Keep the fright away from your bite!

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Fall is sweet: from the beautiful cooler temperatures and colorful leaves, to every kid’s favorite night—Halloween. It’s easy to see why kids love Halloween; they get to dress up, have fun with their friends, and take home a huge haul of candy at the end of the night. But when it comes to oral health, that candy can be a nightmare.

Candy is high in sugar, and sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in mouths of any age. When sugary particles get stuck in your teeth, they can often stay there, causing a layer of plaque to form and bacteria to make itself at home in your mouth. This bacteria breaks particles down for fuel which increases the acidity in your mouth. That acidity can cause the protective layers of your teeth to erode, letting bacteria permeate the surface and damage the teeth, potentially permanently.

Plaque can also cause irreparable damage to teeth if not consistently removed. Plaque is soft and sticky to begin with, so as you can imagine, consuming soft, sticky candy—like gummies and caramel—only increases the likelihood of plaque formation. Sour candies and hard candies are double threats, because not only can the stickiness get trapped in your teeth, but the acidity of sour candies can harm the enamel, and hard candies could break your teeth if they are bitten down on.

But there’s good news for chocolate lovers! While chocolate is still sugary, and can harm the teeth if it remains on the surface for an extended period, it does not bond to the nooks and crannies of teeth in the same sticky way as soft, gummy, or sour candies.

For these reasons, we recommend staying away from candy altogether, and opting for less harmful treats like stickers, spider rings, glow-in-the-dark party favors, or trail mix. But if your kids do end up with more candy than they would typically be allowed to have, there are ways to minimize the harm.

It’s always good to stay hydrated, but that becomes especially important after a rush of sugar. Drinking water after indulging in a Halloween treat will rinse out some of the sugar more than saliva can on its own. Brushing teeth after candy is also a great idea, but only after 30 minutes have gone by. Waiting before brushing allows the saliva to stabilize the pH of the mouth and helps avoid adding more corrosiveness to the surface of the teeth caused by acidic candies.

Another idea is to limit the time of day when your kids can dig into their stash. After dinner is a perfect time to let kids have a piece or two, especially since they will be brushing their teeth soon after, right before bedtime.

In summary, here are our tips for a spooKLEAN Halloween:

  • Be selective when keeping candy: chocolate can be rinsed away easily, and sticky candy cannot.
  • Set a limit: one or two pieces each night after dinner is a great place to start.
  • Wash it away with water: a big glass of water is the best way to combat a sugar overload.
  • Donate your candy: send candy to service people who will not get to have Halloween at home.

The most important tip is to brush and floss regularly—all the time, not just on Halloween—and to make sure your child comes to see us for regular cleanings. Is it about that time? Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Implants vs. Dentures

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September is dental implant awareness month! A month dedicated to promoting the benefits of dental implants and celebrating the millions of people who have chosen them to improve and maintain their dental health.

One of the primary reasons that patients choose to get dental implants is tooth decay and loss, which is experienced by almost 100% of the world’s adults. If you fall into that category, you are far from alone, and we can help you restore your smile.

Dental implants feel, function, and look just like natural teeth. If they are taken care of just as well as natural teeth—by brushing and flossing daily—they can stimulate bone growth and last for decades.

Dental implants are a permanent solution to replacing teeth and are designed to act like a natural tooth and root. The tooth sits on a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone. Inserting the post into the jaw causes the titanium to bond with the bone as it heals to create an anchor and promote bone growth around the artificial root.

This increased bone development strengthens the jawbone to help maintain the original structure of your jaw and prevent the weakened facial appearance that often coincides with bone loss.

Dental implants are an incredibly reliable solution to missing teeth—in fact, they have over a 95% success rate in all patients who choose them. Implants can last for over 20 years if they are cared for just like normal teeth, and they allow your jaw bone to strengthen over time.

Implants, however, are not the only option when it comes to tooth and mouth restoration. Dentures are another common solution for bringing back the look and feel of your healthy, natural teeth, and may be the best option for you depending on your specific situation.

Unlike dental implants, dentures are removable and are designed to replace both missing teeth and the gum tissue your teeth are connected to. The base that acts as the gum tissue is made of a pink-colored acrylic, which sometimes contains a light metal framework for extra support.

