Here Comes the Sun: Dentists in Soho Deep Dive Into How the Sun Affects Your Oral Health

Here Comes the Sun: Dentists in Soho Deep Dive Into How the Sun Affects Your Oral Health

When we bask in the sun’s glow, our minds often wander about the warm embrace on our skin.  While it’s no secret that the sun can affect our moods and skin, did you know that solar rays play a part in your oral health, too? In this blog, our dentists in Soho shed light on how the sun affects your smile.

Vitamin D

Suppose your primary care physician has ever suggested adding vitamin D supplements to your daily routine. In that case, you might be 1 of 1 billion around the globe who suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.

Luckily, one of the sun’s perks is its gift of natural vitamin D for free! This vital nutrient aids in calcium absorption, which is essential for sturdy and healthy teeth. Insufficient vitamin D may weaken your teeth, making them prone to cavities. With caution, bask in the sunshine every day to keep your smile radiant and healthy!

Oral Cancer

Unfortunately, the sun’s UV rays are a double-edged sword. While the sun provides vitamin D, it can escalate the risk of oral cancer. The lips are especially susceptible to sun damage, potentially paving the way for cancerous cells.

Fortunately, it’s possible to be proactive against oral cancer and, at the very least, catch it early so that you have a fighting chance to combat this deadly disease. When soaking up the sun, rock a lip balm with SPF or wear a hat to shield your lips. Also, remember to inspect your mouth for any peculiar sores or growths on a monthly basis. Lastly, we strongly encourage adults to schedule annual oral cancer screenings with our caring dentists in Soho.

Dry Mouth

Did you know that dry mouth can be caused by sun exposure? As you lie in the sunshine, dehydration starts to kick in. If your body lacks moisture, saliva production slows down, leading to a parched and puckered mouth.

It’s important to understand that saliva isn’t just for digesting your next meal. Saliva is the unsung hero for oral health, fighting acids, clearing away food bits, and helping prevent cavities. Therefore, it’s important to stay hydrated to keep your smile shining bright!

Periodontal (Gum) Disease

While a bit of sun can brighten our smiles, too much can spell trouble for our well-being. Excessive exposure to UV rays from the sun heightens the likelihood of gum disease creeping in. Moreover, these rays can harm the delicate tissues in our mouths, paving the way for bacteria to sneak in and trigger infections. Fortunately, our gifted in-house periodontist is well-equipped to take care of your gums.

Our Dentists in Soho Keep Your Smile Bright

The sun isn’t just shining down on us; it’s also impacting our oral health! While a bit of sun can be awesome for our teeth and gums, remember to shield and limit yourself from overexposure and keep up with good dental hygiene.

If you want more tips and tricks to keep your smile beaming just the sun, don’t hesitate to contact our dentists in Soho. Greene Street Dental looks forward to keeping your smile radiant.

Manhattan Emergency Dentist: Laser Therapy Vital to Urgent Dental Care

Manhattan Emergency Dentist: Laser Therapy Vital to Urgent Dental Care

A lot of patients come in for same-day emergency appointments because of tooth and jaw pain. Although treating the underlying cause of that pain is the ultimate solution, treating the pain itself is also a priority of our Manhattan emergency dentist. That’s where lasers come into the picture. Laser therapy in dental care reduces inflammation and promotes healing. Below, the team at Greene Street Dental explains why we’ve embraced laser therapy in urgent dental care. 

Reduced Pain and Inflammation

Unlike traditional dental tools, which can cause discomfort and inflammation on top of what you’re already experiencing, laser therapy has a more targeted approach. This not only alleviates immediate pain but also avoids long-term discomfort. The end result? Reduced pain that stays away, giving you a much more manageable recovery period. If you need urgent dental care, laser dentistry ensures that your path to pain relief is fast.

Less Swelling

Swelling is a common side effect of dental procedures, particularly emergency ones where the tissue involved is probably inflamed to begin with. After all, you’re coming to see us at Greene Street Dental because you’re already in pain. Thanks to laser dentistry’s precision, we can significantly reduce additional damage to surrounding tissue. This minimizes the swelling you experience after a dental procedure. Less swelling means you’ll be back on your feet and returning to daily activities with minimal downtime.

