Keeping your teeth healthy during COVID-19 crisis

 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) the crisis is an ongoing problem and is affecting all aspects of our lives.  Many of us are under stress and it can have negative effects on our oral and dental health.  Here is some information on maintaining your oral and dental health during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Maintain good dental and oral hygiene daily

·       Maintain a daily routine of brushing and flossing your teeth 2 times per day to prevent tooth decay and gum infection

·       Brushing and flossing your teeth reduce plaque (bacteria) build-up

§  Keep your toothbrush clean. If you were sick with a cold or flu, replace with a new toothbrush

·       Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash also helps to reduce plaque build-up

·       Use fluoridated toothpaste

Maintain a healthy diet

·       Avoid excessive snacking with starchy foods and drinks

·       Avoid alcohol and tobacco products

·       Avoid chewing on ice, hard/sticky candies, popcorn, peanut brittle or hard foods that can crack a tooth or damaged fillings

·       Good hydration is important for oral health.  Drinking water is excellent to keep you hydrated.

Relax your jaw

·       Teeth grinding and jaw clenching are common responses to high-stress situations. You may experience headaches, earaches and jaw pain

·       Take breaks throughout the day to relax your facial muscles and stretch your jaw

·       Practice stress management techniques before bed like breathing exercises

·       Make sure to mention the teeth grinding and jaw clenching problems to Dr. Lee at your next dental appointment

Do the best you can to maintain good oral hygiene, a healthy diet and relax during this challenging time.                                   

 Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  She is experienced in all phases of dentistry.  She treats patients of all ages.   Call our dental office at 626-335-5114 to schedule a dental checkup or visit us at www.annaleedds.com.   We look forward to seeing all of our patients again soon!

Bedwetting is a common finding in children.  A child drinks fluids before bedtime, constipation, or an episode of emotional stress can cause a nighttime bedwetting accident.  For most children, nighttime bedwetting does resolve itself over time.  If nighttime bedwetting accidents become frequent; the child should be checked and evaluated for possible sleep-disordered breathing.

What is sleep-disordered breathing?

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology (ENT), sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a general term for breathing difficulties during sleep.  It is a medical condition where part, or all, of the airway is blocked repeatedly during sleep. These are some of the symptoms of pediatric SDB:

·            Snoring

·       Irritability

·       Bedwetting-SDB can cause increased urine production at night, which may lead to bedwetting

·       Learning difficulties

What does a tongue tie have to do with sleep?

Dr. Richard Baxter’s article, Tongue-Ties and Sleep Issues, published from Dental Sleep Practice in winter 2018 discusses the following:

·        “A tongue that is held down by a tie is unable to rest in the palate.  The only place left for the tongue to go is backward, which closes off part of the airway.”  Snoring from upper airway resistance can be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or sleep disordered breathing.

·       “After tongue tie release, patient notices a deeper quality of sleep and the parents notice less snoring, less waking, and better mood in their child.”

Tongue Tie and Bedwetting 

Dr. Richard Baxter’s book, Tongue-Tied, discusses the association between tongue tie and bedwetting.

·       Sleep-disordered breathing causes lack of deep sleep in children and adults

·       Lack of deep sleep can cause bedwetting

·       Sleep-disordered breathing causes frequent arousals (interruptions), which can cause the child to have the urge to urinate

·       Recent systematic review of removing tonsils and adenoids showed that bedwetting improved in more than 60% of the patients and 50% had a complete resolution of symptoms.

·       Tongue tie release can allow the child to achieve deeper sleep levels and stop bedwetting

·       Removal of tonsils and adenoids, the application of maxillary expander (orthodontic treatment), and tongue tie release can all work together to improve sleep quality.

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  Dr. Anna Lee is an experienced provider for Laser lip and tongue tied frenectomy (releases) for infants, children and adults.  If you have any questions about lip and tongue tied frenectomy, please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call for a consultation at 626-335-5114.

 

Amalgam and Composite fillings

What are amalgam fillings?

Amalgam fillings are also known as “silver fillings.”  Dental amalgam is a combination of mercury, silver, tin, copper and small amounts of zinc, indium or palladium.  Mercury makes up 50% of the filling material and it binds all the other metals together to provide a strong, safe and durable filling.

What are composite filling?

