Diamons

Patient Education

Photography by Dr. Padval

Hormones and Periodontal Disease

Women of all ages are prone to changing levels of progesterone in the body. And progesterone—especially when you are pregnant or taking oral contraceptives—causes some bacteria to grow in awesome numbers. Unfortunately, the bacteria associated with gum disease are among them. Are you taking progesterone medication? Tell us if these ring a bell: Provera, Amen, Cycrin, Norlutate, Norinyl, Otho-Novum, Ovral, Triphasil—among many others. In the face of such drugs, an existing periodontal problem may worsen, or the disease can develop suddenly in apparently healthy [...]

By |2017-11-21T00:00:53-08:00November 21, 2017|Patient Education|

Your Health History

Keep Us Informed of Any Changes! If it's been a little while since your last appointment, then don't forget to update your health history. Your dental care is part of your total health-care package. Have you: experienced any new allergies or sensitivities? quit smoking (or started)? begun taking new medications, even over-the-counter drugs? had any accidents or injuries? been diagnosed with any illness or other medical condition? experienced dry mouth? had a baby? Your answers help to determine how we treat your mouth. In [...]

By |2017-11-07T00:00:02-08:00November 7, 2017|Patient Education|

Antibiotics before Dental Procedures?

Know the Guidelines If in the past your doctor has prescribed antibiotics before you had dental work, don't assume that your future holds more such meds. The guidelines may have changed since your last appointment… so check with your family doctor or cardiologist to learn if premedication is necessary for you. For years the American Heart Association (AHA) recommended an antibiotic regime before dentistry for certain heart patients. But recently the AHA rewrote its guidelines, and the American Dental Association adopted them, agreeing that [...]

By |2017-10-24T00:00:55-07:00October 24, 2017|Patient Education|

Eating Too Much Sugar…

The diet of today is the result of a 50-year increase in consumption of the rapidly absorbed sugars—specifically, soft drinks, commercial juices, candy, and easily digested sugar foods such as cakes, cookies, etc. This change has generally gone unnoticed by consumers, until very recently it has been unquestionably assumed that this is "the way this age is." However, now it has become increasingly apparent that we suffer from more and more glucose (sugar) metabolism diseases and dental caries because of poor diet. These high-energy [...]

By |2017-10-17T00:00:21-07:00October 17, 2017|Patient Education|

Oral Health Tips when Having a Baby

You've got the glow of a mother-to-be. Keep it with these tips for better oral health for you and your baby. Now you're eating (and brushing, flossing and keeping dental appointments) for two. Make an appointment at the outset of your pregnancy for a healthy head start and advice on changes that could lead to dental problems. Hormonal changes can lead to diet changes, for a famous example, and morning sickness acids can threaten tooth enamel. Schedule non-emergency dental care for the fourth to [...]

By |2017-09-26T00:00:34-07:00September 26, 2017|Patient Education|

Where Did All the Pain Go?

The Reality is, Today's Dentistry is Virtually Painless There's a bright new trend in dental offices these days: More people are making appointments because they want to, not because they have to. What is it about a visit to the dentist that feels this good? One simple, wonderful fact: In most cases, the pain is gone. Painless dental treatment is bringing us to a level of well-being—and appearance—makes a positive, tangible difference in our lives. Dental medicine has come a long way. The reality [...]

By |2017-09-19T00:00:25-07:00September 19, 2017|Patient Education|

The Calcium Advantage

How important is calcium to us? It' s very important. Here's why. It builds strong bones and teeth; helps the heart to beat, muscles to flex, blood to clot, and nerves to send messages throughout the body. Calcium helps to reduce risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, and high cholesterol. Calcium Advantage Tips Drink milk with meals, have cereal with milk, order cheese on your sandwich, snack on cheese and crackers, cheese and fruit, yogurt or a glass of milk. Consume [...]

By |2017-09-12T00:00:36-07:00September 12, 2017|Patient Education|

Don’t Share Your Toothbrush!

One of the tenets of good dental health is obvious—Brush your teeth after every meal. This can help keep your mouth healthy throughout a long life. Another rule should be just as carefully observed: Do NOT use someone else's toothbrush. Sharing toothbrushes can shorten your life. Be safe, not sorry. But what about emergencies, when you have no other option than to borrow someone's toothbrush—just once? That's when this rule is most important. It's far better to risk tooth decay by not brushing than to [...]

By |2017-09-05T00:00:18-07:00September 5, 2017|Patient Education|

Can Toothpaste Help Fight Canker Sores?

About the only good thing about canker sores is, they're hidden inside the mouth. Beyond that—they're painful, annoying, and bound to erupt at the worst possible time. And common though they are, the medical world has mixed opinions on what causes them and what can prevent them from recurring. Canker sores, or mouth ulcers, are different from fever blisters, though they're often confused. They occur only inside the mouth and aren't contagious. Fever blisters, on the other hand, are caused by the herpes virus, are [...]

By |2017-08-22T00:00:40-07:00August 22, 2017|Patient Education|

Dental Tips for Caregivers

If you're one of the millions of caregivers of an elderly patient who perhaps suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, then you probably maintain a checklist of the many daily tasks necessary to care for them. When making your list, don't forget to include dental health as part of your routine. How Caregivers Can Help For as long as possible, encourage the patient to care for him/herself. It's a dignity issue. When you must step in, physically demonstrate brushing and flossing, and the patient may [...]

By |2017-08-01T00:00:28-07:00August 1, 2017|Patient Education|