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Dental Facts

Dental Tidbits

  • Grapefruits aren’t just for breakfast anymore. According to researchers at Pace University, grapefruit extract in toothpaste can kill oral viruses. The researchers also noted that adding aloe, zinc, and grapefruit extract to mouthwash and toothpaste kills viruses in the oral cavity, and thus eliminates their passage into the body.
  • More and more Americans go to a female dentist, according to a recent survey by the American Dental Association. The survey reports that the largest percent of practicing dentists were in the 35 to 45 year old group. This age-related group has 48 percent of the female dentists and 32 percent of male dentists. In the under 35 group, 12 percent were male dentists while the same group contained 37 percent of female dentists. In the group representing dentists aged 55 to 64, only three percent were women and 17 percent men. This survey clearly shows the rapid inclusion of female professionals as dentists over the past 15 years.
  • Are you a wine drinker? According to a study at Guy’s Hospital in London, the acid in wine was shown to erode the enamel on teeth. A wine taster had been exposed to so much wine that only the fillings were protruding in some of the subject’s teeth. Any individual who tastes or drinks wine often should clean his or her mouth at least twice a day. Typically, red wine causes the worst stains on teeth.
  • Routine dental radiographs may be an effective tool in preventing strokes, according to researchers at the University of Buffalo. Stroke victims usually receive no warning of the impending stroke, but dental radiographs can help spot potentially dangerous calcium buildups in the carotid arteries near both ends of the jawbone. These buildups can choke blood flow to the brain and are cause strokes.
  • Have you ever wished that your dentist would turn up the music while he/she is drilling your tooth? The American Dental Association recommends that patients listen to music in the dentist’s office as a form of distraction. A combination of music and an anesthetic during dental procedures can reduce the patient’s blood pressure and pulse rate more than an anesthetic alone. It has also been noted that patients who listen to music at the dentist office tend to have lower levels of stress-related hormones. Many dentists are aware of this anxiety-reliever and provide their patients with headphones.
  • Does your child go through a tube of toothpaste in two weeks? Too much toothpaste early in life accounts for more than 70 percent of fluorosis cases (staining or mottling of tooth enamel that develops when children swallow fluoridated toothpaste), according to a study at the University of Connecticut. The problem is purely cosmetic, but it is recommended that children under six only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and be reminded to spit it out after brushing.
  • Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports, according to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety. An athlete is 60 times more likely to incur damage to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard. It is estimated that mouthguards professionally designed by dentists prevent approximately 200,000 injuries (such as concussions or dental and mandibular injuries) each year in high school and college football. The stock mouthguard, which can be purchased at sports stores without an individual fitting, provides only a low level of protection, if any.
  • Do your palms sweat and hear race when you arrive at your dentist appointment? Patients at the Dental Phobia Treatment Center of New York are offered foot massages, 3-D virtual reality goggles, and aromatherapy to alleviate their fears and help them relax during dental visits. About 35 million people in the US are anxious about dental visits.
  • Patients don’t seem to be as concerned as they should be about the possible link between periodontal disease and strokes, heart disease, diabetes and low-birth-weight babies. Forty-two percent of dentists say that periodontal disease is the most pressing oral health issue, according to the 1998 ADA/Colgate Oral Health Trend Survey. Three out of four dentists plan to educate patients on possible links between this disease and other medical ailments.
  • Dentists are among the top five most trusted professionals in the United States, according to a study by the Gallop Organization and Consumer Reports.
  • The next time your dentist asks if you are taking any medications, don’t forget to mention herbal remedies or alternative medicines, advises the Academy of General Dentistry. Patients tend to forget that multivitamins, ginseng tablets, and herbal teas are considered drugs. High consumption of beverages such as herbal teas, known for their relaxing and soothing qualities, can lower blood pressure and put people at risk of fainting in the dental chair. Keep your dentist informed to avoid any potentially harmful drug interactions during your dental procedures.
  • Looking for an excuse to eat chocolate? Many dentists agree that raisins can cause more tooth decay than chocolate. Sticky foods, such as raisins and dried fruits, can stay on the teeth longer and cause more decay.
  • Want to cure bad breath? Mouthwash, sugarless gum, and tongue scrapers are some modern remedies, but Thomas Vicery, a surgeon from the early 17th century, has a more unique suggestion: “Wash the mouth with water and vinegar. Chew mastic (a tree resin used as an astringent), then wash the mouth again with a decoction of annis seeds, mints and cloves soaked in wine.”
  • The popular technique of baking pizza in wood burning stoves could be harmful to your oral health. The smoke from wood burning stoves can cause people to have two to three times the risk of mouth and throat cancers, according to the International Journal of Epidemiology. Wood stoves may be responsible for 30 percent of all such cancers. Cooking and heating stoves are used in more than half the world’s households and have been shown in many areas to generate a number of combustion products that are known, or suspected, carcinogenic agents.

