cavities Archives | Diamond Dental of Sacramento

Can Kissing Cause Cavities?
Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Patient Education

Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Sorry to say, it can. In fact, anything involving contact with saliva—a kiss, parents tasting their babies’ food, sharing of tableware and toothbrushes—can transmit decay-causing bacteria. Soon after birth, infants start to get those bacteria that inhabit the mouth and cause cavities. These germs are usually transferred by the babies’ mothers or other family members. When one so innocent can be SO susceptible, we need to provide our mouths with the best defense against the enemy. Brushing and flossing are a good beginning, as they [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T14:36:32-07:00April 22, 2025|Patient Education|

Fast Facts About Dry Mouth
Fast Facts About Dry Mouth

Restorative Dentistry

Fast Facts About Dry Mouth

Here are some facts about dry mouth, which can be a frustrating condition... We call it xerostomia—and it can be a serious problem. It tends to happen as we age—but it doesn't have to. Besides being uncomfortable, dry mouth makes teeth more cavity-prone. It can be the side effect of some medications or radiation therapy for cancer. Fight dry mouth by drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily. Also, try sugarless gum or lozenges—mouth-wetting agents. There are prescriptions product to combat dry mouth. So feel free to [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T14:33:22-07:00March 11, 2025|Restorative Dentistry|

Crowns—Dental Workhorses

Most dentists will agree that crown restorations are at the heart of general dentistry. We've all studied crowns in dental school, and some of us have done our best work replacing missing teeth and saving the rest. Research has given us the wherewithal to achieve virtually ideal restorations. They are natural looking, comfortable and stable in the moist environment of the mouth. We’re better equipped than ever to build strong, long-lasting and cosmetically superior crowns. What is a crown? A crown (or cap) is a restoration [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T14:32:06-07:00February 25, 2025|Restorative Dentistry|

Can You Catch a Cavity?
Can You Catch a Cavity?

Patient Education

Can You Catch a Cavity?

When you have a cold, we all know to cover your mouth before you sneeze and not to drink out of the same glass. We do this because we know that a cold is contagious. Now we know that, chances are, so is tooth decay. Recent research suggests that the germs responsible for cavities may be "catchy." Likewise, scientists suspect that bacteria associated with gum disease may be transferable from husband to wife, or mother to child. Infants get the bacteria that come to [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:02:25-07:00December 10, 2024|Patient Education|

Listen to Your Teeth

An aching tooth’s a warning. Often it's a cavity, but not always. Other Toothache Causes... After a filling, a tooth can sometimes be a bit sensitive. It’s a normal reaction that should soon correct it-self. In the morning, an aching tooth could be the result of grinding or tooth-clenching overnight. Not a cavity, but a habit you need to shake. Aches can also come from unfamiliar pressures due to tooth movement, especially when a tooth has shifted because a lost tooth wasn't replaced. Sinus [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:01:13-07:00November 26, 2024|Restorative Dentistry|

MMMMMM! It’s Mouth-Watering

You stand to speak to a crowd of thousands–and your mouth is desert-dry. That’s normal. But under less stressful circumstances, a dry mouth is not normal. In fact, it’s cause for concern. Saliva has a critical role in the health of your mouth and your body. It flushes out the plaque that causes tooth decay and periodontal disease and acts as a buffer against overly acid mouth. Dry mouth, then, can lead to cavities—and to any of those sometimes serious disorders lately linked to [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:00:51-07:00November 19, 2024|Restorative Dentistry|

Check Your Dental I.Q.

Read each question and choose the best answer. Scoring below. 1. The best toothbrush bristle is: (a) Medium (b) Hard (c) soft (d) electric 2. Teeth grinding and gnashing (bruxism) can lead to: (a) a pain in the neck (b) Sore teeth (c) Headaches (d) all of the above 3. The dentist’s word for cavities: (a) holey teeth (b) caries (c) cartels (d) fillings 4. Straightening of the teeth is called: (a) orthodontics (b) pediatrics (c) geometry (d) endodontics 5. It’s been proven that [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:00:27-07:00November 12, 2024|Patient Education|

No More Metal Mouth
No More Metal Mouth

Cosmetic Dentistry

No More Metal Mouth

You don't have to be a dentist to know that metal is NOT a normal component of teeth. Used to be, gold or silver amalgam was necessary to restore structural integrity to damaged teeth (especially molars) that would be subjected to the great stress caused by chewing. Today, there are new materials that stand up to the stress, but without the metal! They simply didn't exist just a generation ago. For example, modern porcelain onlays and inlays can replace metal fillings even on back [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-02T14:47:42-07:00July 23, 2024|Cosmetic Dentistry|

Sense about Sensitivity

When teeth hurt, the sooner we reach the root of the problem, the sooner the pain disappears. What triggers tooth pain? Heat, cold, touch, air, sweet or sour foods. If you recently had a cavity filled, that area may be sensitive for awhile. Other causes of sensitivity are: Erosion of tooth enamel. Gum shrinkage down below the crown exposing the cementum beneath, an area sensitive to heat and cold. One or more teeth shifting into a position where they strike too hard against other [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-02T14:46:55-07:00July 9, 2024|Restorative Dentistry|

Alcohol and Your Teeth
Alcohol and Your Teeth

Patient Education

Alcohol and Your Teeth

Dentally speaking, is drinking alcohol a good thing or a bad thing for your teeth and gums? As with everything alcohol related, there are positives and negatives. On one hand, a mixer-free shot of vodka is probably less hazardous than caramel candies, which coat the teeth with a sticky goo that practically begs for cavities. On the other hand, every kind of alcohol—most notoriously drinks with sugary mixes—are chock-full of their own types of sugar. Sugar is the main source of energy for plaque [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-02T14:44:17-07:00June 18, 2024|Patient Education|

12 Next