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Bleeding Gums

May 30, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , ,

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are a sign that you may or are in the danger of having periodontal disease or gum disease. However persistence gum bleed could be a sign of other problems as well such as:

Bleeding Gums May Lead To

– Gingivitis: A sever case of gingivitis (Flossing Benefits Learn More) can cause bleeding gums and swellings.

– Cirrhosis:  A severe scarring and poor function of the liver caused by alcohol, virus or exposure to toxins. Some medications can also cause this disease.

– Pernicious anemia: It is an autoimmune disease that body does not make enough health red blood cells causing B-12 deficiency.

– Low platelet count: Also known as thrombocytopenia. It would cause the blood not to clot properly.

Healthy Gums Image

Healthy Gums

– Leukemia: Cancer of blood cells. The signs of this disease includes bleeding and bruising, bone pain, weight loss, fatigue, and sweating at night.

– Tooth decay: Cavities are holes that are form in the tooth. It is caused when bacteria (Fight Bad Breath Learn More), acids (Cavity Prevention Learn More) and food turns into plaque (Teeth Whitening Tips) . In sever cases when much of the tooth structure is missing, the gum can grow into the cavity hole and cause severe inflammation of the gums that can result in gum bleeding.

– Factor V, X, VII deficiency: A rare blood clotting disease that causes spontaneous bleeding including gums.

– Pregnancy: No matter what you do, the gums might be more inflamed (Inflamed Wiki Page) and bleed easier when one is expecting. It is as a result of hormonal changes in body.

– Vitamin C deficiency: This occurs when one does not eat enough fruits and vegetables in diet leading to swollen and painful gums (Maintain Oral Hygiene) that bleed easy.

Bleeding Gums Overview

The most common reason for gum disease (Gum Disease Treatment) though is poor oral hygiene (Dental Check Ups). Brushing (Brushing Tips) twice a day and flossing (Dental Flossing Instructions) once is a must for everybody to maintain healthy gums and teeth (Healthy Gums & Teeth).If plaque is not properly cleaned it leads to gingivitis which is a reversible disease. If gingivitis is not properly treated by better hygiene and seeing your dentist for professional teeth cleaning, it could lead into gum disease which is not reversible.

For more questions about Bleeding Gums or if you want to schedule an appointment please contact our office. (310)820-7010 | contact@westladentalcare.com | 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025. Thank you so much for taking time to learn about bleeding gums, remember your teeth are only as good as their keep.  Have wonderful day!

 


Floss | Flossing Benefits

May 23, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , , , ,

Floss | Flossing Benefits

 

A 2008 survey revealed that only 49% of Americans floss daily and 10% never floss (Master Flossing Learn More).  That is very unfortunate because flossing is even more important than brushing (Master Brushing Learn More) when it comes to preventing gum disease (Gum Disease Treatment) and tooth cavity (Cavity Treatment Learn More).

Dental floss (Dental Care 101) is a tool you should be used daily to remove food and bacteria (Fight Bad Breath Learn More) build-up from in-between your teeth where the brush can not reach.  If you don’t floss on regular basis, you’re more site likely to have plaque build-up (Oral Hygiene Learn More), which can lead to cavities, tooth decay (Tooth Decay Learn More), gingivitis and eventually gum disease.  When gum disease is left untreated, it can be a risk factor for heart disease, or diabetes. In addition, bacteria can cause bad breath. Therefore, flossing can help improve the appearance of your mouth as well as your dental hygiene and overall health.

 

What are Flosses Made From?

Zoom Whitening Teeth Info.

Zoom Whitening Teeth

Flosses are made from different materials. It is commonly made out of plastic or nylon; it is a thin thread that you put between your teeth and pull in order to clean the gaps (Dental Bridge Learn More). When you pull the tread, food and debris and bacteria should come out of the gaps between the teeth.

Some flosses are made out of dental ribbon rather than out of plastic or nylon strings.

Ribbon floss is more comfortable. It is much easier for those who have bleeding gums or are sore when flossing.

 

Flossing Benefits When You Have Braces:

If you or a member of your family currently wears braces (Wiki Page Dental Braces), flossing is even more important. Food debris and bacteria can easily lodge around braces and cause permanent damage to your teeth such as cavity, decalcification or gum disease. However, you have to be careful when flossing so the braces are not damaged. Always use waxed floss if you have braces. Un-waxed floss has less of a slippery surface and are therefore more likely to get caught in your braces. If enough floss gets tangled, it can pull a brace out of alignment or sometimes break it.

