Into The Thick of It – Toothpaste

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Cruising down the dental aisle at Duane Reade or CVS is a kaleidoscopic tour.  So many choices and so little time to choose, somebody help me.  Glenn Reit DDS, here to give you an inside look at the differences in toothpastes.

Why do most toothpastes feel gritty?  That’s because the abrasive nature of toothpaste is to help with removing dental plaque and food from the surface of your teeth.  Vigorous tooth brushing is unnecessary when the toothpaste is designed to remove bits of food and polish the surface of your teeth at the same time.

Why is toothpaste minty fresh and nice?  Minty flavorings are used to encourage continued use of the paste and to freshen breath.  However toothpaste is not designed to cure bad breath.  To prevent bad breath you need to prevent periodontal disease and brush bacteria on the back of your tongue.  Removing the source is more vital than trying to cover it up with minty flavorings.

Why is fluoride placed into toothpaste?   Fluoride present in small amounts in plants, animals and some natural water sources is championed for its ability for preventing tooth decay and controlling gingivitis.  Fluoride incorporated into the drinking water supply has vastly decreased the amount of tooth decay present in the general population.

If I am brushing, do I need to floss?  YES YES YES.  Think of your teeth as cubes or squares.  Your toothbrush can only get onto the top, front and back of your teeth.  To get in between your teeth you need that little piece of string known as dental floss.  This is the only way to get between your adjacent teeth to clean there.  Most decay starts in between your teeth due to lack of flossing.

What about mouthwash?  The use of mouthwash cannot replace the regular brushing and flossing.  Mouthwash just adds another effective layer of defense against bacterial growth in your mouth.

If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned in awhile realize your teeth want to be cleaned.  Being proactive is always better than being reactive.  At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets in Yorkville we like meeting people and taking care of their dental needs.

If you are in the area or not and need an exam or cleaning or possibly something more give us a call at 212 517 9000.  You and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Can You Go To The Dentist with a Cold Sore?

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

If you have a cold you could be sore but,

If you have a cold sore your mouth may be unhappy.

What is a cold sore?  It is generally a small blister on the border of your lip.  A canker sore is generally found on the soft tissues of your mouth.  Cold sores are an outbreak of the Herpes Simplex virus which is residing in 85% of the population.  This virus is in the same family as the virus that causes chickenpox.  The virus is generally acquired at a young age and once you contract it, it never leaves your body.  Even though you may have the virus only a third of people will experience an active episode.

Cold sores are triggered by stress, illness, fatigue, fever, ultraviolet light, menstrual cycles or a compromised immune system.  They cause a tingling or burning sensation at the edge of your lip.

The stages are in order of occurrence a tingling in the area, followed by a blister, turning into an ulcer then scabbing and finally healing.

If you notice a cold sore forming your doctor can write an Rx for an antiviral cream to place on the area.

Sooner vs. later is always better to reduce your symptoms and reduce the chance of it spreading.  If you have an active cold sore try to avoid kissing or sharing drinks to prevent its spread.

Unless you are experiencing a dental emergency it is better to delay any non emergency dental treatment until the cold sore subsides usually within eight to ten days.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS we are always happy to meet with new people.  If you live in the Upper East Side of Manhattan and even if you don’t we are easy to get to.  We are one block away from the 4 5 6 and Q subway lines at 1498 Third Avenue between 84thand 85thStreets.  Our phone number is 212 517 9000.  So call today, you and your teeth will be glad 

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Gum Health and Diet

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Riot Riot; What is in your Diet?

The adage you are what you eat is TRUE.

Eat it today wear it tomorrow is also accurate.

To maintain health you should limit the amount of carbohydrates and sugar you consume.  Yes, you do need carbohydrates and in reality all foods eaten are converted into sugars your body needs to function.

But too much bread, pasta, potatoes, cakes, cookies, candies and sodas will multiply your daily calorie consumption and lead to increased levels of body fat.

