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Life Changing Impact of Jaw Expansion with Preventative Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment

May 4, 2012 — admin

Here is a great testimonial that our office received recently.

Dear Dr. Pannu,

[S.S.] started his orthodontic work in January 2011 and since then we have noticed the following changes in him- little did we realize that orthodontic work can have such far reaching impact:

Beginning in March 2011, we found his snoring decrease a lot. His bed clothes were far less “crushed”. He actually slept through the night with his head on the pillow- earlier he would have turned 90 degrees and have his feet hanging over the side of his bed. His sleep had improved so much that he was better rested in the mornings and less grouchy. His teacher remarked in April that he was “settling in” nicely. The best part of it was he surprised us with a perfect 100% score in his Science STAR test that he took in May of 2011- he had scored significantly lower in his previous years and I think this improved “focus” is directly related to his improved sleep which is a result of his mouth closing properly during sleep.

Another issue [S.S.] had (still there a little) is dry skin near and around his mouth- he would also have severe thirst issues as he slept with his mouth open, snoring. This used to flake badly and we had a bottle of extra virgin olive oil on his desk for him to apply always. Since March- April, we have seen considerable improvement in his “dry skin” issue. Even during the cold spell we had in August and September, his skin did not dry out as much. I am going to observe this during this winter to conclude that this has also improved.

Another problem he used to have was occasional bed wetting. This used to make him feel very bad and lose confidence. Since the start of his treatment he has not wet his bed even once.

I want to take this special season of Diwali to thank you and your staff for making a big difference in our child’s life.

Sincerely,

M.S. [patients mother]

- Santa Clara

What’s behind your bad breath?

June 28, 2011 — pannu

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can be a result of several factors and may be a sign of other health problems. If you suffer from bad breath, it’s important to have treatment right away.

First, it’s important to know where your bad breath comes from. All of the foods you eat begin to break down in your mouth. As the food is digested, it’s moves into your bloodstream and, eventually, into your lungs, which causes you to give off the odors in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors, such as garlic and onions, brushing and flossing only covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

Poorly oral hygiene also causes halitosis. This cause is much more serious. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, food particles and bacteria can remain in your mouth, promoting harmful bacteria growth between teeth, around gums, and on your tongue. This causes bad breath and can contribute to gum disease and tooth decay. Additionally, smoking or chewing tobacco-based products can cause bad breath, as well as stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste, and irritate your gums.

Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease. If left untreated, periodontal (gum) disease can damage teeth, gums, and your jawbone. Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, infections of the mouth, and dental caries (cavities). Certain diseases, sicknesses, medications, and oral conditions, such as dry mouth, are also to blame for halitosis.

Dr. Dalvir Pannu and his team at Pannu Dental Care utilize state-of-the-art treatments to diagnose the cause of bad breath and, if the cause is of dental or oral origin, treat the condition. Call your Pannu Dental Care office, located in Fremont, San Jose, Cupertino, and Dublin, California.

How to Choose a Quality Toothpaste 101

May 18, 2011 — pannu

You’ve heard that the best thing you can do for your mouth is to have regular dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months, but what happens in between appointments? To ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy and well taken care of, brushing with quality toothpaste is essential.

The exact compositions of different toothpastes vary slightly, but, in general, toothpastes should include the following things:

Gentle abrasives to remove plaque from teeth (magnesium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, calcium carbonate, hydrated aluminum oxides, phosphate salts)
Substances that keep the toothpaste from drying out (glycerol, sorbitol, other “humectants”)
Thickeners to give the toothpaste a homogenous appearance and texture (seaweed, mineral colloids, synthetic cellulose, natural gum)
Flavoring agents that do not cause tooth decay (saccharin, for example)
Detergents to make the toothpaste foamy (sarcosinate)

Quality toothpastes should also contain fluoride to strengthen your tooth enamel and make your teeth more resistant to decay.

With rows and rows of toothpastes to choose from, picking the right one for you and your family can seem overwhelming and impossible. When you find one, make sure that the product is safe and does what it claims to do. (If the toothpaste claims to whiten your teeth, make sure it has a whitening agent in it, etc.)

If in doubt, just look for the American Dental Association’s seal of approval on the toothpaste box. This symbol indicates that the manufacturer has participated in a voluntary testing program conducted by the ADA to gauge a product’s safety and effectiveness. Any toothpaste containing sugar, for example, will not get the seal of approval.

For more information about oral health and hygiene, call one of the four Pannu Dental Care offices, located in Fremont, San Jose, Cupertino, and Dublin, California. Dr. Dalvir Pannu has been a practicing dentist since 1995, and has been invited by the American Dental Association to speak on several dental topics.

Posted in Oral Health Conditions, Preventive Dentistry. Tags: family dentist cupertino ca, family dentist dublin ca, family dentist fremont ca, family dentist san jose ca, general dentist cupertino ca, general dentist dublin ca, general dentist san jose ca, general dentistry fremont ca, oral health cupertino ca, oral health dublin ca, oral health fremont ca, oral health san jose ca, oral hygiene cupertino ca, oral hygiene dublin ca, oral hygiene fremont ca, oral hygiene san jose ca. No Comments »

10 Tips to Beat Bad Breath

May 2, 2011 — pannu

It’s humiliating. You had bad breath all day long, and you didn’t even know it! When you got home after work, your husband commented on your smelly mouth. How many people at the office noticed and said nothing? You can’t turn back time to change the past, but you can take precautions to make sure bad breath doesn’t strike again.

Most people pop a piece of chewing gum or a mint to eliminate bad breath. Others use breath spray from the pharmacy. The truth is, gum, mints, and breath sprays probably mask a bigger problem – if they work for you at all.

