Tooth Picks

Be Careful With Toothpicks

Most dentists agree that toothpicks should be used sparingly as a method of teeth cleaning and should never be considered a substitute for brushing teeth and flossing. Fact is they should be used only when a toothbrush or floss is not available, for example, when you are in a restaurant and have food trapped between teeth.

Toothpicks that are used overzealously can damage tooth enamel, lacerate gums, and even cause a broken tooth in severe cases. People who have bonding or veneers can chip or break them if they aren't careful. Overly aggressive use of toothpicks can severely wear the roots of teeth, especially in cases where gums have pulled away from the teeth and leave teeth with root surfaces exposed, notably in the elderly.

Toothpicks date back to 3,500 BC when the earliest known oral hygiene kit featuring a toothbrush was found at the Ningal Temple in Ur. In China, a curved pendant, made of cast bronze was worn around the neck and used as a toothpick. In 536 BC, the Chinese mandated a law that required the use of the toothpick because their armies suffered from bad breath. In the Old Testament, it is written that "one may take a splinter from the wood lying near him to clean his teeth."

Today, most toothpicks in the United States come from "toothpick trees" in Maine. The tree is a white birch which has its trunk cut into thin sheets that are cut again to the thickness and length of toothpicks.

Dentists can tell when they have a habitual toothpick user in their dental chair. There are the tell-tale signs of toothpick marks. So use them if you have too, but don't make it a habit. Brush and floss instead. Make sure you come in and see our hygienist and Doctor Vasquez every 6 months for your cleaning and exam. 

Are your kids brushing their teeth?

5 Clues Your Child Is not Brushing

1. The toothbrush is dry.

It's tough to keep the toothbrush dry if you're actually brushing! Make sure to check your child’s toothbrush every day (and night ) – before it has time to dry.

2. You can still see food particles.

After your child has brushed, ask for a smile. If you can still see bits of food on or in between your child's teeth, send your child back to the bathroom for a do-over.

3. Teeth don’t pass the “squeak test.”

Have your child wet his or her finger and rub it quickly across the outside and inside of his or her teeth. If the teeth are clean, you will hear a squeaking sound.

4. Breath is everything but fresh.

If your child is brushing and flossing regularly, his or her breath should be fresh. The foul odor associated with bad breath is most often caused by food particles -- either food left in between teeth or food trapped in the grooves on the tongue.

5. Your child has a toothache.

Even if you can't tell if your child is brushing well, a toothache is a red flag. Make sure your child sees the dentist right away – a filling or other treatment may be in order.

Remember, brushing is just one part of your child’s total oral health regimen. In order to remove stubborn plaque and tartar buildup and prevent other dental problems, regular exams and cleanings are a must. Plus, your dentist can help reinforce the importance of good oral hygiene with your child.

Medications and you Dental health

How Medications Affect Your Dental Health                                                 If you're taking medications for certain health conditions, it may not have crossed your mind that they can also impact your oral health. After all, medications are supposed to bring equilibrium back to your system, not stir things up, right? Truth is a variety of prescribed medications can affect your teeth. Antihistamines may cause dry mouth syndrome, which can lead to sore gums, making the mouth more prone to infection. Contraceptives and blood pressure medications may cause mouth sores, gum inflammation and discoloration. Blood thinners can interfere with your ability to form blood clots or cause heavy bleeding after a tooth extraction. Anti-seizure medications can cause an overgrowth of gum tissue (gingival hyperplasia) and make it difficult to practice good oral hygiene. When you're taking medications and start taking other medications — whether prescribed, over-the-counter or illegal - it can change the effects of both the original and the new medications. Simply put, when certain drugs interact, they may increase or decrease the effects or produce another, unintended effect. This is why it's so important to keep Dr. Vasquez informed about all the medications you take; any teeth medications you are prescribed will take this into consideration.  

Dental Emergency

Dental Emergency

A dental emergency can strike anytime, anywhere, and without warning.  many kinds of activities could lead to a dental emergency from misplaced fly balls to popcorn seeds causing a painful bout of inflammation, there are many kinds of dental emergencies.

Here are some of the most common reasons for Dental Emergency visits.

A chipped tooth is the most common dental emergency. Small chips can be caused by food (seeds and nuts have sent many people to see the dentist); however, it's usually some sort of accident or injury that more often causes a chip. While you might be embarrassed to walk around with a gaping chip in your front tooth, it is easily fixed with a bond, crown, or veneer.

It might sound funny, but getting a piece of food lodged in the wrong place can result in a dental emergency. If something gets stuck deep in a crevice, it can cause pain and inflammation.

The loss of a filling happens more often than you think. When you lose a filling, you need to take care of it immediately. If you don’t, you may risk further damage to your tooth usually leading to more extensive and costly treatments.

Somehow you've managed to knock out a tooth. Whether it's the result of decay or because a result of a sports injury, when you lose a tooth, you need emergency dental care. If the tooth is salvageable, then it can be re-implanted into the socket, but this needs to be done within a very short period of time.

A broken tooth is more severe than a chipped tooth. When a tooth breaks, it might be due to a small or hidden chip. However, chances are the pain and discomfort will be more severe.

When you injure your teeth or mouth, you need to seek emergency care as soon as possible. In the event of a dental emergency, don't wait. Contact us immediately www.vasquezdds.com or 760-712-4128

Same Day Dentistry

                        My sister has RA (an autoimmune disease that attacks your joints) and she is taking strong immunosuppressant drugs to keep the RA at bay.  She has one day per month to get dental work done. With Doctor Vasquez Same day dentistry, makes getting dental work done convenient for those patients who have medical limitations.

- Tera Dean RDH

The Best Dental Experience!

Hello I'm Ruby, the office Manager at Dr. Vasquez office the BEST Dentist in Oceanside!

Recently I had a family reunion; I was very excited and nervous to go.  Excited because it is always fun to spend quality time with my family and make memories especially for the younger kids, nervous because I haven’t seen some of my family members in a long time but when we arrived we were greeted as if the years have never gone by.  I always look forward to our family reunions; you are always welcomed with open arms and a warmth atmosphere, that’s how I feel when I come to work every day.  We are a family that provides our patients the same warmth atmosphere and make them feel right at home in our office, every patient is treated like family, and every visit to our practice is always a pleasant one.  All the staff works together as a team to assure each patient has the best dental experience; that is our commitment to you.

At our office seeing our patients again is like a family reunion!

Daniel Vasquez DDS Staff Blogger: In our dental office we provide our patients an ex...

Daniel Vasquez DDS Staff Blogger: In our dental office we provide our patients an ex...

In our dental office we provide our patients an excellent experience.