Dealing with dental anxiety is a challenge that varies from person to person, shaped by individual perceptions and past experiences with dentists. While some patients recall positive encounters, others harbor negative sentiments due to past unpleasant incidents. It's not uncommon to hear sentiments like "I hate the dentist!" or expressions of embarrassment such as "My mouth is a gold mine" or "I think I have a lot of cavities." In response, our team reassures them with phrases like "We've seen worse" or "You've come to the right place."
Regardless of your feelings or past experiences, dentists play a crucial role in our overall health. Maintaining a cavity-free mouth is essential, prompting our dentists to recommend a routine dental exam and cleaning twice a year. During this biannual checkup, your dentist assesses your teeth for cavities and examines your oral tissues for any potential issues. Interestingly, early stages of certain medical problems can manifest in the mouth, making dentists instrumental in identifying and addressing broader health concerns. In fact, your dentist might be the first to suggest a visit to a gastroenterologist or medical doctor based on observations during a routine dental exam. Trust their advice, as early detection increases the likelihood of effective intervention. Overcoming dental anxiety is crucial, and there's no need to fear the dentist any longer. Mouthhealthy.org offers three valuable tips to conquer dental anxiety and phobia. First, communicate openly with your dentist about your concerns so they can tailor their approach to make you feel more comfortable. Second, find ways to distract yourself during dental procedures, such as listening to music or imagining yourself in a favorite place. Consider using a squeeze ball or a spinner ring to keep your hands occupied. Lastly, employ mindfulness techniques, focusing on being present, taking deep breaths, and relaxing your muscles, all of which can help you overcome dental anxiety. Take control of your dental experience, speak openly with your dentist, and explore these practical strategies to ensure a more relaxed and positive visit. In our office, Dr. Jeff Velasquez offers laughing gas and / or oral conscious sedation to help patient relaxed during dental procedures. Also, Dr. Velasquez is known to his patients with his pain-free numbing technique. Call us at 562-424-9473 for more information and to set up an appointment. By VbA-V
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On Valentine's day, love is in the air. You might want your teeth whiten for a brighter smile on your date.
A visit to your dentist is advisable especially when you haven't been to your teeth doctor for a while. We recommend a twice a year dental check up & cleaning. On Valentine's day, according to mouthhealthy.org, three is a crowd - you, him/her and bad breath. You don't want the third party. Some causes of bad breath is oral microflora or what we call bacteria, dry mouth, gum disease, diet, smoking and other medical conditions. To conquer bad breath, proper oral hygiene at home is necessary. Brushing 2-3x a day and flossing at least once a day in addition to your regular dental exams & cleanings is very important. Also on Valentine's day, we celebrate our relationships, our partners, spouses or loved ones with a kiss. Make sure your gums, teeth & surrounding tissues in the mouth are in good health. If not, this is what happens when we kiss someone on the lips, we exchange saliva and germs. Bad breath and cavities are contagious. We transfer our own bacteria to our partners when we kiss passionately. Keep in mind that with our love ones, we can share a life, a kiss, a dentist, a house but DO NOT share a toothbrush. To celebrate Valentines day with a healthy KISS, visit your Dentist. #Jeffvelasquezdds #cosmeticDentist #longbeachdentist #dentistlongbeach "It seems to me that what we call BEAUTY in a face lies in the SMILE." - Leo Tolstoy
Benefits of a Smile.
By vbav & drjeff REPOST 04/03/2021
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE GRINDING There are some other ways to train yourself in preventing clenching and grinding habits. One way is to deprogram your muscles by placing the tongue between your teeth and swallowing. Do this a few times during the day, especially if you think you're grinding & clenching more often. This will prevent activating the jaw muscles to clench. Long Beach dentist Jeff Velasquez offers Occlusal Guard or Splint deprogramming device for night time use to prevent grinding. It is during sleep where most of the damage occurs. When you think you're grinding your teeth always remember: Lips Sealed, Teeth Apart. Your teeth should be touching only when your chewing. Lips close, slightly drop jaw, and maintain that feeling. The signs and symptoms of someone who is grinding and clenching are morning headaches, jaw muscle pain, worn down teeth, gum recession and abrasions on the neck of the teeth, so if you think you exhibit this signs consult your dentist. Jeff Velasquez, DDS (are you grinding & clenching?) Another Smile saved at Jeff Velasquez DDS dental office. Patient was happy with his new smile. He's not afraid to open his mouth and smile. He feels really great about it. This is one of the many examples of Dr. Velasquez' works on satisfied & grateful patients. Even when they move out of state, they find a way to keep in touch and say hello. REPOST Jeff Velasquez, DDS 562-424-9473 For many families, Halloween means bags of free candy and a chance to stockpile sweets for the winter. But this sugar-powered holiday can also trigger concerns about children’s dental health. How can you let your kids enjoy Halloween while preventing cavities later on?
