Chewing sugarless gum can be good for your teeth in a number of ways. Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry patients need to know how to keep their smiles as healthy as possible when they aren’t near a toothbrush and chewing gum can help.

A new study done in China showed that frequent gum chewing is associated with higher saliva flow and more saliva means fewer cavities. Saliva is very important in a healthy mouth – it helps wash away food debris and bacteria and also helps remineralize teeth which strengthens them against decay.

People who suffer from dry mouth often have high rates of tooth decay and gum disease because of the reduced saliva flow.

Sugarless gum, especially gum sweetened with xylitol has been shown to benefit oral health. The xylitol, a type of artificial sweetener, not only helps avoid sugar but has been shown to actually inhibit the growth of certain types of oral bacteria.

Try chewing sugarless gum after meals or snacks and it is especially beneficial if you have consumed soft drinks, sports drinks or energy drinks which are all extremely damaging to teeth. Too much of these highly acidic drinks can lead to dental erosion and sensitive, yellow teeth.

Prevention is an important part of what we do and regular dental cleanings can help. Of course you still need to remember to brush and floss (every day).

To schedule your next appointment please contact Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. David Frey today at 310-276-4537. We look forward to talking to you!

In my Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry practice I have seen amazing changes when patients get a smile makeover. Men often shave their facial hair, women may change their hairstyles and even their makeup. All of them smile more which is wonderful – and new research shows that smiling can actually reduce stress.

University of Kansas researchers gave students anxiety-inducing tasks. The students had to perform these tasks three times: once while not smiling, once with a smile on their face, and once more while holding chopsticks in their teeth to force a smile. It turns out that any kind of smile, genuine or faked with chopsticks helped reduce stress  for the students. The stress levels dipped even lower when the students used a “real” smile.

“Age-old adages such as ‘grin and bear it’, have suggested smiling to be not only an important non-verbal indicator of happiness but also wishfully promotes smiling as a panacea for life’s stressful events said researcher Tara Kraft.  Co-author Sarah Pressman added “the next time you are stuck in traffic or are experiencing some other type of stress, you might try to hold your face in a smile for a moment. Not only will it help you ‘grin and bear it’ psychologically, but it might actually help your heart health as well.”

As a cosmetic dentist I know how powerful a smile can be. Unfortunately too many people hate how their teeth look so  they avoid smiling and laughing. If nature didn’t give you the perfect Beverly Hills smile then it is time to make a change. Cosmetic dentistry can change just one tooth or give you an entire smile makeover – it all depends on what you want from your smile. Improving the appearance of your smile may be easier and cost less than you think.

Find out more about Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry by meeting with Dr. David Frey for a consultation. Please contact Dr. Frey today at 310-276-4537 to schedule your appointment.

Our Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry office is excited about a new website launched by Colgate to inform patients about the proper care of their dental implants. Of course, because the site is created by a toothpaste company if does contain advertising about the importance of using their brand of antibacterial toothpaste. It also contains some really good information, including videos, for patients with new dental implants.

Using dental implants to replace missing teeth is a miracle of modern dental science. There used to be no choice when you lost a tooth – you got a bridge or a partial denture and that was it. Today the dental implant not only  replaces the missing tooth in both function and appearance but the implant also helps conserve bone in the jaw. This helps patients look younger as years pass by avoiding the shriveled or sunken look that accompanies tooth loss. The face looks shrunken because when the jaw bone is no longer supporting teeth it begins to recede. What a great side affect – keeping a younger looking jawline!

Dental implants are an investment of both time and money and like any investment you should learn as much as you can. This new website offers suggestions on oral hygiene care when you have implants. First on their list – stop smoking. Smoking  makes healing more difficult so if you smoke you should stop prior to placing your implants if you can. Good oral hygiene is just as important as before you had your implants so remember to brush and floss every day. Interdental brushing (using tiny brushes to get between teeth) is useful if you have spots that are hard to floss.

If you have lost a tooth and are unsure about your options for replacement please contact Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. David Frey today at 310-276-4537 to schedule your consultation. We will be glad to discuss your alternatives and discover whether or not dental implants are right for you.