 

 


Baby Teeth | Oral Hygiene

May 16, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS. , , , ,

 

Brushing Baby Teeth

Even before baby teeth start to show; it’s a good idea to get into the habit of wiping their gums (Healthy Gums and Teeth Page) with gauze or a soft wet washcloth during bath time or before bed time. At this point, the tooth paste is still not necessary. Simply place the gauze around the finger and gently rub that on the gum.

Bacteria (Bad Breath Fight | Following Tips To Reduce The Bad Breath Page) in the mouth usually can not cause cavity (Cavity Treatment and Prevention Page) or gum disease (Gum Disease | Gum Disease Treatment Page) before the baby teeth are erupted, but it can be hard to tell when the baby teeth are starting to come out, so you’ll want to start early. Getting a baby to get used to getting his/her teeth clean helps in the long term so they can learn to have it done themselves.

 

Maintaining Healthy Baby Teeth

Baby Teeth Oral Hygiene Info.

Baby Teeth Oral Hygiene

As your child’s baby teeth start to erupt beginning around 6 months old, look for a baby toothbrush with a small head.  Use a tiny amount of fluoride (Children Oral Health | When and How to Teach Them? Page) toothpaste. A dot the size of a grain of rice is usually adequate. Twice a day brush inside and outside of each tooth as well as chewing surfaces. Because you are using such a small amount of tooth paste for the baby teeth you do not need to have your child rinse out unless he/she likes to do that. As soon as you see the bristles of the tooth brush being worn out, change the brush to a new brush (Teeth Brushing Mastering Tips Page).  Since most baby teeth have enough gap between them to be able to clean, you do not have to worry about flossing, but it is recommended to practice that so your child gets used to the idea of flossing (Dental Flossing Mastering Instructions Page) at the time of brushing.

 

Baby Teeth | Fluoride

Baby teeth can also benefit from a little fluoride. The fluoride prevents development of cavity, strengthening teeth, and making them more resistance to acids and harmful bacteria. Please be aware that a little of fluoride is very helpful in development of healthy teeth (Healthy Gums | Healthy Teeth | A Lifetime Commitment Page), too much of it can cause a condition called fluorosis (Dental Fluorosis Wiki Page). It causes white spots to show up on the permanent teeth as they erupt.

Most municipal water supplies are fortified with adequate fluoride so it is a good idea to call the department of water in your area and ask how much fluoride they mix in the water. If the amount of fluoride content of less than 0.3 parts per million, ask your child’s doctor or dentist whether you should give your child a fluoride supplement.

For more questions about baby teeth | Oral Hygiene, or if you want to schedule your teeth whitening appointment please contact our office.

  • 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 241 West Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • (310)820-7010

contact@westladentalcare.com


Dental Care | 7 Basic Things You Should Do

February 21, 2014 Afshin Golyad DDS.

 

 

Dental Care | 7 Basic Things You Should Do

Basic dental care means brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular bases, going to your dentist regularly twice a year for check up, cleaning and x-rays as necessary and having a health diet.

Basic Dental Care Points

Here are some basic points to perform your dental care at home:

Brushing:

Dental Care, Fluoride ImageBrush your teeth twice a day for two minutes.  Electrical tooth brushes do better job in removing plaque than manual brushes. Use brushes that are soft and stay away from medium and hard tooth brushes. They will remove the enamel portion of your teeth which is the hard structure causing sensitivity and gum recession. Also do not press hard when brushing. The advantages of electric tooth brushes are that it would brush on its own and you do not need to place pressure on your tooth brush causing further damage on your teeth.

Fluoride Supplements:

Always use fluoride tooth paste. Even for adults, fluoride reduces the chance of cavity. Tab water in most big cities contains fluoride. If you like to filter your tab water, the fluoride is not being removed. If you drink bottle water consider asking your doctor or dentist for supplemental fluoride.

Flossing:

Dental Flossing ImageNo one likes to do it but we all have to do it. You need to floss all your teeth, everyday. Wax flosses are easier on the gums and reduces the chance of cutting the gums. Make sure you go behind the last molars when flossing. If you having a hard time flossing behind your wisdom teeth, ask your dentist if it is to your benefit to remove them.

Avoid Smoking!

Avoid smoking and smokeless tobaccos. Besides the obvious staining the teeth, it causes bad breath, gum disease and various oral cancer. It is never too late to stop smoking.

Say No To Sugary Drinks!

Stay away from sugary drinks and carbonated ones. If you have to have one, brush right after.

Don’t Forget Your Tongue!

When brushing your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue from back to front.

Regular Check Ups

See your dentist on regular bases at least twice a year. If there are minor issues or cavities, it is much easier to fix them when they are smaller. Waiting just makes things more difficult and costly.


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