One of the most requested shows to watch when my youngest patients sit in my dental chair is CoComelon, and more often than not, it’s like a sprinkle of magic fairy dust. These littlest kiddos sit in a trance while I clean their teeth and sing along with them. So naturally when Burst came out with a CoComelon electric toothbrush ...
Before I put on my doctor hat here, let me talk first as a mom. I get that we all need sleep, and peace and calm. I get that we need to pick our battles as parents. I also whole heartedly agree with the idea that parents should feel free to raise their children as they see best. I know ...
If you have had any dental work done before then you surely know about the numbing sensation that goes along with it. You know that foot-feel-asleep, pins and needles type of feeling? That’s the stuff that Novocaine dreams are made of. To say that most people find this to be a less than dreamy state would be true. In fact ...
You may have previously read on our blog that I am a real fan of the Burst electric toothbrush. It’s my go to brush and I still love it over a year later! When I heard that the company was coming out with a kids version I was super excited to give it a try. Our two 7-year-olds have been ...
So you may have recently heard of this new miracle liquid out there that stops cavities from growing… but does it work? The short answer is yes, it does work. But the more complicated aspect of this trending treatment is that case selection is critical.
Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid combination of silver and fluoride that, when applied to cavities, ...
Do you have a hard time getting your kids to brush their teeth long enough? If the answer is yes then you are like majority of parents out there! The official recommendation from the American Dental Association is for everyone to brush twice a day, two minutes at a time. Not only is the amount of time spent brushing important, ...
Does the gunk and buildup on your electric toothbrush gross you out every time you see it on your bathroom counter? If you are the proud owner of an electric toothbrush then you probably know well the gunk I’m talking about! I’m talking the white, brown, crusty stuff that you typically see around the rim of where the electric toothbrush ...
I’ve been eager to try out Coco Floss for a while now because I know many of my dental friends rave about it. Well when I started seeing it pop up at my local Target I was reminded of my eagerness to try it out for myself. Always one to want lots of choices, I hopped online after my trip ...
As I have been moving along in my own Invisalign journey, I have been keeping tabs on the accessories that have helped me the most with the idea of sharing my advice and the time is finally here! My own journey started back in September, 23 trays later and I am so close to concluding the process!
Being a dentist, you ...
Over the years there has been one question that I can count on to hear over and over again from patients: “What Toothpaste Should I Use?”. As more and more toothpaste brands and varieties roll out into the market, the choices are becoming more plentiful and the decisions harder to make. This is why I decided I need to make ...
Who's checking off their Christmas list today? This year, I did a little bit of planning ahead, which is certainly not always the case for me! Anyhow, since I don't actually have a ton of shopping to do myself today, I thought I would help you all out with yours! On Black Friday you can always find amazing deals on ...
It’s that time of the year again, the time when every parent wakes up in a cold sweat wondering “did we move the elf last night”? Seriously, raising kids Pre Elf On The Shelf must have been so easy, right!?? Just kidding… raising kids is NEVER easy.
Anyhow, I sometimes like to think of the Elf On The Shelf not as ...
EDITED TO ADD: AutoBrush has recently come out with an updated brush head which is FAR more effective than it's previous silicone brush head! Updates have been made to this post to reflect this!
Before we delve into my review for the AutoBrush For Kids, let me tell you about how I first became interested in trying out this product. By ...
Here we are again with another review in my oral care products series. With so many new brands and products on the market in oral care, I am like a kid in a candy store when I walk down my local Target oral care aisle! Today’s review features a brand that is quickly gaining momentum in the non toxic living ...
As we have all had our regular routines upended these past few months, I know that everyone is eager to leave their homes and get outdoors! I may only be speaking for myself, but I am willing to bet many other families with young children are feeling the need to get out and have a family adventure of some sort. ...
I frequently have patients who comment that they drink “a lot” of sweetened iced tea when asked about their dietary habits. Many people think that iced tea is a somewhat healthy choice when compared to things like soda or energy drinks. While this is true to a certain degree, I am always quick to point out that sweetened tea has ...
If you have spent any time in the last year on social media, then chances are high that you have heard about the Burst electric toothbrush that has been reviewed all over the digital world. I have long been a fan of a different brand of electric toothbrush and frequently recommend it to my patients, so I never really gave ...
