Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS | Secrets Your Dentist Won’t Tell You

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By Arthur Kezian

What Should You Know?

You may have just visited your hygienist or dentist in Los Angeles for your routing checkup and cleaning and they said that your teeth and gums were in good shape. Maybe you’re due for a checkup but haven’t had time to go for a while now. In any case, whether your dentist just saw you or not, there might be things that you are still not aware of. Not every dentist or hygienist has the time to sit down and give you an hours worth of oral hygiene information. Sometimes, there are things that are just left unsaid. That’s where we come in. We’ve put together a list of things that we think you should know about.

Mouthwash isn’t ALL that:

Recently, more mouthwashes have been introduced into the market that contain zero alcohol. But, the majority of mouthwashes still contain alcohol in them. This alcohol dries out the mouth, which in turn can cause more problems, if used quite often, of course. Our mouth depends on a nice flow of saliva to keep bacteria and plaque build up under control. With the drying effects of the alcohol, our mouths are more susceptible to getting bacteria and decay. Lesson from this? To keep a healthy smile, we recommend using a mouthwash that has no alcohol in it!

Chewing Gum Can Be Good For You:

No, we’re not talking about bubble gum. But, chewing gum without sugar, or in this case, chewing gum with a sweetener called xylitol, can help your oral health. Some research shows that xylitol has antibacterial agents which can aid in fighting off bacteria and decay giving you a healthy mouth. So, the next time you’re at a restaurant, pull out some xylitol gum after your meal!

It’s OK For Your Wisdom Teeth To Stay:

Most individuals are under the impression that their wisdom teeth have to come out. Not everyone needs to take them out, though. Some cases require an emergency dentist, some cases can wait, and some cases have patients go their whole lives with their wisdom teeth still in place – not causing them any harm. Sometimes dentists recommend they be taken out because they may cause a problem in the future. But, some of those cases never end up causing problems. It is always best to get a second opinion when it comes to taking your wisdom teeth out, or seeing someone who is experienced in the field and deals with extractions on a daily.

Sugar Is Not The Only Culprit:

Your dentist has most likely talked to you about staying away from too much sugar because it is not good for your teeth. But, what some dentists forget to mention, is that sugar alone is not the only culprit. Foods that are categorized as “starchy” can actually contribute to tooth decay – these are foods like pasta, rice, and potato chips. Among sugar and starch, foods that contain citrus can also be harmful for the teeth. These foods include but are not limited to lime, lemon, grapefruit, and orange. What should we take from this? Eat everything in moderation.

Try Using Charcoal; After all, It’s The New Hype:

A lot of patients come into a dental office wanting to make their teeth look whiter and brighter; but not all those patients have the financial ability to pay for the whitening treatments. This is because whitening is considered “cosmetic” and most insurance companies do not pay for it. Well, for those who need an alternative, whether it’s money or other reasons (sensitivity from whitening), then there is activated charcoal. There is no proven evidence behind the topic, but patients across the world have claimed their teeth have looked whiter after using the product. We think it’s worth a try, don’t you?

Whitening Toothpastes:

Speaking of whitening, a lot of toothpastes in the market today target whitening as once of their effects. Because of this, a lot of people think they are whitening their teeth and cleaning them at the same time. Well, generally speaking, a toothpaste can’t whiten the way a bleaching agent can. So, the toothpaste is not actually whitening your teeth. What toothpastes do is remove surface stains, in turn, making the teeth look cleaner and/or whiter. So, the next time you’re buying toothpaste, be mindful of that.

Your Hygiene Can Affect Your Baby:

Saliva is known to carry bacteria from one person to another, and that does not exclude the bacteria from a mother’s or father’s mouth to their baby. If you have poor dental health or poor oral hygiene, you should be careful with how you feed your baby. Do you taste your baby’s food and then use that same spoon to feed him or her? Maybe you check the temperature against your mouth and then feed them? This is extremely common, and a lot of parents don’t think about it in this perspective. So, always be mindful of your baby’s oral health as well.

We Don’t Agree With Insurance Companies Either:

Years ago, when dental insurance was first introduced, it was made by dentists for dentists. The policy would cover up to 1,500 in bills per year. Now, that’s pretty much what a single crown could cost you without insurance. But, the insurance companies still have the same limit in place. Well, how would that possibly help someone in need of major dental work? We get it, and we’re on your side with this one!

Whatever the dental topic may be, be sure to talk to your dentist about anything that is on your mind. Sometimes, just conversing a little bit more with your dentist would give you the kind of insight you need. If you’re in need of a dentist to talk to or just have questions you need answered, feel free to have a conversation with our very own dentist, Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS. He is a cosmetic and general dentist who also specializes in implant and emergency dentistry.

If you would like to set up a consultation with the dentist, feel free to call (323) 467-2777. Dr. Kezian and his staff will be more than happy to help you set up an appointment where you could discuss any dental related topic.
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Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS
443 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 467-2777
www.drkezian.com