When it comes to staying healthy not many people turn to a Periodontist on Long Island for advice, instead they seek out a medical doctor to provide their care.  After all your doctor keeps you health and your dentist protects your teeth and gums right?

While this is true in general your Periodontist has a larger role to play in your overall health than you give him credit for. To understand this statement let’s first take a look at how oral disease is connected to your overall health and what can be done about.

Oral Disease Impacts Your Health

Blood travels through every inch of your body, including your gums. The soft tissue of your mouth is actually porous, which allows bacteria to get into the tiny blood vessels in your gums. This is the pathway to your heart, lungs and every other organ in your body. Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream it is easily carried throughout your entire body.

To support the theory that comes with the understanding that bacteria can in fact spread from your gums to other organs perhaps we should share that the plaque found in your arteries, you know the kind that leads to heart disease, strokes or heart attacks, is the same plaque that is building up along your gum line!

Early Detection Is Key

If you really want to make sure your mouth is healthy you can’t always rely on the traditional methods of monitoring gum disease such as, bleeding gums, red or swollen gums or loose teeth. In fact a lot of the damage is done BEFORE any of these signs begin to show up.

So what can your Periodontist do for you?

• First the Periodontist has a better view of your overall mouth as well as experience in recognizing even the slightest of symptoms.
• Second taking advantage of improvements in technology they can do a saliva diagnostic test to determine of any bad bacteria are present.

While you wait to see your Periodontist there are steps you can take at home to prevent or minimize the spread of harmful bacteria including:

• Brush and floss twice a day
• Use mouthwash after flossing to help remove loose particles and kill bacteria
• Add foods known to have anti-inflammatory ingredients
• Be sure to consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis to keep your mouth as healthy as possible.

When you’re read to see a Periodontist on Long Island contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com. With new and improved methods he can treat your gum disease using a laser, a non-invasive alternative to traditional scalpel surgery. Call today to learn more.

Saturated fat has long had the reputation of unhealthy and an ingredient to be avoided wherever possible. The health effects include cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer. Stated simply, foods that contain saturated fats can hurt your overall health. But according to a recent study saturated fat may also increase your risks for periodontal disease.

The study looked at 264 individuals who were 75 years old. The results showed that nonsmokers who consumed a high intake of saturated fat had an adjusted risk of 1.92 for developing periodontal disease compared to those with a low saturated fat intake.

While this study alone isn’t a confirmed connection between saturated fat and gum disease the markers are enough to catch attention. If you want to maintain a healthy mouth you may want to keep this study at the front of your thoughts when developing a plan for prevention.

Five Steps to Prevention

• Step One:  Regular brushing but not just any old flop the brush around your mouth brushing. You need to thoroughly brush your teeth using a circular motion being careful to hit every surface of your tooth and gum. You want to brush the outside of your teeth, the inside of your teeth and the chewing surface.
• Step Two: Regular flossing has to be just as thorough beginning on one side of the mouth and working your way around to the other. To clean your tooth most effectively you need to form a “C” shape around both sides of your tooth and gently raise the floss from the gum line to the top of the tooth.
• Step Three: Rinse with mouthwash at least once a day to help wash out any loose food particles that still remain. Mouthwash also helps to destroy bacteria that can harm your teeth and gums.
• Step Four: As an extra step consider improving your diet by consuming adequate water each day. Limit foods that contain saturated fats and add more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Step Five: The next important step for prevention is regular dental exams. Make sure to see you dental every 6 months for a professional cleaning and annual exams. I recommend also seeing a Periodontist once a year for a detailed evaluation of your gums to help catch warning signs early.

Still worried about staying ahead of periodontal disease? On Long Island Dr. Scharf can offer a detailed evaluation and early treatment if needed. If you’re worried about painful scalpel procedures you’ll be glad to know Dr. Scharf provides non-invasive laser therapy for a more effective and faster option. For more information call today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Dry mouth, that obnoxious state where nothing you seem to do relieves your mouth of that thick, icky feeling! We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. In fact we can probably all tell the story behind “the day I had dry mouth!” Regardless if you have a really great story to tell or not chronic dry mouth is nothing to laugh at. Rather it can have harsh side effects including gum disease. On Long Island Dr. Scharf is here to help!

Saliva is a crucial part to how your body coats and protects your mouth. It serves as a natural lubricant to harsh substances that may rub your teeth and gums while eating and it acts as a natural mouth rinse easily removing food particles from your teeth. And as if that wasn’t enough saliva is the key factor in the first stages of proper digestion. Simply put your mouth NEEDS saliva to be at its best!

