Think You are Getting Enough Sleep? Think Again with Santa Ana-based Smiles on Bristol Dentistry
Protecting your health has to be a holistic effort says Santa Ana Dentist, Dr. Kalantari of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry. Maintaining proper health is not a one stop effort, but involves getting proper nutrition, taking good care of your teeth, and also ensuring you get enough sleep every night. While under the stress of numerous responsibilities, many people let sleep fall by the wayside. However, sleep is key to overall health, and skimping on it could be putting your health at risk.
The amount of recommended sleep varies on a person-to-person basis. For the average adult, the National Sleep Foundation recommends people get no fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night. While some people claim to be comfortable running on only four to six hours of sleep, studies have shown they are often overestimating their coping ability and experience greater lack of focus and increased fatigue. Many people have also become so accustomed to not having adequate amounts of sleep, they forget what being properly rested feels like.
With seven hours being a minimum, eight hours is the average amount people are recommended to sleep, however a number of doctors will recommend patients get nine hours if possible. The average person has a sleep cycle of roughly three hours. By getting sleeping in multiples of three hours – such as nine hours—you wake up at the end of your natural sleep cycle and are left feeling more rested. Waking up in the middle of the sleep cycle, even after plenty of sleep can sometimes leave you feeling groggy as the body has to adjust to wakefulness from a deeper level of sleep.
Children and older adults have different recommended sleep requirements than adults. Older adults can be alright with just six hours of sleep, whereas children need more sleep than adults. Teenagers do best with eight to ten hours of sleep and toddlers can need up to fifteen hours of sleep. During adolescence the brain is still developing and sleep is the number one time that the brain recharges and detoxifies. Without adequate sleep during childhood, children’s brains can be negatively impacted.
According to researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, doctors studied a group of young healthy individuals. Simply by messing with their sleep schedule, some of the study participants ended up in a pre-diabetic condition until their sleep schedule was restored.
The researchers also found that people who routinely do not get enough sleep are up to 200 to 300 percent more likely to catch diseases than people who are well-rested. People who do not have enough sleep also having higher rates of obesity, heart problems, and even mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
Many people may also be getting enough hours of sleep but are still not getting enough rest because they suffer from a sleep condition. Most people with sleep conditions such as sleep apnea never go in for testing. Some are simply not aware, while others are put off by the idea of overnight sleep studies and CPAP treatments. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is a device that is worn with a mask while sleeping. It uses forced air to make sure air keeps getting to the lungs. This helps with sleep apnea because sleep apnea is a condition where due to a variety of causes, the patient does not get enough oxygen while sleeping. Some sleep apnea is caused by an issue in the brain, but most sleep apnea is caused simply because the throat becomes blocked by the jaw and the tongue during sleep. When people lie on their backs, often their jaw will settle backwards into the face which can, in certain people, cause an obstruction to the airways that prevents regular breathing.
With the significant importance of sleep, people need to make sure they are getting proper rest. Fortunately for patients who have an aversion to using a CPAP machine, most doctors now prescribe a type of soft mouth guard that is specially developed by a dentist for each individual patient. This mouth guard keeps the jaw from sliding back so that the airways remain open. Unlike the CPAP, it does not require a mask or electricity which makes it more practical for everyday wear. Because it is specially fitted, it is no less comfortable than wearing retainers at night. For mild and moderate sleep apnea, the mouth guard is just as effective as the CPAP device.
For people who struggle to fall asleep when they need to, adding physical exercise during the day can help put their body into a better rhythm. Additionally, taking time to be outdoors helps to reset the circadian rhythm so that your body is more prepared to fall asleep at proper times. Taking up yoga, meditation, or establishing a very specific before-bed routine can also help to quiet your brain and signal to your body that it is time to sleep. The human body responds very well to routine. By making a routine of actions that you only perform before bed, the body will begin to equate the routine with time for sleep.
Fruits and Vegetables for Healthy Living with Santa Ana Dentist Smiles on Bristol
Everyone knows fruits and vegetables are essential to healthy eating, but Santa Ana dentist Dr. Kalantari wants to know if people know exactly why. Plant-based foods offer a wealth of nutrients and minerals hard to find in other sources. They are generally low in calories and can be eaten in a huge variety of ways. To get a better understanding of these amazing foods, we will discuss why you should start incorporating more fruits and veggies into your diet.
Fruits and veggies often contain healthy amounts of dietary fiber. Fiber is well-known for keeping the digestive system running smoothly. It also has been shown to help with heart health. Fiber is hard for the body to digest which makes it take up space in the digestive tract before it is eliminated. This additional substance helps people feel fuller, longer. For people trying to lose weight, this can help prevent overeating. Additionally, most fruits and vegetables are low in calories further helping in any weight loss efforts.
Fruits and vegetables offer two types of fiber – soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber can be broken down by the digestive tract but is converted into something like a gel. This slow-moving gel is what helps people to feel full. Insoluble fiber cannot be broken down by the digestive tract at all and therefore helps prompt the body to move it out of the system. This boosted movement helps to clear out food in a regular manner, preventing things from getting clogged up. With the regular flushing of the digestive tract, bad bacteria and other unhealthy substances do not get a chance to linger in the body. Beans, nuts, and cucumbers offer high amounts of soluble fiber, whereas dark, leafy vegetables and carrots provide large amounts of insoluble fiber. A great thing about fruits and vegetables, however, is that often they provide both soluble and insoluble fiber for a one-two punch of health.
