How to Get Kids to Happily Brush and Floss

Getting kids to brush and floss their teeth isn’t always easy, but it is so important. Strong oral hygiene skills built at a young age will carry on through adulthood. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY want to give our patients ideas for making dental care a little more interesting for kids.

Interactive games are great ways to teach kids about almost anything. Use safe online resources like games and fun videos to teach your child why it is important to brush, floss, and visit the dentist. They will have fun and get a better understanding for why dental health is essential.

Games at home are also another good way to get kids brushing. Make a “monkey-see-monkey-do” game out of it. Brush and floss your own teeth in the mirror alongside your kids and have them copy you. Kids love to imitate and see it as a fun game. At the same time, they will be learning the proper way to brush!

Use something fun to keep track of the time they spend brushing. A musical timer or a toothbrush that plays music can often entice your child to participate in brushing. You want to be sure that they are not only brushing but doing a thorough job.

Kids’ oral health is important because their baby teeth are the place markers for their future adult teeth! To schedule your child’s next appointment with The Oyster Bay Family Dentists here in Oyster Bay, NY, call our office at (516) 922-5730 or visit our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Gum pockets from gum disease can perpetuate the infection. They allow bacteria to reach deep down into the gums and make it difficult for removal. To clear up gum disease when pockets have been formed, often, a pocket reduction is necessary. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY are experienced in pocket reduction surgery and we perform it right here in our office.

Gum pockets are formed when plaque and tartar irritate the gum tissues and cause the tissue to pull away from the teeth. These now receded gums have formed deep pockets where bacteria collect. The gums need to be fixed so that they are snug with the tooth. They need to be accessible for daily cleaning but snug enough so that bacteria cannot enter them.

Pocket reduction surgery will be performed after a scaling and planing procedure. This procedure removes the bacteria from under the gums and smooths down rough patches on teeth where bacteria could hide. The pocket reduction surgery then involves securing the gum tissue back in a natural place. We stitch them into place to heal in a natural line.

Gum disease is detrimental to your oral health. To schedule an appointment with The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY, give our office a call at (516) 922-5730. Appointments may also be made through our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

Occlusal Adjustments in Oyster Bay, NY

Patients with a sore jaw after chewing, sensitive areas in the mouth, and easily injured teeth may have a misaligned bite. This can cause major pain, damage, and trouble eating. Fortunately, The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY can perform occlusal adjustments on our patients right here in our office!

An occlusal adjustment makes minor changes to the teeth so that they can line up correctly. When teeth are misaligned, biting and chewing can create uneven pressure on the jaw. The jaw joints and the muscles surrounding them can become fatigued and sore. Teeth also experience unnatural pressure. They can become worn down in areas which can lead to sensitivity and injury. Fractures are common with misaligned teeth.

In order to correct this problem, we use advanced computer technology to detect the abnormalities in the bite. We can precisely identify areas of the mouth that need adjustments. To adjust these areas, we use a very fine filling stone. Our technology allows us to make the adjustments as accurately as possible so that there is not any extra enamel being filed than is needed.

If you are experiencing an uneven feeling jaw, soreness and sensitivity, you may want to come in for a visit. To schedule with The Oyster Bay Family Dentists here in Oyster Bay, NY, call our office at (516) 922-5730 or visit our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

Tender Teeth

Does eating anything hot or cold make you say, “Ouch?” If so, you may have what’s known as tooth sensitivity. The first step to reducing your pain is to improve your oral hygiene routine. If you are not brushing at least twice a day or flossing at least once a day, then our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists recommend that you start. However, if your oral hygiene routine is at its prime, we’d like you to take into consideration what might be causing this mouth malady.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause you pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If your teeth are tender to the touch, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Types of Teeth and Their Functions

Most of us know how important it is to look after our teeth, but how many of you know what the different types and their functions are? As humans, we have 32 permanent teeth (including wisdom teeth) and a total of 20 primary teeth. These choppers just don’t help us bite and chew, they play an important role in speaking and support many aspects of our facial structure.

Our staff at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists thought it would be neat to inform you about the four main tooth types in the mouth and their responsibilities. We’d also like to remind you to take care of them by brushing and flossing on a daily basis!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your pearly whites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Don’t Let Tartar Torture You

If you’ve ever licked your tongue and felt something fuzzy on your teeth, that fuzzy business is called plaque. When plaque is not removed in a timely manner, it sits on the teeth and mineralizes into tartar. Tartar is a mineral buildup that’s fairly easy to see, if above the gum line. However, you don’t want it there because it can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease. Once tartar forms on your teeth our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists are the only ones who can remove it. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to schedule regular dental checkups twice a year.

Tartar can make it harder to brush and floss like you should and this is what leads to cavities and tooth decay. Any tartar that forms above your gum line can be harmful to you. That’s because the bacteria in it can irritate and damage your gums. Your best bet for preventing tartar buildup is to brush regularly twice a day, choosing an American Dental Association (ADA) approved tartar-control toothpaste, and flossing between your teeth at least once a day.

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

The Proper Brushing Technique

Here at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists, we want you to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime and this begins by brushing them twice a day for at least two minutes. We know that two minutes sounds dreadful and you probably think you’re wasting your time, however, if you don’t look forward to the dental drill, you might want to prevent cavities before they begin. The most important part of tooth care begins at home, so the next time you stand in front of the sink, utilize this American Dental Association (ADA) approved brushing technique:

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria.

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.