Dental Info

Most homes have a standard first-aid kit—and with the demanding schedules of the average American family today, it’s smart to keep one in your vehicle, too. Whether at home or away from home, active kids like to run, play, climb, and jump off things—and sometimes emergency dental injuries follow. Coastal Pediatric Dentistry thinks it’s a great idea to prepare a dental first aid kit for kids to accompany the standard version and keep them in roughly the same location for easy accessibility. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , a dental first aid kid for kids should include: Gauze Small cup Mouthwash Cold compress Tooth storage device and fluid Any time your child sustains an oral injury, it’s important to have Coastal Pediatric Dentistry check that no teeth have been damaged or loosened. Quick dental attention can mean the difference between keeping and losing a tooth, as well as preventing infections and controlling bleeding. Even if a dental visit isn’t...

How do you feel when you see that little plastic floss container in your medicine cabinet? Eagerness to achieve that clean feeling in your mouth? Or regret over a habit you have trouble keeping? Did you get excited about recent headlines saying flossing isn’t necessary? We’re sorry to break the news, but as your oral health experts, we’re here to tell you floss is still incredibly important. In fact, it’s one of the most important foundations for oral health. Dr. Michael Colleran DDS shares more below about why you should floss, how to floss, and what to do if flossing causes your gums to bleed.   What is Floss? Floss is a simple waxed thread designed specially to clean between your teeth (the hardest spots in your mouth to reach) comfortably and effectively. Floss was invented around 1820 and was first seen on store shelves decades later. There are countless brands and types of floss. It can be thin or thick, flavored or unflavored. Most often, floss is waxed to help it ...

We’ve all got our reasons. Money. Time. The fear of pain. Juggling insurance. Facing one more reminder that we really should be flossing more. Any of these might cause us to avoid and put off regular visits to the dentist. Has it been so long since you saw a dentist that you’re not even sure how to find a dentist you can trust? Or perhaps you know and love your dentist, but you dread the idea of trying to catch up on life with the hygienist while your mouth is being propped open by a tiny plastic jack. (Yes, we think about that too!) Salt Lake City dentists, Dr. Brickey and Dr. Provine , and our staff are happy to help you prioritize your dental health, which is why we go to great lengths to remove any barrier that might keep you from stepping through our doors. Sedation options, flexible payment plans, plentiful office hours, and a skilled dental team can help you achieve your best smile. Our relaxed office is comfortable from the waiting room to the dentist’s chair. Natural Smil...

The smallest smiles in your family are as vulnerable to oral health issues as you are—likely even more so! Your oral hygiene regimen may already be thorough enough to keep your teeth free from cavities and your gums safe from gingivitis, but young ones typically need help brushing and flossing for years before their skills match yours.  Park Slope Dental Arts wants to assist you on your mission to keep your child’s smile healthy , so we’re here to fill you in on what we see often, but want to help you and your little ones avoid. Get in touch with us. If you have any questions or you’d like to schedule a visit with Brooklyn dentist to ensure your child’s smile is developing healthily, contact Park Slope Dental Arts today ! The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. The post Can Children Have...

Breakfast is always being touted as the most important meal of the day—and for good reason! It’s important for families to kickstart their day with nutrients that will help them power through school, work, socializing, sports, homework… does anyone else feel exhausted just thinking about it all?  The right foods in your child’s lunch can help boost their energy and keep those brains, bodies, and mouths going all day! Alternatively, lunches full of sugary, sticky, acidic foods and beverages can accelerate tooth decay and cause your child to feel sluggish both physically and mentally. Dr. Gwendolyn Buck of Northern Trails Dental Care loves to share ideas on what to include in your child’s lunch to keep their smile safe and their health optimal… and perhaps what to leave out and have as an occasional treat for good behavior.  But First, Hydration About 65% of a child’s body is made up of water (60% for adult men, 55% for adult women), and it’s important for this balance to b...

