Gum Disease Is Not Your Friend

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Foundations

Just like a building, a tooth needs a strong foundation.  For teeth the foundation is your jaw and gums.  You can have decay free teeth but if the support is not there they can end up in your hands.  Keeping your gums healthy is not too difficult if you just make a small effort.  

How do I keep my gums healthy?  Visiting the dentist twice a year is recommended.  Here we can look into your mouth and with x rays determine any problems that might be brewing.  If you have no decay then with a dental cleaning and your efforts your gums and jaw bone will remain healthy.

Your part is simple.  Come to the dentist and then compliment your visit with your daily dental home care.  Every morning upon waking and every evening before retiring you need to brush and floss your teeth.  The brushing removes accumulations on the top, back and front of your teeth.  The flossing removes accumulation between your teeth and is more important than the brushing for gum health.

Around every tooth is a pocket or cuff.  In a healthy situation the pocket is two to three millimeters in depth.  At this level when you floss the floss will reach the base of the pocket and remove any build up of food and bacteria present.

Gum disease happens when the food between your teeth is not removed.  As the food breaks down it releases acids which attack the gums allowing the pockets to deepen.  Once the pocket gets greater than four millimeters even if you floss you will not be able to reach the base of the pocket and the gum disease continues. 

Over time if not checked the gum disease starts to attack the bone in your jaws.  When enough bone is lost the tooth starts eventually becoming loose and needs to be removed.  It takes time for this to happen and often the patient is not aware of it till the end.

Coming in for dental check-up and cleaning will catch this situation before it can become a problem.   You lead with your teeth and your teeth make up your smile.  If it’s been awhile maybe it’s time to come in for a check-up and cleaning

At the dental office of Dr. Glenn Reit we always like meeting new people and taking care of their dental needs.  We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85thstreets in Yorkville.  You can reach us at 212 517 9000

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Teeth

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Maybe you lift weights to build strength but are you also doing things to strengthen your teeth?

There are ways to strengthen your teeth.  Just like you want to have strong bones, having strong teeth are also advantageous. Having a healthy diet, good oral hygiene habits and regular dental checkups is a good start.

Tooth Enamel is the hard surface of your tooth which needs to be strong and healthy to prevent dental decay from penetrating into the interior of the tooth leading to dental problems.  Enamel can weaken due to genetics, illnesses and/or poor oral hygiene habits.  Brushing too strongly with a stiff toothbrush can wear down the enamel surface.  Unlike your bone your tooth does not have regenerative cells so once it is worn down it will not build back up.

Fermentable carbohydrates which are found in breakfast cereals, crackers, breads, bananas, soft drinks, candy, cookies and other starchy foods form harmful and dangerous acids on your teeth.  When combined with bacteria, those acids will start to break down the enamel.  This demineralization process literally eats away at the naturally produced minerals in your enamel. Clearly meaning that highly processed foods and sweet treats will cause demineralization of the enamel over time.

Brushing twice per day and flossing once per day is vital if you want to strengthen your teeth.  Be careful not to brush too hard and always brush at a forty-five degrees angle with a soft bristled toothbrush using short and decisive strokes.  Brush for at least two minutes and don’t forget your tongue as bacteria love to linger in places your toothbrush misses.

The saliva that you produce after you brush your teeth can also help prevent demineralization as it contains proteins and minerals that will safeguard the enamel on your teeth.  Saliva is constantly washing off the germs on your teeth and helps to maintain the pH thereby reducing acid production. Our early ancestors since they had a quite different diet showed very little signs of weakened enamel.

Most city water is now fluoridated which helps to keep your enamel strong.  A healthy diet includes whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products.

If you would like to learn how to strengthen your teeth give us a call at 212 517 9000.  At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS we care about you and your teeth.  Give us a call  today; you will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

What is a Dental Exam?

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

When is an exam an exam?

When you go to the dentist you will be examined.  What types of exams are provided at a dental office?  Your exam will be based on your situation.  If you are a new patient and have no urgent problem you will receive a first time comprehensive examination.  Here we will take x rays of your teeth and supporting structures to get a baseline on where you’re at.  We will examine your teeth, gums and oral cavity.  We will palpate and examine your masticator muscles and your jaw joint.  We will then be able to give you an evaluation of where you are presently at and what types of treatment would be amenable to your state.

In a periodic evaluation you are already a patient of the practice and are on a recall care schedule.  Generally this means you are coming in twice per year to have a dental cleaning and check the condition of your teeth, gums and oral cavity.  We generally take recall x-rays once every two years.

An emergency evaluation is done on a new patient in pain or an existing patient experiencing a dental trauma.  Here we evaluate the particular situation which is bothering you and take any needed x-rays.

Evaluations are the first step before treatment.  For larger cases a game plan is created to address your needs. In all situations multiple alternatives are given and costs involved are fully discussed before the commencement of any treatments allowing you to make an informed decision on your dental care.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located in Yorkville we are always looking to meet more new patients.  If you are in need of a dentist give us a call at 212 517 9000 today.  You and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!