So, to maximize your enjoyment of the season’s sugary sweets, try and follow a few simple steps:

1) Eat sugary foods once a day at the end of a meal: The frequency of eating candy, and other refined carbohydrates, and their stickiness are factors contributing to the risk of cavities.  By feeding on the sugar in your mouth, acid-producing bacteria can cause a change in pH balance of your mouth, which increases the risk for cavities. In fact, each time you eat any sugary snack or drink, it can take up to an hour for the acid to dissipate.  Instead, if you eat your sugary snack or drink immediately following a meal (when your production of saliva increases), the acidity is neutralized more quickly; thus reducing the risk of cavities forming.

2) Avoid or Limit Sticky Candies:  Caramels, candy corn, jelly beans, taffy’s and even raisins are particularly sticky, making it harder for saliva to wash away the sugar.

3)  Brush your teeth shortly after eating your sugary snacks:  The longer the sugar stays on your teeth (thus keeping the acidity high), the more cavity prone your teeth will be. So, adults and children alike, should brush their teeth after eating candy, or if that’s not possible, rinse your mouth with water three or four times after eating, which will help reduce acidity in the mouth.

4) Chew sugar-free gum:  Chewing sugar-free gum can help increase salivary flow in the mouth, which helps to reduce the acidity and thus wash away the effects of sugar from candy.

5.) See Your Dentist (Me:)):  Don’t forget your routine cleanings!  No matter how great your oral hygiene routine, plaque and tarter will still inevitably build up, making it harder to brush away sticky cavity-producing sugars, stains and bacteria!

– Halloween is a fun holiday so enjoy it, and don’t let cavities get in the way!  And remember to sell us your leftover candy by participating in Operation Candy for Gratitude.

Happy Halloween from all your friends at Irena Vaksman, DDS!

On Halloween, the “goal of 36.4 million trick-or-treaters is the acquisition of some of the $19 billion worth of candy produced by nearly 1,800 American candy makers.  Americans consume about 25 pounds of candy annually.” – Inside Dentistry, October, 2011

That’s A LOT of candy, wouldn’t you agree? As a dentist, I would not be doing my job if I didn’t at least make one gesture to limit your intake of all that goodness (sorry, it’s my job). The cool part is that I’ve a solution that will definitely soften the blow of having to part with all that goodness (again, sorry). Here it is: Until Friday, November 4th, for every pound of candy that you bring into our office, we’ll pay you $2! That is no chump change. Similar halloween buy backs usually pay $1/lb, but we’re upping the stakes because we’re serious about keeping your teeth free from the treacherous grip of all that goodness (really, sorry). Perhaps the coolest part of all this is that our office will then donate all the candy to Operation Gratitude, which sends over 100,000 care packages each year to individually named US Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in Transition Units.

I hope that you’ll participate in “Operation Candy for Gratitude”, but I won’t fault you for sneaking a chocolate (or three). Enjoy. Indulge. Binge. Yes, I said, “Binge”. In the context of your dental health, it’s better that you chomp down all your candy in one sitting (perhaps for breakfast the day after), than snack on the same bag of candy over the span of several days.

Stay tuned for more useful candy facts to follow…

Now, before you run out to your local drug store, vitamins and minerals that promote oral health are widely available in what we eat, so try getting them from natural foods. We have included a chart which you may find helpful. If you are currently incorporating these foods into your meals…great! If not, it will take very little effort to do so. Not only will your mouth thank you, but it may mean fewer visits to the dentist…and wouldn’t you all love that!

Mom sure knew what she was talking about when she forced you to eat your meals, especially your vegetables, when you were a kid!

Pregnancy can bring many wonderful new joys to an expectant mothers’ life.

Pregnancy gingivitis is not one of them.

The shocking truth is that pregnancy gingivitis affects anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of pregnant women, and those with the disease are 7 times more likely to go into preterm labor, preclampsia and have low-birth weight babies!  Premature infants are at greater risk for short and long term complications, including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development.   Additionally, if an expectant mom had untreated tooth decay and/or consumed a lot of sugar, their children have 4 times the risk of developing tooth decay.

