A Tip From Your Periodontist: Brush Before Your Visit

Each time you visit your local dentist or periodontist you hear this voice in your head wishing that your next appointment will be better – without your gums bleeding excess blood or buildup of tar tar around your tooth because well, that is just embarrassing! And yes, periodontists DO KNOW the reasons behind all your dental activities.

Wishing that your next appointment will be better is easy but it actually having a better dental or periodontal visit needs some improvements in your daily routine.

Impress your dentist or periodontist at your next appointment with these tips!

Floss. 

Just using a toothbrush is not enough​. Flossing, which you should do before you brush, helps loosen plaque between teeth that your brush would otherwise be unable to reach. The proper way to floss is to wrap 18 inches around your fingers and move it gently in a U-shape between your teeth, using a clean section for each tooth.

Set a timer. 

Haphazardly brushing your teeth in the morning before you run out the door to catch your bus might get rid of your morning breath, but it’s not likely to have a meaningful effect on your overall health.

To effectively reach all areas and rid your mouth of cavity-causing bacteria, it is recommended to brush for at least two minutes, twice a day.

Brush softer. 

Most people try to scrub their teeth clean with their toothbrush, but doing that does little more than ruin your enamel. Instead, hold your brush softly at a 45-degree angle, and brush in a circular motion. 

It’s a myth that harder bristles do a better job.

Buying a softer toothbrush can help save your enamel as well.

Change your toothbrush often. 

An old, frayed toothbrush isn’t going to do a great job getting your mouth clean, so be sure to replace your brush whenever you see the bristles start to wear. 

Toothbrushes should be changed every three to four months or after you’ve been sick.

Go high-tech. 

Electric toothbrushes are a better choice for some people than manual brushes, because they closely resemble the tools dentists use in their office.

Chew gum. It’s not always possible to brush your teeth between meals, so keeping a pack of sugar-free gum on hand can help you ward off cavities.

Saliva has natural antibacterial properties and can help serve as a buffer between the bacteria that causes gum diseases and the bone and tissues around your teeth, since gum-chewing helps to increase saliva flow in the mouth.

A Tip From Your Periodontist: Brush Before Your Visit

Each time you visit your local dentist or periodontist you hear this voice in your head wishing that your next appointment will be better – without your gums bleeding excess blood or buildup of tar tar around your tooth because well, that is just embarrassing! And yes, periodontists DO KNOW the reasons behind all your dental activities.

Wishing that your next appointment will be better is easy but it actually having a better dental or periodontal visit needs some improvements in your daily routine.

Impress your dentist or periodontist at your next appointment with these tips!

Floss. 

Just using a toothbrush is not enough​. Flossing, which you should do before you brush, helps loosen plaque between teeth that your brush would otherwise be unable to reach. The proper way to floss is to wrap 18 inches around your fingers and move it gently in a U-shape between your teeth, using a clean section for each tooth.

Set a timer. 

Haphazardly brushing your teeth in the morning before you run out the door to catch your bus might get rid of your morning breath, but it’s not likely to have a meaningful effect on your overall health.

To effectively reach all areas and rid your mouth of cavity-causing bacteria, it is recommended to brush for at least two minutes, twice a day.

Brush softer. 

Most people try to scrub their teeth clean with their toothbrush, but doing that does little more than ruin your enamel. Instead, hold your brush softly at a 45-degree angle, and brush in a circular motion. 

It’s a myth that harder bristles do a better job.

Buying a softer toothbrush can help save your enamel as well.

Change your toothbrush often. 

An old, frayed toothbrush isn’t going to do a great job getting your mouth clean, so be sure to replace your brush whenever you see the bristles start to wear. 

Toothbrushes should be changed every three to four months or after you’ve been sick.

Go high-tech. 

Electric toothbrushes are a better choice for some people than manual brushes, because they closely resemble the tools dentists use in their office.

Chew gum. It’s not always possible to brush your teeth between meals, so keeping a pack of sugar-free gum on hand can help you ward off cavities.

Saliva has natural antibacterial properties and can help serve as a buffer between the bacteria that causes gum diseases and the bone and tissues around your teeth, since gum-chewing helps to increase saliva flow in the mouth.

A Tip From Your Periodontist: Brush Before Your Visit

Each time you visit your local dentist or periodontist you hear this voice in your head wishing that your next appointment will be better – without your gums bleeding excess blood or buildup of tar tar around your tooth because well, that is just embarrassing! And yes, periodontists DO KNOW the reasons behind all your dental activities.

Wishing that your next appointment will be better is easy but it actually having a better dental or periodontal visit needs some improvements in your daily routine.

Impress your dentist or periodontist at your next appointment with these tips!

Floss. 

Just using a toothbrush is not enough​. Flossing, which you should do before you brush, helps loosen plaque between teeth that your brush would otherwise be unable to reach. The proper way to floss is to wrap 18 inches around your fingers and move it gently in a U-shape between your teeth, using a clean section for each tooth.

Set a timer. 

Haphazardly brushing your teeth in the morning before you run out the door to catch your bus might get rid of your morning breath, but it’s not likely to have a meaningful effect on your overall health.

To effectively reach all areas and rid your mouth of cavity-causing bacteria, it is recommended to brush for at least two minutes, twice a day.

Brush softer. 

Most people try to scrub their teeth clean with their toothbrush, but doing that does little more than ruin your enamel. Instead, hold your brush softly at a 45-degree angle, and brush in a circular motion. 

It’s a myth that harder bristles do a better job.

