Oral Health « Dr. Ortega’s San Diego Dentist Blog

Archive for the ‘Oral Health’ Category

Soft, Medium, or Buzz Lightyear?

Friday, April 8th, 2011

At Marcos Ortega DDS, Dr. Marcos Ortega is often asked how to choose the most basic tool of oral hygiene, the toothbrush. Picking a toothbrush in San Diego can be as difficult as choosing a paint color, and there seems to be just as many choices.

If you have visited the dental section of your local grocery store or San Diego Walmart lately, you know what I am talking about. There are brushes with bristles of varying lengths, brushes that massage your gums, and brushes that change color when they are used up. (If I had to rate them purely on their fun factor, I would choose the Spiderman brush.)

Some toothbrush manufacturers claim their brushes freshen your breath or remove stains from your teeth. How do you choose?

One key factor is the firmness of the bristles. Hard bristles may be more effective for cleaning burnt steak off a grill or hard water deposits off a shower floor. However, this does not hold true for your teeth. Medium and firm brushes can damage your gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are plenty stiff enough to clean plague, food particles, and surface stains from your teeth. Soft bristles also offer more flexibility for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

After having cosmetic dental work or oral surgery in San Diego, especially anything involving soft tissue grafts, make sure you use an extra-soft brush and be careful!

When buying a toothbrush for a child in San Diego, make sure the brush feels comfortable in their hand. If the size and angle feels awkward, the child will be less likely to use it long enough to clean all areas of the mouth. Children do not necessarily need a child-sized tooth brush. Some San Diego kids can manage an adult size brush better than a short, narrow child size brush. If you are unsure, ask your San Diego dentist at Marcos Ortega DDS.

What about the electric types and water-shooters? Some San Diego folks like the feeling of vibrating bristles or a mini-squirt gun blasting away at the plaque. San Diego people with arthritis or other movement-inhibiting conditions can benefit from powered brushes which take some strain off hands and arm muscles.

Is your toothbrush doing the job? Schedule an exam with your San Diego dentist at Marcos Ortega DDS.

At Marcos Ortega DDS, our very comfortable and friendly dental hygienists instruct our San Diego pediatric clients and San Diego adult patients on proper brushing and flossing. If you haven’t experienced a dental deep cleaning at Marcos Ortega DDS, you don’t know how clean your teeth and gums can feel.

Schedule a thorough dental cleaning today by calling Marcos Ortega DDS at 619-717-8459. An outstanding feature of Marcos Ortega DDS is extremely friendly staff, ontime service and personalized care. We offer porcelain veneers and dental crowns and a full spectrum of restorative dental procedures.

Tags: cosmetic dental, Dental Crowns, Porcelain Veneers
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Does My Hillcrest Dentist Treat Bad Breath?

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

When my San Diego dental clients ask me if mouthwash cures bad breath, I tell them that treating bad breath with a mouthwash is like drenching yourself with cologne instead of taking a shower. Mouthwash is only a temporary mask for odor caused by poor oral hygiene, tongue bacteria, or digestive problems.

The best-selling mouthwashes in San Diego have a significant amount of alcohol, which can even exacerbate bad breath by drying out the mouth. Some bacteria grows even faster in a dry environment.

To eliminate bad breath, you need to find the cause. To get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between teeth, pay more attention to thorough flossing and brushing.

A haphazard thirty-second brushing won’t prevent halitosis (or cavities). Try to brush for at least three minutes. It may seem like overkill if you have been a speed-brusher but remember that there is a lot of area to cover on multiple planes.

Devise a system to brush every reachable surface of every tooth. Then floss carefully around every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides. Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also.

Schedule a deep dental cleaning at Marcos Ortega DDS with the best hygienist in the Hillcrest area and request a refresher (no pun intended) course on brushing and flossing.

If your tongue is the culprit, you might want to start using a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping has become quite popular in San Diego, especially among the college crowd.

A tongue scraper is a cleaning tool that works like a squeegee to scrape bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

I am Dr. Marcos Ortega of Marcos Ortega DDS. At Marcos Ortega DDS, we treat many San Diego cosmetic dental patients with bad breath. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. (Leaving bad breath untreated can be more embarrassing.)

Schedule an oral exam and halitosis consultation by calling 619-717-8459. At Marcos Ortega DDS, our specialty is cosmetic and sedation dentistry and we also provide porcelain veneers and dental crowns. Thanks for visiting our blog.

Tags: cosmetic dental, Dental Crowns, Sedation Dentistry
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Do You Have Sore Gums?

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Every San Diego cosmetic dentistry patient’s mouth provides a cozy home for over 600 types of bacteria. If you are diligent about oral hygiene and have healthy gums, these microbes usually don’t affect your health. However, if you have gum disease, bacteria can enter your bloodstream through your gums and cause problems.

