• A liter of an aspartame-sweetened beverage can produce about 56 mg of methanol. When several are consumed in a short period of time, as much as 250 mg of methanol are dumped into the bloodstream – 32 times the EPA limit

• Children who consume an extra soft drink a day increase their chance of becoming obese by 60 percent. Furthermore, specific amounts of soda can be linked to specific amounts of weight gain. Each daily drink adds .18 points to a child’s body mass index (BMI)

• Aspartame contains methyl or wood alcohol, which can affect fetal brain development, and children who drink large quantities of diet sodas containing aspartame are particularly vulnerable to its dangerous side effects.

• Cola drinks can interact adversely with antacids, which can cause constipation, calcium loss, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and kidney damage

• Tooth loss, periodontal disease, and gingivitis can be problems, especially with a high phosphorus intake, particularly from soft drinks. All kinds of bone problems can occur with prolonged calcium deficiency, which causes a decrease in bone mass.

• Rickets in children (a disease of growing bone), osteomalacia (decreased bone calcium) in adults, and osteoporosis (porous and fragile bones) can occur when calcium is withdrawn from bones faster than it is deposited. Fractures are more common with osteoporosis and almost eight million yearly in the United States are related to this prevalent nutritional deficiency disease.

If you would like more information on how to protect your teeth and general health from illness, please schedule an appointment with your dentist. You may call my office to make an appointment and further discuss your dental health.

However, if you’re feeling some pain and/or discomfort in your teeth, the cavity may be more advanced than you think. In order to prevent the need for extensive dental treatments, it is important that you visit your dentist on a regular basis. A qualified and trained dental professional will carefully and thoroughly examine each tooth individually in order to determine if there is any damage. Typically, a cavity can cause the tooth’s surface to feel soft when touched with a dental instrument during the examination. In addition, X-rays can reveal any damage that is not yet visible.

Ultimately, your best plan of attack against cavities and tooth decay is steering away from foods/drinks that cause damage. But if you’re still not sure if your teeth are in top shape, schedule a visit with your dentist. A regular cleaning can help remove plaque build-up that is slowly eating away at the enamel. This is important because plaque can also lead to other health issues aside from cavities.

Schedule an appointment at my Beverly Hills practice for a check-up to learn how you can prevent cavities and other medical problems. Dedicated to my patients’ health and well-being, I look forward to helping you achieve a healthier, brighter smile.

Most individuals know that brushing and flossing every day can help maintain healthy oral hygiene; however, there are other factors that you must take into consideration when looking to whiten your teeth. Heredity, certain medications, and illness can cause the color of the structures on the inside of the tooth to change and eventually show through the enamel. Unfortunately, these causes cannot be treated as easily as external staining.

Those who have healthy teeth and do not show signs of intrinsic stains as described above, should still be careful with how they treat their teeth. Certain foods and beverages, along with tobacco use, can gradually stain the tooth surface and become difficult to remove. The more you expose your teeth to staining items, the higher the chance of permanent yellowing and/or staining. Some things to avoid (in excess) include – blueberries, curry, soy sauce, coffee, tea, cola, red wine, dark beer, and tobacco. In addition, supplements that contain iron and excessive intake of fluoride can lead to staining.

Be sure to continue a regular brushing and flossing routine in order to help prevent severe, permanent staining. You may schedule an appointment at my practice to learn more about teeth whitening. We can discuss the most appropriate treatment plan to meet your needs.

This is because the movement of the removable denture or bridge can irritate the healthy gums and teeth, which in turn may cause damage and lead to removal of more teeth. If you’d like to get rid of your temporary dental devices, then you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. These act as the artificial tooth root that holds an artificial tooth in place. If you are interested in dental implants, please take the following into consideration:

• You must be in good overall health
• Your gums must be healthy
• The implants need enough bone to anchor in the jaw
• You must be committed to taking care of the implanted teeth and surrounding gums just as you would your natural teeth
• Regular dental check-ups are important in order to ensure that the implant(s) has/have properly integrated

Typically, dental implants require a few office visits to achieve desired results. This can be determined during an initial consultation. If you feel that you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants, please feel free to schedule an appointment to further discuss your options. I look forward to helping you achieve a beautifully enhanced smile!

Many of my patients come in for a basic cleaning and exam, but there are those who end up getting more than they anticipated. From diabetes to cancer and heart disease, your teeth can provide a lot of insight to your medical health. During a regular check-up, I will carefully examine the entire mouth – gums, teeth, tongue, and cheeks – in order to provide a thorough diagnosis of any other underlying issues. This is yet another reason that makes routine dental exams so important for everyone.

According to a recent article on the Wall Street Journal website, “There’s also growing evidence that the link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular problems isn’t a coincidence either. Inflammation in the gums raises C-reactive protein, thought to be a culprit in heart disease.” It cannot be stressed enough how imperative it is to maintain healthy oral hygiene habits – not just for a brighter smile, but for the overall good of your medical health.

