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A Parent’s Guide to Halloween | New York Dentist

Things may be a little different this Halloween, especially when it comes to these new quarantine rules. Nonetheless, there are some things that will remain the same, and unfortunately, they revolve around sugar. Halloween brings with it some of the sweetest treats of all the holidays. Yes, Halloween isn’t exactly fun for your teeth. According to a study, the average child consumes between 3,700 to 7,000 calories worth of Halloween treats. That’s not even considering how much sugar is ingested. This is why it is very important to keep up with daily dental hygiene. To help your family stay healthy and safe, here is a list of tips you may want to take this Halloween:

Fill ‘em up. Sit down as a family and have a nutritious and filling meal before your Halloween outing so they aren’t as tempted to eat a lot of your candy afterwards.

Work it out. It may not be your typical trick-or-treating, but keeping a safe distance from other kids will make this a safe Halloween season. Make this a family affair and encourage them with a friendly competition for who can take the most steps or be the most active while collecting candy.

Pick and choose. Offer your children to have 1-3 pieces of candy per day, starting with lunch, or after dinner as a treat. Once they’re done, it’s time to brush.

Give it away. When your children get back home from trick-or-treating, have your kids put their candy into two piles: one they want to keep and one they don’t. Donate the remain candy to a local senior citizen center, or food pantry. Spread the Halloween love all around.

If you have questions or concerns about Halloween candy, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Wake Up! It’s National Coffee Day | New York Dentist

It’s the beginning of the day for many. It’s the pick-me-up some need in the afternoon to make it through the day. And even during a pandemic, we are still lining up for a hot cup of coffee. But did you know today was National Coffee Day? It’s true. America’s favorite morning elixir has its own day to celebrate and today is that day.

And while coffee is the perfect beverage to wake us up, it is terrible for our teeth. The more we drink, the quicker our smile are affects. But this spans further than just tinging your smile – but it can also contribute to the buildup of plaque and tartar, while accelerating the progression of gum disease.

Gingivitis, or an inflammation of your gums caused by plaque, and periodontitis, a more advanced version of gingivitis that results in a gap between your teeth and your gums. When caught in the beginning gingivitis stage, it can be treated and, hopefully preventable in the future. Periodontitis, on the other hand, is more difficult to treat and, due to the gap between the teeth and gums, may cause your teeth to become loose and fall out.

When you drink coffee, it is affecting your mouth by lowering the temperature of your mouth and gums while reducing the blood flow to your gums, which does not allow your gums to get all of the necessary oxygen they need to continue functioning properly.

When it comes to gum disease, saliva plays a major role in prevention. It contains oxygen and specialized enzymes which help prevent gum disease by killing the unnecessary bacteria in your mouth. Drinking coffee can cause dehydration and reduce the amount of saliva you produce, thus increasing your chances of developing gum disease.

If you have questions or concerns about the affects of coffee, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Teeth Whitening Treatments at Home | New York Dentist

Now that we are slowly getting closer to returning to a “normal” way of life, it’s time we give up our quarantine appearances for a more public look. Here some teeth whitening techniques you can do at home while you wait, in case you’re interested.

The version most people are used to hearing about is a classic hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste. If you want to do it DIY style, just drop a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into a little bit of baking soda to make a paste.

This may sound strange, but how about strawberries and banana peels? Grab a couple berries, add about a teaspoon of baking soda & rub on your teeth for 5-7 minutes. After you brush your teeth, peel a ripe banana and rub a piece of the inside on your teeth for two minutes. They each have their own scrubbing agents in their chemical makeup.

If you have apple cider vinegar, dilute it with some water (3:1 water to vinegar) and mix it with an all-natural toothpaste for an efficient tooth whitening solution. If you have discovered the many uses for coconut oil, you may also know that swishing it around in your mouth for 20 minutes is a possible solution to dingy teeth. Heat a cup of coconut oil, add two teaspoons of baking soda & five to ten drops of natural spearmint essential oil. The spearmint adds antimicrobial benefits for your gums.

You’ve seen this one all over social media – activated charcoal. And just like the others: mix with a little bit of water, gently apply it to your teeth, leave to set in your mouth for two minutes, then rinse.