Gingivitis is the term for the mild gum disease. At Marcos Ortega DDS, we routinely discover gingivitis in San Diego clients who are not even aware they have the condition.

The first signs of gingivitis are swollen, sore gums.

It is important for our Mission Hills, Mission Valley and Bankers Hill dental patients to understand that it is not normal for gums to bleed when they are brushed or flossed. If you haven’t had an oral examination in a while and live in the San Diego area, call Marcos Ortega DDS at 619-717-8459. Dr. Marcos Ortega thoroughly examines teeth and gums and takes time to discuss the results and recommendations with each San Diego dentistry patient.

Marcos Ortega DDS is a full-service dental practice at 306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25 in San Diego. We provide comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry for clients who live in San Diego and the nearby communities of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Mission Valley and Bankers Hill.

During your dentist consultation, we can discuss any cosmetic or restorative procedures in which you are interested. Some of the Mission Hills, Mission Valley procedures that we use to create perfect smiles are porcelain veneers, orthodontics, dental implants and tooth whitening. Our hygienists are skilled professionals who perform the ultimate in dental deep-cleanings.

Oral health and overall health go hand in hand. Schedule a dental consultation today by calling 619-717-8459 or visiting us online at http://www.MySanDiegoSmiles.com.

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, tooth whitening
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Stick Out Your Tongue In San Diego!

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

As health professionals, we know that San Diego dentists diagnose and treat conditions of the teeth and gums, but we sometimes overlook the importance of the tongue.

Have you ever considered all the amazing things your tongue can do? It helps us talk, perceive the texture and flavor of food, chew, and swallow. This strong and nimble gymnast is in near-constant motion during our waking hours. It is a wonder that we don’t accidentally bite it more often as we smile, chew, drink, breathe, swallow, cough, and laugh.

Your tongue can also reveal problems with your health, including digestive problems, infections, and diseases of the blood.

When Dr. Marcos Ortega performs oral exams, the tongue is always checked for signs of oral cancer and other serious diseases.

Here are some tongue abnormalities and possible causes:

Swollen tongue: reaction to food/drink/medication, strep infection, leukemia, hypothyroidism
White tongue: dehydration, yeast infection, irritation to tobacco, enteritis, gastritis, colitis, anemia or other nutritional deficiency
Canker sores: may be triggered by stress or reaction to food, toothpaste, or mouthwash.

If you have persistent canker sores, you may want to try eliminating products that contain sodium lauryl (or laurel) sulfate (SLS). SLS is a cheap foaming agent that is found in many personal care products. It can be difficult to find SLS-free dental products in San Diego. The following brands have previously offered SLS-free versions but check labels carefully every time you buy a new tube. I have noticed that SLS has re-appeared in some brands.

Biotene
Sensodyne Pronamel
Tom’s of Maine
Rembrandt Low Abrasion

If you can’t find an SLS-free toothpaste at your local San Diego Walmart or Target, I would suggest trying health food stores, specialty drug stores, or trusted online sites.

Many of my San Diego cosmetic dental patients have asked me about tongue-scraping. I recommend thorough dental hygiene including cleaning the tongue. To schedule a consultation to discuss any dental health issues including tongue scraping, please contact my office at 619-717-8459.

Dentist Dr. Marcos Ortega DDS
Marcos Ortega DDS

Providing general and cosmetic dental services including cosmetic and sedation dentistry and porcelain veneers and dental crowns

Tags: cosmetic dental, Dental Crowns, Sedation Dentistry
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Healthy Teeth in San Diego

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Are you one of the fortunate San Diego people with healthy teeth? Would you like to keep them healthy for the rest of your life? Many San Diego cosmetic dental clients believe that keeping their teeth healthy into the golden years is unlikely if not impossible.

At Marcos Ortega DDS, we are happy to assure you that this is a myth. With proper dental hygiene, regular dental exams and cleanings, and a healthy lifestyle, your teeth can serve you throughout your life.

At Marcos Ortega DDS, we help clients of all ages, including those in their seventies and eighties, maintain their beautiful smiles. Dentures are not inevitable. Even if you already wear dentures, don’t give up.

You can improve your smile and your life with new dental implants available in San Diego at our state-of-the-art dental practice.

These new fixed dentures won’t slip and slide in your mouth, so you can start eating confidently again.

Our office is friendly and relaxed. You don’t need to worry about being embarrassed if your teeth have not seen a dentist or hygienist for a while. We can treat your dental problems and put you on the path for better oral health in the future. We also offer many cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening for those interested in improving their smile.

Remember, without dental health, you are never truly healthy. Call 619-717-8459.

