Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

Healthy gums are firm and pale pink in color. If your gums are any other color besides this, it’s time to visit Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care to get your periodontal health in good shape. Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums and commonly occurs due to a lack of oral hygiene habits. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance into a more aggressive form of periodontal disease. Symptoms of gingivitis include red, puffy, and tender gums. The longer plaque sits on the teeth, the more likely a patient is to develop this condition. To avoid gingivitis, the best thing to do is to brush at least twice a day for two minutes, and floss at least once a day. Also, don’t forget to visit us twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams. The good news about gingivitis is that it’s reversible. All it takes is a good week of consistent flossing and you should notice less pink (blood) in the sink. If you have questions or concerns regarding periodontal disease or gingivit

An Oral Cancer Screening is an important part of the patient visit at Bernstein Dental Care. Oral Cancer Screening is an examination performed by Dr. Paul Bernstein to search for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in the mouth. The goal of this procedure is to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure. If you’ve never heard of an oral cancer screening before, ask about one the next time you visit. Most people who develop oral cancer first experience abnormal tissue changes. These are called “potentially malignant disorders,” and sometimes they become cancer. More than half the people with oral cancer have cancer that has spread (metastasized) at the time of diagnosis. The main goal of screening, therefore, is to identify potentially malignant cancer early so that it can be treated. Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get reg

Bad breath can be a sign of bad health, and there are some particularly pressing reasons why a child may experience it. At Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge, we do more than just clean teeth; we’re a core part of each of our patients’ healthcare teams, and we want parents to understand how to help children with halitosis. Children have a harder time brushing their teeth. Consequently, even a child without health complications may develop oral infections, which are the most common reason for bad breath. It is important for children to know to brush their tongues as well as each tooth surface, and to do so for a full two minutes during each session. A child with trouble brushing will need more supervision. However, bad breath can also result from bacteria feeding in the back of the throat, where fluids can drip from the nasal cavity. Children get a lot of colds and can benefit from the use of a non-alcoholic mouthwash. Anybody who has difficulty grasping a toothbrush may be better off u

Dental white spots aren’t just unpleasant to look at. They’re a warning sign of an oral health problem. At Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge, we want our patients to be satisfied with their smiles and to know when they need to improve their brushing. That’s why this week we’re discussing white spot lesions. Tooth enamel is a very hard substance, but it can be damaged by acid. When somebody suffers from frequent acid reflux, the enamel on their upper back teeth wears away, and the teeth look glazed and unnaturally white. The same thing can happen to any tooth when a dental infection is allowed to persist, which is why white spots are also called incipient lesions. Bacteria secrete acid, which creates white spots as enamel is demineralized. This most commonly happens on the sides of teeth, where bristles from most toothbrushes won’t reach them and near the gums. They are also common around orthodontic brackets and will result in the patient having hollow square-shaped spots on their tee

The mouth is the window to the rest of our body which simply means that if we don’t feed it the proper nutrients, our oral health, cardiovascular health, and immune health may suffer. Adequate nutritional habits are necessary for preventing oral diseases such as periodontal disease, tooth decay, and infection. Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care wants his patients to keep their permanent teeth for a lifetime. To do so, choose healthy foods from the five main food groups: fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy. The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon: The form of food – whether it’s liquid, solid, sticky or slow to dissolve How often you eat sugary/acidic foods and beverages The nutritional makeup of the food The combinations of the foods you eat and the order in which you eat them Medical conditions you may have, such as acid reflux and eating disorders,