Eating Your Way to a Healthy Mouth

While it is common knowledge that you need to brush and floss for a healthy mouth, many do not know that eating can help, too! At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, our patients’ oral health is our top priority. Take some of these tasty tips for eating your way to a healthy mouth!

Dairy Milk is great for building strong bones and teeth. The calcium in milk aids in building enamel and keeping it strong. In addition, milk lowers the levels of acid in your mouth, further protecting teeth and gums. Cheese yields similar results. One more powerful dairy product is yogurt. The good bacteria in yogurt help fight bad bacteria in your mouth, especially bad breath-causing bacteria!

Citrus Citrus fruits like clementines and limes are great for healthy gums. They strengthen blood vessels and connective tissues that hold your teeth to your jaw. They can also reduce inflammation.

Crunchy Fruits and Veggies Crunchy and fibrous foods like cucumbers and apples help clean teeth as you eat them. The fibers scrape against your teeth and remove plaque! If you’re worried about plaque at a party, go for the snack trays!

Polyphenols Foods and drinks like cranberries and tea contain polyphenols, which help prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth. This can lower your risk of cavities. In addition, green tea has properties that help fight bad breath!

Food is a major contributor to your overall health, including the health of your mouth. Be sure you are getting the right nutrients to function at your peak! To learn more about Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

At-Home Tips for Controlling Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can increase the risk for several types of dangerous conditions like heart failure and stroke. That is why it is important to seek treatment, like we have available here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY. In addition to the treatment we can provide, there are some at-home tips to help minimize the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.

Your Sleeping Position. Sleeping on your side is the best sleep position for someone with sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back can worsen the symptoms and effects of sleep apnea. Sleeping on your side will help keep your airway open.

Sedatives. The second tip is to avoid sleep aids and alcohol. Sedatives, alcohol, and anything else that can depress your breathing can also make sleep apnea worse. If a person with sleep apnea is heavily sedated, the combination can be highly dangerous because the body may not react as it should to begin breathing. This can result in death in severe cases.

Healthy Weight. A healthy weight is very important for patients with sleep apnea. Overweight individuals can make the effects of sleep apnea much worse because it can cause further collapse of your airway. Live a healthy lifestyle of eating right and exercising daily. You can talk to your doctor about safe ways to lose weight if needed.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that should be treated. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, it’s important to find out your options for treatment. To schedule an appointment with Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Dental Anxiety in Patients

It is one thing for anxiety to affect your daily relationships, but when it starts to impact your overall health then it becomes a problem. Dental anxiety, or dental phobia, is much more serious than just getting sweating palms and sleepless nights before an appointment – it’s a paralyzing fear of dentists or dental treatment. Luckily at Maiden Lane Dental our doctors have the tools, techniques, and gentle touch to help make regular dental visits as comfortable as possible for you.

The key to coping with dental anxiety is to discuss your fears with your dentist. Once your dentist knows what your fears are, they will better be able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more relaxed. In addition, ask your dentist what is happening at every stage of the procedure. This way you can mentally prepare for what’s to come.

If you suffer from dental anxiety, give us a call so we ease your fear. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

Bottom Line of Bruxism

Grinding of your teeth, also known as bruxism can have a variety of causes. Some people grind their teeth only during sleep. This is called “nocturnal bruxism” or “sleep-related bruxism.” Others grind or clench their teeth during the daytime as well. Some experts view bruxism as nothing more than a habit. It can also be a result of the body’s reaction when the teeth do not line up or come together properly. If you experience signs and symptoms of bruxism, our doctors at Maiden Lane Dental can develop an individualized treatment plan with you.

When diagnosing bruxism, one of our doctors will ask about your general dental health, what sources of stress you have in your life, and what medicines you take. They will examine you, paying special attention to the muscles in and around your jaw. He will also look at your teeth for evidence of grinding. During this examination, one of our doctors will check for tenderness in your jaw muscles and the jaw joint. A more detailed exam may follow if your dentist suspects that your bruxism is related to dental problems.

If you believe you have bruxism, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is a type of dentistry that is aimed at creating a positive change to your teeth and to your smile. If you have a grin that embarrasses you due to missing teeth, tooth discoloration, or teeth that are chipped or cracked, our doctors at Maiden Lane Dental offer a wide variety of treatment options to restore your confidence.

From subtle changes to major repairs, our dentists can perform a variety of procedures to improve your smile. These procedures include, but are not limited to, whitening, dental bonding, dental crowns, veneers, and reshaping and contouring. These improvements are not always just cosmetic. Many of these treatments can improve oral problems as well, such as your bite. If you’re not sure which procedure may be right for you, we are here to answer all of your questions. The condition of your teeth and your desired result often indicate the best procedure for you.

If you have desire a more aesthetically pleasing smile, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visitwww.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

Avoiding Staining While Wearing Braces

Getting your braces off should be a joyous occasion where your brand-new smile is revealed to you. However, it can turn sour if it reveals uneven staining. At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we offer teeth whitening, but we also want our patients who wear braces to be aware of how to avoid uneven staining while wearing them.

 

Dental  Hygiene

The most important part of keeping stains away is keeping a clean mouth. Brush and floss as your dentist instructs. It helps to brush after every meal and do not skip flossing, it is just as important for keeping a while smile.

 

Helpful Supplies

Interdental cleaners will help you brush around your brackets underneath your wires. While a normal toothbrush often cannot fit under the wires, this tiny tree-shaped brush can. Floss with a threader attached or purchasing floss threaders will help speed up your flossing process.

 

Stay Away from Dark Foods and Drinks

Dark foods and drinks are able to stain teeth if they are consumed frequently. Stain-causing foods can stain teeth slowly over time and since you will most likely be wearing braces for at least a year, you will want to make sure you are minimizing contact with these types of foods. Examples are tea, cola, ketchup, and beets. Try to drink dark liquids through a straw, limit the amount of dark foods and liquids you are consuming, and rinse your mouth after consumption.

 

After you have your braces taken off, we can recommend any needed whitening procedures; however, it is nice to know how to avoid the staining. To schedule an appointment at Maiden Lane Dental here in our New York, NY office, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

How to Select the Right Mouthwash

Mouthwash or rinses are used for a variety of reasons: to freshen breath, to help prevent or control tooth decay, to reduce plaque, to prevent or reduce gingivitis, to reduce the speed that tartar forms on the teeth, or to produce a combination of these effects.  Mouthwash has a few beneficial properties and our doctors at Maiden Lane Dental would like to explain some of them.

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor causing compounds.

If you have questions about oral hygiene or oral hygiene products, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.