Saliva Protects teeth

Saliva protects teeth against cavities more than we thought

Mucus which is part of the 0.5% of saliva that is not water - contains salivary mucins, compounds that actively protect teeth from damage by the cavity-causing bacterium Streptococcus mutans, according to a new study.

The researchers found that salivary mucins do not alter levels of S. mutans nor kill the bacteria over 24 hours. Instead, they keep the bacteria suspended in a liquid medium, and this in turn reduces their ability to form biofilms on teeth.

Tooth loss and your mind

 

Link discovered between tooth loss and slowing mind and body

The memory and walking speeds of adults who have lost all of their teeth decline more rapidly than in those who still have some of their own teeth, finds new UCL research.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, looked at 3,166 adults aged 60 or over from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and compared their performance in tests of memory and walking speed. The results showed that the people with none of their own teeth performed approximately 10% worse in both memory and walking speed tests than the people with teeth.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/287280.php

Why Regular Dental Cleanings Are Important

So, some people don’t exactly enjoy going to the dentist on their scheduled 6 month intervals but what some people don’t realize is how crucial it is. It’s as necessary as seatbelts in your car. Regular visits to the dentist could save a lot of time and money by catching and avoiding health issues early. Here are a few imperative reasons to keep your biannual appointments.

 

1. Cleans Teeth

            This one is a no-brainer, but no matter how much you may brush or floss you can’t get rid of all the gum destroying plaque between your teeth and near your gumline. Regular checkups mean that the plaque and tartar buildup are properly removed in addition to stains from coffee, tea and tobacco. Polished teeth feel and look good and thats important to dentists and patients.

 

2. Bye Bye Bad Breath

            No one likes to get a whiff of death breath. Make sure you’re not the one emitting that awful odor with a cleaning. A regular cleaning will get bad breath under control and if not, a dentist can determine the underlying cause to manage and cure the issue.

 

3. Overall Physical Health

            Gum disease is linked to heart disease, pancreatic cancer and even strokes. Professional cleanings will keep your teeth and gums healthy and could reduce the risk of these major diseases.

 

4. Early diagnosis of Oral Health Issues

            Tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer can easily be caught and prevented if discovered early. Tooth decay leads to extremely painful dental problems and gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. These inflictions are avoidable and seeing a dentist may very well save your life!

 

Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining your oral as well as overall physical health. Problems can be detected early and you can avoid the pain and costliness of letting an undetectable minor problem fester and grow into a major health issue. Whether or not your visit ends with a life-saving treatment or simply a filled cavity, walk out of your dentists office with brilliant pearly whites!

Healthysmile360

Dr. Michael Mostofi

Aliso Viejo Dentist

Family Resource Center encourages parents to feed babies' brains by reading aloud

Did you feed your baby's brain today?  That's a question the Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center and its partner, Read Aloud 15 MINUTES, want parents and caregivers everywhere to answer with a resounding, "Yes!"

The Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center is extending the important mission by sharing "Let's Talk: Nourishment," a series of messages during October that encourages parents to seize responsibility for nourishing their children's brains as well as their bodies.  The Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center and national nonprofit Read Aloud 15 MINUTES are united behind the idea that when children everywhere are read aloud to for at least 15 minutes every day, from birth, it will change the face of education in the United States.

"From the moment babies are born, parents devote so much energy to keeping their children well nourished," said Read Aloud 15 MINUTES founder Dr. Candace Kendle.  "We want parents to make the connection that babies' brains are also in need of food: brain food."

Brain food comes in the form of exposure to vocabulary; knowledge-building; and rich interactions with loved ones.  Reading aloud checks all of these "nutritional" boxes. 

"One of the best activities for nourishing a baby's brain is reading aloud together for at least 15 minutes every day from birth," she said.
   
