Thursday, April 30, 2015

Breaking Down Flossing: A 3 Part Series #2

Breaking Down Flossing: a 3 Part Series #2
By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/30/2015

In the dental office of Mina Levi, DDS, we highly recommend brushing twice per day and flossing at least once per day. We recommend a variety of products, including Listerine’s woven or “Gum Care” floss and the Waterpik water flosser. It can be unclear to many people what exactly each type of flossing is and the pros and cons of all of them, so in this 3-series article,Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS breaks down three flossing options: traditional dental floss, the Waterpik water flosser, and the Phillip’s airfloss flosser.

Week 2: Waterpik

Water Flosser San Francisco Dentist

What is it?
A Waterpik is a device that shoots pulses of water in between the teeth and below the gum line to remove plaque and bacteria.

How do I use it?
Fill container with warm water and place at the setting desired. Aim the tip of the waterpik between the teeth. Start with the back teeth and work your way forward, making sure the water pulses are reaching the pockets between the tooth and the gum as well as the spaces between the teeth.

Pros:
1.  Gentle on the gums
2.  Ideal for people who wear braces because it can penetrate the gums under the wires
3.  Effective in flushing bacteria out of deep pockets
4.  Can be used by those with limited hand mobility

Cons:
1. More expensive than floss
2. Can be messy
3. It has to be plugged in

Next week we will profile the Phillips Air Floss. If you have questions about flossing or water flossing, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Breaking Down Flossing: a 3 Part Series

Breaking Down Flossing: a 3 Part Series
By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/23/2015

In the dental office of Mina Levi, DDS, we highly recommend brushing twice per day and flossing at least once per day. We recommend a variety of products, including Listerine’s woven or “Gum Care” floss and the Waterpik water flosser. It can be unclear to many people what exactly each type of flossing is and the pros and cons of all of them, so in this 3-series article, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS breaks down three flossing options: traditional dental floss, the Waterpik water flosser, and the Phillip’s airfloss flosser.

Dental floss San Francisco

Week 1: Traditional Floss
What is it?
Dental floss is a thin cord that is used to remove food, plaque and bacteria from in between the teeth, where the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach.

How do I use it?
Remove a good length of floss from floss holder. When flossing correctly, the floss needs to be pushed through the teeth and pressure put on one side (pressing against one of the teeth) and into the gums, then to the other side (pressing against the other tooth) and into the gums. It is very important when you are flossing to make sure that your floss reaches down below the gum line. There is plaque and bacteria that can accumulate in the periodontal pocket (space between the tooth and gum) and can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis if it is not removed.

Pros:
1.  Inexpensive
2.  Effective in cleaning tight spaces between teeth
3.  Effective in removing plaque from teeth due to scraping up and down the sides of each tooth

Cons:
1.  Can be irritating for people with sensitive gums
2.  Can’t be used by people who have braces without a threader
3.  Inconvenient to use, takes a “long” time to correctly clean between each tooth

Next week we will profile the Waterpik waterflosser. If you have questions about flossing or a water flosser, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Cleaning Your Kids' Teeth

Cleaning Your Kids’ Teeth
By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/16/2015

We all know that many babies are born without teeth, and they slowly emerge throughout infancy and childhood, then they sprout their adult teeth in later childhood. However, many of us don’t know when we should start or how to go about keeping our kid’s mouths healthy and clean. In this week’s article, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS discusses the process of cleaning your kids’ teeth so that they can have healthy mouths and won’t have any cavities.

Brushing Kids Teeth San Francisco Dentist

When should I start brushing my kids’ teeth?
Before your child’s teeth emerge, you should be taking care of their gums by rubbing a ramp washcloth or gauze across gum tissue to clear the mouth of any food/bacteria and starts healthy oral care habits. Children’s teeth should be cleaned as soon as they emerge. When the teeth first appear, the teeth are small and the child’s mouth is small, so it seems it would be difficult to clean or at least get a toothbrush in there. You can use a soft washcloth wrapped around your finger instead of a brush when the teeth first appear. When you do try to start using a toothbrush as soon as you can, you can try a long-handled toothbrush that you and the baby can grasp or a finger puppet type toothbrush that will be similar to the washcloth. There is no need to use toothpaste right away, just dip the toothbrush in warm water. If your child is having trouble adapting to the toothbrush, it’s okay to switch back and forth to the washcloth.

How do I brush my kids’ teeth?
When a few more teeth appear, it will be time to upgrade your child to using toothpaste. The American Dental Association recommends using fluoridated toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. Fluoride is important for children because it helps their developing teeth be resistant to cavities. Brush your child’s teeth twice per day – once in the morning and once before bed time. Spend 2 minutes brushing and make sure to spend extra time on the back molars when they appear. The molars are an area where cleaning isn’t always great and cavities begin to appear. You can start using a pea sized amount of toothpaste when the child is about 3 years old.

When should I start flossing my kids’ teeth?
You should start flossing your child’s teeth when two teeth emerge that are touching each other. You can use flossers or floss sticks instead of traditional floss which may make it easier to navigate your child’s small mouth without them gagging.

When should my kids start brushing and flossing on their own?
Most kids start being able to brush and floss their own teeth by the time they are around 6 or 7. The best way to teach kids how to brush and floss on their own is to “lead by example”. Let your kids watch you brush your teeth. This teaches them that an oral hygiene routine is important and they will also pick up on your technique.

When should I take my kids to the dentist?
Kids should start going to the dentist by the time they are one year old, or within six months of their first tooth emergence. Your San Francisco Dentist can inspect the teeth for any irregularities and also give you tips about how to brush your kids’ teeth and diet changes.
If you have questions about how to brush your children’s teeth or your kids are due for a dentist visit, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/09/2015

April is Oral Cancer Awareness month and Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS wants to shine a light on it, promote awareness and save lives! Oral Cancer awareness in the American public is low. Approximately 45,750 people in the U.S. will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year. 125 new people in the US every day will be newly diagnosed with an oral cancer, and that one person every hour of the day, 24/7/365 will die from it. While smoking and tobacco use are still major risk factors, the fastest growing segment of oral cancer patients is young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals due to the connection to the HPV virus. We cannot stop this virus from spreading; our only hope to save lives is with professional involvement and public awareness. In this article, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS gives guidelines for how to check yourself for oral cancer and how/when to get screened at the dental office.

Oral Cancer San Francisco Dentist

Get screened at the dentist!
Every time you have an exam, your San Francisco dentist performs a basic oral cancer screening by looking and feeling the soft and hard tissues of the mouth. However, it is very important to have an extensive oral cancer screening such as the Vizilite T-Blue screening performed once a year if you are a tobacco user and once every two to three years if you are not.

Perform a self-exam monthly!
Using a bright light and a mirror:
·         remove any dentures
·         look and feel inside the lips and the front of gums
·         tilt head back to inspect and feel the roof of your mouth
·         pull the cheek out to see its inside surface as well as the back of the gums
·         pull out your tongue and look at all of its surfaces
·         feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) in both sides of the neck including under the lower jaw

Look for:
·         white patches, called leukoplakia  
·         red patches (erythroplakia)
·         red and white patches (erythroleukoplakia
·         sore(s) that fails to heal and bleeds easily
·         abnormal lumps or thickening of the tissues
·         chronic sore throat or hoarseness
·         difficulty in chewing or swallowing
·         a mass or lump in the neck  

See your San Francisco dentist right away if you have any of these signs. When it comes to your health, your mouth is one of your body’s most important early warning systems. Don’t ignore any suspicious lumps or sores. If you discover something, don’t panic. Make an appointment for a prompt examination with Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS. You can visit us on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066. Early treatment may well be the key to complete recovery.


Source(s): AAOMS, OCF


Thursday, April 2, 2015

What Can You Eat: Substitutes for Staining Foods after Whitening

What Can You Eat: Substitutes for Staining Foods after Whitening
By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/02/2015

There are many articles that explain what you can’t eat or what foods are bad for you to eat after completing whitening treatment, but many don’t say what youare allowed to eat. In this week’s article, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS gives some suggestions for food after whitening your teeth!

Dentist San Francisco Whitening Food Substitutions
Main EntrĂ©e Suggestions: Turkey, white tuna (no vinegar), white fish, canned chicken breast, chicken breast without the skin, grilled cheese with white cheddar or mozzarella cheese, pasta with white sauce such as alfredo.
 Side Dish Suggestions: Plain pasta, white rice, mashed or baked potato (no peel).
 Beverage Suggestions: Milk, water, clear soda (sprite) or tonic.
 Alcohol Suggestions: Gin or Vodka (no orange juice). White wine is ok.
 Fruits & Vegetable Suggestions: Apples, bananas, pears (no peels) and cauliflower.
 Snack Suggestions: Cottage cheese, plain or vanilla yogurt, snack wells vanilla cookies, vanilla pudding, white cheese, white cheddar or mozzarella.
 Condiment Suggestions: Mayonnaise, sour cream and white gravy.
 Carbohydrate Suggestions: White bread (no crust), flour tortillas (white), crackers.
 Breakfast Suggestions: Pancakes with white syrup, egg whites, oatmeal, cream of wheat.

Additional ways you can help maintain your sparkling Zoom smile is to avoid staining related habits, use an electric toothbrush, floss and have regular professional hygiene visits. If you have questions about Zoom whitening, whitening your teeth, or what foods you are or are not allowed to eat after whitening, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.