories to a minimum. If you frequently drink orange juice, O.J. with added calcium may be the best choice. Calcium buffers the normal acidity of orange and other citrus juices. 

3. Avoid Over-brushing
Brushing too vigorously can wear down enamel. "Always use a soft brush and brush gently," says Seldin. Hold the brush at about a 45-degree angle to your gums and move it back and forth in short strokes, about the distance of one tooth. Don't brush immediately after eating sweets or citrus fruits. Acidic foods temporarily soften enamel and may make it more susceptible to damage from brushing. Wait for up to an hour after you eat, giving your enamel time to re-harden. Then brush your teeth.

To continue reading this article in its entirety, Dr. Patel, your Corona Dentist, recommends visiting this link: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-2/tooth-enamel-damage?page=1

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Corona Dentist Advises: Treatments For Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the most common oral health diseases affecting Americans of all stripes. Since this condition is so prevalent amongst people, and children in particular, Dr. Patel, a Corona Dentist wanted to share this post about ways to treat and prevent gum disease from Web MD:

There are a variety of treatments for gum disease depending on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.

Treatments range from nonsurgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive tissues

Corona Dentist

Non-surgical Treatments for Gum Disease 

Treatments for gum disease that don't involve surgery include:

• Professional dental cleaning. During a typical checkup your dentist or dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar (plaque that builds up and hardens on the tooth surface and can only be removed with professional cleaning) from above and below the gum line of all teeth. If you have some signs of gum disease, your dentist may recommend professional dental cleaning more than twice-a-year.

• Scaling and root planing. This is a deep-cleaning, nonsurgical procedure, done under a local anesthetic, whereby plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line are scraped away (scaling) and rough spots on the tooth root are made smooth (planing). Smoothing the rough spots removes bacteria and provides a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth. Scaling and root planing is done if your dentist or periodontist determines that you have plaque and calculus (hardened plaque, also called tartar) under the gums that needs to be removed.

To continue reading this entire article, Dr. Patel, your Corona Dentist, recommends visiting Web MD's site for the rest: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-10/gums-problems-gingivitis

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.