It is not bad to have a soda once in while but whenever possible change it out for a water.  As opposed to grabbing a can of soda each and every time you are thirsty, try substituting water instead. By doing this you not only help safeguard your tooth enamel and it can lead to a much healthier lifestyle.

Service for their Patients.   Michael Fulbright, DDS, co-founder of Aesthetic Edge in Redondo Beach, is among the first dentists in the nation to offer a new service that recovers and preserves powerful dental stem cells. Only recently have regenerative medical researchers looked to human teeth as ideal sources for stem cells, which are widely used in treating leukemia and heart disease. Until now, stem cells could only be retrieved from umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and bone marrow

According to Fulbright, dental stem cells are found only in healthy teeth (those with a blood supply) such as wisdom teeth and those that must be pulled for orthodontic work. He said that young patients, in particular, are excellent candidates for banking their stem cells since they are usually undergoing such extractions.

Believe it or not dental problems can begin early. One of the bigger concerns is Early Childhood Caries (BBTD or Nursing Carries) Once a child’s diet includes anything besides breast-milk, erupted teeth are at risk of tooth decay.    Early Childhood Caries can be preventable, with proper at home dental care habits for your child and regular dental visits.  The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems.

Although some of these sweet treats can be low in sugar they are still hard to get off of teeth and frequently lead to tooth decay. If your kid does ingest Fruit Roll Ups, Gummy Bears, or even raisins, strongly encourage her to consume sips of water regularly while eating them to help prevent the snacks from

According to a study in mice, researchers at Duke Medicine identified a protein that is critical to TMJD (Temporomandibular joint disorder) pain, and could be a promising target for developing treatments for the disorder. Their findings are published in the August issue of the journal PAIN®.

Question: I feel like my teeth are not as white as I would like. I want an easy way to whiten them that does not cost alto of money.  I was told that all I need to do is brush my teeth really hard for at least five minutes with whitening toothpaste will that work?

Answer: Please do not follow that advise.  Brushing your teeth too hard will not only damage your gums and your teeth as well.  Over time brushing to hard will wear down your tooth enamel. Without the protection of your enamel your teeth are at a higher risk of decay.

There are many good low cost over the counter whitening products that are safe to use. If you are not sure what is best for you talk to your dentist and go over your options.

Having good oral healthcare starts right from the beginning of your child’s life.   You need to take care of your child oral health even before their first teeth emerge. There are certain factors that may affect your child teeth appearance. Such as  tetracycline an antibiotic that can cause tooth discoloration.  This is something to beware of and should not be use by nursing mother or expectant mothers in the last half of pregnancy.

Baby teeth will normally start emerging around six months of age.  The standard brushing and flossing healthcare procedures are not required for infants.  Though infants do have special oral healthcare needs that that need to be met.  Parents should know about how to guard against baby bottle tooth decay.  Parents also need to take their child to see a dentist at the cutting of their first tooth or by the time they are one year old.  Prevention is the key so the sooner you start with proper dental care the better.

A study has found that people with poor oral hygiene or gum disease could be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those who have healthy teeth.

Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK, discovered the presence of a bacterium called Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of patients who had dementia when they were alive. The bug is usually associated with chronic periodontal (gum) disease.

Having healthy teeth are important even for baby teeth. Having health teeth and good oral habits starts from home.  Children need healthy teeth in order to help them chew and to speak clearly.  Baby teeth also hold the space for their adult teeth to come in correctly.  Make sure you are taking proper care of your baby teeth.  If you are not sure talk to your dentist.  Your dentist will be glad to show you proper dental care for your child

When I was a kid I had a few silver fillings put in my adult teeth because that was what my parents could afford at the time.  Now that I am old and working I like to change them out for new white filling can that be done?

Answer: In most cases yes, many people do have their old Silver/Amalgam filling replaced with Resin-Based Composite (tooth color filling). However not all dental insurance plans will cover this type of service viewing it as a cosmetic service and will only cover it, when an there is a new cavity in the tooth that requires the old filling to be removed.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay or BBTD is cause by frequent and prolonged exposure to any liquids except plain water.  Liquids such as: Formula, milk any fruit juices or any liquids containing sugars. If these liquids pool around baby’s teeth and gums for a long period of time they will lead to  cavities that first develop in the upper and lower front teeth.  This normally happens when one leaves a baby with a baby bottle to sleep with or as a means of pacifying a baby from crying.