Tags: cosmetic dental, Dental Implants, Teeth Whitening
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Healthy Teeth and Your San Diego Diet

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Maintaining healthy teeth is an important concern for our local San Diego residents. As your Dentist, it’s my job to help you understand how to care for your teeth and to keep them healthy. Everyone in the San Diego knows that maintaining healthy teeth requires regular daily brushing and flossing. Regular visits to your local San Diego dental practice is also necessary to keep watch for cavities and to help you maintain proper dental hygiene. We often forget that maintaining a healthy diet can also be beneficial for the health of your teeth.

A San Diego diet that includes foods that help your muscles and bones will also help you develop healthy gums and healthy teeth. Examples of local San Diego foods to include in your diet include foods rich in vitamin B such as breads and cereals. Foods rich in vitamin C, usually fruits and vegetables, help improve the health of your gums. Zinc and magnesium are also good for the health of your teeth and are found in foods like lean beef, fish, and poultry.

All foods increase the production of saliva. Saliva is important to healthy teeth because it helps to maintain the pH balance in your mouth. Maintaining this balance helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. Foods high in fiber also encourage saliva production as does the chewing of sugar-free gum. Gum, however, can damage unhealthy teeth or pull out dental fillings, so always use caution when deciding whether to chew gum and which brand to chew.

Just as certain diet choices in the San Diego area can be beneficial to the health of your teeth, others can be detrimental. Foods and drinks that are high in sugars are more likely to form the acids that attack your teeth and result in decay. And while table sugar is often associated with the formation of cavities, other sugars such as glucose, fructose, and maltose are also causes, and are often found in juices and sodas. Limiting the consumption of sugars to mealtimes lessens the amount of time your healthy teeth are exposed.

Making good diet choices and limiting between meal sugar consumption can improve the health of your teeth and gums.

If you would like to learn how to better care for your healthy teeth in the San Diego area, contact Marcos Ortega DDS at 619-717-8459. We would love to hear from you.

-Dr. Marcos Ortega

Tags: dental health, San Diego CA dentist, San Diego dentistry
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Your California Dentist And Cleaning Your Teeth

Monday, April 5th, 2010

California is known for its beautiful smiles, and our local San Diego community is no exception. Keeping your teeth clean is an important factor in maintaining your beautiful San Diego smile. One of the benefits of regularly visiting your local San Diego California dentist is a thorough teeth cleaning and a review of your brushing habits.

Our San Diego dental hygienist helps you keep your teeth clean by assessing the condition of your teeth, and recommending improvements to your daily teeth cleaning habits. Our San Diego oral hygienist can also professionally clean and polish your teeth at your regular San Diego dental check up. You should schedule a regular dental check up every six months.

I am a and I work at Marcos Ortega DDS located in the state of California. We specialize in cosmetic and sedation dentistry in the San Diego California community, including the surrounding areas of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Mission Valley.

Cleaning your teeth in California is the simple task of removing plaque (a sticky deposit that gets left on teeth in which bacteria thrives) and tartar (a calcium deposit that forms on teeth and aids in tooth decay). This is done by brushing regularly with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and flossing. Brushing and flossing at least twice each day can keep plaque and tartar from building up on your teeth and results in cleaner, healthier teeth. A regular visit to your local San Diego dental hygienist will help you stay on top of problems that can go unseen.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting your local San Diego, California dentist at least once every 6 months for a regular dental check up and teeth cleaning. These regular visits to your California dentist potentially prevent the undetected development of problems that can occur from neglecting to clean your teeth.

To keep that beautiful San Diego California smile in good shape, come in for a dental check up and teeth cleaning.

Call Marcos Ortega DDS in San Diego California to make an appointment. You can reach us right now at 619-295-4545.

Dr. Marcos Ortega

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Diego Cosmetic Dentist, San Diego cosmetic dentistry
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Oral Health | No Comments »

San Diego, California Residents Visit the Dentist

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Whether you have lived in California for a long time, or just moving in to the San Diego area; taking care of your teeth eventually involves a visit to the dentist. We are Marcos Ortega DDS located at 306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25 in San Diego, California, and our specialty is cosmetic and sedation dentistry.

You can reach Marcos Ortega DDS by calling 619-295-4545.

Going to the dentist for the first time in San Diego, or if you have not been for while, can be an unsettling experience for both kids and adults. The very idea of a ‘dentist’ seems to hold negative connotation for many people. If you are an adult who is moving to the San Diego area, or your child is preparing to visit the dentist for the first time, here are a few tips that may help ease you into regular dental checkups and put you on the path toward increased oral health and wellness.

