General Dentistry

Beating Horrible Halitosis

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Categories: Dental check-up, Dental Health, General Dentistry

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Bad breath is no fun at all, but there are things you can do to combat it. If bad breath is an issue for you or a loved one, talk to us about it at Summer Dental in Las Vegas.

Common, garden-variety bad breath is caused by the things we eat and drink. Food debris builds up on the teeth and forms plaque, which is bacterial. The best defense against it is brush and floss after every meal.

Foods containing garlic, onions, and other strong flavorings are in a class by themselves. Food particles can actually get into your bloodstream, and from there to the lungs. Once it does, it’s on your breath every time you exhale. You’ll have to wait it out.

Other common causes of bad breath:

  • Coffee
  • Alcohol
  • Diets high in sugar
  • High protein or Low Carb diets
  • Smoking

These all involved ordinary bad breath. Digestive issues, like acid reflux, can also affect the breath. Dry mouth (xerostomia) can also cause it, since saliva helps to keep the mouth clean by washing away food debris.

Health Conditions

Bad breath can actually be a warning sign of a more serious health condition. If you have chronic bad breath even though you brush, floss, and even use mouthwash, be sure to tell your doctor. It may be a sign of a serious health threat, like a blood disorder, liver and kidney problems. It isn’t common, but it could even be an indication of cancer.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Call us to schedule your next cleaning and checkup today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 6129

How Tooth Brushing Prevents Gum Disease

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Categories: Dental Health, General Dentistry

Las Vegas Teeth Bleaching

Why should everyone brush their teeth at least twice a day? In this post from Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we’ll talk about why this is so important.

Brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and carefully flossing removes food debris from teeth and cleans away plaque build-up.

If we let food stay on our teeth, the starches in it combine with the plaque. This nasty mixture forms an acid which immediately starts drilling into the enamel to form cavities. Brushing can’t get all the spaces between your teeth, so you’ve got to floss also.

Brushing and flossing keeps gums and bone healthy.

When You Brush…

  • Be sure to get all over your teeth: the front and the sides, inside and out, and the tops. When you to the sides, be sure you brush along the gumline. Use a gentle touch, and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle.
  • As you do the front and side surfaces, move the brush in gentle, circular strokes. Make sure you brush for at least two minutes.
  • Use a pea-sized blob of fluoridated toothpaste – or more than a pea-sized, if you prefer. Too much is no big deal, but be sure to use enough.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we want all of our patients to enjoy clean teeth and healthy gums. Brush and floss twice a day, and see us for a checkup every six months. We offer general and cosmetic dentistry. Call our office today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 2251

Two Hints For When You’re Too Tired To Brush

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Categories: Dental check-up, Dental Health, General Dentistry

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Too tired to touch a toothbrush? We’ve all been there. At  Summer Dental in Las Vegas we are committed to helping patients maintain erxcellent dental health. In this blog post, we offer two great ideas for brushing and flossing, even when you’d rather just hit the hay.

Idea #1 Drag Tongue Along Teeth
After a long thankless day as you are lying there in bed and realize you forgot to brush, drag your tongue over your teeth a few times. Visualize how plaque and tartar erode the teeth. Then jump up and give your mouth just 2 minutes of gentle, thorough cleaning. It’s that easy.

Idea #2 Scrutinize the Food You Eat
Another convenient and uncomplicated approach is to pay attention to what’s going into your mouth throughout the day. The higher the sugar content the sooner the teeth will need a brushing to avoid harm. Swish with water after coffee, tea or soda if brushing isn’t going to happen soon. Chewing sticky candy leaves debris all over in the mouth as does bread and crackers. Keep this in mind and commit to take care of the particles as soon as possible.

We hope these tips are enough to get you to pick up your toothbrush. Don’t forget to floss! Between your home care and regular checkups at Summer Dental in Las Vegas, you’ll keep your teeth clean and happy. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Call for an appointment today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 6830

5 Critical Oral Cancer Facts

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Categories: Dental check-up, Dental Health, General Dentistry

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At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we encourage all of our patients to come in twice a year for a dental checkup. If you’re tempted to skip one because you don’t think you have any cavities, maybe getting an oral cancer screening is a more persuasive reason.

Oral cancer is something we take very seriously, and you should too. It claims almost 10,000 lives every year in the United States. If you smoke or have acquired HPV, you have a higher-than-average risk for developing oral cancer.

We work to increase awareness of oral cancer and the significance of early diagnosis. Here are five important things to know about oral (mouth) and oropharyngeal (back of mouth and throat) cancers.

