Southern California Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical
Brushing Techniques
Brushing your teeth properly removes the food particles and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. However, you do not want to scrub your teeth or gums heavily. A heavy hand can lead to tooth and gum erosion.
You should also use a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid damaging the surface of your teeth. Make sure the head of the brush fits in your mouth, because if it is too large you will not be able to reach all tooth surfaces. Follow these steps to ensure you are brushing properly.
- Use a small amount of toothpaste on your brush. The recommendation is a pea-sized amount or thin strip on the bristles.
- Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the surface of your teeth, angling towards your gums. Use a circular motion on all exterior tooth surfaces, and avoid back-and-forth “scrub” brushing.
- Once you have cleaned the outer surfaces, hold the brush vertically and clean the inner teeth surfaces — the side of your teeth that face your tongue. Do not forget the inner surfaces of your front teeth.
- Finally, finish by cleaning all the chewing surfaces of your teeth. You need to maintain a gentle touch, but make sure you get into the full depth of your molars. The entire process should take about two minutes.
Our Doctors and staff recommend changing your toothbrush every three to four months for best results. Do not forget to clean your tongue, which helps remove excess bacteria from your mouth.
Proper care of your teeth also requires flossing on a regular basis. Flossing can be performed before or after you brush. Following up with a quality mouthwash will provide you with even more protection. Do not be afraid to ask our team for tips on proper brushing and flossing.
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Mar 14th, 2016
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What could be causing my bad breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, is an embarrassing problem for millions of Americans. Finding the cause and eliminating the problem can be a challenge, though. Our Team knows that most causes do start in the mouth and can be treated.
Causes of Bad Breath
Here are some of the common causes of bad breath:
- Food: as food breaks down in your mouth, particles can increase bacteria and cause an odor. Some foods have an odor all their own that can offend, including onions and garlic.
- Tobacco: Both smoking and using chewing tobacco can cause seriously unpleasant breath. Both products can lead to gum disease and oral cancers which can produce offensive odors.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Brushing and flossing daily are your leading defense against the bacteria that is the primary cause for bad breath. Using a mouthwash can also improve your breath.
- Dry Mouth: Without the body’s natural defense for oral bacteria, saliva, bad breath can take over.
- Infections: Any kind of infection, including tooth decay and gum disease, can lead to bad breath as well.
To learn more about good dental hygiene and how you can avoid bad breath, please contact our practice at (310) 670-0220 today!
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Jan 20th, 2016
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Sedation Dentistry can help you overcome Dental Anxiety
Not scheduling or cancelling your dental visit to our office because of fear or anxiety only increases the potential for tooth decay or gum problems. At our office, our team offer solutions that allow you to relax, without any pain. Our solutions can help with many different anxiety issues for both adults and children.
Minor Dental Anxiety:
Nitrous oxide referred to as laughing gas, is an excellent choice for most patients. Nitrous oxide can be regulated to provide you with the amount of sedation you need. When used before a local anesthetic, the injection will not be uncomfortable and you should not notice any pain during your procedure.
If you plan to use nitrous oxide, you can drive yourself to your appointment. In most cases, you will be fine to drive after your treatment: the sedation wears off quickly.
Major Dental Anxiety:
If you experience extreme levels of stress and anxiety about dental treatment, you may wish to discuss deep sedation or general anesthesia. With these techniques, you will be barely conscious or unconscious during your procedure. You will not feel discomfort or pain. Once you have experienced dentistry with a sedation technique, your anxiety level may decrease on its own.
People are not born with the fear of a dental exam. Unfortunately, most anxiety issues are due to a bad dental experience or childhood trauma. Sometimes anxiety comes from listening to the tales of others, who may have exaggerated their story. Talk to our Oral Surgeons and our team about your dental concerns or fears. Let us help you so you can get the dental care you need for a healthy mouth for life.
For more information about overcoming dental anxiety, or to schedule an appointment with us, please give one of our office a call.
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Jan 11th, 2016
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Protect Your Teeth!
Do your body a great service and consider adding more of the following foods to your diet. Not only are they good for your body, but they are good for your teeth too.
Vitamins: They are good for your skin, bones and teeth.
Calcium: Found mostly in dairy products, calcium helps both your teeth and bones.
Green Tea: Contains anti-oxidants that help to prevent plaque and contains fluoride to prevent tooth decay.
Cheese: Helps to rebuild enamel on your teeth.
Water: Water helps to keep your body running smoothly, and also flushes excess food from your teeth to limit plaque growth. Drink regularly throughout the day.
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Jan 4th, 2016
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Year-End Insurance Reminder
Our team would like to send you a friendly reminder to schedule your appointments prior to the end of the year to take full advantage of any flex spend, health savings, or insurance benefits that you may have.
The end of the year is always a busy time so make your appointment now so you don’t lose your available benefits! Give us a call today!
