If Your Gums Are Swollen And Sore, Call Staten Island Dental Care

If you are a worried Staten Island resident experiencing inflamed gums or a toothache, you’re are not alone.

About one third of U.S. adults are affected by tooth decay, according to the CDC, and gum disease plagues one in seven people age 35 to 40. Don’t ignore these symptoms, call Staten Island Dental Care today at (347) 695-4370 for immediate treatment.

At Staten Island Dental Care we take gum disease, sometimes called gingivitis, seriously because left untreated it can lead to loss of bone and tissue that support the teeth.

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease. You will know you have it if your gums bleed easily and look red and swollen. If this condition is not reversed it can lead to periodontitis. With this condition your gums become loose and separate from the teeth forming cavities that can become infected. This can spread to the bone supporting the tooth. If this is damaged, the tooth can be lost. (If you have already lost a tooth to gum disease, ask us about dental implants.)

At Staten Island Dental Care we recommend daily brushing and flossing and regular dental cleanings to help combat gingivitis. Our team has been treating gum disease and other dental problems for Staten Island residents since 1976.

If you want your teeth to feel fresh and bright, come in for a cleaning and check-up. Don’t become a statistic, prevent periodontal disease by treating your teeth and gums with the TLC they deserve. (After all, they work pretty hard for you day in and day out.)

My name is Dr. Frederick Hecht and my staff and I at Staten Island Dental Care offer quality general and cosmetic dental services including sedation dentistry, root canals, porcelain veneers and crowns.

Take care of your beautiful smile by calling Staten Island Dental Care today.

Dr. Frederick Hecht
Staten Island Dental Care
1520 Richmond Ave
Staten Island, New York 10314
(347) 695-4370
http://www.afraidofthedentist.com/pages/about.htm

Comfortable Care For the High Fear Patient

Keep Teeth Healthy During Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, your oral health may be the last thing on your mind. However, many Staten Island women experience an increase in dental problems during pregnancy. This article contains important information for expectant Staten Island mothers and those planning to become pregnant.

Dr. Frederick Hecht recommends having a thorough dental cleaning early in your pregnancy. Lying in a dentist’s chair can be uncomfortable during the last trimester. A professional cleaning performed by one of the skilled dental hygienists at Staten Island Dental Care, along with diligent brushing and flossing, helps prevent gum problems that are often triggered by hormonal changes. The American Dental Association has found a positive correlation between periodontal disease and preterm deliveries and low birth weight.

If you are currently pregnant and have sore, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment today by calling (347) 695-4370. Once the baby is here, it will probably be harder for you to make time for a general dentistry visit.

If you receive dental treatment at Staten Island Dental Care during your pregnancy, be sure to inform Dr. Frederick Hecht that you are expecting. This will affect decisions about X-rays, pain relievers, antibiotics, and sedation dentistry.

Hormonal changes cause an increase in plague production which can lead to decay. If you are eating many small meals during the day, take care to brush after eating. If you avoid sweet snacks, your teeth will be less likely to develop cavities.

Remember, your oral care, nutrition and lifestyle affect your baby. It is essential that you eat a healthy diet with a variety of foods. A poor diet can harm your baby’s tooth and bone development. Be sure to get enough calcium, iron, vitamins A, D and C, protein, and phosphorus. Your Staten Island Ob/Gyn can give you specific recommendations for your age, height, weight and medical conditions.

At Staten Island Dental Care, we take special care of our clients who are expecting.

Stick Out Your Tongue In Staten Island!

As health professionals, we know that Staten Island dentists diagnose and treat conditions of the teeth and gums, but we sometimes overlook the importance of the tongue.

Have you ever considered all the amazing things your tongue can do? It helps us talk, perceive the texture and flavor of food, chew, and swallow. This strong and nimble gymnast is in near-constant motion during our waking hours. It is a wonder that we don’t accidentally bite it more often as we smile, chew, drink, breathe, swallow, cough, and laugh.

Your tongue can also reveal problems with your health, including digestive problems, infections, and diseases of the blood.

When Dr. Frederick Hecht performs general dentistry oral exams, the tongue is always checked for signs of oral cancer and other serious diseases.

