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Get the Right White Smile from Your Cosmetic Dentist Westchester NY Location

Though people wish for whiter teeth, they believe that making an appointment is inconvenient. That’s why over-the-counter teeth whitening kits are now available—people can wear the strips on the go. Unfortunately, these kits don’t always provide what they may promise, leaving people with unsatisfied whitening and a hole in their pocket. This is why you should visit Dr. Fu at your Cosmetic Dentist Westchester NY location so he can get it done the right way!

Cosmetic dentistry like teeth whitening is relatively new, but when it was first introduced by dentists, it was made to only be performed by dentists. Some of these kits that patients can buy in the store or online aren’t always safe. They can have harmful ingredients that can damage the gums and tooth enamel. Patients don’t know the proper products for these whitening kits. If patients do choose to invest in these at home kits, dentists want them to do their research and ask questions.

Another fact to know about DIY teeth whitening is that they are certainly not cheap. They give you a certain amount of strips that have to be used day and night, and if you want to continue to keep your teeth white, you must continue buying new kits. These kits can be up to $60, but patients can invest much more into this process. Even though these are pricey, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll work better than the generic brand ones. The point of these over-the-counter kits is to be expensive, but not enough that you would choose to go to a cosmetic dentist instead of grabbing these while you’re already at the store at your convenience.

Dr. Fu is able to professionally whiten your teeth with the correct products and provide you with a smile that fits your looks and personality. If you have any other questions or concerns about teeth whitening, call this number (914) 939-2132 to contact your Cosmetic Dentist Westchester NY location.

Dentist Greenwich CT says Leave it to the Professionals

With the popularity and growth of a technology can come certain individuals who use these tools for a less “admirable” means than others. What we are referring to specifically is online DIY (do-it-yourself) videos, growing every day in popularity and helping millions worldwide, but also capable of spreading some dangerous sights and ideas. Your dentist in Greenwich CT has heard, and seen some videos online that deal with DIY dental care, and wishes today to discuss the adverse effects some of these practices can have.

A majority of these videos online deal with users putting their tooth that fell out back in with glue, repairing a chipped tooth with some substance or even using rubber bands as a form of braces. Some even get so brazen as to try and fix their dental appliances (dentures, bridges) by themselves as well. The long story short is that many of these “fixes,” while they may work in the short-term, can ultimately cause more damage in the long run.

As a result, DIY orthodontics users have had teeth fall out, revert to their previous state or get worse…and using glues or non-medically approved adherents has led to poisoning, extractions, and more negative outcomes as well.

To put this issue into perspective a bit more, just think quickly about the following:

Dental professionals, including your dentist in Greenwich CT, go to an extra four years of school past their college education, and even more to become a specialist in an area. This means that not only do most dentists you see in your lifetime have some 8-10 years of post-high school education in a specific area, but they also utilize techniques that are approved and practiced across the world, and have been for (in some cases) hundreds of years.

And although it is assumed most patients will turn to these DIY trends because of financial or dental fear reasons, our office has ways to help you overcome both. Trust in your dentist to give you the best in dental care, not some YouTube user with an account name like “HuggiePanda6”.

To schedule an appointment with your dentist in Greenwich CT, please call our office today at (914) 939-2132.

Westchester NY Dentist on Tongue Troubles

With the month of May being “National Better Hearing and Speech Month,” your Westchester NY Dentist wanted to take the opportunity to discuss the importance of the latter half of this: speech. Every day your teeth, tongue, lips, cheeks and rest of your mouth plays a huge factor in the way that you speak by combining multiple complex systems in hopes of articulating a clear result.

Sometimes, however, there are mouth related conditions, such as OMDs, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, that can negatively impact speech.

What are OMDs and how do they affect my speech?

OMDs correlate to the tongue’s placement in the mouth either while speaking or swallowing. It may move too far back or forward, in between the teeth during speech or rest. This can result in an outward tongue thrust and speech impediment with certain sounds (such as “ch” “sh” or “th”) that can dissipate with age, but can also stay around until corrected.

Causes of OMDs?

Although allergies, enlarged tonsils, and heredity can cause OMDs, so can some dental related issues. Chronic thumb sucking, teeth grinding and biting at other objects, especially while still young, can alter the shape of the jaw and teeth- that may lead to OMDs. These causes may also lead to other orthodontic and dental work being required as the patient ages, as well.

How are OMDs diagnosed and/or treated?

