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You hear all the cautionary tales about brushing and flossing, how, if you don’t do those two things faithfully, it can lead to tooth decay, even gum disease. But what happens when someone actually gets gum disease?

Treat Your Gum Disease

It’s not a death sentence, though it’s probably one of the things we least want to hear. But once that bad news gets broken, it’s important to take action. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (also called the CDC) asserts that over 50% of Americans over the age of 30 live with some form of periodontitis — which is the advanced form of gum disease. That comes out to about 64.7 million adults in the US aren’t taking the right measures to care for their teeth and gums.

The first measure to take is seeking treatment from a qualified oral health specialist. Dr. Louie is a great place to start.

Don’t Fret About Gum Disease, Take Action!

Having a relationship with your dentist that’s in good standing is one of the best ways to fight and prevent gum disease. It’s certainly the best way to deal with a periodontitis diagnosis.

But what is gum disease? It’s an inflammatory condition that affects both hard and soft structures supporting the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums will become swollen and red, which is your body’s natural response to being attacked by harmful bacteria. Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of gum disease.

More on Inflammation

Scientists are starting to recognize a link between periodontal disease and other inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.

We take a genetic, biological approach to both testing for extant gum disease and treating periodontitis. We’ll consider visible evidence of inflammatory burden, but we’ll also consider the patient’s personal history and distinct genetic susceptibility.

Periodontal Therapy with Dr. Louie

There are numerous ways to restore diseased tissues. Some of the services we offer include:

• Scaling and Root Planing
• Gum Grafting
• Periodontal Plastic Surgery
• Laser Treatment
• Crown Lengthening Surgery
• Dental Implants

Scaling and root planing have to do with dexterous plaque and tartar removal using ultrasonic instruments and hand scaling devices. During a gum grafting procedure we aim to replace the lost areas of tissue to protect your tooth roots.

During periodontal plastic surgery we’ll aim to create a more flexible and aesthetically pleasing gum line, while laser treatment entails removing diseased tissue with the added benefits of minimizing discomfort and gum shrinkage. Crown lengthening surgery is a more cosmetic procedure that allows for crown placement, while dental implants have both cosmetic and functional benefits replacing the tooth and tooth root with prosthetics.

If You’re Experiencing Symptoms, Give Dr. Louie a Call

Gum disease might show up in the form of red, swollen, tender gums, bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating, as well as loose, separating teeth. If you have sores in your mouth or find that your breath is often less than desirable, it’s important to take action now. We can help alleviate these symptoms in addition to treating gum recession.

To get started, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Louie today. It’s our goal to get the whole family’s smile back on track, setting you and your loved ones up for great oral health success in the future. See you at the office!

At Smile in LA we specialize in helping our patients get to that A-List smile that seems so elusive to everyone but top-notch celebrities. Achieving the smile you’ve always wanted is not as impossible as it seems, no matter what your circumstances are to begin with.

We provide general and cosmetic dental procedures that help bring out the best in you, while at the same time laying the foundation for a bright future full of good oral health.

However, there are some activities (whether they be extracurricular or everyday activities) that might be jeopardizing your smile.

Read on for a few activities that put your oral health at risk that you should try to avoid.

1.) Combat Sports

Combat sports can be hazardous to your smile, but not as much as other activities we’ll discuss below. The reason is that, when people box, do MMA, or participate in any of the other combat sports out there, they tend to wear mouthguards and safety gear. But just know that every time you step in the ring or the octagon, you’re putting your smile at risk.

2.) Hockey

If you asked 10 hockey players to flash you their grill, you’ll likely find that more than one of them have a compromised smile — some might even be missing multiple teeth. It’s quite common considering the elbows that get thrown around, the cross-checking involved with the sport, not to mention the fact that the referees (in professional hockey, anyway) still let the players fight each other.

3.) A Hard Night of Drinking

We’ll take it away from sports for a moment and talk about the damage you can do to your smile after a night of drinking. Whether you’re drinking wine, liquor, or beer, whatever you partake in is either laced with sugar or harmful acids that eat away at your enamel and can cause cavities. A big problem is many people go out on the town for hours on end and imbibe adult beverages that mount an assault on our oral health. More than a few weekend warriors out there might also skip their oral health routine at the end of the night and head straight for the pillow. Also, one last thing — no opening bottles with your teeth!

