New Year, Healthier Mouth

Below is an excerpt from an article found on mouthhealthy.org

What does ringing in the new year have to do with being mouth healthy? 

More than you may think. Did you know that you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months? Bristles that become frayed and worn are less effective at cleaning your teeth. That means, celebrating the new year with a brand new toothbrush is actually smart dental hygiene.

Here are MouthHealthy resolutions:

• Start brushing 2min2x. Always brush twice a day for two minutes for healthier teeth, good breath, fewer cavities, and to avoid painful dental problems. 
• Floss daily. Flossing is part of being mouth healthy.
• Chew sugarless gum. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.
• Eat a healthy diet. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Drink fluoridated water. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by making teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities.
• See your dentist. Regular dental visits will help you be Mouth Healthy for Life.  

To read the entire article visit mouthhealthy.org

Lim and Yabu  
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS   
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A  
Oakland, CA 94602  
(510) 530-7000  
OaklandLaserDentist.com

Take Care of Cold Sores

How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores
It’s easy to get them confused, but cold sores are not the same as canker sores. Cold sores are red blisters that appear on the lips as a result of infection with the herpes simplex virus. They almost never occur inside the mouth and they are not associated with gum disease. By contrast, canker sores, which are not associated with herpes or gum disease, almost always occur inside the mouth.

Usually, cold sores last for seven to 10 days, after which time the pus-filled blisters will rupture and ooze. Fortunately, cold sores usually heal without leaving scars. Most cold sores will resolve without treatment, but you can apply a topical medication such as lidocaine or benzyl alcohol to relieve pain and itching.

If you develop a cold sore, avoid skin-to-skin contact. And don’t share razors, eating utensils, or towels-those are other ways the infection spreads to other people. If you have frequent cold sores, or a cold sore that doesn’t go away after seven to 10 days, talk to your doctor.

It can be hard to reduce the risk of cold sores, but it certainly won’t hurt to maintain a consistent personal hygiene routine including regular hand washing. Also, using a lip balm with sun block throughout the year, not just during the summer, can help prevent cold sores, too.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Lim and Yabu  
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS   
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A  
Oakland, CA 94602  
(510) 530-7000  
OaklandLaserDentist.com

Get Familiar With Oral Thrush

What Is Oral Thrush?
Oral thrush, also known as candidiasis, can occur in anyone of any age, from babies to the elderly. Oral thrush is a condition that occurs when a fungus called candida albicans builds up on the lining of the mouth. The result is white lesions on the tongue or inner cheeks.

Oral thrush can sometimes be confused with leukoplakia. But leukoplakia lesions are caused by chronic irritation from rough edges on teeth, fillings or crowns, not by an organism. And leukoplakia lesions develop over time, while thrush lesions may develop suddenly. A thrush infection can spread and involve the roof of the mouth and the gums, where it can cause symptoms such as redness and irritation. See your dentist if you have any type of lesions on your tongue or in your mouth so you can determine the cause of the problem and plan a course of treatment. The goal in treating thrush is to stop the infection from spreading.

Healthy babies and children may not need treatment-the lesions may resolve on their own. Sometimes adding yogurt to you or your child’s diet may do the trick and reset the bacterial imbalance caused by the excess amount of the thrush fungus.

People with HIV or other immunosuppressive illness are at increased risk for the infection to spread. If you are in this category, your doctor or dentist may recommend an antifungal medication.

To prevent thrush from occurring or recurring, follow a consistent oral health care routine, and try to include yogurt with live, active cultures in your diet, especially if you take antibiotics for a chronic condition. Frequent use of antibiotics can promote the growth of the Candida fungus because they upset the natural mixture of microorganisms in the body.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Lim and Yabu  
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS   
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A  
Oakland, CA 94602  
(510) 530-7000  
OaklandLaserDentist.com

Finding A Dentist

Below is an excerpt from an article found on colgate.com

How Do I Look for a Dentist? 

