6 Tips to Improve Your Smile

Your smile is key to making a good first impression. That’s why Dr. Suzanne Haeri is passionate about improving her patients’ smiles at her Los Angeles, CA office one mouth at a time. Here are six ways to transform your smile today!

 

Proper Hygiene

Regularly flossing and brushing your teeth is a no-brainer for keeping your smile beautiful and healthy. Without proper care, your molars will rot and decay. Invest in a good quality toothbrush for use twice a day. Try to rinse your mouth with water after every meal to remove any lingering debris in your molars. Forming good habits like this will take you far in achieving the pearly smile you dream of! 

 

Eating Healthy
It’s no secret that sugary drinks and junk food have a big impact on your teeth. If you want a beautiful smile, its best to stay away from unhealthy foods. A little candy or soft drink is fine here and there, but don’t let your sugar tooth run loose.  Too much sugar results in everything to avoid for a pretty smile: cavities, tooth decay, enamel, and gum erosion, and much more.

 

Avoid Foods That Stain
Coffee, red wine, and even tomatoes are just some of the many foods that stain your natural teeth hue. But, you don’t have to ditch the drink right away. Instead, opt for a straw when you sip and rinse after consuming.

 

Teeth Whitening and Bleaching
Some teeth stains are unavoidable and that’s where your Los Angeles, CA dentist comes in. To return your teeth to their natural color, we offer teeth whitening trays to use in the comfort of your own home. First, we’ll make an impression of your teeth. Then we’ll send you off with a custom whitening tray and gel to apply after the process is complete. For whitening your teeth beyond their natural color,  Dr. Haeri recommends bleaching which can be done at our LA office.

 

Braces

Do you have gaps or crooked teeth? Braces are a great way to fix this issue all while drastically altering your smile for the better.

 

Veneers and Lumineers
Veneers and Lumineers are great options for people interested in changing their smiles. Made of porcelain, veneers are thin casings of ceramic that bond to the front of discolored or crooked teeth. Unlike traditional veneers, Lumineers don’t involve anesthesia.

 

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.

 

 

Gum Disease and Impacted Teeth

An impacted tooth isn’t just an uncomfortable cosmetic issue; it’s a potential threat to a patient’s oral health. At the South Carthay dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we offer a full suite of general and cosmetic dental services for each of our patients’ individual needs. An impacted tooth is one situation in which a tooth extraction might be warranted, so we want our patients to understand its seriousness and their full range of options.

 

We use the term “impacted” to describe a tooth that is unable to fully emerge from the gum. This can happen to any tooth, but since wisdom teeth are the largest and last to erupt, it’s most likely to happen to them. When a wisdom tooth only partly erupts, a large section of it will remain covered by a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. Food debris will get caught under the operculum, where a patient will have difficulty dislodging it. There, bacteria will feed on it, causing inflammation around the partly-erupted dental crown, which is a condition we call “pericoronitis.” The patient will experience soreness and swelling, and since the infection will not get better on its own, there’s a risk it will spread.

 

An operculum can be cleaned by a dental hygienist, and we encourage patients not to wait to get this done. But as long as the operculum remains, more food can get stuck under it. One solution would be to cut the operculum away, but this would not fix any other problems the impacted tooth is causing, such as bite difficulties. Although we don’t take tooth extraction lightly, it is a common, efficient process, and one that will allow a patient to quickly resume chewing normally with much less discomfort.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.

 

Types of Mouthwash

As both a cosmetic and general dental office, we at the South Carthay practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri know that our patients want their mouths to smell as good as they look. The bacteria on our tongues and enamel emit a foul odor that is usually the cause of bad breath, and mouthwash is one of the most common tools for fighting them. But how does mouthwash fit into routine oral hygiene? In this post, we’ll explore the different types and when they are recommended.

 

No mouthwash is able to replace brushing and flossing, but many kinds can supplement them. Cosmetic mouthwash is that which only masks a bad smell, while therapeutic mouthwash kills oral bacteria and helps to guard against the development of gum disease. Sometimes available by prescription, therapeutic mouthwash may be used when a patient has a dry socket or other dental injury. Many mouthwashes also contain fluoride to help bolster enamel’s defense against oral bacteria’s acidic secretions and may benefit people who suffer recurring tooth decay.

 

Some mouthwash also provides pain relief and may be used when a patient has mouth sores. But one thing to be cautious of is that mouthwash is often alcoholic, and while there is no evidence it contributes to oral cancer, it may dry out a user’s mouth if they don’t hydrate sufficiently. Alcohol-free mouthwashes are commonly available for children, and many teenagers with orthodontic appliances especially enjoy having an easy way of improving their breath.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.

 

Flossing Technique

When you floss properly, you greatly reduce your risk of tooth decay, gum recession, halitosis, and all sorts of associated problems. But flossing properly isn’t quite as simple as it sounds. At the South Carthay cosmetic and general dentistry office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we strive to provide our patients with top-quality care, but to keep their smiles dazzling in between dental appointments, patients need to understand how to improve their oral hygiene. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how to floss.

