Mt. Kisco NY Dentist Reveals The Key To Life Long Health-The Mouth Body Connection

Your body is an intricately balanced ecosystem of interconnected parts and every one of those parts plays an essential role in the preservation of the whole. So if something goes wrong in one part of your body, it has consequences felt throughout the entire body. No other bodily system exemplifies this idea better than the mouth, which acts as a window into the general health of the entire body. Dental professionals have named this holistic approach the mouth-body connection.

Gum Disease: An Inflammatory Condition

Periodontitis, or advanced gum disease, impacts approximately 75% of the American population. Causes for the disease include the use of tobacco products, stress, certain medications, and even hormonal and genetic factors. As gum disease worsens, your body tries to fight off the infection by producing an inflammatory response which causes the gums to become red, swollen, and sore. If left untreated by a dental professional, the inflammation could spread to the jawbone, weakening tooth roots, and causing tooth loss.

Gum Disease and the Health of the Whole Body

Emerging research from the American Academy of Periodontology suggests that your oral health provides a reliable indication of your general health and scientists have effectively established a link between periodontal disease and other inflammatory disorders in the body. This means that if you suffer from gum disease you may also suffer from health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and kidney disease as you age.

Ensuring Your Lifelong Health

The power to maintain optimum oral health – and thereby maintain the health of the whole body – is in your hands. Establish a consistent and thorough at-home dental hygiene regimen. This includes brushing in the morning and evening, flossing once a day, and using an antiseptic mouthwash in the evenings. Look for changes you can make in your diet. Incorporate nutritious, anti-inflammatory foods into your diet and eliminate foods such as white sugar, refined flour, and excess salt. Moreover, visit your dentist on a regular basis for routine checkups and cleanings.  After a routine dental hygiene visit it takes the bacteria approximately three months to repopulate pockets around teeth to a level where they are destructive to bone and supporting structures.  This is why a professional cleaning every three months is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Schedule an Appointment

Concerned you may be suffering from gum disease? We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Abel by calling our Mount Kisco NY dentist office at (914) 241-2242. We serve Mount Kisco, NY and surrounding areas.

www.WestchesterTopDentist.com

A Little Bit Of Fun Christmas Trivia From Your Dentist

Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday. This tradition began in 1836.

Although many believe the Friday after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year, it is not. It is the fifth to tenth busiest day. The Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the two busiest shopping days of the year.

An average household in America will mail out 28 Christmas cards each year and see 28 eight cards return in their place.

Animal Crackers are not really crackers, but cookies that were imported to the United States from England in the late 1800s. Barnum's circus-like boxes were designed with a string handle so that they could be hung on a Christmas tree.

California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states. Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees.

Charles Dickens' initial choice for Scrooge's statement "Bah Humbug" was "Bah Christmas."

Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Gum Disease-Mount Kisco, NY

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ADVISED TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF GUM DISEASE?

Chances are, if you’ve ever visited a dentist, you’ve been checked—to some extent—for symptoms of this problem. Here at Westchester Dental Care in Mount Kisco, NY, for many of our patients, a routine check up typically reveals healthy, disease-free gums. We’re glad for that… But sometimes people with healthy gums forget that it’s still important to regularly look for early signs of a problem.

If you have early signs of gum disease, the best thing that can be done is to take care of it before it gets out of hand. For many of you that may mean being well informed about gum disease, including symptoms to watch for.

Gum disease can be divided into three stages which can range from a simple amount of gum inflammation to major tissue damage and tooth loss. It’s been said before, but as a reminder, the sooner periodontal disease is caught the more we can do to successfully reverse the affects. Unfortunately, gum disease usually doesn’t hurt until sufficient damage has been done. At this stage, people often lose teeth. The bacteria associated with gum disease has also been linked to heart disease including heart attacks, Alzheimer’s Disease, strokes, Diabetes, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, certain cancers like kidney and pancreatic, and low pre-term birth weight babies. Having this bacterial infection in your mouth puts you at serious, often life threatening risk!

