Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth to restore or improve a person’s smile. Dental bonding may be considered when a tooth is chipped or cracked, to repair decayed teeth, to close spaces between teeth, and to improve the appearance of discolored teeth. The first step in deciding whether dental bonding is right for you is to schedule a consultation with our doctors Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, so you can discuss your treatment goals.
One of the top benefits of dental bonding is that it’s the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedure. In addition, the composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Sometimes, bonding also is used as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede.
If you believe you may benefit from dental bonding, please give us a call. To learn about 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.
Miami Dental
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
How Do Teeth Become Worn Down?
Worn down teeth can cause pain, sensitivity, discoloration, and they can begin to change shape. Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA of Miami Beach, FL and N. Miami Beach, FL want their patients to know how teeth can become worn down. Here are a few of the common ways it can happen.
Brushing Abrasively
As we have mentioned before, brushing too hard can begin to wear down your enamel. Use soft bristles and a light scrub to remove plaque. Anything more can wear down enamel. When looking for a new toothbrush, make sure the label does not say hard or firm. Soft or medium are your best bets.
Homemade Whitening
If you are on Facebook or Pinterest, you may have seen homemade teeth whitening recipes pop up on your feed. While sometimes they can be effective, they can also be dangerous for your teeth. For instance, recipes with baking soda can end up wearing down your teeth. Baking soda is extremely abrasive. While it is useful, it is only okay in small doses.
Acidic Foods and Drinks
Are you someone who habitually drinks an energy drink to get you through the afternoon? Or do you have a soda with your dinner every night? It may be time to make those drinks treats instead of everyday occurrences. This is because drinks like soda are filled with acid. Too much of it can lead to the erosion of your teeth. This also includes hard candies, citrus fruits, and more.
For the sake of your enamel, keep these tips in mind. To schedule your next cleaning and examination with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Brushing Abrasively
As we have mentioned before, brushing too hard can begin to wear down your enamel. Use soft bristles and a light scrub to remove plaque. Anything more can wear down enamel. When looking for a new toothbrush, make sure the label does not say hard or firm. Soft or medium are your best bets.
Homemade Whitening
If you are on Facebook or Pinterest, you may have seen homemade teeth whitening recipes pop up on your feed. While sometimes they can be effective, they can also be dangerous for your teeth. For instance, recipes with baking soda can end up wearing down your teeth. Baking soda is extremely abrasive. While it is useful, it is only okay in small doses.
Acidic Foods and Drinks
Are you someone who habitually drinks an energy drink to get you through the afternoon? Or do you have a soda with your dinner every night? It may be time to make those drinks treats instead of everyday occurrences. This is because drinks like soda are filled with acid. Too much of it can lead to the erosion of your teeth. This also includes hard candies, citrus fruits, and more.
For the sake of your enamel, keep these tips in mind. To schedule your next cleaning and examination with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
The Wrong Ways to Brush
Do you brush your teeth two to three times per day? If so, great! However, did you know that there is such a thing as brushing them in a harmful way? Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA of Miami Beach, FL and N. Miami Beach, FL want you to know the ways you should not brush your teeth.
Brushing After Eating or Drinking
While you should brush after meals, it is advised to wait a little while before doing so. This is because some of our food and drinks may contain acid which softens our enamel. When we brush our teeth right afterward, the softened enamel can be brushed away. To further help get rid of the acid, rinse your mouth out with water after eating or drinking something especially acidic, like soda.
Brushing With Too Much Force
It does not take much to remove plaque. Soft bristles with a light touch isenough. Stiff bristles or brushing too hard can wear down enamel and irritate gums, leading to cavities, darkened teeth, and gum recession.
Using the Wrong Toothbrush
Our mouths are all different. Our teeth are placed differently and we are all different sizes. Because of this, you should choose a toothbrush that is the right fit. Too large of a toothbrush will be too difficult to maneuver around a smaller mouth. This could mean you end up missing spots!
For healthy and strong teeth, keep these tips in mind. To schedule your next cleaning and examination with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or call our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested by visiting our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Brushing After Eating or Drinking
While you should brush after meals, it is advised to wait a little while before doing so. This is because some of our food and drinks may contain acid which softens our enamel. When we brush our teeth right afterward, the softened enamel can be brushed away. To further help get rid of the acid, rinse your mouth out with water after eating or drinking something especially acidic, like soda.
Brushing With Too Much Force
It does not take much to remove plaque. Soft bristles with a light touch isenough. Stiff bristles or brushing too hard can wear down enamel and irritate gums, leading to cavities, darkened teeth, and gum recession.
