Tell Dr. Scheier and team what's on your mind!

Week after week, our creative staff at Dr. Scheier's office blog about important topics pertinent to dental care and your continuing dental treatment with Havertown dentist Dr. Mitchell Scheier.

This week, however, we thought we’d step back and ask: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the field of dentistry? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and we'll try to answer any questions you may have!

We hope you all had a great holiday weekend.

Share your Fourth of July plans with us!

Like most Americans, our staff at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates will be celebrating America's 234th birthday this coming Sunday. For most people, Independence Day means a time of celebration, and a time to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of America's Declaration of Independence.

Fourth of July weekend is also a time to pay homage to all our soldiers, past and present - who continue to place themselves in harm's way so that Americans may continue to enjoy our freedoms.

Tell us about your Fourth of July plans! Are you heading to a barbecue with family? Hitting the open road? Are you planning on using fireworks to light up the night sky?

Let us know by posting on our Facebook page! We also encourage you to post any photos you may have!!

Whatever you end up doing this holiday weekend, we hope you have a fun, safe and happy Fourth of July!

Dr. Scheier and team want to know: Are you reading this summer?

With summer finally here, some of us at Havertown's Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates have been thinking more and more about the importance of summer reading. Watching TV doesn't replicate the experience of reading a good book, and books are great for kids as well, as reading helps children maintain their skill level and be prepared for classes in the fall. In addition, a new study has found that the number of books in the home might predict a child's educational future.

Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we'll be more than happy to provide a few great titles for you. You may also ask a local librarian here in Havertown some ideas or check out various summer reading lists that we came across this week, from Barnes & Noble.

Could you be a teeth whitening addict?

Havertown dentist Dr. Mitchell Scheier knows that people want to look and feel great, and at a time when a set of sparkling white teeth might mean the difference between getting a job or a promotion, more and more folks are excessively trying to whiten their teeth and are running into problems, including irritation and bleeding gums, excessive teeth sensitivity and even translucent teeth.

At Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, we are proud of offer the latest in in-office whitening, including Zoom!® Teeth Whitening (as seen on Extreme Makeover) and other services.

Please give us a call at 610-449-4646 for more info about our professional teeth whitening treatments and read more about teeth whitening addiction from our friends at WebMD.

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!

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.

Dr. Scheier, helping calm children's fears and anxieties

Our staff at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates knows that many children fear visiting the dentist. Recently, we ran across a great article on helping kids overcome fears of the dentist, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Dr. Scheier and our team excel at making children feel comfortable visiting the dentist. In fact, most of our young patients look forward to their next visit!

Has your child visited Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates in the last six months? If not, it’s time to schedule an appointment by calling 610-572-1546! We look forward to seeing you and have a great weekend!

Smile now, smile later, smile often! From Dr. Scheier

Great news to report on this Good Friday! People with big, happy smiles may actually out-live those who don’t! That, according to a recent study conducted at Wayne State University.

Dr. Scheier and team knew that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something interesting for their study: they used information from the Baseball Register to look at smiles of 230 players who began their baseball careers prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (wide smile, no smile or partial smile).

The researchers then took into account other factors associated with life longevity, such as body mass index, career length and, yes, even college attendance. They found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. The ballplayers with big, wide smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old!

Our take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you perfected your smile by visiting Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates lately? If not, give us a call and have a great weekend!

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!

Gum disease and YOU, from Dr. Mitchell Scheier

It’s easy to tell when you have a cavity; but unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you even knowing, Dr. Scheier says. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Since gum disease can be undetectable, it’s important to watch for warning signs in order to prevent the disease from worsening!

Signs to watch for:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position
• Any change in the way partial dentures fit

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, schedule an appointment right away by calling Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates. Dr. Scheier can diagnose the problem and begin treatment to save your teeth and give you back a healthy mouth!

This March, what are you up to? From Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates

Tough to believe, but it’s almost springtime. The daffodils and buttercups are on their way, the sun is warming up and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting from baseball fields nearby. Today, Dr. Scheier and team thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports this year? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all!

You may share your stories or plans with our team here, on our Facebook fan page or by giving us a call!

P.S. While you’re on our Facebook page, become a fan!

Dr. Mitchell D. Scheier & Associates, supporting National Nutrition Month

March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it’s National Nutrition Monthh. Every March, Dr. Mitchell Scheier and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Dr. Scheier and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

At Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, we know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet this March:

• Focus on fruits and vegetables: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think fresh, think local: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in our neck of the woods.

• Make every calorie count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• It’s tempting, but…: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you crave a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

• Expand your horizons: Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself and your mouth healthy, please give us a call!

Access your account—any day, any time—at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds great and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our web site. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Just see what some of Dr. Mitchell Scheier's patients are saying about this innovative service:

"Like most patients I am a busy person with many obligations. It is good to have a reminder about my appointment times so I don't cause others to wait for me. I love having the billing information at my fingertips. I can have my payment ready." ~ Kathryn C.

"Appointment date/time check & confirmation." ~ Patty K.

"Text reminders is a great idea. I like the ability to see appointments, benefits, etc all in one place." ~ Chris B.

"It makes everything so much more accessible and EASY!!!" ~ Kelly L.

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Dr. Scheier wants to know: What do you love about your community?

Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, located in Havertown and serving surrounding communities, is situated around some pretty unique neighborhoods. Each is special with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our fantastic patients) living within.

Today, Dr. Scheier and our staff thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about our community? Is there a local event you like to attend every year? Perhaps you have a favorite Pennsylvania getaway? Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in Havertown and our area, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.”

And, who knows, we might post your response on our social networks! Enjoy the rest of your week!