Bad breath can originate in the stomach, but commonly, it starts in the mouth. Any time plaque builds up on teeth, it releases smelly sulfur compounds. In addition, food lodged between teeth decomposes, and it smells bad, too.

If plaque is not removed every day, it hardens into calculus or tartar. This hard substance irritates gums and bacterial infection begins. Gum disease is affects about 80% of Americans, though many don’t know they suffer from the condition. And bad breath is a symptom of gum disease.

Cavities, or tooth decay, also promote bad breath. As with gum disease, during tooth decay, bacteria eat away at healthy tissue, and the result is smelly breath.

Some strong foods, like onions, curry, and garlic, also cause stinky breath.

So how can you eliminate the horrible embarrassment of halitosis? (more…)

Second Hardest Natural Substance No Match for Edible Acids

April 22, 2011 — pannu

Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance on the planet. Next in line is tooth enamel. That’s right. Your teeth are the second hardest naturally occurring substance – pretty impressive. But acids in food can make tooth enamel go soft, literally.

Some of the acids we put into our mouths come directly from foods, like citrus fruits, for example. Sugars and starches (found in crackers, potatoes, rice, breads) mixed with saliva also cause acids in the mouth. When we eat these foods, acids cause tooth enamel to soften for about 30 minutes. If you brush your teeth during this softening and re-hardening phase, you could damage them. As new saliva is produced in your mouth, it re-hardens your tooth enamel.

Over time, this process can cause permanent damage, which we call acid erosion. Dentists are concerned that children are drinking too many sugary and carbonated beverages and not nearly enough water. Energy drinks, colas, and sports drinks are a prime cause of acid erosion in children. Acid erosion is not tooth decay. It’s a completely different problem. (more…)

Posted in Oral Health Conditions. Tags: cuprtino denitst, dental erosion, dentist cupertino, dentist dublin, dentist fremont, dentist san jose, dublin dentist, enamel erosion, Fremont Dentist, san jose dentist, sensitive teeth, thin tooth enamel, tooth sensitivity. No Comments »

A Sure Investment in an Unstable Economy

April 15, 2011 — pannu

When you think about a wise investment, the dentist probably does not come to mind. However, investing in your smile can have a serious, lasting impact on future healthcare costs and future job compensation.

It makes sense that taking good care of your mouth today improves the potential to keep your natural teeth throughout life. With healthy teeth and gums, you could avoid the expense and hassle of extractions, bridgework, partials, dentures, or implants.

But proper oral healthcare, including daily brushing and flossing accompanied by six-month checkups and cleanings, will also reduce your potential for cavities, premature tooth wear, and serious decay or breakage that would necessitate a root canal. Regular preventive dentistry will also make you a less likely candidate for oral cancer — which claims about 8000 American lives each year — and gum disease — which has been linked to stroke, heart attack, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis, respiratory problems, diabetes complications, and low birth weight. Investing in checkups and cleanings today, just twice a year, could ultimately save you more than money. It could save your life!

But what was that about job compensation? A study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found, people with an attractive smile are seen as more intelligent, successful, and friendly. That alone doesn’t guarantee a great job and great pay. However, another study by Kelton Research found that after teeth whitening, job interviewees were more likely to be offered a job and a higher salary.

So in this unstable economy, when you have to decide which investments have the best results, don’t neglect dentistry as a serious consideration. Schedule a visit with one of the kind and qualified dentists at Pannu Dental Care today. With offices in Cupertino, San Jose, Fremont, and Dublin, CA, we’re convenient to these and surrounding communities.

Oral Cancer Awareness Month: Have You Been Screened?

April 7, 2011 — pannu

This month, Dr. Pannu and the team at Pannu Dental Care in San Jose, CA, want to make sure you know the facts about oral cancer. Many people have never thought about oral cancer. Only smokers need to worry about it, right? Wrong! Here are the facts.

Oral cancer will steal 8000 American lives this year
One person, every hour, every day dies from oral cancer
Over 35,000 people will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year
Only half of people diagnosed with oral cancer will live five years or more
Early detection and treatment of oral cancer increases the potential for survival to 80%

(more…)

Posted in Oral Health Conditions. Tags: cupertino dentist, dental checkup cupertino ca, dental checkup dublin ca, dental checkup fremont ca, dental checkup san jose, dentist cupertino, dentist dublin ca, dentist fremong ca, dentist san jose, dublin ca dentist, fremont ca dentist, san jose dentist. No Comments »

Mouth Ulcers: Causes and Treatments

March 22, 2011 — pannu

I had a patient from India who suffered from a burning sensation in his mouth when eating spicy foods. He complained of an ulcer that had not healed over a long period of time. He had taken multivitamins for some time, but they didn’t seem to help.

Oral ulcers are the result of a break in the continuity of epithelium or mucous membrane in the oral cavity. There can be various causes for oral ulcers: trauma, cheek chewing, chemical injury, vitamin deficiency, systemic diseases, or an idiopathic cause. Other than the common factors, like a fractured tooth and sharp cusps of teeth, traumatic ulcers can be caused by ill-fitting dentures or a cheek bite. (more…)

Posted in Oral Health Conditions. Tags: cupertino ca oral ulcer treatment, cupertino dentist, dentist cupertino, dentist freemont ca, dentist san jose ca, freemond ca dentist, freemont oral ulcer treatment, Fremont Dentist, oral ulcer cupertino ca, oral ulcer treatment san jose ca, oral ulcers san jose ca, san jose ca dentist, wisdom tooth extraction cupertino ca, wisdom tooth extraction freemont ca, wisdom tooth extraction san jose ca. No Comments »

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Dentist on Air with Dalvir Pannu, D.D.S.

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