A good place to start is by asking for a referral from people you trust — your friends, family, acquaintances, work associates, pharmacist or family doctor. Ask them how long they've gone to their dentist, how comfortable they feel asking questions, what type of dentist they go to (general or specialist). It is important that you find a dentist with whom you feel comfortable.

Other ways to find a dentist include:

• Calling your local dental society for a list of recommended dentists in your area. Your local dental society can be found in the Yellow Pages under "dentist."
• Searching online for dentists in your area. More and more dentists have websites explaining their approach and treatment methods.

What Kind of Dentist Should I Look for?

General dentists are trained to do all types of treatment. If you have difficult or unusual problems, your dentist may refer you to one of the following specialists:

• Pediatric Dentists/Pedodontists specialize in pediatric (children's) dentistry.
• Endodontists diagnose and treat diseased tooth pulp and perform root canal work (many general dentists also perform root canals).
• Prosthodontists specialize in crowns, bridges and dentures.
• Oral pathologists use laboratory procedures to diagnose diseases of the mouth. They also specialize in forensic dentistry.
• Oral/Maxillofacial surgeons perform surgical treatments, such as removing cysts, tumors and teeth. They can correct fractures or other jaw problems that require surgery, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ). They also use methods similar to those of plastic surgery to treat cosmetic problems of the jaw and face.
• Orthodontists correct improperly positioned teeth, using braces and other appliances to move teeth into a better position.
• Periodontists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease.

How do You Become a Practicing Dentist?

A general practitioner or specialist can be degreed as either a D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), depending on the school from which he/she graduated. The requirements for each degree are identical: four years of post-graduate study for general practice plus one to two years of advanced study for a particular specialty. A graduate must then pass a state licensing examination in order to begin practice.

To read the entire article visit colgate.com

Lim and Yabu  
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS   
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A  
Oakland, CA 94602  
(510) 530-7000  

OaklandLaserDentist.com

Brown Teeth: Causes and How to Remove Brown Stains on Teeth

Below is an excerpt from an article found on crest.com

What Causes Brown Teeth Stains?

Brown teeth stains are not uncommon, and they have many causes, including diet and medications. But smoking is one of the top causes of brown teeth stains. Constant exposure to the nicotine in cigarettes over time creates brown teeth stains that can get in the way of an attractive smile. There are many other causes of tooth discoloration and the appearance of brown teeth—heredity, trauma or illness, certain medications, food and drink stains, poor oral hygiene ... the list goes on. While you can't control all of these causes of brown teeth, it’s important to focus on the ones you can since oral health has a significant impact on your overall health.

How to Remove Brown Stains from Teeth

Brown teeth stains often respond well to teeth whitening systems. If you have brown teeth stains due to smoking, a combination of products including those from the Crest 3D White collection, may help reduce brown teeth stains and prevent them from recurring. 

But it's important to be realistic. If you smoke and you are unwilling to quit, it will be harder to keep brown teeth stains at bay. Also, keep in mind that brown teeth stains from smoking may require more powerful whitening products than yellow teeth stains. If you are a smoker, the best first step toward improving the appearance of brown teeth stains is to quit smoking. Studies have shown that quitting can improve the appearance of brown teeth stains, and smokers who quit can significantly reduce their risk of gum disease and of mouth, lip, tongue, and throat cancers. Even cutting back on the number of cigarettes can help improve brown teeth stains. But remember that cigarettes alone to blame. Smoking pipes or cigars can cause brown teeth stains, too.

How to Get Rid of Brown Stains on Teeth for Good

Frequent brushing and flossing and regular visits to your dentist can help reduce plaque build-up on your teeth. Too much plaque build-up leads to brown teeth. Also, stay in tune with your mouth—look at your teeth closely in a mirror on a regular basis. If you have brown teeth or notice your gums are bleeding or swollen, it’s probably a good idea to consult with your dentist. Once you have a proper oral health routine of brushing twice daily and flossing once a day, look for at-home teeth-whitening products to help maintain your pearly whites.

To read the entire article visit crest.com

Lim and Yabu  
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS   
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A  
Oakland, CA 94602  
(510) 530-7000  
OaklandLaserDentist.com