Dental Info

Acids and bases might sound like something from far back in your memory, like middle school science class, but the concept is still very applicable to every aspect of life today. The foods and beverages you consume daily have a very big effect on your oral health and overall health, for better or worse. You can protect and support your health by eating the right foods. We know this isn’t news to anyone, but it’s much easier said than done, right? Dr. Rizvi , Plantation dentist explains more below about how an alkaline diet can benefit your oral health and overall health. What is an Alkaline Diet? Everything around us is made of chemicals that are either some level of acidic or basic (alkaline). Chemicals are numbered on the pH scale from 0-6 as acidic, 7 as neutral, and 8-14 as alkaline and more people are talking these days about the negative effects of diets high in acidity. A minimally acidic, or alkaline, diet will contain mostly foods with a pH above 7. Research shows that s...

When it comes to your oral health, we hope you never have any pains or problems. Good preventative care will help you always feel your best! But even with the best habits, dental problems do happen. In that case, oral pathology is the science and medicine that helps diagnose and treat whatever is making you ache. If you think you have an oral disease, don’t be embarrassed, but get help as soon as possible. What is Oral Pathology? Sometimes things go wrong, even in the healthiest people. If you have pain, bleeding, or unusual symptoms in your mouth, oral pathology helps us find the answers you need. According to the American Dental Association : “Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.” Oral pathology is the science that understands the causes and effects of oral disease. Common practices include clinical examinations, lab testing, an...

If you’ve visited our blog before, you know that we love to talk about tooth decay. The chances are, everyone in Plantation has had or will have tooth decay at one point. It is classified by the National Institutes of Health [ http://nih.gov/ ] as the most prevalent disease in the world. Today we’re going to talk about a few of the factors involved in causing tooth decay and what you and Dr. Rizvi can do to protect your smile. The Unique Makeup of Your Teeth Even within your own mouth, teeth vary widely in shape, size, and enamel quality and consistency. Some teeth are harder than others, and some – especially molars – may have deep fissures that can trap bacteria, causing decay. Additional defects in enamel formation can cause yellow or brown areas on your teeth that are more susceptible to caries (tooth decay) . The pH Level in Your Mouth Research indicates that acidity in your mouth plays an important role in developing tooth decay. A low pH (an acidic state) allows decay-causi...

We all know that it’s important to take care of our health, but that’s often easier said than done. Health and hygiene routines are an investment of your time every day. So, wouldn’t it be great if you could accomplish more by actually doing less? When it comes to your oral health and heart health, you can! Taking care of one is actually taking care of the other. Count that as one less thing you have to do each day. Dr. Rizvi , Plantation dentist explains how oral health and heart health are closely connected. How Your Mouth Affects Your Heart There are a number of ways that your oral health is directly related to your heart health. What we know for sure is: If you have gum disease , you have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Gum disease is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation, and it ranges in severity. Inflammation is a normal immune response in your body, but too much of it (like gum disease) is not good. Bacteria in your mouth enter your bloodstream thro...

A recent, three-part study by Crest® puts numbers to what most of us already knew – white teeth are beautiful and powerful! The study used both qualitative and quantitative measures in multiple settings to determine what effect white teeth can have on a person’s life. In a portion of the study on employment, researchers found that whiter teeth greatly increased a person’s chance of being offered jobs but also of receiving higher pay. In a portion of the study on romance, subjects went on simulated dates and found the dates were more successful after their teeth had been whitened. Dr. Dacher Keltner, smile psychologist and psychology professor, says, “This study provides some of the first findings that speak to the powerful benefits of having a whiter smile.” Why We Like White Teeth There’s no arguing it, people like white teeth – on themselves and on others. Perhaps this is because white teeth appear healthier and cleaner. Some scientists also guess that having white teeth is a sign...

  Gingivitis – very simply – is an inflammation of your gums. (Any time a medical term ends with “itis” it means inflammation.) Gingivitis varies in severity and can look a few different ways. Very bad gingivitis leads to periodontal (gum) disease. Gingivitis is common and affects many, rather, most adults. But with good oral hygiene and the care of a professional Plantation dentist, you should be able to avoid any major problems and even prevent gingivitis before it begins! Dr. Rizvi talks more below about what causes gingivitis, how to prevent it, and how to treat it if it happens to you! Causes of Gingivitis Plaque forms on your teeth and near your gums after you eat and drink. Regular brushing and flossing cleans your teeth and removes this plaque. But if you go too long without brushing and flossing, or you don’t do it well enough, the plaque can really build up and even harden in your mouth. At this point, the plaque becomes tartar that can only be removed by a denta...

It’s common to see people wearing mouth guards in Plantation during all kinds of sports, such as football, basketball, and boxing, but did you know that lots of folks wear mouth guards at night for their dental health? People who grind their teeth (bruxism) and people with sleep apnea can get relief from their symptoms simply by wearing a specially-designed mouth guard at night. Dr. Rizvi has helped tons of Plantation residents improve the quality of their life with night guards and we at My Dentist for Life invite you to come visit us today to find out more. Night Guards for Bruxism Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a very common condition. Everyone grinds their teeth at some point, but some Plantation folks do it so much (especially at night) that it causes severe damage to their teeth, headaches, jaw aches, TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) issues and more. The problem is that most bruxism sufferers don’t know that they are actually clenching and grinding their teeth. The bes...