Fruits and vegetables are a major source of antioxidants as well. According to researchers at Penn State University, antioxidants are able to eliminate harmful molecules called free-radicals. These molecules have unpaired electrons. Because electrons travel in pairs the unpaired electrons attempt to draw electrons from other sources. However, in the body, the only other electrons to be found are already part of important molecules and body cells. When the stray electrons pull on electrons from the body, the cells become damaged. Too much free radical activity can wreak havoc on what would have otherwise been healthy cells. Antioxidants help fight free radicals by either providing them with a missing electron, therefore saving an important body cell from doing the task or they can even break apart free radical molecules so they can no longer cause damage. The damage from free-radicals has been linked to many serious conditions including cancer, while treatments with antioxidants have actually reduced the rates of cancer and of the return of cancer. Antioxidant rich fruits and veggies include blueberries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, broccoli, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
The last reason fruits and vegetables are essential is due to the huge range of vitamins and minerals they offer. No other food group offers such a range of nutrients. There are 13 essential vitamins which include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, vitamin B3, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folate. Minerals that are important to the body are sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, fluoride, chromium, and molybdenum. The essential vitamins are the most important vitamins to maintain proper function, but all of them are needed to some degree to keep the body in tip-top shape.
Dark, leafy vegetables tend to be the more bitter food options you can choose, but they offer the greatest amount of vitamins and minerals all in one place. There are many recipes available offering tips on how to make them taste great. A helpful option is to chop them up and mix them in with pasta or a stir fry to get their vitamins but not feel like you’re simply chowing down on a meal of leaves. Broccoli, spinach, kale, collard greens all offer a wealth of important nutrients. Not only offering vitamin A, E and K, they also contain calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron which can be hard to find in other food.
Fruits such as oranges, pineapples, and grapefruit offer vital Vitamin C which promotes immunity. Oranges also offer folate which is important for everyone but especially important to pregnant women. Bananas offer potassium. Carrots and sweet potatoes deliver vitamin A. Avocados have a selection of B vitamins.
Certain fruits and vegetables, such as cranberries, can even offer antibacterial properties. Doctors have long recommended drinking cranberry juice when someone has an infection as the properties in the berries can help to kill the invading bacteria. Guava fruit also offers antibacterial properties.
Fruit and vegetables can be eaten on their own, cooked, sautéed, baked or they can be mixed in with other foods. By mixing your fruits and vegetables into a meal, you can easily up your consumption and also increase the variety of fruits and vegetables you eat in a single meal. The sweetness of fruit can be a great way to sweetly compliment a savory dish, while veggies can provide a refreshing lightness to otherwise heavy dishes.
Tips for Healthier Eating: Moderation and Healthy Carbohydrates by Santa Ana Dentist Smiles on Bristol
According to Santa Ana Dentist, Dr. Danial Kalantari, of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry, dental health helps to protect overall health. Another way to help your overall health is through a nutritional diet. Healthy eating has a bad rap for bland eating that requires handing over all your beloved treats to munch on celery and carrots from the rest of your life. While healthy eating does require some changes, it is actually quite flexible allowing for both treats and the celery.
The most common American diet relies on red meat and the addition of a starch, usually a bleached, white carbohydrate. Think about common American staples – hotdogs with their buns, burgers in buns with a side of French fries, steak and potatoes, Philly cheesesteaks, fried chicken, etc. When people branch away for these staples, they usually head in the direction of pasta dishes and pizza, loaded with cheese, white carbohydrates, and some amount of veggies in the sauce. While all these dishes can be great, when eaten as a diet, they do not provide a balanced or nutrient-rich offering.
The first tip for healthier eating is moderation. Feel free to keep eating your favorite foods, but simply start mixing in some variety to create a more balanced diet. Everyone needs vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, protein, and water in their diets. The human body needs a large range of vitamins and minerals to function properly. A lack of these essential nutrients can cause both physical ailments, such as anemia and brittle bones and mental ailments, such as depression. Even certain degenerative mental disorders may have a link to malnutrition such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. By eating from a full range of food sources, you are able to intake the whole spectrum of nutrients the body needs. Even a diet of just “healthy” foods such as trying to live off only green, leafy vegetables will create issues in the body. These vegetables do not offer protein which is the essential ingredient to most body structures such as hair, nails, muscles, and cartilage.
To know how you should moderate your meals, you need to know the function and benefits of the different types of food groups.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates, commonly called carbs, often get a bad rap. Carbohydrates are anything that the body can break down into sugar which is then used as energy for the body. While eating sugary foods can be bad as they promote tooth decay, are often high in calories and low in nutrients, and cause blood sugar spikes and drops, sugar is still essential to a properly function body. The best way to get your sugar is through complex carbohydrates such as whole grains. The whole grains require time for the body to break down into sugar and therefore do not have as damaging effects to the teeth while providing sugar over time to prevent blood sugar spikes. Whole grains are also packed with fiber which helps keep the body full, prevents overeating, and helps to keep the digestive tract running smoothly. They also offer a selection of B-vitamins and contain essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and selenium.
Most Americans tend to opt for “white carbohydrates,” such as white bread, white rice, or they go for things like French fries and potato chips. White carbs have been highly processed and through their processing, they lose the majority of their nutrients and almost all of the fiber. Additionally white carbs tend to be reduced down to simple carbs that cause the spikes in blood sugar. Replacing white carb options with whole wheat options can be a great and simple way to change to healthier eating. Whole grain foods vary widely in taste, so try a few different brands to see which one tastes best to you.
Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and corn offer complex and simple carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. They can be another great way to add nutritional carbs to your diet. Some preparations loaded with cheese, butter, oils, salts, or others can be delicious but may take down your healthy carb with the overload of fats and salts. Having a loaded baked potato as a meal can be a good, healthier treat option rather than having the calorie heavy loaded potato as a side of something else. French Fries and potato chips may have come from potatoes but through their cooking process, they lose most of their health benefits.
Carbohydrates should make up most of your calories each day. By making those calories count nutritionally with whole grains and nutrient-rich starchy vegetables, you can keep the carbs you love while giving your body the resources it needs to function properly. Replace buns and toast with whole grain alternatives. Try brown rice or a rice-alternative, such as quinoa, to get additional nutrients white rice does not provide.
Tips for Healthy Living by Santa Ana Dentist Smiles on Bristol
With the organic, gluten-free, high-protein, low-carb, low meat, high exercise… etc. health fads of today, being healthy can seem impossibly complicated says Santa Ana dentist, Dr. Danial Kalantari, of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry. However, for the average person, being healthy is not very complicated. Athletes and people with special conditions may require special diets and routines, but for most people there are a few simple tricks that can transform an unhealthy lifestyle into a healthy one.
The first step towards healthy living is healthy eating. What to eat can also be one of the most complicated aspects of leading a healthy life. There is a wealth of tips and information about it which depend on different lifestyles and health goals. However, overall, the things to remember are a diet high in fruits and vegetables with healthy carbohydrates and enough daily protein. Intakes of fat should be low but not excluded completely.
The body needs nutrients to function properly. Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants to maintain all the proper bodily functions. They are also full of fiber which helps digestion and creates a full feeling that prevents over eating.
Many common meats can be high in fat, calories, and cholesterol so meat should be consumed in small amounts. Even small amounts of most meats provide plenty of protein and offer all 9 essential amino acids. Vegetarian protein options such as nuts and beans are great because they offer many additional nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats, but most do not offer the full range of amino acids. Multiple types of nuts and beans need to be consumed daily to get the full range of protein for people relying on a vegetarian diet. Some dairy is recommended as it has high levels of teeth and bone strengthening calcium.
Maintaining a mostly, fruit and vegetable dependent diet will not only give your body the broad range of nutrients it needs, but will also help prevent too much calorie consumption that leads to obesity. Obesity is a risk factor and cause for a number of body issues and should be taken seriously. Many of the most fattening foods are simple carbs (cakes, pies, white bread), cheese, red meat, and sugary foods. Many restaurants will create foods with taste in mind over health so a meal that might be 600 calories when made at home, can be 900 or more calories at a restaurant. Considering a sedentary adult may only need 1,500-1,600 calories a day, eating almost 1,000 calorie meals can quickly add up. There are online calculators that use body size, weight, and activity level to estimate your personal daily needed calorie consumption. Your doctor or a nutritionist can also give a more specific number to help you make sure you are not eating too little or too much.
Most people also know exercise is important to a healthy life. It increases lung and heart function, strengthens muscles to relieve back and joint pain, helps with weightloss, and boosts endorphins. Most people, however, may not be aware that exercise does not need to be a major change in their life. Ideally a person should aim for at least 30 minutes a day of movement. This does not have to be all at once and does not have to be “typical” exercise. It could be taking 15 minutes to chase your dog in the back yard, or taking three brisk 10 minute walks around the neighborhood throughout the day. Even adding simple things in your life such as parking farther from the store so you have to do some extra walking, taking a few laps around the office during work, or taking the stairs can really add up. Looking for opportunities to be a little more active can really add up.
Adding just a 15 minute walk everyday has been shown to add years to a person’s life expectancy. Standing up more often throughout the day has also been shown to increase the chance of a long, healthy life. Sitting constantly actually harms the body and contributes to back, joint, and neck pain, as well as an increased risk of obesity and increased levels of heart disease. Taking more opportunities to stand during the day can be a simple, but surprising boon to your health.
Other things that can affect health are making sure to have a good support group and to make sure to laugh often. Laughing helps reduce anxiety. Anxiety is known to cause a great amount of stress on the body, weakening it, causing mental and physical issues, and opening the body up to infection. Laughing reduces the hormones that cause anxiety and boosts endorphins that make you feel happy and healthy.
People are also social creatures. Many studies have shown that isolation and loneliness can have just as hard a toll on the body as stress can. Making sure to get outside and engage in social functions or connect with a close friend or family member can help boost happiness and health.
Keeping your teeth healthy is another way to keep your whole body healthy. The mouth is the first line of defense and also the easiest way for bacteria to enter the body. Proper oral hygiene techniques reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth and reduce the chance of infections elsewhere in the body. The common disease, gingivitis, is a buildup of bacteria in the gums. The gums become inflamed as the immune system tries to fight off the bacteria. Without proper care, the bacteria will stay and the body’s immune system is weakened from constant exertion. Additionally, the consistent inflammation puts pressure on the vascular system and increases a person’s chance for developing heart disease.
Just by improving your diet, standing more frequently, enjoying the neighborhood on a daily walk, having a laugh with friends, and taking good care of your mouth, you can be living a healthier, happier, and longer life.
Oral Medicine Doctors and Dentists: What’s the Difference? With Santa Ana Dentist Smiles on Bristol
According to Santa Ana, CA, dentist, Dr. Danial Kalantari, of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry, dentists mainly concern themselves with the teeth and the structures that support the teeth. Oral medicine doctors focus more on diseases that affect the mouth and lower part of the face. They will also concern themselves with teeth for patients with unique situations, such as cancer patients who have special oral needs due to radiation treatment.
