Astoria Dentist Gives You One More Reason to Smile

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beautiful woman relaxed smileRecently, we discussed the social significance of your smile and the importance of keeping it healthy and beautiful. A smile that you’re proud of is one that you will show often, and you can benefit more from the subtle nuances of its expressions. Aside from enhancing your communication skills, though, your smile can also provide one important benefit to your dental and overall health. Astoria dentist, Dr. Leibowitz, explains how your smile can help you significantly lower your stress levels.

The Threat of Stress

You are likely aware that excessive stress can place your health at great risk. This is because your body’s stress response, commonly referred to as the fight-or-flight response, is like being on high alert. The phenomenon is a defense mechanism meant to protect you from harm, but in today’s hectic society, common everyday stresses can make you feel like you are always under attack. After a while, your mind and body can begin to wear down, and all aspects of your health can feel the effects, including your dental health. (more…)

Dentistry for Heart Health Patients in Astoria

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elderly smiling coupleAt our Astoria dentist’s office, your oral health care is centered on you as a patient, rather than just on your teeth and gums. While keeping your mouth clean is always important, certain considerations must be taken into account when receiving professional dental care. For instance, you heart health, which is more related to your dental health than many people realize, can influence the care you can and should receive to correct your dental issues. Astoria dentist, Dr. Leibowitz, discusses some of the things you should know as a heart health patient undergoing dental treatment.

Special Considerations at the Dentist’s Office

A plethora of oral-systemic health studies suggest that the state of your oral health can affect your risk of endocarditis, an often life-threatening infection of the heart that occurs when bacteria in your bloodstream cling to damaged heart tissues. If you are undergoing dental treatment, there is a greater chance of the bacteria from your mouth entering your bloodstream and complicating your heart condition. Antibiotics may be necessary before your procedure, so be sure to inform Dr. Leibowitz of all existing conditions and current medications during your initial visit. (more…)

The Food Preservative that May Slow Tumor Growth

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thumbs up smile (2)Many diverse cultures once believed that dental troubles, such as cavities and gum disease, were caused by a worm burrowing into your tooth. If a tooth hurt, it was attributed to the movement of the worm inside of it. That belief continued even into the 20th century, but since no one had ever found such a worm, they were unable to cure their dental woes. Luckily, we now understand a great deal about the afflictions that trouble our mouths, and can therefore investigate more successful methods of treating and defeating dental illnesses. In some cases, however, we find that the answers to some dental troubles may have been under our noses all along. Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, discusses the results of one study that suggests a common food preservative, called nisin, may have the power to slow or even stop tumor growth that can lead to oral cancer.

The Dental and Health Benefits of Nisin

Nisin possesses antibacterial properties that make it effective against harmful microorganisms by altering their cells’ functions. However, experts have recently begun to examine if this same ability can be harnessed and used against other harmful cell types, specifically those of cancerous tumors. (more…)

Astoria Dentist on the Science Behind Dental Implants

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man smilingIf you or someone you know has lost teeth, then you may be familiar with the importance of replacing those teeth to restore proper mouth function. With such a variety of options for replacing lost teeth, however, how do you know which is the right choice for you? Your dentist can answer that after a thorough examination, but regardless of the option that best fits your situation, you may want to consider enhancing your dental prosthetic by anchoring it to one or more dental implants. As an experienced dentist in Astoria, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz understands that some patients may not feel as though their dentures or dental bridges provide the same stability as their natural teeth, and offers dental implants to address this common grievance.

Understanding Tooth Loss

To understand the importance of dental implant restorations, you must first understand the long-lasting effects of tooth loss. Filling the gaps in your smile can help return your confidence and prevent your remaining teeth from shifting to take up the slack. However, traditional dental restorations do not address the loss of a tooth’s root, which can have devastating effect on your smile’s foundation. (more…)

What Else Can Your Smile Do For You?

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smilesSmiling is a universal symbol of content and holds a host of benefits for your physical and emotional health. That alone should be reason to ensure that you have enough confidence in your smile to show it often, but a slew of research shows that your smile provides an important, although more subtle, benefit to your social life. Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, explores a few discreet advantages that your smile may hold.

Lighten the Mood

Although clichéd, smiling actually is contagious. Numerous studies have shown that when you smile, those around you can pick up on your positive demeanor and smile with you, even if they weren’t before. By spreading the joy of smiling to the environment around you, you can help lower your stress level and reduce your risk of stress-related illnesses. (more…)

Astoria Dentist Presents: The Cavity Quiz

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cavity quizCavities, which are small holes that form in your tooth as decay eats away its structure, are often recognized for the discomfort that usually accompanies their presence. As children, many of us were told not to eat candy or other sweets because too much sugar causes cavities. The truth, however, is that even a small amount of sugar, as well as other fermentable carbohydrates, can lead to cavities without the proper care and preventive measures. The more you know about cavities and their true source, the better prepared you will be to protect your teeth from the destructive disease, so to assess your cavity–fighting readiness, Astoria dentist Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz presents the following cavity quiz.

