There you are, sitting in front of your bathroom mirror giving your teeth gums their monthly flossing. Why just monthly? Well – you’re trying to get better about that right?  Our dentists in Garden Grove see this a lot. Don’t worry – in most cases, it’s not a dental emergency.

So what do you do if your gums start bleeding? First. Don’t panic. Periodontal problems are some of the most prevalent disorders around the world. There’s a very real chance that you could be experiencing the very earliest stage of periodontitis (especially if you have swollen, red, and tender gums). You could also be experiencing a bit of random inflammation – perhaps from some stuck food.  Or, in many cases – it’s simply a matter of your gums not being used to the attention.

Ever get a compliment when you weren’t ready for one and have all the blood rush to your face? Think about sporadic flossing and your gums in the same way! Your gums are a sensitive and very important piece of “equipment” in your mouth. So the bleeding that almost always seems to happen after you haven’t flossed in a long time doesn’t always have to mean that your gums are infected. More simply, they’re just not used to the stress. When your gums are never touched by floss and seldom touched by your toothbrush – they, tend to get a little soft and sensitive.

So if your gums protest with blood when you finally get around to giving them a thorough cleaning with floss – don’t take it as a reason to stop. Instead, use it as an excuse to floss more regularly, to give your gums the support they need and to toughen them up against bacteria, plaque, decay, and gum disease.

Dental fillings are incredibly common.  In fact, most people tend to need at least one or two fillings at some point in their life. Typically, that’s when they’re used to repair a cavity. But other times, fillings can also be used to fix a cracked or broken teeth – or give new shape to a tooth that’s been worn down over time.

But what can you do if you lose a filling? It can happen. Fortunately, our dentists in Garden Grove are here to advise you on the right move to make. A loose or missing filling can often seem painful – but this can generally be attributed to sensitivity. While this can be jarring at first – it’s generally not too serious.

The first thing you need to do if you’ve lost a filling is to take a breath – it’s not the end of the world. All you have to do is call your dentist.  There are a few reasons why your filling can come out – but a filling doesn’t just fall out. Read on to learn how and why your filing might have “Fallen” out.

Some of the “Hows” Behind Failed Fillings

• Fillings won’t just fall out – there may be a cavity underneath the filling that doesn’t allow it to rest on a solid surface, or it could have been placed in a situation where your dentist knew it might not last (for example: if a crown would have worked better – but was too expensive)
• You can’t floss a filling out: If a filling comes out while flossing, it was going to fail at some point anyway.
• Mouths are rough places: Your teeth go through thousands of chewing cycles that can gradually wear away at dental restorations (like fillings). Add in drastic temperature shifts from hot and cold beverages and the poor decision that some patients make by using their teeth as tools  – and it can actually be pretty easy to “pop” a filling out.

Think you might have lost a filling? Our dentists in Garden Grove can help. Every year, we help countless patients get their teeth back into tip-top shape by replacing fillings that have fallen out. It’s good to remember the filling was placed for a reason, so even if the missing filling doesn’t hurt or contribute to sensitivity – you shouldn’t wait too long to have it replaced.

Sometimes, when our teeth don’t get the special attention they deserve – we run into problems. Sometimes, our dentists in Garden Grove see patients who have been traveling or on vacation. Unfortunately,  it’s also one of the more common excuses we hear from patients who have teeth that need some TLC.

But travel doesn’t have to be a danger for your teeth. With a bit of planning and discipline, your dental routine will support your dental health anywhere.

Be Prepared: Whether you’re heading off on a long road trip or you’re flying around the world – the most important thing to know is that a little planning is your best friend.  If you’re driving, stash some floss, a tooth brush, and a small tube of toothpaste in your glove box.  If you’re flying, travel size items work in a pinch. Keep some in your carry-on! Think about how often you eat and drink a little more decadently when you’re on vacation. That means more sugar, more sweets, and more acids sitting on your teeth throughout the day.

Always bring a carry-on: If you’re getting on a plane, you can always bring a carry-on. It’s smart to use some of that space for a small tube of toothpaste, floss, and your toothbrush. If you get stranded you don’t want to skip brushing – and you also don’t want to have to buy an overpriced toothbrush at the airport!

Don’t worry about a travel case: The thing about travel cases is that they enclose your toothbrush. You probably think that a travel case does a good job of keeping dirty surfaces from touching your toothbrush’s bristles. Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case. The moist environment createdinside a travel case can actually promote bacterial growth. Instead, just let your toothbrush air dry before packing it away. Or – choose one of the travel cases that only encloses the head of your toothbrush.

Get problems checked out before you go. 

If you’re traveling for an extended period or you think there already might be a problem with one of your teeth – remember: it can be dangerous and expensive to travel with a toothache. You never want to have to deal with a dental emergency while away from home. So make the smart call and get in touch with your dentist. Our emergency dentists in Garden Grove have helped travelers fix their teeth and still make their flight.

For one final tip, remember this:  It’s NEVER good to skip brushing or flossing. Even for a couple of days. The more time bacteria and plaque have to flourish and thrive on your teeth – the more damage they can do.

As more and more dental patients around the world are embracing healthier lives in general, the number of smokers has continued to consistently drop. One of the most popular smoking cessation techniques for many patients has been a relatively new invention: vaporizers. 

Vaporizers are considered a more healthy alternative to smoking, because instead of combusting they use water vapor and an electronic current to heat the liquid and atomize it into an inhalable vapor that contains a drastically reduced amount of nicotine. On top of that, the flavors taste good – and the smoke isn’t offensive to nonsmokers. By slowly reducing the amount of nicotine used in the vaporizer, smokers can successfully eliminate their dependence on the substance. However, do be warned: the jury is still out when it comes to if “vaping” is completely safe for you — and the FDA is actively researching the effects of this new technology.

That said, many patients who express an interest in quitting smoking with “E-cigarettes” often wonder if the product is safe for teeth.  And that’s where you should pay attention.

No matter where it’s coming from – nicotine is what we call a vasoconstrictor. What this means is that it will stimulate the contraction of blood vessels. Ultimately this means that blood flow is reduced. When this happens for an extended period of time, what can happen to your mouth is well documented. By limiting the nutrients sent to your gums, you’re placed at a higher

By limiting blood flow to your gums, you’re also limiting the flow of nutrients to your gums. This can ultimately lead to a greatly increased risk for periodontal disease. Unfortunately, reducing bloodflow also reduces your mouth’s ability to reliably fight bacteria, clean the mouth, and grow new cells.

So, while our dentists in Garden Grove always recommend you quit smoking. The best move for your teeth is to gradually eliminate nicotine from your “diet”. Until it is, your teeth will never be 100% prepared to fight the neverending battle against plaque, bacteria, and periodontal disease.