Syosset Dentist Explores the Effects of Stress on Your Oral Health

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stressed out businesswomanThe negative effects of stress on your health are well-documented. While it can serve as a natural defense mechanism, prolonged periods of stress can increase your risk of some health issues, including heart disease, sleep deprivation, depression, obesity, and memory impairment, among many others. Not many people realize, however, that stress can also help to erode your oral health from the inside out. Syosset dentist Dr. Richard Kobak explains the dangers that excessive stress can pose to your oral health.

Stress and Teeth: Direct Damage

If you are like most people, you may clench your jaw or grind your teeth when you are angry, stressed, or upset. While it may seem trivial in moments of emotional distress, the constantly grinding your teeth (a habit called bruxism) can lead to extensive tooth damage and wear. Usually, tooth grinding is more dangerous at night, as most patients tend to grind their teeth in their sleep without realizing it. If stress is a factor in your bruxism, however, then you may clench and grind your teeth as much during the day as you do at night, often just oblivious to the action as if you were asleep. Damage caused by bruxism can include chipped or broken teeth, excessively worn tooth enamel, and malocclusion (a misaligned bite) due to excessive wear of your teeth’s chewing surfaces. TMJ disorder, which affects the joints of your jaw and is signified by extreme jaw discomfort, is also linked to the habit of bruxism. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living Syosset LI NY, Oral Health Syosset LI NY

What You May Not Know About Your Tongue

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pretty girl showing her tongueDid you know that your tongue is the strongest muscle in your body, or that it is the only muscle connected at one end? The tongue plays an important part in the function of your mouth. After all, it takes up quite a bit of space. However, many people neglect to mention the tongue when speaking about oral and dental health. While your teeth make eating and speaking possible, they only do so with the assistance of your tongue. To learn more facts about your mouth muscle, read on, as Syosset dentist Dr. Kobak outlines some interesting facts about the tongue.

Interesting Facts

  • The longest human tongue, according to the Guinness World Records, is 9.8 cm (3.86 in).
  • The widest tongue on record measured 3.1 inches across at its widest point. (more…)

filed under: General Dentistry, Just for Fun

Could Chocolate Help You Prevent Cavities?

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chocolate barsSome people would say that chocolate is an addiction. They wouldn’t be entirely incorrect: chocolate contains the chemicals tyramine and tryptophan, which the brain converts into the natural feel-good chemicals dopamine and serotonin. Thankfully, we are becoming more aware of chocolate’s health benefits so you don’t have to feel as guilty for indulging in the rich, sweet temptation. Research also suggests that chocolate may benefit your oral health, as well. Syosset dentist Dr. Kobak explains how eating chocolate may help you fight cavities.

It’s Not Just the Sugar

Chocolate and cavity prevention may sound like a pipe dream. After all, with the amount of sugar that chocolate contains, teeth should start decaying as soon as you take a bite. This would possibly be true, but the misconception that sugar directly causes cavities is false. The truth is, oral bacteria found in plaque, mainly Streptococcus mutans, process the sugars and carbs that you eat, turning them into acid that weakens your tooth enamel and saps your tooth of minerals. When the enamel is weak enough, bacteria can get past it to infect the interior of your tooth. This enamel erosion is called “demineralization,” and is the first step to tooth decay. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living Syosset LI NY, Patient Education

Waging a Microbial War for Your Oral Health

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fighting bacteriaSometimes, the best defense is a good offense. For centuries, humans have found innovative ways to defend against tooth decay. Today, the array of innovative cavity detection and treatment methods is impressive, yet cavities remain the number one disease among children. Research and experiments around the world are now geared toward attacking the formation of tooth decay instead of merely defending against it. Syosset dentist Dr. Richard Kobak discusses two developments that can help change the face of the oral health war.

Step 1: Understand the Enemy

The most common cause of tooth decay is poor oral hygiene. More specifically, if you do not brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, bacteria have the opportunity to accumulate. When the 600 different kinds of oral bacteria gather in your mouth, they create a sticky substance made of extracellular DNA and known as plaque. Aside from holding the microbes together, plaque also allows them to stick to the surface of your teeth, giving harmful bacteria a front row seat to synthesize the food you eat. By definition, oral bacteria inhabit your mouth. Eliminating all of them in the name of cavity prevention would be impossible. (more…)

filed under: News and Technology, Preventive Dentistry

Syosset Dentist Advises—Pack Your Childrens’ School Lunches

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healthy school lunchKnow What They’re Eating

There is no end to the list of what most parents worry about while their children are at school. One common cause for worry is whether or not your child is eating properly while he/she is away from home for the day. Schools are required to provide the recommended amount of daily nutrients to their students, but even healthy foods can damage a person’s oral health. Most parents do not know exactly where the school’s cafeteria receives its food from, or what foods are being served. Most children do not and will not brush their teeth in a school bathroom after lunch, so your choices for protecting their teeth are limited. Syosset dentist Dr. Richard Kobak advises you to pack your child’s lunch at home, and offers advice on foods that can help benefit your child’s oral health.

