Steven Eli Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

Baking soda is a great way to brush your teeth. It is non abrasive, so it protects your enamel from excessive wear. Also, because it is very basic (in terms of pH), it can kill bacteria since many of them enjoy an acidic environment. Just place a little in a dish, add some water to make it into a slurry paste, and brush away.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Great question. For those who have denture adhesive stuck to their gums, the solution is to wipe it off. It helps if you first rinse with hot water to loosen the adhesive. You can then use a toothbrush (although do not brush too hard and hurt your gums), a washcloth, or paper towel. It can be a challenge, but stick with it.
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

In answer to your question, What is the average age to get dentures? It depends. That's like asking what's the average age to get a hip or knee replacement. A dentist will recommend a denture to replace teeth with a hopeless prognosis to treatment (complete denture) or if many teeth are missing (partial denture). Without knowing your dental situation, I would strive to save your teeth if possible. If the cost, time, or treatment doesn't fit your life situation or if the prognosis is poor or hopeless, then a denture may be warranted. Generally, older (50 and up) people lose their teeth and get dentures. Unfortunately, I have also made dentures for people in their 20's and 30's as well.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

I'm not sure what you mean by "prepare for implants." The most important aspect of implant dentistry is after the implants are placed. First, follow your doctor's instructions. Take your medications, have ice packs ready, do not stick your tongue in the implant sites, and have soft foods available. Please keep your post operative appointments so your doctor can check the healing. Before your appointment, take any pre medication that is given or prescribed. Hydrate and eat a good meal. Of course, ask your doctor any questions you may have prior to your appointment, especially if you are having sedation because you won't be in a position to voice any concerns.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear 23 year old,

Great question. Here are some suggestions to help your teeth feel clean:
1.  Use a toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association. Look for the ADA seal. Colgate, Crest, Aim, Aquafresh, and Arm and Hammer are great choices. 
2.  Use a great toothbrush. You need a brush with rounded tufts and is soft. Soft-flexible, and you want a flexible brush to reach all the contours of the tooth. Oral-B and Colgate brushes are my favorite.  
3. Better yet, to have a feeling of real clean, get a mechanical brush. Oral-B and Sonicare are excellent brushes. I've been using them for 25 years. You don't need the most expensive models as the mechanics are the same for their brushes. The higher costs come with bells and whistles you may not need. They also have a built in timer to make sure you brush long enough.
4.  You need to brush for TWO MINUTES! The average American brushes 29 seconds based upon the research. My patients tell me they brush for 5 minutes, so I hand them a brush and some toothpaste and bet them they don't. Most brush less than 40 seconds. In 40 years, I've never lost a bet. Believe me, 2 minutes will seem like forever, but your teeth will feel great.
5.  You need to clean to clean in between your teeth. The interdental surfaces make up 40% of your teeth. Use unwaxed floss (real floss, not the string on a stick) or an interdental pick, like the GUM brand Soft Piks. No matter what you use, it will help remove plaque and food debris.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear 27-year-old female,

Great question. That bad odor you smell is the build up of plaque and biofilm that forms on teeth. They are loaded with bacteria. In addition, there may be food adhered to the plaque. Brushing will not reach in between your teeth and for those who don't brush, that's where the gum disease and cavities start. Keep up the good work. BTW, I hope you use real traditional floss and not the string on a handle. If you use them, I suggest you use GUM brand Soft Piks instead (although I am a traditional flosser myself).