What is oil pulling? Claiming everything from whiter teeth and healthier gums to decreased body aches and pains, oil pulling is the latest trend in DIY detox therapies. Newly popular among celebrities and lovers of natural health and wellness, oil pulling is a hygiene practice that actually dates back centuries through the Indian medical tradition Ayurveda. Simply put, oil pulling uses common plant-based oils (coconut is a favorite) in place of store-bought mouthwash. Users swish, or “pull” one tablespoon of oil in their mouth for 10-20 minutes every day. The oil usually doubles in size due to collecting saliva and toxins from the mouth. Users are strongly warned to spit out the oil because it contains the microorganisms which pulling aims to extract. Oil is believed to draw toxins out of the mouth by sticking to their outer, fatty layer. Since oral hygiene is linked to health in all parts of the body, it’s believed that the benefits of oil pulling go beyond just your mouth. Does o...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fluoridation of drinking water is ranked among the ten greatest public health achievements of 20 th century America. However, a quick search of the internet tells us that fluoride is actually toxic if ingested in large enough quantities. So which is it? Do the health benefits outweigh the negatives of fluoride in toothpaste and drinking water? We at My Dentist for Life know that Plantation folks care a great deal about their health, so we’ve put this article together to examine the facts and help you come to your own decision. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you might have, so feel free to give us a call ! Why Use Fluoride in the First Place? In order to understand the controversy, we must first to understand what led to putting fluoride in toothpaste and water. Even today, dental caries (tooth decay) is considered the most prevalent chronic disease in children and adults. With that in mind, it’s not ...

Have you ever heard someone say, “It was worse than a root canal?” Most of us in Plantation are used to hearing root canals compared some genuinely unpleasant circumstances, but Dr. Rizvi would like set the record straight and talk about how root canals can do some serious dental good. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to give My Dentist for Life a call . Root Canals Save Teeth Here it comes, the question on everyone’s mind – why on Earth would you want a root canal?! There is one thing all dentists in Plantation and beyond will agree on – saving your natural teeth is always the best option. There are many ways that Dr. Rizvi can replace missing or damaged teeth , but nothing is as good as the real thing. If you have a tooth with inflamed or infected pulp, a root canal, or endodontic treatment, can get rid of infection and save it. Thus, root canals are preferable to extraction. Here are some more advantages of endodontic treatment: ...

You did it! You got the consultation, booked the appointment, and you actually showed up on the big day. You saw the dentist and now all of that effort has left you hungry! The question is: what can you eat after having dental work done? For some of us, it’s nostalgic to remember having a frozen treat after the dentist as kids, or attempting to say such bouncy words as “baby” with a numb jaw. However—depending on how extensive your dental work is—you will need to be cautious of what you consume in the days following major dental work. And milkshakes will only get you so far in recovery, anyway. Many foods can be troublesome after dental surgery or extensive dental work. Ask Dr. Rizvi for her recommendation about specific foods and for how long you should avoid them. My Dentist for Life in Plantation can be an especially helpful resource for patients navigating what to eat after dental restoration services. Here’s an idea; if you probably can’t eat those potato chips anyway, consid...

We’ve all got our reasons. Money. Time. The fear of pain. Juggling insurance. Facing one more reminder that we really should be flossing more. Any of these might cause us to avoid and put off regular visits to the dentist. Has it been so long since your last dental appointment that you’re not even sure how to find a dentist you can trust? Or perhaps you know and love your dentist but you dread the idea of trying to catch up on life with the hygienist while your mouth is being propped open by a tiny plastic jack. (Yes, we think about that too!) Plantation dentist, Dr. Rizvi, and our staff are happy to help you prioritize your dental health, which is why we go to great lengths to remove any barrier that might keep you from stepping through our doors.   Sedation options, flexible payment plans, plentiful office hours, and competent staff team can become your personal assets to achieving your best smile. Our relaxed office is comfortable from the waiting room to the dentist chair....

Every Plantation parent remembers seeing their baby’s first teeth emerge, watching the rest pop up, and finally cheering as their child loses their first baby tooth, all in the blink of an eye! In fact, baby teeth come and go so quickly that some people are led believe they don’t have an impact on a child’s dental health later in life. Dr. Rizvi wants you to know that that couldn’t be further from the truth! At My Dentist for Life , we are committed to giving our community access to reliable information on dental care, so here are the facts about why baby teeth matter. Feel free to give us a call with any questions. A Guide to Baby Teeth Baby teeth, also known as deciduous, primary, milk, or lacteal teeth, are a set of 20 teeth that will be in your child’s mouth for most of their childhood. Although baby teeth usually emerge at around 6 months, they begin forming in the womb as early as 16 weeks. By age 3, all Plantation children should have all 20 of their baby teeth. By age 13, ...

