Redondo Beach Dental Group

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Redondo Beach Dental Group! Have a safe and FUN holiday!

How Does Smoking Affect Your Oral Health?

Both your doctor and your dentist will tell you that smoking is detrimental to your health in many ways. Smoking causes numerous oral health problems, ranging from the cosmetic to the life-threatening. Learn more about smoking and your oral health below.

Bad Breath

Smoking is directly linked to bad breath in more than one way. After you smoke, your mouth retains a film of foul-smelling chemicals from your cigarettes, which are carried on your breath when you exhale. Additionally, smoking inhibits saliva production, which means that food debris isn’t washed away and bacteria can flourish more easily.

Periodontal Disease

Dentists have linked smoking to the development of periodontal disease because it affects the tissues that keep your teeth rooted in your gums. The process of smoking and the chemicals contained in cigarettes interfere with normal gum function, destroying healthy gum cells when their blood flow is cut off and promoting the growth of disease-causing bacteria.

Stained Teeth

Cosmetically-speaking, smoking affects the beauty of your smile by causing stained, decayed teeth. The chemicals in cigarettes stick to your teeth, causing them to turn yellow or brown over time; these chemicals also promote tooth decay and other dental problems, especially if you fail to visit your dentist regularly.

Oral Cancer

Not only is smoking bad for your mouth, but it can cause severe complications, such as oral cancer. Oral cancer, when caught early by your dentist, can be successfully treated. But when the cancer is in difficult-to-locate areas or becomes widespread, it can threaten not only your oral health and your smile, but your life as well.

The best way to protect your oral and overall health is to kick that smoking habit. At Redondo Beach Dental Group, we’re here to help you care for your teeth to promote a healthy smile that will last you a lifetime. Check out our website for more information on our dental services, or call us today at (310) 542-6988.

Ways to Clear That Bad Breath

Bad breath can be embarrassing, causing you to keep your mouth shut when you’d rather be laughing or smiling. Keep reading for some dentist-recommended tips on how to clear up that bad breath and start smiling brightly again.

Change Your Diet

Some foods, such as garlic and onions, remain in your bloodstream for hours after you ingest them, making their way to your lungs and then your breath when you breathe out. Changing your diet is often the first step toward correcting bad breath, so talk to your dentist about foods you might want to avoid if you suspect this is the problem.

Change Your Dental Routine

Unpleasant breath may be an indication that your dental routine needs improvement. Be sure you are brushing twice a day for a full two minutes each time, and that you are flossing at least once a day as well to remove plaque and food debris from between your teeth. Also be sure to clean your tongue, either with your toothbrush or a dentist-recommended tongue cleaner to rid it of bacteria. Ask your dentist about a mouth rinse, which can also be an effective way of fighting bacteria that causes gum disease and foul breath.

See Your Doctor

Bad breath may be a sign of tooth decay or periodontal disease, so it’s important to see your dentist for a checkup and cleaning. Sometimes, a thorough cleaning and treatment of any tooth or gum problem is all you need to clear up your condition. However, bad breath can also be indicative of other health problems, so it’s doubly important to be seen by a dentist, as he or she may be able to identify symptoms of other health problems that you may need to address.

Resolve bad breath issues and keep your teeth healthy with the help of the Redondo Beach Dental Group. We are dedicated to your oral health, providing preventive and cosmetic dentistry services for bright, happy smiles. Learn more on our website or by calling (310) 542-6988.

Watch How You Can Get Tough Teeth

Sparkling, beautiful teeth are only a part of a healthy dental equation; to learn how to promote stronger, healthier teeth, check out this informative video.

This video features five tips for tougher teeth, such as eating a nutritional and balanced diet and using the proper type of toothbrush and brushing technique to protect your teeth. You will also learn about a new chewing gum that actually contains calcium to help build stronger teeth and how often you should floss and use mouth rinse. To learn more about toughening up your teeth, take a look at this video.

Cultivate a healthy smile with the help of your dentist at Redondo Beach Dental Group. We are here to provide you with unparalleled patient care to keep you smiling confidently for life. Check out our website or call (310) 542-6988 to learn more.

How to Properly Clean Your Tongue and Why You Should

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing regularly promotes healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. But even with the dental knowledge that abounds today, tongue cleaning is still not a popular practice, despite its many benefits in preventing periodontal disease. To learn more about how to clean your tongue and why it’s so important, check out the information below.

Why You Should Clean Your Tongue

Although much emphasis is placed by dentists on brushing and flossing, the surface of the tongue can harbor food debris and millions of bacteria and other microorganisms responsible for tooth decay, periodontal disease, and bad breath. Simply swallowing or brushing your teeth is not enough to remove food debris and microorganisms from the tongue, and unfortunately, this leftover debris and bacteria can offset all of your dental routine because your entire mouth has not been cleaned. Additionally, up to 90% of bad breath is caused by organisms on the tongue, so thorough and regular cleaning can help address this embarrassing problem easily.

How You Should Clean Your Tongue

Talk to your dentist about purchasing the proper implement to clean your tongue and the proper technique if you are unsure. Many people may gag at first, but it’s important to practice regular tongue cleaning to address this issue, rather than avoiding it. Using your cleaning implement, start as far back on your tongue as possible and press down, scraping forward to remove food debris and bacterial byproducts. Be sure to clean your implement under running water and store it where it can be kept clean and dry until the next use.

Make tongue cleaning a part of your regular dental routine and talk to your dentist at Redondo Beach Dental Group about the best way to keep your mouth healthy and odor-free. Get the tools and the information you need for a lifelong smile with the help of our knowledgeable and professional staff. Check us out online or call (310) 542-6988 to schedule an appointment.