Piercings of any kind can look cool, and some people feel they help them express themselves. As with any piercing, oral piercings also come with their own set of risks. At my Modesto dental office, we’re here not to discourage patients from getting a piercing if that’s what they want, but to educate them on several potential problems associated with oral piercings.

What’s Got Us Worried?

Oral piercings can lead to a whole host of oral health issues. Before you make a decision to get one, we encourage to know the risks.

• General Difficulties. Introducing a piercing to your mouth, whether in the form of a tongue, cheek, or lip piercing, can affect your daily activities like eating and talking.

• Tooth Damage. Piercings come with jewelry. Jewelry is hard in texture. When something hard is introduced to the mouth and banged off teeth repeatedly, damage will occur. Whether it’s a little chip or a big break, tooth damage allows bacteria to enter the tooth and leads to decay. Decay may then require a filling or, if left alone, even a root canal.

• Gum Disease. Again, since there is something hard in the mouth, the chance for trauma to the teeth or gums is greatly increased. If your piercing irritates the gums, leading to damage, gum disease is a real possibility. An opening the gums allows bacteria to get below the teeth, leading to gum disease.

• Infection. Perhaps the most serious concern of an oral piercing, like any piercing, is infection. But what makes oral infections a little more serious is that they are in the mouth. The mouth is wet and warm, which is the perfect place for bacteria to multiply. If a piercing leads to infection, the fact that the mouth is already home to millions of bacteria isn’t good. Infections that become serious can even cause the tongue to swell, blocking the airway and making it hard to breathe.

Decrease Your Risk

Taking care of your oral piercing can really help decrease the likelihood of a problem. Make sure you clean the area thoroughly and often, and rinse your mouth after eating to lower the chance of infection. Ensure the jewelry is secure to avoid a piece coming loose, causing you bite it and crack a tooth. Remember the signs of infection like redness, fever, chills, or swelling and seek medical attention immediately if you have any symptoms.

If you do decide to get an oral piercing, or if you already have one, and notice signs of infection or your teeth become damaged, call my dental office in Modesto as soon as you can. We’ll get you in for an appointment and talk about the best treatment options to help.

Accepting patients from Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale.

A quick peek into your mouth can reveal a lot about you, and we’re not just talking about your oral health. Your mouth can say a lot about your overall health too, and may even tell your team at my Modesto dental office a few things about your daily habits.

• Your Flossing Habits

If you flossed right before your appointment and that’s really the only time, we can tell. Gums may be a bit bloody or swollen — both qualities that aren’t apparent in those who floss regularly. While we’re happy you gave it shot, we can’t stress enough how important flossing at least once a day, everyday, is for your oral health.

• You’re a Nail Biter

Nail biting may be a nervous habit of yours, and your dentist may be able to tell without even seeing your fingers. Nail biters usually have slight chips and cracks, and the teeth can become uneven. This can affect your bite. If your bite is out of alignment, symptoms of TMD (temporomandibular disorder), like jaw pain, may occur.

• You Have Oral Cancer

At each appointment, we aren’t only looking for signs of decay and cavities, we’re also checking for any signs of oral cancer. Some indicators can include white or red patches in the mouth, lumps on the lips, gums, or cheeks, and bleeding that seems to happen without cause. If caught early, oral cancer treatment can be very successful, which is just another reason to keep your dental appointments.

• Your Bad Breath is a Sign of Something More

Sometimes those who suffer from bad breath don’t even know it. And while nobody likes to hear that their breath is a little less than fresh, diagnosing it and talking to your dentist about it is important. Bad breath can be a sign of something serious. A fruity stench could indicate diabetes, a fishy smell could mean liver or kidney failure, and bad breath in general could be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is very serious and can actually affect your heart health in addition to your oral health.

Regular appointments with your dentist in Modesto are an important part to getting and keeping your smile healthy. Dental exams every six months help catch oral health problems like cavities early, but they can also aid in identifying other concerns.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms above, or you’re overdue for your dental cleaning and exam, call my dental office in Modesto to schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure to evaluate any concerns you have and get you started on an individualized treatment plan for a healthy mouth, and healthy body.

Welcoming patients from Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale.

Nearly one out of eight Americans suffer from recurring headaches or migraines. To educate the public on the reality of these painful and sometimes debilitating disorders, the American Headache & Migraine Association (AHMA) observes Migraine & Headache Awareness Month every June. While this cause may seem unrelated to dentistry, the team at my Modesto dental office want to share just how connected the two can be.

Migraine vs. Headache

Before we dive into how dental health can contribute to migraines, it’s important to differentiate headaches and migraines. Although similar, headaches and migraines tend to have different symptoms, some of which can affect everyday life for the duration of the episode. Let’s examine the two.

The Migraine-Dentistry Connection

Research supports the theory that a bad bite (malocclusion) can contribute to recurring migraines. When teeth don’t align from top to bottom, your ideal bite is thrown off, causing issues to your TMJ (jaw joint). Anatomically, your head is attached to your jaw, and the two share muscles. When the muscles in your jaw become strained due to a bad bite, it can affect your head, thus leading to a migraine. Your dentist in Modesto may be able to help diagnose and treat this misalignment, giving you relief from migraines.

