Shopping for Mouthwash

Not everyone chooses to incorporate mouthwash to his or her oral care routine, but doing so will benefit your smile. The main function of mouthwash is to freshen breath, but certain mouthwashes contain fluoride that will protect tooth enamel. Mouthwash has a few beneficial properties and Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS would like to address a few of them.

Mouthwash contains:

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor-causing compounds.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive dental care, please give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Intrinsic Staining

As part of his quest to provide optimal dentistry, Dr. Amit Pandya of New Hyde Park helps people with stained teeth to brighten up their smiles. The most common way of doing this is with chairside whitening, which leaves patients with teeth that are several shades lighter for months. But some stains, those which are intrinsic to the tooth, require a more involved approach.

Usually, stains are acquired from things consumed in adulthood, such as smoke or coffee. These can be bleached away. But intrinsic stains may be the result of something the tooth was exposed to during its formation, such as excessive amounts of fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics. These stains are too deep to be bleached, but they are not a health hazard and can be covered with veneers.

Intrinsic stains resulting from infection are another matter. An infection in the dental pulp may not be painful initially, but it is likely to become so and can imperil the patient’s life if it spreads to the bloodstream. A root canal will be done to remove infected pulp, after which the tooth may be given a new crown.

The office of Amit Pandya, DDS, is at 1575 Hillside Ave, Suite 207, New Hyde Park, New York, 11040. To schedule an appointment, call 516-233-2135, or visit his website at Going Grin and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Shopping for Toothpaste

A toothbrush is your most powerful tool to fight against tooth decay and periodontal disease. A toothbrush isn’t as effective, however, without toothpaste. Brushing with toothpaste is important for several reasons. Toothpaste removes plaque, the sticky, harmful film of bacteria that grows on teeth that causes cavities and also contains fluoride which promotes re-mineralization. With so many toothpaste options to choose from, how do you decide?  Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS wants patients to know that when it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs.

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste help reduces oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exactly what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive dental care, please give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Sectioning Teeth

At the New Hyde Park dental office of Dr. Amit Pandya, we understand the concerns people have about tooth extractions. Natural teeth are always the best and extractions should only be done when necessary. However, when impacted wisdom teeth threaten the health of the rest of the teeth, we remove them quickly and with minimal risk to the patient. This sometimes requires us to section the teeth before removal.

Wisdom teeth are the largest teeth and have multiple roots attached to strong ligaments. Trying to remove them in one piece could subject the patient to a dangerous amount of force even if the wisdom teeth were in a perfect position which, if they are being removed, they probably are not. Impacted wisdom teeth are often located close to major nerves and are too large to move without cutting away some gum tissue.

Teeth can be moved with less force and through smaller gum flaps when they have been cut apart. This is only done after the patient has been numbed and sedated. A dental drill is used to do the cutting and the surgical site is kept under a stream of water to prevent damage from heat. Sectioned teeth can be lifted out of the jaw easily and the gums can then be sutured.

The office of Amit Pandya, DDS, is at 1575 Hillside Ave, Suite 207, New Hyde Park, New York, 11040. To schedule an appointment, call 516-233-2135, or visit his website at Going Grin and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Childhood Halitosis

We help patients of all ages with all sorts of oral health needs at the New Hyde Park dental office of Dr. Amit Pandya. Adults aren’t the only people who get bad breath, and when children get it, there may be some specific issues which need to be addressed for their oral health as well as their social prospects.

Halitosis, as bad breath is scientifically called, is the result of excessive bacterial growth in the mouth and throat. There may be some condition which is allowing bacteria to grow or preventing the body from fighting infection, but in most cases, the problem is simple lack of hygiene. Children sometimes have difficulty brushing every tooth surface and on their tongues for a full two minutes. These children will require more teaching and supervision and may benefit from the use of an electric toothbrush.

The most common condition which would contribute to halitosis is dry mouth. Besides making it harder to remove food debris, dry mouth disrupts the mouth’s optimal acidity level, hampering the immune system. This could be caused by diabetes or medications, such as those commonly used for psychiatric conditions. Children are also particularly prone to nasal infections, which could result in drip accumulating in their throats and feeding bacteria. Non-alcoholic mouthwash could help with this problem.

The office of Amit Pandya, DDS, is at 1575 Hillside Ave, Suite 207, New Hyde Park, New York, 11040. To schedule an appointment, call 516-233-2135, or visit his website at Going Grin and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Bad Oral Habits

Most of us have habits that we aren’t proud of. When these habits begin to affect the teeth, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS encourages you to break them immediately. Bad oral habits such as these can cause fractures in the teeth, may leave gums and enamel feeling sensitive and may lead to costly dental treatment in the future. If you practice any of these bad oral habits, do your best to reduce and eliminate them.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will leave you in pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive dental care, please give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth can be very uncomfortable. A patient who has fell victim may feel gum inflammation and possibly wince at the thought of drinking a hot or cold beverage. Possible causes of sensitive teeth include tooth decay, worn fillings, and periodontal disease. However, the most common reason for tooth sensitivity is a poor oral care routine. Fortunately, if you have sensitive teeth, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS can treat the problem.

In healthy teeth, a layer of enamel protects the crowns of the teeth – the part above the gum line. If proper oral care isn’t practiced, gums may recede and this will cause sensitivity. Treatment options for sensitive teeth may include desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride gel, a gum graft, or a root canal depending on the severity of the sensitivity. To prevent sensitive teeth you should always brush at least twice a day for two minutes and floss at least once a day.

If you have questions or concerns about tooth sensitivity, please give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com.