Toothaches & Dental Problems: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | iSmile Blogs 

We are introducing new cutting-edge technology into our office that will transform your next dental appointment. It is SmartMirror—the brightest and most advanced dental mirror. By exploring with SmartMirror, we will be able to get a crystal clear view of your mouth and share the experience with you in real-time. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made the entire world its hostage, each one of us is now trying to find some normality in this unknown world.

Oral health is not a joke and should never be taken lightly. What most people do not realize is that when you have poor oral health, it affects the overall health of an individual too. Thankfully enough studies have been conducted over the last two to three decades that emphasize the importance of oral health and why it is as important as the general health of the body.

Dental probiotics are perceived as a controversial topic in the dental field. While some people talk about the many advantages they bring, others claim oral probiotics are nothing but a myth. In this article, we intend to help you in figuring out whether dental probiotics are worth it or not. Let’s get started with the basics. 

Have you been brushing your teeth regularly lately but your teeth still don't look white? If yes, there is a chance that you might have dental calculus. Dental calculus is generally known as teeth tartar. As it is a crusty deposit, it traps stains on the surface of teeth, which causes discoloration of teeth.

What is dental calculus? 

Although losing teeth in an unfortunate occurrence, it is not uncommon. Sometimes people lose their teeth in a car accident or when they fail to take care of their teeth in the right way. It is interesting to note that according to the stats shared by the Underground Health Report, 26% of individuals have lost all of their permanent teeth as they reach the age of 75. 

The virus was officially given its name on February 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization. The abbreviation of coronavirus is COVID-19. It is important to note here that it is a new type of disease and has not been previously seen or recorded in humans. Currently, Coronavirus has killed more than 10,000

If you recently got a dental surgery and it is not healing, you might be Vitamin D deficient. 

Advancement in technology has impacted all fields of life and dentistry has not remained aloof of it either. Over the last two decades, there have been significant changes in the dental field, which have made the life of dentists and patients easier.

Did you know in 2015, $11 billion were spent by Americans only on teeth whitening techniques, out of which $1.4 billion were spent on buying home whitening products? 

Laser dentistry is defined as the branch of dentistry that uses lasers to treat several dental conditions that individuals have. The first time laser dentistry became commercially available was in 1989. It started with a tooth tissue procedure that was done with a laser.

It is amazing to see that people are taking care of their dental health, more than ever. Along with that, people are also conscious about their physical appearance and want to feel their best selves when they are with friends and in public.

Wisdom tooth removal surgery is one of the most common dental surgeries in the world. Wisdom tooth extraction is defined as a procedure, conducted through surgery, to remove either one or more of the wisdom teeth from an individual’s mouth.

The term ‘plastic’ in periodontal plastic surgery has been derived from the Greek word, ‘plastic’. In Greek, it refers to modeling or sculpting. It is a sub-field of dentistry that specializes in correcting or restoring the function and form of teeth.  

While we know that nearly all of our New York dental patients use an electric toothbrush, we’re uncertain how many also use an oral irrigator, often called by the brand name, Waterpik. We don’t recommend an oral irrigator as a replacement for flossing, but as an additional dental care tool.

Nobody wants to think about oral cancer, but approximately 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with it every year, so it’s important that you are aware of the symptoms and risks of this awful disease.

Everybody loves Christmas candies and cookies. We know the office has been full of treats and that you’re planning even more festivities over the next few days. Here are some tips to save your teeth over this two-week holiday period without being a Scrooge!

Congratulations! Having a child is one of the most gratifying experiences in a woman’s life! We’re always delighted to learn that a staff member or patient is bringing a new little person into the world! While we know you’re incredibly busy these days, taking care of your teeth during pregnancy is an important part of your total experience!

As experienced Manhattan cosmetic dentists, we’ve placed thousands of dental implants. If you have broken or missing teeth, dental implants can restore your beautiful smile and protect surrounding teeth, gums and jawbone. If you aren’t sure what dental implants are, how they are inserted, or how long they last, this blog post will give you all the details!

Some of the female patients at our NYC cosmetic dental practice have mentioned to us that their gums seem more sensitive around the time of their monthly cycle; when pregnant; during peri-menopause; and during menopause in women who receive hormone replacement therapy. In particular, they notice that their gums are puffy and may bleed with flossing. Does this describe you? Although some women never experience hormone-related changes in their oral health, if you do, this information will help!

While good oral health is important for everyone, as we grow older and face age-related health issues, it’s not uncommon to experience increased dental challenges, as well. If you’re over 65 or have a senior family member, there are things you should watch for to keep your teeth healthy (which helps keep your body healthy, too!).

We have absolutely no doubt that most of our NYC cosmetic dental patients have no idea that chlorine, as in chlorinated pool water, can damage the enamel on their teeth. We know this because, when we’ve mentioned it to our patients, they’re completely amazed by the possibility that their wonderful, relaxing swimming pool could be anything but wonderful and relaxing!