  1. About 80% of those with oral cancer use tobacco of some kind (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).
  2. 40% of individuals who receive late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer die within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.
  3. In many cases, it is hardly possible for the individual to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers because they can produce unobtrusive symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be checked by a dentist or doctor.
  4. HPV (the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the US) is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the numerous strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most repeatedly linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
  5. Black males have a higher risk of dying from oral cancer than whites.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we want the best possible general and dental health for all of our patients. We offer general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next cleaning and checkup with us today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 7438

3 Problems Which May Require A Root Canal

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Categories: Dental Health, General Dentistry, Root canals

North Las Vegas family dentist

The idea of root canal therapy can strike fear in the most courageous dental patients. It is important to know what is happening during this anxiety-inducing though routine procedure, which we perform at Summer Dental in Las Vegas.

At the center of each tooth is a very small tissue called the pulp. Any of the following problems can damage the pulp:

  • An injury to the tooth
  • A very deep cavity
  • A crack in the tooth

If this tissue becomes damaged or infected, it can build up at the root tip inside the jawbone and form an abscess. If ignored, this can destroy the bone and eventually cause a lot of pain

When we perform a root canal, the infected pulp is cleared out. The space that is left is cleaned and then it is shaped and filled. This eliminates the need for a diseased tooth to be pulled. It would require continued cosmetic dentistry to fill in the gap.

We hope this message has helped you better understand this effective and sometimes necessary procedure. Accurate dental information is important.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas we perform root canals, and provide a full range of general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next checkup with us today.

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 4716

Three Reasons Not to Skip a Dental Checkup

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Categories: Dental check-up, Dental Health, General Dentistry

Life gets busy. Sometimes it seems impossible to keep up with everything you need to do. At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we understand that. It gets busy for us, too! But we encourage you to think twice before you cancel or postpone a dental checkup because you think it’s less important than the other twenty items on your to-do list.

Twice-yearly dental exams are essential for keeping your smile in great shape!

You might say: “But my teeth feel fine.”

We answer: Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. The fact is that no news isn’t necessarily good news. Dental troubles can be progressing without you being aware of it.

1. Your Gums May Be Receding
Gum recession doesn’t happen all at once. Gum tissue can move back almost imperceptibly until teeth and bone are in danger.

2. Decay May Be Lurking
When the acids in plaque start drilling into a tooth, we usually don’t feel it until it has passed through the enamel and dentin and hits the nerve. Ouch! By that time, there is a crater in the tooth. Regular cleanings remove plaque before it can do any damage.

3. Prevent Oral Cancer
About 50,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. During your checkup we’ll screen for oral cancer. As with all types of cancer, early diagnosis is essential.

After your entire mouth has been examined, we will detail what is necessary moving forward. Whether that’s flossing more often or discussing major fixes such as braces, we will make certain that you get all the information you need to ensure your smile is bright and beautiful!

Scheduling twice-yearly exams with Summer Dental in Las Vegas is the best way to ensure your teeth and gums are in great shape. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

Find A Few Minutes To Floss

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Categories: Dental Health, General Dentistry

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One common reason given by people who don’t floss their teeth is that the practice is difficult to fit into their daily schedule. If you’ve found this to be true, Summer Dental in Las Vegas has some suggestions for fitting this vital dental health habit into your day.

  • The most common time is right before bed, but make sure you aren’t too tired to do a good job.
  • Right when you wake up is also an option, but if food is left between teeth all night, it can lead to plaque.
  • Try just after lunch, before you go back to work.
  • Floss while you are in the car sitting in traffic. It’s easier one-handed with the pre-strung floss pics. (You might get some curious looks from other drivers, but it’s worth it.)
  • Keep some floss in your gym bag so you can floss after you exercise.
  • While you’re watching the nightly news.

We hope this gives you some ideas to help you make flossing part of your daily routine. Flossing is important for anyone who wants to have a healthy smile.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, the dental health of our patients is always our number one priority. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next cleaning and checkup with us today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 4602

Not Happy With Your Dentist?

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Categories: Dental Health, General Dentistry

Las Vegas Cosmetic Dentisty

Looking for a new dentist? It’s easy to find one. A quick Google search, a Yelp review or two, and you’ll have a short list of possibilities. The trick is finding a dentist you’re happy with! At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we’re proud of our positive online reviews.

Even so, knowing whether a dentist is right for you can be a little tricky. What traits should you look for? There are a lot of factors that come into play. Do you choose a dentist near your home? By experience and education? Or maybe because a friend recommended a practice?