4.) Brushing Improperly

One big mistake many patients make is that they don’t know how to brush properly. A common misstep is brushing immediately after you eat. When we consume food and beverages and brush shortly after, we end up working harmful acids into our teeth that erode the enamel. Instead, wait 20-40 minutes for your mouth to neutralize the acids in your mouth, then go ahead and brush.

5.) Basketball

Even though the sport keeps gaining in popularity, it’s important to be aware that playing hoops can put your oral health at risk. One reason is that people generally shortchange basketball when it comes to physicality. In reality, basketball is one of the most physical sports out there.

Even with rules that some might say soften the game, there’s still an amazing amount of pushing around that goes on in the paint. Players even throw the occasional elbow while jockeying for position for a rebound. Another big problem is that many players eschew the idea of wearing a mouthguard. Luckily, more and more high profile players are wearing mouthguards. It’s the smart thing to do — many of these players spend tens of thousands on their teeth. It’s a good idea to protect the investment!

If you engage in any of the activities mentioned above on a regular basis, it’s important you keep a close relationship with an oral health professional.

Smile in LA is in the business of keeping our patients in the best of oral health. Give us a call today and we can help you make an amazing transformation, or give your smile the routine maintenance it needs to last for the long haul.

We all love a good fad, especially when it involves a technological breakthrough, and laser teeth whitening looks like just the thing for instant pearly whites. This will result in your immediate promotion, a great deal on a new car and getting the girl! Won’t it?

It does look good, but bear in mind that it is a procedure reserved solely for implementation by medical professionals. Simply put, don’t do this at home! It would do you well to have a little look into the procedure and what it actually does.

Bam! Pow! Ka Chow!

The common misconception of laser teeth whitening is actually regarding the laser. Most people have visions of lasers deftly slicing away the yellow and leaving bright white. Star Wars in your mouth – how exciting!
In reality, the laser is the catalyst for the bleach to do its job. Get the right wavelength and it speeds up the process considerably. It’s a get white quick scheme.
If the lasers are the lightsabers, then the teeth are kitted out like stormtroopers. Rubber shields are placed over all the gums, cheek retractors are worn and fluoride is applied to desensitize teeth. They are going into battle.

The bleach is painted on to your teeth, everyone steps back and the laser is activated.
Temperatures go up and the bleach starts to oxygenate the enamel of your teeth, making them up to six shades lighter.

What are the claims?

● In actual fact, the process is under-researched by authoritative bodies. There is little regulation on how it is done and so wavelengths vary, concentrations of bleach vary, session times vary. Generally speaking, it would be wise to do your own research. Find a reputable dentist and speak to them first. The right one will be happy to go through all of this with you and explain how they do it. Here’s what is generally claimed:
It’s the fastest way to white teeth.

● Probably true. But it is also inconvenient – you can’t take the laser home and turn it on whilst you watch TV. You have to have repeat bookings of up to an hour each.
It gets teeth whiter than any other method.

● Again, probably true. Those who have had it done certainly think so, claiming up to six shades whiter, which is definitely more than you can expect from traditional methods.
Reports are also in that you can see the difference after just one session!
It’s perfectly safe.

● This is a hard one to answer. However, the side effects do seem to be minimal. Whilst the scientist argue the (debatable) detrimental effects on enamel and tooth pulp, the only proven side effect is increased sensitivity to temperature, usually only for a reduced time period.

What are the cons?

The main point against it is the cost. As with any cosmetic process, it’s not cheap. But it does seem to be worth it. It looks like it does the job, faster, stronger, better. A veritable tooth Jedi.

As with the path to the Jedi, there is much work to be done. Any dentist will tell you that dental and oral hygiene, good eating and regular checkups are the way to white teeth. Laser teeth surgery can take you to new beginnings, but you still have to put in the work to maintain the standard.

As we age, our enamel gets weaker and needs more attention. You may be prepared to go into the battle and win the whiteness, but you will need to use the force afterward. The dark side beckons all day in the form of wine, raspberries, rogan josh and balsamic vinegar on your healthy salads. You need to be strong, maintain your dental health routine and if you have to eat tooth staining foods, take protective measures.

