Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Formula, milk, and fruit juices all contain sugars. Baby bottle decay is caused by frequent exposure to these sugars over time. The sugary liquids pool around the teeth for long periods as your baby sleeps, leading to cavities that first develop in the upper and lower front teeth. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk don’t want adults to develop tooth decay, let alone pediatric patients, if your child hasn’t visited the dentist before his or first birthday, it’s time!

It’s critical to take care of an infant’s gums right away. But at first, you will not be using a toothbrush or toothpaste. Instead, you should grab a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze and gently wipe down your baby’s gums at least twice a day. Especially wipe your baby’s gums after feedings and before bedtime to avoid baby bottle decay.

If you have questions or concerns regarding a pediatric dental care, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Dry Mouth

If you’ve ever been parched and in desperate need of wetting your whistle, you know how uncomfortable dry mouth can be. Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in the mouth. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, but excessive dry mouth can be due to medication, or an underlying condition such as diabetes. If dry mouth is causing you discomfort, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk can treat the problem.

Symptoms of dry mouth include a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth that may be accompanied by a dry feeling in the throat, a dry rough tongue, mouth sores, and/or trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking. Causes for dry mouth include certain medications that you can discuss with one of our doctors, salivary glands diseases, and smoking. Treatment for dry mouth will depend on the cause.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dry mouth, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Dental Emergencies

Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. If you are in need of emergency dental work, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk can help you any time, any day, and when your dental health is at risk, each member of our dental team will do everything they can to make sure that you’re treated as soon as possible.

One of the most common dental emergencies is a knocked-out tooth. When you hit your mouth on something hard and it knocks a tooth out, it can be a particularly scary experience. In this situation, the first thing you need to do is locate the tooth and contact the dentist immediately. If at all possible, the tooth needs to be re-implanted almost immediately.  Any injury to teeth or gums should not be ignored. Nerves or blood vessels could be damaged and there is also a risk of getting an infection. If an infection is not treated, it can spread to other parts of the head and neck and cause serious health problems. Other types of dental emergencies include objects caught between teeth, a lost filling or crown, broken braces and wires, loose brackets and bands and soft tissue injuries.

If you have questions or concerns regarding a dental emergency, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Thank You for Your Positive Reviews!

Here at Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, of Miami Beach, FL and North Miami Beach, FL, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank John V. for this five-star review, but we would like to thank him for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know!  

“My dental  hygienist was awesome. Thorough job. Marianela is her name. I've been going for 20 years even though I live in Miami Lakes. The dentists themselves are professional, they work with my insurance issues, they occasionally suggest some optional treatments which is fine, and they do not push too hard. The crowns, cavities, etc. are done in one sitting, quickly and with minimal pain. I usually see Dr. Hirschl, but I've seen them all. Receptionists are friendly. I trust them.” – John V.

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Using a Floss Threader

If you have traditional braces or a fixed retainer, flossing threaders will make this task easier and improve the health of your teeth and gums. You should never avoid flossing with these orthodontic appliances because plaque left on the teeth will turn into tartar (calculus) which only our team at the office of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are able to remove. Tartar buildup will cause the gums to be inflamed and this may lead to a more aggressive form of periodontal disease. If you don’t know what a floss threader is, we are here to tell you what it is and how to use one.

A floss threader is a flexible, yet rigid plastic tool used for passing floss between fixed bridgework, orthodontic wires, and beneath fixed retainers. They resemble large plastic “needles” as far as shape goes and are effective in getting floss between teeth that are close together. To use one, simply thread 18” of floss into the eye of the floss threader and use the end to push through the teeth. Once the floss has been inserted, the ends can be easily manipulated to floss around the tooth. If you need assistance, our doctors are happy to help.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at our practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

White Fillings

A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth. Composites are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth. At our dental practice, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, will apply a composite resin on the affected tooth or teeth. It is then molded and sculpted over an adhesive gel that is placed on the tooth. After the resin has been applied, an LED light is used to harden the resin, which is then polished to give you a fresh new smile.

White fillings are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used to give patients a more natural appearance, plus they are safer than Amalgam fillings. Amalgam (silver) fillings are now a thing of the past because they contain almost as much mercury as a thermometer. The procedure to place a white filling is simple and can be completed in one appointment. If you can benefit from a white filling, schedule a consultation today.