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Understanding that dry mouth can lead to oral health complications is only half the battle. It’s important to also understand what causes dry mouth in order to correct it. Among the many causes are:

• Autoimmune Disorders
• Medication
• Breathing through your mouth
• Drug and alcohol use
• Dehydration

Sjorgen’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the glands that make saliva and tears.  So obviously if you have this illness you’re no doubt going to experience chronic dry mouth. For you it’s best to meet with a dental practitioner right away to develop a plan to minimize the damage.

Many medications lead to a dry mouth including those used for anxiety, allergies, heart medications, and most pain medications. Correcting dry mouth under these circumstances could be as easy as adjusting your dose or frequency wherever possible.

Mouth breathing is perhaps one of the most overlooked causes for dry mouth but if you stop and think for just a minute you’ll realize that the continued passage of air is drying up your saliva faster than your mouth is producing it.

Of course drinking large amounts of alcohol or using recreational drugs can lead to dry mouth. If alcohol is the cause of your symptoms consider adding a glass of water between your alcoholic beverages to help you stay hydrated. When the body isn’t hydrated it has a difficult time producing saliva. Remember to keep yourself hydrated every day and lend a helping hand to your mouth.

If you suspect dry mouth has already taken a toll and led to gum disease, on Long Island call Dr. Scharf.  He can offer a thorough exam and non-invasive treatment plan using a laser, not a scalpel. To learn more call today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

We rely on our Long Island Periodontist for many things including detailed periodontal exams, prevention and treatment of gum disease as well as restoring our natural smile after lost teeth. According to numerous studies we may also rely on our Periodontist to help reduce risks of certain types of cancers, but exactly how accurate is that claim?

After a thorough review of 10 years of data researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland and Complutense University of Madrid disclose that the actual link between between oral disease and certain types of cancers hasn’t really been proven, rather studies have shown an “indication” of a link between the two. Study authors stated that without more studies specifically seeking evidence of a relationship between oral disease and cancer then claims of an actual link is undetermined.

For example studies revealed that there is a small but significant increase in overall cancer risk for those with gum disease. Another study discloses that oral cancers worldwide are greatly increased by cigarette and alcohol consumption. While there are indications of a link between oral disease and certain cancers there is hardly enough evidence to claim an actual link.

How Does Oral Disease Impact Your Life?

Although there is no proven relationship connecting the two oral disease does in fact have a dramatic impact on the average person’s life. From pain, to bad breath or even missing teeth an individual suffering from any form of oral disease tends to make lifestyle changes to accommodate their mouths. Some of those changes may include:

• Changing how and where they eat
• Covering their mouth when talking or laughing
• Avoiding social interactions altogether due to embarrassment
• Giving up favorite foods

Oral disease does take its toll both physically and emotionally but you don’t have to hide or let it control your life. Instead contact your dental practitioner and discuss your symptoms and find out what they recommend. Stay on top of your daily oral hygiene and keep regular dental checkups. If you notice any unusual changes don’t wait to see your dentist since the sooner treatment starts the easier it will be.

If you notice signs of gum disease and need to see a Long Island Periodontist contact Dr. Scharf. He can treat your gum disease with a non-evasive laser therapy that will eliminate disease and help restore your gums health. Call today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

So you discovered you were pregnant and can’t begin to announce how excited you are! In fact for so many new moms to be there is a similar excitement. Many begin to step up their attention to overall health and become proactive in their care. But do these same moms know the risks of untreated gum disease? Long Island Periodontists aim to educate expecting moms on the link between periodontitis and preterm labor.

A recent study conducted and funded by Proctor and Gamble looked at 262 expectant mothers with gums disease. 71 were asked to rinse twice a day for 30 seconds with Crest Pro Health mouthwash, which does not contain alcohol. The remaining 155 women were instructed to rinse using only water.

The results were amazing:

• Among the water-only group 1 in 5 mothers delivered their babies prematurely
• In the mouthwash group only 1 in 20 mothers delivered their babies prematurely

Gum Disease and Pregnancy

The link between gum disease and preterm labor is nothing new. In fact numerous studies have continued to support a definite correlation between the two. However few studies have actually evaluated the effects of treating gum disease and the delivery outcome. This is exactly what the mouthwash study aimed to look at.

While the research team couldn’t why mouthwash had such a positive impact Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, lead author of the study and a professor at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine did explain that gum disease involves a hormone-like substance prostaglandin E2 which is the same chemical involved in labor.  Her hypothesis is that gum disease leads to a higher circulation of this prostaglandin E2 in the body, which may lead to early labor.

If previous studies weren’t enough to motivate you the outcome of this one certainly shows substantial cause for being proactive in your oral health. To help lower risks of gum disease you should:

• Be sure to brush and floss twice daily
• Include the use of an alcohol free mouthwash twice a day
• See your dental practitioner for a pregnancy safe treatment plan
• If you have any questions call your dentist right away

Periodontitis during pregnancy doesn’t have to mean complications.  If you have gum disease Long Island Periodontist Dr. Scharf can help using a noninvasive laser therapy. To learn more call Dr. Scharf today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Exposure to the sun comes with its ups and downs. Everyone enjoys a warm sunny day that can be spent on the beach or at the local park. But many are unsure of how much “exposure” to the sun is safe or even what time of day we should stay inside. However if you ask your Long Island dentist you might be surprised to hear him tell you to spend some quality time in the sun during when it is highest in the sky at solar noon.