During October, the Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center will join more than 900 other Read Aloud 15 MINUTES partners throughout the country to help spread this important movement by sharing the "Let's Talk: Nourishment" messages with residents.  As a Read Aloud 15 MINUTES partner, the Family Resource Center participates in three annual "pulses" centered around the importance of daily reading aloud.

Read Aloud 15 MINUTES is a nonprofit organization that is working to make reading aloud every day for at least 15 minutes the new standard in child care. For more information, visit: http://www.readaloud.org/.

Aliso Viejo Free Mammogram Screening For Uninsured at Iglesia Park Community Center

Start Date:Oct 04, 2014 8:00 AM

End Date:Oct 04, 2014 12:00 PM

 

Location: Iglesia Park Community Center
Address: 24671 Via Iglesia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Fee: FREE for qualified individuals
Phone Number: 714-953-5900
Coordinator Name: Julie Diaz, Latin Health Access

Details:
Have you had your annual mammogram yet?  The City of Aliso Viejo in collaboration with Latino Health Access is offering FREE mammogram screenings for women age 40 and older who have not had a mammography screening within the past year.

The free screenings will be provided at the Iglesia Park Community Center, 24671 Via Iglesia on Saturday, October 4 from 8: a.m. to 12 noon.

For more information or to make an appointment, please contact Julie Diaz of Latino Health Access at (714)542-7792. 

Source: http://www.cityofalisoviejo.com/ParksRecre...

Back to school, back to the dentist, it’s the law

Tooth decay is one of the biggest health issues among children, accounting for over 51 million hours of school time lost every year. What’s more, poor dental health in youth can lead to chronic problems like discomfort, difficulty chewing and the need for painful and expensive procedures down the road.

An annual back-to-school dental checkup is an easy way to help prevent these problems. It’s so important, that several states — including California, Oregon and New York — actually require children to get a dental exam before entering public school.

Regular dental exams do more than catch tooth decay. They also let us see if teeth are growing in properly, monitor the results of their brushing and flossing techniques (and give lessons, if necessary), and apply fluoride treatments or protective sealants that can prevent decay before it happens. If your kids play sports or engage in other activities that might cause oral injuries, we can fit them for protective mouth guards.

If your kids are in college, planning checkups during school breaks can ensure that they’re receiving regular professional dental care. And even if they’re too young for school, your kids are probably old enough to go to the dentist. The ADA recommends babies start seeing a dentist when their first tooth comes in, usually when they’re between 6 and 12 months old.

So while you’re making back-to-school plans, plan on bringing your kids in for a visit. And for extra credit, try these fun tips for sending them to school with a smile:

1. Buy new toothbrushes: While they’re getting new notebooks, pens and other supplies, why not let them pick out a new toothbrush? While you’re at it, pick up two — one for home and one to bring to school.

2. Make a dental care kit for school: To encourage them to brush after lunch and snacks, buy a zippered plastic-lined bag and include a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss.

3. Pack dental-friendly lunches and snacks: Fruit, nuts, string cheese and bottled water are all good choices. Avoid sticky foods like raisins or fruit leather, as they can cause cavities.

4. Start a reward system: Encourage good dental exams like you encourage good grades — with a prize like a night at the movies, a new video game or other coveted item.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Pregnant Women?

A pregnant woman who has a tooth ache might hesitate before seeing a dentist, wondering how safe treatments might be for her future baby. If you are pregnant, the thought of taking dental x-rays might scare you off from visiting your dentist, because you are not sure how the radiation would affect your baby. Some future mothers would even hesitate to go for a regular dental check-up, not knowing if routine x-rays can harm the baby. These worries are normal for a pregnant woman to have, especially if it’s her first baby and she wants to take every precaution not to harm him. If you are suffering from a toothache or if you have a dental emergency, you would think that your dentist ideally needs a proper x-ray to detect what the problem is.

Dentists and doctors generally do not recommend that a pregnant woman takes x-rays during the first trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, routine X-rays, which are usually taken during a dental check-up, should be postponed until after childbirth.