Pregnancy gingivitis is characterized by swelling/inflammation of the gums, and  is caused by a bacterial film that grows on the teeth, resulting in plaque buildup.  This plaque irritates the gum tissue, making them tender, bright red, swollen, sensitive, and easy to make bleed.  These infected and swollen gums harbor disease causing bacteria, which release toxins that can attack ligaments, gums, and bones surrounding your teeth to create infected pockets similar to large infected wounds in the oral cavity.  These pockets provide access to your bloodstream and allow bacteria to travel throughout your body.  Since the bacteria that cause gingivitis can enter the bloodstream, they are able to travel down to the uterus.  This triggers the body to produce prostaglandins, which is a natural fatty acid that normally controls inflammation and smooth muscle contraction.  When a woman is pregnant, her level of prostaglandins increases, and peaks when she goes into labor.  It is possible that if extra prostaglandins are produced when the body is reacting to infected gums, a pregnant woman’s body may think it is a signal to go into labor sooner than expected, thus causing a baby to be born too early.

Ultimately then, hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the body’s natural response to dental plaque, which affect how gum tissues react to the bacteria in plaque; thus resulting in a higher chance of pregnant women getting gingivitis.  Moreover, if you already have gingivitis going in to a pregnancy, it will likely get worse during pregnancy if you do not seek treatment.  Although the gingivitis generally subsides shortly after birth, it should nonetheless be periodically monitored by your dentist (during and after pregnancy), in order to prevent the gingivitis from turning into the more serious (and irreversible) form known as periodontitis.

The following are guidelines suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in response to the increased concern about oral health during pregnancy:

3) Nutrition – DON’T eat junk.  This is good advice in general during your pregnancy, but just know that proper diet and nutrition during pregnancy will limit sugar intake which, in turn, will minimize plaque build up.

4) Treat Tooth Decay – DO try and have all urgent dental work completed prior to becoming pregnant.  Although, it is safe to perform certain emergency dental procedures during your pregnancy, it is best to have it done prior to becoming pregnant, and especially prior to it becoming an emergency dental treatment!

5) Transmission of Bacteria – DON’T share food and utensils, so as not to potentially transmit bacteria known to cause tooth decay.

6) Use of Xylitol Gum – DO chew gum.  Expectant mothers, and everyone, are encouraged to chew xylitol gum (around 4x/day), since research suggests that it may decrease the rate of tooth decay.  Chewing sugarless gum increases saliva and thus increases the production of salivary enzymes that help equalize the Ph in the mouth and thus reduce cavity growth.

It’s amazing – but certainly not surprising that in many places around the world (including the USA!!), some dentists still practice as if we were in the stone age.

Having to accept sub-standard care of any kind is a sad and scary reality for many people.  However, when people with access to modern care don’t care enough to get it, I can only categorize that as a travesty.  And believe me, this happens all the time – I’ve seen it myself.

For those unfamiliar with Gary’s work, he is a pioneer and leader in the social media space, and his previous book, “Crush It”, was on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller list.  Last year, when my office was featured in TechCrunch for our social media efforts, Gary contacted us to discuss how we were using social media to raise awareness of our office.  Based on those conversations, he asked us to participate in his new book – which is now hitting the book stores.

Here’s a brief summary of the book from Gary: “The world of business is coming full circle. The rise of the Internet and the empowerment of the common consumer has created a fundamental shift in how businesses are expected to behave.  To take advantage of this opportunity, businesses will need to look backwards and scale the caring their grandparents’ businesses exhibited towards their customers or watch their competition pass them by.”

The reviews are already starting to trickle in, and they’re great; “An Indispensable Guide to the New Economy”, “THE Book to Read” and “Direction Changing Moment”.

Get your copy now here – or “Like” us on Facebook where you’ll have the chance to win a free copy.

The federal government is not recommending that communities stop adding fluoride to drinking water. Rather, it has recalibrated its recommendation for what it considers an effective level of fluoride to reduce the incidence of tooth decay while minimizing the rate of fluorosis in the general population, which has been slowly increasing. An HHS official has characterized the new recommendation as a reaffirmation of the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation in preventing dental caries.

