Travel is by far one of the coolest things Americans enjoy year after year. For some planning that summer vacation is drawn out process of coordinating and rotating hot spots and so much more. Whether you prefer that 10 day cruise or lounging on the beach at Long Island gum disease risk factors are tagging along for the ride.

Gum disease just might be one of the sneakiest diseases taunting Americans worldwide. That’s because it starts in the background without any symptoms to warn you. The disease begins with plaque build on the surface of your teeth that result in tiny pockets along the gum line.

These pockets then serve as the perfect habitat for bacteria that causes gum disease. Perhaps the most amazing part is the speed in which this all takes place. Within a two week time span the bacteria in your mouth can more than double if you neglect your oral care in the slightest way.

As you prepare for that fun filled vacation, be sure to follow these pointers to ensure the health of your gums when you return:

• Store your toothbrushes in travel containers that have holes for proper air circulation. This allows the brush to thoroughly dry and discourage the growth of bacteria
• Store toothbrushes separately to prevent the spread of bacteria
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect the travel containers before and after your trip
• Regularly disinfect your toothbrush while on vacation or at home by washing it in the dishwasher, storing in the fridge or place it in a cup of mouthwash
• When traveling abroad brush with bottled water and keep your toothbrush 2-5 feet from the sink and toilet to avoid water contamination
• Always pack extra oral care supplies in case you can’t purchase them
• If you don’t have toothpaste, brush with water to remove food and bacteria
• If you forget your toothbrush and are unable to purchase a new one floss and rinse with mouthwash
• Don’t share a toothbrush because oral bacteria can be passed from one family member to another

There’s no excuse for letting your oral health decline while on vacation. Stay on top of your oral routine and monitor your mouth closely. If you notice signs of gum disease or any unusual changes you are unsure about contact your dental practitioner right away.

If you dealing with Long Island gum disease Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, for people looking for an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

With each passing week that you notice your gums appear to be “pulling” away from your teeth leaving much of the tooth root exposed. You schedule an appointment with your dentist to find out why. Right away your dentist recognizes a need to see the Periodontist Long Island to treat your receding gums to ensure the long-term health of your teeth. Although treatment is simple enough smokers have a lower risk of success.

A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology evaluated 10 smokers and 10 non-smokers over the course of two years after receiving cosmetic treatment of re-covering the tooth roots after recession. The study’s objective was to monitor the effects of smoking on the long-term outcome of their treatment. The results showed that residual gum recession around the area, which received the surgery, was higher with

Any smoker that has received extensive dental work have heard the “no smoking for at least 24 hours” recommendation, and many smokers mocked their dentists and lit up immediately following their procedure. However when it comes to cosmetic surgery practitioners warn that the consequence can get pricey and should not be taken lightly be even the luckiest of smokers.

So why is treating receded gums so important? That’s simple, when the gums have pulled away from the tooth more of the root is exposed leaving the tooth vulnerable to disease and decay. That tooth’s survival depends on correcting the cause of the current recession in the first place.

Whether it is caused by bacteria, new facial piercings or some other cause your Periodontist will treat the area of recession to remove bacteria and plaque build-up to put a stop to further recession. Then you could choose to undergo another procedure to replace the full coverage of the gum over the tooth root.

This is where smoking comes into play. Restoring the coverage of the gum can be very costly, an expense that may not be worth your efforts if you’re willing to throw it all away for smoking. The study showed that 50% of smokers lost between .5mm to 1mm over the course of 2 to 24 months. For this reason it is crucial to develop a stop smoking program prior to undergoing corrective surgery.

If you’ve noticed that your gums have begun to recede and you’d like a skilled opinion from a Periodontist Long Island contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com. He offers alternative treatments for your periodontal needs including laser therapy.

Protecting our mouths against tooth decay and gum disease is nothing new in the world of oral health. The importance of regular brushing, types of toothbrushes to use, how to floss, the type of floss to use, frequency and so on is continuously brought to our attention. In spite of all this direction Periodontist on Long Island still find themselves treating patients with gum disease on a regular basis. According to a recent study of 51 twins this could be due to the continued view that flossing isn’t necessary.

The study was conducted at the New York University and observed 51 sets of twins ranging from age 12 to 21. Each twin was randomly assigned a two-week oral care regimen where one twin brushed with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste while the other brushed with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste as well as flossed.