A dentist or orthodontist may be able to diagnose OMDs when the tongues continual pressure affects alignment or eruption of the teeth. Consistent airway blockage due to this behavior could also be a warning sign.

Some of the best forms of treatment are related to behavioral therapy. These means will help the patient increase strength in, coordinate with and become aware of the muscles in the mouth and tongue, helping them to speak and swallow easier.

Disorders like OMDs are just some of the ways that the mouth can affect speech and overall impact an individual’s life. Other issues such as TMJ disorders, oral cancer, saliva reproduction issues and various misalignments of the teeth can also affect speech, and be diagnosed and potentially treated with the assistance of dental professionals like your Westchester NY Dentist.

To further discuss the importance of your mouth in speech, or to schedule an appointment today, please call (914) 939-2132.

Your Westchester NY Dentist Shares Some Fun Dental History Facts

The truth about dentistry and teeth is that we have been striving to perfect the practice of dentistry for ages. People from all different places and time periods have experimented with keeping teeth clean and healthy. The main reason for this is that tooth decay causes really uncomfortable and painful toothaches that people would naturally want to avoid. Although we’ve come a long way in the field of dentistry, many of the techniques we use today like brushing and flossing are developed from a long time ago.

For example, the toothbrush was used during the Middle Ages by wealthy Europeans who used twigs made out of sweet smelling wood to clean their teeth. While your Westchester NY dentist doesn’t recommend brushing with a wooden twig, you can still see how even in the past, people attempted to clean their teeth. In fact, it was the Chinese who were using something much more similar to a modern toothbrush today. In 1498, the Emperor of China implanted hog bristles in a bone handle. This style of toothbrush became popular throughout Asia and eventually Europe. However, because of the expensive cost of hog bristles, poor people couldn’t afford individual toothbrushes so an entire family would share one brush. Believe it or not, Americans did not practice the importance of brushing teeth until well after World War II. The army enforced soldiers to develop the habit while they were fighting in the war and they ended up bringing the good habit back home.

Similar to toothbrushes, compounds for cleaning teeth while brushing have been used since ancient times. Early Egyptians, Chinese, Greek and Roman writings describe the process of mixing different substances and powders to create a paste for brushing. Some of the tastiest ingredients used in early toothpaste were powdered fruit, honey, and dried flowers. The most unappealing ingredients include mice and lizard livers. Modern toothpaste began to appear around the 1800s. A dentist named Dr. Peabody was the first person to suggest adding soap to toothpaste and fluoride was eventually added in 1956.

The earliest known dentist was Hesi-Re, an Egyptian who lived around 3000 BCE. From the 5th to 15th century CE, dentistry was practiced by “barber-surgeons” who not only cut hair and groomed people but also extracted decaying teeth. It wasn’t until between 1650 CE and 1800 CE that the science of modern dentistry developed. Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon, has become known as the father of modern dentistry. Of course, dentistry would come a long way since Pierre Fauchard, but we have dentists like him to thank for not having our teeth extracted at a barber shop. Yikes!

While the history of dentistry is much longer and extensive than this short blog, your Westchester NY dentist hopes that patients see just how far dentistry has come in the last several thousand years. Healthy teeth have been important to a number of cultures over a long period of time and it’s important to follow through with modern dental care. After all, you should take advantage of the modern advances and technologies in dentistry. We’re lucky to have anesthesia and sterile procedures now!

Westchester NY Dentist with Dietary Dilemmas

It is safe to say that all of the different patients your Westchester NY dentist treats have a varied diet they follow. And while we always suggest one high in nutrients and vitamins and low in sugars and acids, everyone can interpret that somewhat differently. Rather you are a vegetarian, vegan or just go with the flow, enjoying your meats and other foods freely, there could be positives and negatives to your choices.

Many of the vegetarian patients we treat have amazing gums and lower levels of periodontal disease than their meat eating counterparts. Much of this can be attributed to the high nutrient levels, saliva stimulating abilities and stiff “brush” effect vegetables and fruits can have on the mouth. Where we do see that some (not all) may have issues with is their actual teeth and decay. Vegetarian patients who are very strict in their practices may choose not to use fluoride, including toothpaste that include it because some can be made with animal fat byproducts. And while this dedication to their cause is strong, the helpful effect fluoride has in protecting the teeth from damage may be stronger.

