Dr. Sarah Po - Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Archive for Healthy Teeth

School Lunches and Your Children’s Teeth

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

A healthy school lunch can help maintain good oral health and establish good nutritional habits in kids and teenagers. The following tips can help you learn how to prepare a lunch that best meets your child’s dental and nutritional needs.

  1. For snacks, send fruits, vegetables or cheese in your child’s lunchbox.
  2. The best fruit choices are those containing more water, such as: apples, grapes, pears, cantaloupes, and other melons.
  3. Any type of aged cheese is a good choice, such as: Swiss, Cheddar or Monterey Jack. You can also use cookie cutters to cut the cheese into fun shapes. Some studies have suggested that aged cheese can actually help to prevent tooth decay.
  4. Raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers and celery are excellent vegetable choices.
  5. Try some different healthy foods or low carb snacks that your children may like.

The following foods are sticky and/or chewy and should be avoided because they stick to the teeth and saliva is unable to wash the sugar away.

  • Raisins
  • Honey
  • Dried figs
  • Peanut butter cookies
  • Jelly beans
  • Lollipops
  • Hard candy

We cannot follow our children around all the time to make sure they are eating healthy and brushing their teeth, but we can have some peace of mind knowing that we are helping to promote good oral health by providing them with their nutritional needs while they are at school.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
August 18, 2010
Source:  http://dentistry.about.com/od/childrensdentistry/a/kidsnutrition.htm

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

Are there different types of mouth protectors?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Earlier this week I discussed the advantages of using a mouthguard during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth. A properly fitted mouthguard can help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw.

There are three types of mouth protectors:

  1. Stock
    Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
  2. Boil and bite
    Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don’t follow the directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth protector.
  3. Custom-fitted
    Custom-fitted mouth protectors are made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized they can offer a better fit than anything you can buy off the shelf.

Talk to your dentist about the different options and see what works best for you.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
August 5, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2970.aspx?currentTab=1#top

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

Do You Need a Mouth Protector?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (1)
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. This includes a wide range of sports like football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball.

What are the advantages of using a mouth protector?
Accidents can happen during any physical activity. A mouth protector can help cushion a blow to the face that otherwise might result in an injury to the mouth. A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one basketball game or a spill off a bicycle can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss. A mouth protector can limit the risk of such injuries as well as protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining.

A properly fitted mouth protector will stay in place while you are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breathe.

Ask your dentist about having a custom mouthguard made specifically for you. This will fit well and offer the best protection for your smile.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
August 3, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2970.aspx?currentTab=1#protector

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (1)

What Your Saliva Says About You

Posted by: admin | Comments (0)
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

The next time you think “it’s only saliva”, consider this…

Your saliva contains mostly water, but it also contains electrolytes, bacteria, viruses, fungi, proteins, and secretions from your nose and lungs.  You may see TV detectives on CSI or Law and Order collect a suspect’s saliva to get a DNA sample.  That is because cells from the lining of your mouth can also be found in saliva, and these cells contain DNA.  A “cheek swab” is actually the more accurate way of obtaining someone’s DNA.

Saliva also provides clues about what you have been doing.  For instance, it can reveal whether you have been using recreational drugs such as cocaine, barbiturates, and marijuana.  In the future, scientists hope to use saliva samples to detect levels of certain medications in the body.  They also hope to use saliva as a way to detect disease in the future.

Some people believe it is helpful to lick their wounds because they’ve heard that saliva can be a disinfectant.  The truth is that our mouths are full of bacteria, and those bacteria can cause a cut to become infected if you lick it.  So, contrary to the popular expression, please do NOT lick your wounds.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
July 28, 2010

Sources:  http://health.msn.com/health-topics/oral-care/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100259909

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

Where can people with special needs obtain dental care?

Posted by: admin | Comments (0)
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

The ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations suggests the following tips:

  • Inform the dentist about your special health or financial conditions.
  • Ask if the dentist has training and/or experience in treating patients with your specific condition.
  • Ask if the dentist has an interest in treating patients with your specific condition.
  • Find out if the dentist participates in your dental benefit plan (dental insurance program.)
  • Ask if the dental facility is accessible to the disabled.

In addition, the Council suggests that patients with special needs:

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave questions or comments below.  To learn more about my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
July 22, 2010

Source:  http://ada.org/3030.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

How do I quit using tobacco?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Mark Twain once said, “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.”

Quitting tobacco is difficult because all forms of it—cigarettes, cigars and spit (chewing) tobacco—contain nicotine and nicotine is the agent in tobacco that’s capable of causing addiction or dependence. However, you can quit once and for all.  Here are some suggestions:

  • Set a date to quit and stick to it. Choose a “low stress” time to quit
  • Enlist the support of your family, friends and co-workers.
  • Ask your dentist or physician about nicotine replacement therapy for use in cessation attempts. Using these medicines can double your chances of quitting for good.
  • Remove tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia from your home, office and car.
  • Seek tobacco-free environments to curb your temptations.
  • Exercise. It may make you feel better about yourself and your decision to quit smoking.
  • When you crave a tobacco—exercise the 4 D’s:
    • Delay—craving will pass in 5–10 minutes
    • Drink water—it will help to wash the toxins from your body
    • Do something else—distract yourself by being active.
    • Deep breathing—deep inhalations and exhalations are relaxing.