Faster Healing

The combination of reduced pain, inflammation, and swelling naturally means you’ll experience a faster healing process. But laser therapy does even more than that by helping your blood vessels clot during procedures. In layman’s terms, that means you’ll bleed less, and faster clotting accelerates tissue repair. An example would be if we perform an emergency tooth extraction. Our laser treatment can help with the formation of a blood clot in the socket, on top of soothing pain from the procedure. 

Precise Treatment

In emergencies, the margin for error is slim. Imprecise treatment can cause severe consequences, so accurate care is crucial. Lasers offer unparalleled precision, allowing our Manhattan emergency dentist to treat affected areas of inflammation with finesse. This level of targeting makes our urgent dental care more effective—we only treat the area where you’re experiencing a problem, eliminating any collateral damage. 

Same-Day Results

When you’re experiencing an emergency, you need pain relief right away, not hours after your appointment or later on in your recovery process. Our emergency dental clinic already offers same-day appointments, so our emergency laser therapy also delivers same-day results. You come in for your appointment, we treat your emergency, and we use laser therapy to relieve your pain, all in one visit. 

Our Laser Therapy Sets Us Apart

While other practices offer laser therapy only for specific conditions or for pre-scheduled appointments, Greene Street Dental understands its many applications, including for emergencies. After all, that’s when you need urgent pain management the most. By embracing laser technology, our Manhattan emergency dentist makes visiting our office less intimidating and more comfortable, even in emergency scenarios. Contact our New York City dentist office today for a same-day appointment. We’ll use every tool at our disposal to treat your symptoms and their source.

Dry Socket: Our Soho Dentist Explains the Signs and How to Avoid It

Dry Socket: Our Soho Dentist Explains the Signs and How to Avoid It

The boogeyman of wisdom teeth removal, dry socket can actually happen after any tooth extraction procedure. It’s a painful condition that happens when the blood clot that forms where the tooth was removed becomes dislodged or dissolves. That exposes the nerves and bone underneath. Not only can this be intensely painful, but it can also make your recovery longer and even cause infections. 

 Our dentists in Soho, Dr. Caroline Kim and Dr. Andrew Leder, can help you avoid dry socket after a tooth extraction at Greene Street Dental. Take precautions, know the symptoms, and contact us for help. 

Signs of Dry Socket

 The most common sign of dry socket is intense, throbbing pain in the area where the tooth was extracted. This pain can radiate to the ear, eye, or neck on the same side as the extraction. 

 Other signs and symptoms:

  • Empty-Looking Socket 
  • Bad Taste in the Mouth
  • Bad Breath
  • Swollen Lymph Nodes 
  • Difficulty Opening the Mouth
  • Visible Bone 
  • Delayed Healing 

 If you experience any of these symptoms after a tooth extraction, it is important to contact our emergency dentist immediately.

How to Prevent Dry Socket

While dry socket can occur even with proper care, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Follow Post-Extraction Instructions

 We provide you with clear instructions in easy-to-understand language following your procedure. Make sure to follow these instructions and let us know if you have any questions. We’d rather you ask us about your care than put yourself at risk. 

Avoid Straws and Smoking

 These seem like strange restrictions, but you use a straw or smoke a cigarette by creating suction in your mouth. That suction can dislodge the blood clot. In general, we want you to avoid straws and smoking for at least 24 hours after a tooth extraction. In some cases, our dentist in Soho might warn you to wait a little longer. 

Rinse with Salt Water

 This is an old home remedy that works wonders. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help keep the extraction site clean and promote healing. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water and gently swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds before letting it drain out of your mouth; spitting can dislodge the clot. 

Use Dry Socket Paste

 If we believe you are at a high risk for developing dry socket, we may recommend using a dry socket paste. This contains ingredients that help soothe pain and promote healing. It is typically applied to the extraction site with a cotton swab and can be reapplied as needed.

Take Pain Medication

 Having a tooth removed hurts. While the procedure itself is painless, you may find you experience pain once any anesthesia wears off. We may prescribe pain medication or recommend over-the-counter options to help you manage the pain. 

Greene Street Dental Guides Your Recovery

Learning about dry socket can help keep you from developing it, so ask us about your risks after your tooth extraction. Our Soho dentist makes sure you have a recovery plan following any dental procedure. You’ll never feel unprepared with us. With proper care, we can work to ensure a smooth and speedy recovery. Reach out to us at any time about dry socket or preventative measures.

