Have Your Teeth and Eat Your Candy Too
Not all candy is dangerous to teeth.
1. Throw away all hard candies. Hard candies are most likely to promote tooth decay because they remain in the mouth for an extended time. Hard candies can also cause a chipped tooth and cause young children to choke.
2. Encourage children not to eat their candy until after Halloween. This will give parents a chance to inspect and sort the treats.
3. Sticky candies can damage dental work, such as fillings and dental bridges, and orthodontic appliances, like dental braces and retainers. However, they are not as cariogenic as previously thought. If you must chew gum, use only sugar-free brands.
4. Eat candy only when you can brush your teeth immediately afterward. Candy for desert after a balanced meal is acceptable. Do not include candy in school lunches or allow your children to eat continuously throughout the day.
5. Always practice good oral hygiene. This includes brushing two to three times each day for at least two minutes, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. It is best to brush immediately after a meal. If you are not able to brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with water. Brushing before bedtime is particularly beneficial. It is also important to use dental floss to remove food from between teeth.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
5 Reasons to use Your Dental Insurance Before the End of the Year
Did you know that you could actually save hundreds of dollars by using your dental benefits before the end of the year? While some dental insurance plans run on a fiscal year, most run on a calendar year. If your dental insurance plan is on a calendar year, these 5 reasons will show you why you should make a dental appointment now.
1. Yearly Maximum
The yearly maximum is the most money that the dental insurance plan will pay for your dental work within one full year. This amount varies by insurance company, but the average is around $1,000 per year, per person. The yearly maximum usually renews every year (on January 1 if your plan is on a calendar year). If you have unused benefits, these will not rollover.
2. Deductible
The deductible is the amount of money that you must pay to your dentist out of pocket before your insurance company will pay for any services. This fee varies from one plan to another and could be higher if you choose an out-of-network dentist. However, the average deductible for a dental insurance plan is usually around $50 per year. Your deductible also starts again when your plan rolls over.
3. Premiums
If you are paying your dental insurance premiums every month, you should be using your benefits. Even if you don’t need any dental treatment, you should always have your regular dental cleanings to help prevent and detect any early signs of cavities, gum disease, oral cancer and other dental problems.
4. Fee Increases
Another reason to use your benefits before the end of the year are possible fee increases. Some dentists raise their rates at the beginning of the year due to the increased cost of living, materials and equipment. A fee increase can also make your copay higher.
5. Dental Problems Can Worsen
By delaying dental treatment, you are risking more extensive and expensive treatment down the road. What may be a simple cavity now, could turn into a root canal later.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
1. Yearly Maximum
The yearly maximum is the most money that the dental insurance plan will pay for your dental work within one full year. This amount varies by insurance company, but the average is around $1,000 per year, per person. The yearly maximum usually renews every year (on January 1 if your plan is on a calendar year). If you have unused benefits, these will not rollover.
2. Deductible
The deductible is the amount of money that you must pay to your dentist out of pocket before your insurance company will pay for any services. This fee varies from one plan to another and could be higher if you choose an out-of-network dentist. However, the average deductible for a dental insurance plan is usually around $50 per year. Your deductible also starts again when your plan rolls over.
3. Premiums
If you are paying your dental insurance premiums every month, you should be using your benefits. Even if you don’t need any dental treatment, you should always have your regular dental cleanings to help prevent and detect any early signs of cavities, gum disease, oral cancer and other dental problems.
4. Fee Increases
Another reason to use your benefits before the end of the year are possible fee increases. Some dentists raise their rates at the beginning of the year due to the increased cost of living, materials and equipment. A fee increase can also make your copay higher.
5. Dental Problems Can Worsen
By delaying dental treatment, you are risking more extensive and expensive treatment down the road. What may be a simple cavity now, could turn into a root canal later.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Whiten Your Teeth Now for a Dazzling Summer Smile
Summer is fast approaching, and people everywhere are getting ready to look their best in the sun. For some, that means working on a tan. Others are focused on toning and improving their bodies. However, your smile is just as important to your appearance as your skin and body. Whitening your teeth for a dazzling smile can make a big difference in both how you look and how confident you feel.
Zoom Whitening For Only $199
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
Thursday, June 24, 2010
9 Reasons to Suspect It May Be More Than Just Snoring
9 Reasons to Suspect It May Be More Than Just Snoring
Sure snoring isn't sexy, but it can also be an indication of a more serious medical problem called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In people with sleep apnea, the throat collapses during sleep cutting off the flow of oxygen. 90% of people who have sleep apnea are not aware of it. Usually its the bed partner who notices the signs of apnea so check with your bed partner.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs more often in people who are overweight, over age 35 and in men (although this may be just because women have been under reported).
