Talking cavities with Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk

Let's face it, one word nobody wants to hear when they visit the dentist is "cavity." That’s right, the dreaded cavity. But what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by Drs. Ressler, Hirschl or Lelchuk, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up

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!

Oh no! Miami makes the ‘14 worst-teeth cities’ list!

What makes for a beautiful smile? Drs. Lelchuk, Hirschl and Ressler will tell you regular dental visits, brushing and flossing, minimizing your intake of soda and coffee and not smoking, among other factors, will maximize your chances of achieving great oral health. Our friends at TotalBeauty in 2009 released their list of the “14 Worst-Teeth Cities,” and our team at Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS is sad to report Miami was chosen among the fourteen.

Here’s an excerpt from the article: "Florida residents love their coffee and wine, and that puts them on this list. They are no. 2 in coffee consumption and also imbibe an average of 4.09 gallons of wine a year per person* (the U.S. average is 3.02 gallons annually). That plus hard water and a rank of no. 37 in dental visits means there are some seriously stained teeth in Miami."

Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Ressler Hirschl and Lelchuk DDS every six months? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment! And don’t forget the old dental saying: “Be true to your teeth or they’ll be false to you!”

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!

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.