Dental Maintenance Is Self-Care

Dental Maintenance Is Self-Care

The idea of “self-care” has been transformed over the years. What used to be a night to yourself turned into shopping sprees and take-out. While there’s nothing wrong with any of those things, it can be easy to lose sight of what actually helps you feel and be better. Self-care should be something that puts energy into your personal bank for the things you love most.

At its core, taking care of your hygiene and your health is the ultimate form of self-care. While it takes time out of your day that could be dedicated to more fun or lucrative activities, it’s time you’re spending on yourself. It’s time you’re investing in your well-being. And it’s worth every second.

If you’re busy enough that you find it difficult to give your teeth the red-carpet treatment they deserve, we’ve got some tips that might make it easier to keep them glowing.


Build Your Hygiene Into an Existing Routine
Everyone’s got that one thing they’re not willing to give up. For many, it’s their daily shower. If you’re the type of person who will miss an appointment rather than a shower, brush your teeth while you’re there! No one will judge you.

Are you serious about a healthy diet? Do you always pack your lunch? Then, toss in a floss pick with your veggie bag. It serves as a visual reminder, and it only adds an extra thirty seconds into a pretty set-in-stone part of your day.

Think about the habits that aren’t in any danger of going away. Brainstorm some ways that you can fit your toothbrush, toothpaste, or mouthwash in, and it won’t seem like such a burden.


Find Accessible Professionals
Even people who take great care of their teeth need the dentist. Your bi-annual dental cleanings and checkups will make it so that you don’t have to work so hard in the long run. We clean and strengthen your teeth with a fluoride treatment, and as a result, you’re here less often for fillings and crowns.

If it’s hard for you to fit in a dentist appointment, you may just be looking in the wrong place for your dentist. Find someone with a schedule that accommodates you, who allows online scheduling, and who takes emergency appointments.

For Dentistry That Values Your Time and Happiness
At Greene Street Dental, we’re confident that we can be your accessible dental office with care so meticulous, it feels like luxury treatment. Our general dentists want to make it as easy as possible for you to see us, so you can fill out paperwork online and schedule your appointments yourself. That means, no unnecessary phone calls or waiting periods.

We’ll do whatever it takes to make dental care feel and look good again. Call our office at (212) 226-5777 or book online today.

Advanced Technology at Greene Street Dental

Advanced Technology at Greene Street Dental

Technology should make our lives easier–not more complicated. Thankfully, dentistry has become so advanced that the annoyances of traditional dentistry are almost completely a thing of the past. Not only does technology-based dentistry improve the quality of your care, but it can provide peace of mind about your care and help you reach your cosmetic dentistry goals.

Our dentists are trained in many of the best dental and oral health technologies. They are continually learning the best approaches and methods to utilize tech, so we can catch health problems faster, heal problem areas quicker, and cause less pain in the process.

Computer-Aided Design With Intraoral Cameras
If you’ve ever had a sticky mold shoved onto the roof of your mouth to gag on for 2 to 5 minutes, you’ve been a victim of the bygone area of modeling. These molds were created to precisely measure your teeth and gums, so the models could be sent away to another location. There, a dentist would create your crown, veneers, inlay or onlay, dentures, bond, or other dental restoration.

With Computer-Aided Design (CAD), we have the capability of precisely measuring your mouth without the use of a sticky mold. Using an intraoral camera, we can get accurate pictures of the inside of your mouth to design your new smile in the office!

That way, you get to see your smile on a picture of yourself before we even start on the treatment. For Invisalign patients, this can be a great way to know whether it’s worth the commitment.

The iTero Scanner
Our intraoral camera is called the iTero scanner, and it’s not just good for creating digital models of your mouth.

The iTero scanner can help us get an accurate picture of your tooth and gum health. With this close-up view, we can detect cavities earlier and in hard-to-see places. Specifically, the iTero has made a name for itself by detecting cavities at contact points between teeth earlier than X-rays can detect.

While X-rays are necessary and helpful tools, it’s a huge advantage to have another means of cavity detection that doesn’t require radiation. Plus, with the scanner, you can see everything we see, so you are empowered to make decisions about your health. Dental exams don’t make you feel powerless when you know what’s going on with your teeth.