Reason 1: Excessive daytime sleepiness
If you tend to drowse off while sitting quietly at home, at work, on the phone or while driving, it could be a sign that you are not getting refreshing sleep at night.
Reason 2: Loud snoring
Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Loud snoring also interferes with a bed partner's sleep and can cause high blood pressure.
Reason 3: Cessation of breathing
Your sleeping partner may notice frequent times through the night when you stop breathing. his can occur for a little as 5 times an hour to more than 50 times an hour. The number of times you stop breathing wll determine whether you have mild apnea or severe apnea.
Reason 4: Gasping or choking while sleeping
When the throat collapses during sleep, the brain forces you to partially awaken to breathe. This can happen many times during an hour and keep you from getting the deep sleep you need.
Reason 5: Feeling unrefreshed in the morning
Because you are not getting the sleep you need, you may feel more tired in the morning after a night's sleep than you did the night before. THis can also cause problems with memory, concentration and personality changes.
Reason 6: Heartburn or a sour taste in the morning or at night
Many people with sleep apnea regurgitate stomach acid while sleeping. This is known as GERD and can cause problems with your esophagus and your teeth.
Reason 7: Headaches, sore throat or dry mouth in the morning
Almost half the people with sleep apnea have headaches due to a poor night's sleep.
Reason 8: Sexual dysfunction
It's true! Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers may experience a lack of sexual desire because of fatigue. In men, sleep apnea can be a cause of ED.
Reason 9: Sweating and chest pain at night
Cardiac deaths occur in the early morning hours with people who suffer from sleep apnea.
Something else you should be aware of - shirt collar size is a good indicator of sleep apnea especially in people with high blood pressure and those who awake gasping and choking at night. If you are a woman and have a neck size of 16 inches or more, or you are a man with a shirt collar neck size of 17 inches or more and have any of the above reasons to be concerned, please check with your doctor.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
Friday, May 28, 2010
Brushing Teeth May Keep Away Heart Disease
Study Shows People Who Brush Teeth Less Frequently Are at Higher Risk for Heart Disease
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC
May 27, 2010 -- Brushing your teeth is not only good for your pearly whites, it also decreases your chances of suffering a heart attack, a new study indicates.
Researchers in England analyzed data from more than 11,000 people taking part in a study called the Scottish Health Survey. They examined lifestyle habits such as smoking, overall physical activity, and oral health routines.
Patients were asked whether they visited a dentist at least once every six months, every one to two years, rarely, or never. They were also asked how often they brushed their teeth -- twice daily, once a day, or less than every day.
The researchers found that:
* 62% of participants said they went to a dentist every six months.
* 71% said they brushed their teeth twice a day.
After adjusting the data for cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, smoking, social class, and family heart disease history, the researchers found that people who admitted to brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% extra risk of heart disease.
People who reported poor oral hygiene also tested positive for bloodstream inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein.
"Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease," Richard Watt, DDS, of University College London, says in a news release. "Furthermore, inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behavior."
He says more studies are needed to confirm the findings and to determine whether oral health and cardiovascular disease are causal or simply risk markers.
The findings of the study were not necessarily shocking, the researchers say, because scientists have increasingly wondered about a possible connection between dental disease and cardiovascular health.
"Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and markers of low grade inflammation have been consistently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease," they write.
Poor oral hygiene is the major cause of periodontal disease, a chronic infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. Thus, gum infections seem to add to the inflammatory burden on individuals, increasing cardiovascular risk, the researchers say.
Oral infections are common, so doctors should be alert to infections in the mouth as signs of increased inflammation, and tell patients to brush their teeth and maintain good oral hygiene, the researchers conclude.
The study is published in the journal BMJ.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC
May 27, 2010 -- Brushing your teeth is not only good for your pearly whites, it also decreases your chances of suffering a heart attack, a new study indicates.
Researchers in England analyzed data from more than 11,000 people taking part in a study called the Scottish Health Survey. They examined lifestyle habits such as smoking, overall physical activity, and oral health routines.
Patients were asked whether they visited a dentist at least once every six months, every one to two years, rarely, or never. They were also asked how often they brushed their teeth -- twice daily, once a day, or less than every day.
The researchers found that:
* 62% of participants said they went to a dentist every six months.