Here are some tongue abnormalities and possible causes:

Swollen tongue: reaction to food/drink/medication, strep infection, leukemia, hypothyroidism
White tongue: dehydration, yeast infection, irritation to tobacco, enteritis, gastritis, colitis, anemia or other nutritional deficiency
Canker sores: may be triggered by stress or reaction to food, toothpaste, or mouthwash.

If you have persistent canker sores, you may want to try eliminating products that contain sodium lauryl (or laurel) sulfate (SLS). SLS is a cheap foaming agent that is found in many personal care products. It can be difficult to find SLS-free dental products in Staten Island. The following brands have previously offered SLS-free versions but check labels carefully every time you buy a new tube. I have noticed that SLS has re-appeared in some brands.

Biotene
Sensodyne Pronamel
Tom’s of Maine
Rembrandt Low Abrasion

If you can’t find an SLS-free toothpaste at your local Staten Island Walmart or Target, I would suggest trying health food stores, specialty drug stores, or trusted online sites.

Many of my Staten Island family dentistry patients have asked me about tongue-scraping. I recommend thorough dental hygiene including cleaning the tongue. To schedule a consultation to discuss any dental health issues including tongue scraping, please contact my office at (347) 695-4370.

Dr. Frederick Hecht DMD
Staten Island Dental Care

Providing general and cosmetic dental services including sedation dentistry and restorative dentistry.

Have Your Dessert, Staten Island

Your Staten Island family dentist knows that it’s too much to ask that you never indulge in sugary treats, but they will tell you that eating sweets at certain times is better for your teeth than others. For instance, when you eat a full meal, your saliva production increases. This helps to rinse food particles from your mouth as well as neutralize the acids that cause plaque.

This is great news for dessert lovers in Staten Island and the surrounding areas because it means that sweets consumed after meals have a lower risk to your teeth because your mouth is already in optimum cleansing mode.

Staten Island dentists agree that sweets after meals are preferable to sweets eaten between meals as snacks.

Also remember that what sweets you eat can be as important as when you eat them. Staten Island dentists are constantly reminding their general dentistry patients that sticky candies stay on your teeth for a long time, even when your saliva is flowing. And hard candies that you suck for an extended time give bacteria a perfect environment to create enamel-weakening acids.

My name is Dr. Frederick Hecht, and I am a general and cosmetic dentist. My practice is Staten Island Dental Care located at 1520 Richmond Ave in Staten Island.

Our comfortable staff is here to help you have the healthiest and most beautiful smile possible. We provide general and cosmetic dentistry procedures such as tooth whitening, veneers, root canals, and toothache relief.

We are currently accepting new patients, call today to book an appointment!

Dr. Frederick Hecht
Staten Island Dental Care
1520 Richmond Ave
Staten Island, New York 10314
(347) 695-4370
http://www.afraidofthedentist.com/about-us/

Why Is Dry Mouth Dangerous For Staten Island Dental Patients?

Hello, welcome to the Staten Island Dental Care blog. Today we are going to talk about Dry Mouth, an unpleasant condition that can actually endanger the oral health of Staten Island Dental Care dentistry patients.

Reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a more common problem among older adults, however, people of all ages in the Staten Island area may experience the symptoms of dry mouth at one time or another. These symptoms include a dry, red tongue, difficulty swallowing, and persistent sore throat.

Sometimes dry mouth in Staten Island family dentistry patients is caused by a disease or infection, but a more frequent cause of dry mouth for our patients is prescription medications.

Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Staten Island) are just some of the drugs that list ‘dry mouth’ as a common side effect.

It is common for allergy-prone Staten Island Dental Care general dentistry patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.

Aside from being an uncomfortable nuisance, untreated dry mouth can cause tooth damage for Staten Island dental patients. Adequate saliva is necessary to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acidic environment caused by plaque. Extensive tooth decay can occur in the absence of saliva for Staten Island dental patients with chronic dry mouth.

If you are unsure of the cause of your dry mouth, or if you are looking for dry mouth treatments, call Staten Island Dental Care to schedule an appointment with dentist Dr. Frederick Hecht.

When you visit Staten Island Dental Care in Staten Island, please be sure to bring a list of medications you are taking so Dr. Hecht can give you an accurate diagnosis.

