Oral Cancer Detection

Do you know the potential  signs of oral cancer? If not, now’s the time to find out. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and as providers of general dental treatment, we at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach may be a patient’s first doctors who alert them to a potential problem. But since patients can also monitor themselves for suspicious growths and ultimate confirmation of the diagnosis will have to come from other practitioners, we wanted to say a bit about the overall diagnostic process.

Early signs of oral cancer include red or white patches on the lips or inside of the mouth, bleeding, numbness, and soreness. Cancer in the oropharyngeal region may feel like an unswallowable lump. It is important to note that these symptoms may be related to a noncancerous growth, but they are always worth checking out. During an oral cancer examination, a dentist will lift the tongue to check it from all angles and use their handheld mirrors to check the insides of the cheeks. They will also feel for lumps in the patient’s neck and may use an ultraviolet light to look for signs of unusual tissue growth patterns.

We may refer a patient to an oral surgeon for a biopsy. This means a small portion of a tumor would be cut away to be tested for cancer. Oral cancer is easier to treat when it’s detected early, but a patient will be at higher risk for dry mouth during treatment. They will also need to maintain regular examinations in the future to catch recurrences.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Good oral hygiene is crucial to overall health no matter how old you are. All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach welcomes patients of all ages, and we’re aware that people in different age brackets have different needs. Among infants and toddlers, one of the biggest challenges is what dentists call Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, so we wanted to inform parents of how to avoid it.

The point of brushing our teeth is to remove sugary residue that is consumed by oral bacteria. Those bacteria excrete acid, which gets caught in the biofilm of the teeth and causes tooth decay and gum recession, so we want to deprive them of their food source. But not only are babies unable to brush their own teeth, they’re also dependent on whatever they’re given to drink and often are allowed to keep their bottles for a long time. This means that their teeth are being coated in milk instead of water and the residue may remain in place for several hours. Tellingly, decay tends to appear on the fronts of the top incisors, exactly where milk is contacting the teeth after leaving the bottle.

The keys to preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay are brushing and water. Parents should start brushing their babies’ teeth as soon as the first one emerges. In between brushing, babies should be given mostly water to drink, and they should be given water after drinking milk to provide their teeth with a rinse. Toddlers also should not be given juice, which is high in sugar, until they are old enough to drink from cups.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Lip Swelling following Extractions

When necessary for a patient’s oral health, we at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach extract teeth quickly and as non invasively as possible. We’re proud to say that complications are rare, but the post-op instructions we give patients are intended to protect their own comfort, and following them is important. A minor but common problem that develops when people don’t follow instructions is a swollen lip.

Sensation to the lower lip and chin is supplied by the alveolar nerve. We typically deliver numbing medication to it via a syringe prior to extracting teeth from a patient’s lower jaw. Children, in particular, tend to bite down on their numbed lower lips out of curiosity. Unfortunately, it is easy to misjudge how much force the lip is being subjected to when it’s numb, so the bite often causes it to become extremely swollen and to develop a lesion.

The swelling can last for a few weeks. If the lesion is white, it is probably not infected, and the patient can get by with over-the-counter painkillers. In the first two days following an extraction, they should hold cold packs against their jaw for fifteen minutes at a time, and switch to hot packs after the first two days. But if the lesion turns red, smells bad, or is accompanied by a fever, it may be infected and need to be professionally drained and treated with antibiotics. We often do follow-ups after extractions anyway can assess damage to the lip.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

The Importance of Replacing Teeth

Usually, people don’t need much persuading to get missing front teeth replaced. The improvements in appearance, speaking, and bite function are obvious, and the implant is easy to place. However, people may struggle to understand why it is also critical to their oral health to replace missing molars. At All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, we’re experienced providers of dental implants and general dental care, and we want to make sure our patients understand the relation between teeth and head shape.

Molars are held in place by ligaments and, depending on whether they are in the lower or upper jaw, two or three roots. They are well-secured, but the jaw depends on the teeth to stimulate its growth of new tissue. When a tooth is missing, the nearby jaw bone will recede, often losing as much as twenty-five percent of its width within just the first year. As the jaw continues to lose tissue, the patient’s face will lose height. This could put excessive force on the temporomandibular joints, which connect the lower jaw to the skull, and can result in bite collapse. If a person attempts to use their front teeth for chewing, they risk pushing their front teeth outwards and causing further jaw pain.