They help patients with systemic diseases that have symptoms that manifest in the oral region. Diseases include Lichen Planus which is thought to be an autoimmune disorder that attacks the skin and mucous membranes. It is characterized by legions that tend to look like lichen, hence the name. Certain dental appliances can create similar lesions so an oral medicine doctor may be consulted to determine whether the lesion is dental related or caused by the Lichen Planus disease. There are oral specific Lichen Planus strains that affect the mucous of the mouth, as well as, mucous in the throat. Most patients with mucosal Lichen Planus have it in multiple locations.
Another disease oral medicine doctors look for also affects the oral mucous membrane. It is called Behçet’s disease and is a rare form of vasculitis, aka a disease that destroys blood vessels. Behçet’s disease creates small ulcers and is systemic, attacking many parts of the body. This disease cannot be cured, and treatments are used mostly to help mediate the symptoms.
Pemphigus Vulgaris is another autoimmune disorder. It causes painful, blistering skin lesions. Along with the skin, is can attack mucous membranes, making it another target for oral medicine doctors to look for.
Oral medicine doctors are also specially trained to identify oral cancer and pre-cancerous areas called Leukoplakias or Erythroplakias. Dentists will look for signs of oral cancer but tend to be more occupied with handling the many areas of dental care. Leukoplakia and erythroplakia does not refer to any disorder in particular but show up as white areas on the mucosal areas of the mouth. When they cannot be identified as any other type of disorder, they are categorized as areas of damaged tissue which are more susceptible to contracting cancer. They show up most often in patients who smoke and the chance they turn malignant varies. These white patches generally have no symptoms and cause no side effects to patients, but doctors will want patients to come in for consistent checkups of the spot to make sure it does not develop into a malignant cancer.
Pain in the oral and lower facial region not caused by dental issues may also be diagnosed and treated by an oral medicine doctor. This can include Neuralgia which is a broad category covering pain and issues to the nerves. There are different types of neuralgia depending on where it manifests. Nerve damage can result from trauma, infections, and pressure from inflammation or tumors. The symptoms generally include strong pain, but can also feature an itchy feeling or the feeling of an electric jolt. Pain can be consistent or sharp and sudden. Neuralgia near the oral cavity and in the head can cause headaches that are easily mistaken for migraines. While sometimes hard to diagnose, neuralgia is found by using different techniques to locate damaged nerves.
Oral medicine doctors also help with atypical facial pain, which is pain that cannot be diagnosed as any other condition. Generally, these conditions have symptoms that do not match any known diseases or disorders or that do not respond properly to tried treatments.
They are knowledgeable in treating chemo and radiation induced disorders of the head including oral mucositis and osteonecrosis. Oral mucositis produces ulcers and inflammation in the oral mucous membranes. While mucositis is not particularly common in most patients undergoing radiation treatment, cancer patients who are receiving chemo or radiation treatment to their head or neck have much higher chances of developing mucositis. Radiation can also damage bone tissue which is causes osteonecrosis. This can cause severe problems for the skull, jaw, and teeth. Oral medicine doctors can diagnose this condition and help patients retain as much bone tissue as possible.
Sjögren’s syndrome, burning mouth syndrome, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) are other conditions oral medical doctors commonly treat. Sjögren’s syndrome is another autoimmune disorder that causes chronic dry mouth because the body’s white blood cells attack and destroy the salivary glands. Dry mouth is a common condition that increases the chance of tooth decay. However, due to the systemic nature and severity of Sjögren’s syndrome, it requires special treatment beyond usual dry mouth fixes. Burning mouth syndrome unsurprisingly causes a patient to have a burning sensation in the mouth. An oral medicine doctor will first try to find underlying conditions that could cause the symptom and if no conditions can be found, will provide treatments to help soothe the symptoms. TMJ refers to any improper function of the joint connecting the jaw to the skull. With their expertise on the facial anatomy, oral medicine doctors can sometimes provide more accurate diagnoses and treatments to patients suffering from TMJ pain.
Dental Degrees and Specialties: What’s the Difference? With Santa Ana Dentist Smiles on Bristol Dentistry
Dentists have a number of possible degrees and qualifications which can make picking the right one difficult, says Dr. Danial Kalantari, Santa Ana dentist of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry. To help you figure out what dental professional you need, we have gone over the most common types and what the differences between them are.
The most important thing to first consider when looking for a dentist is to make sure the dentist is accredited and licensed to practice. While unlicensed dentists are very rare, they do still exist and often target poorer income patients who have few options. All 50 states have license records available on their respective sites through online search functions. The license information will also provide information about whether they have had any disciplinary action or official complaints filed against them. However, almost all states will allow dentists to practice in their state for up to 5 years with proof of an official license from somewhere else. If you are having difficulty finding a license for your dentist in your state, they may have a license from another state. Feel free to call your dentist if you have concerns and get their appropriate license information.
Most people only ever need to see a general dentist. General dentists are the professionals who oversee regular checkups, perform fillings, can do simple extractions, and provide initial diagnoses and recommendations for patient conditions. To become a general dentist, students must achieve either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree. Unlike most doctorates, dentists do not need to get a master’s before getting their doctoral degree. Most go directly from undergraduate studies to dental school where they work on their doctorate. DDS degrees and DDM degrees mean the same thing. One is not better than the other, so consumers looking for a generalist should feel comfortable hiring a dentist with either qualification. The distinction between the degrees arose simply because Harvard started offering a dental doctorate but only awards degrees under the Latin names. The Latin version of Doctor of Dental Surgery was a bit long and convoluted, so they settled on the more simple “Dentariae Medicinae Doctor” or DMD. The American Dental Association (ADA) confirms that DDS and DMD degrees are interchangeable.
