Bleeding gums can be a sign of periodontal diseases, especially gingivitis. Gums bleed mainly because of inadequate removal of plaque from teeth and gums, especially gum lines. If plaque is not removed from teeth and gums through regular brushing and flossing and professional dental cleanings by a general dentist, it will harden on the gum lines and lead to inflammation of the gums, called gingivitis and causes them to bleed. If not treated, it leads to increased bleeding and advanced gum and jawbone diseases called periodontitis. Eventually, it will destroy the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth and your teeth may become loose and fall out.
Bleeding of gums can also be sign of bleeding disorders, hormonal changes during pregnancy in women, ill-fitting dentures, infections related to teeth or gum, Leukemia, Scurvy, use of blood thinners or simply brushing too hard, improper flossing of deficiency in Vitamin K. Before you jump to any conclusions, consult with your general dentist about it.

Regular professional cleanings by a specialist can help prevent gingivitis and other gum diseases. Also regular checkups by your general dentist can determine any early signs of periodontal diseases (gum diseases) and your dentist can refer you to a periodontist to cure the problem before it irritates you or causes permanent damage to your teeth and gum.
Brush at least twice a day, but do it gently and with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Also, floss your teeth at least once a day to prevent plaque from building up between your teeth. If your gums bleed, make an appointment with one of our dentists or periodontists at United Dental Care (also known as Culver City Dentist, Beverly Hills Dentist, Los Angeles Dentist and West Los Angeles Dentist). Meanwhile apply pressure to the bleeding point with a gauze pad. You may rinse with salt water but avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes. If you wear dentures consult with your orthodontist first. 

There is a joint on each side of the head in front of the ears which connects lower jaw bones to skull. They are called temporomandibular joints (TMJ). These joints allow you to yawn, talk and chew. TMJ disorders cause pain, tenderness and discomfort in these joints. About 10 million people have TMJ disorders in United States and women are more likely to be affected by them then men. At United Dental Care we recommend self-managed care and non-surgical treatments for mild cases of these disorders, but in severe cases dental or surgical interventions might be needed. We offer these surgeries at Culver City Dentist and our other dental offices (Beverly Hills Dentist, Westwood Dentist, Los Angeles Dentist, ...) as well.
Pain and tenderness in jaws and around the ears, discomfort when chewing, headaches, painful clicking of the jaw, locking of the joints that makes it difficult to open or close the mouth and uneven bite are symptoms of TMJ. You may hear a clicking sound or have a grinding sensation when you open or close your mouth, but as long as there is no pain or limitation of movement you don't have a TMJ disorder.
Trauma to the jaw can be one cause of TMJ disorders, but in many cases the source of the problem is not clear. Some experts say that anxiety, stress or Rheumatoid arthritis can cause TMJ disorders. Tooth grinding, jaw clenching, fibromyalgia and congenital deformity of the facial bones have also been associated with TMJ disorders.
There are no specific tests for diagnosing them. At Culver City Dentist we check muscles and joints for tenderness, clicking or popping and difficulty in opening and closing the mouth. We may also take x-rays or a mold of your teeth to see how they fit together. As sinus problems and earaches can cause facial pain as well, we need to make sure the cause of your jaw problems is correctly diagnosed. Our dentists will look for high fillings, a tipped or cracked tooth and signs of wear that indicate tooth grinding to make sure the problem is not caused by a dental issue.
If the problem is persistent, we start by recommending you to reduce your stress, avoid chewing gums, use bite guards to reduce the wear caused by tooth grinding and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. If the symptoms persist, we recommend corrective dental treatments and surgeries.  

Xerostomia or dry mouth condition can be really annoying. It is caused by lack of saliva in the mouth which can be a side effect of some health conditions or medications. Saliva washes away food particles and plaque, limits bacterial growth in the mouth and reduces the chance of tooth decays. Therefore, lack of it in the mouth can be a danger to the health of your teeth.
Dryness in the mouth, thick and stringy saliva, bad breath, cracked lips, split skin at the corners of the mouth, sore throat, difficulty speaking or swallowing, fungal infection in the mouth, an altered sense of taste or an increase in tooth decay, gum disease and plaque can all be symptoms of Xerostomia.
Medications, tobacco, nerve damage, cancer therapy or simply aging are causes of dry mouth condition. Drugs used for treating depression and anxiety, decongestants, anti-diarrhea medications, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, high blood pressure medications, drugs used for treating urinary incontinence and Parkinson's disease medications are some of the drugs that can cause Xerostomia. Smoking or chewing tobacco can also increase the symptoms of dry mouth condition. Nerve damage in head and neck caused by an injury or during a surgery can be reasons for having a dry mouth too. Radiation treatments to head and neck as well as chemotherapy drugs can change the nature of saliva. Aging on its own is not a reason for Xerostomia, but as we get older we are more likely to have health conditions and take medications that affect saliva.
Drinking water and chewing gum (preferably sugar-free) can help you increase your saliva. Caffeine and acidic or sugary foods make your mouth drier, so avoid them as much as you can. Brushing with fluoride toothpastes, using fluoride rinses and adding moisture to the air especially at night can help. You can ask from one of the dentists at Culver City Dentist or our other dental offices if prescription fluoride toothpastes are beneficial to you. In case your dry mouth condition is a side effect of the medication you are taking, your doctor can adjust the dosage or in some cases change your medication. Sometimes medications can be prescribed to cure Xerostomia. 

Most people are not even aware of their bad breath condition, at least until someone tells them about it. Bad breath or Halitosis can be caused by certain foods, tobacco products or a medical condition such as Xerostomia (dry mouth condition).