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms that are listed below, you may be at risk, and it is critical that you have a dental examination.  Eight out of ten Americans has some form of gum disease.  Are you one of those eight?  It may be as easy to correct as having your teeth professionally cleaned.

• Gums bleed easily while flossing or brushing

• Swollen, red or tender gums

• Receding or separated gums that are exposing teeth

• Changes in how your teeth fit together

• Constant bad breath or unpleasant taste in your mouth

If you have dental insurance, routine dental hygiene visits and exams are often covered at 100%. Also, if you have dental insurance, your 2011 benefits will be expiring in about 6 weeks. Now is the time to call our office at (914) 241-2242 to get in before the end of the year.

We are conveniently located right across the street from the Mount Kisco Medical Group at 103 South Bedford Road in Mount Kisco. Don’t lose your benefits. Do this for yourself! Dental problems never get better with time.

As our way to welcome new patients who schedule their exam and dental hygiene visit before the end of the year, we will provide FREE teeth whitening. That’s a $600 value at no cost to you. You will have pretty white teeth for the holidays!

Again, call our office today at (914) 241-2242 and be sure to check out our website at www.WestchesterTopDentist.com for more great dental information!

My Gum Disease Is Linked To WHAT???

You've probably heard about the "mouth-body connection" and how periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, in addtion to pregnant women's chances of giving birth to pre-term, low-weight babies.  Did you know, however about the correlation between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, and even certain cancers? 



While rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gum disease are both inflammatory diseases, it is interesting to note that patients with (RA) are eight times more likely to suffer from gum disease than those without (RA).

Also important is the correlation between gum disease and kidney disease.  We know that gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, so it's noteworthy to learn that toothless adults are more likely to have chronic kidney disease than adults with all of their teeth.



Men with tooth loss and a history of gum disease are reported to have an increased risk of developing certain cancers.  While more research continues to be conducted, associations have been noted between gum disease and kidney, pancreatic and haematologial cancers.  Severe gum disease has also been documented as a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 

Let's talk about your periodontal health, and we'll work to ensure your healthy body starts with a healthy mouth. 

Call us today at Westchester Dental Care  (914) 241-2242 to schedule your periodontal evalutation and dental hygiene visit.  www.WestchesterTopDentist.com  

Independence Day Special:  If you schedule an appointment next week, 7-5-11 through 7-8-11 we will reward you with a free teeth whitening.  ($600 value)

Committed to your overall health.

Sincerly,

Dr. Steven Abel, Dr. Francis Turturro, and the entire Westchester Dental Care Team

Do You Want The Snoring To Stop Tonight....Permanently???

Snoring Mouth Guards (The CPAP Alternative)



The Snoring mouth guard or Suad appliance is a customized oral appliance that holds the jaw in a proper position during sleep. This in turn keeps soft tissue from collapsing and blocking airflow. The snoring mouth guard or Suad appliance is known to eliminate both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in many cases. Dr. Abel has had great results from the oral appliances he has prescribed, and has many years experience. He is also a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Mount Kisco NY Dentist Dr. Steven Abel
Treats Snoring And Sleep Apnea.  Call Today
And Sleep Better Tonight!

Dr. Abel is a sufferer of OSA himself and understands your condition personally. His obstructive sleep apnea and snoring have been alleviated with a Suad oral appliance. His snoring has stopped immediately, and he has no more episodes of sleep apnea. This allows for a more restful sleep. He'd like to improve your quality of life in the same way. Don't allow the frustration, fatigue and irritability to continue in your life. Schedule a personal, complimentary consultation with Dr. Abel today. You will get a good night’s sleep because you can breathe easier. Your partner won’t be disturbed by the noise anymore because the snoring will finally STOP!!! And most importantly, you won’t put your health or life at risk with the complications associated with obstructive sleep apnea, one of which could be sudden death. Don’t take a chance for one more night. If you or someone you loves snores, call Dr. Abel today for a FREE consultation.


The snoring mouth guard or Suad appliance is covered by most medical insurance plans, and we will submit all paperwork for you.


