Treat Your Bad Breath

Do you have bad breath? No, not the “I’ve just eaten garlic bread”  kind of breath, more like the  “I have bad breath all day every day no matter how many mints I take, breath”. Chronic bad breath is what experts call halitosis and it usually means that you have some bad bacteria growing between your teeth from lack of flossing or you may be a culprit of gum disease.  Bad breath can be a symptom of a medical condition such as a simple cold or acid reflux. Doctors Bram Dental gives us advice on how to handle chronic bad breath.

Bad breath can be embarrassing! However, it is treatable and preventable. Brushing and flossing twice a day will kill all the bacteria in between your teeth. Remember to scrub your tongue with your toothbrush after you are done brushing. Try to eat foods that promote saliva, like carrots, celery, and apples. If you smoke, try to quit. Make regular appointments with your dentist to assure a healthy mouth. Remember that a person’s mouth is a window to their overall body health, so eating healthy and keeping a good lifestyle all plays a part in having a healthy mouth.

If you have questions about your bad breath, dental health or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.bramdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mark Bram or Dr. Lea Bram at Bram Dental in Plainview, NY, call 516-681-3322.

Dental Implants

Since Drs. Mark and Lea Bram started their practice, new technological developments in dentistry have made a wide array of tooth restorations popular. The chief among these is the endosteal implant. Whereas patients once had to make do with only above-the-gum restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures, dentists are now able to install implants which can substitute the root of the tooth, as well as the cap.

The caps, or crowns, of the teeth are what people see and are aware of using, but the roots are vital to their facial shape and health. The roots stabilize the jaw bone tissue, and without them, the jaw bone recedes, causing the patient’s face to sag, and other teeth to weaken. Titanium or ceramic screws implanted into the jaw bone can reverse this damage, although there must be enough jaw tissue for them to fuse with. If patients lack the requisite jaw bone tissue, they may discuss a bone graft with the doctors.

Implants are inserted through an incision in the gum. The incision is sutured, and the patient is given about six months to heal, during which they are fitted with an artificial crown. The lengthy waiting period is necessary not because the surgical wound is extensive, but because it takes time for the jaw bone and artificial material to fuse together. (The scientific term for this is osseointegration.) When this is complete, an abutment will be screwed to the top of the implant, and one of the doctors will make an impression of the patient’s mouth to use as the blueprint for a custom-made artificial crown. The manufacturing process may take a few weeks, but at its end, the patient will have a sturdy new tooth which, if maintained like natural teeth should be, could last for decades. Multiple implants can be installed at once. 

Drs. Mark and Lea Bram operate Bram Dental at 998 Old Country Rd, Suite 3, Plainview, New York, 11803. To set up an appointment, call 516-681-3322

Pediatric Dentistry

For children to have optimal oral health, it's crucial to not miss any dental visits. It's important to develop a healthy hygiene habit while children are young. However, it's not always an easy task. It's not uncommon for kids to be scared of visiting the dentist. There are tips you can take into consideration as a parent to make your child's visit less fearful.

Try to Keep Conversations Basic

It's natural for your child to be curious and ask you what will go on at the dentist. It's beneficial if you keep the conversation as simple as possible. Try to refrain from using any words such as drill, filling, shots, x-rays, etc. The best and most basic thing to tell them is that the dentist will be checking for sugar bugs on their teeth. From there, the dentist will be able to take over and explain the next steps in a kid-friendly manner.

Play Pretend

Most kids like to play pretend and it may be beneficial for the both of you to play pretend dentist prior to the actual appointment. For example, the night or morning before the dental appointment, you can pretend you are the dentist and your child is the patient. Take a toothbrush and count his or her teeth in a fun way. Avoid any drill noises or anything that could make him or her anxious. By playing pretend, it will make your child feel more at ease knowing what to expect.

For more information on our pediatric dentistry services, contact us at 516-962-5010 or view our website www.bramdental.com

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral Cancer Screenings at Bram Dental

An estimated 30,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer in the United States each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. At Bram Dental, Drs. Mark and Lea Bram use their dental expertise to provide oral cancer screenings to their patients.

Oral cancer is cancer that can involve the lips, tongue, gums, teeth, cheek linings, and part of your mouth under your tongue. Oral cancers cause cells in the mouth to grow at an uncontrolled rate. This can cause a person to develop tumors that can then spread to other parts of the body.

The dentists will use a special technique to examine the structures of the mouth. In some instances, this can allow them to view areas of different tissues that could indicate oral cancer.

Some symptoms/indications of oral cancer include:

• White patches in the mouth

• Red patches

• A sore on your lip or mouth that won’t heal

• Teeth that feel loose

• Bleeding or soreness in the mouth

• A unexplained lump in the neck

• Numbness of the lower lip

Please call Dr. Bram to schedule your oral cancer screening.

Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?

Patients who may be at risk for oral cancers include those who use tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco. People who abuse tobacco and are heavy drinkers are at an especially increased risk for oral cancers. Other risk factors include sun exposure, prior exposure to HPV, a past history of oral cancers, and those who do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to the American Cancer Society.

For more information on oral cancer screenings at Bram Dental, please call the dentists office at (516) 962-5010. www.bramdental.com