Tooth Sensitivity to Cold

During the hot summer months, many people discover they have become more sensitive to cold foods. Biting into an ice cream bar or sipping a chilled coffee causes a sharp pain to shoot through their teeth. One of our goals at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk is to ensure that our patients feel comfortable and confident in all things tooth-related. Sensitivity is common, but it isn’t something people should have to endure.

Each natural tooth contains a nerve in its pulp. Pulp is surrounded by dentin, which is a yellow-gray colored material made up of miniature tubules that easily conduct heat. The outer layer of the crown is made up of enamel, a mineral substance that provides insulation but cannot regrow after being lost. The outer layer of the tooth root is made up of a sticky substance called cementum, which is much thinner than enamel. When enamel is eroded or gum tissue has receded from around the tooth root, dental pulp can lose heat rapidly.

Usually, enamel erosion and gum recession is due to acid. In most cases, the acid comes directly from drinks such as soda or citrus juice or is produced by oral bacteria as a by-product of consuming sugar. People may also experience tooth sensitivity if they frequently suffer from acid reflux. Oral hygiene upkeep is essential to combatting bacteria and extra-fluoridated toothpaste can help restore the minerals that make up enamel. We can also help patients by providing them with sealants, which will give their teeth extra protection. A deep cleaning will remove infectious material in the gum pockets, preventing gum tissue from receding.

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.

 

The Benefits of Chewing Sugarless Gum

Depending on the type of gum you’re chewing, it can have a positive or negative effect on your oral health. Chewing sugarless gum after meals has been proven to help rinse acids that attract bacteria, which destroy tooth enamel. Food particles can easily get stuck or lodged against your teeth. Chewing gum increases saliva, neutralizing acids and helping to wash away remaining food particles and debris. Miami Dental recommends patients chew gum, but only if they make sure it is sugar-free.

Gum filled with sugar may taste better but it is really harmful to your teeth. Sugars attract bacteria and cause tooth decay, which ultimately leads to cavities. This is why it’s extremely harmful to allow sugar to rest on the teeth. Sugary gum is inside your mouth and against your teeth for longer because of its function as a chewable apparatus. Instead of relieving breath odor, producing saliva, and dislodging food particles, sugary chewing gum is causing more harm than good by lacing your teeth with even more bacteria-attracting sugar. 

Chewing sugarless gum also should not be a substitute for proper oral hygiene as patients should still brush and floss daily. They should also visit us twice a year for professional cleanings.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirshl, 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 Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rd St, Suite 310, North Miami, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. Visit our website at www.miami-dental.net or stop in and fill out a contact form.

Tips for the Holidays

We wish all of our patients at the dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk a Happy Thanksgiving! During the holidays, sugary treats abound, and we want to make sure that everybody is keeping their teeth safe from decay. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the season; it just means following a few tips in this guide.

The longer sugar is in contact with teeth, the more time there is for bacteria to consume it and produce acid. For this reason, it’s not just the sugary, sticky candies that get stuck in dental crevices you have to worry about. Hard candies can pose the same risk since they are in contact with teeth for a long time, as can starches from sources such as squash and crackers. People should also remember that seasonal drinks such as pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, and eggnog leave sugary residue behind. Additionally, saliva helps to wash away residue, so you’ll want to drink a lot of fluoridated water to compensate for anything that could dry your mouth out.

You produce more saliva when you’re eating large meals, so limiting eating to those time will help you to avoid tooth decay. If that’s not feasible, you can chew sugar-free gum after snacking to dislodge some food debris. If you’re hosting, you can also opt to serve xylitol-flavored hard candies in place of sugary ones.

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.

 

Acid Reflux and Tooth Decay

Patients at Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk’s dental offices receive preventive care appropriate for every part of life. Although childhood dental education emphasizes plaque as a major cause of tooth decay, one of the biggest threats to adults is acid reflux. We offer many services for repairing and strengthening enamel, but for the sake of acid reflux patients’ comfort, as well as their health, they will likely have to make some lifestyle changes.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is said to occur when a patient suffers heartburn at least twice a week.  Heartburn is actually caused by stomach acid escaping into the esophagus, burning soft tissues as it goes, and potentially getting as far as the mouth. Prolonged, repeated exposure to acid causes enamel to erode, leaving teeth discolored, sensitive, and misshapen. Because of their position in the mouth, it is often the inward and downward facing sides of the upper teeth which are most affected. Smoothing of the molars could cause problems for the patient’s bite.

Sealants can help strengthen teeth, but enamel cannot be regrown once it has been lost. Partial crowns are valuable tools for reversing the damage of acid reflux, but to prevent further problems, patients should reduce their intake of high-fat and acidic food, as well as alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine. Patients are also advised to not eat in large quantities before lying down and to quit smoking.

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^rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami-Dental.com, through a contact form.