As a dentist, I hear from people all the time about how they want to change the look of their smile but they just can not justify the cost of cosmetic dentistry. This is a completely understandable concern, especially at this time in our economy. Today however, I want to share with you a different perspective on the cost of ...
Gone are the days when there is only a select few toothpaste and oral care brands on the store shelves. In our office, we often have patients asking us what toothpaste, floss, toothbrush, or mouth wash we recommend because they are overwhelmed with all the choices out there! To help narrow down the choices, my family and I regularly try ...
Stress is all around us lately. In the news, on social media, in the very upending of our daily routines. We may think that we have things under control, our emotions, our new way of life, our stress… but nighttime can sometimes tell a different story. When under immense amounts of stress, bouts of insomnia and tooth clenching and grinding ...
Are you finding yourself with a dental concern only to learn that majority of dental offices are currently shut down due to the corona virus pandemic? Just like many other small business owners, our team at Sunshine Smiles went to bed one evening and woke up in a world that did not deem our business safe to be open. While ...
As the world is currently in the midst of managing the Coronavirus outbreak, much attention has been given to disinfection and how to eliminate unwanted bacteria. Dentists have a unique position when our job as a dentist entails that we are in close proximity with an abundance of aerosols. This means, that at any given moment, a dentist is covered ...
It’s been just about two years now since I sat front row in a lecture, completely captivated by the dentist who was speaking about minimally invasive dentistry for children. The speaker had such a passion for the subject, her eyes shiny and bright with enthusiasm. It turns out, I was just as enthusiastic listening to her, my ears hanging on ...
March 23,202 Edited To Add: California dentists have been recommended by both the ADA and CDA to close normal operations and triage only dental emergencies at this time. Please call your dental provider before your regularly scheduled appointment to confirm their protocol as it will differ from state to state.
Do you have a dental appointment coming up? Are you frightened ...
In the last few decades, much attention in dentistry has been devoted to both the airway/sleep apnea and parafunctional habits such a clenching and grinding of the teeth. These two topics are, in fact, inter related. Many people can grind or clench their teeth at night due to stress, but there are also many people who may develop these habits ...
It always seems that with the start of a new year everyone feels that urge to renew their health with a clean slate. Health and body detox are usually at the top of internet searches every January, and with good reason. Over time, your body holds onto toxins and unnecessary chemicals from everyday products we place on our bodies or ...
With the snow capped mountains appearing in Mission Viejo, it seems the appropriate setting to begin holiday celebrations! Our family is very excited to take part in several events in the community to get our spirits ready for Christmas Day! Several events and celebrations can be found around the county but we have listed a few of our favorites below. ...
You will be hard pressed to find someone that has never fallen victim to a cavity in their lifetime. Yet as universal as cavities are, there is not just ONE universal type of filling material. For decades the standard of dentistry fillings was amalgam, in fact many of you reading this may have an amalgam (silver filling) currently in your ...
So, you have made the decision of what you want to dress up as for Halloween – but have you thought about what to do with the mounds of candy your house will accumulate over this holiday? If you are looking for some great ideas of what to do with extra Halloween candy we have got some great ideas for ...
Dental veneers. You’ve seen them in the magazines, you have heard your friends or co workers talk about them, maybe you have even thought about them. What exactly are dental veneers and are they a treatment option that will work for you? Today we will answer some of your most common questions regarding dental veneers so that you are able ...
A recent study by the British Dental Journal reports that elite athletes have a high incidence of oral disease despite brushing and flossing regularly 1. While these results may not be exactly the same for athletes everywhere, a closer look at the habits of athletes reveals why these results make sense. Athletes need fuel, and what does “fuel” typically translate ...
You may have noticed an article circulating online about a recent study published by the Journal Of American Medical Association Pediatrics regarding prenatal fluoride exposure and child IQ. The conclusions of this study did show that there was an association between prenatal fluoride exposure and a lower IQ in those children exposed. Scary and thought provoking right? Well, let’s look ...
Can you believe it is back to school time already? I for one can not believe it at all. I am also in disbelief that my girls will be starting kindergarten this year, but that is a whole emotional saga for another day. Today, let’s talk about healthy food choices. Let’s talk about how we can make healthy swaps in ...