Good for the Body, Bad for the Teeth

Some foods that are healthy for our bodies can be detrimental to our oral health at the same time. For instance, our bodies need sugar to operate properly, yet the bacteria in our mouths thrive on refined sugar and turn it into lactic acid, which erodes enamel and leads to tooth decay. Orange juice, while rich in vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and calcium, is also abundant in sugars and citric acid. You should not eliminate OJ from your breakfast menu, however. Instead, have your children drink it through a straw to minimize contact with their teeth. Also, advise them to drink it quickly to lessen the amount of time their teeth are exposed to it. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living Syosset LI NY, Patient Education

Oral Health Test Scores Are In—America, You Nearly Failed

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i dont knowThanks to advances in dentistry over the last century, more Americans are enjoying full, healthy smiles. Innovation has provided us tools for exceptional cosmetic dentistry, and extensive scientific research has shown us ways to effectively treat dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Yet, when it comes to the basics of oral health care, it seems Americans have not learned as much as they should have. According to a survey conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA), Americans’ scored an average “D” when quizzed about oral health. The survey consisted of true or false questions concerning issues such as how often to brush your teeth, what causes cavities, and proper toothbrush care, among others. To help bolster your knowledge and increase your chances of a life-long healthy smile, Syosset dentist Dr. Richard Kobak reviews the basics of good oral health care.

At-Home Tooth Care

A surprising 90% of the participants in the survey answered that you should brush your teeth after every meal. While that may seem like an ideal textbook answer, it is incorrect. The ADA recommends that you brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day for around 2-3 minutes at a time. A third tooth brushing session, preferably after lunch, may provide additional cleaning and protection; however most working adults do not have the time to brush their teeth for the recommended time period in the middle of a work day. (more…)

filed under: General Dentistry, Patient Education

Syosset Dental is Growing!

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Dr. Kobak and Dr. Berk 1024x723If you are a patient of Dr. Kobak’s, or a regular reader of our blog, you may know that we moved into our new, state-of-the-art dental office on Jericho Turnpike last summer. Our new facility has increased the level of service and comfort that we offer our clients, and has allowed us to utilize the latest in technology for your exceptional oral health care. As a part of our growth and expansion, Dr. Richard Kobak and our staff welcome the addition of Dr. David M. Berk, his staff, and his patients to our home at Syosset Dental!

Welcome, Dr. Berk!

A native of Long Island, Dr. Berk attended Queens College, where he completed his undergraduate coursework, and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the New York University College of Dentistry. Since 1974, his dedication to continued education has allowed Dr. Berk to stay ahead of the curve in providing his patients with cutting edge dental care. An active member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and a “Master” in the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Berk, his staff, and his patients will find a warm and welcoming home at our Syosset dental office. (more…)

filed under: General Dentistry, Office News

Syosset Dentist Explores News of Futuristic Dental Fillings

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business smileAs dentistry evolves, it is not always new techniques that revolutionize the industry. For instance, the art of removing decayed tooth tissue and replacing it with filling material has been practiced for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. The mid-1800s brought the advent of amalgam fillings, and in spite of the controversy regarding the mercury content of metal fillings, they remained the standard material for over a century.  Recently, tooth-colored composite resin fillings gained popularity as a more discreet filling option for their resemblance to your natural teeth, as well as for the lack of mercury in their composition. Now, dentistry stands on the brink of innovation once again. Syosset dentist Dr. Richard Kobak discusses a new filling material that can change the face of dental care and tooth restoration.

Exploring Tooth Restoration Failure

The problem with even the most advanced dental filling material is that, over time, it will need to be replaced. With proper care, most restorations can last ten years or longer. However, constant attack from eating and drinking, and pressure from occasional grinding or clenching, can cause a dental filling to eventually fail. When a tooth suffers decay, your dentist removes the decayed tissue and replaces it with the filling material to reinforce the remaining tooth structure. Unfortunately, even after the removal of tissue, small traces of residual bacteria can remain on the tooth’s structure. When a restoration cracks or wears away, the space created between the filling and the tooth structure allows bacteria to enter and once again infect your tooth. For this reason, it is important to neutralize the harmful effects of bacteria after a restoration is placed. (more…)

filed under: General Dentistry, News and Technology

Can Dried Licorice Root Fight Tooth Decay and Gum Disease?

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licorice rootIn Chinese traditional medicine, dried licorice root is a common treatment, especially as an enhancer for other herbal ingredients or as flavoring. Traditional medical practitioners also use the dried root to treat certain ailments, including respiratory and digestive issues. Scientists are now testing whether the reported medicinal properties of the sweet root are valid and have discovered two substances that may aid in the fight against dental issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. Syosset dentist Dr. Richard Kobak discusses these findings.

Antibacterial Licorice?

A study published in the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Journal of Natural Sciences indicates that researchers have discovered two substances in the dried root of licorice that can aid you in the fight against oral infection. They believe these substances, licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, can combat oral infections because of their antimicrobial properties. Both substances proved to be highly effective antibacterial agents. They killed two major cavity-causing bacteria and two other bacteria that promote periodontal (gum) disease. The compound licoricidin eliminated a third bacterium also known to cause gum disease. The researchers hope to utilize these substances to treat or prevent oral infections. (more…)

filed under: General Dentistry, Oral Health Syosset LI NY

How’s Your Smile Working for You?

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working smileAt Syosset Dental on Long Island, Dr. Richard Kobak’s passion is to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, functional, and attractive smile. If your smile lacks any one of these aspects, you may feel deprived of the benefits of healthy teeth and gums, working teeth, and a beautiful smile. Luckily, Dr. Kobak can help you achieve the smile you’ve been missing.

Evaluate Your Dental Situation

  • Contemplate your dental hygiene habits. Do you brush thoroughly at least twice a day and floss at least once a day? Is your breath usually fresh?
  • Think about how well your teeth operate. Do you experience any tooth or jaw pain? Do you have a hard time biting and chewing?
  • Now, think about the appearance of your smile. Are your teeth yellow? Do you have gaps, chips, and stains you’d like to correct? Are you missing any teeth?

If your answers to the above questions are less than ideal, we offer a variety of dental treatments and procedures to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Health Syosset LI NY