Buying a softer toothbrush can help save your enamel as well.

Change your toothbrush often. 

An old, frayed toothbrush isn’t going to do a great job getting your mouth clean, so be sure to replace your brush whenever you see the bristles start to wear. 

Toothbrushes should be changed every three to four months or after you’ve been sick.

Go high-tech. 

Electric toothbrushes are a better choice for some people than manual brushes, because they closely resemble the tools dentists use in their office.

Chew gum. It’s not always possible to brush your teeth between meals, so keeping a pack of sugar-free gum on hand can help you ward off cavities.

Saliva has natural antibacterial properties and can help serve as a buffer between the bacteria that causes gum diseases and the bone and tissues around your teeth, since gum-chewing helps to increase saliva flow in the mouth.

Dr. Kao's Tips on Preventing Tooth Decay

Follow us on our social media!

Periodontal Pocket Reduction

Now that you know well what periodontal disease is and what it can do to our oral health, let’s take a look at the option of periodontal pocket reduction as our secondary and tertiary care.

This is a normally healthy mouth from daily brushing and flossing. The gum is light pink and fits snugly around the teeth. Once plague and tartar build up on the exposed surface of the teeth, the gums will become inflamed and start pulling away from the teeth, causing bacteria invested gum pockets like the image shown below.

Without treatment from a professional periodontist, tissue and even bone can be destroyed causing tooth loss.

The best way to treat severe periodontal disease, and you guessed it, is periodontal pocket reduction. Just like it sounds, this procedure reduces the size of pockets that form in the gums and reshapes tissue to fit more snugly around the teeth.

So how does periodontal pocket reduction work at David S. Kao DDS?

Dr. Kao is a well-known board certified periodontist and dental implant specialist serving in Downtown and greater Los Angeles for many years. He will remove bacteria and diseased gum tissues before starting the procedure. This allows the gums to reattach to a smooth surface.

Next, Dr. Kao will reshape remaining tissue so that it fits more securely around teeth and reduces the depth of pockets between the teeth and the gums. If bone loss is identified, a bone grafting procedure may be done.

Dr. Kao will complete the procedure by putting the gum tissue back in place and secure it with a few stiches or putty like substance so that it will heal rapidly and properly. 

This easy and simply procedure can only be done by a professional with the right tools. If your dentist mentioned periodontal pocket reduction as an options, we will be happy to discuss the treatment plan with you and whether there are other treatments that are a better option. Feel free to give us a call at (213) 250-7554 or schedule an online appointment with us.

Benefits of Green Tea for Your Oral Health

Green tea contains many health properties because it is naturally rich in antioxidants. It appears that green tea can control inflammation and fight bacterial infections not only for your body but also for your oral cavity. What most people want to know is what does this really mean for their oral health? Let’s take a deeper look and see what are all these other benefits that green tea has to offer.

v  Well, for starters, green tea drinkers usually have better breath than coffee or milk drinkers. Green tea has been associated with positive smelling breath because it does not contain any milk or dairy substances. In addition to better smelling breaths, green tea kills the microbes that make our mouths stinky throughout the day from minimal water intake or if we are hungry. Find out more on why we experience bad breath throughout the day from our previous blog.

v  Green tea increases the metabolism and helps to increase weight loss. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.

v  Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

v  Green tea can help prevent oral cavities because it controls bacteria through regulating saliva production and acidity in the mouth. Researchers found multiple studies on tooth decay prevention using just only green tea.

v  Green tea’s anti-inflammatory powers seem to help control periodontal (gum) diseases as well as preventing cavities. A Japanese surgery of almost 1,000 men found that those who drank green tea regularly has healthier gums than those who didn’t. This means that an individual will experience less tooth loss during the aging process.

v  Green tea is the best drink when it comes to skin care. Both animals and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage, help with wrinkles, and reduce any signs of ageing.

For more interesting blogs regarding your oral health visit our blogsite catered towards our weekly readers!

How To Avoid Infections After A Dental Implant Operation

Maintain Good Oral HygieneWe know you hear this over and over again, time after time, but no kidding that this is the golden rule when it comes to warding off infections. Cleanliness is paramount when bacteria is roaming around practically everywhere in your mouth. If the site of impact is not kept as sterile as possible, bacteria will have the chance to flourish. A simple mix of warm water and salt should do the trick for the treated areas. Rinsing your mouth with a mild mouthwash is also recommended so that your mouth will not become overly dry. Also, if you remember to brush after each meal you’ll be set for life. 

Be Picky With Food Choices

Foods that are hard and chewy can irritate the treatment areas making it more vulnerable to infections. Hard or sharp foods like nuts can reopen surgical wounds and should be avoided at all cause until the wound is healed. It is recommended to maintain a diet of soft foods and liquids for at least several days after the operation.

Avoid Smoking

The smoke and chemicals can severely irritate gums which can lead to infections. It is strongly encouraged that patients give up smoking as a whole, or using any kind of tobacco product for that matter while healing after dental implant surgery. If you smoke regularly, a nicotine patch or other remedy may enable you to quit or significantly reduce the habit. Smoking can deprive your bloodstream and the site of surgery from much need oxygen, prolonging the opportunity for infections to arise while healing.

Take Your Meds

If you were prescribed a course of antibiotics following your dental implant surgery, remember to take the full course in accordance with their instructions Failure to complete a full course of antibiotics can increase the risk of infection and possible render the whole treatment ineffective.

For more post-dental implant surgery tips please see a dental implant specialist or visit www.davidkaodds.com.