WHY IS DR. KOSHKI RECOMMENDING IMPLANTS TO ME?
(I am fine with a removable partial or full denture.)

We are excited to announce that the Waterpik Aquarius Professional Water Flosser is now available for purchase at our office! This is the very latest technology from Waterpik and this unique device is loaded with features to help take your teeth cleaning and gum care to a whole new level. Think you know Waterpik? Well things have changed for the better with a hand held control over water flow, 7 tips for customized care, and more. Several important studies at USC prove that the Waterpik is effective in keeping biofilm off of our teeth at the gumline and even in between the teeth!

We have a price well below retail in addition to a $15 rebate. Give us a call for more information, or ask to see this important dental tool at your next visit.

Did you know that Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait a co-worker can have? Be more popular around the water cooler and brush after lunch.

Cap the paste but not the brush. Covering the brush can trap moisture and encourage bacteria growth. Yeah, we know. Gross, huh?

The average women smiles about 62 times a day, while the average man smiles only 8 times. Women are also more likely to brush their teeth and visit the dentist regularly. Think there might be a connection here?

MacGyver claims dental floss works well as a cake cutter, makeshift clothesline, replacement fishing line, picture hangers and much more. Our favorite use for it? Cleaning your teeth. Dental floss has played a role in many attempted prison breaks, used as everything from a rope to a chainsaw. None have been successful. We suggest flossing with it.

Bottled water doesn’t contain the tooth-decay fighting fluoride, which is added to most municipal water supplies. Ditch the bottle and drink from the tap.

Saliva helps you eat by breaking apart food particles and cleaning your mouth afterwards. The average person produces 10,000 gallons of saliva over their lifetime (no data as to how much winds up as spitballs).

Sports, accidents and fights are the leading cause of tooth loss in people under the age of 35. Play it safe and wear a mouth guard.

Each day, the average person spends 8.5 hours sleeping, 1 hour eating, 7.2 minutes volunteering and only 50 seconds brushing their teeth. Set your alarm 2 minutes earlier and squeeze in some extra brush time. Dentists recommend 2-3 minutes twice a day.

Americans spend $100 billion per year on hair care products – and only $2 billion a year on dental care products. What good is great hair without a great smile?

The next time you want to play hooky, head to the dentist for a cleaning instead. Last year alone, adults missed over 164 million hours of work – and children missed over 51 million hours of school for dental related problems.

If flossing properly, the average person should use 122 yards of floss per year. Twenty-eight percent of people claim to floss daily, but annual sales data shows only an average of 18 yards of floss are sold per person. We think someone’s fibbing.

Spearmint Sparkle. Peppermint Breeze. Chocolate Mint? The next time your dental hygienist asks you to pick a flavor of paste, consider this – the ancient Romans used a mixture of bones, eggshells, oyster shells and honey to clean their teeth! We recommend you stick with the paste.

It’s not hard to find some really scary teeth in movies, especially from villains. We can all enjoy a good laugh at these photos, but we can also feel good about our own pearly whites. Seeing Dr. Koshki and his Team of experienced hygienists on a regular basis can help keep your teeth healthy and beautiful for your lifetime.

Have you seen some incredible teeth in TV or movies? Post on our Facebook page and show us!

If you’ve ever had a sensitive tooth or receding gums where the roots were beginning to become exposed, you know exactly how extraordinarily painful mouth problems can be. And if you’re a chronic sufferer, you’re probably ready to try just about anything to rid yourself of the pain. Gum disease can cover many problems, from swelling, redness, bleeding and pain to receding of the gums — all of which CoQ10 is said to be able to treat. So should you begin loading up on the CoQ10 supplements?

Unfortunately, for those looking for a quick fix, the answer is “possibly.” CoQ10, especially when paired with Vitamin C, may strengthen your gums [source:Cuneo]. This can be particularly beneficial for receding gums. Studies have also shown that people who have gum disease have low CoQ10 levels, leading to the conclusion that some CoQ10 supplements can help them in that case [source: University of Maryland Medical Center]. However, not enough widespread studies have been conducted yet to determine conclusively if CoQ10 supplements can help gum disease, so your best approach may be some CoQ10 treatment combined with an aggressive practical regimen of regular cleanings, thorough brushings, and routine flossing using proper techniques.

KEEPING YOUR TOOTHBRUSH CLEAN – Why it really matters:

You probably have no clue how much gross stuff is hiding on your toothbrush.

That humble implement meant to help you clean your teeth, get rid of plaque and prevent cavities may harbor such hazards as Staphylococci, coliforms, yeasts and intestinal bacteria, according Dr. Koshki and his dental colleagues.

“The oral cavity is home to hundreds of different types of microorganisms, which can be transferred to a toothbrush during use,” Dr. Koshki tells us.

And some of these organisms can cause dental decay and periodontal disease — the two major dental diseases in adults.

But wait, there’s more. Your toothbrush may even carry fecal germs.

“Most toothbrushes are stored in bathrooms, which exposes them to gastrointestinal microorganisms that may be transferred via a fecal-oral route,” says Dr. Koshki.

These organisms, called enteric bacteria, can transfer to toothbrushes and into people’s mouths due to inadequate hand-washing or the microscopic droplets released from the toilet during flushing.

The Discovery Channel TV show “Mythbusters” tested 24 toothbrushes and found enteric microorganisms on all of them — even those that had not been inside of a bathroom.

So what can you do to help reduce these dangers and keep the gross stuff off your brush and away from your mouth?  Dr. Koshki offers these tips–

Clean your brush. You should thoroughly rinse toothbrushes with potable tap water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste and debris. Dr. Koshki also recommends soaking your toothbrushes in an antibacterial mouth rinse.

Store the brush properly. Leave your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air dry. Don’t store the brush in a closed container because a damp environment is more conducive to the growth of microorganisms. If more than one brush is stored in an area, keeping them separate to prevent cross-contamination.

Buy a new brush often. Toothbrushes should be replaced at least every three to four months or when bristles become frayed and worn, whichever comes first.

Don’t share! This seems like a no-brainer, but a large proportion of spouses admit to sharing toothbrushes, meaning that they are also sharing the bacteria on those brushes.

Get a new brush if you’ve been sick. Any illness that can be transmitted through body fluids should warrant separation of the toothbrush of the infected individual and, if economically feasible, replacement of the toothbrush after the illness.

Wash, wash, wash!  And please, wash your hands after using the toilet and prior to using your toothbrush.

Dr. Koshki also recommends that people use mouth rinse prior to brushing and get routine dental care, including regular cleanings.

Your best bet against bacterial contamination of your toothbrush is Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Plus – featuring a UV sanitizer.  We proudly provide the opportunity for our patients to purchase this excellent toothbrush in office.  Check our Seasonal Specials for rebates and coupon offers.