Nutrition and Teeth

Proper nutrition means eating a well-balanced diet so that your body can get the nutrients needed for good health and wellness. In fact, adequate nutrition is important in disease prevention and is becoming an extremely important characteristic of preventive dentistry. Here at Maiden Lane Dental, we can’t monitor your diet, but we can suggest foods and tips that will help you keep your teeth.

A diet that promotes good oral health is not just about the foods you eat or avoid – when and how you eat them is equally important. Instead of snacking on sugary, carbohydrate-rich or acidic foods throughout the day, munch on some crisp fruits, veggies and dairy products. Calcium-fortified juices, milk and other dairy products are rich in calcium and vitamin D and help promote healthy teeth and bones, reducing the risk for tooth loss. Crisp fruits and raw vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. Making these small changes to your dietary habits can help protect your teeth and gums.

If you have questions about oral hygiene or the services we provide, give us a call or 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.

The Proper Flossing Technique

There are numerous excuses that you may use to avoid flossing, and “I don’t know how to floss,” may be one of them. After today, you will have no more excuses not to floss, because our staff at Maiden Lane Dental wants to share the proper flossing technique with you.

• Use 18 inches of floss. Wrap most of it around the middle finger of one hand, the rest around your other middle finger.

• Grasp the string tightly between your thumb and forefinger, and use a rubbing motion to guide it between teeth.

• When the floss reaches the gum line, form a “C” to follow the shape of the tooth.

• Hold the strand firmly against the tooth, and move it gently up and down.

• Repeat with the other tooth, and then repeat the entire process with the rest of your teeth.

• Use fresh sections of floss as you go.

If you have questions about flossing or the services we provide, give us a call or 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.

Maintain Good Dental Care Habits

Good dental care habits begin at home and if you aren’t following the basics, you might be headed down the path of gum disease. Poor oral hygiene is an invitation to plaque to accumulate and fester around the base of your teeth and gum line, causing your gums to become red and inflamed. If you neglect your teeth at home and fail to visit us at Maiden Lane Dental regularly, all of that plaque buildup could eventually lead to tooth loss. We want you to keep your permanent teeth for as long as possible; this is why we encourage you to follow these basic principles.

The goal of regular home care is to combat the buildup of plaque in and around your teeth and gums, as well as fight bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. To keep your smile clean and healthy, it is important when purchasing dental products to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. Be sure to spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth at least two times a day. Use a timer if you have to ensure that you’re spending enough time on your oral care routine. In addition, use floss at least once a day every day to clean between your teeth.

If you have questions about oral hygiene or the services we provide, give us a call or 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.

Do You Need a Dental Implant?

Tooth loss is a common problem. Whether we’ve experienced losing baby teeth as children, or lost a tooth due to decay or injury as an adult, we all face this issue at various times throughout our lives. The loss of a single tooth or multiple teeth can have dramatic and lasting effects on your pearly whites if not dealt with in a timely manner and although we offer a wide variety of options to replace them at Maiden Lane Dental, here we are going to discuss dental implants.

In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for permanent or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. There are many benefits of dental implants, such as improved appearance, improved speech and improved comfort overall. However, patients who request implants need to have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant in place.

If you are missing teeth, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about dental implants as well as other services we provide, 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.

Making Dental Care Fun for Kids

Getting kids to consistently complete tasks like putting their laundry away or brushing and flossing can sometimes be difficult. But when it comes to oral care, consistency should always be a priority. Here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we want to give parents tips for making dental care fun for kids!

Kids respond well to rewards. If it helps, you can create a star chart to keep track of their progress. If they brush and floss correctly for the day, let them choose a bedtime story or let them have extra time playing outside the next day. If they brush and floss the correct amount of times for a week, take them to a park.

Brush and floss with them. Kids really like to imitate, so this will make brushing and flossing fun for them. This will also show them the correct way to do things. Remember that small children may need help flossing until they are older.

Turn on some music! To make sure that kids are brushing for a full two minutes each time, turn on one of their favorite songs to time it. Ask them to brush to the beat or dance while they brush. Before they know it, the two minutes will be up.

Home oral care and dental visits work hand-in-hand for a healthy mouth. To schedule your family’s cleaning and examination appointments, call Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Do Not Forget to Brush Your Tongue!

Ever seen someone or heard of someone who brushes their tongue? Well, it is less talked about but just as important as brushing and flossing your teeth! At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we want our patients to know why brushing their tongue is important and how they can do it!

You should brush your tongue at least once per day. It does not matter if you brush it in the morning or at night, but just be sure to clean it at least once. It is good to do right after you brush your teeth, so it becomes part of your habit. Your tongue is able to hold millions of bacteria. Within the hair-like taste buds, bacteria can become trapped. See, a bacterial film forms on your tongue, just like plaque forms on your teeth. These bacteria can contribute to plaque build-up, cavities, and gum disease. One majorly noticeable effect of the build-up on your tongue is bad breath. Foul-smelling breath is due to bacteria, mostly on the tongue. So if you struggle with bad breath, brushing your tongue can help in a big way!

To clean your tongue, you can buy a tongue scraper or just use your toothbrush. Start at the way back of your tongue and brush forward to the tip. Use force but do not hurt your tongue. Brush it three to four times, or until you notice it becoming clean.  Rinse your toothbrush in between strokes.

For more dental hygiene info, be sure to contact us or visit our website! Our New York, NY office can be reached by phone at (212) 509-4585 or through our Maiden Lane Dental website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

How to Calm Dental Fear in Kids

Dental phobia is quite common and it almost always begins out of a childhood fear. There are, however, ways to make kids feel more relaxed when going to the dentist. At Maiden Lane Dental here in New York, NY, we aim for all of our patients to have a positive and comfortable experience. That is why we want to give some tips to parents about easing their kids’ dental fears.

The earlier you start, the more familiar kids are with dental visits. Kids should start seeing the dentist when they grow in their first tooth, or by the age of one if that hasn’t happened yet. Regular cleaning and examinations from that point forward will help your kids feel at ease, since they know what to expect for each appointment.

For young kids who have never been to the dentist before or who do not remember going, you can play a “pretend dentist” game at home. Have them lean back in a recliner chair or a couch. Have them open wide and “examine” their teeth by counting each one. Explain that this is what the dentist will be doing and then when they leave, they will have very strong and healthy teeth.

Reward kids for good behavior at the dentist. Take them to a park afterwards, make their favorite dinner, or play a game with them. Be careful not to mention the reward before the visit though; this will make them think there is something to be afraid of that will require them to be good, which is not the case.

Kids and adults alike can actually begin to look forward to dental appointments! To schedule your child’s cleaning and examination, call Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com.