A Celebrity-Ready Smile In 3 Steps

Skill, experience, and technology define the exceptional smile treatments available at Total SmileCare in Beverly Hills. Dr. Giri Palani, renowned dental implantologist and cosmetic dentist, will improve your appearance and your self-confidence through beautiful aesthetic treatments.

During your customized and complimentary consultation, Dr. Palani will listen to your smile goals, assess any dental needs you have, and create an individualized plan to accentuate your natural smile and melt the years away with a brighter, more even smile.

There are three primary cosmetic treatments Dr. Palani uses at his Beverly Hills office for exquisite smile designs.

1. Lumineers or Veneers - made of durable, tooth-shaped porcelain, these two options provide our cosmetic dentist the ability to literally re-shape your smile. While this treatment may require more than one visit, you'll be amazed at the beautiful results.
2. Invisalign - a longer system of straightening your smile, these clear brace alternatives can be part of a larger overall makeover treatment.
3. Teeth Whitening - the simplest of the three procedures, whitening can change the color of your natural tooth enamel, brightening your smile and making you look younger almost instantly!

We invite you to learn more about the cosmetic dental services available, and to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Giri Palani. Call us today at (310) 894-8301 or visit our website at www.cosmetic-dentist-beverly-hills.com.

What Can I Eat After Oral Surgery?

Oral Surgery Without Fear!

If you are scheduled to have oral surgery for any reason, chances are your mouth will be very tender and uncomfortable post-surgery. Aside from limiting your physical activity and finding methods to decrease the pain, you will also need to alter your diet. If your surgery was very invasive, you may have to change your diet for a few days up to a week, depending on the type of work done. Understanding the proper way to eat following your surgery will help your recovery as well as your overall health.

Immediately After Surgery

Typically, immediately after oral surgery you will be unable to eat any type of food until the bleeding subsides. Once the bleeding has stopped, the type of diet that you can consume will depend on the work that was done on your mouth, but typically you will be restricted to a liquid or soft foods diet. 

Liquid Diet

If you are required to stay on a liquid diet, you should consume foods, such as:

• Clear liquids, such as apple juice, water or any other non-acidic juices
• Jell-O
• Tea
• Clear broth

Soft Foods

If you have been cleared to eat soft foods, there are many foods to choose from that have nutritional value. Try to choose those that offer the most nutritional benefits in order to provide your mouth and health with the appropriate nutrients as you heal. A few of the most common foods to consume include:

• Oatmeal
• Scrambled eggs
• Yogurt smoothies
• Soup
• Bananas, cut into pieces
• Soft pasta

Your dentist, Dr. Giri Palani, will have given you follow-up care instructions post-surgery, and if you have any questions - please call us at (310) 894-8301. Nervous about your oral surgery? We have sedation options so you can experience your dental treatment with no fear!

4 Reasons Why You Grind Your Teeth

If you wake up with a sore jaw, have chronic headaches or even have fractured teeth, you might be grinding your teeth without even realizing it. Most people are not aware of the fact that they grind (or brux) their teeth until they see their dentist who can pinpoint the symptoms. If you have been told that you are grinding your teeth, you might find yourself wondering why. Of course every case is different, but there are a few reasons that commonly occur.

1. Stress – If you are under a lot of stress it can come out at night.  When your muscles clench, it is a natural reaction to grind your teeth. 
2. Mouth Irritations – Whether it is teeth that do not line up perfectly, or another dental issue occurring in your mouth, you could end up grinding your teeth together at night to deal with the irritation.
3. Allergies or Colds – If you are uncomfortable from allergies or a cold, you might grind your teeth at night to deal with the discomfort.
4. New Dental Work - If you've recently had a filling or crown placed, your teeth may not line up anymore, and your mouth will constantly be adjusting to find the right "bite" again resulting in grinding.

There are several ways to deal with bruxism, including visiting your dentist to get fitted for a mouth guard. If you prefer to do something less drastic, you can try including relaxation methods into your daily routine and find ways to manage your allergies to avoid chronic grinding. Unfortunately, if you are subjected to grinding your teeth, you might not be able to prevent it from occurring 100 percent, but decreasing the amount of time that it occurs can help your overall dental health.

Concerned About Your Sore Jaw?

Call us today at (310) 894-8301 for your customized and complimentary consultation with Dr. Giri Palani, Beverly Hills dental expert.

Smoking + Your Mouth = Disease

The stop smoking campaigns are ubiquitous, but these campaigns advertise primarily the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. What is not often talked about, but should be are the effects smoking has to your oral health. A few of the risks include oral cancer, diminished ability to taste and smell, gum disease and complicated recovery from oral health issues. 

