Tooth Decay and Sensitivity

Are you looking forward to ice cream sandwiches this summer? If not, we hope it’s not because of sensitive teeth. We at Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing want all our patients to be confident in their teeth’s structure. If you suffer from sensitivity, the likeliest cause is thin enamel.

The dentin that surrounds our dental pulp is made up of miniature tubes. When it comes into contact with something very cold or hot, it easily conducts heat to or from the nerve at the tooth’s center. Below the gum line, dentin is surrounded by cementum, which helps the tooth root adhere to the walls of the gum pocket. Enamel, a tougher substance made of calcium phosphate, forms the hard shell of the crown of the tooth and normally insulates dentin.

Although enamel is extremely hard, it dissolves when subjected to acid. There are two main sources of acid; one is excretion by oral bacteria that consume food debris, and the other is acid reflux. Regular brushing and flossing is essential to removing oral bacteria, while cutting back on acidic foods such as red meat and alcohol can reduce acid reflux. Patients may also consider sealants to further shield their enamel and extra-fluoridated toothpaste to reinforce it. Once enamel has been lost, it will have to be replaced synthetically, but it may still be possible to strengthen enamel that has lost minerals. Tooth roots, which have no enamel to begin with, may need to be protected by a gum graft if gum tissue has receded from around them.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Flushing, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit Fresh Meadows Dental and fill out a contact form.

 

Proper Flossing Technique

Flossing is an important part of your dental routine. Many people overlook flossing, but its as important as brushing. Flossing cleans areas that your toothbrush simply cannot reach. At your bi-annual appointments with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh, you might find yourself fibbing about how much you floss. Yet flossing at least once a day can help you prevent major gum disease and dental issues. Our staff here at Fresh Meadows Dental Care, located in Flushing, NY., have a flossing technique that is recommended for you.

 

First, hold around 18 inches of floss between your two middle fingers. This allows you to switch out the floss as it becomes dirty. Gently guide the floss between your two teeth. Do not snap the floss. Once the floss has reached the gum line, curve it around one tooth in a “C” shape. Hold the floss tightly and move it up and down in a rubbing motion. Do this for all of your teeth.

 

There are many excuses that people use for why they don’t floss regularly. Many complain that it is a time-consuming activity. This is not true. Flossing can be done anywhere. Anytime you find yourself sitting down to watch TV, read, or go on your phone, you can be flossing at the same time. Another common excuse is that it can be difficult to reach your back teeth. Most grocery stores and supermarket sell flossing handheld applicators that can fit easily into smaller areas. Floss also comes in different thicknesses, with thinner floss easily fitting between tighter gaps.

 

If you worry that you are not flossing enough or that you might be flossing wrong, let your concerns be known at your bi-annual appointments with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh. Fresh Meadows Dental Care is located in Flushing, NY. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Hakimzadeh, visit our website or call 718-224-7272.

National Dental Hygiene Month

Do you brush and floss every day? We sure hope so, but not everybody knows exactly how to maintain the best possible oral hygiene routine. Since October is National Dental Hygiene Month, we at Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing thought it would be a good time to go over the basics.

You should only brush your teeth with soft-bristled toothbrushes and toothpaste. People should brush their teeth twice a day (and brush their gums before putting in dentures) and brush for two minutes each time. When brushing the fronts of your teeth, you can do so horizontally, but you should brush their inward-facing sides vertically. We recommend flossing daily, and you should only ever use an American Dental Association-approved product for picking your teeth. When flossing, rub the side of each tooth down to the gum line; don’t just move the floss through the gaps between your teeth. Be sure not to miss the backs of your teeth.

Brushing and flossing aren’t the only parts of good hygiene. Daily use of a tongue scraper can help keep your breath sweet and prevent you from inhaling bad bacteria. Between brushings, you can also chew sugar-free gum to get rid of food debris.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Flushing, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit Fresh Meadows Dental and fill out a contact form.

 

Proper Flossing Technique

Fresh Meadows Dental Care wants to see our patients set up for a lifetime of good oral health.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively:

• A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using. 


• The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line and isn’t necessary to floss properly. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about oral hygiene and the services we provide, 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.