Show Off Your Smile!

At the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer DDS, we always want you to be ready to smile for the camera. If you need a confidence boost because your smile looks a little lackluster, we offer a variety of teeth whitening services to help your pearly whites shine bright. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we thought we’d share these tips that will help you show off the photogenic smile you already have.

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.


• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.


• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

If you wish to improve the appearance of your smile, please give us a call. To learn about our services we provide 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.

Teeth Types and Functions

Teeth talk is popular at the dental practice of Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS. In fact, our staff takes pride in educating you about keeping your teeth healthy on a regular basis. Since we’re already on the topic of teeth, have you ever wondered why all of your choppers are shaped differently? That’s because you have different types that all serve a different purpose. Your teeth look different from one another because they are designed to do different things. Not only do they help you speak, but how else would you be able to swallow your food?  Read on to learn about the different types of teeth and their functions!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your pearly whites, please give us a call. To learn about our services we provide 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.

Make Sure You Are Brushing For Two Minutes!

To get a good cleaning, you should be spending about two minutes brushing your teeth. However, many patients only spend a few seconds. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants to ensure his patients are taking excellent home oral care. Take some tips for making sure you are spending enough time brushing!

When brushing, you need to make sure you hit all the surfaces of the teeth including the insides, the fronts, the chewing surfaces, and the backs of the back molars. In addition, you should be brushing the roof of your mouth, your tongue, and the insides of your cheeks. These are places where bacteria can collect and make dental plaque worse.

Many music players have counters on them, so turn on your favorite tune and rock out while you brush! Just look for the two-minute mark. Another great way is to set up an hour glass, or in this case, a minute glass. You just need to turn it over a second time for the full two minutes.

Splitting the mouth into four sections is also a good way to break up the minutes and get an even brushing. Spend thirty seconds on the upper-right section, thirty seconds on the upper-left section, and so on for the two lower sections.

Good dental care will lead to good dental checkups. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Sensitivity Solutions

Sensitive teeth can be a real pain, especially while enjoying your favorite hot or cold beverages. Sensitive teeth usually need to be checked by your dentist, but there are ways to avoid it. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA wants his patients to be aware of what can cause sensitive teeth and what they can do about it.

Sensitive teeth are often caused by worn down tooth enamel; exposing the dentin. The dentin contains tiny tubes that lead to the center of the tooth where all the nerves are. To avoid wearing down your enamel, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, plaque comes off your teeth with a light touch so you do not have to scrub hard. Secondly, if you grind or clench your teeth, you may want to consider wearing a night guard.

Enamel can also be worn down by brushing too soon. Yes, it is true, you can brush too soon! The foods we eat contain acids that can soften enamel. Wait at least thirty minutes after eating to brush so the enamel can re-harden. In addition, very acidic foods and drinks should be enjoyed in moderation.

If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, it could be as simple of a fix as changing a habit. However, you should get sensitivity checked by Dr. Meyer to ensure you do not have a cavity or a fracture. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website,  www.fullertondental.com. 

Habits That Are Bad For Teeth

Do you use your teeth as tools? For example, maybe you use them to open a bag of potato chips, uncap a bottle of nail polish, or to rip a price tag off a piece of clothing. If you do, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS suggests that you break these habits immediately. This is because these patterns can be hard on your teeth, traumatizing them or causing the edge of a weakened tooth to chip off or even fracture.

Other habits that are bad for your teeth include brushing them too hard, chewing ice cubes and even nail-biting. Would you believe that the Academy of General Dentistry estimates that frequent nail biters may rack up $4,000 in additional dental bills over the course of their lifetime? That’s a lot of money to spend on something that could be avoided. We understand that breaking bad habits are hard. However, you can take steps to reduce them by simply being aware that you are doing them.

To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS here in our Fullerton, CA office, call 714-879-7943.

Beware of Plaque

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. These bacteria develop when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches), such as milk, soft drinks, or candy are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. This is why it’s important to visit Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS for professional cleanings.

Plaque can also develop on the tooth roots under the gum and cause breakdown of the bone supporting the tooth. When this happens, the gum tissue can become red, swollen, and possible bleed when you brush your teeth. This is called gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal (gum) disease. To prevent plaque buildup and gum disease, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft, rounded tip bristled toothbrush. You should also floss between teeth at least once a day to remove food particles and bacteria.

If you have plaque buildup or are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS here in our Fullerton, CA office, call 714-879-7943.

Implant Retained Dentures

When you think of dentures, unfortunately, you may think of ill-fitting dentures that slip around when you talk or eat. However, with advancements in dentistry, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS is able to offer a more stable way to use dentures here at our Fullerton, CA dental practice. Dr. Meyer utilizes mini dental implants to give dentures the strongest, most stable base they have ever had.

Mini dental implants are placed along with upper and lower jaw lines. Usually, between four and six are used per jaw line. The dentures are then modified so that they clip right into the mini implants. They are easy to clip in for patients, so their dentures are still just as removable as before. The difference, however, is a stable base that fits well, feels good, and doesn’t move around. Laughing, smiling, talking, and chewing are all the better with dentures that fit. Implant-retained dentures also help keep the jawbone from degenerating as quickly! So your dentures will fit better for longer.

Mini dental implants are about half the size of traditional dental implants, so they take much less time to heal. There is no actual surgery needed. Dentures are often able to be placed the same day as the mini implants!

If you are looking for a tooth replacement option or looking for a better option for your dentures, mini dental implants may be perfect for you! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS here in our Fullerton, CA office, call us at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com.