Start the New Year with Whiter Teeth

How Flossing Can Whiten Your Teeth

Whitening floss is one the many options now available to you when choosing a dental floss.

This is because floss brands are looking to capitalize on the increasing popularity of tooth-whitening products, which also include whitening toothpastes and whitening mouthwash.

Whitening floss doesn't actually bleach the teeth. Instead, it makes your teeth look whiter by doing a better job of removing the particles between them, similar to the way that vacuuming or dusting rugs or furniture doesn't actually change their color, but the colors look brighter when you remove the dust and dirt.

Some types of whitening floss are coated with microscopic abrasive silica particles. Others are treated with compounds such as calcium peroxide that can help dissolve some of the excess proteins that saliva deposits on the teeth that can cause discoloration. But the main way that floss improves the appearance of the teeth is by removing food particles and bacterial plaque to keep your gums healthy. Your teeth will look brighter and healthier if you maintain healthy gums, which you can do by flossing daily with whitening floss or any other type of floss that you like.

Keep in mind that whitening floss, whitening mouthwash, and whitening toothpaste can only provide modest changes in tooth color. If you have severely stained teeth, tooth-colored crowns, or implants, you may require special attention to make them whiter. In that case, talk to your dentist.

Want a new white smile for the New Year come see Dr. Alina Bergan DDS.

Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth.  The most popular method is using a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically.  Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc.  Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.
Tooth whitening is not permanent.  A touch-up maybe needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine.

Reasons for tooth whitening:

·         Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development).

·         Normal wear of outer tooth layer.

·         Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.).

·         Yellow, brown stained teeth.

What does tooth whitening involve?

This type of tooth whitening usually requires two visits.  At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays.

At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary.  The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening.  It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after you have stopped bleaching.

You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy, white smile.

Call us to schedule your teeth whitening appointment call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S., today at (800) 223-0801

New Year, New You: New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy Smile

With the New Year approaching, you may have already begun to think about your New Year’s resolutions. You may be considering resolving to save money, get a better job or lose weight. Many people set new goals about having a healthier lifestyle in the New Year. Why not make one of your New Year’s resolutions improving your dental health?

Healthy resolutions can keep your teeth healthy, and any of the following strategies will go a long way toward giving you a brighter, healthier smile in the coming year:

Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables

Eating well is important for your dental health. Poor nutrition can affect the entire immune system, increasing susceptibility to many common oral disorders, including gum (periodontal) disease. Antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts improve your body’s ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, helping to protect your teeth and gums. In addition, crisp fruits and raw vegetables like apples, carrots and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen your breath.

Quit Smoking or Using Other Tobacco Products

Using tobacco can harm your mouth in a number of ways, increasing your risk for tooth discoloration, cavities, gum recession, gum disease and throat, lung and oral cancer. Smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. It’s not just smoking tobacco that has negative effects on your oral health: use of smokeless tobacco can be just as harmful to your oral health. The good news is that the risk of tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.

Limit Your Alcohol Intake

You may already know that excessive alcohol intake can have an effect on your overall health, but did you know that it may also affect your oral health? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, those who smoke, eat poorly and consume excessive alcohol also have increased gum recession (periodontal pocketing). Their studies show that smokers who regularly consume alcohol are less likely to brush their teeth on a regular basis and are less concerned about their basic health than nonsmokers. Try to brush your teeth after drinking alcohol, especially red wine.

Brush at Least Twice a Day and Floss at Least Once a Day

Brushing and flossing protect your teeth from decay and gum disease, which is caused by your teeth’s most persistent enemy, plaque – a sticky, colorless, invisible film of harmful bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. Both brushing and flossing are equally important for good oral health: according to the Academy of General Dentistry, only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline, where decay and gum disease often begins.

Without proper brushing and flossing, you may develop bleeding gums, which may worsen to severely swollen, red, bleeding gums (gingivitis) and, eventually, gum disease. Because diseases of the mouth can affect the rest of your body, it is especially important to maintain good oral health.

See Your Dentist for Regular Checkups

By seeing your dentist at least twice a year, you can help prevent any dental health problems before they cause discomfort or require more comprehensive or expensive treatment. Regular visits allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and recommend a dental health regimen to address areas of concern.

For this New Year, resolve to treat your mouth right: improve your diet, quit smoking and improve your oral hygiene habits – your teeth and your body will thank you for it!

For more information about oral health call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S., today at (800) 223-0801.

Give Yourself the Gift of Good Oral Health this Holiday Season

'Tis the season for giving, but remember to give yourself the most important gift of all this holiday season: a healthy smile! Maintaining good oral hygiene during the holiday season is more important than ever, advises Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. 

