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By Brookside Dental Care
May 31, 2020
Category: Oral Health
Tags: oral cancer   nutrition  
DietandLifestyleChangesCouldLowerYourRiskofOralCancer

Oral cancer is one of the more dangerous malignancies people face. But there are ways you can reduce your risk of this deadly disease through changes in lifestyle habits and behaviors.

Two of the better known behaviors for increased oral cancer risk are immoderate consumption of alcohol and the use of tobacco, particularly chewing tobacco and snuff. Eliminating these, especially the latter, can vastly improve your odds of avoiding cancer. Another factor is a strain of the human papilloma virus (HPV 16) that's transmitted sexually, which you can avoid through safe sex practices.

In addition to these lifestyle changes, there's one more you should make to lower your oral cancer risk: adjustments to your diet. Research over the last half century has provided ample evidence of a link between the foods we eat and our risk of all types of cancers, including oral.

The biggest concern is over certain elements in some foods that can damage DNA, the molecular “operating instructions” that regulate the formation and function of our bodies' cells. These elements are collectively known as carcinogens because of their role in cancer formation.

An example of a carcinogen is a group of chemicals called nitrosamines. These form during preservation processes using nitrites in meats like bacon or ham. They're also found in beer or certain preserved fish. To limit your consumption of nitrosamines, you should reduce these and other processed products and replace them with fresh fruits and vegetables, or organic meats and dairy products.

Our DNA can also be damaged by unstable molecules called free radicals that arise during normal cellular function. But there are also substances known as antioxidants that help protect the cells from free radical damage. Many plant-based foods contain nutrients like vitamins C and E that have antioxidant properties, so including them in your diet could help reduce your oral cancer risk.

Several clinical studies over the years have been consistent in their findings that a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of oral or throat cancers, as well as other forms of cancer. Making changes to your diet in that direction, plus other lifestyle changes, could help you avoid this devastating oral disease.

If you would like more information on preventing oral cancer, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Diet and Prevention of Oral Cancer.”

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By Brookside Dental Care
May 27, 2020
Category: Oral Health
Tags: dentures  

Follow this useful guide to make sure that your dentures look and feel their best.

Our Stockton, CA, dentists Dr. Alexander Pritsky, Dr. Roger Lang and Dr. Ravneet Nijjar pride themselves on creating dentures that are made from durable and lifelike materials that can help restore your smile with a false set of teeth that look as natural and feel as comfortable as possible. Of course, we also know that you want your new teeth to last as long as possible, and the good news is that how you care for them can keep them strong and healthy for years to come.

Here are some tips for cleaning and caring for your dentures,

Rinse After Eating

Every time you eat you should rinse your dentures off to prevent food and plaque from getting stuck under your dentures where they could also cause problems for the gums. Make sure to handle your dentures with a gentle hand while letting lukewarm water run over your dentures (place a towel in the sink so if you do drop your dentures, they have a soft spot to land on).

Use Lukewarm Water

While hot water may sound like a great idea when it comes to soaking in a tub, hot water on dentures is a no-no. Hot or boiling water can damage or warp your dentures, which can cause your false teeth to no longer fit properly. Play it safe and use cold or lukewarm water whenever you are cleaning or rinsing out your false teeth.

Brush Dentures Daily

The benefit of false teeth is that they can’t develop cavities; however, your Stockton, CA, family dentists will still advise all denture wearers to clean their teeth at least once a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and denture cleanser. When you get fitted for your new teeth, we would be happy to discuss which products to use and show you how to properly clean your dentures to remove any adhesives and to keep your new smile looking its best.

Don’t Let Them Dry Out

When you aren’t wearing your dentures, you should never just take them out and leave them on the nightstand or bathroom counter. Not only could this cause you to accidentally knock them off and break them, but when dentures dry out this can also warp or alter the shape of your false teeth. It’s important that if you aren’t wearing your dentures that you place them in water or a soaking solution (if you are leaving them overnight).

Are you wondering whether you could benefit from getting dentures here in Stockton, CA? If so, the dental team at Brookside Dental Care would be happy to sit down with you and discuss the different tooth replacement options they offer. To schedule a consultation, please call (209) 952-8804.

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By Brookside Dental Care
May 21, 2020
Category: Dental Procedures
MileyCyrussLittleSecretStraighteningHerSmileWithLingualBraces

Miley Cyrus's rise to fame began when she was cast in the Disney series Hannah Montana. She played the title character, Hannah Montana, a famous singing star hiding her true identity, ordinary girl, Miley Stewart. In her real life at the time, Miley Cyrus had her own little secret—she was undergoing orthodontic treatment to straighten her smile.

Like many teenagers (as well as many adults), Cyrus's dental bite wasn't in proper alignment. She could have gone the traditional way by straightening her smile with braces fixed to the front of her teeth. It's an effective treatment, but the metallic hardware can overwhelm a person's appearance.