Dentures come in more than one size, depending on whether you need to replace all of your teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both jaws (known as “full” or “complete” dentures), or only some teeth (known as “partial” dentures).

If implants and dentures both sound like good solutions for the tooth loss or decay you’re experiencing, there are some differences that should be considered that can help make the decision between them.

Two of the biggest differences are the invasiveness of the procedure and the availability of jaw bone. Implants involve drilling into the bone, while dentures can be placed into mouths that have experienced bone and gum loss.

Another difference is in the permanence and comfort of dentures vs. implants. While implants will eventually function just like normal teeth, dentures may need to be adjusted or replaced as your face structure changes over time. Because dentures are foreign objects that are placed into your mouth, rather than permanently inserted into the bone, they may not be comfortable at first.

A crucial factor to consider is also the cost. Many insurance plans cover dentures but do not cover implants, because implants may be considered “cosmetic” rather than essential. Do not let this dissuade you from inquiring about either procedure—we will make sure to help you however we can to get you on the way to a brilliant and comfortable smile.

No matter which route you ultimately take, oral hygiene is just as important with dentures and dental implants as it is with your natural teeth. Dentures need to be carefully cleaned upon removal every day, and implants need to be treated just like natural teeth, by brushing, flossing, and coming in for your usual cleanings. Are you due for one? Call us to schedule today!

Better Together: Mouthwash & Flossing

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Floss Mouthwash

After our very first trip to the dentist—or maybe even before that—we are taught about the importance of developing a consistent dental hygiene routine. Brushing our teeth twice a day is a must, but that’s not where it stops. A complete dental hygiene routine also includes flossing and mouthwash.

If that sounds like a no brainer to you, that’s great news! If you’ve been under the impression that you can pick flossing or mouthwash to achieve maximum cleanliness, let’s keep reading.

Using mouthwash is easy—it’s quick, refreshing, and painless. Flossing, on the other hand, takes more than a swish—it’s a meticulous task that requires close attention to detail. Both are effective, and both are important.

Flossing is essential because it has the power to dislodge and scrape away plaque that mouthwash isn’t strong enough to remove. Floss penetrates the gaps in your teeth to prevent harmful buildup caused by food and the bacteria it creates. For this reason, it’s recommended that you floss at least once a day, after you eat, and before you brush your teeth. This allows the floss to do the heavy lifting of loosening stubborn particles that your toothbrush can lift away. One of the best ways to maximize the benefits of flossing is through the use of mouthwash.

Mouthwash is often represented as a cool splash of minty refreshment that you should swirl around before a date—but its benefits go much deeper than a fresh first kiss. While flossing and brushing work together to remove harmful buildup, mouthwash works in many ways to improve and maintain your overall oral health.

Mouthwash comes in many different formulas designed to rinse your teeth and gums, strengthen your tooth enamel, fight gum disease, and kill harmful bacteria that can live between your teeth and on your tongue. Some may choose to use mouthwash purely to combat bad breath, while others rely on it to prevent tooth decay.

Some varieties of mouthwash contain alcohol, menthol, and eucalyptol, which work to kill bacteria, while others contain fluoride which strengthens your enamel to prevent cavities. Because these ingredients can be abrasive to the mouth when used frequently, use caution before allowing your children to use mouthwash with the same frequency—twice a day, after brushing and flossing—that you do.

While flossing and mouthwash are key components of a healthy oral routine, they aren’t strong enough to heal underlying oral or health conditions that may be impacting your teeth, gums, and mouth. To prevent developing disease and decay, keep up with regular brushing and office visits. Call us at (408) 227-1404 to schedule your next cleaning today!

Negative Pressure Room Demonstration

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We can’t wait to see you!

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After weeks of staying home and only opening to handle dental emergencies, we are thrilled to reopen our doors, welcome patients back to the office, and return to “normal”.

These days, however, “normal” looks and feels a little different.

As of a county order on May 26, 2020 the Santa Clara County Public Health Department has granted dental offices permission to open, providing they follow the most recent CDC guidance, which was last updated on May 19.

