Look younger than you have in years! Now that’s a statement that has everyone’s head turning in the hope of taking back a few years of their youth. The plethora of products available on the market to “reduce aging” and “rejuvenate your skin” is everywhere. But anti-aging creams and rejuvenating lotions aren’t the only steps you can take to reclaim your youth.

According to Dr. Michael Roizen your Long Island Periodontist may play a key factor in adding a few years to your life. In fact, Dr.Roizen appeared on Oprah and 20/20 sharing his plan with the world and promoting his book on how proper care of your teeth and gums can add up to 6.4 years to your life. I bet proper oral care would have never made your list of anti-aging products that keep you looking younger and living longer!

President of the American Academy of Periodontology backs Dr. Roizen’s claims sharing that it makes sense when you consider that gum disease is caused by bacterial infection in the gums, which can spread through the bloodstream to other areas of the body and bacteria leads to health complications.

To help keep your mouth healthy and improve your health for a longer happier life the American Academy of Periodontology offers 10 tips for staying on top of your oral health:

1. Use a soft bristled toothbrush when brushing your teeth. The soft bristles allow you to better reach every surface on your teeth. Be sure to replace your toothbrush when the bristles begin to fray or bend to ensure optimal brushing.
2. Use a fluoride based toothpaste to help reduce tooth decay.
3. When brushing your teeth be sure to use proper technique to clean every surface of your teeth. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle along your gum line and brush in a circular motion when brushing the fronts of your teeth. Then position your tooth brush vertical and gently move back and forth to get between the teeth. Finally, move the brush back and forth on the biting surface of your teeth. If you want to make sure your technique is good ask your dental practitioner to provide a demonstration.
4. It’s important to floss every day in addition to brushing. Place the floss between each tooth and wrap the floss in a C-shape around the tooth. Then gently slide the floss up. Repeat on the other side for the adjoining tooth and so on throughout your mouth.
5. Brushing’s primary job is to remove plaque from the surface of your teeth. To help make sure you’ve done the job right you can purchase a tablet or mouth wash that will stain the plaque on your teeth.
6. If you use tobacco products, stop.
7. Watch for early warning signs of periodontal disease and seek treatment right away. Early signs include; bleeding gums while brushing, persistent bad breath, red or swollen gums, a change in the way your teeth or dentures fit in your mouth, and loose or separating teeth.
8. If you are one of those who grind your teeth you may need to have a dental practitioner fit you with a mouth guard to help protect the soft tissue around your teeth.
9. Monitor any medications you are taking since many of them have side effects that could aide in the development of gum disease.
10. Visit a dentist and Periodontist regularly.

By following these simple tips daily you will be on your way to a healthy smile and longer life! If you’re looking for a Long Island Periodontist Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel giving you an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com

Tags: bleeding gums long island, Long Island peridontist, long island periodontist, periodontist disease Long Island, periodontist in Long Island

This entry was posted on Monday, June 7th, 2010 at 7:24 am and is filed under Long Island Periodontist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.