If you have questions or concerns about cosmetic dentistry, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Interdental Cleaners

Interdental brushes serve as an alternative to flossing. If patients do not have the dexterity or motivation to use dental floss, he or she may benefit from cleaning with an interdental device. Using an interdental brush versus using floss will depend on personal preference because both are effective in eliminating plaque and leftover food particles between the teeth. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, would like to explain the difference between floss and an interdental brush.

Interdental cleaning helps remove debris and plaque that collects between the teeth from foods that we eat. Interdental brushes have precision manufactured brush-heads that remove dental plaque from crowns, bridges, dental implants, and orthodontic appliances. Most of them have handles designed for comfort and grip to reach where floss might not be able. Dental floss needs no introduction, but you have to use it to reap the benefits of fresh breath, clean teeth, and a healthy mouth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dentistry or oral care, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Retainer Options

If you’ve recently completed orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to protect your investment with a retainer. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk offer two different kinds of retainer options to choose from and the type you decide on will depend on your needs and your preference. A removable retainer is designed for a patient who is disciplined enough to remember to wear it, while a fixed retainer is for a patient looking for a more permanent option.

• Removable Retainer – a removable retainer is the most common type, but depending on the individual, it may not always be the best choice. A removable retainer is crafted from a clear plastic that is formed by heat and a model of your teeth.  Removable retainers can be virtually invisible, and easy to wear.


• Fixed Retainer – also known as a bonded retainer, a fixed retainer consists of a wire being bonded to the back of the six bottom or top teeth. Bonded retainers tend to protect fewer teeth than removable retainers, but are ideal for the patient that may forget to wear his or her retainer at night.

If you have questions or concerns about orthodontic treatment or retainer options, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Fixing a Cracked Tooth

Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk understand that accidents happen. Perhaps you were crunching on a piece of popcorn, chewing hard on some ice, or were the victim of some sort of dental trauma. Regardless of how you develop a cracked tooth, our doctors can repair it and restore it back to its natural function with cosmetic services such as dental bonding.

Though enamel is the toughest mineralized tissue in the body, this doesn’t mean that it’s indestructible. If your tooth is broken, chipped, or cracked, it’s important to visit our doctors immediately to avoid losing the tooth that has been damaged. Typically, if a tooth has a minor crack, dental bonding will be applied to the tooth and molded to replicate the tooth structure that was once there. Otherwise, if a large amount of the tooth breaks off, our doctors may suggest a dental crown to look nearly identical to the original tooth.

If you have questions or concerns about cosmetic dental services, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Dental Sealants Prevent Decay

If your child is prone to cavities and you’ve never heard of dental sealants before, it may be time to inform yourself. Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are placed on the chewing surfaces of the permanent back teeth. Although brushing and flossing remove food particles, sometimes it’s hard to reach into the crevices to remove all of them. Because children and teenagers are highly prone to decay, our doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk suggest dental sealants to these candidates the most.

Though adults can reap the benefits of dental sealants, they are more for children and teenagers. This is because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the molars. Dental sealants are simple and the process to apply them is painless. Sealants are painted onto tooth enamel where the material bonds directly to the tooth and hardened. Sealants can protect teeth for up to 10 years with proper oral care and reduce the risk of cavities by up to 80%.

If you have questions or concerns about pediatric dental services, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Eat These Foods to Prevent Bad Breath

If you or someone else has noticed your bad breath, don’t be embarrassed, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are here to help you fix the problem. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “You are what you eat,” it’s time to start paying more attention to what foods you put on your plate. Here are some foods that should be incorporated into your diet to promote a healthy, odorless, smile.

If you practice proper oral hygiene habits but still suffer from bad breath, the problem lies in your diet. If you consume foods like onions and garlic, they tend to linger in the bloodstream and are released when you exhale. Coffee and alcohol have a drying effect on the tongue, which can cause these foul-smelling bacteria to linger. To prevent bad breath, include more raw vegetables into your diets such as carrots, celery, and apples. These veggies are rich in fiber, prevent bad breath, and increase saliva flow in the mouth to fight harmful bacteria.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Thank You for Your Positive Reviews!

At Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, of Miami Beach, FL and North Miami Beach, FL, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Scott M. for this five-star review, but we would like to thank him for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our offices, please let us know!  

“I continue to rate my experience with the dental services provided by Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk as EXCELLENT. I also wish to mention the incredible professionalism, skill and courtesy of Honey, the Dental Hygienist, whose ability to communicate progress met and needing focus, is without parallel.” – Scott M.

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.