I don’t know about you, but I am known to scour the depths of the internet anytime I am about to make a purchase – big or small, it doesn’t matter! I love to see honest reviews about products to help me decide if it is right for me and my family and I am sure there are many that ...
When you picture summer, chances are high that visions of lemons pop in there somewhere. Rightfully so, these tart yet sweet citrus fruits pack a yummy punch in just about any drink or food concoction. But we are here to remind you not to get too carried away with lemon juice as it truly can affect your tooth enamel and ...
I would say that among every other dental topic, the questions I get asked most from my other mom friends is in regards to the dreaded teething phase. I certainly know a thing or two about the topic and have seen several children (my own included) in the thick of the teething phase yet I will just come right out ...
Smile Direct Club a hot topic of conversation right now among many people - parents, grown adults, teenagers, and dentists alike. So what's all the buzz you ask? Smile Direct Club takes the "middle man" out of tooth straightening and offers teeth aligners (similar in appearance to those offered by Invisalign) sent straight to your home. Oh, and did I ...
Well is it just me or did this past school year FLY right on by!? After realizing that there were only 5 weeks left of the school year, my husband I have begun the search (perhaps a little late I know) for some summer camp options for the girls to keep active with others their age. I quickly realized that ...
It's strawberry picking season in Southern California and although we know you likely don't have trouble eating those red morsels of goodness, we cooked up a recipe to use with those extra berries you have sitting in the fridge! The best part? This recipe is clean eating friendly- that's right, no gluten, no refined sugars, no eggs, and no grains! ...
If you are anything like our family, you find yourself out and about often enjoying a fun activity and then all the sudden your stomach starts growling! When this happens it can always be an instinct to pull into the first fast food place we see to appease our hungry tummies (and the whining going on in the backseat). With ...
If you have ever had a discussion with friends or family about dental work before, then chances are that you have heard a little something about a little thing called laughing gas. While laughing gas (nitrous oxide) may certainly help calm a fearful or anxious patient, it is not indicated for use on every patient and there are some important ...
One of the biggest complaints we hear in our office is, “What can you do about my husband/wife/partner’s snoring? They sleep like a baby… but not me!!!” Sometimes, there is nothing harder on a relationship than being the reason your partner doesn’t get any sleep. Most people write it off as just a bad habit, like biting their nails or ...
Every holiday comes complete with not only loads of EXCITEMENT, but loads of CANDY as well - am I right!? Easter is no exception, as more often than not everyone's favorite bunny loads those eggs and baskets with enough sugar to make any dentist blush. Add in those Easter Egg Hunts in both the schools and communities and we are ...
It's that time of year, when all the flowers are in bloom and the sun shines warmly - and in Southern California I know we are all ready for it! With Spring time of course comes many fun Easter and Spring related events around Orange County that allow children and families to celebrate the season change. At Sunshine Smiles we ...
One of the most common questions that I get asked by parents is if their child grinding their teeth at night is worrisome. Grinding occurs when someone forcefully rubs the surfaces of their teeth together (either consciously or unconsciously) and creates a type of gritty noise (usually quite loudly). Many parents state to me that the noise can be so ...
Let's talk the F word today shall we!?? You know, that controversial word that all parents raise an eyebrow over and all news outlets love to debate over. FLUORIDE. There I said it, I'm a dentist and I want to talk today about Fluoride. I'm guessing that you, like most people, have heard both pros and cons about the use ...
If you have white spots on your front teeth we know that they can be frustrating and you often find yourself wishing that they were not there. We know this because our own doctor, Dr. Kalantari has up until now lived with such spots across his front teeth. Even as a dentist himself, he found himself struggling with ways to ...
If the title of this article caught your attention I’m sure you are wondering if charcoal toothpaste actually works to brighten your smile. With so many new trends out there these days it’s always hard to know if something will actually work for you and so if you’re anything like me, you research the topic until you are comfortable with ...
So you finally feel like you have this parenthood thing down… your baby is thriving, smiling, laughing, sleeping through the night….and then those little teeth begin poking through! Sometimes those teeth might come in with little warning or discomfort while many other times the whole house is effected by this new milestone. Teething horror stories aside, tooth eruption begins a ...