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Whiten Your Teeth at Home | New York Dentist

If there is anything that we correlate with a good smile, it has to be the color of the teeth. You can brush & floss every day, but your teeth may not keep its natural sheen. Here are six easy ways to DIY your smile:

The version most people are used to hearing about is a hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste, or “old reliable”. You can find a lot of toothpastes with these ingredients, but if you want to do it DIY style, just drop a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into a little bit of baking soda makes a paste.

This may sound strange, but you can’t get more natural than this – strawberries and banana peels. Strawberries contain malic acid, and malic acid is fantastic at breaking down stains. So, 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. Minerals like potassium, magnesium, etc. will absorb into the enamel on your teeth, brightening it in a very nutritious way.

If you have apple cider vinegar, dilute it with some water (3 parts water, 1 part vinegar) and mix it with an all-natural toothpaste, you’ve made yourself a pretty efficient tooth whitening solution. If you are one that has 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.

One of the latest detoxifying trends is to use activated charcoal. The recipe is just as simple as all of these 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. 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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Seal It with a Kiss | New York Dentist

When it comes to dental hygiene, we do our best to make sure our teeth are healthy and strong by brushing, flossing, eating well and visiting the dentist regularly. So, when you find out that you have developed a cavity, we tend to question why it happened. Unfortunately, there are ways you can develop cavities that have nothing to do with how well you brush your teeth. But worry not, there is a way to prevent cavities from happening – dental sealants.

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. A minute to prevent cavities? It’s true!

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. 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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Ever Been to the Dentist? Here’s What You Can Expect | New York Dentist

When trying to maintain a healthy smile, it is important that you practice proper dental hygiene on a daily basis. We need to brush for a couple of minutes, floss thoroughly and use with mouthwash that will not only freshen our breath but also rinse away any bacteria and particles stuck between our teeth. But there is one thing we also need to do in order to maintain our mouth’s health, and it’s something we don’t exactly enjoy doing – visit the dentist.

As much as we hate to admit it, dentists are key – they can not only fix any issues we have developed but can also help prevent things from progressing. But what exactly can we expect from a dental appointment? Let’s take a look at what a typical appointment would look like…

Cleaning. You are cleaning your teeth when you brush, but this cleaning will involve special dental tools that can remove any tartar from your teeth, then polish any stains or plaque that may be developing. Once complete, you may be told about any problems found that may be a concern or habits you could improve.

Examination. Once your smile is nice and clean, your dental professional will take a closer look at your entire mouth to find any changes that may have occurred, and identify any dental issues, like cavities or gum disease. Sometimes this means having x-rays taken. And if necessary, a treatment plan will be discussed.

As you can see, there really is nothing to worry about if you take proper care of your smile. Proper dental hygiene and regular dental visits will keep your smile healthy.

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

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