Maintaining Your Pearly Whites

From the time your first tooth poked its way through your tender gums, those pearly whites have played an enormous role in your life. Not only do the 32 teeth in your mouth help you talk and chew, they can make or break your appearance. Although aesthetics are important, tooth and gum health is essential. In the last few years, researchers have uncovered a link between periodontal (gum) disease and an increased risk of heart disease. One study found that men with periodontal disease had a whopping 72 percent greater risk of developing coronary disease than those with healthy gums. To keep your teeth in tip-top shape, we've come up with the following tips that go far beyond just brushing, flossing and your regular visits to see the doctor or hygienist.

Go on a white-teeth diet. What goes in, shows up on your teeth. So if you're drinking red wines and black tea, or smoking cigarettes or cigars, expect the results to show up as not-so-pearly whites. Other culprits to blame for dingy teeth include colas, gravies, and dark juices. Bottom line: If it's dark before you put it in your mouth, it will probably stain your teeth:

Step 1: Brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking foods that stain teeth.

Step 2: Be conscious of the foods and drinks in your diet that can stain your teeth, and eat only when a toothbrush is around. If there isn't one, eat an apple for dessert -- it will provide some teeth-cleaning action, or rinse with water.

Change your toothbrush, or the head of your electric toothbrush at least every two to three months.

Use alcohol-free mouthwash to rinse away bacteria. Most over-the-counter mouthwashes have too much alcohol, which can dry out the tissues in your mouth, making them more susceptible to bacterial growth and bad breath.

Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper every morning to remove tongue plaque and freshen your breath. One major cause of bad breath is the buildup of bacteria on the tongue, which a daily tongue scraping will help remove.

Avoid sugary foods. Sugar plus bacteria equals oral plaque. Plaque, then, leads to bleeding gums, and tooth decay. Plus, the acid in refined sugars and carbonated beverages dissolves tooth enamel.

Senior Dental Care

Dental care for those patients over the age of 65 involves unique considerations. Seniors are more likely to suffer from a host of oral issues resulting from the natural aging process, difficulty in receiving proper oral health care due to financial constraints (fixed income, lack of dental insurance), or their inability to provide adequate oral home care for themselves. We know that seniors are often on softer diets, which affects the self-cleaning/natural food deflection action of the chewing process. They may have systemic diseases that affect the health of the oral cavity such as, diabetes and heart disease. They may be on many medications, which affect the saliva production. Dry mouth makes people more prone to developing cavities. In addition, there may be reduced manual dexterity; therefore, home care efforts are not as effective as they once were.

Our concerns for you: Seniors are more prone to periodontal (gum) disease, resulting from improper dental hygiene practices, poor diet, ill-fitting dentures or partials, disease, or a predisposition due to genetics. In many cases, the supporting bone structure for the teeth, including the jaw, may shift, which can play havoc with a patient's occlusion (bite). This may contribute to tooth decay, further periodontal disease and/or increased joint pain in the jaw.

Seniors are prone to decay and tooth sensitivity due to the loss of enamel and dentin, or root deterioration caused by gum recession and gum disease. More frequent dental visits may be necessary to help stop the progression of further dental disease. Old restorations, such as crowns and fillings, may need to be replaced, medications may need to be applied directly to the tooth surface, or products may be prescribed for home care. Seniors are also more likely to suffer inflammation of the gum tissue, dry mouth syndrome or oral thrush, these need to be checked and monitored on a regular basis as well.

Look Younger with a New Smile

Here at Dr. Mangia’s office we understand the importance of health as well as cosmetics. Let’s face it, appearance does matter and sometimes a small change can go a long way. Improving your smile can be just the small change you need and veneers are a great way to go. They close gaps between teeth, whiten your smile, and give some length to worn teeth due to grinding. Veneers don’t stain, wear down and can improve your appearance instantly and give you some extra self-confidence. They are a perfect way to take years off your appearance.

Do I really need to have my teeth cleaned every SIX months??

Having your teeth cleaned every six months originally came from a television commercial for a tooth paste. Dentists recommend most adults visit the dentist or hygienist every three to four months and it is important to keep those appointments. According to the American Dental Association, patients who skip visits tend to need more treatment than just a cleaning and are more likely to lose their teeth. Although, it is an essential part of keeping teeth healthy, brushing and flossing at home is not enough. There must be a joint responsibility of home and professional care; otherwise, patients may be faced with more serious problems. Optimum dental health is a priority here at Dr. Mangia’s office. We welcome patients from all over Southern California including the San Fernando Valley. To us optimum care means bringing you to a level of health, comfort and appearance you may never have experienced before. It leads to a beautiful, healthy mouth with a well functioning bite…it leads to dentistry that lasts.

Best Dentist of L.A.

Dr. Guy Mangia received the Daily News Readers' Choice Award for best dentist in Los Angeles. In their article, the Daily News announces our state-of-the-art dental office "prides [itself] in providing the type of care that addresses the issues facing [our] vast clientele." We strive to provide our patients with the highest quality comprehensive dental care possible to improve their health in a professional, caring atmosphere and are happy to hear we are recognized for this. The Daily News declares our "attention to optimum care is not just a slogan, but a daily commitment" and we promise to keep fulfilling our duty.

ORAL CANCER

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
While the rates of oral cancer have dropped in the last 20years, health agencies still anticipate that it will be diagnosed in more than 30,000 Americans this year. Of those 30,000, two-thirds are men. Knowing the risk factors as well as the signs of oral cancer can go a long way toward limiting the influence this disease can have on your life.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR
As with many forms of cancer, early detection of oral cancerous lesions can improve the chances of successful treatment. You can take an active role in detecting signs of oral cancer early by checking your oral tissues periodically. Take a few minutes to examine your lips, gums, cheek lining and tongue, as well as the floor and roof of your mouth. You’ll want to note any of the following: color change in the oral tissues (whitish or red spots, for example); lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area; sore that bleeds easily or does not heal; pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips; difficulty in chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue; changes in the voice; a change in the way your teeth fit together. In addition, watch for changes beyond the mouth that could signal oral cancer: drastic weight loss; a lump or mass in your neck. If any of these conditions persists, contact your dentist for an examination.

