Periodontal Screening

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about Periodontal Screening!


The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Artisan Dental   
Jeff Berger, DDS   
19604 Mono Way   
Sonora, CA 95370   
(209) 532-2915   
ArtisanDDS.com

Like Parent, Like Child: Good Oral Health Starts at Home

Parents are a child's first teacher in life and play a significant role in maintaining his or her overall health. Providing oral health education to mothers and families is essential to teaching children healthy habits and preventing early childhood tooth decay, according to an article published in the May/June 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

With all of the challenges that new parents face, they may not think much about the link between their child's oral health and overall health. In fact, an understanding of oral hygiene can help parents to prevent tooth decayóthe single most common chronic childhood disease in Americaóand to create a lifetime of healthy habits for their child.

"Ideally, the oral health education for any family will begin with prenatal education and the establishment of a dental home by the time the child is 12 to 18 months of age," says Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, author of the study. "Many people don't realize that the oral health of the mother affects both the infant's future oral health and the child's overall health. In fact, some studies show that periodontal disease has been linked to preterm labor. That's why pregnant women should be evaluated for cavities, poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, loose teeth and diet."

After the child is born, families should become familiar with their child's dental and oral health milestones, which will be determined by discussion with the family dentist or a pediatric dentist. Children should have their first dental visit at age 1 or within six months of the eruption of their first tooth. A dentist will be able to discuss when parents can expect to see a child's first tooth and the best technique for brushing his or her new teeth.

Diet is another factor that affects a child's oral health. Frequent and long-term exposure to liquids that contain sugars commonly results in tooth decay. In addition to eliminating sugary drinks altogether from a child's diet, parents can adopt other habits to prevent tooth decay due to beverage consumption.

"Parents should avoid giving their children milk, formula, juice or soda at naptime or nighttime," says Bruce DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "The sugars will linger on their teeth and gums for a prolonged period of time, promoting decay."

Parents are responsible for their child's oral hygiene practices and are advised to meet with a general dentist to determine the best way to establish and maintain their child's oral health. A general dentist also can provide families with oral health literature that is designed to educate both the parent and child. This education has multiple benefits; as Dr. Brickhouse notes, "Healthy teeth in early childhood can provide a positive self-image and improve the child's quality of life."

To read the entire article please visit KnowYourTeeth.com

Artisan Dental   
Jeff Berger, DDS   
19604 Mono Way   
Sonora, CA 95370   
(209) 532-2915   
ArtisanDDS.com

The Importance of a Good Diet

In a perfect world, there would be no cavities - but unfortunately that would mean there would have to be no sugar, and let’s be honest, that’s never going to happen.

Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet isn’t just important to your overall health, its important to your oral health as well. Frequent or prolonged intake of sugary foods enables bacteria to maintain an acidic environment on the surface of your teeth. Soft and sticky foods cling to the biting surfaces of the teeth and stay there until itís brushed off. Saliva will spread the sugar between the teeth, and to the front and back.

So how do cavities occur and that ugly dental decay?
Every time you eat, plaque and bacteria in your mouth mix with the sugar and starch from the food you ingest, creating an acidic environment in your mouth. This acid softens the enamel of your teeth, and without proper oral hygiene, can expose your teeth to troublesome cavities.

How to reduce the risk of decay:

• Brush daily with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Follow your country’s food guide necessary for a healthy diet.
• When eating starchy foods such as bread, cereal and pasta, minimize the time teeth are exposed by eating them with meals rather than snacking on them throughout the day.
• Substitute sugary snacks with sugar-free gum and mints. Xylitol found in some chewing gums has been found to reduce risk of cavities. This can help reduce cavities and increase saliva flow.
• Drink high-sugar beverages through a straw, then rinse mouth with water and brush within 30 minutes. But be careful, brushing to quickly following a meal can damage your teeth’s enamel.
• Rinsing with water after eating can help cleanse the teeth before brushing.

To read the entire article please visit Plus.HealthyTeeth.org

Artisan Dental   
Jeff Berger, DDS   
19604 Mono Way   
Sonora, CA 95370   
(209) 532-2915   
ArtisanDDS.com

Oral Health & Other Medications

Knowledge is power. Your dentist will tell you, the more information they know about your overall health and current medications as possible, the easier to better understand your oral health needs. Because we know good overall health requires great oral health, and the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, it should come as little surprise that many serious health issues are linked to problems that first started in the mouth. And the same goes with any medications you may be taking.

Before your dentists starts their examination or any other procedure, make sure to disclose any and all mediations you may currently be taking. Some procedures or prescribed medications can have adverse effects when taken in combination. In addition, alert your dentist to any allergies, so prescribed medication can be as effective as possible. The same goes for pregnancy, or other health care treatments you may currently be experiencing, which may cause changes to your body. This can help avoid tooth loss, gum disease or other oral health issues as side effects of treatment you may currently be experiencing.

It’s always a good idea not only discuss these things with a physician, but also a dentist as well to ensure your oral health is monitored as well.

To read the entire article please visit Plus.HealthyTeeth.org

Artisan Dental   
Jeff Berger, DDS   
19604 Mono Way   
Sonora, CA 95370   
(209) 532-2915   
ArtisanDDS.com