How Fruit Juice Affects Your Teeth

Fruit juice seems like the perfect healthy drink for your kids, right? This all-natural beverage may seem like the best choice for your kids to enjoy as opposed to soda or caffeinated drinks. But, fruit drinks are also a major culprit for tooth decay and cavities. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Suzanne Haeri treats a variety of dental health problems, including tooth decay which can stem from fruit juice.

The Dangers of Sugar

You’ve probably heard the dangers of sugar a thousand times. Sugar negatively impacts your body and your teeth are no different. After you eat junk food or sip on unhealthy drinks, harmful bacteria in your mouth like Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus feed on the sugars leftover in your saliva. These bacteria create a plaque on the surface of your teeth. They also trigger destructive acids which cause enamel erosion and tooth decay.

But, Why Fruit Juice?

Okay, we know sugar is bad, but why is fruit juice dangerous for oral health? When it comes to fruit juice or any similar food, keep in mind that just because something is natural doesn’t mean its completely healthy. 

Whether its sugar from candy or natural sugars derived from fruit, sugar is still sugar and harms your child’s teeth. Fruit juice isn’t all that healthy as well, with too much extra sugar and calories even if it’s naturally derived from just fruit. Bacteria also feed off natural sugars in your child’s mouth, leading the way for weak enamel and decay.

Treatment

Prevention is the best medicine. So the next time you pair your child’s afternoon snack with some beverage, choose water instead of juice. Of course, you don’t have to completely end your child’s juice intake but limiting the amount of fruit juice your child consumes daily is a good idea.

If your child is already experiencing dental problems from sugar, contact Dr. Haeri’s office in Los Angeles, CA today.  We use a variety of treatment options including fillings, crowns, and extractions to improve your child’s oral health. 

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.

Painless Dentistry

Nervous about your dental visit? You’re not alone. Research platform DentaVox reports, about one-third of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Suzanne Haeri is passionate about making dental appointments pleasant and positive experiences for all her patients. Here are several technologies we use to make your visit as comfortable as possible!

Sedation Dentistry

Using medications to relax patients during dental procedures, sedation dentistry is a great option for a painless dental experience. There are three levels of sedation we use at our office: minimal sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia.

Minimal sedation a smaller dose of medication, allowing you to be awake, but numb during the procedure. Deep sedation makes patients almost unconscious, with the ability to be awakened. Under general anesthesia, you’re completely unconscious during the entire process.

DentalVibe Injection Comfort System

DentalVibe is one of the revolutionary inventions your Los Angeles, CA offers to patients to eliminate painful dental visits. Unlike a traditional injection, you will feel no pricks, pinches, or even the tiniest amount of pain using DentalVibe. This device uses vibrations to block the sensation of pain, leaving patients with no side effects.

Bonding

When you think of bonding, unsightly silver amalgam fillings and a drill powering down on your teeth come to picture. Instead at our office, we use composite resin to cover discolored or damaged teeth. With no scary drilling in your teeth, bonding is a quick procedure that uses only an adhesive to attach molded resin onto the front of your teeth. 

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.

Your Guide to Toothpaste

With thousands of toothpaste brands on the market, it’s overwhelming to find a toothpaste that best fits your needs. That’s why Dr. Suzanne Haeri of Los Angeles, CA created a simple guide for navigating the world of dental hygiene. Here’s everything you need to know about toothpaste. 

Know Ingredients

Most toothpaste brands use the same active ingredients in their formula. If you know you’re allergic or sensitive to a few ingredients, it’s helpful to be aware of what you’re putting in your mouth beforehand. 

For example, sodium lauryl sulfate, common in many tubes of toothpaste is known to trigger canker sores. If you’re prone to mouth ulcers like canker sores, its best to stay away from brands that use this ingredient.

Fluoride is another ingredient to know. An essential component to look for when purchasing toothpaste, fluoride fights tooth decay and strengthens the enamel. However, younger children should only use a tiny amount when brushing. Too much fluoride exposure during the first eight years of a child’s life leads to a cosmetic condition called fluorosis. 

Check for ADA Approval

The American Dental Association (ADA) evaluates every dental product on the market using strict guidelines of safety and effectiveness. The official ADA seal on an item means it’s trusted by your Los Angeles, CA dentist. 

Types of Toothpaste

The most important function of toothpaste is to fight cavities. Besides this purpose, it’s your preference for selecting a brand that targets additional oral health problems like:

-Sensitivity issues

-Whitening

-Bad breath

-Tartar control

-Allergies: Natural or organic toothpaste was invented as an additive-free option for dental hygiene. These products work the same as regular toothpaste but their mild contents are suitable for people with oral allergies.

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.

Fluorosis

Do your child’s teeth look different? White spots or pits? Your child may have fluorosis, a condition that’s caused by increased fluoride exposure while the teeth are growing into permanent molars. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Suzanne Haeri treats a variety of dental conditions, including fluorosis.

 

Cause

Fluorosis is caused by overexposure of fluoride on your child’s teeth during the first eight years of their life. 

 

Fluoride is a natural ingredient present in products like toothpaste, water, soda, juice, and mouthwash. Your Los Angeles, CA dentist rounded up some tips for limiting fluoride intake:

 

-Avoid soda and juice.

-Use a toothpaste amount no smaller than a grain of rice for children under age three. For older children apply a pea-size amount.

-Fluoride levels in water normally don’t affect teeth. If your community’s water source contains high amounts of fluoride, consider other water sources like bottled water.

-Keep mouthwash away from children under the age of six.

 

Symptoms

-Yellow or dark brown discoloration

-White pits or spots

-Ridges around the teeth

 

Although fluorosis has no serious oral health effects, symptoms are permanent without treatment. For some patients, the changes in appearance are a source of shame or loss of confidence.

 

Treatment

We offer a variety of cosmetic treatments for both adults and children who have fluorosis at our Los Angeles, CA office:

 

-Teeth whitening and bleaching

-Crowns

-Veneers and Lumineers

-Bonding

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.