This April, play it safe! From Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk

April is almost upon us, and for Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk, that only means one thing: it’s once again time to remind our dear patients to protect their faces and pearly whites. After all, April, which is only two days away, is National Facial Protection Month. Nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while participating in sports activities, with children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events each year, according to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation.

And that is simply unacceptable.

By simply wearing a properly fitted mouth guard, these accidents could be prevented, along with other traumatic facial injuries, say Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk. Here are five tips to save face while having fun this spring. We hope you remember them when you’re out on the ball field.

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our team. And, remember to stay safe and have fun!

5 tips to avoid plaque, from Drs. Hirschl, Lelchuk and Ressler

Drs. Hirschl, Lelchuk and Ressler know that nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Let’s start with not brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is not flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to visit Drs. Hirschl, Lelchuk and Ressler is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your dentist at least twice a year, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick that candy up, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, visit our web site on oral hygiene, or contact our Mount Sinai or North Miami Beach offices.

Oral cancer screening with VELscope® at Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, the office of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk is proud to announce the inclusion of the VELscope® exam as an integral part of our annual comprehensive oral cancer screening program. Every hour of every day in the United States someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth most common diagnosed form of the disease. The 5-year survival rate is only 50%, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved.

But there's a revolutionary device that provides us with an easy-to-use oral examination system for the early detection of abnormal soft tissue. Clinical studies have determined that using VELscope after the standard oral cancer examination improves the clinician's ability to identify, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages. Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. VELscope emits a safe blue light into your mouth, which causes the tissue to appear different colours through the viewfinder. This allows our doctors to tell the difference between normal and abnormal tissue. Best of all, the procedure is quick, painless and potentially life-saving. Ask Drs. Ressler, Hirschl or Lelchuk about a screening at your next appointment.

The importance of regular checkups, from Drs. Ressler, Lelchuk and Hirschl

Is your child brushing his/her teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s fantastic! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for your child to visit our office every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day. If your child will be visiting Drs. Ressler, Lelchuk or Hirschl for the first time, it’s important to bring them in after their first tooth comes through, and no later than their first birthday. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Drs. Lelchuk, Hirschl and Ressler can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth

During an oral exam our doctors will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to visit Drs. Ressler, Lelchuk or Hirschl in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS, supporting National Nutrition Month

Remember a couple of weeks back, when we discussed February and Heart Month? Well, March marks National Nutrition Month, and every year around this time, Drs. Lelchuk, Ressler and Hirschl and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, the team at Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

At Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS, we know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and vegetables: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think local: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture here in Miami, you have many options to find new, fresh foods.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself and your mouth healthy, please give us a call!