Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Childhood is the period in life when people are most vulnerable to cavities, and very young children often experience what dentists call Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. We want the families visiting Dr. Meyer’s Fullerton office to understand this problem so they can better care for their children’s oral hygiene.

When babies feed from bottles, sugar tends to accumulate on the fronts of their incisors. Although milk and formula may not be particularly sugary compared to juice, if the sugar they do contain remains stuck to babies’ teeth for too long, the teeth will be at risk for decay. Unfortunately, the sugar often does remain when babies are given bottles of milk or formula to swig from for hours but have no opportunity to rinse their mouths by drinking water. Older children and adults are also at a higher risk for tooth decay if they snack throughout the day, but they can choose when to brush their teeth or chew sugar-free gum, whereas babies are dependent on others to brush their teeth for them.

The easiest way to avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is to limit the amount of time babies are allowed to keep bottles. But for nutritional as well as dental reasons, children should transfer to drinking from cups around the time of their first birthdays.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Brush Your Teeth Before Bed!

It’s nighttime and you want to pour yourself into bed after a long day. Understandable, but don’t forget to brush your teeth first. A nighttime oral hygiene routine is important to implement into your schedule because while we’re sleeping, we’re not swallowing, so the bacteria increases until the morning. The three basic steps to nighttime hygiene are brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS wants to tell you more about why you should brush before bed.

When you hit the hay without brushing your teeth, plaque turns into tartar that can only be removed by a dental hygienist. Left untreated for too long, tartar buildup can lead to gingivitis, which is the first stage of periodontal disease.  Though gingivitis is reversible, we’d rather you prevent this condition altogether. If you’re too exhausted to brush before bed, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS encourages you to keep a toothbrush in the drawer of your nightstand. A simple dry brush is better than not brushing at all, but be sure to brush those pearly whites the minute you wake up.

If you have concerns about your oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about the 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.

Sugar and Your Smile

There’s a sweet tooth that lies in most of us, but it can lead us down a dangerous road if we don’t take care of our teeth. Too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, but few are aware of how it happens. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS would like to explain the chain of events that occur after you reach for that extra piece of cake or that sugary beverage that you’ve been craving.

Your teeth are frequently under attack by acid and bacteria, but there are good bacteria and bad. Harmful oral bacteria feed on the sugars you eat to create acids that destroy the tooth enamel through a process called demineralization. This process occurs when a patient indulges in soda, energy drinks, and starchy snacks. Fortunately, the natural process of remineralization replaces the good minerals to strengthen your teeth all over again. Fluoride is your friend in this case because it not only prevents tooth decay, but it can reverse it in the early stages. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS can discuss fluoride treatment with you and as always he encourages you to brush at least twice a day and floss once a day to keep your smile healthy.

If you have concerns about your oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about the 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.

ZOOM! Whitening

Dr. Eric M. Meyer and his staff receive many inquiries from patients just like you about how they can whiten their teeth.  We offer ZOOM! Whitening to patients looking to treat stained teeth or whiten their natural teeth.  When surface stains penetrate the tooth enamel they can darken the color of the dentin, the hard tissue layer of your tooth under the enamel. Once the dentin is darkened, it can make the whole tooth appear yellow.  Successful whitening systems go below the tooth enamel to reach the dentin.

ZOOM! Whitening combines whitening gel with an activator light to penetrate the enamel and break up stains at the dentin layer. Once the gel is applied to your teeth, the light activates and accelerates the whitening process.  When the chemical reaction lightens the color of the dentin, the whole tooth is free to become whiter.  After a consultation, we can tell you based on the level of staining on your teeth what results you can expect from ZOOM!  Patients have left the office after an hour treatment with a smile up to ten shades whiter!

For more information on this professional whitening system that delivers dramatic results, visit www.fullertondental.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M. Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Scaling and Root Planing

Gum disease in the most advanced stages can lead to gum recession and even tooth loss.  Fullerton, CA dentist Dr. Eric M. Meyer wants to help you make sure it never gets to that stage.  When sticky bacteria called plaque builds up on a tooth, the gum starts to pull away from the tooth and form a pocket around the buildup.  This only leads to more gum recession.  Scaling and root planing are used to treat this buildup and prevent advanced stages of gum disease.

Scaling and root planing are two parts of a deep cleaning procedure your dentist can perform to help repair your gums.  Scaling is the process of removing sticky plaque from the surface of your teeth all the way down to your gums. Root planing involves minor contouring to smooth the surface of a tooth near the root.  Once the plaque has been removed and the tooth root has been smoothed, the gums that had pulled away have a clean smooth surface to reattach to.   Local anesthetic is used during this procedure, and your dentist may recommend completing the treatment over a series of appointments

To learn more about scaling, root planning, and all the services we provide, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M. Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Water Flossing

Traditional flossing removes food particles between your teeth and under the gum line, so how does water flossing compare? Though water flossing is another way to clean teeth, this method involves using a hand-held device. Water flossing can be ideal for people who have trouble flossing by hand and Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS wants patients to know that if they are going to invest in a water flosser it should have the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Even if you’ve been water flossing for years, nothing beats good old dental floss. Water flossers have been tested to be safe and effective for removing plaque, and are helpful if you’ve had dental work done, such as bridges or braces. Depending on which flossing technique you decide to use, keep in mind that cleaning between your teeth should never be painful. Talk to Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS and discuss which dental cleaner is best for you.  

If you have questions about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about the 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.

DIY Whitening Facts and Fiction

It’s no secret that we all desire a brighter smile, but with DIY whitening concoctions on the rise, it’s important to know how safe they are. Just because the approach may be natural, doesn’t mean that it’s safe. This is why Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS is here to explain the facts and fictions of DIY teeth whitening and encourages you to schedule a cleaning to achieve an optimal healthy smile.

Spices, oils, charcoal, all of these things are being recommended to bring a shine back to your smile when in reality these materials can actually be abrasive to your teeth. Using materials that are too abrasive on your teeth can make them appear more yellow and increase tooth sensitivity. Before resorting to DIY techniques, you should always practice proper oral hygiene habits, first. Be sure that you are brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes, use whitening toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance and always visit Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS for dental checkups twice a year.

If you wish to inquire about our teeth whitening services, please give us a call. To learn more about the 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.