Sun exposure and dental health is really nothing new. Since the mid 1800’s researchers have been evaluating the relationship between sun exposure and dental cavities. In fact during the Civil War the number of men rejected to do lost teeth was much higher in cloudy regions versus the sunnier regions.  But it was studies like the one completed by Clarence Mills and Bio East that linked sun exposure and the prevalence of tooth decay.

In addition to their study several studies from the 1920’s and 1930’s looked specifically at the relationship between Vitamin D and teeth. Beginning with dogs and then moving on to children researchers looked closely at the effects of Vitamin D and cavities, which revealed that appropriate levels of Vitamin D did in fact have a positive effect on the prevention of dental cavities.

Protecting the Health of Your Teeth

Maintaining good oral health doesn’t have to be a tedious job day in and day out. By following a few simple and practical techniques you can help ensure your teeth stay at their best.

• Brush and floss daily. The best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to ensure you keep them clean by brushing and flossing away built up food and plaque.
• Don’t forget the mouthwash. Studies have shown that adding mouthwash to your daily brushing and flossing routine can help kill bacteria and wash away and food particles that were loosened by not completely removed when brushing.
• Eat healthy every day. By consuming a daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water and avoiding sugars and acids you’ll be steps ahead in the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco use. It has been shown countless times that excessive use of alcohol and tobacco stain the teeth, lead to inflammation of the gums and the potential break down of your tooth’s surface.
• Add some Vitamin D. Numerous studies dating back to the mid 1800’s have shown that a daily intake of 1000-4000 IU/d of vitamin D3 or 15-20 minutes of sun exposure with 20-30% of your body surface exposed can dramatically help in the prevention of cavities.

Whether you are working with a Long Island dentist or doing some research on your own you can take steps to keep your smile at its best.  For patients needing a Long Island Periodontist Dr. Scharf offers laser therapy to comfortably treat gum disease regardless of phase. Contact him today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

When it comes to your mouth it is all too common for patients to report frequently bleeding gums. Long Island Periodontists spend many visits educating patients on the potential causes and why this symptom alone needs to be taken seriously and further evaluated. The reason, chronic inflammation could be leading to a more problematic phase of gum disease.

Our bodies were designed to use the immune and inflammatory response to protect us. In fact acute inflammation by itself is what tells the immune system to kick it up a notch and help restore the infected tissue. But when inflammation becomes chronic it’s a whole other arena, and more problematic.

Studies continually show that inflammation is a primary component in many systemic diseases and is thought by some to be the leading cause for symptoms specific to diseases like psoriasis, fibromyalgia, some cancers and you guessed it, gum disease.

Inflammations and Your Gums

To better understand exactly what happened to your mouth during the inflammatory response let’s break it down into three phases:

1. Phase One: Gums may appear red or swollen. It’s during this phase that most patients begin to notice frequent bleeding when brushing or flossing or a change in how their gums look along the tooth root. This is the beginning of gums disease and the easiest time to treat, however most patients pass the symptoms off as nothing to worry about.
2. Phase Two: Symptoms become more bothersome and a little harder to ignore. Your gums will begin to pull away from your teeth causing “pockets” to form. Bleeding often becomes more pronounced and the gums become tender. A bacterium fills the pockets and multiplies leading to an increased level of inflammation.
3. Phase Three: Inflammation leads to a break down in the soft tissue of the mouth, leading to loose or missing teeth if left untreated. During this phase gum disease requires more effort to treat however remains completely treatable.

Chronic inflammation is harmful to your body whether it’s in the mouth or elsewhere. If you ignore it you’ll find yourself with a much bigger problem that needs treating than if you had called your dental practitioner at the first signs of gum disease.

If you’re fed up with bleeding gums Long Island Periodontist Dr. David Scharf is ready to help. Contact him today at (631) 661-6633 to discuss your concerns or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com. He can treat gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, providing a comfortable yet effective approach to your treatment.

When it comes to being a smoker you tend to expect lectures about your health and how disgusting cigarettes are all around. As parents who also smoke you’ll even hear about the risks second hand smoke has on your child’s overall health, breathing and even sinuses. More recently studies are looking at second hand smoke and the risks to your child’s oral health.

According to a new study published in the Journal of Periodontology there is a correlation between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), also known as second hand smoke, and gingival pigmentation. The study specifically looked at children whose parents were smokers and divided the children up into various age groups. What they found was the longer a child was exposed to second hand smoke the more likely their parents would be calling a Long Island Periodontist to evaluate the changes in their child’s gums.

