Eliminate Bad Breath

It’s easy to spot bad breath in others but you can never be quite sure about your own. The bad breath odor is usually caused by a group of anaerobic, sulfur-producing bacteria that breed beneath the surface of the tongue and often in the throat and tonsil area. These bacteria occur naturally in your oral environment and are supposed to be there because they assist your digestion by breaking down proteins into amino acids. Here at Maiden Lane Dental, Dr. Lloyd Becker can help you eliminate bad breath by helping you develop a proper oral hygiene routine.

By developing the right habits, you can be effective at preventing bad breath. Some of these habits include, but are not limited to: brush your teeth twice a day, brush or scraping your tongue, floss your teeth, use an antibacterial mouthwash, chew sugar-free gum, quit smoking, and have a dental checkup at least once a year.  If you have persistent bad breath, try keeping a diary of all the foods you eat, and list any medicines you're taking. Take this diary to your Dr. Lloyd Becker – he may be able to suggest ways to solve the problem.

If you are embarrassed by your bad breath, give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about services offered at Maiden Lane Dental, visit www.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lloyd Becker in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

A Refresher on Brushing Your Teeth

Brushing our teeth is such a routine task that many of us probably do not even think about the process. However, sometimes a refresher is needed to make sure that you are getting the most out of your brushing. At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we want our patients to get a fully clean mouth every time.

Brushing should be done in short, up-and-down strokes. This is what helps the whole tooth get brushed, including the tough spot, the gum line. Plaque can often be tough to reach at the gum line and brushing side-to-side doesn’t always reach this area.

Remember to brush every surface of your teeth; the insides, outsides, the chewing surfaces, and the backs of your back molars. Also be sure to hit the roof of your mouth, your cheeks, and your tongue, as bacteria can collect in these places, as well.

Brushing should be done twice per day; in the morning and at night before bed. If it is possible to fit a third time in, that is ideal. You should also wait at least thirty minutes after eating to brush. Acids from certain foods can wear down your enamel when they are brushed right away. Each brushing session should last for a full two minutes. Breaking down the mouth into sections is a good way to keep track and to get a balanced brushing.

For more tips on oral hygiene, contact Maiden Lane Dental. To schedule your regular visit to our New York, NY dental office, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Custom Teeth Whitening Trays at Maiden Lane Dental

For bright and brilliant teeth, there is no better way to whiten than to kick off the process with a professional system. Here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we offer a completely customized teeth whitening system for our patients looking to whiten their smile.

At Maiden Lane Dental, we offer a customized take-home tray whitening system. We take impressions of your teeth to shape the trays into an exact fit for your teeth. Imagine them looking like Invisalign trays. They are designed to hit every surface of your smile for the perfect whitening process. The whitening gel is placed into the trays and worn for a short period of time over duration of a few days. Depending on your lifestyle, you can make them work during the day or overnight.  

The whitening gel creates a chemical reaction to lift stains from our daily habits. When the chemicals break the carbon bonds that hold in stained color, the teeth start to lighten. Our customized whitening system often produces results four to eight shades whiter.

White teeth are a popular desire for many of our patients. To schedule a consultation with us in New York, NY to see if our customized whitening trays will work well for you, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit the Maiden Lane Dental website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Tooth Restoration Options in New York, NY

When a tooth is chipped, cracked, or weakened due to decay, the tooth is in a vulnerable position. Any further damage could cause the tooth to fall out. Maiden Lane Dental here in New York, NY offers multiple types of restoration to repair the health of your tooth.

Dental bonding is a long-lasting and popular option. Cracked and chipped teeth can be repaired; and bonding is also the process we use to fill in cavities. Bonding is a tooth-colored composite resin that is bonded to the tooth and smoothed into the proper shape. With good care, bonding can last up to ten years.

Crowns are another option here. When a tooth can no longer hold a filling, but still has a strong tooth root, a crown can be placed like a cap on the tooth. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain-covered metal. Crowns are durable and can last up to fifteen years.

Inlays and onlays are also available here at Maiden Lane Dental. Inlays and onlays are often referred to as the partial crown. They cover the chewing surface of a tooth, for when there is more damage than a filling could fix, but not enough to need a full crown. Inlays and onlays can last for up to thirty years.

If you are suffering with a painful and irritating weakened tooth, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation here at Maiden Lane Dental. To schedule an appointment in our New York, NY dental practice, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

How to Choose the Right Toothbrush For You

Choosing the right toothbrush can be vital to the proper care of your teeth. It is important to know the facts about toothbrushes to know which to choose. Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY wants our patients to be confident in their choice the next time they are replacing their toothbrush.

The first major difference you may notice while walking down the toothbrush aisle is that some of them are electric. Electric toothbrushes do most of the work, so they are good for those who have trouble using their hands. They may actually get a better brushing out of an electric toothbrush. However, for most users, it all depends on the brusher. Manual toothbrushes have shown to do just as good of a job.

Toothbrushes should have a small head and a good grip. This is what makes it easy to maneuver the brush around the mouth and reach every surface. It is also important to choose a toothbrush that has bristles that are not too soft and not too stiff. Stiff bristles can actually wear down enamel and irritate gums. Soft bristles are ideal for removing plaque; however do not choose a toothbrush that is labeled as soft unless directed by your dentist. Instead, choose one labeled medium.

With your newly chosen toothbrush, make sure to brush two to three times per day, two minutes long each. To schedule your regular cleaning and exam here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Cosmetic Dentistry in New York, NY

Having a nice smile tops of the wish list of many. At Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY, we have options to improve many types of cosmetic issues. Whether you have cracked teeth, misaligned teeth, discolored teeth, or missing teeth, we have solutions for you.

For teeth whitening, we have a couple of different options including a customized tray whitening system you take home and a chairside whitening system called ZOOM! whitening. Both options are customized to benefit your unique situation in the best way. ZOOM! whitening is used in-office and combines whitening gel with an LED light to accelerate the chemical reaction. Inlays and onlays, also called partial crowns, are another option to improve the look of decayed or otherwise weakened teeth, making them white again.

Invisalign is a very convenient, comfortable, and nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth. For those who want straighter looking teeth almost instantly, Maiden Lane Dental offers dental veneers. Veneers can create the look of perfectly straight teeth, as well as improve problems like chips and cracks. Veneers also provide long-lasting whitening.

For tooth replacement, dentures, bridges, and implants are available. Depending on what is best for your specific situation and lifestyle, our experienced doctors will be able to help you make the right choice for replacement.

If you have been dissatisfied with the look of your smile, schedule a consultation at our New York, NY dental office. Call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit the Maiden Lane Dental website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Tooth Replacement at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY

Replacing a missing tooth is important for the health of your mouth. Here at Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY, we have several options for tooth replacement and our skilled dentists will be able to choose the right option for your situation.

Dental bridges are created in a dental laboratory so they look and feel just like your natural teeth. They work by using the adjacent teeth to the space for creating a bridge across the gap. The adjacent teeth are reshaped, and crowns are placed with a full tooth replacement attached in the middle. Bridges are long lasting and should be cared for like a natural tooth.

Dentures are available here at Maiden Lane Dental in both full and partial. Dentures are a removable option and can be placed immediately or conventionally. Partial dentures are similar to a bridge fixture, except they are able to be taken out. Your dentist will fit the dentures to your mouth for the best function and the best smile.

Dental implants are a permanent option here at Maiden Lane Dental. It is a single-tooth replacement and it bonds with your jawbone like a natural tooth. With good care, a dental implant should be able to last for a lifetime.

Replacing missing teeth will repair your smile, ensure good gum health, and prevent the jaw from changing shape. To schedule a consultation at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com.