You should not let your baby fall asleep with a baby bottle filled with anything other then plain water, or use a pacifier.  See if your dentist has a pacifier they would recommend for you to use. If you are breast feeding try to avoid letting your child nurse continuously.  Also remember to wipe your baby’s teeth and gums with a clean damp washcloth after feedings.  BBTD is preventable with proper dental healthcare.  Ask your dentist of any more dental care tips for your child and make sure they have regular dental check ups.

As soon a your child teeth erupts tooth decay can occur.  There for once your child cuts their first tooth gently with a child size toothbrush and water. For children over the age of two you can brush their teeth with a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste and rinse with water.

I had braces now for about six months and I noticed that I been grinding my teeth while I sleep. At first I thought I would stop as soon as I got used to having the braces on but I am still grinding my teeth while I sleep.  I not sure what to do I think the best bet is to get a night guard but since I wear braces and I will be in them for at least a year and a half how do I wear a night guard with braces on?

Answer: There are night guard that are available for people that have braces such as SmartGuard.  I would look into them and then talk to your dentist to make sure that is a good option for you.

Stem cell research is opening up the way for new teeth “grown” from an unlikely source – human urine.   Chinese researchers describe how stem cells derived from urine could be used to generate solid organs and tissues, including teeth. Their study is published this week in the open-access journal Cell Regeneration. The researchers hope the technique might one day help provide new, tailor-made teeth for dental patients.

Question: I have had my braces for two years now and they are finally coming off in about two months. I would like to whiten my teeth then. I read where some people said whitening toothpaste would work,  but won’t that leave spots around the brackets?

Answer: You can not use any whitening products while you have braces on. Regardless of what you would try and use (toothpaste, gel, mouthwash, baking soda, etc) might make the exposed areas of your teeth whiter, but it would not be able to get under your braces. You will need to wait until your braces are removed to consider whitening your teeth.  Talk to your dentist for the best options.

It has been suggested that breast-feeding over bottle-feeding is better for the overall health of your baby.  However with regards to early childhood cavities breast-feeding is no better or worse then bottle feeding both can cause dental decay in baby teeth if proper dental care is not taken.

To help prevent dental decay:  Avoid overnight feedings, letting your baby nurse at will can make milk pool in baby’s mouth which will cause acid to form contagiously throughout the night which can lead to tooth decay.  This is the same with bottles so avoid letting your child walk around with a baby bottle.   Whether you  are breast feeding or bottle feeding your baby, wipe your baby’s teeth and gums with a clean damp washcloth after feedings.

The ADA (American Dental Association) suggest that you encourage your child to drink from a cup by the time they reach their first birthday.  Dentist suggest that you should take  your child to their first dental appointment by the time they reach their first birthday.  We suggest having either dental insurance or a dental plan in force in order to help make going to the dentist more affordable.  And remember preventive dental care starts from home.

Question: I had a filling done on a cavity a month ago. However, whenever I chew or eat something hot or cold, it is very painful. I am worried now and not sure what to do.

Answer: Go back to the dentist that did the filling. It is normal to have some pain after having a filling even for a few days, but not a month and not at the pain level you are saying you are in. Pain is never a good sign and should not be taken lightly.

It is important for your child oral healthcare to have proper dental care habits. You want to begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth.  Gently wipe your baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad.  By doing so it will remove plaque and residual food that can decay erupting teeth.

During the last 25 years Kim McFarland, D.D.S., associate professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln, has seen an increase in the number of dental patients with erosion of the tooth enamel.

According to the new research root beer could be the safest soft drink for your teeth, however, may other popular diet and sugared sodas are nearly as corrosive to dental enamel as battery acid.

Prolonged exposure to soft drinks can lead to significant enamel loss, even though many people consider soft drinks to be harmless or just worry about their sugar content and the potential for putting on pounds, the study says.

When teeth first start to come in, for some babies they may have sore or tender gums. To help ease their teething pain, gently rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze pad.   You can also give the baby a clean teething ring or a frozen baby cloth to chew on. If your child is still cranky and in pain, you may want to consult your dentist or physician. Generally children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are three years old.