Don’t continue to live your life managing your migraines without exploring a possible solution to rid yourself of the pain. If you’re ready to see if your migraines could be caused by a bad bite, call my dental office in Modesto to schedule an appointment today. We’ll look at your bite, teeth wear, and other factors to recommend the best treatment for you. Don’t keep suffering, call us today.

Accepting patients from Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale.

When we think of drinks that are terrible for smiles, we usually automatically turn to soda. And while these sugary, carbonated beverages are absolutely bad for our teeth, there’s another type of drink that may be just as concerning. We’re talking about sports drinks, and at my Modesto dental office, we want you to know just how damaging they can actually be.

Sports Drinks Are NOT a Healthier Alternative to Soda

One of the common misconceptions is that sports beverages are a better choice than soda because of the typically lower sugar content. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. While many of the sports drinks of choice don’t contain a whole lot of sugar, they are pretty acidic, and that’s the part that’s concerning.

Acid is a large contributor to dental decay and cavities. When sports drinks are consumed regularly, teeth are exposed to a lot of acid which damages the protective tooth enamel. Why is that bad? Well, once enamel is damaged, it’s damaged, and teeth are left exposed. Without enamel, bacteria are able to wiggle into tooth crevices, feed off sugars from food, and, as a result, produce even more damaging acid. It’s an ongoing cycle that can lead to decay. But that’s not all.

But Wait, There’s More

If decay is left untreated, the possibility for more advanced treatment may be necessary. For example, decay that reaches the root of a tooth may require a root canal and crown to relieve the pain and save the tooth. Many patients are concerned and sometimes even fearful when they hear the term root canal, but it’s important to know that a root canal itself isn’t painful, it’s the damage the root canal treatment is fixing that hurts. If left alone, it will become more painful and may even lead to an infection known as an abscess, which also doesn’t feel very good.

Signs of a Problem

When a problem does occur, it’s important to recognize the symptoms so you can catch and treat it early. If you notice any of the signs of decay below, see your dentist in Modesto as soon as possible.

• Toothaches
• Pain with hot, cold, or sweet food or drinks
• A change in tooth color
• Painful chewing
• Noticeable pits or holes

Prevention is always preferred over treatment. This is why we recommend dental cleanings and checkups at my Modesto dental office at least every six months. This way if something does occur, we can catch it and treat it early before more advanced treatment is needed. If you haven’t seen us for awhile, call to schedule your appointment today.

Welcoming patients from Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale.

If you’ve ever seen an old photograph of family members, or a black and and white picture from way way back, you probably noticed how not a single person is smiling. Not even the slightest crack of a grin. Just stoic, expressionless faces. At my Modesto dental office, we’re in the business of smiles, and when people aren’t smiling, we want to know why. So we did a little digging and found a few reasons behind the smileless photos of the past.

Why So Serious?

There are several theories behind why people didn’t smile in photographs. One of the possible explanations is the rarity of having your picture taken. It’s difficult for us to understand that once upon a time, photographs were rare, expensive, and not readily available. Many times photos were taken in planned portrait sessions. It’s often believed that these sessions were incredibly formal, and appropriate behavior was to act serious, hence the lack of grins.

It Took SO Long.

Now it’s nothing to snap a picture with our phones without thinking. It’s easy, instantaneous, and we can freeze time in less than a second. However, this wasn’t always the case. The first picture ever snapped took eight hours to expose. It’d be impossible for a human to sit still for eight whole hours, let alone hold a smile that long. Even thirteen years later in 1839, it still took fifteen minutes. Technological limitations made it uncomfortable, if not impossible, to smile in photos.

Dental Health

Even if the technology was there to snap quicker pictures, we still may not have any photographs of our ancestors actually smiling. Dental care was limited and oral hygiene wasn’t so great. The cure for decay was to pull the tooth, so not only did people had pretty terrible teeth, they may have had a limited number of them too. Chances are, even if it was possible for them to smile in photos, they still would have chosen to hide their teeth.

What About Now?

There are millions of pictures taken every day. Thanks to technological advancements, we can even delete the ones we don’t like and immediately try again. The ease and affordability of snapping photos makes it less of a formality and much more of a fun, memory preserving activity. This alone helps people smile wide. However, we still see pictures of people hiding their grins.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who are unhappy with the way their smiles look despite all the advancements in dentistry. If you’re one of them, we encourage you to call my dental office in Modesto to schedule an appointment. We offer multiple forms of cosmetic and restorative dentistry that can transform your smile into something you’re proud to show off. Call us today to find out how we can help.

Welcoming patients from Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale.

Asthma affects nearly 24 million Americans and is a serious medical condition that, if not treated proactively, can lead to trouble breathing, wheezing, and sometimes, even death. But at my Modesto dental office, we also know it may have a negative effect on oral health.