Dr. Frederick Hecht
Staten Island Dental Care
1520 Richmond Ave
Staten Island, New York
(347) 695-4370
http://www.afraidofthedentist.com/pages/about.htm

Fighting Gum Disease With Tooth Brushing Basics In Staten Island

Why should everyone in Staten Island brush at least twice a day? Let’s take a look at why this is so important.

Brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent periodontal disease.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and carefully flossing removes the food from our teeth and inhibits the build up of plaque. If we let food stay on our teeth, the starches in the food will mix with the plaque. This nasty mixture forms an acid which immediately starts drilling into the enamel to form cavities. Brushing can’t get all the spaces between your teeth, so you’ve got to floss also.

Brushing and flossing keeps gums and bone healthy.

If you let gum disease go untreated, you can lose teeth that are cavity-free!

The progression of gum disease (gingivitis) goes like this:

Plaque build-up irritates gums.
Irritated gums pull away from teeth.
Bacteria multiplies in the spaces between the gum and tooth.
The bone holding the tooth is eaten by the bacteria.
Say goodbye to the tooth.

The good news is that gingivitis can be reversed if detected early by your dentist.

Call Staten Island Dental Care at (347) 695-4370 to schedule a gum disease evaluation at our office in Staten Island. We specialize in General and Restorative Dentistry.

Cavity Fighting Chewing Gum For Our Staten Island Patients?

I’m Dr. Frederick Hecht DMD of Staten Island Dental Care in Staten Island. My Staten Island dentistry clients often ask me if chewing xylitol gum is an effective substitute for tooth brushing and regular Staten Island dental exams.

Before I answer that question, let me tell you a little bit about xylitol:

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch tree bark but is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Unlike most other sweeteners (natural or synthetic), xylitol is actually good for your teeth. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that xylitol prevents the growth of the bacteria that initiates decay. It also reduces plaque and strengthens tooth enamel.

Xylitol has other benefits, as well. Because it is low on the glycemic index, many of my Staten Island diabetic patients enjoy it as a healthy alternative to sugar. If my Bayonne cosmetic dentistry patients complain about frequent dry mouth, I recommend Xylitol gum or mints to stimulate saliva production without promoting tooth decay.

Now, back to the golden question. Is xylitol gum just as effective as brushing your teeth and seeing your Staten Island family dentist regularly? Absolutely not! If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chewing xylitol gum for five or ten minutes is probably a good idea. However, you should still brush your teeth thoroughly (with a soft brush) after meals and get twice-yearly exams and oral dentistry deep cleanings at your Staten Island dentistry clinic.

At Staten Island Dental Care, our goal is to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life by preventing dental problems before they start. If you postpone Staten Island dental visits until you feel pain, you risk losing teeth and most certainly will require more extensive treatment than if the problem was caught earlier. Is it time for a dental exam? Call us at (347) 695-4370 to book an appointment. Our comfortable is waiting to take care of all your dental needs. We also provide cosmetic dentistry and sedation dentistry services.

Soft, Medium, or Buzz Lightyear?

At Staten Island Dental Care, Dr. Frederick Hecht is often asked how to choose the most basic tool of dental hygiene, the toothbrush. Picking a toothbrush in Staten Island can be as difficult as choosing a paint color, and there seems to be just as many choices.

If you have visited the dental section of your local Brooklyn grocery store or Staten Island Walmart lately, you know what I am talking about. There are brushes with bristles of varying lengths, brushes that massage your gums, and brushes that change color when they are used up.

Some toothbrush manufacturers claim their brushes freshen your breath or remove stains from your teeth. How do you choose which brush will be best for your dental hygiene?

One key factor is the firmness of the bristles. Hard bristles may be more effective for cleaning burnt steak off a grill or hard water deposits off a shower floor. However, this does not hold true for your teeth. Medium and firm brushes can damage your gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are plenty stiff enough to clean plague, food particles, and surface stains from your teeth. Soft bristles also offer more flexibility for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

After having restorative dentistry work or oral surgery in Staten Island, especially anything involving soft tissue grafts, make sure you use an extra-soft brush and be careful!

