Screening for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that affects the mouth. It can form in the lining of the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, tongue, and lips. During your dental visit at Fresh Meadows Dental Care, Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh can talk to you about your health history and examine these areas for signs of mouth and/or throat cancer through a procedure called oral cancer screening.

The oral cancer screening is a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. The screening will consist of a visual inspection of the mouth and palpation of the jaw and neck. Regular visits to the dentist office can improve the chances that any suspicious changes in your oral health will be caught early, at a time when cancer can be treated more easily. It is important to remember that your doctor does not necessarily think you have cancer if he or she suggests a screening test because they are given even when you have no cancer symptoms.

If you are concerned about oral cancer, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

Defining Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Here at Fresh Meadows Dental Care, we always explore non-invasive treatment options first, however, we may suggest an oral appliance depending on the severity of the condition.

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Like with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and daytime sleepiness can occur. Regardless of the type you have, it’s best to explore your treatment options.

If you sleep apnea is a concern of yours, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

Are You Flossing Properly?

When you visit Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh at Fresh Meadows Dental Care for a professional cleaning, do you fib about your flossing habits? You might think that you can avoid problems like gum disease just by brushing your teeth alone. However, this is not the case. It’s true that proper flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach, but plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease if not practiced at least twice a day.

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method for the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.