Our Other Technology-Assisted Services

The iTero scanner is a powerhouse in our office, but that’s not all we can do. In addition to all of the standard technology in every dentist’s office, we have soft-tissue lasers that assist in many areas of routine and surgical procedures.

Soft tissue lasers:

  • Reduce healing time for surgeries
  • Help tissue heal faster
  • Reduce or eliminate bleeding entirely
  • Therapeutically reduce pain and inflammation
  • Aid recovery in gum disease patients
  • Assist with anti-bacterial cleansing during root canals
  • Sterilize teeth and gums
  • Whiten teeth faster

It’s getting easier and easier to treat oral health problems, and we want to be a part of that. Where we can reduce pain and pain points for our patients, we will.

Visit Our SoHo Office for Cutting-Edge Dental Care
An office that invests in its tools invests in its patients. At Greene Street Dental, our technology-based practice informs every aspect of our care. You deserve to play an active role in your dental and oral health, and you deserve the best that medicine has to offer. For dentistry that redefines what it looks like to take care of your health, schedule an appointment at our Lower Manhattan dental office today.

 

Wearing Invisalign as an Adult: Is There a Stigma?

Wearing Invisalign as an Adult: Is There a Stigma?

People talk a lot about adult braces having a stigma, as they’re more difficult to hide than clear aligners. However, because Invisalign has been painted as a completely invisible, unnoticeable solution, some are surprised when other people notice. While Invisalign aligners are a much more discreet option, you may find that people ask you about them anyway.

Does this mean there’s a stigma? More importantly, does it matter? Research shows that people who are happy with their teeth are happier in general, and Invisalign can improve your confidence by a lot (The Angle Orthodontist).

Other People Probably Don’t Notice, But What If They Do?
Intentionally or not, people make decisions about your competence, confidence, and intelligence completely based on your smile. Studies in the British Dental Journal and The International Journal of Prosthodontics found that participants with healthier teeth were perceived to be more socially competent, smarter, and well-adjusted. So, does this translate to orthodontics?

It’s hard to tell. One study in the European Journal of Orthodontics found that people perceived others as smarter when they didn’t have an orthodontic appliance on at all; they were more negative toward metal braces, and about neutral to clear aligners. For people who are worried about being judged for their Invisalign retainers, perhaps that’s comforting.

But the real question is, does it matter if they notice or perceive you differently?
Your Perception of Yourself Is More Important
Much more research has been dedicated to your self-perception when you’re happy with your teeth. For example:

  • The psychological well-being of women is at risk when they have poor oral health or are unhappy with their teeth, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
  • People who are sensitive about their oral health and the attractiveness of their smile also have a poor perception of their bodies, according to a study on BioMed Central (BMC Oral Health).
  • Both males and females are becoming more aware of things to be dissatisfied with in their own smiles, per the NIH.
  • People who had orthodontic treatment and tooth whitening procedures perceived themselves more positively, according to a study in the International Dental Journal.

Your teeth matter to you. They matter to you more than they matter to anyone else. And did you know that when you feel better about yourself, you’re actually more resilient to the negativity around you?

When you feel good about yourself and who you are, things like other people’s perceptions of you don’t matter nearly as much. According to research in Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, when you feel better about yourself, you’re more optimistic. When you are more optimistic, you are more resilient. And resilience is your safe-guard against all kinds of negativity and sadness.

You Have Control Over Your Smile With Aesthetic Dentistry
Having a smile that you love is important to your confidence, well-being, and success. Yeah, people might notice your Invisalign, but not only is Invisalign less noticeable and perceived positively compared to braces–it may very well be your path to greater life satisfaction.

If you’re happy with your smile, then you’re way ahead of the curve! If you’re not, you have the power to change that. We want to help you get the smile you crave and deserve.

Get Your Ideal Smile With Invisalign at Greene Street Dental
Your smile says so much about you, especially to yourself. If it’s in our power to help you reach your smile goals and start living, then we want to help. Allow our doctors to show you what your new smile could look like with some of our advanced technology. That way, you’ll have an end goal and something wonderful to look forward to.

Schedule your appointment at our lower Manhattan office by booking online or by calling (212) 226-5777.