Laser teeth surgery is not for everyone. You need to consult with your dentist, who will show you your best options. But it is a great concept with potentially high rewards. Think about it.

Resources

Colgate – https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/is-laser-
teeth-whitening-an-option-for-you-0914
The Oral Health Foundation – https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/cosmetic-
dentistry/tooth-whitening
National Health Service UK – https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/teeth-whitening/

National Center for Biotechnology Information – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4385673/

It may be surprising that in this day and age, yellowing, stained teeth are still such a problem. Not only in the older generation, either. It is getting more prevalent in adolescents and children. Why? We are in a world full of bright white smiles beaming down on us from adverts and out of our screens. How can we still be tapping our teeth in desperation, looking in the mirror and contemplating expensive toothpastes or cosmetic procedures? And what’s more, how can we stop it?

The Three Stooges of Staining

Firstly, let’s have a look at what causes tooth staining. The three staining agents, as it were, are:

● Chromogens – these little guys are compounds in your food and drink that cause the deep pigmentation. They stick to your tooth enamel.

● Tannins – these plant-based substances found in many drinks also stick to teeth, and what’s more, they help the chromogens stick harder.

● Acids – Anything acidic will wear away at the protective surfaces of your teeth, thus paving the way for the tannins and the chromogens to do their damage.

You could say that the acids strip the walls of their pristine white paint, the tannins prime the stripped surface and the chromogens come along with their tin of yellow paint and have a field day.

Where do they hide out?

Mostly, if it stains the tablecloth, it will stain your teeth. The main foods and drinks that cause staining are:

● Deep colored, tomato-based cooking sauces, and curry sauces full of spices. From bologna to balti, any rich colored sauces are full of chromogens and a fair amount of acid. All in a convenient liquid form to cover your teeth completely. To combat the effect, pair these sauces with dark green, iron-rich vegetables like spinach. These form a protective layer on your teeth. Add a crunchy side salad to your curry dish, with apples or celery. Or switch to lighter, cream based sauces.

● You would think salads are safe, but not totally. Balsamic vinegar and soy sauce are deeply pigmented and sticky, too. All those chromogens sticking to your teeth can be somewhat mitigated by all the crunchy bits in the salad, like lettuce and carrots, but the best thing is to switch to lighter dressing. But not lemon juice! The citric acid in lemons, grapefruit, and oranges will eat away at your enamel.

● Not only the dressing, but some fruits and berries are repeat offenders in the staining game. Any dark berries, like blackberries and cranberries, are full of chromogens and sugar that eat your enamel too. Beetroot is a big stainer, as
anyone that’s spilled the juice knows! Sprinkle your salad with nuts – they are crunchy and contain protein to protect and strengthen teeth. If you just can’t resist a bowl of raspberries – and I know I can’t – then try to keep them away from your teeth. Keep them in your mouth for as little time as possible.

● There are many drinks out there that cause staining. The usual suspects are tea, coffee, red – and white! – wine, cola and energy drinks. And of course, dark fruit drinks concentrate all that fruity color and sugar into a one size stains all
package. It’s the tannins in the tea, even though it’s not as dark as coffee. And white wine is even worse than red, as it is more acidic. When you drink wine, eat cheese. A terrible penance, I know. Cheese contains calcium, phosphorates and protein, which will help protect against the acid.

Prevention is the best cure

So now you know which foods to avoid. Or at least, how to mitigate their effects somewhat. Any dentist will tell you that a great oral hygiene routine will keep your protective layers strong. Rinsing and brushing regularly, especially after meals, will wash as much as possible away.

Today’s society is one of immediacy and ease. Fruit comes in handy juice packages, coffee is on every street corner. Every chef has his brand of pasta sauces for a quick meal. Vigilance is key. Restrict your child’s brightly colored candy. Keep your coffee intake down. Use a reusable straw. Make wise food choices. Your enamel will only get
weaker as you get older, and those stooges will get through the cracks. Keeping your teeth in tip-top shape as soon as they grow is the best protection against staining.

Resources
WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/foods-stain-teeth-feature#1
Kids Dental Online – http://www.kidsdentalonline.com/foods-stain-teeth/
Bupa – https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/teeth-staining-foods