Diamons

Patient Education

Photography by Dr. Padval

Medicine & Your Mouth

The medicine you take for one physical disorder may literally rot your teeth. This is one of many reasons we need to know your medical history and current treatment. For instance... Chewable vitamin C supplements are a good idea for a lot of people, but check your brand for sugar content. For children especially, a liquid form does less damage to tooth enamel, and natural sources of the vitamin—oranges, green vegetables—are even better. Calcium channel blockers (Procardia, Cardizem, Adalat) cause swelling of the gums in [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:41:45-07:00May 7, 2024|Patient Education|

Osteoporosis: The Calcium Connection

Osteoporosis—porous bones—is a fragile, frightening reality for at least 15 million North Americans. What begins as a slow and initially painless decrease in bone mass eventually leaves bones weakened and susceptible to fracture. It turns strong backs into weak; healthy strides into shuffles. From a dental viewpoint, the disease is evident in loss of tooth strength and jaw erosion. Osteoporosis, most common in middle-aged women and the elderly, is particularly insidious in that it is rarely diagnosed until the damage is done. Evidence suggests [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:41:11-07:00April 23, 2024|Patient Education|

Bulimia, the “Private Problem”

Not So Private Anymore If you recognize yourself or someone in your family in this piece, you share a problem with over 500,000 other people. Bulimia. Do you worry about how much you eat—all the time? Do you start a new diet almost every day? Do you perceive everyone else as thinner than you are? Do you make time in the day to eat in solitude—ice cream, doughnuts, pies, cakes, soft drinks—then vomit or take laxatives? Eating disorders have become so common in this [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:40:17-07:00April 9, 2024|Patient Education|

Smoking and Still Smiling?

Say you've spent the time and effort to get your mouth and teeth in shape. You’re dentally hale and hearty. And you smoke. As if there isn't enough reason to give up smoking, your dental health suffers too. Dramatically. Aside from the tobacco stains on teeth (not to mention the bouquet), serious oral disease can develop. The evidence just keeps piling up. Gum Disease - Research is showing that the incidence of gum disease is increased in a smoker, even given good oral hygiene and the best dental [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:39:51-07:00April 2, 2024|Patient Education|

Diabetes and Your Mouth

We could be first to know. Don’t let us be the last. Diabetes affects the blood chemistry and metabolism of its victims, threatening them with multiple serious disorders. But early detection can ward off the dangers, and we dentists are often the first to notice clues. Diabetics are more likely than others to develop tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, fungal infections, dry mouth, impaired taste, inflammatory skin disease, delayed healing and infections. Many diabetics have to come in for dental checkups more often than [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:38:23-07:00March 5, 2024|Patient Education|

Soft Drinks Pack a Hard Punch

Soft drinks are bad for your teeth in more ways than one. There’s sugar, and then there’s acidity. The sugar provides necessary food for the bad bacteria in your mouth. If you’re drinking the national average of two cans of soft drinks a day, you’re giving aid and sustenance to the enemy. Bacteria eat what you eat, and sugar sends them into overdrive. But sugar isn’t the worst culprit. Fizz is. The bubble in carbonated beverages comes from carbonic acid. That acid eats through [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:37:40-07:00February 27, 2024|Patient Education|

Pregnancy and Oral Health

How does pregnancy affect my oral health? It's a myth that calcium is lost from the mother's teeth, but you may experience some changes in your oral health during pregnancy. The primary change is a surge in hormones--particularly an increase in estrogen and progesterone-- which is linked to an increase in the amount of plaque on your teeth. How does a build-up of plaque affect me? If the plaque isn't removed, it can cause gingivitis--red, swollen, tender gums that are more likely to bleed. [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:34:21-07:00December 26, 2023|Patient Education|

Expiring Insurance Benefits—Use Them or Lose Them!

What if someone gave you free money to spend on improving your smile? With one string attached: use it all by New Years’, or lose it. Well, for those fortunate enough to have insurance, there are several ways to take advantage of your plan's benefits before they expire at the end of the year. Many dental insurance policies provide a certain dollar amount of coverage to be provided over one calendar year (January through December). Benefit money not used by December 31 is not carried [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:30:33-07:00December 5, 2023|Patient Education|

Women’s Oral Health

Do women need to be more careful with their oral health? Women's oral health depends on their different stages of life. For many women, these changes are directly related to surges in sex hormone levels, such as in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, lactation and menopause. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with TMJ, Myofascial pain, eating disorders, and Sjogren’s Syndrome (dry mouth). What types of conditions will my dentist watch for? As a woman, you need to adhere to good oral hygiene. Make [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:26:02-07:00October 3, 2023|Patient Education|

7 Everyday Tips for Whiter Teeth

Here are some simple, everyday tips that can improve your oral health and give you whiter teeth! Cut out the stain-causing food. Some of the biggest culprits for stained teeth are the foods we eat or drink. Typically, anything with a dark color will likely affect your teeth. These include things like coffee, red wine, and even dark sodas and juices. If you can't bear to do away with these things completely, be sure to brush immediately afterwards, and consider using an over-the-counter bleaching [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:23:26-07:00August 22, 2023|Patient Education|