Using the Wrong Toothbrush
Our mouths are all different. Our teeth are placed differently and we are all different sizes. Because of this, you should choose a toothbrush that is the right fit. Too large of a toothbrush will be too difficult to maneuver around a smaller mouth. This could mean you end up missing spots!
For healthy and strong teeth, keep these tips in mind. To schedule your next cleaning and examination with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or call our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested by visiting our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Do You Spend Enough Time Brushing?
When brushing your teeth, do you spend enough time? When you hit all of your mouth’s surfaces adequately, you should be spending about two minutes brushing. Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA of Miami Beach, FL and N. Miami Beach, FL want to give some tips for making sure you brush for a long enough amount of time.
Tunes
Play your favorite song while brushing your teeth. Most music players have a timer on it as the song plays. Use it to make sure you are brushing for two minutes. To get an even brushing, spend thirty seconds on each quadrant in your mouth.
Quadrants
Speaking of those quadrants, splitting them up can help you keep track. Spend thirty seconds on your upper-left teeth, your upper-right teeth, lower-left, and lower-right. Then, be sure to clean your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the insides of your cheeks.
Timers
These days, timers are easy to find. There is probably a timer on your cell phone! However, you can add to your bathroom’s décor and buy a more interesting-looking timer like an hourglass (minute-glass) or a clock.
Timely Toothbrushes
Many electric and manual toothbrushes have timers now! They either play music for two minutes or they stop their vibration a few times after two minutes.
For a healthy mouth, do a good job brushing and come in for your routine dental cleanings. To schedule an appointment with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Tunes
Play your favorite song while brushing your teeth. Most music players have a timer on it as the song plays. Use it to make sure you are brushing for two minutes. To get an even brushing, spend thirty seconds on each quadrant in your mouth.
Quadrants
Speaking of those quadrants, splitting them up can help you keep track. Spend thirty seconds on your upper-left teeth, your upper-right teeth, lower-left, and lower-right. Then, be sure to clean your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the insides of your cheeks.
Timers
These days, timers are easy to find. There is probably a timer on your cell phone! However, you can add to your bathroom’s décor and buy a more interesting-looking timer like an hourglass (minute-glass) or a clock.
Timely Toothbrushes
Many electric and manual toothbrushes have timers now! They either play music for two minutes or they stop their vibration a few times after two minutes.
For a healthy mouth, do a good job brushing and come in for your routine dental cleanings. To schedule an appointment with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Brushing and flossing are something you (hopefully) do several times per day. When you have braces on, however, that normal routine needs to change a bit in order to keep good dental health. Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA of Miami Beach, FL and N. Miami Beach, FL want to ensure their patients know how to brush with braces on.
While wearing braces, the brackets create extra hiding spots for plaque, which means more opportunity for cavities and staining. For this reason, there are techniques and tools that can help you do a good job.
When brushing, make sure to include the brackets into your routine. After brushing the chewing surfaces, angle the toothbrush and brush along the tops of all the brackets. Do the same for the bottom of the brackets. To hit the sides of them, use an interdental toothbrush. These are very small brushes that can get underneath the wires, unlike your regular toothbrush. You want to be sure you can see the edges of the brackets, afterward.
In order to floss with braces, it will be helpful to own Superfloss or floss threaders. These make it easy to get the floss underneath the wires of the braces. Floss normally, going underneath the gums and paying extra attention to the molars.
Be extra-careful when taking care of your smile with braces. A good dental routine will help keep your orthodontic treatment on the right tracks. It will also ensure you have a beautiful, stain-free smile when your braces come off. To schedule an appointment with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our North Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
While wearing braces, the brackets create extra hiding spots for plaque, which means more opportunity for cavities and staining. For this reason, there are techniques and tools that can help you do a good job.
When brushing, make sure to include the brackets into your routine. After brushing the chewing surfaces, angle the toothbrush and brush along the tops of all the brackets. Do the same for the bottom of the brackets. To hit the sides of them, use an interdental toothbrush. These are very small brushes that can get underneath the wires, unlike your regular toothbrush. You want to be sure you can see the edges of the brackets, afterward.
In order to floss with braces, it will be helpful to own Superfloss or floss threaders. These make it easy to get the floss underneath the wires of the braces. Floss normally, going underneath the gums and paying extra attention to the molars.