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Dec 8th, 2015
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Tags: 3rd Molars, Dental, dental extraction, dental health, dental implant, dental implants, dentist, Dentistry, Dr. Cheung, Dr. Ho, facts, kids, oral surgery, pain, tooth extraction, tooth removal, wisdom teeth
Quit Smoking to Save Your Smile
We are all well aware that smoking causes major problems for organs such as your lungs and heart, but what about your mouth?
Smoking is a huge risk factor for many oral health issues such as:
Oral Cancer- Smokers are up to 6 times more likely to develop oral cancers.
Gum Disease- Smoking can suppress the body’s immune system, reducing it’s ability to fight infections such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Premature tooth loss- Smokers will loose an average of 2 teeth every 10 years. Smokers develop calculus and are at much greater risk for periodontal disease which is the number one reason adult lose their teeth.
Tooth discoloration- Smoking may leave black or brown stains on the surface of the tooth.
Bad Breath- In smokers halitosis is generally caused by the retention and exhalation of the smoke that is inhaled
Deep wrinkling around your mouth-Smoking can create deep wrinkles around the mouth and speed up the skin’s natural aging process
Even with excellent oral hygiene and preventative care, smokers may face a particularly difficult time in maintaining the health of their gums, not only are smokers more likely to develop gum diseases, but they also have a more difficult time treating such diseases and restoring their gums to a healthy state. This is even truer for patients who also suffer from conditions that already threatens their immune system, such as diabetes.
Quitting is not easy but the benefits are almost immediate. Your circulation improves, your blood pressure starts to return to normal, breathing becomes easier and your taste buds awaken. You’ll also have a healthier mouth!
If quitting smoking is on your to do list talk to us, there are many resources available to make the journey easier.
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Aug 13th, 2015
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Germs living on my toothbrush!
It’s true, there are several kinds of bacteria that can hide on the bristles of your toothbrush, including streptococci, staphylococci, Herpes Simplex I, and the Influenza virus. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria, we recommend to follow these three tips:
-Wash your hands before and after brushing
-Allow the brush to air dry after each use, bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen. Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster.
-Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or after being ill. Worn bristles are less effective and can actually be damaging on your teeth if used too long.
We hope these tips help!
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Jun 29th, 2015
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Summer break is an ideal time for wisdom teeth removal
School is about to be out, and your children are probably already planning a summer of fun. However, did you know summer break is the ideal time for your children to have their wisdom teeth removed.
Your teenager might not want to hear this, but summer is the ideal time to schedule their surgery. After a wisdom teeth extraction, there is a necessary period of recovery. During school year, this could mean a few days or even a week of missed classes. Scheduling the surgery during summer can help your children concentrate on resting and recovering without stressing on missed assignments.
If your children are late teens and leaving for college, now is the time to plan wisdom teeth removal. The last thing you would want to deal with is a phone call from your child in terrible pain from wisdom teeth eruption.
Need more information about wisdom teeth extraction? Or thinking of scheduling an appointment for this summer? Contact us today to discuss options with out experienced and caring dental team.
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Jun 2nd, 2015
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Should you exercise after Oral Surgery
Exercising is a lot like brushing your teeth, you must make it part of your daily routine in order to stay in great health. But what about when you get work done on your teeth? Is it a good idea to exercise then?
If you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, this may be one of the rare instances where you should take a break from your exercise routine.
Complications can arise if you do not let your mouth heal properly. Following your post-operative care instructions will ensure your a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.
So how soon can you exercise after surgery?
Dr. Cheung & Dr. Ho recommend you to wait a week after your surgery to allow full recovery. Majority of oral surgeries have no complications and heal quickly, we want our patients to be aware of the risks involved so we can work together to avoid them! One of the risks to watch out from is dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot from the surgical site has been dislodged, causing pain. Other complications you want to be on the look out for are swelling and bleeding. All of these indicate that your body needs rest.
If you are experiencing any of these complications, please contact our office.
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May 21st, 2015
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Tags: 3rd Molars, Dental Care, dental extraction, Dentistry, Impacted Wisdom Teeth, oral surgery, pain, Surgery, teeth, tooth extraction, tooth removal, wisdom teeth
3 Warning Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can drive patients to the brink of desperate pain relief. One sign of pain in the back of the jaw usually means impacted wisdom teeth. There are an array of symptoms and signs that will alert you something is not right. Once you have an assumption something is wrong, it’s time to take action!
Three primary signs of impacted wisdom teeth:
1. Toothache, sharp pains coming from the back of the mouth.
2. Swelling around the jaw.
3. Tender, swollen, bleeding red gums.
Other common signs would be:
1. Bad Breathe
2. Headache, pain between jaw & skull. Known as TMJ
3. Unpleasant taste in your mouth.
4. Swollen glands.
5. Difficult opening mouth.
6. Even ear aches.
Call to Action:
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call one of our offices to help you relieve your pain.
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Apr 27th, 2015
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Tags: 3rd Molars, Dental Care, dental extraction, Impacted Wisdom Teeth, oral surgery, pain, Surgery, teeth, tooth extraction, wisdom teeth