The research team did express that while gingival pigmentation associated with second hand smoke was cosmetically unattractive it wasn’t actually harmful to your child’s mouth. However, harmful or not, the change in pigmentation should be enough for any parent to start thinking twice about the effects of second hand smoke in their child’s life.

Keeping Your Child’s Mouth Healthy

Whether pigmentation caused by ETS is a health concern or not your child’s oral care is important and any step you can take to improve it helps. For your child’s oral health consider:

• Smoking outside instead of in the house
• Never smoke in the car or other small space with your child
• Monitor your child’s brushing habits every time they brush
• Help your child floss his teeth for a complete clean
• Take your child to a child friendly dentist for his checkups twice a year

As parents it’s your job to ensure you child learns how to protect their teeth and gums early and this includes taking steps to ensure their oral health. If you can make a few changes to improve their chances of healthy teeth and gums wouldn’t you want to?

Dr. Scharf is a skilled Long Island Periodontist with years of experience in the field. Whether you have questions about gum disease or need information on appropriate treatments contact Dr. Scharf today at at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Have you been trying to conceive and wanting to make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure an easy and successful conception? Have you been struggling with trying to conceive but can’t find any real reason for it? Perhaps you should consider seeing a Periodontist on Long Island for a detailed evaluation of your gums.

A Western Australian study called SMILE looked at 3737 pregnant women and analyzed their pregnancy planning and outcomes. It showed that those with gum disease took an average of two months longer to conceive than those without disease.

Professor Roger Hart, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Western Australia and of Western Australia said, “Until now there have been no published studies that investigate whether gum disease can affect a woman’s chance of conceiving so this is the first report to suggest that gum disease might be one of several risk factors that could be modified to improve the chances of pregnancy.”

How Gum Disease Spreads

Gum disease begins with a plaque buildup around the base of your teeth. This buildup causes the gum to pull away from the teeth, resulting in a pocket along the gum line. Food gets trapped in these pockets and provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

Over the next few stages inflammation begins and spreads to adjacent teeth and gums.  While the disease spreads the bacteria can enter the blood stream and spread through your entire body, affecting various organs like your heart, kidneys, even possibly the reproductive organs.

Although gum disease is destructive and can spread through your entire system it’s fairly easy to prevent or treat. To prevent gum disease you should:

• Brush and floss daily. Be sure to clean on all surfaces of the tooth, even the hard to reach places.
• Consider using a mouthwash after you brush to help rinse out residual food and plaque
• Be sure to eat a healthy diet with fresh fruits and vegetables
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid excessive use of tobacco, alcohol and sweets
• Visit your dentist twice a year for a thorough cleaning

Treating gum disease is easier if caught early. As soon as you notice signs of gum disease contact your dental practitioner right away. If you’re looking for a Long Island Periodontist who offers modern and effective treatment options contact Dr. Scharf. He offers laser therapy instead of a scalpel. Call today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Have you ever sat back and wandered if you were more prone to disease than the person sitting next to you? If you’re a woman did you ever think that you were more likely to develop certain diseases just because of your gender?

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena asked these very questions in relation to men and woman, wanting to know if woman were more susceptible to inflammatory disease than man. Inflammatory diseases could include rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease or perhaps less obvious gingivitis.

Dr. Carlo Pergola shared, “In a series of analysis we have shown that cells from men and women react in a different manner to inflammatory stimuli.” The analysis looked at certain immune cells and found that women’s cells produced almost twice as many pro-inflammatory substances than those of men.

And so researchers aimed to find the molecular basis for this difference. What they uncovered was the enzyme phospholipase D in a man’s cells is less active than a woman’s. To further look at this difference researchers treated the woman’s cell with testosterone, which actually reduced the activity level of their enzyme phospholipase D. In other words, male testosterone is the key to reduce inflammation!

Inflammation and Your Gums

So what does this mean for women’s oral health? If your gums become inflamed the end result is gum disease as the inflammation breaks down the soft tissue of your mouth. But there are measures everyone can take to protect the health of their teeth and gums:

• Brush and floss twice daily to remove food and plaque
• Eat a healthy diet and be sure to drink plenty of water
• Fresh fruits have been reported to reduce inflammation such as strawberries and cherries
• Visit your dentist twice a year for a professionally cleaning of your teeth
• Monitor your mouth daily for any changes and discuss these with your dental practitioner right away.

By be proactive in your oral health care it doesn’t matter if you are at higher risk for inflammation because you’ll be one step ahead all the way.

Want to make sure you stay ahead in the prevention of gingivitis? Contact Dr. Scharf, a licensed Periodontist skilled in the early diagnosis and treatment of gum disease using a laser not a scalpel. Call today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.