When buying a toothbrush for a child in Manhattan, make sure the brush feels comfortable in their hand. If the size and angle feels awkward, the child will be less likely to use it long enough to clean all areas of the mouth. Children do not necessarily need a child-sized tooth brush. Some Staten Island kids can manage an adult size brush better than a short, narrow child size brush. If you are unsure, ask your Staten Island dentist at Staten Island Dental Care.

What about the electric types and water-shooters? Some Staten Island folks like the feeling of vibrating bristles or a mini-squirt gun blasting away at the plaque. Staten Island people with arthritis or other movement-inhibiting conditions can benefit from powered brushes which take some strain off hands and arm muscles.

Is your toothbrush doing the job? Schedule an exam with your Staten Island dentist at Staten Island Dental Care.

At Staten Island Dental Care, our comfortable dental hygienists instruct our Staten Island pediatric clients and Staten Island adult patients on proper brushing, flossing, and dental hygiene. If you haven’t experienced a dental deep cleaning at Staten Island Dental Care, you don’t know how clean your teeth and gums can feel.

Schedule a thorough dental cleaning today by calling Staten Island Dental Care at (347) 695-4370. An outstanding feature of Staten Island Dental Care is excellent clinical treatment and personalized attention. We offer restorative dentistry and a full spectrum of restorative dental procedures.

Healthy Teeth and Your Staten Island Diet

Maintaining healthy teeth is an important concern for our local Staten Island residents. As your Dentist, it’s my job to help you understand how to care for your teeth and to keep them healthy. Everyone in Staten Island knows that maintaining healthy teeth requires regular daily brushing and flossing. Regular visits to your local Staten Island dental practice is also necessary to keep watch for cavities and to help you maintain proper dental hygiene. We often forget that maintaining a healthy diet can also be beneficial for the health of your teeth.

A diet that includes foods that help your muscles and bones, will also help you develop healthy gums and healthy teeth. Examples of local Staten Island foods to include in your diet include foods rich in vitamin B such as breads and cereals. Foods rich in vitamin C, usually fruits and vegetables, help improve the health of your gums. Zinc and magnesium are also good for the health of your teeth and are found in foods like lean beef, fish, and poultry.

All foods increase the production of saliva. Saliva is important to healthy teeth because it helps to maintain the pH balance in your mouth. Maintaining this balance helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. Foods high in fiber also encourage saliva production as does the chewing of sugar-free gum. Gum, however, can damage unhealthy teeth or pull out dental fillings, so always use caution when deciding whether to chew gum and which brand to chew.

Just as certain diet choices in the Staten Island area can be beneficial to the health of your teeth, others can be detrimental. Foods and drinks that are high in sugars are more likely to form the acids that attack your teeth and result in decay. And while table sugar is often associated with the formation of cavities, other sugars such as glucose, fructose, and maltose are also causes, and are often found in juices and sodas. Limiting the consumption of sugars to mealtimes lessens the amount of time your healthy teeth are exposed.

Making good diet choices and limiting between meal sugar consumption can improve the health of your teeth and gums.

If you would like to learn how to better care for your healthy teeth in the Staten Island area, contact Staten Island Dental Care at (347) 695-4370. We would love to hear from you.

-Dr. Fredrick S. Hecht

Periodontal Disease in New York

Periodontal disease in New York is more common than you might think, and can be cured with varying degrees of treatment depending on the severity.

What is periodontal disease? According to this article on Wikipedia, periodontal disease is ‘the name of a collection of inflammatory diseases affecting the tissues that surround and support the teeth.’

Periodontal disease, more commonly called ‘gum disease‘, is an inflammation or infection of the gums. Periodontal disease can be very painful in some extreme conditions, and can limit your ability to eat normally. In some cases, periodontal disease can affect your smile, and can create cosmetic concerns.

If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause irreversible damage. When caught early and treated, periodontal disease can be little more than an inconvenience. However the best policy is to practice good dental hygiene to keep periodontal disease at bay.

One of the best ways to avoid periodontal disease is to get a regular dental check up at your local Staten Island dentist.

Give us a call at (347) 695-4370 to schedule your next dental checkup; we look forward to seeing you.

— Dr. Frederick Hecht