Bad Breath in Children

Nobody wants bad breath, and at Fresh Meadows Dental Care, we help even our youngest patients to maintain a smile that pleases in every regard. As with adults, halitosis in children is most commonly due to poor hygiene, but there are some specific issues which should also be investigated during an examination.

Creviced soft tissue is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, particularly if food particles can get trapped in it. Children often have not had their tonsils removed, providing one such ideal home, but the tongue is another area which foul odors often originate from. This is why oral hygiene instructions now emphasize the importance of tongue brushing, as well. People who suffer from dry mouth, which is a common side-effect of ADHD and anxiety medications, also need to take particular care of their oral hygiene.

Another reason for childhood halitosis is that children tend to get sinus infections more frequently than adults. The drip from their nasal passages is an additional food source for bacteria while mouth-breathing in response to a stuffy nose results in dry mouth. A foreign object lodged in a child’s nose will also cause nasal drip.

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

 

Dry Mouth

We teach all our patients at Fresh Meadows Dental Care about the importance of oral hygiene, but people who suffer from dry mouth need to be especially vigilant. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth isn’t just irritating; it raises a patient’s risk of developing infections and complicates several other conditions.

Dry mouth has become common because it is a side-effect of a large number of medications, particularly for cancer. However, it can also result from Sjögren’s syndrome, which is a disorder of unknown origin which causes dryness in the mouth and eyes. Because saliva is important for keeping bacteria and fungus growth under control, its absence makes patients more likely to develop periodontal disease and thrush.

Patients can improve their saliva production by reducing their intake of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. However, if their dry mouth is being caused by a medication which they cannot have changed, patients may need to consider alternate means of moisturizing. These include rinses and mouthwash, as well as additional medications. Chewing sugar-free gum and candy is another way to boost saliva production. But regardless of what other steps they take, dry mouth patients have to be especially sure to brush properly.

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

 

Dental Bridges

Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care has a wide variety of restorative options to choose from if you have missing teeth. Today, however, we are going to discuss dental bridges. The objective of a dental bridge is to literally bridge the gap that has been created by one or more missing teeth. They are usually supported by natural teeth or dental implants and can be permanent or removable.

Dental bridges have numerous advantages such as restoring your smile, restoring your ability to properly chew and speak, maintain the shape of your face, and prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position. After you and Dr. Hakimzadeh discuss which type of bridge is right for you, it will take about two visits to complete the procedure. During the first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared for a dental crown and impressions will be made. Dr. Hakimzadeh will then give you a temporary bridge to wear home. During your second visit, your temporary bridge will be removed and your permanent bridge will be set in place.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental bridges, 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.

Dental Sealants

If you had the opportunity to barricade cavities forever, would you take it? Well, Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care may not be able to eliminate them forever, but he can reduce your chance of developing decay, with dental sealants. Dental sealants consist of a plastic material that is placed on the chewing surface of the permanent molars to help protect them from bacteria and acids that cause tooth decay.

Though adults can reap the benefits of dental sealants, they are more for children and teenagers. This is because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the molars. Although thorough brushing and flossing remove food particles that cause decay, sometimes it’s hard to reach in the back of the mouth to brush the molars. Sealants have the ability to protect these vulnerable areas for up to ten years, therefore the earlier they are placed, the better.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental sealants, 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.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that develop during our late teenage years or early twenties. Not all wisdom teeth will need to be extracted. In fact, if they are not problematic, they might even be able to stay intact. However, when wisdom teeth are misaligned or impacted, they increase the risk of infection as well as damaging the adjacent teeth, jawbone, or nerves. To determine the status of your wisdom teeth, Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care will need to look at them on an X-ray.

Sometimes, a person will feel the effects of the wisdom teeth before they even erupt. If wisdom teeth are impacted – enclosed within the soft tissue and/or jawbone – they may cause headaches or tooth pain to the patient. In other cases, the wisdom teeth may partially erupt, which leaves an open area that is prone to infection. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are more prone to tooth decay and can make brushing and flossing almost impossible, as they are difficult to reach.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your wisdom teeth, 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.

Acid Reflux

We highly value patient comfort at Fresh Meadows Dental Care and have found that acid reflux is one of the most common causes of toothaches in adults. To help them avoid this problem, we want to educate our readers about what is scientifically known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

When hydrochloric acid from the stomach escapes into the esophagus, it damages all the tissues it encounters. In the mouth, these include tooth enamel as well as soft gum tissue surrounding teeth. As a result, the teeth painfully decay, the gums recede, and the mouth dries out from damage to the saliva glands, increasing the patient’s risk of infection and their discomfort.

Acid reflux can be reduced by abstinence from fried and fatty foods as well as those that are high in acids, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, onions, and garlic. Patients may also need to ask their doctor about switching medications. There is no way to regrow enamel, but it can be reinforced through fluoride treatments. Bonding and white fillings are among the solutions for teeth that have already cracked.

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

 

Dental Crowns

If you have teeth that are weak and need restoration, a dental crown may be what you’re looking for. A dental crown has the ability to strengthen a tooth by placing a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold the filling. Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh offers this service at Fresh Meadows Dental Care and would like to let you know what to expect if you ever need one.

There are four different types of dental crowns, but after scheduling a consultation with Dr. Hakimzadeh, he will decide which is best for you. The most popular dental crown materials are ceramic, due to their ability to blend in with your natural tooth color, as well as porcelain crowns because they provide a very strong and durable bond. While a crowned tooth doesn’t require any special care, that doesn’t mean that your oral hygiene routine should be forgotten. Dental crowns will last a lifetime if they are properly maintained.

If you have questions or concerns about dental crowns, 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.