It’s mistletoe season, and if you’re single or in a relationship, you’re most likely going to grab any opportunity to kiss the one you love under the mistletoe this holiday season. To prepare your loved one for a memorable moment, make sure the one thing they remember...
Brushing and Flossing
How Do I Prevent Bleeding Gums When I Floss?
We’ve all experienced the annoyance during our nightly routine: makeup has come off, contacts removed, face is washed, teeth are brushed and flossed. You spit the toothpaste into the sink and what do you see? Pink. Bleeding gums may be common, but they don’t have to...
What’s the Deal With Alternative Toothpastes?
Wacky dental trends are nowhere near a new thing. In fact, if you were born a few hundred years earlier, you’d brush your teeth with rough linen and wash your mouth out by chewing fennel. While in some cases the cultural phenomenon of going natural can make sense,...
3 Weird Bacteria Facts
Bacteria are strange little things, and there are a lot of them — especially in your mouth. In fact, at any given moment, we can have between 100 million to 1 billion of them on the surface of each tooth. Although the thought is a little unsettling, they’re really...
Beating Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is one of the most dangerous oral health risks. Often off the radar compared to cavities, missing teeth, or even whitening, one of the most ignored conditions is also the most serious. Gum disease is an inflammatory...
Four Ways to Teach Your Kids Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is important not only to our mouths but our bodies, as well. Complications like advanced gum disease can significantly increase our risk of heart disease, stroke, and even cancer, which is why establishing and maintaining good oral hygiene is so...
Bacteria, the Oral Health Edition
Only within the last decade have scientist begun to pay more attention to the bacteria present in our bodies. Known as the “microbiome,” the human body has communities of bacteria that outnumber human cells 10 to 1. Despite being so small, if all our bacteria was...
Why You Might Have Bad Breath
We’ve all been there. You’re sitting next to someone in a movie theater or across from a colleague during a meeting and smell it, bad breath. Is it you or the other person? What did you have to eat today? Coffee and toast but no onions and no garlic. What’s the deal?...
New Year’s Resolution for a Younger Smile
If you’re like millions of Americans on New Years, than you’ve probably made a lengthy list of resolutions for being the best version of yourself in 2018. Perhaps that involves a gym membership, a new juicer, or a subscription to one of those healthy meal prep boxes....
Laser Dentistry Is the Future
If you grew up reading sci-fi then you might be disappointed with our current technological prowess. Flying cars don’t cruise the skyline of major cities, and we haven’t yet populated Mars. In the dental world, however, we’ve made some major moves towards a sci-fi...
Why You Should Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
It’s no secret that Americans love their dogs. Last year alone we spent about 300 billion dollars on toys, care, and grooming for our canine friends. More important than the latest chew toy or orthopedic bed for our arthritic dog, however, is something many dog owners...
Smile Makeover Timing Before the Wedding
There are few occasions in life where we’re going to be the subject of more pictures than our wedding. And these are pictures that you and others will regularly look back on to enjoy the memories. Whether you’re the bride, the maid of honor, a bridesmaid, or the...
Is Flossing Really That Important?
By now, many of you may have heard the news: according to the associated press, flossing hasn’t actually been scientifically proven to help prevent tooth decay. Don’t throw out your floss just yet, though-- the story is more complicated than it seems! Do We Really...
How Much Money Does the Tooth Fairy Leave?
I sometimes get asked the question of how much the tooth fairy leaves children this day and age. Well since all dentist personally know the tooth fairy, I decided to ask her that very question over a cup of milk. The Tooth Fairy said that the calculation is very...
What Type of Tooth Brush Should I Use?
I often get the question which toothbrush I recommend. My opinion is that all toothbrushes are about the same. Any toothbrush used appropriately is a good brush. Just make sure the bristles are soft or ultra-soft. The harsher brushes can rip your gums and...
Can’t I Get a Regular Teeth Cleaning Instead of a Deep Cleaning?
Many times in our dental office I have been asked by patients if instead of doing a deep cleaning I could just do a simple cleaning. I have been asked if a patient could sign a waiver stating they will not hot hold the office responsible if we do a simple cleaning...
What Is the Sequence of Flossing and Brushing That I Recommend at My Scripps Ranch Dental Office?
Many times throughout the day, I get asked about sequence of brushing and flossing. Hope the following clears things up. I tell my patients to brush twice a day and floss just once. This is the minimum requirement. If you can do more, especially after a meal,...