Little Known Dental Facts

  • What do tree branches, wild boar hairs, and nylon have in common? The bristles of a toothbrush have been made from these items. People have been concerned about their dental hygiene since Egyptian times. Ancient tombs contained small tree branches whose ends had been frayed into soft fibers. In the 15th century, the Chinese made toothbrushes from the neck hairs of a Siberian wild boar. The present-day nylon toothbrush wasn’t invented until 1937.
  • Powdered fruit, talc, honey, dried flowers, mice, and lizard livers were ingredients in ancient toothpaste and powder. Soap and chalk were suggested components in the 1800’s. Modern toothpaste in collapsible tubes was introduced in the 1850’s. Fluoride wasn’t added to toothpaste until 1956.
  • Toothpicks haven’t always been made of wood. In ancient times, people used combination “tooth/ear pickers” made of bone, quills, silver, or gold. These “dentiscalpias” were used freely by even the best-mannered citizens.
  • Americans purchased over 2.7 million miles of dental floss in 1996. Dental floss was first manufactured in 1882 when it was made from. Recently, some floss has been made of Gore-Tex.
  • The term “indentured servant” has a story behind it. In the colonial days, debtors were shipped from Europe to America to work as servants. Instead of signing a contract, they sealed their agreement by leaving their dental imprint in wax.
  • The defenders of the Alamo were the first to try chewing gum in America. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican dictator who fought Davy Crockett and his Texas comrades, introduced modern day chewing gum. His version of chewing gum was chicle, the latex sap of the sapodilla tree. Thomas Adams, an American inventor, used chicle as the base for commercial chewing gums. Rumor has it, chicle could be the source of the brand name “Chicklets.”
  • Francisco Goya, a famous Spanish Artist, depicts a morbid dental custom of his time in the painting “A Caza de Dientas” (or “tooth hunting”). Dentists would quickly transplant live teeth, often stolen from the dead, into their patients’ empty alveolar sockets.

I had the best experience at this practice. The receptionist was so pleasant and polite, the dental hygienist who cleaned my teeth Dr. Bharti was also very pleasant.

Angie E.

Delivering Benefits to Your Dental Health

  • Advanced Technology & Equipment
    Our office is equipped with the latest dental technology, to provide our patients with safe and comfortable treatments.
  • Complete Dental Solutions in One Location
    Our staff is highly trained to handle a variety of dental problems, providing our patients with comprehensive care.
  • Personalized Dental Care
    Our team will work with you to provide dental care that will solve your dental needs.
  • Experienced Dentists
    Our dentists have provided patients in the Flushing area with quality dental care since 1986.
Dentist
Dr. Richard Gochman

OWNER, DENTIST

Improve Your Smile Now

We're Offering FREE Virtual Consultations

Receive quality dental care now! Connect with us today and get all of your questions answered in three easy steps.

Common Patient Questions

  • Q. How safe is teeth whitening?
    Teeth whitening treatments have been around for hundreds of years, and advancements in techniques and technology have provided us with bleaching gel that is 100 percent safe. The professional-grade bleaching gel that we use is highly effective at getting rid of discoloration and stains. We provide Zoom! WhiteningⓇ as an in-office treatment, and can also outfit you with a kit to take home.
  • Q. It’s been years since I’ve been to the dentist & I’m embarrassed about letting a professional see my mouth. How will I be tre
    We’d like to congratulate you on being proactive about your oral health. It’s never too late to start taking better care of your teeth. When you visit our office, we’ll make sure you feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe. Your dental care team will examine your oral health and discuss treatment options and a plan of action suitable to your needs, schedule, insurance, and budget.
  • Q. Do you stay current on the latest dental techniques, innovations, and materials?
    In order for our team to continue practicing, New York State has certain requirements for continuing education every year. However, we make sure to do much more than the bare minimum at NY Smile Creators. We subscribe to all of the relevant journals in the industry and hold memberships in professional dental associations geared toward furthering our education. We also do our best to attend as many conferences, lectures, and meetings held by such associations to absorb as much new information as we can.
  • Q. How do you ensure patient safety?

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have put forth strict guidelines for us to adhere to as a dental care provider. Some of these guidelines include the following:

    • Using an autoclave to sterilize all reusable instruments, and sealing these instruments individually before using them again
    • Disinfecting patient care areas between every patient visit
    • Choosing disposable products whenever possible
    • Wearing disposable gloves during examinations and procedures
  • Q. How Much Do Treatments Cost?
    There is no set price you can expect to pay because the amount is determined by your individual treatment plan. We take the time to discuss the costs associated with the procedure and your payment options, like third-party financing with CareCredit, LendingClub, and Wells Fargo.

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