Smile! October is National Dental Hygiene Month!

Did you know that October is National Dental Health Month? For our staff at Dr. Mitchell Scheier Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, that means only one thing: Reminding you that your teeth are an important part of your body, and keeping them clean helps keep your mouth and your body healthy. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting our convenient Havertown office on a regular basis, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile throughout your entire life.

We encourage you to check out the official National Dental Hygiene Month website as well, which provides pointers on keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Lastly, has it been six months since your last visit to Dr. Mitchell Scheier Family and Cosmetic Dentistry? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment with Dr. Scheier.

Flossing with Dr. Mitchell Scheier

We hope you and your child are not a part of the 51 percent of Americans who don’t floss every day. And we definitely hope you're not part of the 10 percent who never floss at all. Dr. Mitchell Scheier and our staff will always tell you that proper flossing is just as important for your dental health as brushing regularly. Flossing, you see, cleans food and plaque that build up between teeth and below the gumline, key areas that brushing simply cannot reach.

Flossing 3-to-5 minutes each day is recommended, but even 60 seconds of flossing has a great benefit over not flossing at all. Also, make sure to always brush your teeth after you floss, and to rinse with water or mouthwash. When you begin flossing you may experience gum pain or bleeding, but with daily flossing and brushing this should stop within a week or so.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup with Dr. Mitchell Scheier? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to schedule an appointment!

Stay healthy this holiday season! From Dr. Scheier and team

Maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of winter baking? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or homemade fudge, 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 holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. As always, please give us a call if you have any questions!

Is it time to replace your toothbrush?

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Scheier will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Dr. Mitchell Scheier Family and Cosmetic Dentistry if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Dr. Mitchell Scheier, protecting your child from cavities this Halloween

With Halloween only two weeks away, Dr. Mitchell Scheier knows that there will soon be many tricks and treats! While this festive holiday is full of costumes and fun community activities, it can also be a harmful time for the teeth of young trick-or-treaters in our Havertown, PA neighborhoods.

With all of the sugary, sticky, and chewy treats that are often shared with trick-or-treaters, it is important that you take the necessary steps to prevent cavities this Halloween. Be sure to visit our "Understanding Cavities" blog to learn more about cavities, and how they can be avoided by good oral hygiene habits.

Also, don't forget about Dr. Scheier's Halloween Candy Buy-Back will begin Nov. 1, 2010! This will be a great opportunity for our patients to do something sweet for our troops, and prevent cavities. More details will be announced as the event becomes closer.

Cavities and you, from Dr. Mitchell Scheier

Havertown dentist Dr. Mitchell Scheier knows one word nobody wants to hear when they visit Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates is "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 anyway? 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 Dr. Scheier, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities at home:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (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 Dr. Scheier every six months for a check-up (or as recommended by our office)

We hope this helps! Give us a call at 610-449-4646 for more information about cavities or your oral health! Enjoy the rest of your week!

The importance of oral cancer screenings, from Dr. Scheier

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates screens our patients for oral cancer. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved.

Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. Ask Dr. Scheier about a screening at your next appointment!