Holiday get-togethers tend to lead people to consume sugary treats and drink alcoholic beverages more than usual. Additionally, with busy schedules and increased stress levels, many peoples' oral hygiene suffers. Many forget the most basic of oral hygiene tasks that can counteract the effects of sugary snacks and drinks.

 If all you want this holiday season is to keep your two front teeth, or all of your teeth for that matter, then check out Dr. Bergan's tips on how to save your smile.

Wine

Whether red or white, the high acidity levels in wine can eat away at a tooth's enamel. Tooth enamel is critical in the protection against decay and cavities. To avoid damage, refrain from swishing the wine around in your mouth, and drink water in between beverages to rinse the teeth of the acid. Cheers! 

Sugary Treats

Bacteria in the mouth thrive on the sugars found in candy canes, chocolate, and holiday goodies, increasing the likelihood of developing cavities. If you are not able to brush and floss after munching on sweet treats, drink water or chew a piece of sugarless gum. This will boost saliva flow in the mouth and help wash away bacteria. 

Stress

Holiday anxiety can cause people to grind or clench their teeth, causing jaw pain, headaches, and chipping. "Finding ways to alleviate your anxiety can help, but it's also important to see your dentist, who can recommend solutions like a custom night guard," advises Dr. Bergan. "Wearing a guard at night will prevent you from taking out the holiday stress on your teeth while you sleep."

 Remember that the gift of oral health is one that keeps on giving all year long!

 "A healthy smile should always be at the top of your wish list," says Dr. Bergan. "Brush and floss your teeth twice daily and schedule an appointment to see your general dentist at least twice a year."

For more information about holiday oral health call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S., today at (800) 223-0801.

Diabetes and Oral Health – A Two-Way Street

If you, a friend or a family member have diabetes, you may have heard that this common disease increases a person’s risk of gum disease and other oral health problems. But did you know that this relationship is a mutually distressing one? Not only does diabetes make gum disease worse, but gum disease can actually make diabetes worse too by interfering with blood-glucose management strategies.

Here, we shine some light on the relationship between diabetes and oral health, and what you can do about it.

Diabetes makes it difficult for the body to fight infection. Whether the infection is located in the mouth, the foot or any other part of the body, poor circulation suppresses the immune system, making it harder for the body’s natural infection fighting responders to do their job. This means that if you have diabetes, you are more prone to gum disease, and other oral health problems too such as, thrush and dry mouth.

On the flip-side, gum disease can also make diabetes worse. Whenever the body is fighting illness or an infection (such as a cold or the flu or even gum disease), blood sugar spikes are harder to control with regular methods and thus extra monitoring and control-measures are required.

Are you wondering what you can do to minimize this damage? First and foremost, keep your blood sugar under control by using the methods that your physician has prescribed. Next, practice good oral health maintenance with regular brushing and flossing. And finally, don't skip regular trips to the dentist and other oral health professionals. If you have diabetes, you cannot afford to ignore this important part of your body. For more information about oral health call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. today at (800) 223-0801.

How Long do Dental Implants Last?

If you're considering going through the dental implant process, it’s important to know how long they will last.  The good news is dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution to missing teeth caused by tooth decay, injury or other causes.  Implants should look, feel and act like real teeth.

Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. can provide you with a permanent solution to your missing or dead teeth. Dental implants are made of a titanium root that is anchored in the jaw. This acts as a functional anchor for the implanted tooth and crown.  The bone grows around the implanted post the same way bone grows around the natural root of a tooth.

Do Dental Implants Last as long as Your Real Teeth?

How long do your real teeth last?  They should last a lifetime.  However, we all can cite examples where teeth have not served for a person's lifetime.  Oftentimes, our teeth do not last long enough due to poor home care or a lack of dental visits. Just as natural teeth may not last a lifetime, dental implants may not be permanent. 

With proper care and routine dental check-ups your dental implants should last a lifetime. This can be maintained through good hygiene and following the instructions of your dentist. 

If you are ready to take a permanent step towards a more confident smile and are tired of seeing those missing teeth, please contact Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. We serve patients in 5 Towns area in Cedarhurst . Call us today at (800) 223-0801.

Dental Hygiene Essentials for Busy Parents

As a parent, life can get very busy. There’s so much to do and remember for work, for your kids, for you, personally, that things can sometimes get forgotten. Your kids’ dental habits shouldn’t be one of them. However, we understand it can be tough to manage it all, so we’ve put together a list of kid’s dental hygiene essentials every busy parent should have.