Anticipate problems and have a realistic plan to deal with challenges.  Call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to www.smokefree.gov for help.  If you live in the Sacramento area, you can also go to http://www.sacdhhs.com/article.asp?ContentID=105 to learn more about the local Tobacco Education Program.

Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on the link www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
July 6, 2010

Source:  http://ada.org/3013.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

Cancer Treatment and Oral Health

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

An estimated 400,000 of the 1.2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year may develop painful and debilitating oral complications from their cancer treatment. Persons who undergo cancer treatment are sometimes unaware that a dental examination is a critical step in maintaining their overall health.

Someone who is receiving radiation therapy of the head and neck area, or has a history of such treatment, may develop certain complications including dry mouth, sensitive lesions in the oral cavity, hypersensitive teeth, rapid tooth decay and difficulty swallowing. Chemotherapy can also have significant effects on the oral cavity.

To help prevent, minimize and manage such problems, your dentist and oncologist can work together—before and during your cancer treatment.

During the treatment period for head and neck cancer, gently brush your teeth twice a day unless your dentist recommends otherwise. Your dentist may recommend a mouth rinse in addition to daily brushing. If you develop a condition called dry mouth, your dentist may recommend a saliva replacement, an artificial saliva that is available over-the-counter at pharmacies. Frequent fluoride applications may also be recommended.

Because any mouth infection may have serious implications, contact your dentist or physician immediately should any occur. Your dentist and physician both want your treatment to be as safe and effective as possible.

Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on the link www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
June 30, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/3032.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

What is a “Dry Socket”?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is the most common complication of a tooth extraction.  When the socket is slow to heal, the condition can be very painful for three to five days or so.

The dentist’s treatment may include cleaning the site and placing a medicated dressing (dry socket paste) in the socket, which helps provide relief of pain. The dentist may change the dressing daily until the pain diminishes and the socket begins to heal. The dentist may also recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or prescribe other pain relievers.

Cigarette smoking or other tobacco use can delay healing and should be avoided after tooth extraction.  Other things you can do to prevent a dry socket:  avoid drinking through a straw and avoid excessive mouth rinsing which can interfere with blood clotting.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave questions or comments below.  To learn more about my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
June 16, 2010

Source:  http://www.ada.org/2980.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

Facts About Bottled Water

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, June 10th, 2010

If bottled water is your main source of drinking water, you could be missing out on the decay-preventative benefits of fluoride.  While the fluoride content of bottled water varies greatly, the vast majority of bottled waters do not contain optimal levels of fluoride.  Some contain no fluoride at all.

How can you make sure you and your family are getting the right amount of fluoride protection in bottled water?  Check the label for fluoride content.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s current regulations do not require bottled water companies to indicate fluoride content on bottled water labels, unless it has been added to the water.

Contact the company if the fluoride content is not shown on the label and ask what level of fluoride the water contains.  To help prevent tooth decay, water should contain 0.7 to 1.2 ppm of fluoride.

Do not overlook your home water treatment systems, such as reverse osmosis and distillation units, which may remove fluoride from your water supply.  It is a good idea to check the manual or to contact the manufacturer if you cannot determine their effect on fluoride levels.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave questions or comments below.  To learn more about my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
June 10, 2010

Source:  http://ada.org/sections/publicResources/pdfs/patient_30.pdf

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)

Sacramento Area – Is Your Water Fluoridated?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

For over five decades, the American Dental Association has continuously endorsed the fluoridation of community water supplies and the use of fluoride-containing products as safe and effective measures for preventing tooth decay.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it will allow bottlers to claim that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of tooth decay. “Whether you drink fluoridated water from the tap or buy it in a bottle, you’re doing the right thing for your oral health,” says ADA executive director James B. Bramson, D.D.S. “Thanks to the FDA’s decision, bottlers can now claim what dentists have long known—that optimally fluoridated water helps prevent tooth decay.”

The ADA agrees with the FDA that this health claim is not intended for use on bottled water marketed to infants for whom lesser amounts of fluoride are appropriate. The appropriate amount of fluoride is essential to help prevent tooth decay. But fluoride intake above optimal amounts creates a risk for enamel (dental) fluorosis in teeth during their development before they erupt through the gums.

To find out whether your community water supply is fluoridated in the Sacramento area, check out the geographic distribution on http://bit.ly/aSoEIQ

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave questions or comments below.  To learn more about my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
June 8, 2010

Source:  http://ada.org/3050.aspx?currentTab=1

Categories : Healthy Teeth
Comments (0)
Next Page »
  1. *
  2. *
 

Subscribe to Elite Sacramento Dentist

Get the latest updates delivered via email

Dr. Sarah Po Facebook Dr. Sarah Po Tweeter Dr. Sarah Po RSS Feed