Emergency X-rays can be safe, if not carried out during the first three months of pregnancy. Your dentist uses a lead blanket to cover your body and protect your uterus from any radiation. That way your baby is almost totally protected.

Some dentists would also do treatments needing multiple x-rays, such as root canal therapy, but that remains controversial. If you are not sure whether you should start a major dental treatment when you are pregnant, you can discuss it with your dentist. There’s a possibility of starting a major treatment by removing tooth decay or any infection on your tooth or on your gums. Full treatment can be finished after you have given birth. Therefore if you are suffering from dental pain, do not ignore it and call your dentist!

 

5 Reasons to use Your Dental Insurance Before the End of the Year

Did you know that you could actually save hundreds of dollars by using your dental benefits before the end of the year? While some dental insurance plans run on a fiscal year, most run on a calendar year. If your dental insurance plan is on a calendar year, these 5 reasons will show you why you should make a dental appointment now.1. Yearly Maximum The yearly maximum is the most money that the dental insurance plan will pay for your dental work within one full year. This amount varies by insurance company, but the average is around $1,000 per year, per person. The yearly maximum usually renews every year (on January 1 if your plan is on a calendar year). If you have unused benefits, these will not rollover. 2. Deductible The deductible is the amount of money that you must pay to your dentist out of pocket before your insurance company will pay for any services. This fee varies from one plan to another and could be higher if you choose an out-of-network dentist. However, the average deductible for a dental insurance plan is usually around $50 per year. Your deductible also starts again when your plan rolls over. 3. Premiums If you are paying your dental insurance premiums every month, you should be using your benefits. Even if you don’t need any dental treatment, you should always have your regular dental cleanings to help prevent and detect any early signs of cavities, gum disease, oral cancer and other dental problems. 4. Fee Increases Another reason to use your benefits before the end of the year are possible fee increases. Some dentists raise their rates at the beginning of the year due to the increased cost of living, materials and equipment. A fee increase can also make your copay higher. 5. Dental Problems Can Worsen By delaying dental treatment, you are risking more extensive and expensive treatment down the road. What may be a simple cavity now, could turn into a root canal later.

Dr.Michael Mostofi Aliso Viejo Dentist www.HealthySmile360.com 949-831-5511

9 Reasons to Suspect It May Be More Than Just Snoring

9 Reasons to Suspect It May Be More Than Just Snoring

Sure snoring isn't sexy, but it can also be an indication of a more serious medical problem called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In people with sleep apnea, the throat collapses during sleep cutting off the flow of oxygen. 90% of people who have sleep apnea are not aware of it. Usually its the bed partner who notices the signs of apnea so check with your bed partner.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs more often in people who are overweight, over age 35 and in men (although this may be just because women have been under reported). Reason 1: Excessive daytime sleepiness

If you tend to drowse off while sitting quietly at home, at work, on the phone or while driving, it could be a sign that you are not getting refreshing sleep at night. Reason 2: Loud snoring

Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Loud snoring also interferes with a bed partner's sleep and can cause high blood pressure. Reason 3: Cessation of breathing

Your sleeping partner may notice frequent times through the night when you stop breathing. his can occur for a little as 5 times an hour to more than 50 times an hour. The number of times you stop breathing wll determine whether you have mild apnea or severe apnea. Reason 4: Gasping or choking while sleeping

When the throat collapses during sleep, the brain forces you to partially awaken to breathe. This can happen many times during an hour and keep you from getting the deep sleep you need. Reason 5: Feeling unrefreshed in the morning

Because you are not getting the sleep you need, you may feel more tired in the morning after a night's sleep than you did the night before. THis can also cause problems with memory, concentration and personality changes. Reason 6: Heartburn or a sour taste in the morning or at night

Many people with sleep apnea regurgitate stomach acid while sleeping. This is known as GERD and can cause problems with your esophagus and your teeth. Reason 7: Headaches, sore throat or dry mouth in the morning

Almost half the people with sleep apnea have headaches due to a poor night's sleep. Reason 8: Sexual dysfunction

It's true! Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers may experience a lack of sexual desire because of fatigue. In men, sleep apnea can be a cause of ED. Reason 9: Sweating and chest pain at night

Cardiac deaths occur in the early morning hours with people who suffer from sleep apnea.

