Don't Forget Your Pal Fluoride!

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your dental treatment at Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk.You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in the dentist' office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Beware of those Christmas goodies!

The office of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk knows that maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, our friends at the American Dental Association recommend nuts or dried fruit, which are a nice alternative to sugars and have a greater nutritional value—and can satisfy your sweet tooth! Both nuts and fruit are a great source of fiber and act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, nuts are a great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9, nutrients that contribute to a healthy immune system. Nuts are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with reducing heart disease and lower blood pressure.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

--Drs. Allen Ressler, Andrew Hirschl, and Ira Lelchuk

What do you love about the holidays?

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as the team at Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2010? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm,
and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

--The team at Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk

Don’t leave money on the table!

Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuck and team would like to give those patients with flex spending, health savings, or insurance benefits a friendly end of the year reminder that it's high time to schedule your dental visits so you optimize your benefit. You may also want to begin planning for 2011 flex spending.

Don't hesitate to call us today to get in for your cleaning, dental care and whitening for those holiday parties!

Thank you,

-Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk

Flossing 101

Here is a very concise photo illustration explaining the proper way to floss your teeth. Many people think that flossing is only to get the food out from in between your teeth, when actually flossing should be done every day on every tooth to help protect your teeth and gums. For more information on flossing, visit our website, or give us a call!

Letterman discusses dentists - Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS

Our staff at Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS recently came across a really funny clip of funnyman David Letterman talking about his experience with a dentist. In the video, he jokes about his frustration with his dentist and the hole in his mouth "the size of an above-ground pool." We loved this clip, and think you will as well - Letterman at his finest!

Have you been seen by Drs. Lelchuk, Hirschl or Ressler in the past six months? If not, please give us a call!

Teeth whitening addiction in Miami

Let's face it, people want to look and feel great, and at a time when a set of sparkling teeth might mean the difference between getting a job, more and more Floridians are complaining about irritation and bleeding gums, translucent teeth and even excessive teeth sensitivity, especially to cold food and drink items.

At Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS, you can whiten your smile in one appointment or receive at-home procedures and products. We also offer deep bleaching, the only method that insures dramatic whitening for dark teeth and custom bleaching trays.

Lastly, our friends at WebMD have written a helpful article on teeth whitening addiction, and we encourage you to give it a read if you suspect you may have a teeth whitening addiction.

Have we seen you in the past six months? If not, give us a call!

Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk want to know: What do you love about Miami?

With offices in Miami Beach and North Miami, the offices of Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk are situated around some pretty special neighborhoods. Each is unique with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our amazing patients) living within.

Today, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about Miami? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Perhaps you have a special bond with a place somewhere in the city? Maybe you've got a favorite south Florida get-away spot?

Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in Miami, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.” And, who knows, we might just post your response on our social networks!

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!