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Soft Laser Therapy and Biostimulation

Canker sores, otherwise known as mouth ulcers, are painful pits that can be located on the gum or tongue. Ulcers are caused by a number of things including stress, improper brushing, and eating an unbalanced diet that results in a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. Diagnosing a mouth ulcer is fairly easy as they are usually either white or yellow in color and painful to the touch. It’s very common to get repeat ulcers throughout your life and affect nearly 20% of the general population.


Although ulcers generally heal by themselves over the course of a few days, some require medical intervention such as soft laser therapy treatment which can only be provided through your dentist. Soft laser therapy is completely painless and high effective and the quickest fix for those who have either multiple or extremely painful mouth ulcers.


Soft laser therapy works by promoting tissue healing as well as reducing inflammation and pain in the area where it is applied. The lasers make the procedure completely non-surgical, therefore not requiring the patient to be under any form of anesthesia. Biostimulation, promoting blood circulation to the area, and vasodilation are all mechanisms used in order to treat the mouth ulcers.


Biostimulation is a process where lasers are used using photon energy to stimulate the tissue. The lasers are set to a specific wavelength to promote rapid wound healing and instant pain relief to the area. Biostimulation also promotes collagen growth to speed up the healing process. With the pain gone, the patient will not even know that the ulcer exists in their mouth anymore and it will be completely gone within 4 days, if not sooner.


To learn more about soft laser therapy and biostimulation, schedule a consultation with Newbury Smiles by calling +1 805-499-3691 or by visiting our website at newburysmiles.com/contact.

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Dental Work During Pregnancy

Expectant mothers, especially first-timers tend to worry about everything from the food that they eat and the activities that are still safe for them to do during this period of development. A common concern of expectant mothers is whether or not they are still able to go to the dentist. Let’s find out.


Truthfully, going to the dentist while pregnant is not only safe, but also highly recommended. With the surge of hormones and blood levels, your gums bleed more often and swell which can trap food and cause cavities and gum irritation. Therefore, keeping up with your bi-annual cleanings is very important, especially since there is a link between gum disease and preterm birth stats.


As far as other dental work being done such as cavities, crowns, fillings, etc, these are all safe during pregnancy as well, though it may be wise to take care of these things before the third trimester as it is not recommended for women to be on their backs for extended periods of time during the last few weeks. If the dental work is not urgent, seeking care for minor things is recommended to be done after giving birth.


In terms of medications that are used during and after dental procedures, there are conflicting ideas about the use of lidocaine and whether or not it has any adverse effect on the developing fetus which is why if you can hold off on any procedure that involves anesthesia, you should do it.


The antibiotics that are prescribed afterward though are deemed completely safe and will have no effect, large or small, on your baby.


The big question that gets asked is the use of x-rays in dental work and whether or not the routine procedure is deemed safe during pregnancy. X-rays in a lot of cases are needed when diagnosing certain ailments, and also to track your dental health progress so it’s a valid concern seeing as how common they are.


The answer to the concern is yes, x-rays are safe. The amount of radiation that is emitted from a single x-ray is not enough to cause any sort of adverse effect on the developing fetus. Of course, safety nets are put in place no matter whether you’re pregnant or not. Shields and blankets can be placed over your belly to limit the amount of radiation, even though none will actually penetrate through. As mentioned above, the only safety reason so put off having major dental work during pregnancy is the prolonged lying on your back which can cut off blood flow to the baby in the third trimester.


Some general tips for pregnant women and their dental concerns:


  • Brush your teeth twice a day 
  • Floss daily
  • Go to all bi-annual exams and cleanings
  • Inform your dentist of your pregnancy
  • Leave non-emergency procedures until after the pregnancy

For further questions and inquiries, contact Newbury Smiles today by calling +1 805-499-3691, or by visiting our website at newburysmiles.com/contact.

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Halitosis

Halitosis, commonly known as chronic bad breath, is different from the bad breath that you experience when you wake up in the morning or eat something garlic-y. No matter what you do, whether it be brushing your teeth, chewing a mint, or using mouthwash, the bad smell remains. When this happens, it’s best to consult a dentist as it may indicate an underlying condition that could be serious.


What Causes Halitosis?

If quick bad breath fixes are only covering up the problem for a short time, something else may be happening in your body, including: 


Cavities: Holes and pockets in your teeth are the perfect place for bad breath causing bacteria to hide, especially since they’re so hard to clean out.


Nose and Throat Infections: Postnasal drip can be a cause of halitosis. Bacteria love to feast upon the mucus that leaves your nasal passage and drains into your throat.


Dry Mouth: Saliva helps you process the food in your mouth, making it easier to swallow, but it also helps your oral health. Saliva produces disease-fighting substances that help prevent the formation of cavities. Halitosis can cause the saliva to disappear, leaving food particles and bacteria in its place.


Smoking: While the act of smoking already makes your breath smell less than desirable, smoking also drys out your mouth which was already previously stated to cause halitosis. Excessive smoking can also lead to gum disease, another culprit of halitosis.


Chronic Medical Conditions: Halitosis can be a warning sign of something much more sinister such as kidney disease, liver disease, reflux, and diabetes. 


Treating Halitosis

If you suspect that you have halitosis, start by changing your dental routine. If you brush your teeth only at night, start by adding an additional brushing session to your day, each session lasting for about 2 minutes. Start flossing once a day as well.


If you’re a smoker, try to start cutting back on the number of tobacco products you consume in a day and drink plenty of water to prevent your mouth from drying out. Cutting back on caffeinated drinks and replacing them with water will also help.


If none of these things work, make an appointment with your dentist as you may have an underlying medical condition that is not known yet that your dentist will be able to figure out.


If you suspect you have halitosis, have questions about halitosis, or simply would like to have a consultation, give us a call at +1 805-499-3691.

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Night Guards

It’s safe to say that waking up with a headache, tooth pain, and a sore jaw isn’t normal and a situation that needs to be addressed right away. Symptoms such as these appearing after what should have been a restful night’s sleep may be recognized as a condition that we covered in a previous blog called bruxism, or teeth grinding in layman’s terms.


One of the most common treatments for fixing this condition is a night guard. A night guard is a removable appliance that the affected person wears at night that prevents them from grinding their teeth. The best part is is that a night guard is easily attainable without a prescription at most local pharmacies, but you can also get one through your dentist. It is recommended to get one through your dentist as these ones tend to be of higher quality and provide a more comfortable fit. However, they are more expensive so keep this in mind if cost is an issue for you.


Both serve the same purpose in the end however, so whichever one you choose, both will prevent your teeth from grinding against one another.


Other Treatments for Teeth Grinding

As a refresher, if a night guard is not a good match for you, there are alternate options.

  • Teeth straightening: Teeth that are misaligned can cause the affected person to grind their teeth. Braces or Invisalign can rectify the problem.
  • Stress prevention: People deal with stress in multiple ways, most commonly by clenching their jaw. Your dentist may recommend you to find some stress prevention techniques to help with the stress or use healthier coping mechanisms.
  • Change of diet or medication: Caffeine and other stimulants are notorious for making people grind their teeth so limiting your intake or cutting it out completely may make a huge difference. Anti-depressants are also known to cause this.

To find out whether or not a night guard is right for you, contact us today by calling +1 805-499-3691 or by visiting newburysmiles.com

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