One of the studies that were conducted in 2014 included people who had both heart diseases and gum diseases. The study established that individuals who took care of their gum disease had a decrease of 10 to 40% in their cardiovascular care costs, in contrast to people who did not take care.

Another review article published in recent years analyzed several studies conducted on this top and successfully concluded that heart and gum diseases are co-related. The article also mentioned that when people have gum diseases, it increases their risk of heart diseases by almost 20%.

Having good dental habits such as regular brushing & flossing, seeing your dentist every six months,and eschewing simple carbohydrates and acids that damage teeth will not just maintain a beautiful smile–it might just extend your life! Several studies have proven a connection between heart disease, the #1 cause of death in the US, and gum disease (periodontal disease).

For decades, people did not give any importance to their dental health and did not include that in their physical health. But fortunately, this mindset has changed and now people do take care of their teeth and know the importance of it. But even in this age, the majority of people do not know that just like doctors have specializations and have specific titles, the same goes for dentists.

When an individual completes their dental undergrad school, they are called dentists. After that, when they do specialization and complete grad school, they get a title accordingly.

As you probably know, we perform a wide variety of cosmetic and restorative dental procedures at our Lower Manhattan dental office.  We know many of our patients may be unfamiliar with the details of various dental specialties. There are six specialties in dentistry that require additional training beyond dental school.

Virtually everyone knows that sweets, such as candy, soda and the like, contain acids that can damage your teeth. What many people don’t know, is that other, ordinary foods that we eat on a regular basis, can also damage your teeth!

Who doesn’t remember the fun of Flintstones chewable vitamins? They tasted like solid Pixi Stix, yummy and sweet in a crunchy pill version: everything kids love! Those types of chewables have plunged in popularity due to the advent of “gummy” vitamins for children. 

Even with the best dental care, it’s possible to lose a tooth from trauma. Whether you’ve lost a tooth from an accident or decay, your NYC cosmetic dentists will review your options and help you decide what to do about filling in the space left by your lost tooth or teeth. In most instances, the options boil down to two choices: a dental bridge or a dental implant.

At our Manhattan dental practice, our patients sometimes ask us if it might be preferable to have a crown placed over a tooth rather than a dental filling. While these two treatments aren’t identical, they can be an alternative for some patients, depending upon the severity of the decay.

One of the missions of our NYC dental practice is to provide relevant information to our patients to help them make wise choices about their dental habits. Recent studies show a link between dental health and the onset of dementia, which can be minimized through the simple practice of frequent brushing and flossing.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, please discuss this with one of the dentists at our  Lower Manhattan dental office. It’s our goal to provide complete oral care, including the design and construction of sleep apnea appliances for our patients who need them.

Dental patients are often surprised when they have discomfort following a root canal because, once completed, no living tissue remains inside the tooth. Since that’s the case, how could the tooth cause the patient any distress?

One of the most common causes of post-root canal tooth pain is inflammation, which can be caused by the procedure itself or because the infection caused the tooth ligament to become swollen.

Not everyone is born with a perfect set of teeth. To be fairly honest, the majority of the people do not have teeth that align just the way they should, without having any unnecessary gaps between them. Even the celebrities that you watch on television most likely have had some kind of dental procedure to have that million-dollar smile and confidence.

We all know about metal braces and how they can be worn to correct misaligned teeth. But the truth is, they are not everyone’s cup of tea. If you belong from the latter group too, do not be disheartened as you can get Invisalign to correct the misaligned teeth.

Of course, all our Manhattan dental patients have heard about Invisalign. What they might not have heard, however, is that treatment time can be as little as six months! And that, although they may have had straight teeth for many years, as we age our teeth may become misaligned? How’s that?

If you’re afraid of the dentist, we have a name for you: normal. In fact, it’s so normal that I can’t think of a single patient who comes to our Tribeca dental office who is delighted to see us. Friendly? Yes. Delighted? That’s a bit of an overstatement.  Going to the dentist can evoke fear in patients for many reasons.

Individuals with a high level of dental anxiety are more likely to avoid trips to the dentist.  As a result of this avoidance, they often experience a more advanced level of dental problems which, when finally treated, serve to reinforce their fears of the dentist. To address this repeating cycle, researchers in the UK tested CBT, a “talk therapy” technique, to see if it might help patients with dental phobia and/or dental anxiety.

Like most people, you’ve been brushing your teeth for as long as you can remember, and have likely gone through hundreds, if not thousands, of toothbrushes over your lifetime. You’ve seen toothbrush commercials touting the benefits of toothbrushes with a tiny rubber tip on the end to clean between your teeth and toothbrushes that play music to entice your children to brush. If you’re old enough, you might remember the Broxodent, the first electric toothbrush introduced in the US, in 1960. Since the introduction of the first “modern” toothbrush in the late 1700s to today’s high-tech ergonomic designs, the lowly toothbrush has come a long way.

