​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.

​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

​Bruxism cases has increased in our dental office since Covid-19 pandemic started. During these past few months, there is an increased in Emergency Visits from patients with painful cracked & fractured tooth, broken fillings and TMJ pain especially in the early morning hours. These are all indications of possible grinding  and clenching. The stress, fear, worry, and anxiety from this unprecendented situation due to the coronavirus pandemic (maybe increased unemployment, business & school shutdowns, or remote working) is just a little too much that some have unconsciously developed a habit of BRUXISM.

According to Dr. Tammy Chen, a dentist in New York, in the NY Times article,  "I've seen more tooth fractures in the last  six weeks than in the previous six years."  Our office, Jeff Velasquez DDS, in Long Beach, Ca has certainly seen an increased compared to previous years.  We’ve remained in contact with our patients, reminding them the importance of taking care of their oral health; from oral hygiene and wearing their nightguards. And if there are early signs of TMJ pain, and toothache, not to ignore them before it fractures. Just see your local dentist. The good news is it can be prevented or treated. Remember, oral health has a definite correlation to over all health. Keep a healthy mouth, healthy mind and healthy body.


By vbav and JeffVelasquezDDS

​​Did you know that.... when your front tooth is Broken before your wedding. It can stop you from smiling & creating good memories on your big day?
Dr. Velasquez can help, whatever your concern is; it maybe toothache, broken tooth, whitening, crooked/crowded teeth for braces or even a smile makeover. Please call us at 562-247-4683.
This was an emergency case. He came in when he broke one of his front tooth few weeks before his wedding.  It was a series of treatments, and definitely the process took time. But thanks to him & his vision that had aligned to ours, with the goal in mind which is to fix the broken tooth,we were able to improved his smile. The result we achieved is a "Perfect Smile" for him.  To begin with, we had to make him a temporary for the broken tooth so he could smile for his wedding pictures. The next step was to whiten his teeth during the course of his treatments. Lastly, as you can see from the pictures the difference was the length of his teeth (the teeth on the before image was shorter than the after photo). 
He is appreciative of the professionalism and good service that we gave him. 
We, the Velasquez Dental Team and Dr. Jeff Velasquez are more thankful and appreciative to all our patients who continously see the positive in what we do. 
It is them who make our job worthwhile.
by Vbav

​People with dementia and gum disease declined six times faster than those with healthy teeth over a six month study Brushing your teeth regularly could slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease after scientists found that gum disease speeds up mental decline by six times. Periodontitis, or gum disease, is common in older people and can get worse in old age as people struggle to maintain their oral hygiene. It is thought that periodontal bacteria  increase levels of inflammation in the body, which has been linked to greater mental decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease. A new study by King's College London and the University of Southampton followed 59 people with mild to moderate dementia for six months, monitoring the state of their gums.
​"If there is a direct relationship between periodontitis and cognitive decline, as this current study suggests, then treatment of gum disease might be a possible treatment option for Alzheimer’s”
Professor Clive Holmes, University of Southampton Those who had gum disease at the beginning to the study declined six times faster than those with healthy teeth. Gum disease can be controlled through regular brushing and mouthwash treatments, and researchers say keeping up with dental health could be an easy way of lessoning the impact of Alzheimer’s Professor Clive Holmes, senior author from the University of Southampton, said: “These are very interesting results which build on previous work we have done that shows that chronic inflammatory conditions have a detrimental effect on disease progression in people with Alzheimer’s disease. “Our study was small and lasted for six months so further trials need to be carried out to develop these results.
“However, if there is a direct relationship between periodontitis and cognitive decline, as this current study suggests, then treatment of gum disease might be a possible treatment option for Alzheimer’s.” Simply looking after dental health could vastly improve Alzheimer's progression  Photo: ALAMY
(POSED BY MODEL)
The research follows calls earlier this week for more research to be carried out into whether bacteria and viruses are triggering Alzhimer’s. A group of 31 experts from around the world suggested that the condition could be caused by the herpes virus or chlamydia. The experts from Oxford and Cambridge Universities and Imperial College London say that viral and bacterial infections in the brain often show similar symptoms as those of Alzhimer’s.
There are currently 850,000 people living with dementia in Britain which is due to rise to one million by 2025 and two million by 2050. Although there have been hundreds of drug trials in the last 15 years, none have been shown to prevent the stickly amyloid plaques and misfolded proteins which stop brain cells working. Growing evidence from a number of studies links the body’s inflammatory response to increased rates of cognitive decline so targeting the cause of inflammation could prevent the disease taking hold. Gum disease is widespread in the UK and in older age groups is thought to be a major cause of tooth loss.
In the UK in 2009, around 80 per cent of adults over 55 had evidence of gum disease. 40 per cent of adults aged over 65-74 had less than 21 of their original 32 teeth, with half of them reporting gum disease before they lost teeth.
“A number of studies have shown that having few teeth, possibly as a consequence of earlier gum disease, is associated with a greater risk of developing dementia,” said Dr Mark Ide, first author from the Dental Institute at King’s College London.

