Happy New Year

It is time to make your smile great again!

Last year was "Make America Great Again", now its your smile's turn. Almost everyone makes new years resolutions about losing weight, working out, or some other way to take care of themselves, but very rarely do I hear anyone talk about taking care of their oral health in the new year. I can't ever remember someone saying that their resolution is to floss every day, or get the much needed dental work done! What we need to remember is that our mouths are our #1 source of input into our bodies. We eat, drink and breath every day, and if our mouths aren't healthy, we are also letting bacteria into the rest of our bodies when we do.

Overall Health Starts In The Mouth

There have been numerous studies that have linked oral health to various health problems, such as Heart Disease, Alzheimer's, Osteoporosis, even problems during pregnancy! However most of us are worried about how much cardio we get, or skipping leg day, even though we forgot to brush our teeth last night(not me, I remembered). This article by the Mayo Clinic shares some more information about some of the health problems that have been linked to poor oral health.

So instead of buying that gym membership that you won't use after January 20th, put the money where your mouth is, and start saving for your health. After a few visits to the dentist and getting that treatment taken care of, you can keep it up and improve your health for years to come. Make 2019 the year that you resolve to take care of yourself!

Call your dentist now, or call us to schedule a new patient exam at (916) 781-6688, or visit our website: www.dralanpan.com

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Oral Hygiene!

Hello again everyone! It occurred to us that after the lecture on Periodontal Disease last month, it might be a great idea to talk about prevention. Today we will go over dental Hygiene 101, the best practices, and some useful tools to keep your mouth as healthy as possible between your professional cleanings.

Order of Operations! You may not remember PEMDAS from math class, but pretty much everyone knows that you should brush, floss, and rinse with a mouthwash, but what you didn't know is that you are doing them in the wrong order! Dr. Pan recommends first flossing, then brushing, and finally rinsing with a non-alcoholic rinse. Flossing comes first because it helps to loosen any stuck food or plaque in between your teeth and down to your gums, which is then removed by brushing. Finally, the rinse helps to kill any stubborn bacteria around the gums and rinse anything you missed when you spit out your toothpaste. A family member taught her son the acronym FBS to help him remember:
F…

Does your smile have Termites in it?

Look Familiar? Hopefully this looks nothing like your beautiful smile, but we have all seen the movie, or at the very least heard the song 100+ times this season already. While the Grinch may simply have to live with the staining, crowding and his bug friends, we can help take care of your teeth a little better. This is not only the season for Ho-Ho-Ho but also the end of the dental benefit year for most insurance plans.
Use it or lose it! At the end of the year, most dental benefits reset, meaning you have a full maximum to use in the new year. However, you also have that pesky deductible to meet again, and any benefits that you did not use in the last year go down the drain, back into the pocket of the insurance companies. Call us today to see how to maximize your benefits for the year, or request an appointment on our website, www.dralanpan.com, or here is information on Implants, Whitening, or to learn a bit more about Dr. Pan

Dealing with Tooth Pain

Tooth pain can be terrible as you may know. This can be from tooth decay, gum health problems, gum recession, or even a naturally thin layer of enamel, but there are a few things that are quick fixes for sudden onset of sensitivity or pain when you can't get to your dentist immediately.

OTC Pain relievers: Over the counter pain relievers, such as Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol, can be used to treat minor tooth pain or sensitivity. They are fairly quick acting usually taking effect within about 30 minutes. For tooth pain Dr. Pan usually recommends Ibuprofen(Advil) because it is anti-inflammatory as well as a pain killer. This helps just in case the pain is caused by inflammation(swelling) of either the gums or inside of the tooth.Orajel: Orajel or other numbing agents are great for numbing the area temporarily until you can see your doctor. There are a number of similar products on the market, they work all basically the same way. A holistic alternative would be Clove Oil.Ice: Ice is a…

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