We are committed to going above and beyond the necessary precautions and protocol as outlined by the county and the CDC to ensure that our offices are safe, healthy, and comfortable.

The first step we’ve taken is a deep cleaning of the entire office. The next step will be maintaining that level of cleanliness every day moving forward. Not only will we be keeping surfaces disinfected by wiping down common areas between each patient, but we will be purifying the air itself.

In order to guarantee proper ventilation in the office, we have installed MERV 13 filters with UV-C lighting into the HVAC ducting. These hospital-grade filters attract and capture airborne particles and allergens as small as one micron in size, including bacteria and viruses.

Our new UV-C lighting is germicidal, meaning it will deactivate the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in the air and on surfaces and destroy their ability to cause disease. UV-C light causes damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms by forming covalent bonds between certain adjacent bases in the DNA.

Another foundational improvement we’ve made is the installation of high-grade medical negative pressure rooms. Positive and negative pressure rooms are used in a wide range of medical environments, including ICUs, to prevent the spread of infectious contaminants and to maintain sterile spaces, no matter the size.

Our negative pressure rooms will eliminate aerosols from the room during treatments to prevent transmission of germs between patients. The low-pressure traps and keeps potentially harmful particles within the room, preventing them from being spread to other patients. Ask us to show you the napkin test to see how this works during your next visit!

In terms of your own experience, the differences you will notice start in the waiting room. We ask that every patient has a mask on before they enter, and to maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from other patients. As soon as you arrive, we will provide hand sanitizer and shoe coverings to wear during your visit. As an extra precaution, our staff will take your temperature and record your oxygen saturation levels upon arrival to make sure you are healthy.

We will also be installing new dental chairs and flooring to create the ultimate sparkling-clean, germ-free experience for every patient that walks through the door.

There will also be a couple of new faces in the office! We are pleased to introduce Chanel Taylor, our new dental assistant, and Gina Shenoy, our new office manager. They can’t wait to meet you and will be ready to answer any questions.

We hope to see you soon! Schedule your next appointment by calling 408.227.1404.

Dark Lines? Lighten Up!

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When you’re thrilled with the healthy, bright smile you once achieved with dental crowns and veneers, the last thing you want to see is anything creeping in and taking away from the sparkle.

Unfortunately, dark lines that form around dental restorations can do just that. This disappointing discoloration can form around porcelain restorations for a few reasons. While disheartening, the good news is that they are not always a sign of any dangers to your health, and they can be prevented and reversed.

 

So where do those black lines come from?

Seeing black lines around your porcelain restorations might make your mouth feel dirty, despite your every effort to maintain a consistent hygiene routine. But hygiene doesn’t have anything to do with it. Understanding where the dark lines come from will help you take action to prevent them from forming in the first place.

Dark stains around restorations typically come from porcelain fused to metal (PFM), the use of low quality, non-precious metals, and ill-fitting restorations—all of which are preventable and reversible under the care of Dr. Sraon. Let’s explore these causes:

  • If you’ve had a crown or veneers for a long time, there’s a chance the dentist who did the procedure fused them on a metal base. While a metal base does provide added strength and fracture-resistance, it can also cause discoloration as time goes on. By design, the porcelain of a crown gets thinner as it nears the gum line and the metal base. Because gum lines recede over time, the dark metal part of the crown closest to the gum can begin to show.
  • If your crown was originally placed a long time ago, there’s a chance it was fused to low quality metal—like tin—that was not designed to last forever. Non-precious metals tend to give off dark color as they wear down, which ends up staining the edges of the gum line. Some low quality metals are also known to irritate the gums, which can cause inflammation and even discoloration from the inside out.
  • If a crown was placed before certain technology was widely used, it may not fit as perfectly as it should. If a crown is not perfectly sealed, or does not cover the tooth completely, stains can form at the points of exposure. Staining along the edge of your crown in this situation is a sign that the tooth underneath might be exposed to bacteria, plaque, and may eventually succumb to decay and infection, which cannot be reversed by simply replacing your crown.