Can you imagine a 2-liter bottle of your favorite soda? Now imagine that same bottle filled with spit. That’s approximately how much saliva the average adult produces in their mouth every day! It may be gross, but it’s definitely important. Saliva is a normal body fluid that’s crucial for oral health and overall wellness.  If you struggle to make enough saliva, your mouth will feel very dry and you will have trouble with daily activities like speaking, eating, and swallowing. This condition is commonly known as dry mouth , but the clinical name is xerostomia. A chronically dry mouth is uncomfortable and unhealthy.  You have three salivary glands in different parts of your jaw that make and secrete saliva. Saliva is mostly made of water, but it also contains important molecules called enzymes that help keep your mouth clean and fight infection. Dry mouth is common and can usually be fixed with the help of your Tomball dentist and primary care doctor. Dr. Michael Cimino sha...

Thumb sucking is normal behavior for babies and young children. But just how normal? More than 75% of little ones suck their thumbs, fingers, hands, pacifiers, or other items such as the corner of a blanket during these early years. Most kids stop this behavior on their own between the ages of three and six. But how long is too long, and can it be problematic? Chamblee Orthodontics would like to share more information about this common childhood habit. Why Do Babies Suck Their Thumbs? Human babies come into the world hungry, and with hunger in mammals comes an instinct to suck. This urge usually becomes less intense naturally, beginning to taper off when babies reach about six months of age. However, many babies take a liking to the practice, continuing to suck their thumbs to self-soothe when hungry, anxious, sick, bored, tired, or just trying to adjust to changes in their environment. Thumb sucking may also help them fall asleep or lull themselves back to sleep. Since it is an age...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , at least 40 Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses every day. As the opioid crisis grows, so does our expanded public knowledge—such as the realization that addiction to this family of drugs often begins with an innocent prescription . Many teens first experience opioids when a dentist prescribes them to control the pain of wisdom tooth extraction , root canal treatment, or other oral surgery . While legitimate, this initial exposure increases the likelihood of future opioid addiction by 33%. Teens are also prone to opioid abuse due to the fact that the prefrontal cortex region of the brain—the portion that manages reason and impulse control—is not fully developed until reaching the early- to mid-20s. Dr. Mark Dawoud wants your child’s dental care to be effective, comfortable, and above all—safe. If you have any concerns about dental surgery and your teen or you’re just looking for a kind, knowledgeable d...

  Ok, a lot of dentists are complaining of lack of business and our "slowdown"is to be expected (between 20-50% depending on which dental practice is reporting). That being the case , the sky is not falling and all is not lost. Probably it's  time that we should get back to basics and work on promoting our services to our patients. The best way to promote our dental practice is through our recall programs. Reaching out to patients via texts and phone is still the best way of getting them back to our practices. It is an opportunity to explain all the steps we are taking to keep them safe ( increased disinfection, ambient air management, use of PPE and social distancing).  To the best of my knowledge there  haven't been Covid clusters linked to dental offices. We have been open continuously seeing patients for routine services since June 8th and no one has yet to call us up two or three days later to inform us that they have tested positive to Covid 19.  Of cou...

“Posts for My Patients” is a free resource that offers dental practices instant content for their social platforms The Dental Trade Alliance, in partnership with Lanmark360, a full-service healthcare agency, have created an engaging social media campaign designed to help patients return to their dental practices. Designed for dental practices to display on a variety of social media platforms, the Posts For My Patients campaign was developed based on the findings of a recent nationwide patient survey. Many dental patients indicated a willingness—and desire—to return for routine care. “We found over half of the respondents had fallen behind on their dental care due to canceled appointments,” says Howard Klein, Lanmark360 President. “Over 50% of respondents say they intend to return to their dentist for a routine cleaning within the next three months.” The social media campaign, which includes short videos and suggested posts, reminds patients that it’s time to come back: “If you’re ...

The first known dental crowns were made as far back as 200 A.D. when Etruscans used gold to create crowns and bridges . Can you imagine what the process must have been like without the technology we have now? If you’d rather not, we can’t blame you! Thanks to digital x-rays and impressions, dentists today can create crowns that blend in so well with the rest of the mouth, you’ll forget you weren’t born with them. The updated materials appear very natural, especially ceramic and porcelain. But I Love Gold! Gold is still an option for crowns today, and it’s not a bad option in terms of durability—they’re extremely fracture-resistant and seal well to prevent recurrent tooth decay. However, gold is usually the most expensive material for the creation of crowns, and most people want their dental restorations to be a secret only they know—especially if the tooth in need of crowning is an incisor or canine. For those anterior (front) teeth, porcelain and ceramic are excellent crown o...

