Incipient Lesions

One of the reasons it’s so important to get regular dental check-ups is so you can be assessed for developing caries. These infections on the surfaces of teeth will result in cavities if they are not stopped in time. Fortunately, there is an easy way for us at Miami Beach and North Miami Beach offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk to identify incipient caries: by the white spots they create on enamel.

Plaque traps the acid that oral bacteria excrete as part of their metabolization process. As the amount of plaque on a tooth increases, the tooth is exposed to more acid. Eventually, it will begin losing some of the minerals that make up its enamel. When this happens, the tooth takes on a chalky appearance, which is why incipient lesions are often called “white spot lesions.” The white spot can transform into a cavity in as few as thirty days.

While a lesion is still in the white spot stage, it is easy to reverse. The patient can deprive oral bacteria of sustenance by reducing their intake of simple carbohydrates and get rid of them through better brushing. Once the lesion is free of bacteria, the teeth can be remineralized with fluoride treatments. But if a cavity developed, it will have to be filled in with a prosthetic material. Sealants can help to prevent further decay, but people with fixed orthodontic brackets will simply have to get more comfortable using "Christmas tree" toothbrushes. If the white spot has left a scar, we may consider covering it with a veneer.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Flossing with Braces

Flossing is another task made difficult by braces. As if having braces wasn’t hard enough already! The truth is that flossing with braces doesn’t have to be challenging. There are a handful of techniques and applicators that make it easier. Drs. Lelchuk, Hirschl, and Ressler recommend these to all our orthodontic patients. Learn more by contacting our offices in North Miami Beach and Miami Beach.

 

Daily flossing is essential when you have braces. Your braces create a variety of spaces for bacteria to develop. Food is constantly getting wedged and trapped. This attracts even more bacteria in certain areas. Only floss can fully clean these areas.

 

Flossing is just as important as brushing twice daily. To get under the wires, you’ll need a floss threader. This is a necessary dental appliance. It loops your floss through it and then under the wire. You can then floss normally. Make sure to do this for all of your teeth. Debris and bacteria can grow anywhere.

 

Another option is floss picks. These look like a small two-pronged tool with floss between them. Floss picks are small enough to also move under the wires. Lastly, consider investing in a Waterpik. These spray a steady stream of water at your teeth. The pressure removes all the trapped food. Most even come with special tools for orthodontic cleanings.

 

Overlooking flossing in your daily dental routine is a critical mistake. Your mouth can’t be completely clean without it. If you have braces and are struggling with dental maintenance, contact us today. Drs. Lelchuk, Ressler, and Hirschl are available by appointment. You can visit our website to learn more. To reach the Intracoastal Mall (North Miami Beach) office, call 305-949-2630. For the Mount Sinai Medical Center (Miami Beach), call 305-532-1444.

Crooked Teeth and Crowding

Many people have crooked teeth, at Miami Dental, we want you to understand how crooked teeth causes crowding and how you can fix crowding of your teeth. As your permanent teeth begin to develop, they can start to become crooked and overlap.

When there isn’t enough room in your mouth to fit, crowding can occur and lead to shifting. In some cases, overbites can form when your upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size, which extends your bottom teeth and jaw outward.

If you have difficulty chewing while eating, you may need a tooth extraction or braces. Crooked teeth can make it difficult to clean your teeth that can lead to cavities and gum disease. For most of our patients, braces are required to fix crowding and crooked teeth.

We encourage our patients with crooked teeth to get braces at a younger age when their mouth is still developing. Tis makes it easier for your teeth to grow in straight and naturally as your mouth is still expanding.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracostal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

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.