We ask that our female patients who are pregnant or think they possibly could be to inform us prior to your x-ray examination and dental treatment.

You are probably familiar with the links between tobacco use and lung disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Current studies have also established that tobacco smoking not only causes direct damage to your mouth but also makes periodontal diseases more damaging and harder to treat.

There is a greater incidence of calculus formation on teeth, deeper pockets between gums and teeth, more gum recession and more loss of the bone that hold teeth in your mouth. In addition, smokeless tobacco greatly increases your chance of developing oral cancer. Any tobacco usage can complicate the placement of dental implants.

Chemicals in tobacco such as nicotine, which constricts blood vessels, slow down wound healing.

Other chemicals impair the function of your white blood cells which are your first line of defense against infection. The tars contain carcinogens which over time induce cell mutations and cancers.

Quitting tobacco use will lower the risk of your developing cancer and improve the health of your teeth and gums, as well as your heart and lungs.

Smokeless tobacco poses very serious problems including:
- Causes tooth decay
- Eats away your gums
- Leads to tooth loss
- Bad Breath
- Stains your teeth
- Causes oral sensitivity to hot and cold
- Decreases sense of taste and smell

If oral cancer is left untreated long enough, it may even cause death.

Oral piercings can be bad for your health. Because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Pain and swelling are other side effects of piercing. Your tongue (a popular piercing site in the mouth) could swell large enough to close off your airway. Piercings can also cause uncontrollable bleeding or nerve damage. The jewelry itself also presents some hazards. You can choke on any studs, barbells or hoops that come loose in your mouth, and contact with the jewelry can chip or crack your teeth.

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. The odors will continue until the body eliminates the food. People who diet may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Dry mouth occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth.

Tobacco products cause bad breath, so if you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may also be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

Bruxism is a common disorder that results in the erosion of teeth; the jaw clenches the top and bottom teeth together while grinding them against one another. This is most common during the sleeping hours, but it can even happen while awake during times of stress. Repeated enough times, the pressure and friction destroys the teeth and can:

• Wear down tooth enamel
• Break fillings or other dental work
• Worsening of TMJ dysfunction
• Create jaw pain,toothaches, headaches, or earaches
• Cause tooth sensitivity
• Increase tooth mobility
• Chip Teeth

While there is no cure for Bruxism, the condition can be managed. The most common method to alleviate pain and discomfort is a Nightguard. Sufferers of Bruxims that have already experienced severe damage should ask Serramonte Dental Group about restorative solutions, such as Veneers.