Last updated 1 year ago
For some people, bad breath isn’t just a nuisance in the morning—it’s a consistent problem that affects their professional, personal, and even romantic life.
In this health video, a dentist exposes and corrects some of the more widely held bad breath misconceptions. For example, bad breath does not come from the stomach, but rather from the germs that naturally exist in the mouth. It’s also impossible to smell your own breath. Watch to learn which mouthwashes are effective and which are only temporary fixes.
Contact Redondo Beach Dental Group for more techniques you can use to improve bad breath. From dental implants to Invisalign, we provide solutions to improve your smile and oral health. Call (310) 542-6988 today to learn more!
Last updated 1 year ago
One of the more common dental surgeries performed in adults is wisdom tooth extraction. In most cases, the erupting wisdom teeth simply do not have enough room in the mouth, leaving them in an undesirable or painful position. The following are potentially harmful outcomes that can occur if an impacted wisdom tooth is allowed to remain in the mouth:
Discomfort
When you have an impacted wisdom tooth, one of the most apparent symptoms and reasons to remove it is the pain experienced. Many patients also develop red, swollen, and tender gums. Other problems include headaches, unpleasant taste in the mouth, and pain in the jawbone.
Adjacent Tooth Damage
When a wisdom tooth isn’t erupting correctly, it can negatively affect the second molars, the teeth directly in front of the wisdom teeth. Common damage includes tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, and even bone loss.
Infection
If the wisdom tooth is a soft tissue impaction, meaning that it has penetrated the bone but not the gums above, food and bacteria can become trapped and cause an infection. This can lead to tooth decay as well as pain and swelling.
Disease
In more extreme cases of impacted wisdom teeth, the areas around the molars can become diseased. Cysts and tumors are two common forms of disease that can occur in the areas around an impacted tooth.
Tooth Crowding
Many dentists believe that impacted teeth put pressure on other teeth adjacent to the molars. This may cause teeth to become misaligned, crowded, or twisted.
Avoid these painful and potentially harmful outcomes by visiting your dentist for a wisdom teeth examination. The team of dental health professionals at Redondo Beach Dental Group are experts at extracting impacted teeth, and also provide cosmetic dentistry services such as teeth whitening and dental implants. Learn more about our practice by visiting us online or calling (310) 542-6988.
Last updated 1 year ago
Providing patients with both general and cosmetic dentistry solutions, the Redondo Beach Dental Group helps patients improve their smile and oral health. Call (310) 542-6988 to learn more about our dental services. Here’s some more information about periodontal disease and crowns.
- The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provides this article explaining periodontal disease.
- Are you curious about dental crowns? The Colgate Oral and Dental Health Resource Center provides information about how crowns work to improve a tooth’s strength and appearance.
- The National Cancer Institute explains what you need to know about the symptoms of oral cancer.
- If you’d like to read through an in-depth resource about dental crowns, check out this webpage from the Cleveland Clinic.
- The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons examines the benefits of dental implants.
Last updated 1 year ago
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you are one of many Americans with some form of gum disease. After periodontal treatments are completed, it’s important to visit your dentist once every three months for maintenance cleanings. Here’s what you can expect in your periodontal maintenance appointment:
Complete Cleaning
A dental hygienist will first give you a thorough cleaning to remove any plaque buildup that may cause cavities. Teeth polishing is also performed to eliminate stains and plaque that aren’t removed during normal tooth brushing and scaling. Your dentist will then check all tooth surfaces to detect any signs of decay, and will recommend the appropriate oral hygiene tools and techniques.
Checking Oral Pockets
The pockets between your teeth and gums are where plaque is most likely to build up. During a cleaning appointment, the pocket depth is checked to make sure that these areas are healthy. The dentist also removes any plaque and calculus (tartar) around the gum line that you may not be able to remove with your toothbrush at home.
Taking X-Rays
X-rays are one of the most effective means to check for major damage to the teeth and supporting bones resulting from periodontal disease. An oral X-ray can help your dentist detect decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss, as well as determine current tooth and root positions.
Examining Existing Restorations
Often, patients with periodontal disease will have had corrective dental work. Your dentist will check your fillings, crowns, veneers, and other restorations to ensure that they are properly situated and in good repair.
Screening for Oral Cancer
During a periodontal maintenance appointment, you may also receive an oral cancer screening. A dentist will check your face, neck, mouth, tongue, cheeks, and gums for any symptoms of oral cancer.
Learn more about periodontal disease by contacting the expert dentists at Redondo Beach Dental Group. In addition to our comprehensive oral health treatments, we also provide cosmetic solutions such as Invisalign, teeth whitening, and dental implants. Schedule your periodontal maintenance appointment today by calling (310) 542-6988.
Last updated 1 year ago
Most people experience bruxism—the act of compulsively grinding the teeth and clenching the jaw—at some point in life, whether because of stress, poorly aligned teeth, antidepressant use, digestive ailments, or a variety of other reasons. It may not seem like a big problem, but bruxism can lead to serious complications like worn-down teeth, jaw and ear pain, and severe headaches. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for bruxism:
Mouth Guard
Redondo Beach Dental Group can craft a custom mouth guard for you, made from an imprint of your teeth. This will physically prevent your teeth from grinding as you sleep. The mouth guard must be worn every night on a long-term basis to prevent damage to the teeth and jaw. While mouth guards cannot cure bruxism, they can keep further damage from occurring.
NTI-tss Device
Fitting over only the front teeth, the NTI-tss device is designed to keep the rear molars from grinding together. It separates the front teeth and transfers force that would otherwise close the jaw into a forward motion of the front teeth, which produces an unpleasant sensation that provides subtle punishment for grinding.
Botox
Botox treats the problem of bruxism differently than mouth guards and the NTI-tss device. Rather than physically altering the motion of the teeth, it chemically relaxes the muscles in the mouth and jaw. After Botox treatment, patients can still chew and speak completely normally, but their muscles will have been weakened just enough to discourage grinding.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback relies on a machine that makes patients aware of bodily functions that they may not have otherwise noticed, allowing them to change the function or behavior. In the case of bruxism, the feedback machine notifies you when you are clenching or grinding your teeth so you can stop it. Over time, this technique can be very effective.
Bruxism is a common condition with serious consequences. Don’t wait to get help—damage is being done to your teeth and jaw every day. Call (310) 542-6988 to schedule an appointment with Redondo Beach Dental Group so you can discuss your treatment options.