At the end of the study samples were taken from each participant to determine how much bacteria was present in the mouth. The results showed that those who did not floss had higher levels of bacteria when compared to those who did, indicating that floss plays a critical role in your oral health.

The significance of bacteria growth in the mouth lies with an understanding of the true causes of gum disease. Gum disease begins with an excessive amount of plaque forming on the teeth near the gum line. This plaque harbors bacteria as it grows. The gums then react to the bacteria with signs of inflammation, bleeding, redness, and eventually loose teeth.

Brushing alone only removes part of the plaque, leaving what hides between, and often behind the teeth. When used properly floss removes the traces of plaque left behind by the toothbrush. This study emphasizes two things, first that flossing removes the excess plaque better than a toothbrush alone and second the speed at which the plaque begins to build

When it comes to the health of your mouth there’s no replacement. Take extra steps to ensure long-lasting health. If you notice signs of gum disease contact a local Periodontist right away. Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, for people who need a Periodontist on Long Island and want an alternative to gum surgery call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Bacteria are microscopic organisms that love to invade dark, moist environments for re-population. This bacterium come in many shapes and can lead to a plethora of illnesses when populating the human body, including gum disease. It is for this reason that we do our best to maintain good oral hygiene and follow the recommendations of our Long Island Periodontist. Yet no matter how good our efforts are they will be of little benefit if we neglect our toothbrushes!

You read correctly. Your toothbrush is the perfect environment for many bacteria to grow. When you brush your toothbrush removes bacteria from the teeth and gums. As your toothbrush sit in the holder bacteria floating around the room settle in and make themselves at home, making your toothbrush a carrier of infection and the spreader of disease.

In addition to the spread of illness harmful bacteria that lead to gum disease may be lurking in there too, waiting for us to swish that brush around our warm moist mouth. Yet with all those harmful bacteria potentially inhabiting our toothbrush how can we confidently brush those pearly whites? After all, our goal is to remove harm not replace it!

There are a few simple measures you can take to reduce the growth of bacteria on your toothbrush:

• Never share your toothbrush
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 – 4 months
• Do not share or re-use disinfectants used to clean toothbrushes
• Wash your hands before and after you brush
• Do not allow the toothpaste tube to touch your toothbrush
• Avoid using community toothbrush holders or at least ensure that the toothbrushes do not touch each other
• Don’t store your toothbrush in a closed, airtight container
• Clean the area you store your toothbrush in often
• Store your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to dry

When considering the health of your gums don’t neglect the role your toothbrush plays. Make sure to keep it clean and maintained to reduce the risks of gum disease and the spread of infection.

If you notice changes in the health of your gums schedule a detailed evaluation with your Long Island Periodontist. For patients seeking an alternative approach to treatment contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com . He can treat gum disease with a laser rather than a scalpel.

Bad breath is perhaps one of the most embarrassing things a person has to manage. It’s one of those things that inhibits conversations, interferes with your work and restricts intimacy. In fact, bad breath may be one of the quickest ways to scare off just about anyone. Contrary to popular belief it isn’t just what you eat or Long Island gum disease that can cause your bad breath.

According to the president of the American Academy of Periodontology bad breath is more likely caused by sulfur compounds released from our digestive process. Each one of us has bacteria that live under the surface of our tongue and throat. These bacterium help to break down proteins, blood and oral disease. When the bacteria comes into contact with various amino acids a sulfur compound is released from the back of the tongue resulting in bad breath.

For this reason, many of the home remedies suggested today really don’t help much in truly eliminating your bad breath. In fact many of them could actually do more harm than good. While there are hundreds of “recommendations” out there for controlling bad breath the American Academy of Periodontology put together the top 10 least effective remedies used today.

1. Excessive use of mouthwash
2. Breath mints
3. Chewing gum
4. Mint chew tobacco
5. Infomercial items
6. Vodka martinis or sour mash whiskey
7. Brushing with cleanser
8. Intestinal cleansing methods
9. Rinsing with kerosene
10. Tongue piercing

If you really want to eliminate bad breath seek advice from those who know mouths the best, your Periodontist. By having a simple periodontal exam you’ll be able to identify the exact cause of your mouth odor allowing you to effectively eliminate it for good.