With her various roles in the public spotlight, Cyrus and her family wanted an effective but out-of-sight method for moving her teeth. They chose a relatively new one called lingual braces. Unlike traditional braces, the hardware for lingual braces is fixed on the back of the teeth (or the tongue side, hence the term “lingual”).

Lingual braces can correct any bite problem labial (“lip”) braces can, just through different mechanics of movement. Its main appeal is that the hardware is hidden behind the teeth, so only you and your orthodontist need know you're wearing braces.

There is also less risk of damage to the mouth or the braces themselves if you're in a sport or profession where you're at high risk for facial blows. And unlike patients with traditional braces, you'll have an unobstructed view of your progress over the course of treatment.

Lingual braces do tend to cost more than traditional braces. Some patients also have difficulty at first with speaking and tongue comfort, though most grow accustomed to the braces within a couple of weeks. Because lingual braces are relatively new, there's been a limited number of orthodontists offering it.

But lingual braces are just one of the ways to straighten teeth. Modern dentistry offers several ways to give you your dream smile. If you have dental problems or would like to improve the look of your smile, please contact us or schedule a consultation, and we can discuss your options. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Lingual Braces” and “The Magic of Orthodontics.”

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By Brookside Dental Care
May 11, 2020
Category: Oral Health
Tags: oral hygiene  
3SurprisingThingsYouShouldBeDoingtoImproveYourDentalHealth

You already know the basics for healthy and attractive teeth and gums: brush and floss every day; and have your teeth cleaned and checked by a dentist every six months. But there are also some lesser known things you can do to improve what you're already doing—and some of them may go against popular wisdom.

Here then are 3 counter-intuitive tips for turbo-boosting your teeth and gum health.

Avoid brushing too hard and too often. While it may not seem like it, “The more, the better” isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to brushing your teeth. Vigorous brushing several times a day could actually damage both your teeth enamel and your gums, eventually leading to problems like sensitive teeth. So, easy does it on the brushing pressure—let the mild abrasives in your toothpaste do the work removing disease-causing dental plaque. Likewise, avoid brushing more than twice a day.

Wait on brushing right after eating. If your first instinct right after a meal is to head to the sink to brush your teeth, curb your enthusiasm. Your enamel is actually in a slightly softened state right after eating and drinking because of an increase in mouth acid (especially if you've consumed sodas, sports drinks or juices). Saliva restores the mouth's pH balance and helps remineralize enamel in about an hour. If you brush before then, you could be sloughing off microscopic bits of enamel—an eventual problem if this is a regular habit.

Stop snack “grazing.” If you're one of those that likes to munch on food throughout the day, you could be thwarting your overall efforts to maintain good dental health. Remember saliva? As mentioned, it effectively neutralizes acid in a few minutes. But continuous snacking maintains a constant high level of acid in the mouth—saliva has little chance to catch up. As a result, your mouth stays acidic, which can lead to higher risk of dental disease. If possible, limit your snacking to mealtimes.

These tips might be surprising, but they're based on sound science and research. Incorporating them into your regular, ongoing dental care, could increase your chances of healthy teeth and gums.

If you would like more information on how best to clean and care for your teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “10 Tips for Daily Oral Care at Home.”

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By Brookside Dental Care
May 07, 2020
Category: Cosmetic Dentistry
Tags: Invisalign  

If your teeth are crooked, you might have wondered about orthodontic treatment. The team of dentists here at Brookside Dental Care in Stockton, CA, Dr. Alexander Pritsky, Dr. Roger Lang, and Dr. Ravneet Nijjar, are proud to offer Invisalign to their patients who want to enhance the appearance and the health of their smiles. A few common questions about this orthodontic breakthrough are answered below.

How does Invisalign work?

Traditional braces gradually shift the teeth into the correct position through the manipulation of brackets and wires. Invisalign works in a similar way, but the clear plastic aligners are designed to put gentle, concentrated pressure on the teeth over a period of a week or two. After that, a new aligner is worn to reflect the changes made from the previous one. This process continues until your teeth are straight; typical Invisalign treatment time is a year to 18 months.

What are the advantages of Invisalign?

As you may already know, Invisalign offers people the chance for a straightened smile with flexible plastic aligners, similar to whitening trays, that are custom-made and nearly invisible. These aligners are designed to be removed for eating and drinking, offering you the unique opportunity to enjoy what you want while going through an orthodontic regimen. The aligners are also meant to be removed for cleaning, ensuring that your teeth are staying healthy during your Invisalign treatment.

Am I a candidate for Invisalign?

Invisalign works for a variety of alignment issues, but keeping track of the aligners and remembering to wear them for most of the day is essential for a successful course of treatment. For these reasons, your Stockton dentist typically recommends Invisalign for patients over the age of 18. If you have any dental health issues, such as gum disease or cavities, those may need to be addressed before proceeding with Invisalign.

To schedule a consultation about Invisalign with Dr. Pritsky, Dr. Lang, or Dr. Nijjar, contact Brookside Dental Care in Stockton, CA, at (209) 952-8804 for an appointment.

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