“We also believe, based on various research findings, that the presence of teeth with active gum disease results in higher body-wide levels of the sorts of inflammatory molecules which have also been associated with an elevated risk of other outcomes such as cognitive decline or cardiovascular disease.
“Research has suggested that effective gum treatment can reduce the levels of these molecules closer to that seen in a healthy state.
“Previous studies have also shown that patients with Alzheimer’s Disease have poorer dental health than others of similar age and that the more severe the dementia the worse the dental health, most likely reflecting greater difficulties with taking care of oneself as dementia becomes more severe.” Alzheimer's patients declined six times faster if they had gum disease.

Dr Doug Brown, Director of Research and Development at Alzheimer’s Society said: “This small study suggests that people who have both Alzheimer’s and gum disease declined in memory and thinking more quickly than those who had better dental health. It’s unclear however, whether this is cause or effect - if the gum disease is triggering the faster decline of dementia, or vice versa. “This study adds evidence to the idea that gum disease could potentially be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s, but we would need to see clinical trials to provide more solid evidence. If this is proven to be the case, better dental hygiene would offer a relatively straightforward way to help slow the progression of dementia and enable people to remain independent for longer.
“We know as dementia progresses, a person may lose the ability to clean their teeth, stop understanding that their teeth need to be kept clean, or lose interest in doing so. If this does happen then carers may need to help with this task - a dentist or hygienist can provide guidance and support on how to assist in cleaning another person's teeth.” The research was published in the journal PLOS One
By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor

​Bad breath happens. If you’ve ever gottenthat not-so-fresh feeling on ​a date, at a job interview or just talking with friends, you’re not alone. Studies show that 50 percent of adults have had bad breath, or halitosis, at some point in their lives. 
What Causes Bad Breath?
There are a number of reasons you might have dragon breath. While many causes are harmless, bad breath can sometimes be a sign of something more serious. 
Bacteria
Bad breath can happen anytime thanks to the hundreds of types of bad breath-causing bacteria that naturally lives in your mouth. Your mouth also acts like a natural hothouse that allows these bacteria to grow. When you eat, bacteria feed on the food left in your mouth and leaves a foul-smelling waste product behind. 
Dry Mouth
Feeling parched? Your mouth might not be making enough saliva. Saliva is important because it works around the clock to wash out your mouth. If you don’t have enough, your mouth isn’t being cleaned as much as it should be. Dry mouth can be caused by  certain medications, salivary gland problems or by simply breathing through your mouth. ​
​Gum Disease
Bad breath that just won’t go away or a constant bad taste in your mouth can be a warning sign of advanced gum disease, which is caused by a sticky, cavity-causing bacteria called plaque. 
Food
Garlic, onions, coffee… The list of breath-offending foods is long, and what you eat affects the air you exhale. 

Smoking and Tobacco
Smoking stains your teeth, gives you bad breath and puts you at risk for a host of health problems. Tobacco reduces your ability to taste foods and irritates gum  tissues. Tobacco users are more likely to suffer from gum disease. Since smoking also affects your sense of smell, smokers may not be aware of how their breath smells. 
Medical Conditions
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider. 
How Can I Keep Bad Breath Away?
Brush and Floss
Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss to get rid of all that bacteria that’s causing your bad breath. 

Take Care of Your Tongue
Don’t forget about your tongue when you’re taking care of your teeth. If you stick out your tongue and look way back, you’ll see a white or brown coating. That’s where most of bad breath bacteria can be found. Use a ​toothbrush or a tongue scraper to clear them out. 
Mouthwash
Over-the-counter mouthwashes can help kill bacteria or neutralize and temporarily mask bad breath. It’s only a temporary solution, however. The longer you wait to brush and floss away food in your mouth, the more likely your breath will offend. 

Clean Your Dentures
If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night, and clean them thoroughly before using them again the next morning. 

Keep That Saliva Flowing
To get more saliva moving in your mouth, try eating healthy foods that require a lot of chewing, like carrots or apples. You can also try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candies. Your dentist may also recommend artificial saliva. 

Quit Smoking
Giving up this dangerous habit is good for your body in many ways. Not only will you have better breath, you’ll have a better quality of life. 

Visit Your Dentist Regularly 
If you’re concerned about what’s causing your bad breath, make an appointment to see your dentist. Regular checkups allow your dentist to detect any problems such as gum disease or dry mouth and stop them before they become more serious. If your dentist determines your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your primary care doctor. Need a
dentist? Find an ADA member near you.
​From MouthHealthy.com