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Everyone wants their teeth to be, as it were, “pearly whites.” But is teeth whitening safe? When done properly using the right products, always under the care of your dentist, teeth whitening can be entirely safe and can give you the beautifully white smile you desire.

Why Don’t Teeth Stay Naturally White?

Tooth enamel is naturally white, but certain foods and drinks can discolor it. Common culprits are coffee, tea, soda, wine, sweets, citrus, berries, tomatoes, and certain spices. Minimizing your consumption of these foods and drinks can reduce staining. However, for most of us, it’s not realistic to avoid these substances entirely. Doing so can even deprive you of certain nutrients that are critical to your overall health. Therefore, it is understandable that your teeth may lose some of their whiteness and brightness as you get older.

Factors That Affect the Safety, Efficacy, and Comfort of Teeth Whitening Solutions

FDA Approved With the ADA Seal of Acceptance

To ensure that your teeth whitening solution is safe, only use products that are FDA approved and have the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which is administered for over-the-counter products. “Clinically proven” assures you that the product has been put through rigorous testing and is indeed safe for use. It also determines whether the treatment is effective. If you purchase a product that claims to whiten teeth but a note somewhere on the product says, “This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA,” you have no guarantees and will be using it at your own risk. Luckily, there are plenty of teeth whitening products out there with these safety labels for you to choose from.

Your Dental Health

If your teeth and gums are not in good condition, teeth whitening may NOT be safe for you. For instance, if your teeth have holes or cracks, tooth bleaching products could seep through and damage the tooth root. Similarly, if your teeth have worn enamel or if you have cavities or gum disease, your dentist may discourage you from bleaching your teeth. However, if your teeth are generally healthy, your dentist will more than likely approve teeth whitening as an appropriate treatment for you.

Having Sensitive Teeth or Gums

Some people have naturally sensitive teeth or gums. Teeth and gum sensitivity after using whitening agents is only temporary and usually goes away within 48 hours. Sensitivity may increase and become more uncomfortable with prolonged use of the treatment.

Prolonged Use

The longer you use a teeth whitening solution, the greater your tooth sensitivity may become. There is not enough information available to safely recommend unsupervised long-term use or repeated use of teeth whitening products. If you are interested in a long-term solution or if you need severe teeth whitening, talk to your dentist about solutions that will be appropriate for you.

Reliable Teeth Whitening Solutions

There are two types of teeth whitening solutions: bleaching products, which can remove surface stains and deep stains, and non-bleaching products, which can remove surface stains only. Various treatments and solutions can be purchased at drug stores, given by your dentist for at-home use, or administered by your dentist in the dental office.

• Take-Home Teeth Whitening: At-home bleaching trays can be custom-fitted to your teeth to give you a whiter smile within just a few weeks. Teeth whitening strips may also be recommended. At-home solutions are often quite affordable and easy to use.
• In-Office Teeth Whitening: A tooth bleaching gel can be applied during a two-hour treatment session at the dentist’s office. This quick and effective treatment can produce immediate and excellent results.

Talk to Your Dentist First

Regardless of which treatment you have chosen, talk to your dentist before using any teeth whitening solution. Your dentist will assess your dental and oral health to determine if bleaching your teeth is a good form of treatment. It is always best to entrust your teeth whitening to dental experts to ensure safe treatment and the best results. With professional monitoring, you can avoid risking any damage, severe discomfort, or other issues and still achieve a whiter and brighter smile.  

Chad Tomazin, DDS offers in-office and at-home teeth whitening solutions at his dental practice in Riverside, California. To request your appointment with Dr. Tomazin, call (951) 686-3666 or fill out our online contact form today.

While chipping a tooth is often a result of a fall, accident, or an intense contact sport like hockey, most find it surprising that chipped teeth can also occur from the seemingly harmless habits and choices of everyday life. Find out what may be causing your chipped teeth from the list below.

Tongue piercings

Many people are not aware that tongue piercings can not only increase the risk of getting an infection in the mouth, but they can also lead to chipped teeth. Biting on tongue jewelry, either habitually or on accident, can lead to cracks, chips, and other damage. According to research published in the Journal of Periodontology, 47 percent of people who wear tongue jewelry for at least four years have experienced chipped teeth.

Stress (bruxism)

Many times those who do not know how their teeth became chipped or cracked consistently grind their teeth in their sleep. This condition is known as bruxism, which is often brought on by stress. Bruxism affects about eight percent of adults and is completely treatable. In a previous post, we discussed a few ways patients can prevent bruxism on their own or lessen the damage that it causes. Dr. Tomazin can help determine what is causing your chipped or cracked teeth and correct any damage with dental bonding or porcelain veneers. They will also make other suggestions for preventing bruxism.

Crooked Teeth

Braces are not only a solution for a beautiful smile; they also can correct pain or damage that is caused by an improper bite. All types of malocclusion (crooked teeth) can cause chips and cracks in the teeth, which is why correction is important for your long-term oral health. Straightening your teeth sooner rather than later can avoid more extensive corrective treatment down the road.

Nail biting

Nail biting may seem harmless, especially if you have thin nails, but over time it can cause the teeth to chip. When most people use their teeth as tools or to bite their nails, they tend to use the same particular teeth to bite and tear, causing accelerated damage to that portion of the tooth.

Chewing ice

Chewing ice, hard candy, or any hard, non-food object can chip the teeth. If you have a habit of chewing on any of these hard objects, it is best to avoid them completely and replace the habit by chewing sugar-free gum.