Composite fillings are also known as “tooth-colored fillings” or “white fillings.”  Composite is a blend of plastics and small glass particles that are used to do small and large fillings for front and back teeth.

Pros and Cons of amalgam and composite fillings

Pros: Amalgam fillings

·       Proven-most popular and effective filling material used in dentistry for the last 150 years

·       Economical-cost less than composite fillings

·       Durable

Cons: Amalgam fillings

·       Unesthetic & Noticeable-black/grey teeth

·       Allergies-some people are sensitive to the metals in amalgam

Pros: Composite fillings

·       Esthetic-natural looking, match the color of natural teeth

·       Easy adhesion-bond directly to the tooth surface

·       Preserves maximum amount of tooth structure, less drilling, and less tooth structure reduction

Cons:  Composite fillings

·       More frequent replacement, they don’t last as long as amalgam fillings

·       Placing a composite filling is more involved and it is a longer appointment

Why is mercury used in amalgam and is it safe?

·       Mercury is used in amalgam because it binds all the other metals together to provide a strong, safe and durable filling. Mercury also helps making the filling material pliable. When mercury is mixed with alloy powder it becomes soft enough to mix and press into the tooth.  Amalgam filling hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

·       In 2009, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation and research concluded that amalgam fillings are safe for adults and children ages 6 and above.

Are amalgam fillings a problem?

·       In 1998, the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs published the scientific literature on dental amalgam and concluded that amalgam continues to be a safe and effective restorative material.  

·       In recent years, tests show very small amount of mercury (vapor) can be released as the amalgam filling wears in the mouth over time.

·       Several reviews of the research concluded that any amount released from amalgam in the mouth is very low.

·       Other studies showed that the amount of mercury people are exposed to from the fillings is less than the amount that people are exposed to in their environment and their foods.

When should amalgam fillings be replaced with another type of dental material?  What material? 

·       Patients should remove their amalgam fillings if tooth is breaking, chipping, decaying or when the filling is worn.  There is no need to replace the amalgam if amalgam is intact with no tooth problems.

·       Removing good amalgam fillings can cause unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structures and can release more mercury (vapor).

·       Depending on the size and locations of fillings; your options are composite fillings, porcelain fillings (inlays/onlays) and others

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  She is knowledgeable about different types of dental material for fillings. If you have any questions about amalgam and composite fillings, please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call for a dental checkup at 626-335-5114. 

Do You Have A Love Hate Relationship With Your Smile?

Teeth are crucial to the success of so many things in life. They are the backbone to your face and provide key structural needs while giving you a universal sign of happiness that you can share with the world. Some days you may love your smile, you may even practice smiling or evaluate the health of your smile. Other days, you smile and only see the stains, the crooked teeth or the swollen gums. Now, you can have a beautiful smile that never lets you down.

Cosmetic dental procedures help you fall in love with your smile and stay in love while creating a healthy smile that will last a lifetime. Dr. Anna Lee and her team will evaluate your teeth, gums and the overall health of your smile prior to creating a treatment plan. This may include a cleaning, fixing broken, or cracked teeth or providing veneers for teeth that have experience trauma or damage. Your smile should never be a problem for you.

Isn’t it time you felt confident in sharing your smile with the world all the time? 

For more information on cosmetic dental procedures by Dr. Anna Lee and her team call 626-335-5114.

Accept The Challenge!

Challenges are always popping up on your Facebook, this month though, take the plunge and commit to improving your smile for the next 30 days. While we hope once you commit to the challenge you will continue to brush and floss, start with just 30 days. To take the challenge comment below on the post with your name and the day you started. Then post a picture on the day #1 brushing and flossing. This can be a photo of your pearly whites once you are done brushing or take a photo of you brushing your teeth. We do not care; we want to see your smile before, and after the challenge so you can see what a difference 30 days can make.

Brushing and flossing are the critical keys to improving your smile. These two tasks are the only way you can remove food from the surface of the teeth and remove substances from between the teeth. The longer food stays on the enamel of the teeth the more likely it is to break down the surface causing cavities and periodontal disease. It only takes 2 minutes a day, and it can involve the whole family. It doesn’t stop there though, once you decide to take the challenge, challenge your friends to the brush and floss your teeth for the 30-day challenge!

For more information on how to keep your smile in great shape, contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team.