post

Tooth Decay and How to Prevent it

by Posted in Dental Health

On a fundamental level, tooth decay refers to the destruction of enamel on the teeth. Enamel is like a barrier for your teeth. It’s a hard surface that repels bacteria and makes it harder for anything to damage your teeth. Plaque, the sticky film that coats your teeth when you eat sticky or sugary foods, produces acids that attack the enamel.

Cavities can form thanks to the tooth decay that occurs when enamel is no longer around to defend the tooth. As we age, this problem can become quite common. If you want to prevent tooth decay, then this advice from Dr. Sid Solomon should help.

Proper Brushing

Everything begins at home, where proper technique and regular flossing are important steps toward taking care of your mouth. Your toothpaste should contain fluoride for best results.

Flossing is Great

Floss at least once a day to try and clean out all the particles of food that get stuck in and around your gum line. You can also use an interdental cleaner if you don’t want to work with floss.

Change Your Diet

The less you eat foods that contain a lot of sugar or acids, the better your teeth will be. Plus, you won’t suffer staining from the usual culprits like coffee, wine and soda.

Supplement with Flouride

Fluoride strengthens your teeth and helps the barrier repel bacteria. Talk to your dentist about specific toothpastes and mouthwashes that may contain fluoride so that you can bolster your mouth’s defenses.

Visit Your Dentist

Finally, visit your dentist at least twice a year and follow their recommendations. Get x-rays done and ask lots of questions. Improving your oral health is your responsibility too.

post

How to Find a Good Dental Office for You and Your Family

by Posted in Dental Health

When it’s time to find a new dentist for you and your family, there are a few ways that you can begin your search. A Glendora family dental office, as well as those in other cities, will often have reviews from patients on a website so that you can see how others feel about the care provided. Talk to family and friends to find out who they see on a regular basis. Ask your doctor or local pharmacist as they will know who to work with and who to avoid seeing.

There are a few questions that you want to ask of dentists in San Dimas CA as well as other cities depending on where you live. Find out if the office submits claims to insurance companies or if that’s something you need to do after the visit. Are there payment options if you don’t have insurance? Make sure the dentist has received the proper education. Try to find a dentist located close to your home or workplace so that you don’t have to travel far if there is ever an emergency.

A Covina dental office, as well as other offices across the country, will often offer special discounts for new patients. Ask if you have to transfer your own records to the office or if the records can be requested by the new dentist. Find a dentist who you are comfortable talking to and who the family enjoys seeing.

Bio: Ecco Dental is a Covina dental office specializing in Invisalign and holistic dentistry.

Problem: Anxiety and fear of the dentist

by Posted in Dental Health

Solution: Sleep Dentistry

Background: Susie came to us because she knew we offered sedated dentistry. She was terrified of the dentist. She had postponed seeing a dentist for 10 years. She said she didn’t like the pain, the needles, or the way it felt when someone was working on her teeth. Basically, she was afraid of every single aspect of going to the dentist.

Susie came to my office with her husband. I gave them a tour of our sedation dentistry practice and all of the latest dental technology we had on hand. Susie decided that she trusted me enough to let me work on her teeth.

Treatment: The night before she came, we prescribed a Valium for her to take. She arrived very early in the morning, and we sedated her and set her up in the chair. She was really a great patient as she sat in the chair, letting me do the work. In this case, there were 18 teeth that had to be restored in order to achieve the functional and cosmetic results that we wanted. She had to come back for a second visit to finish the work, but she was so delighted with her first experience that she said she was almost excited to come back.

Ultimately, we gave her upper and lower crowns, removed and replaced old ceramic fillings, and added more defined edges and shape to her teeth.

End Result: Susie’s testimonial video is on our website. She says her friends now call her “Susie Smiles.” She drives all the way to my West Los Angeles office from Glendora for regular appointments and I just love her!

Dr. Solomon has been recently featured on The Doctor’s Show as a guest speaker on TMJ related issues. At the Doctor’s Show, he was interviewed by the panel and he explained how he can effectively treat TMJ with a mouthpiece, known as an Orthosis. This is a jaw repositioning device that is one of the most non-invasive, long lasting, and scientific ways to treat TMJ.

Tooth Brushing Mistakes

by Posted in Dental Health Tagged

By Dr. Sid Solomon

If you’re afraid of the dentist, you’ll be happy to know that there is plenty you can do at home to improve your oral health. You should still visit a dentist for routine cleanings, but these tips will help anyone maintain healthy teeth.

Using the Wrong Brush

The brush that you choose should conform to the size of your mouth. You want a brush that fits easily into your mouth without causing you to strain. The handle must be comfortable, and you should have a firm grip on the brush. Electric and manual tooth brushes come down to the user’s preference. An electric tooth brush promises no greater quality of brushing over manual, but some people just prefer to use one. If you’re concerned that your brush is wrong, or that you need un upgrade, try to keep in mind it’s less the brush and more the brusher.

Picking the Wrong Bristles

Tooth brushes tend to have two varieties of bristle, with one angled and the other straightened. Your technique will help you determine which is the best kind of bristle for you, but bristles that are too stiff can aggravate your gums and cause unnecessary damage like inflammation. The ideal bristle is sturdy enough to remove the thin film of plaque that forms on your teeth. Therefore, stay away from natural hair brushes made with animal hair or boar bristle.

Not Brushing Long Enough

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day if you can. Although three times is best, oral professionals have found that two times will suffice for removing plaque and keeping teeth healthy. Try to brush for at least two minutes, but extend that to three minutes if you can. Some dentists recommend that you divide your mouth into quadrants, then spend roughly thirty seconds on each area. If time is a factor, just multi task. Lots of people look at their phones or watch videos online while they brush.

Brushing Too Hard

Three times is generally the cap for the day. Anymore than that borders on compulsive and may affect the enamel on your teeth. Excessive brushing could expose the root, which quickly leads to irritation of both the root and the gums. Brush with long, horizontal strokes across the surface of your teeth, aiming your bristles at a 45 degree angle.

Final Thoughts

Don’t brush too hard, and keep your bristles on the softer side. This will protect your teeth from damage and keep your gums healthy over your lifetime.

—

Dr. Sid Solomon is a dental hygienist located in Los Angeles. With over twenty years of passionate experience, Sid Solomon is ready to serve you. Book an appointment, or read Dr. Sid Solomon DDS reviews online.