Chipped teeth can cause problems with speech, sores or discomfort in the mouth, and can worsen over time. If you have a chipped tooth or teeth, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Tomazin for an assessment.  The information they can provide you will help to correct the problem and restore your beautiful smile. Call (951) 686-3666 or fill out our online contact form today. We look forward to serving you!

Consistent morning headaches, sore jaw muscles, earaches, and unexplained wear on your teeth can often be attributed to habitually grinding your teeth, or bruxism. Bruxism most often occurs during sleep and is brought on by stress, an abnormal bite, missing teeth, or crooked teeth. An estimated eight percent of adults grind their teeth at night, and over one third of parents report symptoms of bruxism in their children.

1. Visit your dentist.

If you suspect that you habitually clench or grind your teeth, the first thing you should do is visit your dentist. Dr. Tomazin can assess your teeth and any damage that may have been done to diagnose and treat bruxism.

2. Manage stress.

If bruxism is caused by stress, you may be advised to either lessen the amount of stress in your life or to take some time to manage it. Many find that meditation, yoga, or other forms of exercise help with this. You can also place a warm washcloth below your ears to help relax your jaw muscles at night. If you clench your teeth out of habit during the day, you can help your jaw muscles relax by resting your tongue between your teeth.

3. Wear a mouthguard.

Dr. Tomazin may advise you to wear a dental splint or a mouthguard to protect your teeth from bruxism at night. While a store-bought mouthguard can be just as effective, it can shift the teeth over time. Dr. Tomazin will take an impression of your mouth to provide you with a comfortable, custom fit. If you have any chips or significant wear as a result of bruxism, Dr. Tomazin can correct these issues with bonding or porcelain veneers before your customized mouthguard is made.

4. Correct crooked or missing teeth.

If bruxism is caused by missing teeth or misaligned teeth, you should definitely get these problems corrected to prevent further damage. Consistent bruxism can wear the teeth down and cause chipped and loose teeth along with jaw pain and headaches. Dental implants are the best treatment method to replace missing teeth. They last a lifetime, are more comfortable than dentures, and do not require any special maintenance.

If you need a diagnosis or treatment for bruxism or if you would like to learn more about cosmetic dental procedures offered at Dr. Tomazin’s Riverside practice, please schedule an appointment. Call (951) 686-3666 or fill out our online contact form today. We look forward to serving you!

While bleeding gums can be caused by a few different circumstances, they are most often the result of poor oral health. When this is the case, gingivitis, also known as gum disease, has likely already set in.

Gingivitis is one of the most common diseases in the nation. At any given time, more than half of men and women over the age of 30 have it, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). If left untreated, gum disease can progress to a more serious infection called periodontitis that can lead to tooth loss and even serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Studies have shown that when these health issues were already present in the body, periodontitis made them worse.

Although gingivitis has the potential to wreak havoc on your health, it is entirely preventable and treatable. Here are a couple of tips for preventing gum disease and the symptoms that come with it.

How to Prevent Bleeding Gums

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Gum disease is caused by infection, which is a result of excess plaque and bacteria in the mouth. The best way to prevent excess plaque and bacteria is to practice regular oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least two times a day and flossing daily. If you are particularly susceptible to infection, your dentist may recommend brushing your teeth more often.

2. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Sometimes the signs of gingivitis are difficult to notice, which is why it is very important to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and assessment of your oral health. By checking the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth, your dentist can determine how healthy your gums are and make suggestions for improvement.

How Gum Disease Is Treated

Gum disease can be treated during a professional dental cleaning. As plaque and tartar are removed from above and below the gum line, the source of the infection is removed, and the gums are then able to heal. If deeper cleaning is needed, your dentist can perform laser plaque and tartar removal or scaling and root planing, which involves a local anesthetic to scrape away plaque and tartar buildup. If gum disease has reached and damaged the bone, surgical techniques can be used to restore it.

Dr. Chad Tomazin is a highly qualified dental practitioner dedicated to providing ultimate patient comfort and satisfaction. If you are interested in general or cosmetic dental services in the Riverside, CA area, please schedule your appointment today by calling (951) 686-3666. Or, for your convenience, you may fill out our online contact form.

Throughout his experience, Dr. Tomazin has witnessed the need for dentistry for special needs patients. Although patients with a developmental disability or other special need make up about 20 percent of the American population, many private dental clinics must turn them away because they simply do not have the qualifications (or patience) to help them.

Special needs patients, both young and old, often require extra time and advanced training from their dental care provider. Those who have a mental disability (especially children) may become anxious as a result of the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the dental office, and their dentist must feel comfortable practicing sedation dentistry or other special techniques that put the patient at ease.

Other patients may have an impairment that tests their ability to practice regular oral hygiene. Such patients may have suffered from a stroke, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, autism, genetic disorders, or arthritis, and they may require extra dental visits to better monitor potential problems.

Dr. Tomazin has served many special needs patients and offers “sleep” dentistry as well as sedation with anesthesia, which is monitored by a dental anesthesiologist for the duration of the procedure. All concerns and preferences regarding anesthesia or treatment can be discussed beforehand.

Dr. Tomazin strives to provide a private, comfortable experience for all patients who come to his practice. He provides a full range of services for special needs patients, including fillings, extractions, implants, dentures, root canal, and many more. The goal with every treatment is to customize it to meet the patient’s unique needs.

Dr. Tomazin is not a Dental Cal provider but serves cash-paying patrons who seek an especially supportive and comfortable atmosphere for their disabled loved one.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (951) 686-3666. For your convenience, you may also fill out our online contact form.