Your child’s smile has the ability to make your day, and at Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, we know you want them to love their smile as much as you do—that’s why we’re always happy to inform you of the best prevention and treatment methods !  Our prevention lessons and practices are usually focused on gum disease and cavities, but there’s another condition that can affect your child’s teeth: fluorosis. Fluorosis can occur in children ages eight and younger as a result of too much fluoride consumption while their teeth are still forming. Is fluorosis harmful? First, we’d like you to know fluorosis isn’t very common, and when we do spot it, it’s usually very mild and unnoticed by people that aren’t dental professionals. If the fluorosis is moderate to severe, you may see streaks or flecks of white, or what looks like rough, pitted spots in your child’s enamel.  Fluorosis is typically unaccompanied by other symptoms, but because we want your child to be confident in their smi...

Ancient vs. modern diets What’s missing? The role of saliva Why is brushing important? Bottom line Brush, floss, mouthwash, and go to the dentist. That’s what we’re often told is the “key” to oral health. If you want fewer cavities, just follow that prescription… Right? Sadly, modern dentistry has invented many ways to work around a problem that makes cavities the #1 preventable chronic disease in the world. But they haven’t fixed the problem : Your diet. Ancient vs. Modern Diets Thousands of years ago, people of the Paleolithic area hunted and foraged for food. Our bodies evolved for the greater part of human history to match these dietary patterns. What did an ancient diet look like? Meat (including most parts of an animal) Fish and seafood Fruits and vegetables Nuts and seeds Oils/butters (in certain civilizations) You may be thinking, “Sure, but didn’t ancient people have terrible teeth?” In truth, ancient peoples had dramatically better dental health th...

It is not uncommon for Sleep Apnea to go unnoticed for a long time.  The reason this happens is because many don’t realize that snoring and other common symptoms are linked to sleep apnea. Many patients who have Sleep Apnea do not comprehend the significant impact Sleep Apnea has on their overall health.   WHY IS SNORING CAUSED BY SLEEP APNEA? Sleep apnea, which means to that you stop breathing in your sleep, is usually caused by mouth and throat tissues obstructing your airway. They do so gradually, collapsing into your airway as you sleep at night. As the obstruction increases, the sound of your breathing increases, hence the loud snoring that indicates obstructive sleep apnea.   I STOP BREATHING?! Ultimately, your loud snoring will stop as your airway is totally closes off and you actually stop breathing for a few moments. Since you are asleep when this is happening, you can’t intentionally clear your airway, and our minds being as smart as they are wi...

Understanding any type of medical or dental insurance can be a challenge, especially for uninsured folks trying to find a plan on their own. According to the National Association of Dental Plans , about 74 million Americans had no dental insurance coverage at the end of 2016. One possible solution is dental savings plans (also called dental discount plans).  Dr. Case would like to talk about plans like these and their potential to reduce out-of-pocket dental costs for patients (who doesn’t like to save money?). How Do Dental Savings Plans Work? With a dental discount plan, the consumer pays an annual fee, just as they would pay for a buyer’s club membership to Costco or Sam’s Club or for emergency roadside assistance insurance like AAA. In return, they get access to a dental network that offers special savings to plan members, usually in the form of percentage-off discounts. For example, if a participating provider offers a 40% discount on crowns , that crown will cost $600 rat...

Photo from NYTimes artcle about NYC  I have been hearing a lot of negative thoughts about dentistry in NYC from others. My own brother has suggested numerous times that I open a satellite office in the suburbs. I have been in practice quite awhile... 40+ years and I have experienced a number of economic downturns and other crises... This does appear to be the worst. That being said, all is not lost. Every day when I take my bus or subway train it seems that there are more people traveling into Manhattan ( I live in Queens). The streets have more and more foot traffic as well. There was an article in the Times yesterday with news about high tech companies taking more space. Amazon now has eight office properties in New York with most in Midtown. In fact the article informed us that  Amazon bought the Lord & Taylor building in August and 2, 000 employees will eventually work there! My patients have been returning for the cleanings and check ups, even the ones w...

