Are Your Foundations Strong

You may not be aware but just like a beautiful building your teeth would not be present without a strong foundation to support them. Teeth are maintained in your jaw due to healthy bone and surrounding gum tissue. You could have a full set of teeth without any filings or decay and lose them to a poor foundation. Periodontal disease or gum disease which attacks the foundations of your teeth is preventable and also amenable to treatment. The good news is that you control the extent of gum disease in your mouth. The easiest way to prevent gum disease is through daily brushing and flossing. Ideally you should floss and brush twice per day. Once in the morning upon waking and a second time at night before retiring. You want to decrease the amount of bacteria in your mouth especially before going to sleep where bacteria thrive in an environment that is warm, dark and without air. Failure to brush and floss at night leaves excess food in your mouth. Upon waking you need to brush and floss to remove any overnight buildup. Also morning mouth can be disturbing to your friends. Realize all the bacteria in your mouth are anaerobic, meaning without oxygen. When you brush your teeth you bring air into your mouth which contains 20% oxygen. Your teeth are squares or cubes and when you brush you clean the top, back and front but do not get in between. However when you floss you bring air in between your teeth reducing the levels of bacteria. All teeth have a cuff surrounding them which in health is 3mm in depth. When you eat, food accumulates in these pockets and if not removed breaks down releasing acids. In the first phase of gum disease called gingivitis the ligaments holding the teeth in your mouth are attacked. Once the pocket gets greater than 5 mm in depth you are no longer able to reach the base of the pocket through flossing since the floss would have to cut your gums to reach the bottom of the pocket. If food continues to accumulate in the second phase of gum disease called periodontitis the pockets will increase in depth. This leads to bone loss and eventual tooth mobility and tooth loss. Periodontal surgery is then necessary to save your teeth which are expensive and slightly painful. The good news is daily flossing and brushing with bi-yearly dental exams and cleanings will prevent this situation from occurring. So let the floss be with you for continued dental health.

If you are looking for a dentist we are here for you.  We are located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  Only one block from the 4,5,6 and Q subways lines it is easy to get to our location.  So, maybe you only need a cleaning or maybe you perceive something could be going on, then give us a call today at 212 517 9000.  You and your teeth will be glad you did.

---

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Into The Thick of It – Toothpaste

Cruising down the dental aisle at Duane Reade or CVS is a kaleidoscopic tour.  So many choices and so little time to choose, somebody help me.  Glenn Reit DDS, here to give you an inside look at the differences in toothpastes.

Why do most toothpastes feel gritty?  That’s because the abrasive nature of toothpaste is to help with removing dental plaque and food from the surface of your teeth.  Vigorous tooth brushing is unnecessary when the toothpaste is designed to remove bits of food and polish the surface of your teeth at the same time.

Why is toothpaste minty fresh and nice?  Minty flavorings are used to encourage continued use of the paste and to freshen breath.  However toothpaste is not designed to cure bad breath.  To prevent bad breath you need to prevent periodontal disease and brush bacteria on the back of your tongue.  Removing the source is more vital than trying to cover it up with minty flavorings.

Why is fluoride placed into toothpaste?   Fluoride present in small amounts in plants, animals and some natural water sources is championed for its ability for preventing tooth decay and controlling gingivitis.  Fluoride incorporated into the drinking water supply has vastly decreased the amount of tooth decay present in the general population.

If I am brushing, do I need to floss?  YES YES YES.  Think of your teeth as cubes or squares.  Your toothbrush can only get onto the top, front and back of your teeth.  To get in between your teeth you need that little piece of string known as dental floss.  This is the only way to get between your adjacent teeth to clean there.  Most decay starts in between your teeth due to lack of flossing.

What about mouthwash?  The use of mouthwash cannot replace the regular brushing and flossing.  Mouthwash just adds another effective layer of defense against bacterial growth in your mouth.

If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned in awhile realize your teeth want to be cleaned.  Being proactive is always better than being reactive.  At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets in Yorkville we like meeting people and taking care of their dental needs.

If you are in the area or not and need an exam or cleaning or possibly something more give us a call at 212 517 9000.  You and your teeth will be glad you did.

---

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Big Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth

Routines

A routine is something you do religiously.  Routines become habits.  Some habits are healthy while others like cigarette smoking can be detrimental.  A good routine is to brush your teeth twice a day; once in the morning upon waking followed by another round at night before going to sleep.

All the bacteria in your mouth are anaerobic meaning they like places without oxygen.   The bacteria also like warm, dark places with food available.  Guess what, this is exactly the condition in your mouth.  Ever experience morning mouth?  That’s the condition where upon waking you have a funky taste and smell inside your mouth.  It seems your bacterial colonies are growing which eventually if not removed lead to cavities and gum disease.

