Good oral hygiene puts individuals on a direct path to preventing gum disease and tooth decay. By practicing good techniques patients can reduce risks of inflammation of the gums, cavities in the teeth and deterioration overall. While all these practices traditionally satisfy the needs of the Periodontist on Long Island new researcher shows evidence that your regular doctors will be pleased as well.

Research has long suggested a link between gum disease and chronic health issues such as heart disease, stroke and even diabetes but why the link existed seemed to elude many researchers. Now, more targeted studies have led to a new theory that it is the inflammation that may link the mouth and body.

To better understand let’s take a closer look at inflammation. The role of inflammation is to aid the body in the healing process. It is the body’s instinctive reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury, or shield against irritation. Unfortunately, over time this once beneficial inflammation can become harmful and lead to dysfunction of the infected tissue. This in turn leads to more severe health complications.

Inflammation in the mouth appears to be no different than inflammation in other areas of the body. For so long dental practitioners believed that gum disease was solely the result of a bacterial infection caused by a build-up of plaque between teeth and under the gums. Researchers now suspect that the more severe symptoms like swollen and bleeding gums, recession around the gum line and bone deterioration are more likely caused by chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection.

Periodontists have used this research data to hypothesize that it is this inflammatory response in the mouth that is the cause behind the periodontal-systemic health link. The reason for this theory is because many of the diseases associated with periodontal disease are also systemic inflammatory disorders. Some of these diseases include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease and certain forms of cancer.

Protecting Your Health through Oral Hygiene

So what can you do to keep your body healthy? For starters consider having a detailed periodontal exam completed so you can have a base point and know where you stand in terms of the current health of your teeth and gums. Then discuss what oral hygiene regimen is best for your situation. In the meantime here are a few general practices you can take while waiting for your evaluation:

• Brush and floss twice daily
• Ensure you are brushing the complete surface of your teeth. On average it should take roughly 2 minutes to complete brushing when done properly
• Ensure flossing all surfaces of each tooth using the ‘c’ shape around each side of the tooth
• Observe your mouth daily for unusual changes and have anything new looked at immediately

When it comes to the health of your gums you’re not only saving your teeth, you could be saving yourself a long life of more serious health complications. Take charge of your oral health today! People looking for a Periodontist on Long Island 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.

Let’s face it, when our minds are bogged down with the worries of today, losing sleep and force feeding ourselves, simple tasks like brushing and flossing becomes daunting and undesirable. Couple that with prolonged periods of stress induced cortisol levels, a trip to a Long Island Periodontist looks more and more inevitable.

It isn’t just a decline in brushing and flossing that increase your risk for gum disease. According to the President of the American Academy of Periodontology stress can make an individual more susceptible to harmful habits that negatively impact oral health such as tobacco and alcohol. These lifestyle choices are known risk factors for gum disease and when under excess stress individuals are more likely to abuse them.

If anyone ever doubted this to be fact or myth a study published in the February 2009 Journal of Periodontology confirmed that stress may interfere with oral hygiene with 56% of participants self-reporting personally neglecting their oral hygiene when experiencing prolonged stress levels.

Additionally the study reported that chronic stress was associated with higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol. Combine this data with previous research that showed increased amounts of cortisol in the bloodstream can lead to a more destructive form of periodontal disease and it becomes easy to understand how excessive stress levels can lead you down a rapid path towards advanced gum disease.

Lower Your Stress and Save Your Gums

So if excessive stress is taunting your life what can you do to reduce it? To start consider finding a healthy way to relieve your stress such as;

• Regular exercise
• Eating a well balanced diet
• Getting adequate sleep

Not only will these simple lifestyle changes reduce your risk for gum disease but they can dramatically improve your overall health as well. In fact a study published in the November 2007 Journal of Periodontology found that by taking these sorts of measures to prevent gum disease you could in fact lower your total health care expenses.

It is for all of these reasons that taking charge of your oral health should be a top priority of everyone. If you are unsure of how to proceed and would like direction in your preventative efforts from a skilled Long Island Periodontist contact Dr. Scharf. He is skilled in early detection and treatment of periodontal disease offering patients and alternative to traditional surgery. Call Dr. Scharf today at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

As women we treasure every moment, especially in our later years. But when menopause hits our treasures seem to lower a bit. Dealing with hot flashes, mood swings and osteoporosis is bad enough, however according to a recent study increased risks for gum disease may send you packing to a Periodontist on Long Island.