Some dental practices require greater certifications beyond the standard DDS or DMD. According to the ADA there are currently 9 recognized dental specialties: Pediatrics, Endodontics, Dental Public Health, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
Pediatric specialties train dentists on how to work specifically with children, who tend to have differing physical and mental needs than adult patients. These specialists have the training to be able to accurately treat infants to adults. For parents with children who are having issues with primary teeth and the transition to adult teeth, these are the dentists to contact. These dentists also receive training on how best to interact with younger patients. Due to all the sights, sounds, and possible discomfort, many children develop a fear of the dentist. Pediatric specialists have specialized training in making the dentist office a kid friendly place. They also are better trained with how to deal with uncooperative children in a friendly, patient manner.
Endodontics covers special training on the internal structures of teeth, particularly the tooth pulp, which is the living tissue part of the tooth. It also deals with the support structures that interact with the pulp such as the connected bone and the connective gum tissue. The doctors handle procedures particular to these structures and are better suited to making specific diagnoses and treatment plans in regards to issues in these areas.
The dental public health specialty focuses on community dental health rather than individual treatment. Much like CDC doctors work to monitor, prevent, and treat widespread diseases, dental public health specialists keep track of dental diseases among the population and develop community-wide efforts to improve dental health.
Prosthodontics is the field covering oral prosthetics. This includes any bridges, implants, dentures, etc. which are used to replace missing teeth. Oral prosthetics are used both cosmetically, to enhance the appearance of a smile, and functionally to help people be able to eat properly again.
Periodontics covers the gums foremost. Technically it covers any of the outside supporting structures that help keep the teeth in place. Periodontal specialists have greater knowledge of the diseases and treatments for these soft tissues and can offer better preventative measures and information for high-risk patients.
For dentists that want to take and better understand radiographs such as x-rays, they can specialize in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. This helps them to make better diagnoses and can safely utilize x-rays to examine not just the mouth, but the head and neck.
As pathology is the study of causes and effects of diseases, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is the study of diseases relating to the mouth, head, and neck. Pathologists work to identify the various diseases and figure out where they come from and what effects they cause. This research is highly important in developing effective treatment options for conditions affecting the mouth and maxillofacial regions.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons receive special training on more advanced surgeries. For most surgeries beyond simple extractions, a general dentist will refer their patients to oral and maxillofacial surgeons. They are trained to work with both the hard and soft tissues of the mouth.
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics work on the alignment of the bone and tooth structures. They study how the bones and teeth are supposed to be arranged for optimum health. By straightening crooked teeth and reducing crowding, teeth are less likely to trap as much food particles becoming less susceptible to decay. Teeth at improper angles can also hit their roots against the roots of other teeth and become damaged. Orthodontic work also treats issues such as under bites and overbites.
How to Choose the Best Mouthwash for Your Needs with Santa Ana Dentist Smiles on Bristol Dentistry
With so many types of mouthwash on the market, choosing the best one for you can be confusing, says Santa Ana dentist, Dr. Danial Kalantari of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry. The type of mouthwash you should get depends on your specific needs. Below is a list of the most common types of mouthwashes and what they are used for.
Cosmetic Mouthwash
Cosmetic mouthwashes are used to quickly mask and combat bad breath. They can be used any time of day as frequently as needed to freshen breath and replace bad tastes. However, their effects are short lived because they do not treat the main causes of bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth that release bad smelling compounds. Cosmetic mouthwashes are minimally, if at all, effective at eliminating bacteria. The vigorous swishing can help remove stuck food particles which helps to prevent tooth decay. However, overall, cosmetic mouthwashes are best used for immediate bad breath relief and not as serious oral hygiene care. Additionally, people should avoid using them too often because they tend to be acidic in nature which can actually damage the teeth if done too frequently.
Therapeutic Mouthwash
Therapeutic mouthwashes actually contain chemicals that are used to kill oral bacteria and many offer fluoride to help protect the mouth. They come in alcohol and alcohol-free formats. Alcohol mouthwash can be highly effective at killing bacteria and reducing plaque, but alcohol can also cause dry mouth which overall is counterproductive to oral health care.
Dry mouth means the amount of saliva in the mouth is reduced. Saliva is key to keeping a proper oral pH. Saliva helps kill oral bacteria. It also contains minerals that help teeth remineralize and repair tooth decay. While oral hygiene products help great amounts in protecting the teeth, saliva is the only thing that is constantly in the mouth protecting the teeth. When a person has dry mouth, their main and most consistent line of defense is removed leaving their teeth unprotected for most of the day.
For people without any known issue with fluoride, fluoride mouthwashes are the best bet. They enhance protection against decay, and protect the teeth against acidity of the mouthwash. Therapeutic mouthwashes get into places that brushing and flossing do not reach like under the gum line helping to kill hard to reach bacteria and remove lingering plaque. Bacteria under the gum line is the number one cause of gingivitis and gum disease. Flossing and mouthwash create a complete oral routine to protect gum health.
While flossing is an essential practice for proper oral care, many people do not like the sensation. For people in this situation, mouthwash is a vital step to keep bacteria from building under the gum line. You should also discuss with your dentist further flossing alternatives to find an acceptable solution.