To have a detailed evaluation for Long Island gum disease contact Dr. Scharf. He treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, giving patients an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Gum disease is an infection that progresses silently inside your mouth from day to day. Though there are many early warning signs the best approach to this infection is prevention. Your dental practitioner has no doubt filled you in on proper brushing and flossing, but the Periodontist Long Island has a little something extra you can do to keep your gums healthy.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology your diet plays an important role in the prevention of gum disease. The study found that men and women with a calcium intake of fewer than 500 milligrams, or about half the recommended dietary allowance, were almost twice as likely to have periodontal diseases as measured by the loss of attachment of the gums from the teeth, especially for young adults in their 20s and 30s.

In addition to this study previous research has found vitamin C is another dietary need that plays a significant role in your oral care. Those studies showed that patients who consumed less than 60 milligrams of vitamin C each day were one and a half times more likely to develop severe gingivitis.

When you understand the role these two nutrients work in the body it’s no wonder they support healthy gums. Vitamin C boosts the body’s immune system in fighting off infection and calcium helps to build strong bones and repair soft tissue. When taken in accordance with the daily recommended dose and proper oral care you can dramatically reduce the risk of gum disease.

In addition to consuming healthy amounts of calcium and vitamin C diabetics are encouraged to limit sugar intake and drink plenty of water to help keep the mouth moist. To further protect yourself from gum disease monitor your mouth daily for early warning signs, this may include: bleeding gums, red or swollen gums, loose or missing teeth, persistent bad breath and sore gums.

If you notice signs of gum disease it’s important to seek treatment right away. If you’re looking for a Periodontist Long Island that offers an alternative to tradition surgery contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com. He can treat gum disease with a laser rather than a scalpel.

Gene therapy is an amazing technique used to correct defective genes responsible for disease development. This approach works when researchers insert a normal gene into the defective gene, creating a healthy, genetically-engineered cell. This amazing medical procedure has made leaps and bounds in the treatment of debilitating defects. As medicine continues to grow researchers may have found a way to use gene therapy to better assist Periodontist in Long Island in the treatment of gum disease.

The Journal of Periodontology recently published a study conducted by the University of Michigan that discussed a recent breakthrough in the possibility of using gene therapy to restore damage caused by periodontal disease. During the study researchers inserted a bone morphogenetic protein gene that encodes a bone-stimulating factor into an inactivated virus in rats where the gene was then transferred into grown skin cells. Then these genetically-engineered cells were transplanted into larger periodontal bone defects surrounding the teeth resulting in regenerated tooth-supporting structures.

Still needing more time before this study can be sure gene therapy will successfully repair damage caused by periodontal disease it does provide hope to Periodontists worldwide. Talks about using gene therapy in their treatment efforts is nothing new to Periodontists and this evidence brings forth the next step in making these talks a reality.

Even though researchers continue to move forward in advanced treatments for periodontal disease the best sure proof way is prevention. To help prevent gum disease you can follow these simple steps:

• Brush and floss daily
• Visit your dentist for a professional cleaning twice a year
• Use plaque revealing tablets to ensure complete plaque removal
• Avoid excessive tobacco and alcohol use
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Consume the daily recommended amounts of Vitamin C and calcium

If you notice unusual changes in your mouth and need a Periodontist in Long Island give Dr. Scharf a call. He treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel giving patients an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Facial piercings spread like wild fire across the globe as young and old alike jumped on board with this new way of adding a little bit of spice to your style grew in popularity. The younger group frequently sports multiple piercings and competes with their peers for the “coolest” look. The older group, though done with modesty, still competes for the best barbell or placement in the crowd. What many Americans may not realize is they are equally competing for an unwanted to trip to a Long Island Periodontist.

According to a case report published in the Journal of Periodontology wearing tongue, lip or cheek piercings could lead to localized gum recession surrounding the area of the piercing leaving the tooth root exposed and vulnerable to infection. This infection is often the beginning of advanced periodontal disease, a condition demanding the attention of a skilled practitioner.

The report is analyzed a 26 year old female who started to notice her gums progressively receding away from her teeth soon after receiving a barbell piercing in her lip. After her gums were examined by licensed Periodontists it was apparent that the barbell had direct contact with the receding area and was believed to be the cause.