Dealing with Disease

Aside from cancer, gum (periodontal) disease is one of the top concerns of smoking. Tobacco interferes with cell function and nicotine restricts blood vessels, interfering with the body’s ability to heal. It can leave you more susceptible to contracting gum disease, or could make it more difficult to overcome a bacterial infection in your mouth, causing you to experience unnecessary complications.

Recovering from Dental Procedures

Many people have difficulty recovering from dental procedures, especially if their immune system is compromised. This is exactly what occurs when a person smokes. The body becomes less able to repair itself after trauma, including surgery on the mouth. This leaves your gums at risk for infection or at the very least, leaves you unable to eat, talk or smile normally for an extended period of time.

The best way to save yourself from the risk of serious illness or complications is to quit smoking. Before you start a smoking cessation program, you should have proper support in place to help you through the difficult time. Your dental professional Dr. Giri Palani can counsel you and/or prescribe medication to help with smoking cessation. As you begin to eliminate tobacco from your life, remind yourself of the positive impact you will be making on your physical and oral health as a result. 

Contact Us Today

If you are ready to make a positive change and need to consult with your Beverly Hills dentist about dental treatments to consider as you eliminate tobacco (such as veneers or tooth whitening), contact us today for your free consultation.

Staying Mouth Healthy During Pregnancy, Part II

Waiting for your new arrival should be a time of preparation,
excitement, and joy! Staying mouth healthy is an important
 part of being ready for baby.

During our last post, we wrote about awaiting the arrival of your new baby, and some of the risks of your oral health. Today we talk about puffy gums and what they can signal.

Tumors

Some women experience pregnancy tumors.  These puffy areas of the gums are typically non-cancerous, but can be painful or uncomfortable for you. Pregnancy tumors are inflammatory reactions to an irritant like plaque, and can bleed and become unsightly to some women, causing them to refrain from eating, smiling and talking. 

It is very important to see your dentist while you are pregnant. He will be able to ensure that your teeth remain healthy, as well as determine if you are prone to or suffering from any pregnancy induced oral health issues. 

Concerned About Your Oral Health?

Call Dr. Giri Palani today at (310) 894-8301 for your complimentary and individualized consultation, and to learn more about our holistic dental care in Beverly Hills.

Staying Mouth Healthy During Pregnancy, Part I

Gum Disease is a risk during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and awaiting the arrival of your baby can be an exciting time, but it can wreak havoc on your oral health. Your body goes through many hormonal changes, as well as physical changes that could affect the health of your mouth more than you may realize.

Gum Disease

The largest risk to your mouth during your pregnancy is the risk of gingivitis and gum (periodontal) disease. The hormones that are created to keep your baby safe can put you at higher risk for pregnancy- induced gingivitis.   If you don’t already have gum disease, this condition is usually   temporary, and usually appears between the second to eighth month of pregnancy. Keep up with your home care by brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily, as well as getting your professional cleanings. There has been some studies linking gum disease to premature births, so speak to your dentist about what you can do to if you have gum disease and reducing your risk of complications.  

Need to Schedule Your Next Cleaning in Beverly Hills?

Call us today at (310) 894-8301 for your complimentary and individualized consultation.

Floss Your Way To Better Health!

Floss Once A Day!

Dr. Giri Palani follows the ADA recommendations that you floss your teeth at least once per day. Whether you choose to make this a part of your morning or evening routine is up to you; it is how you floss that is important.

The Importance of Flossing

Flossing is the only way to get the debris that settles between your teeth as well as any bacteria. If food is left to settle, it turns into plaque and is a job that only your dentist can handle. Even extreme amounts of brushing your teeth will not effectively get rid of all of the debris between your teeth, which is why flossing is so important.

Choose Your Favorites

There is no hard and fast rule about the type of floss that you must use; whatever feels good to you is what you will be the most likely to use on a daily basis. You can choose between waxed and unwaxed floss and various interdental cleaners to get in between your teeth. The interdental cleaners can be brushes or sticks that easily get between your teeth.

Look for the ADA Seal

The best products to purchase are those that have the ADA seal on them. These products tend to be safer to use in your mouth as well as the most effective at removing debris, bacteria and plaque. Each product will have a reason for the ADA seal, which will help you decide which product you are most comfortable using with your daily brushing and flossing routine. 

For more dental health information, and information on cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, visit our website at www.cosmetic-dentistry-beverly-hills.com.