Here are 7 healthy tips for Halloween and all year long. 1. Enjoy Halloween treats with meals When it comes to sweets and your teeth, timing is everything. If you have a little candy with meals (or right afterward), you’ll benefit from the extra saliva your mouth automatically makes while you’re eating a full meal. This helps rinse away leftover bits of candy and the cavity-causing acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. 2. Don’t snack on sugar Frequent snacking can boost your cavity risks, and it’s double trouble if you choose sugary treats like Halloween candy. If you need an energy boost, go for low-sugar options such as nuts, fruit, veggies or crackers. (Here’s how to read nutrition labels for total sugar content.) 3. Skip sticky or sour candies Avoid hard candy and sticky, gummy sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. These can cling to your teeth, elevating cavity risks. Unless they’re sugar-free, it’s a good idea to skip these candies altogether. Sour candies are high in dietary acids that attack the hard, protective coating on your teeth (enamel). They’re tasty, but they’re some of the worst offenders when it comes to tooth decay. 4. A little chocolate is fine As sweet treats go, small amounts of chocolate are a decent choice. Chocolate is the most popular kind of Halloween candy and it doesn’t stick to your teeth as readily as other candies. If you like dark chocolate, that’s even better, since there’s less cavity-causing sugar in semisweet and dark chocolate than in milk chocolate. 5. Don’t keep a big stash of candy on hand It’s tempting to keep Halloween or other holiday candy around, but your teeth will thank you if you don’t. Have your family pick their favorites and donate the rest. Organizations that send candy to troops overseas, like Operation Gratitude, will be glad to receive your extra supply. 6. Chew sugar-free gum with the ADA SealEnjoying sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating helps prevent tooth decay, because your mouth makes extra saliva as you chew. This cleanses away food and neutralizes cavity-causing acids (and freshens your breath, too). Look for brands that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance. 7. Choose fun giveaways that aren’t candy At Halloween or anytime, the sweetest gesture might be a longer-lasting item like themed stickers, coloring books and crayons or pens and pencils. There are many great choices you can share with trick-or-treaters or party guests. (Keep in mind the age range of children you’re treating and have a few options on hand that are rated safe for toddlers or preschoolers.) You’ll find more Halloween health and safety tips here. This issue is from MOUTHHEALTHY.ORG We started this case a while back and patient was so happy getting out of his BRACES. It was hard for him coming here every month because they live a little far from us but with his patience & willingness to do the treatment where his family goes for their dental needs, we were able to deliver the treatment. Thanks to his family for the continued and unwavering trust and loyalty to Dr. Jeff D. Velasquez Dental Office. Here at Velasquez Dental Office, we love watching transformation of our young patients undergoing Orthodontic treatments otherwise known as braces. Here is another testimony that smile change is possible. This lovely young lady was patient and compliant during the process of her treatment. It took a while but the outcome is rewarding. Thank you for trusting Jeff Velasquez, DDS for your dental needs. The happy camper patient. She was really pleased at the outcome of her treatment.
Give us a call at Jeff Velasquez DDS Dental Office 562-424-9473 Patient is very happy with her upper front porcelain crowns & Veneers. She said: "I've been hesitant to fix my teeth. I came to Dr. Velasquez upon being referred by my friend Merlina Uy. I asked him for long term treatment options. He is accomodating, professional & he listens to your concerns. His staff are super welcoming & pleasant. Now my upper are completely done and amazingly restored. He's superb in his work with such dedication & pride. Definitely I will come back for my lower teeth. I'm a happy camper now. Thank you so much Dr. Velasquez." -Jocelyn P. Please call us if you think you need the same dental cosmetic treatments at 562-424-9473 Jeff Velasquez, DDS Long Beach Dentist by Vbav We are very grateful that the office staff are fully vaccinated. Even the second dose have gotten to us all in our office, it was worth a sacrifice in combating Coronavirus spread. This doesn't mean that we stop using masks as Covid-19 Vaccine becomes available for everyone, this is not the time to be complacent. We still keep the extra safety protocols that we have implemented. Here at Jeff Velasquez, DDS Dental Office, we have been exercising Universal Precaution even before pandemic. Since the outbreak, we have added a lot of safety precautions. Dr. Velasquez have added negative air pressure room, the rest of the rooms are equipped with extra-Oral Air Suction Machine and air purifiers.
Vaccination is now being given to everyone... Yet virus variants still coming out, therefore its only wise that we stay vigilant. Keep our mask on when going to public places, wash our hands thoroughly and keep 6 feet away from each other until these viruses are controlled and eradicated, until full protection from its spread is given to us all. For more updated information go to to the WHO & CDC Websites: >World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int >Centers for Disease Control (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov By Vbav |
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March 2024
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