* 71% said they brushed their teeth twice a day.
After adjusting the data for cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, smoking, social class, and family heart disease history, the researchers found that people who admitted to brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% extra risk of heart disease.
People who reported poor oral hygiene also tested positive for bloodstream inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein.
"Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease," Richard Watt, DDS, of University College London, says in a news release. "Furthermore, inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behavior."
He says more studies are needed to confirm the findings and to determine whether oral health and cardiovascular disease are causal or simply risk markers.
The findings of the study were not necessarily shocking, the researchers say, because scientists have increasingly wondered about a possible connection between dental disease and cardiovascular health.
"Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and markers of low grade inflammation have been consistently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease," they write.
Poor oral hygiene is the major cause of periodontal disease, a chronic infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. Thus, gum infections seem to add to the inflammatory burden on individuals, increasing cardiovascular risk, the researchers say.
Oral infections are common, so doctors should be alert to infections in the mouth as signs of increased inflammation, and tell patients to brush their teeth and maintain good oral hygiene, the researchers conclude.
The study is published in the journal BMJ.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Oral DNA
Innovative salivary diagnostic tests from OralDNA® Labs are fundamental elements of a patient's wellness plan:
MyPerioPath® - Determines the cause of periodontal infections
In Depth: Identifies the type and concentration of specific perio-pathogenic bacteria that are known to cause periodontal disease. MyPerioPath® helps support the clinician with better risk assessment and personalized treatment options for more predictable patient outcomes.
Patient Profiles:
* Patients presenting with signs and symptoms of a periodontal infection
* Patients with pockets of 4mm or greater with clinical signs of a periodontal infection
* Patients presenting chronic periodontal disease who is not responding positively to
their current treatment
* Patients with Type I or Type II diabetes
* Patients with a history of Cardiovascular disease
* Patients who use tobacco products
* Patients that will undergo surgical procedures or radiation treatment
* Can be used as a "Baseline" for any patient that may be at increased risk for
periodontal infections
* Patients who test positive for genetic susceptibility with the MyPerioID® PST® test
* Women of child bearing age
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
THE DEADLY STATISTICS
THE DEADLY STATISTICS
• Every hour of every day, one American dies of oral cancer.
• The mortality rate associated with oral cancer has not improved significantly in the last 40 years.
• The death rate in the United States for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or ovary.
• More than 30,000 Americans will receive an oral cancer diagnosis this year. In five years, only 57% will still be alive.
• 25% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol and have no other lifestyle risk factors
ViziLite Plus as part of a comprehensive oral screening
Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it's caught early. That's why the ViziLite Plus exam has been developed. ViziLite Plus uses technology that has proven successful in identifying soft tissue abnormalities in other areas of the body. A ViziLite Plus exam is particularly important if you are at increased risk for developing oral cancer.
The ViziLite Plus exam can help your dentist or hygienist identify abnormal tissue, that might develop into oral cancer.
An annual ViziLite Plus exam, in combination with a regular visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at increased risk for oral cancer. The ViziLite Plus exam is painless and fast, and could help save your life.
ViziLite Plus is performed immediately following a regular visual examination
* First, you will be instructed to rinse with a cleansing solution
* Next, the overhead lighting will be dimmed.
* Then, your dental professional will examine your mouth using ViziLite Plus, a specially designed light technology.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
What Is ClearCorrect?
ClearCorrect is the clear and simple way
to straighten your teeth without wearing braces
so you can show off your smile!
Looking for an alternative to braces? ClearCorrect is the clear and simple choice. No wires. No brackets. Just clear, convenient comfort—every reason to smile.
With ClearCorrect, your dentist can straighten your teeth using a series of clear, custom, removable aligners. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time until you eventually get straight teeth.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
New Year Dental Hygiene Tips
The American Dental Association offers tips on increasing oral longevity and caring for your teeth. As you begin the new year, I am going to bullet point some ways for you to care for your teeth.
Brushing
* Brush twice a day.
* Use a soft bristled brush that is approved by the ADA.
* Replace your toothbrush when it frays or every 2-4 months.
* If you have trouble brushing, using an electric toothbrush is also effective.
Flossing
* You can use either dental floss or interdental cleaners.
* Floss once a day.
Water
“Consuming optimally fluoridated water throughout life helps prevent tooth decay no matter how old you are. If you choose bottled water, check the label for fluoride content.”
Dental Visits
Make sure to visit your dentist for all scheduled appointments.
Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511
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