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How to Care for Your Veneers | Huntington Beach Dentist

woman flossing

The longevity of your veneers can vary depending on how they are cared for. Here are some best practices for maintaining your veneers for years to come.

Avoid Unnecessary Force- Nail biting, chewing ice, and forceful brushing can break or dislodge a veneer; they can also be the reason your dentist recommended veneers to begin with. It’s important to make an effort to avoid these habits for the longevity of your veneers.

Good Oral Hygiene- Maintaining good oral hygiene such as regular brushing, flossing, and incorporating a mouthwash is great for your natural teeth and veneers. Veneers are placed along the gemlike to retain the appearance of being natural, so it’s important to keep your oral hygiene up to avoid a receding gemlike that may expose the veneer.

Limit Staining- Porcelain is a material that resists stains, but the dental cement used to keep them in place unfortunately is not. Coffee, tobacco, wine, and any other food and beverage that may stain your teeth will stain the cement over time. Eventually, if not properly cared for along the way, the cement will become discolored and look odd against your veneers – or even start to make your veneers look discolored by association.

Stop Clenching and Grinding- This bad habit is a great way to chip or break your veneers over time. Bruxism, or the grinding of teeth at night, can be avoided by incorporating a night guard when you sleep. Reducing stress or finding alternative means to clenching your teeth will also go a long way in maintaining your new pearly whites.

If you would like to find out more about veneers or how to improve your oral care routine, contact Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Rudy Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.

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Why Is My Jaw Clicking? | Huntington Beach Dentist

Have you noticed that your jaw clicks when you chew? Jaw clicking, popping, soreness or pain when you speak, chew or laugh are often symptoms of a problem with the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. This joint, known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), not only involves the dental complexities of the patient’s mouth, but it also includes the muscles of the human neck and back, and organs of the human head. The joint itself contains a thin cushion known as an articular disc, which helps align the lower mandible within the joint socket. When this alignment is thrown off, clicking and popping can result.

If the articular disc moves slightly, you may not notice any long-lasting symptoms. You may hear popping or clicking because the joint is very near the ear, but in many cases the disc will adjust itself and symptoms will disappear. In other cases, the disc will become displaced, and symptoms will persist. In severe cases, you may not even be able to open your mouth completely. In those cases, you need to make an appointment to see a TMJ specialist for treatment. Other disorders of the TMJ joint are possible, as well. If the mandible becomes dislocated, you won’t be able to fully close your jaw.

TMJ disorders are varied and complex, ranging from rare popping to frequent cracking. They may not be a major problem, but a specialist should investigate recurring symptoms that involve pain, fatigue, or mouths that fail to operate properly. If you experience these types of symptoms, especially unusual pain in the jaw or face, contact a TMJ specialist for an evaluation.

If you would like to find out more about jaw issues, contact Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Rudy Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.

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Garlic: A Blessing or a Curse? | Huntington Beach Dentist

Let’s face it – food wouldn’t be the same without garlic. It is so beloved that there is an entire festival dedicated to garlic in Gilroy, CA every summer. But with every good comes a bad and garlic is no different. The more we enjoy it, the more it is invading our mouths, leaving us with some of the stinkiest breath around. No chance of getting that kiss at the end of the date. But man – is it not a tasty ingredient that blesses any meal. Yum!

But did you know that garlic is actually helping our smiles? It’s true! It may be hard to believe this pungent ingredient has a positive to our health but it’s true – garlic is one of the most multi-faceted foods we have. And since National Garlic Day is in April, let’s take a moment to celebrate our smile’s favorite smelly friend…

Gum disease prevention. Garlic has thiosulfinate, a bacteria-reducing compound that specializes in reducing the production of plaque, the first stage of gum disease.

Promotes dental hygiene. We all know that garlic is guaranteed to give us some of the worst breath, so garlic is actually helping us maintain healthy dental practices as we are more prone to brush after eating garlic.

Get a good night’s sleep. Did you know garlic helps you sleep? Those that suffer from sleep apnea can benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties that can also help open up your airways and reduce enlarged tonsils.

Toothache relief. If a toothache or headache has occurred, munching on a clove of garlic can help relieve some of your pain naturally.

If you would like to find out more about the effects of garlic, contact Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Rudy Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.

