• Chester Hill Dentistry • 

Rye Brook NY Dentist Provides Historic Information about Our Ancestors’ Teeth

We’ve come a long way in terms of evolution, but have you ever wondered how our teeth have progressed, as well? Our smiles have gone through a lot and still do to this day, even with all of the advances in technology that is at our disposal. Your Rye Brook NY dentist wants to share some history about the way our teeth have molded to how they look now.

The most common fossils of our ancestors, also known as hominin, are mostly teeth since they’re the hardest part of the human body. This provides a lot of helpful information of the time period that they’re from, their diet and more. As humans continued to evolve, the teeth actually shrink. It’s most noticeable in the teeth in the back, which are your wisdom teeth. Nowadays, because of the work done to wisdom teeth over a period of time, most wisdom teeth are extremely small and in some cases, not even developed. But with hominins, their wisdom teeth were about two to four times larger than that.

The reason that modern human’s teeth have shrunk is because of the professional work that has been done over the years, molding smiles in the future.

There are also other speculations and ideas for the shift, literally and figuratively, in our teeth. Click here to read more about what researchers and scientists have to say about these fossils.

Make sure you’re always taking care of your smile by visiting your Rye Brook NY dentist! Contact our office today to schedule an appointment by calling (914) 939-2132.

Rye Brook NY Dentist Explains the Structure of Your Smile

Keeping up with your smile may seem like an easy thing to do, but there are more threats against your teeth than you realize. This is why patients make appointments with your Rye Brook NY dentist. Not every risk that can potentially harm your teeth is obvious, so it’s important to keep up with regularly scheduled appointments in order to make sure your teeth are being properly taken care of. Let’s go into detail about some of the conditions that can affect your teeth so we can learn more.

• Cavities:

  This is one of the most common issues that patients, young and old, deal with in terms of their smile. This is due to harmful eating habits and lack of brushing and flossing. Cavities destroy the surface of your teeth, called the enamel, and can travel deeper into the tooth and cause damage. They usually occur on the teeth in the rear of the mouth.

• Tooth Decay:

  This is rapidly becoming one of the prominent dangers in patients and their smile. With the rise in tooth decay, one of the most preventable diseases around, patients are putting themselves at risk for a multitude of other problems like gum disease and even tooth loss.

• Sensitivity:

  Due to wear and tear on your teeth from harmful foods and drinks, your smile can become sensitive to things like cold beverages, a harsh wind, even a hot sandwich. This is due to a weak and thin enamel that hasn’t been taken care of by the help of your saliva, toothpaste and water.

Learn more about these dental problems, as well as the structure and function of your teeth by clicking here. Make sure you’re also keeping up with your appointments to your Rye Brook NY dentist by calling our office today at (914) 939-2132.

Westchester NY Dentist asks “To Rinse or Not to Rinse?”

Helping patients establish or improve upon their at-home oral health regimen is part of days work for your Westchester NY dentist. For most patients, Dr. Fu will recommend daily flossing, twice daily brushing and to some capacity: the usage of mouthwash. Although mouthwash is not as essential as the earlier two behaviors and items- adding it to your regimen can indeed be useful.

Mouthwash can not only help freshen your breath up after a meal or a smoke, but it can also help eliminate oral bacteria that can cause gum disease, reduce your risk for tooth decay, remove tartar and help whiten your teeth too!

But with all of these benefits- often come many questions. Some examples include: What mouthwash is best for me? What ingredients in mouthwash should I be looking for? How long should I be swishing my mouthwash around? And last, but not least- can mouthwash even benefit my situation?

While answers to most of these questions will vary, patient by patient, we did find a resource online that helps answer some of the universal ones quite well: Click Here.

For more information on mouthwash and your oral health, schedule an appointment with your Westchester NY dentist today by calling (914) 939-2132.

Dentist in Greenwich CT on March (Nutrition) Madness!