Another risk factor with facial piercings involves the risks of infection. Your mouth has over a million bacterium hanging around at any given moment, waiting for an opportunity to set up housing. A new piercing gives these bacteria the perfect housing. In addition to infection new piercings come with increased saliva, redness and even pain.

If you plan to sport facial piercing of your own be sure to understand the risks you’re taking on. It is equally important to familiarize yourself with the signs of gum disease which include; red, swollen and bleeding gum, persistent bad breath, receding gums, and loose or missing teeth.

If early signs of gum disease develop seek treatment right away. People looking for a Long Island Periodontist should contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com. He can treat gum disease with a laser rather than a scalpel.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are an integral part of many American’s therapeutic treatment plan for various illnesses. It is commonly used for athletes to improve their speed and stamina as well as weightlifters increased muscle mass. Additionally AAS medications are crucial to the treatment of many asthma and chronic lung disorders. As beneficial as this medication can be a recent study in published in the Journal of Periodontology disclosed and increased risk of Long Island gum disease with prolonged use.

Researchers examined 24 athletes between the ages of 17 and 29 who had been using AAS for more than one year. All subjects were examined for plaque levels, gingival inflammation and gingival enlargement. The results were then compared with a control group of 20 bodybuilders who had never used AAS drugs and matched for age, educational level and oral habits according to the data obtained from the AAS user group.

The study showed that prolonged use of AAS medications did in fact lead to gingival enlargement, also called inflammatory enlargement of the gums. This is a condition where your gums actually swell up and grow over your teeth making proper oral hygiene more difficult and creating a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

The study did reveal that patients using anabolic androgenic steroids appropriately and under a doctor’s care were less likely to develop gingival overgrowth, indicating that AAS abuse was a leading cause in the changes to gingival tissue.

Patients requiring continued use of AAS medications need to talk with their doctor about the increased risks of gum disease. Additionally it’s crucial to maintain good oral hygiene as well as regular dental check-ups. At the first signs of gingival enlargement contact your local Periodontist.

For the treatment of Long Island gum disease you can contact Dr. Scharf. He treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, giving patients an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Improving our health naturally is a growing interest in the United States with more and more homeopathic remedies proving to be beneficial. These natural treatments are used to reduce pain, lower blood sugar, control mood swings and so much more. Now, one of the most trusted remedies has been identified as a vital tool in preventing a trip to a Periodontist Long Island.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology vitamin C intake plays a strong role in periodontal health. The study analyzed 12,419 adults and found that those consuming less than half the daily recommended amount were one and a half times more likely to develop severe gingivitis when compared to patients who consumed the daily recommended value.

Connecting Vitamin C Intake and Gum Disease

Vitamin C has been around in the homeopathic remedies for decades and is popularly known for its ability to boost the immune system. Additionally, vitamin C is a powerful scavenger of free radicals that can cause harm to the body’s soft tissue, like your gums.

Gum disease is a severe inflammation of the soft tissue in your mouth caused by bacteria infecting the gums. This inflammation leads to damage to the soft tissue as periodontal disease progresses to more advanced stages.

By taking the recommended daily amount of vitamin C you improve your body’s ability to neutralize destructive oxidants that can lead to gum disease naturally. In other words, a deficiency in vitamin C can mean a deficiency in your body’s ability to fight gum disease before it starts.

To further protect yourself from gum disease naturally researchers shared two factors that play a pivotal role in the overall health of your gums including:

1. Smokers have an even greater risk of developing gum disease since cigarette smoke contains numerous oxidants, increasing the need for vitamin C. The oxidants in cigarette smoke actually lower vitamin C levels in your body placing smokers at a higher risk of vitamin C deficiency.
2. Proper diet is crucial in overall gum health. More and more research supports a link between gum disease and vitamin C as well as calcium levels. Taking your diet seriously further reduces the risks of gum disease.

Although the risks of gum disease can be reduced by ensuring adequate vitamin C intake it is important to realize that periodontal disease itself is caused by bacteria growing in the mouth. Once signs of the disease are noted it is necessary to seek treatment with a skilled practitioner as soon as possible.

If you’re interested in finding a Periodontist Long Island who offers an alternative to traditional scalpel treatments for gum disease contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com . He can treat gum disease with a laser rather than a scalpel.