Suffering From Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth—also called xerostomia—results from an inadequate flow of saliva. It is not a disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder or a side effect of certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics and many others.

Saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay and maintains the health of the soft and hard tissues in the mouth. Saliva washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth, offering first-line protection against microbial invasion or overgrowth that might lead to disease.

Some of the common problems associated with dry mouth include a constant sore throat, burning sensation, trouble speaking, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness or dry nasal passages. Without saliva, extensive tooth decay can also occur.

Your dentist can recommend various methods to restore moisture. Sugar-free candy or gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial saliva and oral rinses.
For more information, visit the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation at www.sjogrens.org.

For more information visist- www.ada.org or vistit www.blochdentistry.com

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website. We want to see you smile!

Cosmetic Dentistry Tips on How to Prevent Cavities

Cavities are a reality of life that everyone faces sooner or later, but with a littlediscipline and and help from your dentist cavities can be prevented and fixed.

Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of your teeth. It can be a problem for children, teens and adults. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugars, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth and over time the enamel can break down. This is when cavities can form. A cavity is a little hole in your tooth.

Cavities are more common among children, but changes that occur with aging make cavities an adult problem, too. Recession of the gums away from the teeth, combined with an increased incidence of gum disease, can expose tooth roots to plaque. Tooth roots are covered with cementum, a softer tissue than enamel. They are susceptible to decay and are more sensitive to touch and to hot and cold. It’s common for people over age 50 to have tooth-root decay.

Decay around the edges, or a margin, of fillings is also common for older adults. Because many older adults lacked benefits of fluoride and modern preventive dental care when they were growing up, they often have a number of dental fillings. Over the years, these fillings may weaken and tend to fracture and leak around the edges. Bacteria accumulate in these tiny crevices causing acid to build up which leads to decay.

You can help prevent tooth decay by following these tips:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner.
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
• Check with your dentist about the use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (where decay often starts) to protect them from decay.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination.

For more information please visit www.ada.org or schedule an appointment at Bloch Dentistry Center. Call (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

Simple Habits For a Healthy Smile For Life

Dr. Jonathan Bloch

We all know life can be a bit crazy sometimes. Work, kids, school, traffic! It is sometimes overwhelming, but don’t get too busy to neglect your dental health. Your dental care is just as important now as it was when you were a kid. Untreated dental disease can lead to serious health issues like dental infections, bone loss around teeth, dental nerve damage, and even tooth loss. A few simple habits can go a long way in helping you maintain a healthy smile, even when you are too busy.  Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss once a day and visit your dentist regularly for both check ups and cleanings. These simple habits can help you maintain a Healthy smile for Life.

What About Missing Teeth

Did you know that the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth? If you are missing one or more teeth, there are plenty of ways to correct the problem. Schedule an appointment with our office for more information about improving your smile and find out how you can maintain a healthy smile for life!

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

Is Chewing Gum Good for Your Teeth?

Chewing gum in various forms has been around since ancient times. The Greeks chewed sap from the mastic tree, called mastiche. On the other side of the world, the ancient Mayans favored the sap of the sapodilla tree (called tsiclte). Native Americans from New England chewed spruce sap—a habit they passed on to European settlers. Today, the base used for most gum products is a blend of synthetic materials (elastomeres, resins and waxes in various proportions). However, chewing gum is as popular as ever.

Consumers may be used to thinking about chewing gum as a kind of candy, but this category of the ADA Seal recognizes chewing gum that has demonstrated scientifically that it can protect the teeth.

 

For an informative article on the history of chewing gum, visit

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/85/8532sci2.html (Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.)

The physical act of chewing increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. If you chew after eating, the increased salivary flow can help neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth. Over time, acid can break down tooth enamel, creating the conditions for decay. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel. Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

Find out more information on other interesting oral health topics, please visit our website or

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

 

Tooth whitening in The Dental Office

By. Dr. Jonathan Bloch

Everyone would love to have a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you achieve a healthy bright smile or simply improve the look of your smile.

Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and regular cleanings. If you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.

You can take several approaches to whiten your smile:

• In-office bleaching;
• At-home bleaching;
• Whitening toothpastes

For faster and better results we suggest a in-office tooth whitening procedure that is fast and effective. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.

During chairside bleaching, the dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent. An hour later your teeth are several shades whiter.

At-home bleaching trays and whitening toothpastes can also help you brighten your smile, but take longer and may be less effective than in-office bleaching.

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

Overcoming Dental Anxiety

Many people get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist? You might be worrying unnecessarily. With dentistry's many advances, diagnosis and treatment gets more sophisticated and comfortable all the time.

It's often best to share your anxiety. If you're tense or anxious, tell your dentist and the dental staff. Getting your concerns out in the open will let your dentist adapt the treatment to your needsTry to choose a time for your dental visit when you're less likely to be rushed or under pressure. For some people, that means a Saturday or an early-morning appointment.

If the sound of the drill bothers you, bring a portable audio player and headset so you can listen to your favorite music. During the dental visit you might try visualizing yourself relaxing on a warm beach.

These positive techniques work wonders for many. Try them on your next dental visit.

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!

Quick Tips to Help You Get The Most Out of Brushing and Flossing

With our busy schedules sometimes it is easy to overlook (or even forget) one of the simplest and most essential routines for your health; brushing your teeth. Even if you do it regularly chances are you do not spend enough time brushing. This article will review simple tips to brush and floss your teeth in less time with the greatest results.

 

 

Brushing:

Simple techniques can help maximize the effectiveness of your brushing. First of all position your tooth brush properly. Using the right angle can increase the effectiveness of your brushing significantly. You should place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums. Move your brush back and forth gently in short strokes. Remember to carefully brush every surface of your teeth, the outer and inner tooth surfaces and the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Pay special attention to the facial side (cheek side) of your teeth as this is the area where food easily gets lodged. Last, but not least don't forget to brush your tongue to remove bacteria and help keep your breath fresh.

Flossing:

Flossing is also very important for your oral health. Flossing will help remove tartar and plaque buildup and help you maintain healthy gums. To floss your teeth effectively break off about 18 inches of floss and wind it around your middle finger. Wind the other side on the same finger of the other hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Next gently guide the floss between your teeth with a gentle rubbing motion. Try to avoid snapping the floss into the gums. When the floss reaches your gum line curve it into a C shape between your teeth and gums. Now hold the floss tightly against your tooth and just rub the sides of the tooth gently with up and down motions. Repeat this same process with your all your teeth. Very important, don’t forget to do it with the back side of your last tooth as well.

There are many tools to help make flossing easier, including floss threaders, flossers with a handle, and even flavored floss. For those people who cannot handle the floss, interdental cleaners are great options.

Call our friendly staff to schedule an appointment at (305)385-5555 or visit our website at www.BlochDentistry.com. We want to see you smile!