What To Look For

It may not be an exact science. But here are some of the things we think you should look for when trying to find a dentist:

  • Continuing Education. Dentistry is complex, and always changing. A good dentist is committed to staying on top of innovations and developments. A desire and willingness to improve is a trait to look for.
  • Sharing Information. A good dentist is always ready to explain what’s going on with your dental health. Any issues you might have should be explained in plain English.
  • A Good Listener. Whether it’s a general dentist, a pediatric dentist, or some other specialty, a good dentist will listen to your concerns and address any issues you might raise.
  • Good Manual Dexterity. Your mouth is a sensitive place. It’s also small, compared to the rest of your body. Certain dental procedures can be time-consuming and require a steady hand.
  • Conservative. Not every smile needs to be corrected to meet an ideal; not every cavity needs to be filled right away. A good dentist will take a conservative approach to treatment, and always do what is best for you.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we strive for excellence in dentistry every single day. We want to have happy patients with great dental health. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. We would love to see you in our office for a cleaning and checkup soon!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 2988

Do I Need A Dental Cleaning If I Brush And Floss At Home?

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Categories: Dental check-up, Dental cleaning, Dental Health, General Dentistry

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This post from Summer Dental in Las Vegas focuses on professional dental cleanings. You might wonder if you need a professional dental cleaning if you already practice dental hygiene daily at home.

The answer is that both processes are essential because they work in tandem to maintain oral health.

We encourage our patients to practice preventative dentistry by:

  • Brushing
  • Flossing
  • Healthy diet – fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts
  • Regular dental cleanings
  • Regular checkups

Dental cleanings increase the effectiveness of your daily oral care by removing the plaque and tarter that can accumulate regardless of daily brushing and flossing. In fact, when plaque hardens, it can only be removed with the special tools used by a hygienist.

A hygienist will first use a vibrating ultrasonic tool to dislodge the largest pieces of tartar. This process may tickle a bit. The hygienist will then use tools with finer attachments to remove the smaller pieces of calculus. When all plaque and tartar is gone, polishing is the final step in the cleaning process.

The goal is to make your tooth surfaces as smooth as possible, to prohibit food particles from lodging in tiny spaces that are difficult to clean. If you are having an exam during the same visit, your technician may take dental x-rays. X-rays can reveal cavities while they are small and can be easily filled.

Let our hygienist know if your teeth are sensitive so he/she can make your cleaning as comfortable as possible. After the cleaning, a fluoride treatment may be given to help strengthen your teeth.

Before the hygienist leaves, you may want to ask if there are areas you can improve. Your hygienist can tell you which tooth surfaces had the most build-up. If the back teeth are presenting a problem, you can talk to Dr. Habashi about sealants.

Call Summer Dental in Las Vegas to schedule a cleaning and checkup today. Our services also include general and cosmetic dentistry.

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 7074

How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?

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Categories: Dental Health, General Dentistry

How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?

This post from Summer Dental in Las Vegas is about your toothbrush and your dental health.

As you stand over your bathroom sink and look at the frayed bristles of your favorite brush, you may wonder if it’s time to replace it.

It’s a good question. We all brush our teeth on a daily basis. Like a good pair of jeans, it seems the more we use a toothbrush, the more comfortable it gets.

As it turns out, that’s not a good thing when it comes to brushing your teeth.

The angle of the bristles on your toothbrush are an important part of cleaning. Straight bristles scrub your teeth and flex your gums. A light circular motion is enough to clean your teeth without causing damage.

Flat or frayed bristles are less capable and can even cause you to work harder. Pressing harder on your teeth can cause damage.

So how often should you change your toothbrush?

Anyone who has worried about changing the oil in their car has learned this basic rule of thumb; change your oil every three months. It’s the same with your toothbrush.

Most dental professionals recommend a new toothbrush every three months. The American Dental Association suggests replacing your toothbrush “every three to four months.” The reasons include worn bristles and bacteria.

Worn bristles, as we have discussed, are less effective. Bacteria can also built up in the small gaps of your toothbrush and may contribute to decay and bad breath. Make sure you keep your toothbrush in a sanitary location. Allow for good drying to help extend its life.

Regardless of how long it’s been, if the bristles on your toothbrush look like they’re trying to get away from each other, it’s time. Otherwise, change your toothbrush at the start of every new season to keep it fresh and effective.

At Summer Dental in Las Vegas, we want the best possible dental health for each of our patients. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry, and pediactric dentistry. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Summer Dental – Kids|Adults|Braces:

702-852-2829

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10965 Lavender Hill Dr., #120
Las Vegas, Nevada
89135

 

ArticleID 7776