Another place where those on a meat-less diet could be missing out is with certain amino acids. An acid common in red meat, dairy and poultry called “L-arginine” is proving to have a profound effect in breaking down dental plaque. This acid has proven so effective and easy to replicate that it is now being included in several tubes of toothpaste and mouthwash products to give users that extra benefit. And while this acid is used in higher quantities in these products than found in those foods, studies on its natural ability to not allow bacteria to form and stick to teeth are currently underway as well.

Trying to vary your diet as much as possible with a balance of nutrients and vitamins is essential to whole-mouth health. Round out this practice with a regular at-home regimen and visits to your Westchester NY dentist to maintain a smile you can absolutely love.

To make an appointment at our Port Chester NY dental office, please call (914) 939-2132

Westchester NY Dentist Discusses the Effects of Dry Mouth

Many people have experienced a dry mouth at one point or another. However, for some patients dry mouth is a persistent and irritable oral health issue known as xerostomia. For these patients, the mouth and throat become dry and sore, eating and speaking become difficult and the sensation of taste is reduced. The oral health implications that dry mouth has on the mouth are vast and include the rapid and destructive breakdown of natural dentition, quicker than normal plaque deposit buildup, early signs of gingivitis, and pain during brushing.

Why we need saliva

Saliva is produced by both major and minor salivary glands which are all scattered throughout the mouth. Together, they are capable of producing up to one liter of saliva a day! The most obvious function of saliva is lubrication, which is what makes speech and eating possible. Another mechanical property of saliva is its binding ability, which enables food to be swallowed.

Important to dentistry, your saliva also protects against harmful proteolytic enzymes, which are largely produced by dental plaque. Saliva’s most important function is to the digestive system. The digestive enzyme pepsin found in saliva is what allows your food to be properly digested.

What can I do?

If you’re not getting enough saliva, there are a few tips that you can try at home. Start by drinking water to stay hydrated. Another tip is to try chewing sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free candy, which are both known to stimulate salivary glands.

If your dry mouth persists, you should contact your Westchester NY dentist. We will be able to recommend the best treatment plan for you, whether that involves a rinsing your mouth with artificial saliva. Artificial saliva is a liquid or spray that is sold without a prescription and can be used as often as needed. Although it doesn’t contain the proteins, minerals, and other substances found in real saliva that help with digestion.

If you have any questions for a Westchester NY dentist regarding dry mouth or need more information about why saliva stimulation is necessary for your mouth’s care, feel free to call us at (914) 939-2132 for an appointment today.

Dentist in Greenwich CT on Taming Your Teeth Sensitivity

Teeth sensitivity is one of the most commonly addressed issues that patients discuss with your dentist in Greenwich CT. While there are not an overwhelming amount of options available in fixing some of the issues related to sensitive teeth, there are many more to be spoken for in the realm of prevention. Today we will be looking at how to avoid that stinging tooth pain, what causes it, and some of the products designed to curb the ache brought on by it.

To identify prevention methods relating to sensitive teeth, we must first know what causes them. In the center of all your teeth, you have nerves, and just as the rest of the nerves in your body, they transmit signals to our brains for what we feel- including pain. After years of exposure to sugars and acids that eat away at the enamel, the protective layer of the teeth, microscopic holes in the teeth can form and be a channel right to the nerve. This will mean that any food or drink, hot, cold, sour, sweet, can become a trigger of that shooting pain in our mouth instantaneously.

Now, in terms of prevention, a constant and proper at-home oral health regimen is the best way to prevent sensitive teeth. Brush twice daily, use floss and make regular appointments with your dentist in Greenwich CT and your likelihood of teeth sensitivity issues drops substantially.

But remember some of the triggers mentioned previously? As many things, your diet plays into your oral health more than most of us could ever imagine. That ice cold glass of soda that brings you tooth pain now? Well, it could have been all that soda and its sugar and acid levels that wore away the enamel in the first place. The same goes for several other dietary factors for which there may never be enough blog-space to properly list them all.

But what to do about your tooth sensitivity right NOW? When headed to the pharmacy to find a “quick-fix” to your pain, a variety of products will be at your fingertips. From sensitive teeth toothpaste to mouthwashes, gels and more- the possibilities may seem endless. Just be aware that all these products really do is temporarily numb the area of the pain, and do not fix it.

The only way to accurately address your sensitive teeth issues is to make an appointment with your dentist in Greenwich CT by calling (914) 939-2132 today.