Something else you should be aware of - shirt collar size is a good indicator of sleep apnea especially in people with high blood pressure and those who awake gasping and choking at night. If you are a woman and have a neck size of 16 inches or more, or you are a man with a shirt collar neck size of 17 inches or more and have any of the above reasons to be concerned, please check with your doctor.

Dr.Michael Mostofi Aliso Viejo Dentist www.HealthySmile360.com 949-831-5511

What Is ClearCorrect?

What Is ClearCorrect? ClearCorrect is the clear and simple way to straighten your teeth without wearing braces so you can show off your smile! Looking for an alternative to braces? ClearCorrect is the clear and simple choice. No wires. No brackets. Just clear, convenient comfort—every reason to smile. With ClearCorrect, your dentist can straighten your teeth using a series of clear, custom, removable aligners. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time until you eventually get straight teeth.

Oral Appliances For Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Oral Appliances For Snoring and Sleep Apnea Before Appliance

Restriction of the airway causes Snoring. Closure causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

After Appliance

Oral appliances for snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea open the airway allowing air to freely flow.

An amazing 1/3 of the population, or about 80 million people, snore while they sleep, often repeatedly disturbing spouses and children. Watch this video to learn more.

Question. Did you know that snoring can lead to serious health problems?

Answer. As you snore, you are struggling to breath causing the blood pressure in your carotid arteries to soar. This pressure can lead to damage in the walls of the arteries, increasing your risk of stroke.

Question. What causes snoring?

Answer. As you sleep, the muscles and soft tissues relax and make the breathing airway smaller. A smaller airspace makes air travel faster, which causes the tissues to vibrate producing snoring.

We can help! If you have routine snoring without grinding or sleep apnea, then a "Silent Nite" appliance may be your solution.

"Silent Nite" Appliance

The "Silent Nite" device has been shown to work 70-100% of the time and it is comfortable to wear. So if you snore or someone you love snores, call us and let us see if we can give you the first of many "Silent Nights."

What if you have been diagnosed or feel you have sleep apnea?

After having a sleep study, which is directed through you physician, we can fabricate a custom appliance designed to treat Sleep Apnea. In our office we use the newest version of the TAP Appliance, the TAP 3.

Sleep Apnea- It's More Than Just Snoring

As many as ten percent of working-age men suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes them to repeatedly stop breathing for as long as ten seconds at a time, night after night. Anyone sleeping in the room with an individual who suffers from the condition may think it's just continuous, loud, irritating snoring. But obstructive sleep apnea is a health problem that can cause serious medical complications if not corrected.

The physiology behind the snore

Just about everyone has slept in the same room with someone who snores. What's going on behind all that middle-of-the-night racket?

As people fall asleep, muscles in the tongue and throat relax, and the tongue drops back into the airway, narrowing it. Air moving through that narrowed airway travels faster and causes the walls of the throat to vibrate, producing a rattling noise commonly known as snoring.

Don't ignore these symptoms

While snoring itself isn't a serious health problem, sleep apnea is. Sleep apnea is like snoring taken to the next level. It occurs when the airway is completely blocked by the soft tissues in the back of the throat. The American Dental Association likens the effect to what occurs when a thick milkshake is sucked through a narrow straw; eventually the straw collapses from the pressure.

When the airway is obstructed to such a degree, less oxygen reaches the blood and the brain. In response, the brain gives the red alert signal to the airway to unblock itself by tightening up. This causes the individual to gasp or snort abruptly, restoring breathing to normal.

