Foods That Promote Healthy Teeth

Regular brushing and flossing help keep teeth healthy by getting rid of sugars and food particles that team up with bacteria to form plaque. However, to prevent cavities and maintain good oral health, what you eat and how often you eat are important factors. At Fullerton Dental, we love to see you at our office, but we care about you and encourage you to eat these fortifying foods for your teeth.

Cheese lovers can rejoice, because research studies have proven that eating cheese raises the pH level in the mouth and lowers the risk of tooth decay. Cheese also contains calcium and protein nutrients that strengthen tooth enamel. Other phosphorus foods that are thought to protect tooth enamel by providing the calcium and phosphorus needed to remineralize teeth include, chicken, nuts, and milk. Other food choices include firm/crunchy fruits (apples and pears) and vegetables (carrots and celery). These foods have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva which helps protect against decay by washing away food particles and acid.

For more information about oral health, as well as services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton, CA, call 714-879-7943.

How Invisalign Moves Teeth

At Fullerton Dental, Dr. Eric M Meyer wants you to have the healthiest smile achievably possible, and sometimes that may require straightening your teeth. Unlike traditional braces, the Invisalign straightening method includes no irritating brackets in the mouth; however, they do have attachments known as “bumps.” These bumps assist the aligners in moving the teeth to where they need to be once the treatment plan is completed.

These “bumps” are small tooth-colored dots of dental bonding (white filling material) that are placed on specific locations on specific teeth. They may be rectangular, square, circular, or triangular in shape. The shape and orientation of a button is dictated by the purpose it serves, such as tooth rotation, translation, intrusion or extrusion.

These attachments assist with the process, as well as how they’re placed and what they look like. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place. Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, discreetly advancing you to the next stage of your treatment.

If you are searching to straighten your smile, give us a call to discuss your orthodontic treatment options. For more information about Invisalign, as well as services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton, CA, call 714-879-7943. 

Kids Oral Care

Baby teeth, while they eventually fall out, are vital to a child. It is important to take care of them from when they first appear to when they fall out. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants to remind parents of how and when to take care of children’s oral health.

Kids should start seeing the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears, or by the age of one if they have not grown in their first tooth by then. Baby teeth are like place markers for permanent teeth, so it is important to keep them healthy as long as they are present. Baby teeth should be brushed with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is what keeps cavities away. This is especially important during the cavity-prone years. The cavity-prone years happen between the ages of six and fourteen. During this time, Dr. Meyer may want to apply sealants to their molars for extra protection.

Teeth should be flossed as soon as two of them touch. Cavities are actually more likely to occur between teeth, so this is an important step to remember. Plus, flossing your child’s teeth will set them up for leading their own healthy lifestyle.

Limit thumb-sucking and pacifiers. These actually disrupt the proper place and growth of baby and adult teeth. One last tip for kids who like to always have something to drink: fill their cup with water instead of milk or juice all the time. This will limit the amount of sugar that their teeth are exposed to.

To schedule your child’s dental appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS in our Fullerton, CA practice, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Halloween and Healthy Teeth

Halloween is filled with yummy treats and candy, which is fun and tasty, but too much of it can wreak havoc on your teeth! Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA is reminding his patients on how to balance Halloween fun with oral health.

If you have braces, recent fillings, a crown, or similar dental work, stay away from sticky foods like taffy and caramel apples. While delicious, these sticky foods can pull on dental appliances and actually pop them off. The last thing you want is an emergency dental visit during your Halloween party.

Set a limit on the treats that you eat. There may be a lot of candy around after trick-or-treating or leftover from passing them out. Set a limit of how many pieces you can eat each day and stick to it. Also try chewing slower and really tasting the candy. This helps you feel more satisfied with only eating a few pieces.

Understand why candy is bad for your teeth. When you know how certain candies react with your teeth and gums, it makes it easier to want to skip it. It also makes you want to reach for the floss and toothbrush more often.

Halloween should be a fun time for all, but make sure you are having fun safely! To schedule a cleaning with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

How to Start a Habit and Keep It

Having a great brushing and flossing routine is vital for oral health, though many find habits hard to stick to. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants our patients to know how to start a habit and keep it for the sake of great oral health.

Starting habits is about taking small steps, being persistent, and being realistic. When first starting a new habit (like flossing every day or brushing three times per day), take baby steps. For instance, floss only three teeth the first day. The next day floss four, then the next day floss six, and so on. Since only flossing three teeth is such a small task, it’s almost silly to skip it. Also, once you start actually doing the task, you will find it much easier to continue on to flossing your whole mouth. If you come across a day where you really do not feel like flossing, remember to be persistent. Once you skip one day, it is much easier to fall back on skipping more days.

Another tip that helps you keep your habit is by writing a reminder down somewhere you will see it. A post-it note on your bathroom mirror will work great! Or you can place your supplies out where you will see them every day.

Share your new habit goal with friends or family so that you have someone that will be taking notice if you are keeping up with it. This puts a little more pressure on your to keep at it. To schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS in our Fullerton, CA office, call us at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Health Benefits of Straight Teeth

Straight teeth are an obvious aesthetic improvement for a smile. However, did you know that straight teeth also offer numerous health benefits? Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants his patients to understand how straightening their teeth will affect their oral health and the health of the rest of their body.

Teeth that are too crowded, spaced awkwardly, or too gapped often create hiding places for debris and bacteria. Even with routine brushing and flossing, these spaces can be missed, leading to an accumulation of bacteria. When bacteria become trapped and sit on teeth and gums for a long time, it can lead to gum disease and cavities. Gum disease can lead to infection which is dangerous for your overall health. In addition, tight spaces and gaps can also lead to more injury to the gums. While biting, chewing, and cleaning your teeth, the gums that are left more open due to gaps are more vulnerable to being poked, scraped, or cut. When teeth are aligned properly, it protects the gums and allows the gums to properly protect the teeth.

Straight teeth also decrease risk of injury and wear. Abnormal tooth wear can happen when teeth rub together in a way that they shouldn’t. This can lead to worn down tooth enamel, cavities, and damage. Awkwardly positioned teeth can also break or cut your cheeks, lips, or tongue when hit from an outside force.

Straight teeth allow your teeth and gums to be cleaned properly and be well-protected. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS offers Invisalign to straighten teeth in our Fullerton, CA dental office. To schedule an appointment, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Root Canal Therapy by Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS

If you are experiencing prolonged pain and sensitivity to a tooth, you may have an infection. Dr. Eric M Meyer, D.D.S. is skilled at performed root canal therapy for his patients suffering from the pain associated with an infected tooth. Root canals clean out the infection and allow the tooth to heal healthy.

Signs a root canal is needed include prolonged pain and sensitivity to a tooth, especially when biting down. Red, irritated gums and a reappearing sore near the infected tooth are also signs. A dark spot may also appear on the tooth. If you are experiencing these symptoms, schedule an appointment with Dr. Meyer for an examination. If an infected tooth is left alone, it could lead to an abscessed tooth. This can damage the jawbone and cause the loss of the tooth.

Root canal therapy clears out the infected dental pulp. Dr. Meyer will drill an access hole into the tooth and clean out the dental pulp and the tooth’s root canals. When the area is clean, a sealant called gutta-percha is applied to the now hollow tooth. A filling will be placed onto the access hole to seal the tooth. This process relieves the sensitivity from the infected nerves and relieves the pain and pressure the inflamed pulp was causing. This also allows the tooth to heal back into a strong and healthy tooth that can continue a life in your mouth.

To learn more or to schedule an examination with Dr. Eric M Meyer, D.D.S., call our Fullerton, CA dental practice at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com.