MINIMIZE THE RISK
You can take steps to reduce your risk of developing oral cancer by avoiding behaviors that researchers have identified as being strongly associated with the development of oral cancer. Use of any kind of tobacco product (cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars or smokeless varieties such as snuff and chewing tobacco), when combined with heavy alcohol consumption, has been identified as the major risk factor for oral cancers in the United States. While this combination poses the primary risk for development of oral cancer, chemicals associated with cancer have been detected in all forms of tobacco. As with some forms of skin cancer, prolonged, repeated exposure to the sun may increase the risk of cancer on the lip, especially the lower lip. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. If your profession or your leisure activities require that you spend extended periods outdoors, take precautions to minimize the effects the sun might have on your lips. Other possible risk factors in the development of oral cancer include genetics, liver function and certain medications. Diet also may play a role; some studies suggest that a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables can increase your overall risk of developing cancer.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL DENTAL CARE
Regular visits to your dentist are important in protecting yourself from the effects of oral cancer. As part of your regular dental examination, your dentist can quickly and easily check the oral tissues for signs of cancerous and precancerous lesions. Detecting and treating cancerous tissues as early as possible is critical in helping you beat a potentially deadly disease.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
There is a wealth of information regarding dental care at your fingertips. Just go to the American Dental Association’s Website (“www.ada.org”) and click on the Patients and Consumers content area for more discussion about dental hygiene, oral health .

Check Out Our New Website

We are all aware of how fast technology changes, as well as how much we become depentent on it. With that, we realized that we needed to update our website to make it more convenient and easier to navigate. We are excited to share these changes with you. The new site is very simple to navigate, and whether you are a computer novice or computer savvy, we have tried to make it easy for everyone to use. One of the first changes we made was to allow our patients of record to access their accounts. We felt that by allowing you this option it would make it easier to schedule appointments, make changes to existing appointments, contact us regarding treatment, insurance information, update changes in your address and allow you to make credit card payments online. In order for you to access your account you must go to the website guymangiadds.com, click on the lind, Patient Information. When the window opens you will be asked to tegister, and we will then be notified of your request. After werifying your information, to protect your privacy, we will grant access to you. (You do not need to register to access the website) Do you have a friend or a family member that is looking for a new dental office? Well now with a click of a button, you can put us in touch with them via the website. In addition, at guymangiadds.com we offer a dental education page that can answer most questions you may have forgotten to ask or thought about later. (You can still call us!) If you are interested in cosmetic dentistry, check out our Smile Gallery! Now a days it seems that we check our e-mail more often that our phone messages, so thru the new site we are also able to send e-mail appointment reminders. For those of you who have registerd online or may have been asked for your e-mail information you may have already been receiving those reminders. If you are interested in receiving these types of reminders please visit the Patient Information page on the website and register. This will automatically register your e-mail address, or when you come into the office we may ask you , ir you would like to register you address. Today's technology also comes with risks, and we are all concerned about internet security, and identity theft. With the 128-bit SSL encryption, we have made your personal information as secure as possible. We strive to offer the best in patient care. In order to provide that care we now offer a short patient survey online. If you have a moment we would love to hear from you.

Association Between Coronary and Periodontal Disease

Research is being conducted to assist health car professionals in further understanding how periodontal diseases are directly related to cardiovascular disease. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology, shed light on why those people with periodontal diseases have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. The result of the study showed that periodontitis in cardiac patients was significantly more frequent than in non cardiac patients." The study also showed that 91 percent of the cardiac patients suffered with moderate to severe periodontal disease, while this proportion was 61 percent in non cardiac patients. It appears that periodontal disease influences the occurrence and the severity of coronary diseases and increases the risk of a stroke or heart attack. One theory is periodontal pathogens could enter the blood stream, invade the blood vessel walls and ultimately cause atherosclerosis, a multi-stage process that is sent into motion when the cells that line the arteries are damaged from smoking, toxic substance abuse or high blood pressure. The second theory is based on several studies that determine periodontal infections that may correlate with increased plasma levels of inflammation, creating blood clots. There is still much research that is needed to be done to understand the link between periodontal diseases and systemic disease such as cardiovascular and difficult to control diabetes. The data does show the importance of regular periodontal maintenance visits to ensure an healthy, disease free mouth.

GETTING WHITENING RIGHT!

What causes your teeth to discolor? The top stain makers are red wine, coffee, dark colored soft drinks, tea, tobacco, and age. Certain medications can also effect color. The antibiotics tetracycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration. Genetics also play a role in determining tooth color. Some people simply have naturally brighter enamel. How will your teeth respond to bleaching? It will depend on all of the factors mentioned above as well as their hue. More and more of our patients have been whitening their smiles with tremendous results. Give us a call for information on quick and easy bleaching. Mention this article and receive a special discount. Together we will guarantee you a brighter whiter smile.

About Dr. Mangia

Dr. Guy Mangia, a graduate of USC School of Dentistry, Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Kappa Upsilon (top 10%), has been practicing dentistry in the San Fernando Valley for over 25 years. He is a member of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society, California Dental Association, and American Dental Association. He is an active participant of the San Fernando Valley Implant Study Group, he is an alumni of the internationally renouned Pankey Institute , and the Center for Advanced Dental Studies. He is also very active in community activities including being an active member in the Van Nuys Rotary for over 24 years.