Be extra-careful when taking care of your smile with braces. A good dental routine will help keep your orthodontic treatment on the right tracks. It will also ensure you have a beautiful, stain-free smile when your braces come off. To schedule an appointment with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our North Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Kids' Dental Fears
Dental fear often starts out in childhood. While we understand there are kids who fear dental appointments, we also know there are ways to make them feel better. At Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA in Miami Beach and N. Miami Beach, FL, we want all of our patients to feel comfortable in our dental chairs. Read on for tips on how to make kids feel more at ease for their dental appointments.
Kids feel more comfortable when they are familiar with something. This means the earlier you start bringing your child to the dentist, the more familiar they will be with the process. Kids should start seeing the dentist when their first tooth starts growing in, or by the age of one if that hasn’t happened yet. If your schedule permits, bring them with you when you are having a cleaning. That way they will have seen the office and met some of the staff before their first appointment.
For young kids who have never been to the dentist before or who do not remember going, you can play “pretend dentist” with them at home. Have them lean back in a recliner chair or a couch. Have them open wide and “examine” their teeth by counting each one. You can even take a dry toothbrush and “clean” each one of their teeth. Showing them what will happen at the dental office will help them feel more at ease.
In addition to familiarity, kids do better when they know reasoning. Explain to them why they need to see the dentist. Educational videos and tools may help with this.
Kids’ teeth are just as important as adult teeth. To schedule your family’s next appointment with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Kids feel more comfortable when they are familiar with something. This means the earlier you start bringing your child to the dentist, the more familiar they will be with the process. Kids should start seeing the dentist when their first tooth starts growing in, or by the age of one if that hasn’t happened yet. If your schedule permits, bring them with you when you are having a cleaning. That way they will have seen the office and met some of the staff before their first appointment.
For young kids who have never been to the dentist before or who do not remember going, you can play “pretend dentist” with them at home. Have them lean back in a recliner chair or a couch. Have them open wide and “examine” their teeth by counting each one. You can even take a dry toothbrush and “clean” each one of their teeth. Showing them what will happen at the dental office will help them feel more at ease.
In addition to familiarity, kids do better when they know reasoning. Explain to them why they need to see the dentist. Educational videos and tools may help with this.
Kids’ teeth are just as important as adult teeth. To schedule your family’s next appointment with Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, call our Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 532-1444 or our N. Miami Beach, FL office at (305) 949-2630. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.miami-dental.com.
Tips for Keeping Fresh Breath
Bad breath is not pleasant; especially for the person you are talking with or sharing a car with. At Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA in Miami Beach and North Miami Beach, FL, we strive to help our patients achieve optimal dental health. Take some of our tips for keeping fresh breath.
Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth. In order to fight the odor, you need to fight the bacteria. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to brush and floss. In addition, while brushing your teeth, brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Brush two to three times per day and floss at least once per day.
Keeping your mouth hydrated is another important step. Bacteria thrive in dry mouth conditions. Therefore, drink your daily recommended amount of water to stay hydrated. Avoid alcoholic drinks and caffeinated drinks, as these dry out your mouth. The properties of green tea actually fight odor-causing bacteria, so sip on that to keep hydrated and fresh.
If you have bad breath after eating a particularly smelly food, it may help to chew mint leaves, parsley, or lemon rinds. These neutralize odors and stimulate saliva.
Keeping fresh breath will not only ensure there are no awkward moments caused by bad breath, it will also ensure you are keeping bacteria levels to a minimum! To learn more about dental hygiene, visit our website, www.miami-dental.com. Appointments at Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA can be made by calling our Miami Beach office at (305) 532-1444 or calling our North Miami Beach office at (305) 949-2630.
Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth. In order to fight the odor, you need to fight the bacteria. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to brush and floss. In addition, while brushing your teeth, brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Brush two to three times per day and floss at least once per day.
Keeping your mouth hydrated is another important step. Bacteria thrive in dry mouth conditions. Therefore, drink your daily recommended amount of water to stay hydrated. Avoid alcoholic drinks and caffeinated drinks, as these dry out your mouth. The properties of green tea actually fight odor-causing bacteria, so sip on that to keep hydrated and fresh.
If you have bad breath after eating a particularly smelly food, it may help to chew mint leaves, parsley, or lemon rinds. These neutralize odors and stimulate saliva.
Keeping fresh breath will not only ensure there are no awkward moments caused by bad breath, it will also ensure you are keeping bacteria levels to a minimum! To learn more about dental hygiene, visit our website, www.miami-dental.com. Appointments at Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA can be made by calling our Miami Beach office at (305) 532-1444 or calling our North Miami Beach office at (305) 949-2630.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)