A number of alcohol-free mouthwashes contain the chemical Chlorhexidine which is a main treatment method for gingivitis and gum disease but can have negative side effects and is not recommended for long term use. Mouthwashes with chlorhexidine should be used to help fight gingivitis over a short period of time and then patients should switch to a mouthwash that does not contain chlorhexidine. If gingivitis, characterized by swollen, bleeding gums, does not appear to be clearing up, talk with your dentist for better solutions.
Mouthwashes can be helpful in cleaning and soothing canker sores by clearing away aggravating bacteria. Ones with alcohol or other intense chemicals can aggravate canker sores, however, so patients should make sure to only use a gentle rinse on their canker sores.
Some mouthwashes also help to increase saliva production and balance pH levels. Biotene and Therabreath, for example, both help the mouth return to a healthy pH. Biotene was specifically designed to help fix dry mouth. Therabreath has the most basic pH of any mouthwash on the market to rapidly take your mouth from acidic levels back to safe pH’s.
Patients should always verify that their mouthwash has been approved by the ADA, American Dental Association. The ADA requires extensive studies demonstrating a product’s safety and usefulness before they will give their seal of approval. The ADA works as an unbiased third-party verification service for dental products. Many companies will release their own personal studies on their product touting impressive claims. However, dishonest companies might intentionally inflate findings or make claims that were not necessarily proven by the studies. Only with an unbiased third-party verification can consumers know a company’s claims are valid.
Some Smiles on Bristol patients wonder if they should have a particular order for their brushing, flossing, mouthwash routine. There is no definitively more effective pattern to oral care. The most important aspect for good oral care is simply to remain consistent. Dr. Kalantari does recommend patients rinse with mouthwash after they brush with a fluoride tooth paste if they are using a fluoride-free mouthwash. The fluoride in the toothpaste will prevent any acid erosion from the acidic mouthwash. Mouthwash with fluoride protects at the same time so it can be used at any stage in the dental routine.
How to Know You Have Found an Honest Dentist with Dr. Danial Kalantari, Santa Ana Dentist from Smiles on Bristol Dentistry
Unfortunately all industries are plagued by fraud and dentistry is no different says Santa Ana dentist Dr. Danial Kalantari of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry. Because dentistry requires a certain amount of expertise, some dentists take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge and will try to exploit it for profit. At Smiles on Bristol, we want you to know the signs of dental scams so you can find a dentist that is truly looking out for your best interests.
One of the most common dental fraud schemes is insurance fraud. Dentists will bill procedures that were never performed to get insurance money for it. They may also list simple procedures as more complicated procedures to increase the fee. Most dental insurance plans have payment caps of a max of $2000 so, unlike medical insurance companies, dental insurers have less pressing need to thoroughly review all claims. Patients should keep a close track of their bills and should ask questions about anything that seems out of place. If the dentist is honest, they should be happy to review the information and will be able to give you a detailed answer about every claim. Dentists that blow off questions should be avoided.
While dental care strategies can vary a bit from dentist to dentist, the overarching theme should be protecting the natural teeth over artificial replacements every time. Teeth have an ability to heal minor decay with remineralization, but teeth will never be able to grow back if large parts are damaged. Fillings and crowns should only be used when decay is past a margin for remineralization and action must be taken to prevent further decay. Natural tooth can last you your whole life, but most restorations will wear out during your life time and will need to be replaced. Restorations are sealed and bonded to the tooth to keep out decay but if that seal breaks, decay can reach far into the tooth around the restoration. Dishonest dentists may try to make a profit by recommending a huge amount of work which will often be outside coverage provided by insurance. A journalist for Reader’s Digest traveled around the country, trying out dentists in every state. He checked with multiple dentists before he left, who settled upon a consistent diagnosis. As he traveled the country a number of dentists found the same diagnosis and recommended treatment with on average cost less than $1500. Many other dentists, however, “found” a huge number of problems and prescribed treatments that cost up to $29,000.
If you have been to a dentist consistently and have had minimal issues and then switch to a new dentist who suddenly recommends lots of expensive work and treatments, they may not have your best interests in mind. Like insurance fraud, this is one of the most common types of scams. Patients will come in for their first appointment with a new dentist and the dentist will inform them that they’ve been able to spot a number of issues that need to be addressed immediately. Patients should ask their dentist to walk them through their x-rays and point out the different cavities and issues. Cavities will show up as very dark spots on the enamel of the tooth which should ordinarily be fairly light on an x-ray. They most commonly show up where two teeth meet. Serious cavities will extend from the outer areas of the teeth inwards toward the root. Patients who have doubts about dental diagnoses should get second opinions from other dentists. Some patients who have not been to the dentist for many years may need a lot of work when they go back, but better to have a second opinion confirming a diagnosis than to blindly accept expensive and invasive treatments.
For people with old mercury amalgam fillings, some dentists will recommend patients have all of those fillings replaced. Unless there is a noticeable issue like an allergy, this is unnecessary. Many studies have been conducted to find out whether the mercury can “leak” from the amalgam and cause poisoning. The answer is no. Patients studied with amalgam fillings had essentially the same mercury levels as those without. Removing the fillings, however, will remove parts of the healthy tooth the filling is bonded to. This means the replacement filing will have to big bigger and you will have less natural tooth. Silver fillings can be replaced for cosmetic reasons, but dentists should never try to scare patients into getting them replaced.
