Brushing Your Teeth the Right Way

Brushing your teeth is one of those things that’s so simple; that we all know how to do, it’s easy to take it for granted. As an activity that’s the bane of young children everywhere, the twice daily recommendation to brush is essential for helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Still, it’s something that a lot of us do wrong! As a leading dentist in West Hills, we want to help make sure you’re doing it right. Here’s how:

Brush for longer. Two to three minutes. That’s how long a good brushing should take, yet the average is barely a minute. Set a timer if you have to!

Don’t brush so hard! You don’t have to press hard against your teeth and gum line. Doing so may damage your enamel in the long term.

Change your technique. A lot of people use a back and forth motion for brushing, but bushing in small circles is better, and you should also only focus on a few teeth at a time then brush away from the gum line to clear loosened plaque.

These small tips can make a big difference, and once you master you technique don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your friendly dentist in Woodland Hills to complete your care. We’re also a top spot for children's dentistry in West Hills!

 

When It’s Good to Be Early

Sometimes you want to be early and sometimes you don’t. For example, it never hurts to be a minute or two early when you’ve got an appointment for something. If you’ve got a job interview, it’s almost considered standard to arrive about 10 or 15 minutes before the appointed time – just to show you really want the position! On the other hand, sometimes it might be a bit awkward to show up early for a party and sometimes you may even want to be fashionably late…it kind of depends on what type of party you’re talking about.

When you’re talking about making an appointment with for treating your teeth, however, it’s so much a matter of social etiquette as self-preservation. In the worst cases, the problems that lead to requiring dental treatment can sometimes result in severe toothaches -- an unpleasant situation whether your dealing with adult or children's dentistry in West Hills. If you’ve never had a really bad toothache, then count yourself lucky; if you have had one, however, you know how much they are to be avoided for both you and your kids.

So, if you have reason to believe that you have an issue that may call for a root canal or other dental treatment -- maybe for dental implants in Los Angeles -- don’t lollygag about making an appointment. While we understand the tendency to procrastinate when it comes to visiting the dentist, there’s nothing to be afraid of. A properly performed root canal by a great West Hills dentist is a surprisingly comfortable process. A toothache caused by a delayed root canal, however, now that’s something you might be concerned about!

 

3 Serious Health Conditions Your Dentist Can Find

Good dental habits and regular visits to the dentist are obviously the best way to protect your teeth, and your oral health. But did you know a visit to the dentist office can have health benefits that are beyond your teeth? Interestingly enough, your state of your teeth can have impacts on the rest of your body and can hold many clues into other conditions. At Medical Center Dental care, as a dentist in West Hills we’re committed to outstanding dental care for the whole family, and here are 3 surprising health issues that we might be able to detect.

1) Diabetes: Plenty of people have diabetes and don’t even know it. Some symptoms can manifest with oral signs such as dry mouth, plaque build-up, multiple abscesses on the gums, and bad breathe—which can all be caused by high blood sugar and poor glycemic control. 

2) Osteoporosis: Though it won’t lead to tooth decay, a dentist might observe bone loss in the structures of the teeth with digital X-rays while performing a check-up. If the bone lacks density at the edges and interior, the patient is more likely to have osteoporosis. 

3) Heat Disease: People with gum disease are also more likely to have heart disease. Chronic inflammation can be a sign that the body is under stress from heart related issues. Patients who are treated for periodontal disease also tend to experience heart disease improvement. 

Though a dentist can’t treat health conditions such as these, they just might be able to spot them early. In the meantime for services like dental implants in Los Angeles our team is standing by to deliver the care you deserve. Visit us today to find out why we’re a top children's dentistry in West Hills and beyond.