As for your teeth sugary foods are broken down into acids which can and will attack the enamel of your teeth.  Cavities or decay in teeth are formed by these acids breaking through the enamel layer which surrounds your teeth.  Once through this layer the major part of your tooth is made of dentin which is a lot more susceptible to decay.  In addition once inside your tooth you are no longer able to keep the area clean, so the decay grows and leads to problems.

You should be brushing your teeth twice per day, once in the morning upon waking and again in the evening before retiring.   This will help to reduce the bacterial count in your mouth.  Since your teeth are cube shaped you also need to floss at these times.   The floss gets in between your teeth and removes any food build up present.

Your teeth want to be cleaned professionally; a healthy smile will be appreciated by you and those you interact with.  At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we like people and we like helping people to maintain their dental health.

Conveniently located in Yorkville on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in the 10028 zip code at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets – we are easy to get to.  The 4, 5, 6 and Q subway lines are one block from our door.  We are located in a five story brownstone on the second floor directly across from our very own Upper East Side McDonald’s.

If you think you have a problem or just want a dental cleaning give us a call today at 212 517 9000.

You and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Big Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Routines

A routine is something you do religiously.  Routines become habits.  Some habits are healthy while others like cigarette smoking can be detrimental.  A good routine is to brush your teeth twice a day; once in the morning upon waking followed by another round at night before going to sleep.

All the bacteria in your mouth are anaerobic meaning they like places without oxygen.   The bacteria also like warm, dark places with food available.  Guess what, this is exactly the condition in your mouth.  Ever experience morning mouth?  That’s the condition where upon waking you have a funky taste and smell inside your mouth.  It seems your bacterial colonies are growing which eventually if not removed lead to cavities and gum disease.

So your mission if you decide to accept it is to remove these colonies before they can do any harm.   If you do not your gums and teeth will disavow any responsibility for the damage you've caused.  So, what’s to do?

Upon waking get out your trusty toothbrush preferably with soft bristles and get in there and start cleaning.  Electric toothbrushes are fine if that’s your preference. The goal is to scrub the top, front and backs of all your teeth.  While brushing you are bringing air into your mouth which contains twenty percent oxygen which will help to annihilate the forming bacterial colonies.  In addition you are removing any build of food you have eaten.

Unfortunately,   brushing cannot get in between your teeth.  Here you need dental floss, that fine string which can get in between the teeth.  Once again you are bringing oxygen between your teeth and cleaning the surfaces and slightly below the gum line creating a clean and healthy environment.

Twice a year you should also be coming in to see us, so we can make sure you are succeeding in your cleaning mission.  If not, we will help you get back on track or begin a dental cleaning routine.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville we are here for you.  Conveniently located for the: 10028, 10075, or 10021 zip codes.   We’re at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets directly across from our very own Mickey Dee’s.

If you need a check up, cleaning or something more substantial give us a call at 212 517 9000 and we’ll be there for you.  We like people and we like teeth.  Call Today you and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Do You Have Bad Breath or Dry Mouth?

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

How Dry I Am

Dry mouth leads to bad breath.  Sometimes we just can’t help it.  If you sleep with your mouth open your mouth will dry out and you’ll lead with your breath.  If you have sinus problems and breathe more through your mouth instead of your nose you’ll dry out your mouth.  Sometimes due to medications you need to take you’ll have a dry mouth.

If so there are rinses, sugar free gum and suckers you can take to bring increased moisture into your mouth.  In addition to bad breath, dry mouth leads to an increased incidence of dental decay. If you have a continuous dry mouth syndrome in your life going to the dentist on a regular basis is a necessity.

We can examine your teeth to make sure no cavities are forming.  Sometimes a fluoride treatment or custom fluoride trays can be made for you to help keep your teeth healthy.

Give us a call at 212 517 9000 today.  We will be happy to meet with you and evaluate your situation.  We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  We are here if you need us.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!