At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency is announcing that it will study the issue of fluoride in water, based on a 2006 report from the National Academy of Sciences that questioned whether the EPA’s current maximum allowable level of fluoride in water—4 ppm—should be reduced. The EPA announcement does not question the safety of optimal water fluoridation.

That said, government officials anticipate some public confusion over fluoridation safety. HHS has asked the ADA and its members to help minimize any concerns and reassure the public that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to prevent dental disease.

First of all, it’s really a true honor to be recognized for one’s efforts, whatever they may be.  Ever since treating my first patient in dental school, I have always done everything within my capabilities to ensure patient satisfaction. The priority is of course on clinical proficiency but, after treating patients for a decade now, in order to provide holistic oral health care, I strongly believe that a doctor-patient relationship built upon education and trust is crucial. I reiterate this to my patients and staff often, and I certainly try to practice what I preach.  And so, it’s humbling to receive positive feedback for my work, which I presume is ultimately an acknowledgment of my practice philosophy.

Finally, as with most accomplishments, this was a team effort. Thanks Bernadette, Jennifer, My and Dr. Volfson! Definitely couldn’t do it without you…

In addition to aesthetic concerns, teeth crowding can also lead to dental health problems.  When teeth are not aligned properly and overlap, they tend to be harder to brush and floss effectively.   This can result in greater plaque and tarter build up between the teeth, which can then lead to varying degrees of Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease…all because of the positions of the teeth and bite! In addition to physical effects, crooked teeth and malocclusions can cause emotional and psychological effects, as a result of feeling unattractive, self conscious and embarrassed by a less than perfect smile.  With the help of Invisalign, you can have the smile you have always wanted.

If you can’t see yourself wearing traditional metal braces, but want straight teeth, Invisalign clear aligners may be perfect for you.  Invisalign utilizes patented custom trays to gradually realign your teeth. Treatment usually take on average six to fifteen months. The other great advantage to wearing Invisalign clear aligners is that keeping up with your oral hygiene is easy.  With conventional metal braces, flossing and brushing effectively is always a challenge.  With Invisalign, since the aligners are removable, you can brush and floss effortlessly.

Although Invisalign is a great alternative to metal braces, perhaps you’re interested to improve your smile a lot faster?  In that case, consider Porcelain Veneers, which are thin pieces of porcelain that are permanently cemented onto the surface of your teeth, and can transform discolored, chipped, cracked or crooked teeth in a matter of weeks, to create a vibrant and uniform (Hollywood) smile.

Ultimately, our San Francisco dental office can provide you with various treatment options to get the beautiful smile you have always dreamed of.   The best way to decide which treatment is right for you is to schedule a consultation and create a treatment plan that is customized for you.

Every so often, a patient will ask me about the “secret” to a healthy-feeling and looking smile. You know: something to

The one true secret is…preventative care (coupled with some cosmetic touch ups). Here are some steps that you can follow to keep your teeth and gums healthy and beautiful:

1) Get your teeth cleaned routinely! Frequent cleanings will keep your smile brighter, and will also help reduce plaque and tarter build-up which will make it easier for you to remove plaque buildup yourself before it has an opportunity to calcify. Less plaque and tarter also means less chance for bad breath. Remember…your teeth and gums can never be too clean!

2) Brush and floss often, especially after meals. This is particularly important to do after drinking coffee, tea, red wine or any other staining or sugary food. And if you don’t happen to have a toothbrush handy, make sure to swish some water around.

3) If you are a good candidate (as determined by your dentist), get an occasional, in-office Teeth Whitening. In addition to immediate results, the procedure will reinforce the importance of steps 1 and 2.

4) Straight Teeth: not only do they make for a beautiful smile, but they also assist with oral hygiene. Crowded and misaligned teeth are more susceptible to plaque, tarter build up and staining in between the teeth. Since it’s harder to floss between teeth, food tends to get stuck more often in between teeth that have too little, or too much space in between them. Although traditional braces can help, depending on your specific situation, you may want to consider Invisalign clear aligners, Porcelain Veneers or Crowns.