If you have questions or concerns about teeth whitening, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Give It to Me Straight | New York Dentist

When we have a flawed smile, it can become an issue to do certain things. It could affect our speech, our bite, even our self-esteem. And since social media is all about photos, and we all maintain some type of online presence, having these flaws fixed is a must. It’s time to make a dental appointment…

One great way to fix a crooked smile is with orthodontics. Believe it or not, having braces can fix a number of dental issues. Fixing your crooked teeth with a set of braces – traditional or otherwise – will improve your mouth’s alignment, speech and/or chewing difficulties. The following are various dental issues and how getting braces can repair them:

Gapped teeth. Gaps in between teeth can occur from the abnormal continued growth of the jawbone or missing teeth causing teeth the shift to adjust to the empty space, creating gaps.

Overbites. When the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth, you have an overbite. Much like teeth gaps or spaces, overbites can eventually lead to gum problems and add unnecessary stress on the lower teeth and jaw.

Underbite. The opposite of overbites, an underbite occurs when the lower teeth protrude past the upper teeth. Having an underbite causes unnecessary tooth wear, in addition to causing pain and other issues in the jaw joints.

Teeth crowding. Crowded teeth occur when there’s not enough room in the jaws for teeth to fit normally as they would. If left untreated, expect severely crooked teeth, which causes various dental issues, such as plaque accumulation, tooth decay and an increased risk for gum disease.

If you have questions or concerns about braces, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Digital Technology at the Dentist | New York Dentist

As each year passes, our technology improves, especially when it comes to visual aspects. Our movies become crisper and cleaner it feels like it’s really happening in front of your eyes. But this technology is being utilized in all sorts of industries, including the dental industry. Yes, your dentist now has digital x-rays for your checkups.

It may seem a bit excessive to have digital technology at the dentist, but there are plenty of reasons it is for your benefit. It allows dentists a wide variety of perspectives of the face, neck and teeth, giving you a better diagnosis and making a more complete treatment plan. With digital x-rays, dentists do a lot more than ever before. The technology is fast, simple and completely non-invasive, so there’s no need to worry. All you have to do is sit in the chair for a scan, and the dentist has a computer-generated view of your face, teeth and other important details from various perspectives. Not only does this help keep your mouth healthy but can also give you a better look into dental procedures you are about to have done.

The imaging system is basically an x-ray scanner, only it’s mounted on a rotating arm. While you sit in the chair, the scanner will move around your head to gather all the data necessary. There’s no preparation of any kind involved. The dentist can then call up any necessary view on a computer monitor. This accessibility makes it easier to see bones, teeth, airways, nerves, as well as tissues and see the relationship between them in order to create a more effective treatment plan.

If you have questions or concerns about digital x-rays, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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What to Expect when You’re Expecting a Dental Cleaning | New York Dentist

You brush, floss and rinse your mouth twice a day, the way you have been for as long as you can remember. Your teeth are looking good, so naturally you think everything is kosher when it comes to your oral health. Having to go to the dentist to have them cleaned is completely unnecessary, right? Wrong. You may be doing a fabulous job cleaning your teeth, but you still have to get a good scrubbing done by a professional. Not because you aren’t doing a good job, but because teeth cleanings with your dentist are more thorough than the type of cleaning you do at home. They can get into smallest of crevices a normal toothbrush and floss just can’t. Dental cleanings also help to prevent many other health problems.

Gum disease is an infection in your gums that breaks down the bone and soft tissue in your mouth. If left untreated, will eventually leads to tooth loss. Not only that, but gum disease has been proved to cause heart disease, strokes and even a low birth rate. Keeping a bi-yearly dental checkup and cleaning will help to prevent these health issues.

When it comes to the detection of oral cancers, you can never be too proactive. When you get your teeth cleaned, you are screened for oral cancer. Like any health issue, early detection is extremely important and getting your teeth cleaned is an easy way to kill two birds with one dental stone. No matter how often you do it, regular dental visits helps keep your oral health on track and any problems you have had in the past, or are currently experiencing, can continue to be monitored.

If you have questions or concerns about dental cleanings, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Why Your Smile Loves Garlic | New York, NY

Let’s face it – food wouldn’t be the same without garlic. It is so beloved that there is an entire festival dedicated to garlic in Gilroy, CA every summer. But with every good comes a bad and garlic is no different. The more we enjoy it, the more it is invading our mouths, leaving us with some of the stinkiest breath around. And no chance of getting that kiss at the end of the date. But did you know that garlic is actually helping our smiles? It may be hard to believe this pungent ingredient has a positive to our health but it’s true – garlic is one of the most multi-faceted foods we have. And since National Garlic Day is in April, let’s take a moment to celebrate our smile’s favorite smelly friend…

Gum disease prevention. Garlic has thiosulfinate, a bacteria-reducing compound that specializes in reducing the production of plaque, the first stage of gum disease.