While it may be a little too late to qualify for a “New Year’s Resolution” diet- your dentist in Greenwich CT wants you to know it is never too late to change the way you eat! This coming March marks another National Nutrition Month, where the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics try to make everyday people more aware of what they eat and drink on a daily basis. We wanted to do our part today to let you know how your nutrition can impact your oral health in particular.

It is safe to say that most people aren’t thinking about oral health as soon as they eat something. They may consider how it tastes…smells…what it will do to their waistline and a whole load of other thoughts before the damage it can do to a smile. Even the small things, or supposedly healthy ones, such as “diet” products or a little lemon, can slide under the radar completely.

Items high in acid content (like those above) or especially sugary ones can lead to all sorts of dental detriments. Cavities, gum disease, lost teeth- you name it, and it is possible from your diet alone. Without being overly pessimistic, there are a whole group of things that can do your oral health good too.

Yes, milk, albeit a cliché- can do your mouth good. It, along with whole grain and wheat foods and more, contain vitamins and nutrients that not only improve your overall health- but the health of your mouth too. Many fruits and vegetables can also deliver mouth-saving blasts of vitamins and nutrients that ward off bacteria, whiten your smile and keep you healthy.

As with many things in the world of food and drink, there is a fine line between just enough and too much. The world won’t end if you have a soda every once and a while, but if you have a few a day, your mouth and body may not be thanking you for it in due time. Being aware of the difference between these two realities and knowing what it is you put in your body is the main National Nutrition Month- and we hope you stay vigilant of your diet not only through March but year-round as well.

For more information on National Nutrition Month as it relates to your oral health, call the office of your dentist in Greenwich CT today at (914) 939-2132 to schedule an appointment!

Westchester NY Dentist on The Right Time for your Regimen

As most things in life, timing can sometimes be everything…even when it comes to dentistry. How often you visit your Westchester NY dentist…how often you brush your teeth…how long you brush for: all of these factors can play into your ultimate “dental destiny.”

To create these standard recommendations as it relates to timing and frequency, organizations like the ADA (American Dental Association) combine years of research and study with the knowledge and power of thousands upon thousands of oral health professionals, just like your Westchester NY dentist Dr. Fu. These care professionals rely upon the fact that most humans have some type of internal clock so that they will commit to these habits. Whether that is actually done or followed through on is up to each and every individual, though.

One area this advice can get a little cloudy is when it comes to flossing. Sure, you should be flossing once a day to help prevent all sorts of dental detriments…but should it be done before or after your brushing? That is the question.

The answer has more to do with behavioral science than you may think actually. Check out the following site to see what some experts (sort of inconclusively) believe: Dental Patient News.

For more information on the important of your oral health regimen or to schedule an appointment with your Westchester NY dentist, call our office today at (914) 939-2132.

Westchester NY Dentist Shares Importance of Children’s Oral & Dental Care for the Month of February

The month of February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, where dentists around the world help share the importance of dental and oral health. Children’s dental health has become a necessary topic to discuss because there have been several mentions where tooth decay has become a serious issue. Your Westchester NY dentist will further discuss why this campaign is so important and how to execute proper oral and dental care for children.

A large majority of children who suffer from dental decay and other oral health problems have missed many hours of school. This is one of the many reasons why parents and children alike need to learn and understand how dental health is an integral part of their daily routine. Helping your child create a brushing routine in the morning and at night will dramatically increase their oral health over time.

There are countless books, tips, brochures and campaigns that promote the importance of dentistry. This awareness isn’t only for children, but for teens and adults alike! Dental decay is easily avoidable but is still one of the most common diseases that affect thousands of people.

Make sure that you’re constantly taking care of your smile by scheduling an appointment with your Westchester NY dentist by calling today at (914) 939-2132. Share this campaign with friends and family to begun your journey to a healthy smile!

Dentist Greenwich CT Says “Quit Today!”

For years, health professionals like your dentist in Greenwich CT have been warning patients about the dangers of smoking. Within the last few years, in particular, it seems that increased government and advertising pushes have led to a decline in smoking…but the trend still impacts millions worldwide yearly.