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

In answer to your question, you can brush your teeth after giving the extraction site a couple of hours to form a fibrin clot. However, I would not brush in the area of the extraction site, leaving a one tooth space around it. If, for example, you had a lower first molar removed, I brush up to, but not the second bicuspid.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

It's great to brush your teeth with baking soda while wearing braces. Baking soda has little abrasives and, because it's chemically a base, will neutralize the acids in your mouth. Good choice.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Are bone grafts necessary after tooth extraction? Great question. The answer is: "It depends." Without a graft, the gum and bone will shrink and collapse. Are you planning an implant?Then you might need one. Will the space be in an esthetic area, like the front of your mouth? Again, it may pay to have it grafted. No tooth replacement and in the back of your mouth?Maybe not necessary. I would speak with a dentist if you don't already have one to get his or her opinion.  
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

Can you wait a month to fill a cavity? The answer is: I don't know. If it's a small to medium-sized cavity, you might be able to wait a month. But, if it's deep and near the nerve, I would get it treated asap. Remember that while a cavity is a hole in the tooth, it's caused by bacteria!  It's an infection and it will continue to progress and get worse with time. If it contacts the pulp ("nerve"), you'll need more than a filling. We're talking about a root canal and crown or extracting the tooth. I suggest you ask your dentist about the severity of your cavity and if you can wait. If you don't have a dentist, I'd visit one and have the tooth evaluated.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

In order to stop the nerve pain in your tooth, you are going to need definitive treatment. Nerve pain means either inflammation, infection or both. Only a dentist can help relieve the pain. I strongly suggest you make an appointment with your dentist, or if you don't have one, call the state dental society or ask a friend for a recommendation.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

I don't recommend you try to close a gap in your teeth with rubber bands. You can do a lot of damage to yourself. I suggest you see a dentist who has orthodontic training and does orthodontic treatment, or an orthodontist. This is not something you want to try at home. I have 35 years of orthodontic training and experience, so please see a professional.

Hope this helps,

Steven Chamish, DDS

Yes. When dentists talk about black triangles, it usually between two teeth near the gemlike. They're  usually the result of gum and bone loss. So, when you ask about fixing them, it all depends upon the cause and severity of the triangle and the skills of the dentist. Sounds like you need an examination and consultation with a dentist.
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish

Hi,  

If you truly have no enamel on your teeth, you should see a dentist to have the teeth protected with fillings (if only small to medium amounts of enamel is missing) or crowns (large amounts missing). He or she will determine the best course of action.
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

Hello, 

While water flossers have several benefits, they do not whiten teeth. If whiter teeth is your goal, I suggest you visit a dentist who offers whitening/bleaching. Whitening is a chemical treatment. While flossers may remove some external stain, oxidation of internal stains and pigments need to occur. 
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

Hello,  

In answer to your question, NO. You and I cannot remove tarter (calculus) at home by ourselves. It takes a trained professional such as a dental hygienist, using ultrasonic and hand instruments to remove tarter. My suggestion: make an appointment to have your tarter and stain removed - aka "cleaning."
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

Great question. The answer is YES. When you mention anesthesia, to a dentist it means local anesthetic ("novocaine"). If you mean being "asleep," that means sedation. I have patients who require both. All dental offices can apply anesthetics ("numb you up"). Not all provide sedation, although many offer nitrous oxide. Ask your dentist if they have the ability to provide the service you require to scale your teeth. If they don't provide the anesthesia, then I suggest finding an office that does. It is important to maintain good periodontal health in order to protect your heart, lungs, brain, and protect against diabetes and certain cancers.  
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

Dear Reader,

There are several ways to do this depending upon the training, experience and skill of the dentist. I have performed this close to 1,000 times. Just make sure your dentist feels he or she is confident and comfortable performing the procedure.  
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

An interesting question. Porcelain looks great, but is weak. Zirconia is extremely strong, but not as esthetic. The first question: is your bridge replacing a front tooth where esthetics are really important, or in the back where function is more of a concern? Also, your dentist can layer porcelain onto zirconia so you can have the best of both. In addition, there is now a new esthetic zirconia for front teeth. Finally, depending upon the size of the bridge, you could use E-Max a dilithium silicate. VERY esthetic and strong. So you see, while the question seems simple enough, there are quite a few things to consider. I would discuss your concerns with your dentist (or a dentist if you don't currently have one) to determine the best solution for you.
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS

No. There is no evidence that flossing will prevent Corona virus infection. Please continue to wear a mask, don't touch your face, wash your hands, and social distance. 
Hope this helps.

Steven Chamish, DDS