When some foods such as garlic, onion, cheese, meat products and dairy products (generally high protein products), and drinks such as sodas and orange juice are absorbed into blood stream, they are transferred to lungs and expelled. Brushing and flossing is not of much help in this case and the odor continues until these foods are eliminated by the body.
Also when foods remain in mouth, between teeth, on the tongue or around the gums they can rot and be a cause of bad breath. That is why brushing and flossing several times a day is highly recommended by family dentists and kids dentists at Culver City Dentist.
Xerostomia or dry mouth condition can be caused by some medications, continuously breathing through the mouth or in some cases a problem with salivary gland. In any case the flow of saliva, which is essential for cleaning the mouth and removing food particles in the mouth decreases. Family dentists at Los Angeles Dentist suggest increasing your fluid intake or using sugarless candies and in some cases prescribe artificial saliva to cure dry mouth condition.

Chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, an infection in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal disturbance and even liver or kidney ailment are some medical conditions that can be causes of Halitosis.
In most cases bad breath is caused by oral bacteria. Sulfur compounds, which have bad odor, are part of wastes of these bacteria and even a very thin layer of plaque provides an ideal environment for the bacteria to live and grow.   

Maintaining oral and dental health is very important in controlling Halitosis. Schedule regular checkups and cleanings with a dentist at our dental office in West Los Angeles to prevent any dental and gum diseases. Brush at least twice and floss at least once a day.

Not all toothaches can indicate a problem with teeth or gum. Sometimes toothaches are caused by sinus infection, especially if the pain is in the upper teeth in the mouth. We have a sinus, called the maxillary sinus, on each side of the nose. Maxillary sinuses are the ones that most commonly become infected as they are prominently exposed to the environment and because their mucus has to move upward to drain into the nasal cavity, so they usually don't drain while you are standing, and that makes them prone to infections. Once a sinus gets infected, it fills up with fluid and gets inflamed. As the roots of the upper teeth end in these two sinuses, patients feel the pain in their upper back teeth and often complain about a metallic taste in their mouth.
When pain is caused by a problem in the teeth, only one of teeth aches and the dentist can pinpoint it by gently tapping on the teeth in that area and finding the tooth that causes you more pain. If the pain is caused by sinus infection, usually all the teeth in that area ache and you won't be able to indicated a single source of pain.

Sinus infection is a source of concern at Culver City Dentist. Continuous nasal and sinus infection can lead to poor dental development and can make performing orthodontic treatments very difficult. If your symptoms persist, consult with one of our dentists at Los Angeles Dentist or West Los Angeles Dentist.
If nose is blocked, the passage from the sinus to nose in blocked and fluid can accumulate in the sinuses, making them ideal environments for bacteria to live and grew, therefore causing sinus infection. Taking hot showers and generally increasing the moist in the air you breathe in can open the blockage in the nose and help with sinus infection. If the symptoms persist, or if your sinuses get infected more than three times a year, you need to consult with a doctor to find alternative solutions for your condition.

As a children dentist, I have come across a lot of young patients with gum diseases. I had this patient last week who had generalized aggressive periodontist. It's a gum disease that usually starts around puberty and affects the entire mouth. His gums were inflamed and there were heavy accumulation of calculus and plaque. I referred him to our periodontist in the office to start treatment immediately. Scaling and root planing was performed to remove the tartar on the teeth and rough spots on the root to clean up where the germs and bacteria gather. His gum disease was not advanced and he didn't need flap surgery. He had not taken the signs seriously- he said it was just slight bleeding while brushing in the beginning- but when his gums became swollen, his bad breath would not go away with brushing and flossing, and he noticed a couple of roots showing, he decided to get it checked just in case. He was lucky as he had come in just in time. If he had ignored the symptoms for a while longer, he would have lost his teeth. These diseases are aggressive and affect all teeth and gum in just a short period of time. Early treatment is essential to save the teeth and gum from periodontal diseases. I advice all parents to take their kids for regular checkups with children dentist to detect any early sign of periodontal diseases and start the treatment in early stages.
Despite the common belief, periodontal diseases or gum diseases are not just for adults, kids and teenagers are prone to them as well. These diseases can be passed through saliva from one person to the other, and that's why gum diseases usually run in the family. Hormonal changes can make gums more sensitive and therefore more prone to diseases. Some illnesses, such as diabetes and heart diseases, medications and some genetic factors can cause periodontal disease as well. Smoking and stress are other risk factors. 

I had such a great experience at Culver City Dentist office. Both staff and doctor were grate. From the first phone call to the appointment day and even after I left the office they were all there for me all the way.

I wanted to do a check up so I searched for a dentist online and I called few offices until finally I talked to the receptionist at the United Dental Care. She was so nice and understanding. She did any thing she could to accommodate me the time and the day that I wanted to go in. The day before she called and confirmed my appointment and thank God she did so because I had totally forgotten about it.

 

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Dr. Eftekhari has practiced and trained to build a dental practice that exceeds your expectations of trusted, personalized dental care. He focuses on bringing his patients only the best that dentistry has to offer by keeping himself and his staff informed on the latest advances and techniques in dentistry. Dr. Eftekhari is a graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He stays up-to-date on the newest developments in his field by taking numerous continuing education courses. These have included communication in esthetic dentistry, infection control, computerized modern dental technology, oral pathology, and pediatric oral conscious sedation. In addition, he is an affiliate member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Eftekhari's top priorities are patient satisfaction and comfort. He looks forward to your visit to United Dental Care and to showing you the positive effects that quality dental care can have on your life.