What the Research Says

There’s been a long-standing belief that those with asthma have an increased risk for oral health problems, including cavities. Since many asthma sufferers tend to also be mouth breathers, the chance for dry mouth is greater. And dry mouth is a concern for your Modesto dentist. When saliva production decreases, its ability to properly rinse away germs and bacteria diminishes, and the likelihood of developing cavities goes up. Even if mouth breathing isn’t a factor, common asthma medications can also dry out the mouth and decrease saliva flow.

Cavities aren’t the only thing that has been linked with asthma. Asthma sufferers also have a higher chance of developing gum disease. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Periodontology, those surveyed who had gum disease were five times more likely to also have asthma. This is especially concerning because of the seriousness of gum disease. Gum disease has been linked to whole-body health issues such as heart disease, more respiratory problems in addition to asthma, and some cancers including kidney, pancreatic, and blood.

What Can You Do?

Whether the connection between asthma and cavities is true or not, there are some simple things you can do to ward off any negative side effects of asthma or asthma treatments.

• Drink Water. A lot of water. Water helps stimulate saliva flow and keeps the mouth hydrated. The more moist the mouth, the more effective it is at keeping damaging decay-causing bacteria away.

• Rinse with Water. After using an asthma treatment like an inhaler, rinse with water. Any drying ingredients in the medication won’t have the chance to linger in the mouth.

• Tell Your Dentist. Your dentist should know if you have asthma, as well as any medication used to control it. You should also let your dental team know if you have any type of anxiety during your visits. They can help keep you comfortable, calm, and avoid a possible asthma attack.

As always, the best way to prevent cavities is to brush twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly. We’re always accepting new patients at my Modesto dental office, so if it’s time for your checkup, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Accepting patients from Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale.

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States with about 35,000 cases diagnosed every year. Of those, about 8,000 will lose their lives to this life-threatening condition. At my Modesto dental office, we want all of our patients to understand the deadly disease so they can work to avoid it or recognize when there is a problem.

Risk Factors

Knowing the risk factors and who is more likely to develop oral cancer is the first step in understanding whether you may be at increased risk.

• Gender: Men are more likely to develop oral cancer than women. In fact, their risk is about double that of their female counterparts.

• Age: On average, most people are diagnosed at 62, and the majority of oral cancer patients are over 55.

• Sun Exposure: Instances of oral cancer is increased in those who spend a lot of time in the sun without sunscreen.

• Tobacco Use: Nearly 80% of those diagnosed with oral cancer are smokers or use smokeless tobacco. Smoking often leads to throat or mouth cancer, and smokeless tobacco usually results in gum, cheek, or lip cancer.

• Alcohol: Heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. In fact, nearly 70% of all those diagnosed use alcohol often. And if you’re a drinker and smoker, your risk may be as high as 100%.

Even if you don’t fall into these risk categories, you can still develop oral cancer.

Signs & Symptoms

Being able to recognize a potential problem and getting it checked out quickly can increase survival rate. Early detection is key to beating the cancer, so if you notice any of the following symptoms, see your dentist in Modesto as soon as possible.

• A chronic sore that doesn’t go away
• Bad breath
• Difficulty swallowing or chewing
• A lump on the cheek or tongue
• Voice changes

Prevention

While we can’t change our gender or age, we can take steps to limit our exposure to the lifestyle risk factors. Besides that, maintaining regular checkups with your dentist is key to catching any problems early. If it’s been awhile since you’ve seen a dentist, give my Modesto dental office a call to schedule an appointment today. It could save your life.

Accepting patients from Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale.

There tends to be some confusion behind these uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing sores that seem to appear out of nowhere. While there really isn’t any solid evidence as to what causes canker sores, which is part of what makes them a bit difficult to understand, at my Modesto dental office, we can shed some light on what they are and how to get relief.

What are Canker Sores?

Before we can dive into the causes, symptoms, treatments, and other great information about them, we need to identify what canker sores actually are. Canker sores are small, (usually) little ulcer-like lesions that typically pop up inside the mouth. If the affected area is outside on the lip, it’s probably not a canker sore but a cold sore. Cold sores and canker sores may appear similar in appearance and feel the same discomfort, but they are, in fact, different. Canker sores aren’t contagious. Cold sores are.

How Do You Know if You Have a Canker Sore?

Canker sores tend to have the same symptoms every time one appears. Sometimes you may experience an unexplained tingly or itchy feeling in your mouth. This can be a sign a canker sore is about to pop up. Once it appears, you’ll be able to see a small, oval sore with a white or yellow center and red border inside the mouth, usually around the spot that was itchy.

Canker Sore Relief

There is no cure for canker sores and they’ll go away on their own usually within a week or two. But that doesn’t mean you have to feel the discomfort for that long. There are over-the-counter products designed to ease the pain. If it’s a larger sore or you have concerns, you may want to see a dentist in Modesto.

When Should You See a Dentist for a Canker Sore?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s appropriate to call your dentist for an appointment.

• Sores that last longer than two weeks
• Pain that can’t be handled with over-the-counter treatment
• High fever
• Chronic outbreaks

If you think you should see a dentist for your canker sore, or have questions about canker sores, give my Modesto dental office a call. We’ll be happy to help.

Accepting new patients from Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale.