No More Excuses - How Social Media can get you in the Dental Chair by just a Convenient Click Away!

 

Let's face it. Not many people enjoy going to the dentist, however in today's world, you have all the tools you need to feel safe, secure and confident in finding the right one. Or if your general dentist refers you to a specialist, you can view information on the web and rest assure you will be in good hands. Here are some social media friendly reasons why visiting your dentist regularly is easier in 2014!

 

·  Research Yourself - If you have a computer or a smart phone, you are in business! Use the internet to find out any research you can. You can visit websites like Yelp, Angie's List and other medical sites that allow you to view ratings, reviews, photos and so much more! Here you can view and compare the answers to any questions you may have. Check out any other professional associations  the dentist is linked to. You may be surprised how involved they are in the dental community, which should make you feel even more comfortable with your visits.

 

·  Location  & Information - Google your dentist. Their website or another site will have their address and may even have a map making it easier to navigate directions. You can even pull it up on your Smartphone and it can take you there turn for turn. You should also be able to see the office hours, days open, lunch hours and any other beneficial info. Voila!

 

·  Making Appointments Online - That's right people, it's true. Most dental websites have an area where you can make appointments on line or at the very least send an instant message so the office can be notified immediately. This is usually under the "Contact Us" section. Send your note with just a click! If you are an elder patient and you are not familiar with computers or Smartphone's, have a tech savvy family member help you out!

 

·  Saving Time & Money for Both Parties - Technology helps save time. For example, instead of waiting on the phone with the receptionist to ask lots of questions, you can find most information like maps and forms on the website or on line. The dentists save time and money because their employees are more productive, since technology is on their side assisting them with daily activities. This means they can get through their load of work faster.

 

·  Help you Build a Relationship with your Dentist/Specialist - Social Media makes it easier for you to connect with your dentist or specialist as an actual person, not just someone who works on your mouth. You can view their bios, blogs, reviews, pictures on line or from your Smartphone and instantly feel a connection. When you visit their office, they may even have office and staff videos set up from their Ipad so you can see or hear their interviews and learn more. All these wonderful tools help give you more information to put you at ease and helps you establish hopefully a long lasting relationship with your dentist and a healthy mouth! :)

Rediscover Your Oral Health in 2014

Happy New Year all! A new year means new goals and new resolutions, but what if we just made some small, simple changes that could make a huge difference? Here are some useful tips that will help you smile healthier along the way .

 

·       Be Realistic in Your Goal Setting -

Be true to yourself and don't set yourself up for failure. Whether it's doing
500 sit ups daily or brushing and flossing several times per day, etc. Take baby steps rather than giant leaps. Become a "Swapper," by saying you will drink more water and less soda. Swap a stick of gum (which contains sugar) for a gum disease fighting mouthwash. It will help pay off in the future and small step taking reduces pressure. Climbing a staircase takes time, so remember that and learn while enjoying each step!

·       Make a Vision Board -

Get inspired! Go to the hardware store and buy a corky sponge board (which is just a few bucks). Then get magazines, fabrics, pictures, crafts or anything that inspires you to be better and promote health. It can be a picture of a desired smile, a food you want to eat more of, or a $1 bill to remind you that you must save for that necessary dental work. Have fun with it and hang it in a place that you can see often, not behind the coat rack!

·       Eat Dental Friendly Foods-

Certain foods are great for your overall physical, mental and emotional health. Let's give you some examples. Foods like almonds, cheese, salmon, spinach and yogurts are filled with vitamin D, which are a great way to get your daily calcium and strengthen your bones. Celery is excellent because it breaks down into fibrous strands that naturally clean the teeth. Did you know that cocoa is filled with a substance which helps reduce gum inflammation? It also prevents tooth erosion and decay! So start eating dark chocolate, besides it's also proven to brighten your mood!

·       Communicate with Your Dentist-

Having a good relationship with your dentist can alleviate fear, answer pondering questions and save you money. The more you know him or her as a real person, the more comfortable you will feel asking him or her questions about your oral health, bad breath, cavities, dental implants and cosmetic work. If you visit your dentist regularly for checkups, this will help keep you on track towards maintaining a healthy mouth. Skipping visits can lead to more problems, which in the end can cost you a lot on dental work you could have prevented. Get to know your dentist. You can do it!

·       Brush & Floss Daily-

The obvious tip, but do you brush every single night right before you go to bed? Do you floss enough? You can always remind yourself to do it more. Remember to also replace your toothbrush every 3-6 months so your bristles are always strong cleaning your teeth thoroughly. Make sure to floss daily and if you're not sure if you are flossing correctly, talk to your dentist. After all, you have a healthy relationship with him or her by now ;)

·       Smile More -

That's right, we said it. Smile more! Smiling makes you feel better and it sure is contagious. The more you smile, the more people around you will smile. There's a famous quote by an unknown author that states  "There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all." A beautiful smile is not always about having the most perfect white teeth. A smile comes within and exits with happiness and confidence. You will feel better about your smile and it will motivate you to take better care of your teeth. We hope these tips from Drs. Lascoe, Waki & Hoang at Burbank Perio made you smile and thank you for reading:)

 

 

 

Here are some oral health benefits to our favorite fall fruit & veggies. Here's the scoop!

APPLES - Biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria. An apple a day keeps the Calculus away!

SPINACH - The folate in spinach is good for your healthy cardiovascular system, and magnesium helps lower high blood pressure too. Studies have also shown that spinach helps maintain your vigorous brain function, memory and mental clarity. So this means you can't forget to brush your teeth, floss daily and visit your dentist regularly!

SQUASH - Butternut squash rules the roost when it comes to vitamin A. In fact, 1 cup of the stuff contains a whopping 457% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin A, which is essential for skin, teeth and eye health. So eat it up!

BELL PEPPERS - You need between 75-90 milligrams of vitamin C per day and 1 cup of chopped green bell peppers provides 119.8 milligrams! Wowsers. Also, when your body gets enough vitamin C, you're less likely to develop infections. Your skin, teeth, gums and blood vessels will be healthier and work more efficiently.

PUMPKIN - Rich in calcium, magnesium, and zinc, pumpkin seeds keep bones strong, which means the bone in your mouth is stronger too and your natural teeth will last longer!

Hope this helps...for more info or to make an appointment please contact Drs. Lascoe, Waki & Hoang at 818-842-6162

National Dental Emergencies on the Rise for People Ages 21-34!!!

If you are between the ages of 21-34 you may want to pay attention. However all of you may find this interesting so please continue. The American Dental Association has recently released a research paper stating that the number of emergency room visits have nearly doubled in the United States in a 10-year period, due to dental problems. According to The ADA, the number of visits related to problems with teeth grew from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2010. In regards to all ER visits, dental-related visits grew from 1.06 percent to 1.65 percent during that time period, according to statistics obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

So why is this happening? Unfortunately  young adults ages 21 to 34 are accounting for the increase in ER visits, probably  because many don't have dental insurance, the research paper concluded. However let's explore a different situation. Most people ages 21-34 drive their own car and are well aware of necessary oil changes. If your car is ignored,  you will know that serious damages to your car can happen in the long run. A new engine perhaps? Wow, that's very expensive by the way, so we hope you maintain that as well. This analogy is similar to your oral health, regular cleanings and exams will keep the oral cavity in great health.

Your oral health says so much about you. It says hello when you smile and greet people. The human eye say it's under surveillance and you breathe on people when talking, so you may want a fresh odor in your mouth or at least not an unpleasant one.

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Let's Talk About Solutions Shall We? Preventative thinking,  regular checkups, asking dental questions and requesting a payment option (Care Credit, etc) are just to name a few. However, let's go through a few specific ways on how ages 21-34 year olds can decrease their chances of emergency dental visits.

-Where There's a Will, There's a Pay! - swap the extra shopping for dental work, stop the lattes for a month in exchange for a cleaning, you know yourself better than anyone else. Find a way to cut corners if you are in a financial bind.  You can do it and it's also a great way to organize or swap your overall spending, which is a useful tool to utilize daily.

-Better Diet - stay away from sugary and starchy foods. Have foods like nuts, high fiber fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water. Sugary foods and beverages attack the enamel on your teeth and can lead to cavities, but fiber foods have a detergent effect in your mouth (according to The ADA). Foods with fiber also stimulate saliva flow, which naturally defends cavities. Choices like these are not only beneficial for your oral health, but your overall health as well.

-Mouth Guard- chances are that in this economy your stress levels may be up which leads to teeth grinding, which can lead to chipped teeth.  When boxers fight, they wear a mouth guard and although you may not get hit with a glove when sleeping, you may get hit with the stresses of life......so why not protect them? Asking your dentist the right questions will help you take preventative measures. For example, do my teeth shift with age? The answer is yes! So not only will a mouth guard protect you teeth grinders, it will also make sure your teeth stay in place. Spending some money on a mouth guard is also a lot cheaper than braces!

-Don't Delay- the longer you wait to see your dentist, the greater your chance is of having more dental problems. More problems equal more necessary dental work, which of course may lead to a greater bill. So why not visit the dentist at least 2 times per year? Keep your mouth healthy and avoid any serious dental health problems. You will feel healthy, clean and assured. To everyone and especially you 21-34 year olds,  we wish you and your mouth a healthy future!

 

Ring in the New Year with a Healthier Smile in 2013! - 5 Steps to Improve your Oral Health

1) Brush 2-3 times Per Day – Brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste is an essential part of maintaining good oral health and preventing gum disease. Fluoride reduces tooth decay and prevents cavities. Brushing your teeth softly in circles 2-3 times a day is key to saving your teeth longer. If you brush your teeth aggressively, have your dentist show you the proper way to brush. They will be happy to demonstrate for you.

2) Floss Daily – Just think about it for one second…When you eat, food is stuck in between your teeth. Do you want to sleep with it? Enough said. Flossing takes just a couple of minutes and can help with bad breath, so do yourself a favor and give it a try if you don’t already.


3) Stop Smoking/Using Tobacco – Kick the Bad Habit! You’ve heard it before but it’s the truth. Tobacco in any form can increase the risk of oral cancer. Did you know that smokeless tobacco is no safer than cigarettes? Kicking tobacco to the curb isn’t easy if you’re a user, but think about how much better you will feel.

4) Visit a Dentist Twice a Year – This will keep you on track towards a healthier mouth. There are many dental offices that want to help you. Do not let money or fear stop you from giving you what you deserve…a healthy smile! If you do not already have a dentist, call or visit 3 dentists in your local area and ask them questions. Tell them your concerns, and choose the dental office that makes you feel at ease the most. In today’s economy, chances are dentists will also work within your budget. Cut down on your spending here and there. Swap the expensive coat for a teeth cleaning. Your teeth are important, after all they are in your mouth.


5) Try Whitening – When a person sees results, this creates motivation to maintain that look and
achieve even higher results, just like in weight loss. Ask your local general dentist about teeth
whitening or go to the store for strips. With recent updates to technology in dentistry and store    
bought tools, it’s easier to obtain that bright smile. You’ll feel better about yourself and you’ll be proud to smile.  

Advantages of Dental Implants Over Dentures or a Bridge

Every way you look at it, dental implants are a better solution to the problem of missing teeth.

• Esthetic - Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.
• Tooth-saving - Dental implants don't sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!
• Confidence - Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They'll allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues. 
• Reliable - The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement. 

"Try 5 Simple Steps to Prevent Periodontal Disease"


According to The AAP (American Academy of Periodontology), using these methods will increase your overall periodontal health.

• Eat and Drink Up! Foods containing omega-3, calcium, vitamin D and even honey have been shown to reduce periodontal disease.
• Hit the Gym! Frequent exercise is a recognize way to avoid being overweight, but researchers also found that people who exercise on a regular basis have less periodontitis. 
• Stress Less! Stress can actually lead to periodontal disease. Increased levels of cortisol are released when experiencing stress, and can intensify the destruction of the gums and bone due to periodontal disease. 
• Kick the Bad Habit! Smoking is not only a leading cause of respiratory and cardiovascular disease in the U.S., it is also a major factor for periodontal disease.
• See Your Doctor! Regular check-ups by a physician can help with early diagnosis of several health issues, including periodontal disease. Research shows that gum disease is associated with diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Having a healthy relationship with your doctor can help prevent periodontitis.