In this blog article, Dr. Mark Dawoud discusses Social Stories and how they help provide emotional support to autistic kids with the goal of improving their dental (and other) experiences. A social story about going to the dentist follows specific criteria and story elements to reinforce a safe, detailed description of a dental visit in a way that is both meaningful and comfortable for children with autism or related challenges. This short story tool outlines the relevant social cues and common responses when visiting Harp Pediatric Dentistry for an appointment. The story also explains what happens in that situation and why those things occur. The physical form social stories take can vary. Some are simple verbal messages that you’ll share with your child as you would any other story. Some are printed materials with or without drawings or photos, while others may be in video form.    We’d love to help your child learn about their health and good oral hygiene habits. If...

Life is full of unexpected surprises, and while we’d love for all of them to be smile-inducing, that’s not entirely realistic—and there may be many reasons you hide your smile. If you’re hiding your smile because of one or more missing teeth, we want you to know you’re not alone. In fact, 120 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth, and more than 36 million Americans do not have any teeth at all.  Whether the cause is tooth decay, gum disease —#1 on the list of reasons, with 50% of Americans over the age of 30 having the most severe form of periodontitis—illness, or injury, there are solutions. Dr. Brickey and Dr. Provine at Natural Smiles Dentistry would like to fill you in on your options, which have expanded and improved over the years thanks to technological advancements and continuing education. An Ounce of Prevention You’re probably familiar with the cliché, but in case you’re not, the ending goes: “is worth a pound of cure.” At Natural Smiles Dentistry, ...

If you have a crooked tooth, odd spaces between your teeth or a poor bite, you might be considering all of your orthodontic options. Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry that realigns your bite and teeth for the best possible look and function.  Did you know that our ancestors actually had naturally larger jaws? This meant they had more room in their mouths for all of their teeth to fit comfortably. But over time, due to genetic changes, human mouths are smaller than ever before. One out of every five people will have a problem with how their teeth fit and line up in their mouths! Invisalign® is one great option for the modern human who wants straighter teeth, without unsightly metal brackets and wires. If for any reason you aren’t fully comfortable with your smile, Park Slope Dental Arts in Brooklyn wants you to know your options. Read more below about orthodontics and Invisalign. Malocclusion When your mouth is closed, your top teeth should rest comfortably on top and a ...

Dentistry is serious medicine, and daily oral hygiene is a top priority. But teeth can be pretty fun, too—not to mention fascinating. For starters, have you ever seen the full sets of baby teeth and adult teeth present in a child’s head x-ray? Go ahead, look it up. There are tons of interesting dental facts out there!  Chamblee Orthodontics in Atlanta treats our patients professionally and joyfully—our team thinks teeth are cool. Take Dr. Ceneviz’s word for it, there’s much to learn and admire about even the most average set of teeth. Facts About People & Teeth According to a survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather visit the dentist than listen to one end of a cell-phone conversation. By age 17, 78% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. Tooth prints are as unique as fingerprints. About 2 million teeth per year fall out due to sports-related accidents. Babies hav...

Breakfast is always being touted as the most important meal of the day—and for good reason! It’s important for families to kickstart their day with nutrients that will help them power through school, work, socializing, sports, homework… does anyone else feel exhausted just thinking about it all?  The right foods in your child’s lunch can help boost their energy and keep those brains, bodies, and mouths going all day! Alternatively, lunches full of sugary, sticky, acidic foods and beverages can accelerate tooth decay and cause your child to feel sluggish both physically and mentally. Dr. Michael Cimino of Modern Smile Center loves to share ideas on what to include in your child’s lunch to keep their smile safe and their health optimal… and perhaps what to leave out and have as an occasional treat for good behavior.  But First, Hydration About 65% of a child’s body is made up of water (60% for adult men, 55% for adult women), and it’s important for this balance to be ...