Blog Archive

Tooth sensitivity may occur as minor dental discomfort or as a painful sign of a more serious issue. It usually feels like a sharp or shooting pain through your teeth like a "tooth brain freeze.” Tooth sensitivity triggered by temperature tends to occur when a tooth’s outer protective layer, the...

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. The majority of melanoma cases are attributable to UV exposure. Research suggests that regular sunscreen use may reduce the risk of melanoma. Higher melanoma rates among men may be due in part to...

1. Get a good professional dental cleaning to remove the hardened plaque and stains from your teeth especially between and around those gums. 2. Floss with a whitening toothpaste left between your teeth to help maintain the whiteness and keep the areas smooth. 3. Use a water pick with some...

Oral cancer screening is a way to detect early oral cancer.  Self-screening in addition to regular check-ups with your doctor and dentist are good ways to stay healthy.  Higher-risk individuals include those who smoke and have heavy alcohol use. Self-examination should include the following steps: 1. Check your neck from...

Mayo Clinic cited the following causes: Food. The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odor. ... Tobacco products. Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. ... Poor dental hygiene. ... Dry mouth. ... Medications. ... Infections in your mouth. ......

Did you know... People with gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events. Some great resources for heart care are the  following: htps://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/american_heart_month_patients.htm https://www.heart.org/ Exercise, hydrate, watch your blood pressure and stress...and of...

Sensitive teeth can be from cracked or worn enamel.  If you grind your teeth at night a night guard is a good preventative measure to decrease wear and sensitivity along with lowering your stress.  If teeth or restorations are damaged then a replacement filling or other restorations may be necessary...

There are essentially two types of mouthrinses: 1) therapeutic 2) cosmetic Examples of therapeutic types: Cetlpyridnium chloride- decreases bacteria that cause bad breath Chlorhexidine- controls plaque and gingivitis by killing the anaerobic bacteria Essential Oils- controls bacterial growth- bacteriostatic Fluoride- remineralizes the enamel and prevents decay Peroxide- creates an environment...

A healthy smile is a beautiful one. Dental insurance is a way to help you afford dental care but there are other ways to help you as well.   Dental insurance plans are complicated, but if you understand some of the lingo you’ll be better prepared to maximize your coverage. Some...

Gum disease affects 85% of adults in the United States. It is well known that gum disease is associated with heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, arthritis, kidney disease, pre-term babies, diabetes as well as some cancers. There are gum recession factors that we can manage and others that we...

Teeth properly aligner are easier to maintain. You are able to floss readily and food doesn't trap in places that it shouldn't. If you can't floss because your teeth are too tight, gums can get inflamed causing eventual bone erosion, and teeth can then become loose due to the lack...

Lumps, bumps and lymphnodes should be checked by yourself and your dentist regularly. They are the first sign of a potential infection or cancer. Other signs are a sore that doesn't go away or patriotic lesions...red, white or blue that persists for more than 2 weeks need to be checked. ...

Kombucha has bacteria that grows in a liquid you’re going to drink. Some of the bacteria are considered probiotics, but if it’s not prepared properly, can grow bad bacteria and mold! There have been cases of illness and at least one death have been reported in people who drank kombucha....

Food choices are important for our bodies to function optimally and can also affect our oral health.  If eating acidic foods remember to rinse with water after and refrain from brushing your teeth for 30 min to allow demineralization. Acids will pull away minerals from your enamel making it softer...

For decades, researchers have probed the link between gum disease and cardiovascular health. Gum disease begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film dentists refer to as plaque builds up around teeth. A completely different type of plaque — made of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in blood — can...

UC Davis Health reports the top 5 things that help boost your immunity against Covid by boosting your immunity and boosting your mood. 1. Zinc- found in fish  is important to many enzymes our body needs for proper immune function 2. Vitamin A- like in broccoli, carrots and sweet potato...

While it has already been established that oral health care is systemic health care and that a healthy mouth is positively linked with reduced rates of heart disease and other chronic illnesses, the specific links between harmful bacteria in the oral cavity and susceptibility to harmful systemic viruses are only recently...

