Can you remember what your teeth looked like before you had your first cavity? When you opened your mouth to laugh or yawn, the people with you could see only pearly white molar surfaces. (Unless, of course, you had been munching Oreos.) If you are like many men and women, you started developing decay fairly…
Dental Health
The 411 on TMJ
Do you have unexplained pain or clicking sounds in your jaw? They can be signs of serious oral issues. Some problems with the jaw and the muscles that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). But it’s also called TMJ, because that’s the acronym for the name of the joint. Technically, that’s not correct.…
Want To Keep Your Enamel Healthy? Avoid Doing These 11 Things
1. Chewing on hard foods We’re looking at you Beef jerky and hard or stale bread. 2. Chewing on hard items This includes fingernails, pencils, pen caps, and ice. 3. Grinding your teeth If you grind your teeth, counsel with your dentist. An appliance can safeguard your smile. 4. Eating too much sticky food Gummy…
Yes, We Treat Bad Breath
When dental patients ask if mouthwash cures bad breath, we tell them that treating bad breath with a mouthwash is like drenching yourself with cologne instead of taking a shower. Mouthwash is only a temporary mask for odor caused by poor oral hygiene, tongue bacteria, or digestive conditions. The best-selling mouthwashes have a significant amount…
Royalty At La Costa Dental Excellence
When Drs. Stephen and Kimberly Dankworth crown one of our patients, the coronation is a celebration of a stronger smile. The necessity of a dental crown is usually readily apparent. Based on how much tooth is available to hold in a filling, sometimes a crown is necessary to add more support and to keep the…
Five Facts About Enamel Erosion
Our teeth work hard and are continuously under attack. It’s no wonder that nature encases them with an armor of enamel—the hardest substance in the body. Unfortunately, enamel erosion is extremely widespread, though largely preventable. Enamel’s chief enemies are acidic foods and beverages. Other factors that can weaken enamel or wear it away are some…
Can I Wear Braces While I’m Pregnant?
Pregnant women are advised to avoid many things such as taking certain medications and eating specific foods. However, there is rarely a reason why a pregnant woman should not undergo orthodontic treatment. It is generally considered safe for pregnant women to have orthodontic care, with some precautions. Today’s post is for pregnant women interested in…
Signs Of Oral Cancer: What Not To Ignore
Today’s message focuses on a very serious subject—oral (oropharyngeal) cancers. The medical community designates oral cancers as a subset of head and neck cancers. Oral cancers can develop in the following locations: The tongue The roof of the mouth and under the tongue The inside of the cheeks The oropharynx (the part behind the soft…
The Future Of Tooth Decay In Carlsbad
Dental patients in the Encinitas area may wonder what would happen if they didn’t seek quality dental care on a regular basis. The answer isn’t pretty. A common result of untreated cavities is abscessed teeth. A tooth abscess is an infection near the root of the tooth or between the gum and the tooth. This…
Baby Talk (About Oral Health)
Taking care of a baby can be exciting, exhausting, and confusing. (All within the space of an hour.) You worry about your son or daughter’s safety. “Did I cover all the outlets?” “Are the medicines locked away?” You worry about your baby’s development. “Is he growing on schedule?” “Shouldn’t she be talking by now?” And…