An experienced Beverly Hills dentist, it is my goal to provide patients with the best care and service. Please feel free to browse my site to learn more about the various dental treatments offered at my practice. Consider this dental check-up as the first line of defense for your overall physical health. I look forward to meeting you and discussing your dental needs.

In addition to Sheen, the beautiful Kim Kardashian stopped by for some fillings just this week. Being in the spotlight for the better part of your day tends to require that you always appear camera-ready. And I take great pleasure in helping all of my patients achieve the best smile possible.

Whether they need a filling, like Kim did, or more extensive treatments, I am dedicated to providing patients with their desired goal. Schedule an appointment at my practice and get the A-list treatment you deserve.

Technically, bacteria that causes plaque and releases volatile sulfur compounds can create bad breath. Mouthwash can help reduce the bacteria present and cover up the odor, but it is a temporary fix and eventually the plaque will rebuild. Reducing the occurrence of bad breath is just one reason to regularly brush, floss, and rinse. In order to truly help cut down on bad breath, a therapeutic mouthwash is necessary. This is usually prescribed by your dental practitioner after an oral surgical procedure. A therapeutic mouthwash can help reduce plaque and control gingivitis, which in turn reduces bad breath. However, it is important you follow the directions provided in order to maintain healthy oral hygiene. Typically, no food or drinks should be ingested within 30 minutes of rinsing so that the usefulness of the mouthwash can take full effect.

As a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, I am dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy smile. I encourage you to visit my website to learn more regarding your options with cosmetic dentistry and schedule an appointment. We can further discuss your options and create a personalized treatment plan to meet your goals.

Good Candy

• Sugar-free hard candies and lollipops – These can be useful in that they stimulate saliva and in turn, prevent a dry mouth. The saliva can prevent plaque from building up as quickly, which typically leads to cavities.
• Sugar-free gum – Also a great way to increase the production of saliva, which neutralize acids and prevent decay, chewing gum can help prevent cavities by helping dislodge food particles from the teeth.
• Dark chocolate – Yes, chocolate contains a lot of sugar; however, it has been proven that the antioxidants in dark chocolate can be good for the heart. It can even help lower blood pressure.

Bad Candy

• Sugary snacks – Those with high amounts of sugar (candy corn, cake, and cookies) can lead to tooth decay.
• Chewy/sticky sweets – These types of treats are a serious cause of tooth decay, commonly getting stuck to the teeth. Gummy candies, taffy, and dried fruit often get stuck between the teeth and make it very difficult for saliva to wash away.
• Sour candies – Tooth enamel can be broken down rather quickly from the high acid levels in these sweets. However, the production of saliva can slowly help restore the balance from the acid.

As a Beverly Hills orthodontics professional, I am sure to always advise patients to eat candy in moderation. No need to deprive yourself all together, just be cautious of what candies you eat and be sure to brush, floss, and rinse!

Facts about Fluoride

• It is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in some foods and in all drinking water.
• It can strengthen enamel, which in turn makes the teeth resistant to decay.
• After over 50 years of research, the reduction of tooth decay from fluorinated water by 40 to 60 percent has been proven.
• Toothpaste with added fluoride has helped reduce decay by up to 50 percent.
• Kids aged three and under should use toothpaste with a minimum fluoride level of 1000 ppm (parts per million). Those over three years old should use toothpaste with 1350 to1500 ppm. Check the packaging to see how much fluoride is in it.
• Fluoride varnishes applied by the dentist can help further reduce children’s dental decay.
• Although often claimed, no scientific evidence has been found to prove adverse effects of water fluoridation.

Tips about Fluoride

• Children under 7 years old should be supervised by a parent during tooth brushing. Be sure to use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• It is important that parents teach the child to spit out the toothpaste (not swallow it), and rinse after brushing.
• Only when a dentist recommends should anyone take fluoride supplements.
• Contact your local water company to learn of how much fluoride is in your water.
• To help protect your child’s teeth from decay, be sure to ask your dentist about fluoride varnishes.

As a Beverly Hills orthodontist and cosmetic dentist, I encourage you to schedule an appointment at my practice to learn more. We can discuss your dental and oral hygiene problems during an initial consultation.

In a recent study by the British Dental Journal (BDJ), it was found that swollen gums have been shown to “increase the severity of diabetes, worsen cardiovascular disease and increase mortality from oral cancer and oral pre-malignancies.” However, the greatest discovery in this study was the fact that very few people (12 to 13 percent) were aware of the complications associated with oral health problems and diabetes. Due to this, it is extremely important for patients to take extra care of their gums and teeth. Maintaining routine dental visits and following a healthy oral care routine (brushing, flossing, and rinsing) at home can help prevent undesirable side effects.

Unfortunately, there are those who have already experienced complications and even tooth loss. In these circumstances, we can help restore the patient’s smile with dental implants and/or veneers. It is my goal to help you regain a beautiful smile that you are proud to show off.

You may learn more regarding the cosmetic dental treatments, including dental implants, available at my Beverly Hills practice by viewing my website. I encourage you to schedule an appointment to further discuss your options and implement a personalized treatment plan.