Our holiday hours are Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 8 am - 5 pm. We will be closed to being with our families from December 23- December 29, 2021, but bac to serve you on December 30, 2021.  If you have a dental emergency Dr. William Wong will be on call...

With all the different whitening products which one is the right one for you?  1) DIY home whitening strips- check pH. 7 is neutral and the pH of water use that as a reference point 2) DIY whitening trays- be sure they fit well and the pH is as neutral...

Dental insurance benefits can expire at the end of the year for many employees.  Check to when your roll-over date is to make sure you use the benefits you earned throughout the year. If you have questions you can call your HR person at your company or call 310-453-3747 to...

Let's face it. Masks are here to stay for the time being and that means a higher temperature in your mouth making a better breeding ground for bacteria that cause both bad breath and gingivitis! Brushing 3 x a day flossing and hydrating appropriately will help to combat the new...

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus. But...

1. Hydrate.         As the weather gets warmer we lose water by evaporation and a dryer mouth leaves us prone to decay, bad breath, and staining fluids that dry to the tooth surfaces. A sip of water after dark liquids helps wash the stains away and keep...

Increased temperatures in your oral cavity can lead to dry mouth and increase the rate the bacteria multiplies. This means a more acidic environment primed for cavities and dehydration that can increase the amount of tartar building up. We can combat these new situations by simply drinking more water and...

We are excited to learn more about ways to better serve you!  Streamlining digital advances in laboratory communications and insurance updates as well as up to the minute infection control data. We look forward to sharing this information with you!  In the meantime, Dr. Karen Nakagawa is on call for...

Bacteria from your mouth can invade your gums and cause infections that can travel to your heart. As a past member of the UCLA- Heart- Lung transplant team, dental examinations and care were a routine part of the protocol to keep patients safe during their organ transplant procedure and afterward...

Leave your 2020 Toothbrush in the past!   Keeping Your Toothbrush for Too Long The ADA recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, so make a resolution to change your toothbrush with every season this year. Frayed and broken bristles won’t keep your teeth clean—these are signs it’s time to...

Daniel Berger, EMT, published a recent article in The Journal of Emergency Medicine comparing different marks types for healthcare professionals reported that fluid resistant surgical masks (level 3) provided filtration at a smaller particle size than the N95 respirator and proved sufficient at filtering of aerosol and droplets associated with...

1. Keeping a gratitude journal causes less stress, improves the quality of sleep, and builds emotional awareness (Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson, 2005). 2. People who express and feel gratitude have a higher volume of grey matter in the right inferior temporal gyrus (Zahn et al, 2014). ( Make you...

We know emergencies occur, if you need to reach Dr. Sakurai or Dr. Merchant directly please call . .   (800)233-7231 ID#12356

As old silver mercury fillings age and are exposed to extreme hot and cold, like coffee and ice cream, they expand and contract leaving gaps between the tooth and the filling over time. when that happens bacteria can sneak between and under the filling where it can't be seen visually...

Please welcome Dr. Merchant to our practice. He is a highly talented dentist as well as a culinary wizard!  I have had the privilege of watching him work on the most challenging cases at LAC+USC Medical center during his residency with empathy and acute skill beyond his years. I am...

As the year closes, it's a great time to review your dental insurance benefits. Make appointments early enough to make sure your family maximizes your hard-earned benefits. Your benefits usually renew annually and are not additive. So if you have 2000 worth of benefits this year and 2000 next year...

Although Coke caused the most staining OJ was the most acidic and caused demineralization of the shell. Brushing your teeth right after acidic drinks can wear away the enamel because the minerals have been taken away by the acid. Try drinking water to neutralize the acid and wait 30 min...

Hidden acids in common drinks can cause enamel erosion, tooth decay, and sensitivity. Being aware of what you put in your cup and your mouth can be an important way to preserve that beautiful smile and prevent pain and disease. Drinks with very low pH's can pull away minerals out...

The Flu and Dental Care: A Closer Look The 2018 flu season has been one of the worst in 15 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the final week of January 2018, 7.1% of all outpatient visits were for flu-like symptoms, an increase of .5% from the week before. This...