Causes of Bleeding Gums

People commonly wonder if it’s a problem that their gums bleed a little when they brush their teeth. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Healthy gums don’t bleed, and when they do, it’s usually due to gum inflammation. This disease is called gingivitis and it can be treated and prevented.

Sometimes, gum inflammation is due to bruising, but it’s usually caused by bacterial infection. The mouth is home to hundreds to types of bacteria, most of which co-exist with us healthily, but if food debris isn’t removed quickly enough, bacteria can grow out of control. They most often cause tartar to build up on the bottom of dental crowns, allowing acids to get stuck in a place where they have contact with gums.

Regular brushing is crucial to preventing gingivitis (provided that the patient is using a soft-bristled brush), but help from professional hygienists is necessary to clean below the gum line. There are also some factors which make gum disease more likely, including pregnancy, use of blood thinners, and dry mouth. (That last one is due to saliva’s function keeping the mouth clean.) Smoking also increases the risk of gingivitis.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, 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.

 

Extrinsic Stains

Most of us enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of iced tea on a warm day. In fact, we enjoy these beverages so much that we forget about what they do to our teeth. Beverages that contain dyes, such as coffee, tea, and wine, can leave a person’s smile looking lackluster. Fortunately, these stains are extrinsic and easy for Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS to remove.

Extrinsic stains occur on the outer surface of tooth enamel and are easier to remove than their counterpart – intrinsic. Extrinsic stains can be removed over a period of time with professional cleanings, or they can be cleared up quickly from a professional whitening session. If your tooth discoloration is leaving you with a lack of self-esteem, discuss your whitening options, today.

If you have questions about tooth discoloration or teeth whitening, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as other services we provide, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.

Dental Bonding Breakage

If you’ve had dental bonding applied to your teeth, you’ll notice that it’s similar to tooth enamel; however, it’s not as strong. Dental bonding is made of a composite resin material that is made to match the color of a person’s tooth. It repairs chips, cracks, and fractures in teeth and can have your smile back to new in no time. Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS encourages patients to visit her office if dental bonding feels out of the ordinary.

If dental bonding feels out of place, or like it’s about to crack, visit our office immediately. Dental bonding can lose its strength if a person practices poor oral hygiene habits and/or if they eat a lot of acidic foods. Dental bonding can be replaced, but it’s possible that Dr. Haeri may suggest a dental crown, as this is more durable and stands the test of time.

If you have questions about dental bonding, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as other services we provide, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.

Filling Senstivity

Although tooth decay is a major problem, Dr. Suzanne Haeri offers natural-colored fillings at her dental office to repair the health and appearance of her patients’ smiles. But while removing decayed material can make teeth sensitive, fillings should not continue to be painful days or years after their placement. If they are, patients should come in to learn what is wrong.

It is possible for a filling to be made poorly and not completely fill the cavity or prevent the patient from biting down comfortably. The former can happen if the filling was constructed from material that changes shape after placement. The gap between it and the seal holding it to the tooth would become a place where bacteria could hide and continue causing decay.

Most fillings are made well enough for this not to happen, but even well-made fillings have limited lifespans, or at least, the seals do. After about ten years, the seal will start breaking down, which may loosen the filling in addition to opening the door to bacterial infection. It is important for the filling to be replaced before the patient suffers worse decay.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, 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.

 

Intrinsic Stains

As an expert in cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Suzanne Haeri offers safe, effective, and fast teeth whitening. But although bleaching is a valuable tool for combatting stains on the outside of teeth, there are some stains that may be too deep for it to reach. These are intrinsic stains, and they require a different approach.

Intrinsic stains have two causes: absorption of dark molecules during the tooth’s formation, and inflammation. The molecules are usually from tetracycline antibiotics or too much fluoride. Neither of these is harmful and the affected teeth can be covered with veneers. But when a tooth suffers trauma or infection, the patient is at risk. Dental infections will not get better on their own, and they cause severe tooth aches and can progress to the point of endangering the patient’s life. A root canal is necessary to remove the infected matter and the tooth can be reshaped or concealed afterward. Depending on how much material is removed, a new, natural-colored crown may be needed.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, 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.

 

Dry Mouth

When there isn’t enough saliva in your mouth, this can leave it feeling dry and uncomfortable. Dry mouth may occur in the morning after a long night of sleep, or it may be a sign of dehydration. A persistent dry mouth can become a problem because saliva is our mouth’s natural defense against tooth decay. If you notice your mouth is drier than usual, it may be time to discuss treatment options with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS.

Symptoms of dry mouth include a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth or a dry feeling in the throat. Though dry mouth is a normal part of aging, it can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes. Treatment for dry mouth usually depends on the cause, but it helps to avoid tobacco products, alcohol and drinks with caffeine as these can make the problem worse.

If you have questions about dry mouth, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as other services we provide, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.

Halitosis Treatment

It is one thing to have bad breath after eating a meal that’s heavy on the onions, but it’s another to suffer from it on a daily basis. Medically defined as halitosis, bad breath affects an estimated 25% of people, globally. If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits, this includes your visits to the dental office. If they are lacking, or non-existent, it may be time to visit Dr. Suzanne, Haeri DDS for a professional cleaning.

Next in line, after tooth decay and gum disease, halitosis (bad breath) is the third most common reason that people seek dental care. It’s important that we stress that you should never wait until these problems arise to see a dentist. Potential causes for bad breath are dry mouth and poor diet, but the biggest is poor oral hygiene habits. In addition to visiting our office twice a year for dental checkups, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and use American Dental Association (ADA) approved mouth rinse.

If you have questions about how to maintain your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as other services we provide, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, call 310-657-2200.