The good news is that an implant can prevent further bone loss. The implant post stimulates the growth of new bone tissue through a process called osseointegration, and it can last for over ten years. Patients who have already lost a large amount of bone tissue may require a bone graft before they can receive an implant, but the completed prosthetic will allow them to chew normally.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Tongue Cleaning For Children

A parent’s goal in life is to raise their children happy and healthy. An important aspect of your child’s health involves oral hygiene. But there is one part of the mouth that is regularly ignored, and that is the tongue. Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos recommend tongue cleaning for children. This cleans off any unhealthy bacterial coatings. To learn more, contact All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA.

 

Just because your child’s baby teeth aren’t permanent doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Teaching your child good dental hygiene now will follow them into adulthood. This prevents the development of childhood cavities. Tongue brushing is a beneficial way to accomplish this. The tongue is naturally sticky, holding onto bacteria and debris. A tongue scraper removes these substances from the surface of the tongue. There is even research that tongue scraping increases your sense of taste.

 

Your child’s toothbrush works as a tongue scraper in a tight pinch. The best option is buying an actual child-sized tongue scraper from your local grocery store or supermarket. These are sorted by age to guarantee a correct fit. The width of the scraper should match the width of the tongue. Your Pacific Beach, CA, dentists only recommend tongue scraping for children over the age of five.

 

First, show your child how the tongue cleaner works. Bring them with you to the bathroom and place them in front of the mirror. Ask them to stick out their tongue. While watching in the mirror, guide their hand which is holding the tongue cleaner. Move it gently from the back of the tongue down to the tip. Remind them to wash off the apparatus every time.

 

Proper dental health is a guarantee for a brighter future. Help keep your child’s teeth healthy and happy. All Coast Dental is located in Pacific Beach, CA. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos, call 858-270-4904 or visit https://www.allcoastdental.net/.

Sjorgen's Syndrome

Certain medical conditions have a negative impact on your oral health. Sjorgen’s syndrome is one of them. This is an autoimmune condition that affects the saliva and tear glands. These patients end up at All Coast Dental with complaints of dry mouth. Schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph or Julie Boulos before the glands stop working completely. Your Pacific Beach, CA, dentists can help alleviate your symptoms.

 

Various symptoms occur with a systemic condition like Sjorgen’s syndrome. We’ve narrowed the list down to the ones that affect your oral health.

 

-Dry lips, throat, and mouth

-Problems swallowing

-A scratchy or hoarse voice

-Chronic cough

-Repetitive oral infections or cavities

-Swollen salivary glands in the neck and face

 

At the moment, there is no known cure for Sjorgen’s syndrome. The only thing medical professionals know so far is that its development is due to genetics or a reaction to certain germs.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t treatment options! A diagnosis is the first step to getting healthy. Your Pacific Beach, CA, dentist examines your salivary glands and flow. Your dentist also treats secondary symptoms like cavities.

 

Your treatment depends entirely upon yourself and your symptoms. Talk to your Primary Care Physician (PCP) about medication for your body’s immune response. Your Pacific Beach, CA, dentist focuses on your oral symptoms. You need to increase your salivary production. Drs. Joseph or Julie Boulos may recommend Artificial Saliva. This keeps your mouth moist when your saliva can’t. There are also over-the-counter dry mouth medications. These are available in both toothpaste and mouthwash form.

 

All Coast Dental is located in Pacific Beach, CA. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph or Julie Boulos, call 858-270-4904 or visit https://www.allcoastdental.net/.

Fluorosis

All Coast Dental believes in giving patients family-friendly service. It’s why Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos treat patients of all ages. A common pediatric dental condition we see is called Fluorosis. It’s when a child is exposed to larger amounts of fluoride, creating thin white streaks on the teeth. This condition isn’t dangerous but offers parents a good moment to evaluate their child’s nutritional habits. To learn more, contact our office in Pacific Beach, CA.

 

Children are the only demographic at risk for fluorosis. That’s because it affects teeth that haven’t emerged from the gum line. It’s important to note that this isn’t a harmful condition. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in our drinking water. It’s also in most dental products. Your child should have their teeth examined to rule out other problems.

 

Breastfeeding is a healthy way to minimize your child’s exposure to fluoride. It provides your child with healthy and organic nutrients. When you use formula, your baby is at risk of fluorosis. That’s because most formulas require water. You can avoid this by breastfeeding as long as you’re able or comfortable. Parents of older children need to closely monitor their child’s toothpaste habits. A child below the age of three shouldn’t use more toothpaste than a grain of rice.

 

Have your child start brushing their teeth twice a day after they turn three. They need a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Watch them closely to make sure they don’t swallow it. The same goes for other products like mouthwash. These contain fluoride, and swallowing them increases their risk for fluorosis.

 

All Coast Dental is located in Pacific Beach, CA. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph or Julie Boulos, call 858-270-4904 or visit https://www.allcoastdental.net/.