Cavity Questions

Sugar’s true threat to your teeth is that it feeds oral bacteria. What threatening substance is the result of certain oral bacteria metabolizing sugar and carbs? (more…)

What Causes Gum Disease?

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woman thinkingIf you brush and floss your teeth every day, and yet still develop gum disease, you may be inclined to wonder how these issues form in the first place. After all, the point of daily dental hygiene is to prevent these issues from arising, isn’t it? The answer is yes, but even the most diligent hygiene routine can let a few details slip past your attention. Considering the fact that over 80% of adults under age 60 have gum disease to some extent, this seems to happen quite often. To help you understand how gum disease can sometimes slip past the cracks in your dental defense, Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz explores how the disease begins in the first place.

An Irritating Presence

Like tooth decay, gum disease becomes a threat when oral bacteria gather and form dental plaque that sticks to your teeth and gums. Each of the over-600 different germs serves a purpose, many of which are harmless or essential to maintaining your mouth’s ecological balance. Others, however, can have devastating effects on your oral health, such as setting the stage for gum disease. (more…)

Astoria Dentist Discusses the Forgotten Dental Nutrient

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holding magnesiumIn our last article, we discussed how maintaining a healthy and active body can be vital to your teeth and gums. Before that, we discussed some of the nutrients (calcium and vitamin D) that are essential for maintaining your mouth’s health. For instance, calcium is needed to help keep your jawbone healthy and strong enough to support all of your teeth. The mineral also helps increase your chances of cavity prevention, but it is not the only mineral that your mouth needs. Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, explores the forgotten nutrient of dental health—magnesium—and why it is needed for your body and mouth to continue functioning.

Your Body’s Dependence on Magnesium

Although not as often discussed as calcium or vitamin D, magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. Your bones contain about 50% of your body’s magnesium supply. The rest is shared between your body’s tissues and organ cells, with one percent travelling throughout your blood. Magnesium is critical for over 300 essential biochemical reactions, and the mineral is needed to maintain muscle and nerve function, steady your heart rhythm, and maintain a healthy immune system.      (more…)

Did You Know that Exercise is Good for You?

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shutterstock_86502877Chances are, you already do, but did you know that regular physical activity can also benefit your dental health? It’s no secret that eating healthy can reduce your chance of forming cavities. After all, excessive sugars and carbs are major contributors to the development of tooth decay, and a healthy diet concentrates on regulating the nutrients you ingest. Studies also show that exercising on a regular basis can also reduce your risk of developing gum disease, which can wreak havoc with your dental health once it sets in. Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, explains the connection between keeping your body healthy and your mouth strong.

All About Control

Gum disease begins with oral bacteria, which form plaque and adhere to your teeth and gums. When plaque accumulates on your gum line, the germs release toxins that irritate your gum tissue and incite your immune system’s inflammatory response to harmful invaders. The inflammation continues throughout your gums, destroying the tissue that connects them to your teeth. When you exercise regularly, your body has a stronger control on your immune system and its ability to maintain order. One study, which examined the exercise routines and dental health of 2,500 people, suggests that participants who exercised at least three times per week were 33% less likely to develop gum disease compared to subjects who did not exercise at all. (more…)

Why Your Body Needs a Clean Mouth

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clean mouthLast week, we discussed the importance of maintaining healthy nutrition levels for the good of your mouth. However, the need for fuel is not the only similarity between your mouth’s health and your body’s wellbeing. An influx of research has shown that poor oral health may be significantly linked to many serious illnesses, including lung disease, heart disease, and many others. As a testament to the importance of keeping your mouth clean, Astoria dentist Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz explains how oral disease develops and why its origins may affect the rest of your body, as well.

How do Oral Diseases Develop?

Most people have been taught since an early age to brush and floss your teeth if you want a clean mouth. The main goal of daily dental hygiene is to control the accumulation of dental plaque, which contains hundreds of different kinds of bacteria that can devastate your oral health if allowed to run amok. For instance, Streptococcus mutans is known to convert sugar and carbs into lactic acid, which destroys your tooth enamel to make way for bacteria to initiate tooth decay. The more germs accumulate, the more acid they can produce, and if not controlled, your teeth can soon become overwhelmed. Another microbe, called Porphyromonas gingivalis, has been singled out as a significant perpetrator of gum disease. The germ incites your immune system’s inflammatory response, causing your gums to swell and separate from your teeth. (more…)