For more information on Obstructive Sleep Apnea, CPAP or CPAP alternatives, visit the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.


You can reach us at (914) 241-2241.

Stop what you’re doing and call now. You could be saving your life or the life of someone you love!


http://www.WestchesterTopDentist.com

Please Join Us In Our "Give Kids A Smile" Summer 2011 Program

            Dr. Abel Would Like To Invite You To Participate In Our "Give Kids A Smile" Summer 2011 Program

Dear Parents, Patients, and Friends,


From June 1st - August 31st, just come in for a regular adult exam, necessary x-rays, and a routine dental hygiene visit, and we will provide the same for any child you choose, (age 3-17) at no cost to you! ($260 Value)

If your child needs that dental checkup for camp or back to school, here is your opportunity to have it done for FREE!

We will happily submit any dental insurance forms for you, and will also donate $25 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every adult that takes advantage of our "Give Kids A Smile" program.


This is your opportunity to take care of your child, and help create a smile for kids with life threatening illnesses right here in the Hudson Valley.


There is no limit. For every adult who participates, we will treat one child at no cost to you and make the $25 donation to Make-A-Wish!


 

If you have friends with children, we would really appreciate it if you would forward this to them as well. We would be grateful if you can help us get the message out. We want to provide wishes for as many sick children as possible this summer, and could really use your help. Thank you for joining us.

With our sincere appreciation,


Dr. Steven Abel & the entire Westchester Dental Care team


103 S. Bedford Road, Suite 103


Mount Kisco, NY 10549


Please call to schedule your appointments NOW!!!! 

 (914) 241-2242 

We do have Saturday appointments available for your convenience.


www.WestchesterTopDentist.com







Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Mount Kisco, NY Dentist Treats Snoring And Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is how the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine defines Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the soft tissue in a person’s throat repeatedly collapses and blocks the airway during sleep. These partial reductions and complete pauses in breathing typically last between 10 and 30 seconds, but can persist for one minute or longer. These pauses can happen hundreds of times a night, leading to abrupt reductions in blood oxygen levels. The brain alerts the body to its lack of oxygen, causing a brief arousal from sleep that restores normal breathing. The result is a fragmented quality of sleep that often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness.

Most people with OSA snore loudly and frequently, with periods of silence when airflow is reduced or blocked. They then make choking, snorting or gasping sounds when their airway reopens.

Since the muscle tone of the body ordinarily relaxes during sleep, and since, at the level of the throat, the human airway is composed of walls of soft tissue, which can collapse, it is easy to understand how breathing can be obstructed during sleep.

The individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Sleep apnea is recognized as a problem by others witnessing a scary episode.

Symptoms may be present for years, even decades without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.

This stoppage in breathing leads to lower oxygen circulating in the body, which leads to a rise in blood pressure, GI Reflux, Type II Diabetes, increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Poor chronic sleeping can lead to supplemental problems like ADHD and significant daytime fatigue. Sudden death has also been attributed to Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Whether treating children early, or treating adults later, we work with your physician, using functional oral appliances to help develop those suffering from snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is the best way to ensure a healthy long life!

How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Work?

Custom made oral appliances reposition the tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep to maintain an open airway. Dr. Abel has had extensive training in dental sleep medicine, and knows how to select, fabricate, fit, and adjust these devices, which look like mouth guards, to help his patients with snoring and sleep apnea problems breathe freely during sleep.

Who should use an oral appliance?

Oral Appliance Therapy is indicated for mild to moderate OSA patients if they prefer it to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), the standard treatment therapy, cannot tolerate CPAP, or are unable to use positional therapy or weight loss to control their apnea.

Oral appliances are also recommended for severe OSA patients if they cannot tolerate CPAP.

If you or someone you know snores, please call us today at: (914) 241-2242       for a complimentary consultation. Snoring could be Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a potentially life threatening disorder that can easily be treated. You could be saving your own life or the life of someone you know.

Sincerely,

The entire staff at Westchester Dental Care

Committed to your overall health

http://www.WestchesterTopDentist.com