Bottled water: The culprit behind tooth troubles?

Dr. Mitchell Scheier and our team want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

Bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the U.S., beating out milk, juice, tap water and other beverages. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health. If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates regularly.

Invisalign tips with Dr. Scheier

Many people know that Invisalign is a fantastic solution to traditional braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, however, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively.

Regular - and, of course, exceptional oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Scheier wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - The aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, please give us a call!

Happy Friday!!

Let Dr. Scheier know how he's doing!

Dr. Scheier & Associates believe that the best approach to dental care is prevention. It would be our pleasure to include you among our group of friends and provide you with the best possible dental care. Our passion is designing an incredible smile that will give you the confidence for success in both your personal and professional life.

Whether you've visited Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates for a week or for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how Dr. Scheier is doing! There are lots of ways you may share your thoughts about our practice, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Dr. Scheier create more beautiful smiles in Havertown and surrounding areas!

You may write a review here.

Thanks, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Letterman discusses dentists - Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates

How about a treat this afternoon? Our staff at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates recently came across a really funny clip of David Letterman talking about his experience with a dentist on the Late Show. 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 best! Enjoy!

Have you been seen by Dr. Scheier in the past six months? Give us a call at 610-449-4646!

Are you visiting Dr. Scheier regularly?

Our staff wants to know: Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s fantastic. But, don’t forget that it’s also important to visit us at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates every six months in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. During the visit, Dr. Scheier can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam Dr. Scheier will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not visited Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates in the last six months, it’s time to schedule an appointment!

Dr. Scheier wants to know: What helps you relax at our office?

At Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, we know not everyone is always thrilled to visit their dentist. But our staff and Dr. Mitchell Scheier strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We believe that the best approach to dental care is prevention. As a new patient you will see the quality and feel the gentle dental care we provide in our new state-of-the-art dental office. Our passion is designing an incredible smile that will give you the confidence for success in both your personal and professional life.

Today, we’d like to know: What is it about our practice that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly professional staff? Is it something about Dr. Scheier?

Post your thoughts here or on our Facebook page!

Fun fact Friday!!

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun. Our staff at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates thought we'd throw some fun facts your way on this Friday afternoon. Enjoy!

• Your set of teeth is as unique as your fingerprint. No two people have the same set of teeth. It is as unique as your fingerprint and even identical twins are different.

• Most tooth loss in people under 35 years of age is caused by athletic trauma, fights, or accidents. The cause of most tooth loss in people over 35 is periodontal disease. Remember to brush and floss!

• Approximately 200,000 athletes per year save face by covering their pearly whites with mouth guards during sporting events.

• The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva (spit) in a lifetime. That's enough saliva to fill two swimming pools!

• The average woman smiles about 62 times a day. Men smile only 8 times. Kids laugh around 400 times a day. Grown-ups, however, laugh just 15.

• If you're right handed, you will chew your food on your right side. If you're a leftie, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.