With obstructive sleep apnea, this cycle repeats itself throughout the night, disrupting sleep and leaving the individual exhausted after a night of on-again, off-again sleep. The condition can also cause headaches, moodiness, daytime sleepiness and an inability to function properly.

10 Major Agers

COMMON HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS TO DITCH IN THE DUMPSTER There may be products in our closets and cupboards right now that can shave years off our lives. They can penetrate our lungs, cause asthma and allergies, poison our liver, damage our hearts, and irritate our eyes and skin. Before Dr. Oz stages an intervention, grab a trashcan and recycle bin and go from room to room to eliminate these 10 age stealers. In many cases there are healthier alternatives you can use instead.

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a type of sugar that has been processed and combined with corn syrup to produce a cheap, easily dissolvable sweetener. But this sugar is quickly absorbed by the liver where it is converted into fat. Since your brain doesn't recognize HFCS as regular food, it never shuts off the appetite center -- so you keep eating. Blood sugar levels rise, massive amounts of insulin is recruited to metabolize it and then you crash and feel hungry again. It is found in soft drinks, fruit juices, salad dressings and baked goods. Read the food labels of products in your pantry and refrigerator and throw out all products that contain HFCS.

2. Chlorine Bleach

Household bleach contains the chemical sodium hypochlorite and is used to whiten clothes and kill germs like mold, bacteria and virtues. It’s not good for the environment and not good for you; it is that it evaporates quickly to irritate your nose, eyes, throat, skin and lungs. Good non-toxic alternatives are baking soda, white vinegar or alcohol- and peroxide-based products.

3. Insecticides

Mosquitoes can be annoying and carry diseases. But keeping them at bay doesn't mean you need to drench you and your property in carcinogenic pesticides. Instead use a natural repellant that contains essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus and lavender. Burning citronella candles outdoors, staying indoors at high biting times, and removing still water where mosquitoes lay eggs is a healthier strategy.

4. Drinking Hard Alcohol

Not all alcoholic beverages are alike. Beer, wine, and spirits, sometimes referred to as hard alcohol, can be damaging when drunk in excess; they can damage the liver (cirrhosis), cause esophageal cancer, internal bleeding, heart failure, pancreatitis and gastritis. And some breast cancers can be fueled by alcohol. Although one glass of red wine a day can offer health benefits, spirits have a higher alcohol content and contain more synthetic chemicals and sugars.

5. Moth Balls

For generations it has been customary to sprinkle a few mothballs made of naphthalene in a box of sweaters to prevent moths from feasting on the fibers. Today, a better choice would be natural alternatives such as cedar chips and lavender sachets. Remember to clean clothes first then zip them up at the end of the season.

6. Air Fresheners and Fragrance Candles

Everyone likes their home to smell clean and fresh but synthetic fragrances that waif through the air can negatively affect the quality of indoor air, damage lung tissue and airways and irritate the eyes. Keep it real. If your house is clean it shouldn't smell.

7. Trans Fats

Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat that is made saturated during a manufacturing process that adds a molecule of hydrogen. These hydrogentated oils raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol and cause a host of cardiovascular diseases. They are slowly being removed from commercial recipes but products in your home may still contain them. Look in your cupboard and dump anything with hydrogenated oil on the label.

8. Toluene

Toluene, a solvent found in nail polish, paints and when petroleum-based paraffin candles are burned can cause nervous system damage. Naturally scented beeswax, soy or vegetable candles and natural alternatives to nail products are a better choice.

9. Detergents with NPE

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) are chemicals that help liquid substances such as oil and water mix. They are found in laundry detergents, shampoos, and cleaners. These chemicals can mimic the hormone estrogen to cause early menstruation, low sperm counts and poor reproductive health. Use natural cleansers and consider alternative cleaning tools such as the microfiber mops or steam cleaner that can reduce or eliminate the use of harsh chemicals.

