Foods to avoid during the holidays...

The holiday season usually means that you’ll be surrounded my delicious and usually unhealthy, treats. While foods like these are tasty, they can often take a toll on your smile. Instead of waiting to find out you’ve developed a cavity or two in the New Year because of your unhealthy habits during the holidays, we’ve come up with some food choice you should avoid so that you can smile bright, well into the New Year.

• Candy canes: These candies are just plain dangerous for your smile. They are made of pure sugar and have a chewy outside coating that will stick to your teeth. Hard candies will have the same effect, so if possible, avoid them altogether. 
• Soft drinks: These drinks are also filled with sugar. Additionally, since they usually are not consumed quickly, this prolongs contact to teeth which can cause staining and tooth decay. 
• White wine: This may come as a surprise to some of you since red wine is known for staining teeth. However, red wine helps prevent tooth decay and gets rid of unhealthy bacteria. White wine in turn tends to erode tooth enamel since it is more acidic. 
• Avoid caramel: caramel is gooey and sticks to teeth, wearing away tooth enamel and causing tooth decay. Stay away! 

We understand that at the holiday parties this year, you will be tempted. If you must, remember to drink a glass of water after the treat and always brush and floss thoroughly. We hope that your holidays are filled with love and laughter—and may 2015 be a year full or healthy smile for you and your family. Don’t forget to visit us in the New Year!

5 tips on how to clean your teeth after eating your Halloween candy!

If you enjoy eating a candy treat once in a while, Halloween is always the best excuse to do so! You should always keep in mind that these sugary treats could be very harmful for your oral if healthy habits are not practiced after eating them. In order to avoid further complications, try eating sugar-free candy or chocolate, which contains more natural ingredients. Also, to avoid hard or chewy candy that sticks in your teeth.

Our dentist recommends the following after eating candy:

• After chewy or hard candy, remove anything that is visibly stuck with a toothpick or rinse your mouth with a glass of water. 
• Make sure you brush thoroughly. Try to cover every space, and place special emphasis on your back teeth. 
• Don’t forget to floss. Little candy pieces that get stuck between teeth and help create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow! 
• Rinse out with mouthwash.

Halloween is a wonderful time for the family to enjoy but don’t let your oral health be impacted negatively. Maintaining good oral habits can prevent many future complications. Visit our dentist and enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile all year long!

When should I take my child to the dentist?

First dental visits are often used to get the child acquainted with the dental office, staff and equipment. These visits are also to educate parents on how to properly care for their child’s baby teeth and also to address any future potential dental issues with a full exam.

It is recommended that you take your child to his or her first dental visit on or around the first birthday. More specifically, it should be about 6 months after the eruption of a first tooth. Taking your child to the dentist early helps prevent common dental issues like tooth decay and cavities. This will also help the child create lifelong good oral care habits while reducing anxiety and fear, making way for stress-free visits in the future.

Before your child’s first visit, ask the dentist about any procedures that will be completed to help avoid surprises. This will also help you prepare your child and create excitement around the visit. Very young children can be fussy and won’t sit still, so have a plan of action in case your child reacts this way. Also, bring any records of your child’s complete medical history for a full evaluation by the dentist.

At our dental office in Glendale, we are ready to be your oral care support at you embark on your new adventure into parenthood. We’ll be more than happy to answer all of your questions when you have them, so contact us today!

Pain, Sensitivity, Swelling? Check It Out…you May Have an Infected Tooth

Our teeth are composed of several parts that complete its overall function. Each part plays an imperative role regarding tooth sensation.

A tooth's nerve or pulp can become irritated, swollen, or infected due to tooth decay, crack, chip, repeated dental procedures or face trauma. When this happens the pulp needs to be removed to avoid the multiplication of bacteria and an infection spread.

During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the tooth is cleaned inside and then sealed. Most people believe that this procedure is painful, but that´s not entirely true. The symptoms are actually more painful than the procedure itself and the relief you feel upon completion makes it worthwhile.

 

There are some signs that you can look for that can indicate that you may need root canal treatment. The symptoms can include:

 - Severe pain when applying pressure or chewing
 - Sharp sensitivity to temperatures
 - Swelling and tenderness
 - Discoloration of the tooth

 

Symptoms are not always present which is why a regular visit with our dentist in Glendale is strongly advised.

Our practice offers the best dental care available for you, where we will make sure you feel comfortable and relaxed during your visit. Call or visit us so we can help you achieve the healthy and beautiful smile you deserve!

Help Your Kids and Teens Preserve a Healthy Smile!

We may do a great job as parents educating our kids about oral health, but in reality, as they grow older they don’t consider their oral health as a priority. This is why in our family dentistry, we recommend and promote the use of dental sealants. These liquid coatings that are bonded to the chewing surface of your kid’s teeth are a perfect solution to help them preserve their oral health for a few more years.

Dental sealants provide extra protection on permanent teeth to prevent tooth decay. Small fissured areas where the toothbrush can’t reach can be a threat to develop plaque and cavities later on. Sealants create a smooth surface over this area so no plaque can enter the fissures. Dental sealants can also be placed on other teeth, not just the chewing surface if the dentist notices they may have grooves or pits. They can also be used in adults at risk of developing caries but are more usual in kids.

This procedure is not painful at all. As a matter of fact, it is very simple; the dentist will first clean the surface of your teeth, then it will be watered, and dried. A special acidic solution is placed and washed away and after the tooth is dried again the liquid sealant is placed on the tooth and hardened with a light until it looks like a plastic coating.
Dental sealants are very traditional and we have the latest advances in family dentistry to provide you with the solution each of your loved ones may need.

Be sure to visit or call us to schedule your appointment at our dental office in Glendale and we will be glad to make your family a part or our family!

Cerec - Get a Crown in One Office Visit!

Our office is now offering CEREC crowns. What does this mean? This means that in as little as 2 hours have a crown fitted and placed in a single visit!

CEREC is the very latest advancement of modern dentistry. It provides a precise fit and is also less invasive while delivering increased durability. This advancement eliminates the need of impressions, temporaries and also permanent crowns that do not always provide the correct fit. More importantly, it eliminates the need of a second visit.

CEREC crowns and inlays/onlays

- Look and feel natural
- Are metal free
- Provide alternative to conventional filling
- Are long-lasting

Call today to schedule an appointment by calling 818.249.1819 or visit out website at http://carloscgarciadds.com