1. Give Your Kids a Tooth-Brushing Calendar. For busy parents, one tool that might help is a daily tooth-brushing calendar to make sure your kids are brushing their teeth twice a day and using floss at least once a day. Your kids could check off or place a sticker on each calendar day and time they’ve successfully brushed and flossed their teeth. Create a rewards system as an extra motivator. If they keep to their daily brushing schedule for a week or a month, then they could get a fun reward, like a trip to the movies or getting a DVD or toy they’ve been wanting. The reward can be whatever you think is best for your household, but it might give them some extra incentive to do well that week or month when it comes to brushing and flossing their teeth.

If your child is too young to brush his teeth on his own, recruit an older sibling to help. If he has no older siblings, schedule times that you and your spouse (or other family member) can take turns helping your child brush his teeth.

2. Keep their dental appointments a priority. Make sure your kids are seeing a dentist every six months. Schedule their dental appointments ahead of time. If you can’t find a time to take them, ask a friend or family member if they can help.

3. Compile a travel kit for your car that includes:

·         Toothpaste

·         Toothbrushes

·         Floss

·         Water

·         Healthy Snacks like granola bars

Whether you’re taking a vacation, a weekend trip or just running a few errands, being prepared when traveling can help safeguard your kids’ dental habits. Leave this travel kit in your car or grab it on your way out. If your kids forget their toothbrush and toothpaste on a trip, they’ll have backups; if they need to floss after eating a hearty meal, they won’t have to do without; and if they get hungry or thirsty, you won’t have to resort to junk food because you’ll have healthy snacks available (This can be a money-saver, too!).

4. Stock your house with extra:

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Toothbrushes 

·         Straws

·         Healthy Snacks

Having extra toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss stored in the bathroom is a good idea, especially if you’re really busy. It can be hard to make runs to the store for just a couple of items if you’ve already got a lot going on. You could even store some of these extras in the kitchen so your kids will remember to brush their teeth after eating.

Additionally, encourage your kids to use straws when they drink sugary beverages. Although these drinks should be limited for the betterment of your kids’ teeth and health, if they do drink some, using a straw can help keep the sugar from coating their teeth.

5. Educate your kids and sitters about the importance of dental hygiene. The more your kids know to do, the less you’ll have to do in this area. Educate your kids about proper dental hygiene habits so they’ll know when and why they need to brush and floss their teeth, what they should be eating and drinking and how to take care of their dental health overall. You can do this by giving them great dental books to read and referencing some of their favorite movies that mention dental care.

If you have sitters for your kids, stress the importance of your kids’ dental habits to them, too. They can make sure your kids are taking care of their teeth while you’re out.

Your kids’ dental hygiene habits are important and it’s good to be developing them now. We hope these essential dental hygiene tips can help you, even with your busy schedule. Contact our office for more information or to schedule a checkup today at 800-223-0801.

Fun Facts About Teeth

As children, we are obsessed with our teeth.  Counting them, watching them fall out and grow back in.  Waiting for the tooth fairy’s surprise under our pillows. Then as adults, we are still obsessed with them, but maybe in a different way (as in “why do they always hurt and why aren’t they white anymore?”)  So just for fun, and to further indulge in this fascination with teeth, here are some fun facts about teeth.

This is a great article to share with your children!  How many of these facts did you already know?

Sharks don’t get cavities.  Why?  Because their teeth are coated in fluoride.  That combined with the fact that they have rows and rows of replacement teeth, ready to go at a moment’s notice, give them an unfair advantage over humans when it comes to oral health.

You are lucky!  You have three types of teeth:  (1) Incisors to bite pieces off, (2) Canines to hold and tear, and (3) molars to grind food.  This allows you to eat a wide variety of foods.  Some animals, like crocodiles, aren’t so lucky, they only have sharp teeth to grab and kill, which greatly reduces their restaurant choices.

Enamel is the hardest material in the human body.  It is considered the last line of defense for your tooth.  Normal wearing down of enamel does occur over time and is simply a part of aging.  But bacteria can cause this breakdown to accelerate, which is why we brush and floss regularly!

Taste buds only live for about 10 days, or 2 weeks if they are lucky.  They go through a life cycle just like every other cell renewal processes in the body.

Sharkskin is covered in teeth.  Don’t believe me?  Both sharks and their cousins, rays, are covered in what are called dermal denticles.  Although they look like scales they are actually just modified teeth, with an enamel coating and all!  These protect them and also help them swim faster, but enough about sharks.

The jaw muscle, called the “masseter”, is the strongest muscle in the body if we are talking about strength based by weight.  When all of these muscles work together, the jaw exerts 55 pounds of weight on the incisors and 200 pounds on the molars.  This is why we take jaw disorders like teeth grinding, TMJ and bruxism very seriously – that’s a lot of force!  Call us today if you suspect you might be a teeth grinder.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. today at (800) 223-0801.

 Did you know any of these fun facts about teeth already or did we surprise you?