10. Cigarette, pipe, and cigar products

All tobacco products produce harmful chemicals even after you have eliminated the smoker from the house. When you have stopped smoking give your house a clean makeover, washing all fabric curtains and upholstery and think about putting on a fresh coat of paint. Ban smoking in and near your home forever after.

Dr.Michael Mostofi Aliso Viejo Dentist www.HealthySmile360.com 949-831-5511

Are you brushing right?

The first step is to choose a good toothbrush. You always want to use a soft brush with a small head. A soft brush is hard enough to remove plaque and soft enough not to damage your teeth or gum. The next issue is to choose a good toothpaste. In general any toothpaste that contains Fluoride will do the job, unless you have a special need that is determined by your dentist. Two of the best brands of toothpastes are Colgate Total and Crest Multicare. The first rule of brushing is to start from a specific location and work your way to the opposite side and all the way through the whole mouth so that you end where you started. This way you won’t miss any area. Also usually a pea size of tooth paste is enough. A good brushing should at lease take 2 minutes and ideally around 4 minutes. There are many different techniques for brushing your teeth but one of the most popular ones is described here: Hold the brush with a 45 degree angle toward the teeth and the gum. Gently press against the gum so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the teeth. Then apply lateral vibration for a few times and roll down the brush to sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum. Repeat this motion 6 to 10 times and move on to the next area of 2 to 3 teeth. If your mouth is full of foam, spit out and continue brushing. Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth and not when your mouth is full! On chewing surfaces, short strokes will work best to get the plaque out of the grooves and pits. Also when brushing the front teeth from inside, hold your brush vertically to be able to reach the teeth better. As far as frequency of brushing is concerned, ideally you want to brush your teeth after each meal. But if you can t, brush at least twice a day after breakfast and before going to bed.

Are people with whiter teeth smarter?

A new study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) reveals that people with a whiter-than-white smile are perceived smarter than duller-toothed counterparts! The study – carried out in the States via the internet – was aimed at ascertaining what impact attractive teeth have on perceptions of an individual's appearance and personality and used ‘before and after' pictures of people who had undergone cosmetic surgery.

No respondent ever saw the same person with both a ‘before' and ‘after' smile but all respondents viewed the same set of eight individuals.

After seeing each picture, respondents rated each person on the following attributes:

• Attractive • Intelligent • Happy • Successful in their career • Friendly • Interesting • Kind • Wealthy • Popular with the opposite sex • Sensitive to other people

Respondents used a 1 to 10 scale where a ‘1' represents ‘not at all' and a ‘10' represents ‘extremely.'

The statistical analysis demonstrates that there is a major effect of a smile on perceptions of all major attributes.

In each case, people are viewed as more attractive, intelligent, happy, successful in their career, friendly, interesting, kind, wealthy and popular with the opposite sex with smiles that have been altered by cosmetic dentistry versus their original smiles.

AACD awards best celebrity smiles

Never mind the Golden Globes and Oscars, we are more excited about the winners of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry's (AACD) 2008's Best Celebrity Smiles contest. And what a line-up they are.

Eva Mendes took the top prize in the women's category with 38 percent of the votes followed by Anne Hathaway who had 12 percent. Kate Hudson came in third.

Brad Pitt's famous grin was awarded first place, and David Beckham's was ranked a close second. Will Smith's perfect pearly whites earned him third place.

Are you a candidate for cosmetic dentistry?

If you have been thinking about improving your smile, take a few moments and ask yourself the following questions to see if cosmetic dentistry is right for you. Are you embarrassed about smiling in front of people? Do you ever put your hand up to cover your smile? Do you dislike your smile in photographs? When you look through magazines do you envy the models’ smiles? Do you wish your teeth were whiter? Do you think you show too much or to little of your teeth when you smile? Would you like to change the way your teeth or gums are shaped? Do you have gaps or spaces between your teeth? Are you considering braces for that perfect smile? Do you have crooked or misaligned teeth?