Some dentists also over prescribe side treatments such as deep cleaning treatments, fluoride treatments, sealants, prescription toothpastes, and night guards. These tools all have essential functions, but should really only be used when truly needed. Deep cleaning treatments are needed when someone has severe or worsening gum disease. The deep cleaning will get deep under the gums and tackle infection and decay that cannot be ordinarily reached. It is an expensive, usually multi-appointment treatment and is not usually covered by insurance, so only patients who know they have gum issues should accept a dental recommendation for deep cleaning.
Fluoride treatments and prescription strength toothpaste can work wonders for patients with consistent cavity issues. Like a medical prescription, fluoride treatments and prescription toothpaste should only be recommended once patients have shown a consistent struggle with decay and greater measures need to be taken. Dentists should never try to simply sell patients on products. Patients who rarely have decay will receive almost no benefit from fluoride treatments or prescription toothpastes and should not feel they need to pay for them.
Sealant treatments are a standard treatment for children and adolescents because they often do not have the best oral hygiene routines. The sealants can particularly help protect back teeth that children may struggle to reach. Sealants, however, are not generally prescribed for adults. Most sealants last years after their application in so a child should not receive a new sealant treatment every appointment.
Tooth grinding can be a serious issue that can cause thorough damage to teeth. In these cases, a night guard is highly recommended and the highest quality, best fitting ones are made by a dentist. However, the majority of people do not have serious grinding or jaw pain and do not need a night guard.
Patients should also trust their instincts. If something feels off, ask questions and get a second opinion. Your teeth and your money are important and an honest dentist should want you to hold onto as much of both as you can.
Tooth Protection for Athletes by Smiles on Bristol Dentistry Santa Ana Dentist
While sports are a great way to stay in shape, they can be a danger to your teeth says Santa Ana dentist, Dr. Danial Kalantari of Smiles on Bristol Dentistry. Sports have a high rate of contact either between objects or with other people. One wrong strike can cause permanent damage to the teeth that requires costly procedures to fix. Fortunately, there are a few ways to help keep teeth safe.
Proper nutrition can help to keep teeth strong and more resistant to contact. Tooth enamel is made of phosphorus and calcium, so a diet rich in those nutrients will keep the enamel strong. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium. Including vitamin D with your intake of calcium will make taking calcium more effective. Foods low in acids and high in nutrients like dark, leafy vegetables will keep your body strong and will prevent tooth damage. As an athlete, water is already an essential. Not only does staying hydrated keep your body in top shape for working out, but it helps protect teeth as well. Drinking enough water helps promote saliva production which keeps the mouth at a proper pH level and is essential in repairing tooth decay. Water does not have any bacteria-feeding sugar like most sports drinks. It can also help to rinse away sugar and food particles from the mouth after eating or drinking to limit any negative effects.
Nutrition can only do so much, however. For physical protection, mouth guards are recommended. There are a few different types of mouth guards on the market. The first and the cheapest are generic store-bought mouth guards. These guards have generic sizes and shapes to generally fit patient mouths. They provide some protection but are not generally recommended as they have a number of downsides. Due to their generic nature, they can be ill-fitting. This can cause discomfort and can even make speaking and breathing difficult.
Another type of store-bought mouth guard is specially design to react to heat and must be boiled. Once the plastic has softened from the heat, they can be placed into the mouth and adjusted for a personalized fit. They are fairly straight forward and provide better protection than the generic store mouth guards. The personalized fit makes them more comfortable.
The best type of mouth guard comes from your dentist. They will specially create a mouth guard for you using a mold of your teeth. It is the most customized of the mouth guards and affords the most comfort and best protection. It is also the most expensive option, but well worth it. Sports with limited contact may not need such high-quality protection, but sports like football, basketball, and hockey involve a great amount of contact and require greater protection. These mouth guards are also the best for people with braces. The dentist will ensure that the mouth guard can accommodate the braces in a safe and comfortable manner.
Most mouth guards are only fitted to the upper teeth which are more prone to damage from contact than the lower teeth. Under certain circumstances, a dentist may recommend a mouth guard for the lower teeth as well. A lower mouth guard may be necessary for patients with braces or other dental appliances. Check with your dentist for personal recommendations on mouth guards and to make sure current mouth guards are effective. Santa Ana dentist, Dr. Kalantari, is happy to help any patient looking to better protect their teeth. He will work with you to find the best option for your activity and budget.
Mouth guards are helpful for people in sports like football, hockey, lacrosse, rugby, and more. Sports like gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, martial arts, and volleyball can also involve potentially dangerous situations that would benefit from mouth guards. Activities like mountain biking, skateboarding, dodgeball, parkour, and horseback riding could also require a mouth guard for protection.
Taking proper care of your mouth guard is very important as well. Because the mouth guard will be going in your mouth, it must be kept clean otherwise it can increase your risk of infection or tooth decay. Make sure to brush your teeth before putting a mouth guard into your mouth so that it does not trap in any food particles and so the mouth guard does not collect any food and grime.
Mouth guards can be cleaned with toothpaste and a tooth brush just like your teeth. Make especially sure to use a non-whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes often contain harsh abrasives to try to remove tooth stains. These abrasives can damage the plastic of the mouth guard, making it weaker. There are some non-whitening toothpastes that can also be very abrasive. A great way to check whether your toothpaste is gentle enough for your mouth guard is to squeeze out a little bit onto your thumb. Rub the toothpaste between your thumb and finger and see if you can feel noticeable grittiness. Toothpastes that feel smooth are the goal.
Most mouth guards can also be rinsed with mouthwash which will kill bacteria and make the mouth guard taste fresh and clean. Make sure the mouthwash sits for the recommended time on the mouth guard to kill a sufficient amount of bacteria. Then rinse the mouth guard well with warm water. Mouthwash is very acidic. It is not good to let it sit in the mouth pressed against the teeth as it is in a mouth guard. Rinsing with warm water will remove the mouthwash while still leaving it smelling and tasting fresh.