It’s no secret that residents of Plantation love sports! The folks around here work hard and play just as hard, whether it’s football, baseball, basketball, or the numerous other high-impact sports that can cause harm to your family’s mouths. In fact, at least 13% of all oral injuries happen during sports activities. Dr. Rizvi wants you to know how keep your teeth out of harm’s way and still enjoy a good game, so please read on and learn how to win big with a safe, healthy smile. It’s About More than Mouth Guards We know what you’re thinking, mouth guards are the key to staying safe on the field, right? Yes, they are a big part of it, but it takes more than just a mouth guard to keep your kids from getting a chipped tooth while scoring a touchdown. Sports safety for oral health means getting the right mouth guard and wearing it the right way. After all, the best defense is a good offense! Do I Need a Mouth Guard? If you or a member of your family is considering a mouth protector...

You may think being exhausted simply comes with the territory of being a parent (and it does), but there may also be a serious medical condition causing your child to wake up often throughout the night – sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is most commonly found in adults, but can also, in rare cases affect children. Dr. Rizvi, dentist at My Dentist for Life in Plantation cares about treating your little ones. Read below to learn more about how dentists can diagnose and treat sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea & Its Effects Sleep apnea occurs when breathing becomes shallow or pauses completely while you’re asleep. It can be caused by your tongue or tonsils being too large and blocking your airway, the collapse of soft tissues in the back of the throat, or by your brain not sending the proper signals to keep breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea causes a lot of problems for children, the most obvious being restless sleep. Other problems can include failure to thrive, slower developmental milestone...

One of the most common and destructive myths about dental hygiene is that it’s normal for gums to bleed. Dr. Rizvi would like everyone in Plantation to know that this is not the case! Imagine if we weren’t talking about gums- should any part of your body start to bleed whenever you touch it? The truth about bleeding gums is they are a sign of infection and/or irritation and can lead to serious problems that go way beyond your mouth if left untreated. Please read this article and educate yourself on how to keep your family’s teeth and gums safe. Gums Are Not Supposed to Bleed No matter what you may have heard, gums are never supposed to bleed. If your gums are bleeding during brushing or flossing, it is likely because you have a mild form of gum disease, known as gingivitis. It may also be because you are brushing too hard or flossing too deep into the gum tissue. Whatever the reason, bleeding gums is a sign that something isn’t quite right with your dental hygiene routine and it m...

Let’s be honest. If you are like most Plantation folks, you’ve probably put off going to the dentist at one time or another. Some of us have even avoided seeing a dentist for years at a time. In fact, one in three Americans avoid going to the dentist regularly. After a while, that time spent away from Dr. Rizvi’s chair adds up, and so does the cost of dental work. You start to feel and even see that your teeth are not in good shape. Plaque and tartar buildup, toothaches, sensitivity to hot and cold, bleeding gums, deep, dark stains, perhaps even loose, clearly decaying teeth. Either way, by the time you get to this point you are probably wondering – is it too late to see the dentist? Here’s what Dr. Rizvi has to say when it comes to oral health: It is never too late to seek dental care! No matter how old you are, what condition your teeth are in, or how long you’ve been avoiding a trip to your local Plantation dentist, there is something we can do to help. Even if you are missing...

In a great tale of opposites, lemon juice can be both acidic and basic, or alkaline. Read on to find out why people are talking about this, and what it means for your oral and overall health. What is pH and why does it matter? Drinking lemon juice (usually diluted in a glass of water or added to a cup of tea) is a beloved health tonic among fans of natural medicine. Potential benefits include lower cholesterol, lower inflammation in the body, and increased metabolism and energy. Lemon also contains high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C that boost your immune system. On a scale from 0-14, a pH of 7 is neutral (pure water) while numbers below 7 are acidic (unhealthy), and above 7 are basic or alkaline (healthy). Believers in holistic health blame many ailments on the body’s pH being too low or too acidic. Increasing your body’s pH is called “alkalizing.” Lemon juice in its natural state is acidic with a pH of about 2, but once metabolized it actually becomes alkaline with a pH w...

We at My Dentist for Life understand that dental insurance can be a tricky thing to navigate. Evaluating dental plans and considering deductibles, benefits, which treatments are covered, and the mountain of other information insurance companies provide can be a headache in and of itself. Dr. Rizvi wants every Plantation resident to have the power to control their own health, so here’s a simplified guide to the basics of dental health insurance. As always, if you have a question, don’t be afraid to give us a call ! Dental Insurance Dental insurance is an excellent investment that helps Plantation residents ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles. However, in order to get the best value from your dental insurance, there are a few things you need to know. Here are the answers to the most common questions we hear at My Dentist for Life: What is dental insurance? Having dental insurance means that an insurance provider will pay for a percentage of the dental care that you need every year....

FROM: Lawrence Borland “Prior to getting my new dentures, I was self-conscious about my smile due to a poor and unflattering fit. The care and attention to detail and the time spent by the staff was surprising. They took the time to measure, align, and work with my bite. I am so pleased with the results! I have a newfound self-confidence and the compliments keep coming: Mesmerizing Hypnotizing Dashing Awesome Thank you so much! ” from My Dentist for Life http://www.mydentistforlife.com/dr-saba-rizvi-staff-dentist-life/