 

Since you’ll be removing plaque from your teeth each time you floss, you’ll want to use a long strand. Fifteen to eighteen inches should be sufficient. You’ll be able to manipulate the strand with your pointer fingers and thumbs if you wrap the ends around your middle fingers. As you go from each side of each tooth, unspool a little more floss and wrap it around the other middle finger so you’re not just transferring plaque between teeth. On each side of each tooth, slide the floss as far as it will comfortably go, bend it around the tooth in a c-shape, and rub it back and forth as you move it back out. You shouldn’t bleed or be in pain, but the floss will move a short distance into the area between the crown and the gum tissue. Don’t forget the back sides of the back teeth.

 

If you do bleed while flossing your teeth, you likely have gingivitis and may need a professional cleaning. But flossing is a necessity for anyone with teeth, even if the teeth are artificial. Although it doesn’t make much difference whether flossing is done before or after brushing, it needs to be done at least once a day. We can give you a demonstration if there’s any part of it you’re still confused about, and if you’re struggling, you may want to look into getting a flosser, which mounts a strand of floss on an easy to grip handle.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.

 

Healthy Snacks For Children

Providing your children with a healthy and nutritious diet is a great way to prevent cavities. Sugary foods attract harmful bacteria to the teeth. This creates more instances of tooth decay and other oral complications. That’s why Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA, has put together a small dental guide to healthy snacks. Eating healthy guarantees a happy mouth!

 

It can be a real challenge getting your kids to eat foods that aren’t sugary sweet. Not every kid is good about eating vegetables like broccoli or celery either. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck! Variety is key to nutritional harmony. Your Los Angeles, CA, dentist and the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your child’s diet consists of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, protein sources like nuts and lean meats, and whole grains.

 

Here are a few snacks tested and approved by your dentist:

-Veggies with dip

-Cheddar cheese and apples

-Sliced watermelon

-Low-fat yogurt with berries

-Unsalted almonds or coconut flakes

-Toasted whole-grain pita chips with hummus

 

Try to limit how much your child is snacking. Encourage them to eat more at the three meals of the day. A few snacks are fine, just don’t go overboard! Your mouth needs a break in between eating to clean itself, washing away any leftover food debris.

 

Dr. Suzanne Haeri is a quality dentist in the Los Angeles, CA, area. If you or your child need a dental appointment, call her office at 310-657-2200. You can also visit her website at https://www.suzannehaeridds.com/.

Lumineers

Dr. Suzanne Haeri is a cosmetic and general dentist located in Los Angeles, CA. She can help you keep your teeth both looking good and clean! One of the services she provides is Lumineers. Lumineers are very similar to veneers with one major difference: lumineers require no preparation beforehand! That means you will walk out of our office with brand new teeth. These ultra-thin shells are placed on your teeth easily with zero discomforts. Talk to our office today to set up your appointment.

 

You should never be embarrassed about your teeth and smile. That’s why we offer lumineers at our office in Los Angeles, CA. These correct dental issues like stained, gapped, crooked, chipped, and misshapen teeth. The entire process is very quick. Your dentist takes a mold of your top and bottom teeth. This creates your customized lumineers. Unlike with veneers, you won’t need temporary devices, drilling, or shots.

 

At your appointment with Dr. Haeri, you’ll test out the lumineers after their creation. Try them on to make sure they fit and match your standards. If you like them, we’ll apply them to your teeth right away.

 

Lumineers come with many great benefits. The biggest is the vast improvement in the appearance of your teeth. They are also much quicker and more efficient than veneers. When you start the process of veneers, your natural teeth require basic reshaping. That’s not an issue with veneers. No part of your natural teeth requires manipulation. Lumineers are placed right onto the enamel to guarantee their security.

 

If you’re considering making a change in your smile, talk to your Los Angeles, CA, dentist about Lumineers. They are an efficient and easy way to achieve a beautiful smile. To learn more about Dr. Suzanne Haeri and her services, call 310-657-2200 or visit https://www.suzannehaeridds.com/.

Intrinsic Staining

Our teeth become stained over time from exposure to the foods we eat and drinks we ingest. If you start to notice your teeth becoming particularly discolored, contact Dr. Suzanne Haeri for an appointment. Located in Los Angeles, CA, she can help you feel proud of your smile. Stains aren’t just a cosmetic issue but a sign of a deeper problem. Dr. Haeri works with you to clear your stains and prevent them in the future.

 

There are two types of staining on teeth: extrinsic and intrinsic. This blog will focus more on intrinsic staining, which is more severe and deeper than its counterpart. An intrinsic stain needs a quick evaluation by your Los Angeles, CA, dentist. A tooth that becomes deeply stained poses the possibility that it is decaying or dying. A dead or necrotic tooth requires immediate extraction. There are many ways a tooth is damaged. An injury or trauma to the tooth creates an abnormal blood flow. The iron in the blood stains the dentin a darker color. Don’t panic if a stained tooth has been there since childhood. This stain was most likely caused by antibiotics taken as a child.

 

At your appointment with Dr. Haeri, she will examine the tooth in question. She’ll check to see if it responds to certain stimuli, like temperature and touch. If the tooth is infected, you’ll need a root canal. Injured teeth also benefit from this procedure because it relieves some of the pressure. If the tooth is dead, it needs to be removed right away.

 

Don’t wait when you notice a difference in your teeth. Contact Dr. Suzanne Haeri and set up an appointment. Located in Los Angeles, CA, you can contact her office by calling 310-657-2200 or visiting https://www.suzannehaeridds.com/.