Mouth guards can also be cleaned with mild soap and water. This is a great way to kill bacteria. Washing your mouth guard with soap and water is recommended for every time you take out the mouth guard for the day. It will help prevent bacteria and mold from growing on the mouth guard. The mouth guard should be rinsed well after cleaning to remove any soap residue before the next use.
There are also tablets and powders made to specifically clean oral devices. The most common type of tablets are for cleaning dentures but there are a few brands that make tablets specifically designed to clean mouth guards. To use these tablets, get a cup or bowl of water and add a tablet. Once the tablet has dissolved completely, you can drop the mouth guard into the water and let it soak. This method cleans off residue, bacteria, and stains. Again the mouth guard should be rinsed in clean water after it has soaked with the dental cleaner.
Battling Gingivitis with Smiles on Bristol Dentistry: The Santa Ana Dentists
According to Santa Ana dentist, Dr. Danial Kalantari, the majority of his patients have gingivitis. The NY Times states that over 75% of the population has gingivitis. While this disease is mild with limited symptoms and side effects, it is the first step towards serious periodontal disease. It is also a chronic infection that your body is constantly fighting, weakening the immune system against other attacks.
A daily routine of flossing, brushing, and using a mouthwash are the best initial ways to prevent gingivitis. Brushing is not good at removing plaque between the teeth. Flossing and mouthwash help to remove plaque and kill bacteria between the teeth and between the tooth and gums.
To help protect your gums, you should brush with your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle along the connection between the teeth and the gums. Only use a soft bristled brush. Soft bristled brushes work as well as hard bristled brushes and they help to prevent abrasive damage to the teeth and gums. Many people press too hard when brushing with the hope that it will remove more plaque. However, studies show that no more plaque is removed and the strong-handed brushing can wear away tooth enamel and cause gums to recede.
People using electric toothbrushes should be especially careful with the amount of pressure they apply. Because electric toothbrushes are specifically designed to take care of all the abrading themselves, adding further force puts the teeth and gums at risk. Proper technique for using an electric toothbrush is putting the toothbrush to each tooth, front and back, and holding it there for a few seconds. The only motion you need to do is to move the brush from tooth to tooth and to rotate the brush at different angles to make sure you reach all the tooth surfaces. Further action is not required. Certain electric toothbrushes like Philips Sonicare, offer sensitive brush heads to further help prevent abrasive side effects.
If you ever feel pain on the gums after brushing, see if you can brush more gently and look for a softer tooth brush head. Pain in the gums can happen during flossing due to the inflammation that accompanies gingivitis. The pain should go away with a consistent flossing practice. If the pain does not go away schedule an appointment at Smiles on Bristol Dentistry, or with your local dentist to diagnose any potential problems.
Because the gums do not attach to the teeth at the very top, patients need to make sure the floss slides down the tooth between the tooth and gum until the gum stops it. For people with very tight teeth, certain string floss can be a problem as it can catch between the teeth and get stuck. There are a number of floss options on the market such as Oral-B’s Glide Floss which is made up of thin, soft material. There is a much smaller chance of catching and even if the floss gets stuck, it breaks cleanly rather than shredding and knotting up between the teeth.
For people who hate the sensation of flossing, there are, also, a number of options. One of the best, but also one of the most expensive is a WaterPik – an electric water floss. The WaterPik shoots streams of water at varying intensities and has been shown to be much gentler on the gums, while still being as effective if not more than string floss. The WaterPik should be aimed at the connection between gums and teeth and between the teeth. Simply holding the stream on each location for 3 seconds efficiently cleans out plaque, stuck food, and bacteria. There are also brushes that brush between teeth like Proxabrush called interdental cleaners.
Mouthwash gets where flossing and toothbrushing miss. It is formulated to kill bacteria which helps stop gingivitis and bad breath. There are store-bought mouthwashes and a number of other natural remedies that can be used. Because most mouthwashes are acidic to help kill the bacteria, try to always use a mouthwash that contains fluoride and only use mouthwash after brushing the teeth. The teeth will be strengthened and protected by the layer of fluoride so that the acid will only kill the bacteria and will not damage the teeth. Rinsing with lemon juice or cranberry juice can also kill bacteria. Both are highly acidic so they kill bacteria, but again only use after the teeth have been protected with fluoride. Cranberries also have additional antibacterial properties which can help the mouth. Do not use juices with added sugar as a mouthwash as this will simply feed the bacteria.
Taking Vitamin C boosts the immune system which can help it fight the bacteria in your mouth. Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water also has great benefits. Salt works to kill bacteria, as well as prevent further bacteria growth. A study from the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology found that rinsing the mouth with turmeric also has great anti-bacterial effects and it helps to reduce inflammation. Aloe Vera has many known health benefits. In its pure form, it can be used on the gums and is effective at fighting bacteria and fungus. Plus, it has soothing effects to comfort painful, swollen gums. Either chewing guava leaves or making a rinse with guava leaf extract also has great properties for the mouth. Not only does it fight bacteria and microbials, but it provides topical pain relief.
For persistant gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums, bleeding while flossing, and occasionally painful gums, talk to your dentist for further advice and demonstrations proper brushing and flossing techniques. For people in Santa Ana, feel free to call Dr. Kalantari at Smiles on Bristol Dentistry for a thorough consultation and diagnosis.
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