One of the reasons, we theorize, that people do not quit smoking is because of the ill-perceived immediate harm. In other words, it takes years for MOST patients to develop a lung issue, oral or other cancer- so on and so forth. One place smokers CAN see an immediate impact, however, is their oral health. Below we have listed a few benefits you can see from quitting smoking, but for a few more benefits, as well as detailed information on the upsides, you can head here.

Fresher Breath- most smokers find the scent of their breath so unpleasant to others after a smoke that they use mints, gums and mouthwashes to cover it up. Smoking is one of the most common sources of bad breath and can be cleared up easily, and rather immediately if you quit your habit.

Whiter Teeth- tar, nicotine and other ingredients in cigarettes and tobacco products can drastically stain the teeth over time. By quitting, perhaps coupled with a visit to your dentist in Greenwich CT, we may be able to reverse the surface staining done to your teeth- if it has not “set in” yet.

For more information on how quitting your habit can benefit your smile- give the office of your dentist in Greenwich CT a call today at (914) 939-2132.

Cosmetic Dentist Westchester NY on Relieving Stains

Stains on the teeth are something that NO patient desires. For that very reason, your cosmetic dentist in Westchester NY, Dr. Fu, offers the top of the line cosmetic treatments available, including teeth whitening and so much more.

Unfortunately, we do see that even for patients who undergo a cosmetic treatment- stains are never completely out of the picture. Sure, by eating healthy, brushing your teeth twice and day and coming into see your cosmetic dentist in Westchester NY, at least, two times a year you are bettering your odds- but these are not the only factors that come into play.

As we age, our teeth change just as our bodies do. That means they react differently to stimuli than they did when you were 20 years younger. Food, beverages, habits and more can all impact the shade of your teeth depending on a lot of factors, many of which can be summed up in an article we found here.

The most important thing we feel you can take away from this is that even though you can’t always control your teeth- do everything you can to try. Schedule an appointment with your cosmetic dentist in Westchester NY today to discuss teeth whitening and even routine cleaning and how it can prevent stains in the future.

You can reach our Port Chester NY dental office by calling (914) 939-2132 today.

Dentist in Greenwich CT on Holiday Oral Health

Every year it seems the holidays take forever to get here…and then when they finally arrive out of nowhere, they are gone just as quickly. Of course, with all of the gift wrapping, party attending and more that you will be doing- your Dentist in Greenwich CT knows that your oral health won’t necessarily be the top priority or thing on your mind right now.

To help keep your smile on the “nice” and not “naughty” list this year, as well as to help you usher in 2016 with a smile you love- we wanted to provide some holiday tips and tricks for keeping your teeth in check today.

1. Pass on chewy treats from bowls of candy put out at the office to treats left in your stocking, the stickier the treat, the worse it can be for your teeth.

   Not only can these sugary treats attach themselves to your teeth and result in possible decay, but larger ones have even been known to pull out fillings or damage dental appliances!

2. Don’t open presents with your teeth

   We know that you are excited about the new toy you just unwrapped, but using a scissor or proper tool to open any packaging is essential. Even what seems like soft plastic can crack the teeth, which can require a New Year crown, root canal or worse.

3. You are not the nutcracker

   As mentioned above, the teeth can be put in harm’s way by hardened surfaces this time of year, especially while chomping down. This includes hard candies, ice cubes and the shells of nuts. Leave the nut cracking to your toy soldier to save your smile from harm.

4. Say “No” to nail biting

   We all get a little stressed and anxious around the holidays, it is fairly normal. Try not to turn to stress-relieving habits like nail biting during this time to avoid potential damage of the teeth and the spread of germs/bacteria from hand to mouth, or vice versa.

To schedule your first appointment of the New Year with your Dentist in Greenwich CT please call our office at (914) 939-2132.

Note: Please check our homepage and/or social media accounts to review our holiday hours.

Thank you in advance and enjoy your holidays!