Promotes dental hygiene. We all know that garlic is guaranteed to give us some of the worst breath, so garlic is actually helping us maintain healthy dental practices as we are more prone to brush after eating garlic.

Get a good night’s sleep. Did you know garlic helps you sleep? Those that suffer from sleep apnea can benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties that can also help open up your airways and reduce enlarged tonsils.

Toothache relief. If a toothache or headache has occurred, munching on a clove of garlic can help relieve some of your pain naturally.

If you have questions or concerns about the effects of garlic, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Prevent Tooth Decay in Five Steps | New York Dentist

We all try to maintain a healthy smile, but tooth decay can sneak up on us if we aren’t careful. But are you doing everything you can? When it comes to our smiles, a dentist is the expert when it comes to keeping it healthy, but it is our duty to keep our smiles healthy in between dental check-ups. Here are five dentist-approved ways you can prevent tooth decay:

Brush your teeth. Brushing and flossing properly every day, along with a good dental rinse can help prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day actually makes your teeth stronger.

Dietary snacks. It is good to limit sweet snacks in general, but an excessive intake of sweets will alter your blood sugar and cause cavities, especially if you don’t practice good dental hygiene on the daily. Good snacks should be nutritious and include healthy proteins and fats.

Regular dental checkups. It is very important to seek the help of a dentist since they know a lot more about your mouth and the issues that can arise because of your lifestyle.

Fluoride therapy. By definition, fluoride therapy is the delivery of fluoride to your teeth either topically or systemically in order to prevent tooth decay, and eventually, resulting in cavities. Fluoride therapy delivery involves fluoride supplementation using water, salt, tablets or drops which are swallowed. Tablets or drops are rarely used where public water supplies are fluoridated.

Dental sealant. Dental sealants are a dental option done during your check-ups and are basically plastic material covering your teeth in order to prevent cavities and tooth decay.

If you have questions or concerns about tooth decay, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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What Type of Bridge Will Bridge the Gap? | New York Dentist

There are many gorgeously constructed bridges in the world. Not only do they look beautiful, but they serve a beautiful purpose – to connect two things far apart together. When we have spaces in our teeth, it can cause us to feel self-conscious about our smiles. Luckily, there are plenty of treatment options to choose from when deciding to fix it. One of these options will be a dental bridge.

A dental bridge is a false tooth or set of false teeth held in place by abutment teeth on both sides of the gap. They come in a variety of styles, from gold to a natural-looking porcelain. But did you know there are different variations? Here is a quick rundown:

Traditional. The more traditional, this style of bridge is held in place by crowns that have been cemented to the abutment teeth on either side of the gap.

Cantilever. The teeth on a cantilever bridge are held on by a dental crown, but unlike the traditional version, only one crown as you only need one natural tooth.

Maryland. The Maryland bridge is closer to the traditional version, as it needs two natural teeth, but this particular bridge is bonded onto the natural teeth, not crowns.

Implant-supported. The strongest and most stable variation is based on dental implants. The bridge is supported by dental implants on either side. The only real downfall is that it takes multiple visits to complete.

If you have one or more missing teeth and think it’s time to get it fixed, make sure to ask about dental bridges as possible treatment options.

If you have questions or concerns about dental bridges, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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What Do You Know About Dental Sealants? | New York Dentist

It’s a new year and a new train of thought. But when you think about life improvements, do you ever think about your dental health? It’s something to think about, since our mouths are the first line of defense against lots of general health issues. So, when we are maintaining our dental hygiene routines, we need to realize that how we brush our teeth is important. After all, no one wants to have a cavity. The best way to prevent them from developing is to practice proper dental hygiene, keep your dental checkups regular and consider dental sealants.

What is a dental sealant? Dental sealant is a thin coating that is painted onto the crevices of your premolars and molars in order to prevent cavities from forming in the areas it is difficult for toothbrushes to reach. While it is available to everyone, dental sealants are a great way to prevent cavities while your tiny human is learning to properly brush.

The process is quick, painless and economical, as sealants are less expensive than a filling. The tooth is cleaned and dried, then a low-acidic solution is applied so the sealant can adhere to the tooth. The sealant is painted onto the respective tooth and dried with a curing light. Start to finish, the process takes less than a minute.

Once the sealants have been applied, the upkeep is simple – look after your teeth like you would normally. Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes, floss at least once, and swish some mouthwash around. You’ll be pleased to see a great report card at your next dental visit.

If you have questions or concerns about dental sealants, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.