The results of an 8-month dental implant study, correlating dental implant failure with the use of antidepressants, will be presented at the March, 2016 meeting of the American Association for Dental research. Antidepressants have dramatically improved the quality of many lives. However, there’s a surprising side effect that most people don’t know about: a connection between implant failure and antidepressants.

This is the season for special occasions, especially graduations, bridal showers and weddings. If you’re looking for an interesting gift idea to wow your gifted, one of the most unique, interesting, and useful gifts is teeth whitening! Sound odd? Not really.

Most of us brush and floss twice a day for fresh breath and to keep away cavities, but there are more important reasons to keep a clean mouth: research studies have shown links between poor oral health and illnesses such as heart disease, premature birth, stroke, and diabetes. Recently, researchers have linked two specific dental bacteria, already known to be present in periodontal disease, to an increased risk for pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, individuals with both bacteria present in the mouth had double the risk of developing the disease. We want our New York dental patients to be aware of this study.

Of course you’re brushing your teeth at least twice daily: upon rising and before bed. Hopefully, you’re thoroughly rinsing your mouth after lunch and snacks during the day when brushing isn’t possible. With all that commitment, how is it possible that you might be doing it wrong?  Your Lower Manhattan dentists have compiled 5 bad brushing habits that may be giving you a C- in brushing!

We’ve been told since childhood that sugar causes cavities. Unfortunately, there are nearly 60 compounds used in foods, beverages, and chewing gums that aren’t clearly identified as “sugar.” These compounds have all the drawbacks of sugar but, because of their names, you may consume them in far greater quantities that you think, simply because the name of that sugary ingredient isn’t clearly defined in your mind as a sugar substance.

It is a well-established fact now that taking care of your teeth is important but what a lot of people miss is that oral health goes beyond just brushing your teeth. Unarguably brushing teeth is one of the most essential parts of dental health but if you want to enjoy a better quality of life – there are several things that you can add in your life to achieve that.

All thanks to years of research and studies that have been conducted by data analysts and dentists, now we know the foods that are actually for boosting your dental health. These foods help you in different ways like diluting the sugars, loosening food particles stuck between teeth and much more.

While there are many foods that your New York City cosmetic dentists advise you not to eat, here are 4 that are especially good for your teeth!

A recent Japanese study confirms that supplementation with DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) can improve the outcome for individuals with gum disease. According to estimates, gingivitis is the 2nd most common disease worldwide. Estimates are that 30-50% of American men and women have some form of periodontal disease, a serious oral infection that destroys the soft tissue and bone that sustain the teeth. The discovery that supplementing ones diet with omega-3 fatty acids could reduce dental disease holds remarkable promise!

Wisdom teeth are something most people have to deal with at some point in their lives. Statistics say that, although not everyone develops a third set of molars (i.e., “wisdom teeth”), about 90% of people do have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, which often leads to extraction to avoid infection, misalignment of surrounding teeth and a host of other difficulties noted below.

There’s a proven connection between poor dental health and dementia. What’s that you say? Yes, it’s true. Here are links to two separate studies on that topic:

The study from the University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry

The study from Kanagawa Dental College in Japan

Here at iSmile, our cosmetic dentist practice in NYC, Dr. Chiarello and I are quite familiar with Oil Pulling. Some of our patients do it and others have asked about it. While there are no scientific studies proving its claims, many people, including celebrities, are big proponents of it.

Over the past 20 years, dental patients have benefited from advances in dental technology. Examples include traditional metal braces that have been supplemented with Invisalign, and manual flossing with its high-tech alternative, water flossing. The standard in dental fillings, that being the silvery metallic fillings we all recognize, have been marginalized as dentists and consumers alike find ceramic and resin dental materials superior to their ancestor.

Many patients treated at my Manhattan cosmetic dental practice believe in the power of vitamin and mineral supplements. They take them because they know that sticking with the healthiest diet doesn’t always happen; that our soils are depleted of minerals compared with even 50 years ago, and because they want to maximize their health and well being. If you’re interested in identifying the best vitamins for your teeth, I have some suggestions.

Although everyone knows that drinking soda (including diet soda) and eating sweets can damage teeth, many of our New York City cosmetic dental patients are surprised when, after noticing some dental erosion, we ask about their “healthy” habits, such as juicing. Here are five “healthy” foods that may be challenging your beautiful smile, and some tips to maintain your pearly whites!

Technology is progressing at an unimaginable speed. What used to be writings of sci-fi writers has become our reality and an essential part of our lives. There is no sector or field in the world that has remained untouched by technology. The same goes for the dental field. Over the last few decades, significant progress has been made in dental procedures, equipment, and methodologies. As a result, they are more efficient, painless and faster.

University of Michigan School of Dentistry researchers have recently released new software to improve the effectiveness of 3-dimensional images used to treat dental conditions. The software allows dentists and researchers to stack a series of scans obtained over a period of time to, according to Lucia Cevidanes, assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry and the project’s principal investigator “… more accurately track both a disease and the effectiveness of its treatment.”