So your mission if you decide to accept it is to remove these colonies before they can do any harm.   If you do not your gums and teeth will disavow any responsibility for the damage you've caused.  So, what’s to do?

Upon waking get out your trusty toothbrush preferably with soft bristles and get in there and start cleaning.  Electric toothbrushes are fine if that’s your preference. The goal is to scrub the top, front and backs of all your teeth.  While brushing you are bringing air into your mouth which contains twenty percent oxygen which will help to annihilate the forming bacterial colonies.  In addition you are removing any build of food you have eaten.

Unfortunately,   brushing cannot get in between your teeth.  Here you need dental floss, that fine string which can get in between the teeth.  Once again you are bringing oxygen between your teeth and cleaning the surfaces and slightly below the gum line creating a clean and healthy environment.

Twice a year you should also be coming in to see us, so we can make sure you are succeeding in your cleaning mission.  If not, we will help you get back on track or begin a dental cleaning routine.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville we are here for you.  Conveniently located for the: 10028, 10075, or 10021 zip codes.   We’re at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets directly across from our very own Mickey Dee’s.

If you need a check up, cleaning or something more substantial give us a call at 212 517 9000 and we’ll be there for you.  We like people and we like teeth.  Call Today you and your teeth will be glad you did.

---

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

What is BioFilm?

Did you know what BioFilm is and did you realize you probably have it?

Biofilm is a coating of bacteria that likes wet places just like what is happening in your mouth.

If you’ve ever picked up a rock in a stream or river you might have noticed a slimy film on the surface.

This is a form of biofilm which is similar to the film that builds up on your teeth.  If you do not remove this biofilm it can lead to gum disease and cavities.

This accumulation of bacteria begins to form within several hours after brushing your teeth.

Over time it appears as a hard substance that is either brown or yellow in color.  You’ve probably seen it on the backs of your lower anterior teeth.   It can cause dental decay by just sitting there for prolonged periods of time.  It is full of bacteria and acidic in nature leading to breakdown of the enamel layer covering your tooth.  Once through the enamel the bacteria enter the inner dentin of your tooth forming a cavity.

In addition, if the plaque buildup remains for extended periods on the outside of your teeth the acidity leads to gingival irritation and eventually gum disease.  Here your gums will become red and inflamed. Removing biofilm by regularly brushing and flossing is the key to the prevention of cavities and gum disease. 

 At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we can examine your mouth and see if biofilm is accumulating.  If so we will comfortably remove it and check to see if any cavities or gum disease is present and if so give you alternatives to treat it.

We are conveniently located in the Upper East Side in Yorkville at 1498 Third Avenue which is between 84th and 85th streets.  We like meeting people and we love taking care of you and your teeth.   Whether you are in need of a checkup, cleaning or something more substantial give us a call TODAY at 212 517 9000.

You and your teeth will be glad you did.

---

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Make Cleaning Your Teeth a Dental Habit

When you do things often enough at the same time each day it turns into a routine.

Some routines are monotonous while others can be exhilarating.  When you exercise routinely you experience an endorphin rush after your workout.  This makes you feel good.  Feeling good helps you to maintain your routine.  Taking a shower or bath each day makes you feel clean which for most; is an enjoyable sensation.

To achieve it you need to develop a routine to clean your mouth.  Ideally it should be twice daily in the morning and in the evening.  When you wake up each morning you might have the sensation which I call morning mouth.  The bacteria within your mouth has been having a party, party.  They have grown and are producing noxious substances which can irritate and smell.

To reduce the party you should brush and floss before you go to bed causing the bacterial count in your mouth to be less upon waking.  So the goal is to brush in the morning and follow up in the evening.  

All the bacteria in your mouth are anaerobic, meaning without oxygen.  The air contains 20 percent oxygen.  So when you brush your teeth you bring air into your mouth and the oxygen within destroys the bacteria.  You can only brush the top, front and backs of your teeth.  To prevent cavities between your teeth you need to floss.  The floss brings air in between your teeth which kills the bacteria hiding there.

Everyone wants a healthy mouth.  You have the tools to make it so.  By brushing and flossing twice per day every day you will make cleaning your teeth a routine which ultimately leads to a habit which in this case will maintain your tooth health. You should also come in to see us for a professional cleaning twice per year.  We can tell you how you’re doing and make sure there is nothing growing inside your mouth.

At our dental practice we like teeth and we like the people connected to teeth.  If you are fortunate to have Aetna, Cigna, Guardian or MetLife Dental PPO insurance and you have not used your benefits, your cleaning, exam and x-rays are covered at 100% with no additional cost to you.

We are conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in the 10028 zip code at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.   Our phone number is 212 517 9000 with the 4, 5,6 and Q subway lines one block away.  In addition there are plenty of bus lines close to us.

So, if people are backing away from you or you’re aware of something odoriferous emanating from your mouth, give us a call.  You and your mouth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you