 

No matter the cause of the dark lines around your crowns or veneers, Dr. Sraon has solutions that will bring back the bright white porcelain restorations you and your mouth deserve. Our office offers services that will remove the unsightly black lines from around your crowns or veneers. They include replacing porcelain fused to metal crowns or old crowns with new porcelain crowns, removing and replacing old dental veneers, and covering exposed crowns along the gum line with a bonding procedure.

If you come to the office to get a new crown or veneers, we will take every precaution to ensure you will not experience dark lines in the future. To start, we use modern porcelain crowns which don’t require being fused to metal. The crowns and veneers we use are made of the highest quality porcelain and are stronger and more reliable than the traditional options.

We also use the most advanced placement methods to make sure that your crown or veneers fit perfectly over your existing teeth. A perfect fit eliminates the possibility of bacteria accumulation, staining, and infection, all of which may cause discoloration. The end result is an extremely close match to your original teeth, or the teeth you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’re ready to get rid of embarrassing dark lines around your porcelain crowns or veneers, or if you’re in need of new dental restorations, don’t hesitate to give us a call to schedule a consultation. We look forward to providing you with the bright-white and healthy smile you’ve been hoping for!

Dental Health and Diabetes

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The key to overall health lies largely in your mouth. The emphasis that dentists and doctors place on good dental hygiene is not only for the sake of your teeth, gums, and appearance, but also for the health of your entire body. A healthy mouth looks great and makes everyday tasks like eating, talking, and smiling a breeze, but the mouth is also a direct passageway into the rest of your body. If bacteria builds up in the mouth, it can easily make its way into the bloodstream, the digestive tract, and the respiratory tract, which can be dangerous.

This connection works both ways—meaning that keeping your body healthy is also important for the health of your mouth. A perfect example of the mouth-body connection is the relationship between oral health and diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), diabetes raises your risk of gum disease, and having gum disease raises your risk of complications with diabetes. The reason behind this correlation comes down to blood sugar. Both gum disease and diabetes impact your blood sugar levels and having one or the other can make those levels hard to control.

When your blood sugar levels are high, the amount of sugar in your saliva is also high, which makes a perfect breeding ground for plaque to grow. As plaque builds up, the risk of infection, cavities, and decay increases. Knowing this, patients with diabetes should be especially conscientious about removing plaque twice a day by brushing to prevent oral infection.

Failing to take good care of your teeth can cause cavities, gum disease, periodontitis, and more—especially if you have high blood sugar. As you eat, the starches and sugars in foods and beverages interact with bacteria that naturally grows in the mouth to form plaque. Those with diabetes have a lower ability to resist infection and aren’t able to fight bacteria in the same way someone without diabetes would. This puts them at greater risk for diseases like gingivitis.

Gingivitis, or swelling of the gums, occurs when plaque, tartar, and bacteria build up and harden on the gumline and cause the gums around the base of the teeth to swell. Another disease that those with diabetes are especially susceptible to is periodontitis, which can appear if gingivitis goes untreated. Periodontitis destroys the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth, which can lead to the loosening or loss of teeth, even if the teeth themselves are healthy.

Tooth and gum disease are not the only oral health issues that patients with diabetes might face, especially without proper treatment. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetics are more likely to suffer from dry mouth, or xerostomia, which allows bacteria and plaque to cling onto teeth for longer without getting washed away by normal amounts of saliva.

Another possible result of poor oral hygiene in patients with diabetes is thrush—a fungal infection caused by the yeast “Candida albicans.” Thrush causes painful white or red patches inside your mouth, but can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene.

Brushing twice a day, flossing, and monitoring your blood sugar levels as recommended by your doctor work hand in hand to keep you healthy. By controlling blood sugar, patients with diabetes are taking an important step in sidestepping gingivitis and other dental problems.

The most important step in the maintenance of diabetes and oral health is the patient making sure his or her dentist knows that they have diabetes. If you have diabetes, be sure to remind us when you visit, and confirm that we have the current contact information for the doctor who helps you manage your diabetes.

In every mouth, especially those of someone with diabetes, you should be on the lookout for early signs of gum disease. Those signs include redness, swelling or bleeding gums, dry mouth, loose teeth, or mouth pain. Let us keep an eye on the window to your body by coming in for regular checkups and cleanings. Need to schedule an appointment? Give us a call now at 408.227.1404.