Denture Pain Can Cause Problems

Denture pain typically stems from poor fitting or poorly adjusted dentures. It may also be a result of new dentures, worn over soft tissues that have not developed thick, toughened layers of protective keratin. If you are experiencing gum and mouth irritation, problems eating and speaking, develop mouth infections, and/or dentures that move around in your mouth, give Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS a call to discuss your treatment options.

If you wear dentures, it is very important you keep your mouth clean and healthy. In addition, you should never experience pain when wearing your dentures. If you do experience pain from your dentures and this discomfort is not treated by speaking slowly, eating soft foods or using an adhesive, your dentures may need an adjustment or you may need a replacement. At the dental practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS, we have plenty of tooth-replacement options for you to choose from if dentures aren’t working out.

If you have dentures that are causing you pain, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

Drink More Water

It’s no secret that water is good for your teeth, but Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS is here to explain why. Drinking sugary beverages may assist in washing down your dinner, but they will do more harm to your dental health than good. Our bodies are made up of 60% water and staying hydrated not only delivers healthy nutrients and give your skin a healthy glow, it protects against tooth decay and cavities.

The cavity-causing bacteria from sugary food and drinks produce acid that wears away enamel if not washed off immediately. Water, however, cleans your teeth with every sip by washing away leftover food and residue. Drinking water with fluoride, aka “nature’s cavity fighter” is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to help prevent cavities. You’ll still need to brush twice a day for two minutes and floss at least once a day to keep your teeth in tip-top shape.

If you have questions about your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

How Thumbsucking Affects Teeth

Thumbsucking often begins as a habit for communication in young children. Though it’s a natural reflex for them, doing so can be dangerous for teeth. The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may result in the pediatric patient. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS would like to explain the effects thumbsucking has on teeth and what you can do to help your child break the habit.

Thumbsucking is calming for a child and makes them feel secure in their world. After permanent teeth erupt, the action of sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth such as an overbite. To wean your child off of this routine, you should reward them for not doing it. Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure, so focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety. Additionally, Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS can offer encouragement to your child and explain what can happen to their teeth if they don’t stop.

If you have questions about pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.

Dry Sockets

Tooth extractions are a routine procedure and Dr. Haeri works hard to ensure her patients have successful recoveries. However, complications such as a dry socket can happen. To prevent this, Dr. Haeri wants her patients to understand what to avoid in the days following an extraction and when to come to her for help.

As you can probably guess, a dry socket is what happens when an empty socket dries out. This is extremely painful and poses a high risk of infection. Typically, when teeth are extracted, a blood clot will form to protect the socket, but certain medications, including birth control, can prevent this from happening. We also advise patients to gently rinse their mouths with salt water after surgery to moisturize and prevent decay in a way which will not disturb the clot. Sipping through straws and smoking are known to increase the risk a clot will be dislodged or dissolved.

A dry socket will usually be evident within two days of an extraction. Patients should come to us immediately so we can prevent further damage and ease their pain. After using a vacuum to clean the socket, Dr. Haeri will apply medicated wound dressing (this could be cloth or a paste) and prescribe antibiotics and pain medications. Unfortunate though dry sockets are, with proper treatment they should not prevent a patient from making a full recovery.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, of Cosmetic & General Dentistry, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.