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Caramel Apples Are the Epitome of Autumn Goodness | Huntington Beach Dentist

If you ask me, there is nothing nicer than a crisp autumn walk, enjoying the leaves on the trees changing from green to gorgeous yellows, oranges and reds. And if there is ever a perfect snack to accompany this lovely season, it’s the apple. The trusty apple is with us throughout our lives, from apple sauce as babies to apple pies as adults. But there is something about a caramel apple that really sets off the season off on the right foot. And thankfully for us, the apple is one of our smile’s best friends.

Now, it isn’t just the sweet snack that has captured our hearts – apples also have loads of health benefits that range from our bones to our heart, but it also greatly improves our smile. It’s true – this crispy fruit is fantastic for producing saliva, which is our natural way of keeping our mouths clean and bacteria free. Additionally, the fibers within the apple play an added role in cleaning our teeth in a way similar to a toothbrush. Now, it’s not a substitute… Apples are a healthy snack but shouldn’t replace your daily dental hygiene routine. These are just natural ways that you can improve your smile while enjoying a tasty treat.

But during this most bewitching of holidays upon us, what would be better than a homemade caramel apple as you take your family trick-or-treating? Look no further – here is a recipe that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but will also give your smile a real treat.

To find out how to make the perfect Halloween sidekick, the caramel apple, click here.

If you would like to find out more about the health benefits of apples, contact Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Rudy Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.

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When It’s Time for You to Get a Root Canal | Huntington Beach Dentist

Dental appointments are a cause of stress for many people. So much so, many of us dodge our regular checkups – a habit that only leads to more painful dental visits. But when your dental visit turns into a root canal, it’s time to rethink your dental habits.

But what exactly is a root canal in the first place and why does it hurt so much? Well, a root canal in your tooth can become infected due to a cavity or fracture that allows in bacteria. When a root canal becomes infected, it can die. At this point, you will begin to feel pain and pressure in and around the infected tooth. This is generally your first sign and when you become irritated by the sudden pain growing inside your mouth and you make that appointment. Without treatment, the infection spreads and could lead to tooth loss.

When you get treatment, expect the following steps: When the damaged pulp in the root canal of the tooth is cleaned out of all the diseased pulp and the canal is reshaped. Next, the canal is filled with material to prevent re-contamination of the tooth. Lastly, the tooth is permanently sealed with a post or crown to prevent issues from reoccurring.

We should maintain good dental hygiene practices in order to keep our mouths healthy, and this includes visiting the dentist regularly. But if things happen, you can rest assured that a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort, involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.

If you would like to find out more about root canals, contact Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Rudy Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.

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What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth? | Huntington Beach Dentist

We begin to get baby teeth around our first year. They fall out and our permanents come in. But many of us forget the third set of teething that we need to undergo at some point in our young adult lives, generally emerging at some point between the ages of 17 to 25 – wisdom teeth. Now, if you have seen any type of media regarding wisdom teeth, it is rarely a pleasurable experience.

Some people have wisdom teeth that emerge without any problems and line up with the other teeth behind the second molars, making it simple, easy experience. For many of us, this is the exact opposite of the case. The case many of us experience happens because our mouth is too crowded for third molars to develop normally. These crowded third molars become trapped (impacted), which can become very painful. Wisdom teeth (third molars) become impacted because they don’t have enough room to come in (erupt) or develop normally. It is at this time you will likely take a trip to the dentist, because you will possibly need them to be extracted.

An impacted wisdom tooth may partially emerge so that some of the crown is visible (partially impacted), or it may never break through the gums (fully impacted). Whether partially or fully impacted, the tooth may:

  • Break gums at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar)
  • Come in at an angle toward the back of the mouth
  • Grow at a right angle to the other teeth
  • Develop straight up or down like other teeth but stay trapped within the jawbone

If you find that your wisdom teeth may be coming in, make a plan to visit the dentist to find out if you need to have them removed.

If you would like to find out more about wisdom teeth, contact Dr. Gamarnik at 714-842-5626 to schedule a consultation or visit www.hbadvanceddentalspecialists.com for additional information.

Dr. Rudy Gamarnik proudly serves Huntington Beach and all surrounding areas.