This study was published in the Journal of Periodontology and shared that periodontal disease may be another factor of menopause women are faced with. It examined the claim that estrogen deficiency and osteoporosis speed the process of bone loss following menopause, which may lead to tooth loss, making it important for women entering menopause to take a few extra measures in maintaining a healthy

Researchers evaluated estrogens role in gum inflammation and found that estrogen supplementation might reduce inflammation of the gums and frequency of attachment loss in women showing signs of osteoporosis, a common ingredient of menopause, to help protect that natural smile.

The study also showed that women who entered menopause and took estrogen supplements had lower risks for osteoporosis, which in turn leads to a lower risk of periodontal disease. Estrogen is a common supplement provided to women with menopause to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis, alleviate common menopause symptoms and reduce the risk for coronary artery disease.

In addition to estrogen supplements women should be sure to keep all regular dental check-ups throughout the year. It is also a good idea to receive regular periodontal evaluations for early detection and treatment if the need should arise.

People looking for a Periodontist on Long Island 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.

Fear is as natural to mankind as breathing, beginning as early as a few days old. Loud noises startle infants, barking dogs make toddlers cry and the dark will keep the average preschooler awake at night. A recent poll conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology indicated an even larger fear shared by Americans, a trip to the Periodontist Long Island for periodontal treatment.

Ironically this fear seems to be completely unjustified with less than 10% of patients actually experiencing any discomfort with their treatments. Out of 164 Periodontists polled, three quarters of them indicated that the majority of their patients reported no discomfort at all during treatment.

For most the origin of their fear comes from hearing about a friend or family member’s bad experience from 10 or more years ago, however advances in treating periodontal disease more comfortably make these “old” claims null and void.

Periodontists throughout the United States have taken measures over the years to help ensure a more comfortable treatment for all involved including improved methods of anesthesia, less evasive treatment plans and a thorough understanding of their patients’ anxiety and individual needs.

Gum disease is nothing to ignore since it can eventually lead to the loss of all your teeth. So put your fears behind you and schedule a periodontal exam with a Periodontist Long Island right away.

For patients who want to be sure they are receiving a comfortable treatment call Dr. Scharf. He 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.

Battling Long Island gum disease in and of itself is a daunting task that demands discipline in the home and at the Periodontist’s office. In an effort to regain a healthy mouth individuals fighting gum disease have to agree to a rigorous treatment plan and then follow through. If you’re also suffering from depression the burden of recovering a healthy mouth may be harder to obtain.

In fact the Journal of Periodontology published a study that observed patients over the course of a year and found that those with depression were twice as likely to have sub-optimal results when compared to those without depression. That’s a number worth paying attention to.

The study included 697 patients with 85 of them being diagnosed with some type of depression. Each patient had at least three diseased sites in the mouth with an equivalent depth. The patients were monitored from the initial evaluation until the follow-up one-year later. The results showed that 7.4 percent of mentally healthy patients showed improvement where only 4.7 percent of the depressed patients showed improvement.

But what does depression have to do with the health of your gums? Simply put one major reason depressed patients show a less than optimal result is due to their attitude towards treatment. If they are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about the work ahead it could dramatically impact their commitment and cooperation at home. Equally there is a high likelihood of continued smoking as well as the possibility of having an impaired immune system.

The health of your gums plays a huge a role in the life of your teeth and naturally beautiful smile. Gum disease attacks the soft tissue inside your mouth and beginning with plaque build-up. As the disease progresses pockets form around the tooth exposing root and leading to tooth decay or tooth

Treatment of gum disease, especially at advanced stages, is often extensive and requires a commitment from both the patient and the Periodontist. If you’re dealing with depression it’s important to discuss this with your Periodontist so necessary changes can be made to your treatment plan to ensure success.

If you’re faced with the overwhelming task of fighting Long Island gum disease don’t let the treatment add to your anxiety. 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 providing you with a calm more relaxing treatment.

Periodontal disease often leaves sufferers concerned about the long-term health of their teeth and whether the Periodontist Long Island can help them keep that beautiful smile. If this is you than a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology may hold the answers you’ve been seeking.

