Feed your Smile the Vitamins it Needs

When you go through the natural aging process, the health of your teeth and gums can start deteriorating. This is a natural progression, but one that can be prevented by eating the right vitamins and minerals.

 

Aside from regular dental hygiene, this is the next best thing they can do for their teeth. It improves their overall dental health, protects their teeth and gives them something to smile about.

 

Eating nutritious foods is the recommended way to get the right amount of vitamins, but not the only option. Supplements in pill and liquid form are also available, though bodies absorb nutrients in whole foods much more easily. Some vitamins to consider taking regularly for optimum teeth health are vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and calcium. All of these vitamins promote good oral health, strengthen the teeth, protect the enamel and help fight against tooth decay.

Reducing Canker Sore Pain and Duration

Canker sores are non-contagious lesions found in the mouth, typically on the inside of the cheek, lips, or tongue. While it is not a serious condition, a canker sore can be very uncomfortable and even painful in some cases. Dr. Ramin Bahram sees many patients who complain of an odd bump or sore in their mouth, that ends of being a canker sore.

 

There are many possible causes of canker sores in the mouth, including the following: irritation from biting the mouth, hard brushing or orthodontic appliances, bacterial infections, high amounts of stress, vitamin deficiency, malnutrition, food allergies, and a sensitive or weak immune system.

 

While there isn’t a single treatment option that works for all canker sores, we do offer some options. This includes:

• Using a salt water rinse regularly.
• Taking an over-the-counter medication for improving the pain and healing process.
• Being careful what you eat.
•  Being sure you are using the right toothpaste.
• Using an antiseptic rinse.
• Practice stress reduction

Why Should I Choose Dental Implants

If you have a missing tooth, whether you are in Clifton Heights, Philadelphia, or Folsom PA area, there are several options available to you here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania.

 

While bridges and partial dentures are an option, implants are the only permanent solution for missing teeth. If you’re wondering why you should choose dental implants, consider the fact that the metal post is implanted right in your jaw bone. As it heals, the implant is fixed permanently, acting as your tooth’s new root. You no longer have to worry about a bridge or denture shifting, falling out or needing to be replaced.

 

There are things to consider before you choose dental implants, which can help guide you in the right direction. First of all, you must have a good track record with dental hygiene and have healthy gums. Second of all, you must have a sufficient amount of jawbone for the implant to take hold, otherwise you will need a bone graft. 

 

Call us at 215-463-4141 to discuss dental implants and their benefits. Please watch our dental implants presentation found on our homepage too!

Pain Management

One of the biggest concerns when our patients find out they need oral surgery is dealing with the pain. For proper management of pre and post-operative pain, we use anesthesia for the procedure and provide pain medications and a list of after-care instructions.

 

To help manage pain after the procedure, we provide the following recommendations to follow immediately after surgery:

• Rest after surgery and only resume daily activities when you feel comfortable to do so.
• Use ice packs on your face where the surgery was performed to reduce swelling and pain.
• Keep the gauze on the surgical site for 30 minutes at least, then remove and place a new one.
• Avoid touching the area or rinsing your mouth too much.
• Take your pain medication at the first sign of discomfort.
• Never use a straw after surgery, or the blood clot may become dislodged.

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we want our patients to be as comfortable as possible during and after the surgery. Because the pain can start once anesthesia wears off, we recommend taking the first dose of pain medication just before the anesthesia has worn off completely. Call us today  at 215-463-4141 to discuss the management of pre and post-operative pain further

Bone Grafting

Dental implants are often provided to people who have missing teeth and are hoping to find a more permanent solution. However, implants must have a sufficient amount of jaw bone to be placed securely and this isn’t always naturally the case. The missing teeth can cause the jawbone to atrophy and makes it difficult for the implant procedure to work.

 

Today, we have the ability to grow bone through bone grafting. Bone graftinghelps Dr. Ramin Bahram grow enough bone at the implant site for placing the titanium post and completing a successful procedure.

 

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we offer minor and major bone grafting. The main difference is exactly how much bone will need to be grafted. Some patients can get minor bone grafting that helps increase how much bone is present. Others require major bone grafting if they have more loss and the jawbone has been reabsorbed.

 

Patients who are in need of implants but don’t have enough bone to install the post have a great option in bone grafting when they come to our clinic. If you are in the Philadelphia, PA area, call us at 215-463-4141 (Broad St.) or 215-558-2400 (Walnut St) for a consultation. We also provide bone grafting procedures in our Clifton Heights (610-622-5454) and Folsom offices (610-461-4600) for your convenience.

Midnight Snacks and Your Oral Health

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we realize that some things taste better after midnight. But there is a correlation between midnight snacks and your oral health that isn’t good for your smile. Eating late at night, when your saliva production slows down and your mouth is the driest, accentuates the adverse effects on your teeth (plaque buildup, tooth decay, and even tooth loss) when consuming foods and drinks. This is especially true in the case of sugary foods and starchy foods. Yes, we know that ice cream, pizza, and cake are some of the most popular midnight snacks.

 

There’s a reason that we were instructed early on to brush our teeth before going to bed. Without brushing before bed, food left on teeth — and its bacteria and plaque growth — wreak havoc on your teeth. To minimize the damage to your teeth from eating a midnight snack, be sure to brush your teeth afterwards. Better yet, try to avoid eating late at night by:

• Distracting yourself.  Read a book or magazine.
• Eating breakfast every day. People who eat breakfast are less likely to snack at night.
• Increasing your protein and fiber during dinner. This helps to make you feel full.

Is It Time For a New Toothbrush?

You most likely know that brushing your teeth regularly will help you keep a healthy smile. But if you don’t take proper care of your toothbrush as well, some of those efforts eventually will go by the wayside. That’s because toothbrushes, over time, become infested with harmful bacteria.

 

Many individuals only replace their toothbrush once or twice a year. We believe at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania that that is far too long. We recommend that adults use a new toothbrush every three months in order to maintain and improve oral health. You should replace your toothbrush sooner than three months, however, if the toothbrush bristles are frayed. In addition, if you’ve been sick, such as having the flu, replace your toothbrush immediately when you’re better.

 

Some new toothbrushes contain bristles that change color to let you know that it’s time for a new toothbrush. Keep in mind, children’s toothbrushes should be replaced more frequently than three months -- at least every two months.