Choose an San Diego dentist who is appropriate for your needs. When you meet your new San Diego dentist for the first time, make an effort to ask questions about the care you will receive. Ask questions that are relevant to your situation including questions about experience, age range of patients, and recommended procedures for any conditions you may have. Get to know your dentist so you feel comfortable with the care you will receive.

Introduce yourself to your San Diego dentist and get to know the office staff. Visiting the dentist in San Diego will seem less of a chore when you feel you have trusted friends who are there to help.

Be prepared to provide your dentist with information. Whether you are experiencing specific pain at that moment, or anticipating a problem, be sure to discuss everything with your dentist. Many patients become intimidated in the office environment and avoid expressing pain or discussing issues. As your dentist, I need to know everything you are experiencing and will be better prepared to help as you ask questions and express your concerns.

I understand that everyone is unique; what works for one person may not work for another. You know what works best for you, and the best way to have a good experience with your dentist is to communicate. Let me know what you are experiencing so that I can make adjustments and help you feel more comfortable and secure.

At Marcos Ortega DDS our very comfortable and friendly staff will work to make your dental experience a pleasant one. We know it can be frightening to visit the dentist for the first time, or after a long while. We’ll do what we can to make you feel comfortable, secure, and among caring friends.

If you are in San Diego, California and are ready to visit the dentist again, give us a call at 619-295-4545, or stop by to meet us; we’re excited to meet you.

-Achieving Health and Beauty with Modern Dentistry

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Diego Cosmetic Dentist, San Diego cosmetic dentistry, Sedation Dentistry
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Oral Health, Restorative Dentistry | No Comments »

Bad Breath Is No Fun For San Diego Residents

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Imagine you are starting a new job in San Diego and meeting your new boss for the first time. Confidence is key to your success. As you reach out to shake the extended hand your broad confident smile exposes rows of pearly white teeth, yet when you open your mouth to exchange greetings you worry about bad breath. Perhaps your breath is not as a pleasant as you had hoped. Bad breath is a worry and possible embarrassment for many residents of San Diego, California, from ages 25 to 75. Regular dental checkups at Marcos Ortega DDS can help alleviate your concern over bad breath. We have been addressing bad breath since 1986.

The technical term for bad breath is halitosis. Many factors can cause or contribute to halitosis. One of these factors is the food you eat. Onions and garlic are both known for having a potent affect on your breath. Simply observing the foods you eat here in San Diego can result in a change in your breath.

In most cases, bad breath originates in your mouth. Transient bad breath can be resolved through eating or brushing, and is a temporary condition usually associated with a dry mouth. Persistent bad breath can be a serious problem effecting as much as 25 percent of our San Diego residents. Persistent bad breath can be caused by dry mouth, and is made worse when food is not cleared away properly.

Brushing and flossing daily is a critical step in curing bad breath. Food particles can build up in your mouth and foster bacteria which can cause bad breath. This not only includes the food particles that may get stuck between your teeth, but also the food that collects around your gums or on your tongue. Brushing and flossing daily can help reduce the amount of food particles that stay in your mouth and cause bad breath. Regular visits to Marcos Ortega DDS in San Diego can also reduce or eliminate the progression of bad breath.

Other factors that can contribute to bad breath for San Diego residents include dry mouth, tobacco use, and health concerns such as infections. Come visit Marcos Ortega DDS located in San Diego, California; we’ll provide you with information about bad breath in a professional environment. Give us a call at 619-295-4545 to set up an appointment.

Dr. Marcos Ortega

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Diego Cosmetic Dentist, San Diego cosmetic dentistry
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Oral Health | No Comments »

General Dentistry

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

What is ‘ General Dentistry ‘? Here are a couple definitions, found from around the web:

The World Health Organization defines General Dentistry as “the science and art of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, jaws and mouth”.

According to Wikipedia :

A dentist is a healthcare professional qualified to practice dentistry after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Chirurgiae (BDS) or (BChD) or equivalent.

In most western countries, to become a qualified dentist one must usually complete at least 4 years of postgraduate study. Generally, 2 years of clinical experience working with patients in an educational setting are required.

If you have a need for General Dentistry in the San Diego area, please give our practice a call. We are Marcos Ortega DDS, and our general dentistry office is located at:

306 Walnut Ave., Suite 25
San Diego, California 92103

We practice General Dentistry in the city of San Diego. We provide general dentistry services to the greater San Diego area, which includes dentistry services for anyone in the cities of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Mission Valley or Bankers Hill.

Give us a call at 619-295-4545 to schedule a general dentistry appointment in San Diego, or to ask questions about general dentistry.

Achieving Health and Beauty with Modern Dentistry

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, San Diego Cosmetic Dentist, San Diego cosmetic dentistry
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Oral Health, Restorative Dentistry | No Comments »

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