This study evaluated the outcome of three different treatment options for patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease including surgical treatment, non-surgical treatment or no treatment at all, where forty-eight percent of the teeth receiving the surgical treatment showed improved prognosis compared to only 12% for either of the other two options. Additionally the study revealed that 35% of the teeth that did not receive any treatment actually worsened in prognosis.

Study author Stephen Harrel shared, “It’s essential for patients to understand that optimal results are not always possible with non-surgical methods used, and with no treatment, periodontal disease usually gets worse.” Perhaps the best part of this study is that the results are done on an individual “tooth” basis rather than an average “score” so patients can place more stock in the end results.

If you want to keep your smile natural and beautiful this study reveals the best options available for anyone facing periodontal disease. When it comes to discussing treatment options these results help patients make an informed choice when developing their personal treatment plan.

But you don’t have to wait until you have periodontal disease to focus your efforts on keeping a beautiful smile. You can begin right now by following a few simple steps:

• Brush daily using a medium or soft bristled brush
• Floss using proper technique ensuring to clean every surface of your teeth and gum line
• Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
• Keep scheduled cleanings every 6 months with your dentist
• Have regular periodontal exams
• Observe your mouth daily for any unusual changes

If you have any questions about proper oral care or would like to have a detailed periodontal exam completed with a Periodontist Long Island contact Dr. Scharf. He treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, giving his patients an alternative to gum surgery. Call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

As you stand in front of the bathroom mirror during your regular oral hygiene routine you notice an unusual bump growing on your gum line. You take a closer look in an effort to identify the lump on your own momentarily before considering a need for a detailed periodontal exam with a Periodontist on Long Island.

While most bumps or blisters in the mouth require little to no attention there are those rare occasions that something more could be going on in there. For example consider a case featured in the Journal of Periodontology where a 48-yr old man found a lump on his gums and decided to have an exam done at the University’s dental school.

The growth was identified after a biopsy as squamous cell carcinoma and was surgically removed by removing the gum tissue and part of the jawbone. The area was then repaired using bone graft tissue. For this gentleman finding the oral cancer was a blessing since it revealed a rare systemic disease known as Protein S deficiency that could have later threatened his life unexpectedly after failing to heal correctly.

Regular periodontal exams could do more than keep your gums healthy, it could end up saving your life. To best ensure your health monitor your gums daily for signs of early gum disease including; bleeding gums while brushing or flossing, red or swollen gums, persistent bad breath and loose or missing teeth. In addition to monitoring your mouth for changes have a periodontal exam done on a regular basis and discuss any unusual changes with your dental practitioner right away.

Your gums and your body deserve the best treatment they can get. If you’ve been referred to a Periodontist on Long Island Dr. Scharf 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 inflammatory response to a bacterial infection in your mouth. It begins when plaque builds-up around your teeth forming deep pockets along the gum line. This bacterium then begins to repopulate in those pockets causing chronic inflammation. It would seem however that Long Island gum disease isn’t the only thing this bacteria leads to. According to two recent studies this bacteria may actually have a trickle affect right down to your heart.

Two studies published in the Journal of Periodontology provide support to this claim where in one study researchers evaluated 150 individuals with periodontal disease. They found that those who suffered from a heart attack had higher levels of bacteria growing in those deep pockets.

The second study looked at the DNA of the bacteria residing in the plaque and found the exact same DNA in the individuals’ heart arteries. The matching DNA from mouth to heart was consistent with different types of periodontal bacteria strengthening the claim that periodontal disease can lead to heart disease.

To better understand how bacteria in your mouth can in fact impact your heart let’s take a closer look at those deep pockets where the bacteria originates. Surrounding those pockets are tiny pores. On one side of those pores lies all the bacteria while on the other your blood flows freely.

To start with the pores are too tiny for anything to pass through them. But as the bacterial infection gets worse it leads to inflammation in the gums, causing the pores to become larger. They are now large enough for the microscopic bacteria to fit through and enter the blood stream, catching a ride to every organ in your body including the heart.

When it comes to the health of your mouth you’re not just taking chances with your teeth. Rather you’re taking chances with the health of your heart, among other organs. If you notice pockets forming around your teeth, visible as gums pulling away, contact a local Periodontist right away.

If you’re looking for an alternative treatment for Long Island 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.

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.