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Many of our patients at Gary Yanowitz, DDS have been asking us about brightening their teeth lately, and today we thought we would discuss the options available to you to put the sparkle back in your smile!

Over-the-counter products – You’ve probably seen over-the-counter whiteners such as whitening strips on store shelves. While whitening strips may work for some, they do have certain restrictions. For example, they are not nearly as effective when crowns or fillings are involved. Teeth that are stained gray instead of brown or yellow typically don’t respond as well to these types of whiteners. Whitening strips typically save you money but take longer to work and also require discipline on your part to keep them in place for the right amount of time each day.

Whitening at our office – This type of whitening can be done right at Gary Yanowitz, DDS. A whitening agent is applied directly to teeth and a special light helps accelerate the whitening process. This may be accomplished in one session or take several appointments. You should expect to spend anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes at each session. If you have a mix of natural teeth and fillings or crowns, Dr. Gary Yanowitz may recommend bonding or veneers on your natural teeth instead of regular bleaching. Teeth whitening at our office can be used to correct many tooth discolorations which may have been caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in whitening technology, we can offer a safe method for creating the beautiful smile you've always wanted.

At-home whitening – If you choose this option, Dr. Gary Yanowitz will take a mold of your teeth and create a custom-fit whitening tray. Gel whitening solution is poured in the mouthguard-like tray, and the tray is worn for a pre-determined amount of time, generally from a couple of hours a day to every day during the night, until you’re back in our office for an evaluation.

Give us a call at our convenient Pembroke Pines, FL office to schedule an appointment! Whiter teeth are one just one visit away at Gary Yanowitz, DDS!

At Gary Yanowitz, DDS, we see a lot of patients who are concerned about their bad breath, also known as halitosis. So today we thought we would educate our patients about what you can do to keep your pearly whites clean and your breath minty fresh!

Naturally, good oral hygiene on your part is the first step. With proper brushing and flossing you can keep halitosis in check. Even though you may have done an excellent job of brushing and flossing your teeth, if you fail to brush your tongue, you may still have bad breath. Bad breath is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in your mouth. Certain foods, medications, smoking, sinus issues, or even gum disease can cause bad breath.

Besides proper brushing and flossing, bad breath can be prevented if you:

Stop smoking/chewing tobacco-based products: Ask Dr. Gary Yanowitz and our team for tips on kicking the habit.

Keep your mouth hydrated: Because a dry mouth typically leads to bad breath, drinking water or eating oranges or celery may help.

Visit our Pembroke Pines, FL office for regular dental checkups: By visiting Gary Yanowitz, DDS at least twice a year, you will keep bad breath at bay. Dr. Gary Yanowitz will conduct an oral exam and will be able detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.

There are many ways in which your oral health has an impact on your overall general health. There are naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth. Some of those bacteria, including strep and staph, are harmful, while other bacteria are essential for the balance of intestinal flora. The healthier your mouth is, the less likely it is the harmful bacteria will travel to other parts of your body to infect it and make you sick. There is much more to good dental hygiene than brushing and flossing.

Historical Methods of Maintaining Oral Health

Ancient civilizations relied on natural remedies for maintaining oral health. Around 250 AD, the Kemetic Egyptians used myrrh and other herbs as antiseptics for treating infected gums. Two centuries later, the Nubians, who lived in the Nile River valley, drank beer to ease the pain of infected teeth. That probably sounds crazy, but their beer was effective because they used grains that were contaminated with the same bacteria that produce the antibiotic tetracycline.

Today's Biggest Dental Hygiene Challenge

In the past, tooth decay was more of an issue because there was no routine dental care, and problems that are routinely treated today went untreated. Thanks to fluoridated water, and toothpastes containing fluoride, tooth decay is far less problematic than it was a century or more ago. Gum disease has replaced tooth decay as the most serious dental problem facing people today. According to the American Dental Association, a staggering 80 percent of Americans over age 65 suffer from some form of periodontal disease.

Ironically, if that infection attacked any other part of your body, especially in a place where it was clearly visible, you would head to your doctor for treatment immediately. People tend to ignore gum tenderness and bleeding. When the tenderness and bleeding aren't treated, the inflammation can turn into periodontitis. The longer you allow the inflammation to go untreated, the greater the likelihood that it will affect other body parts. Make sure to visit Dr. Gary Yanowitz at Gary Yanowitz, DDS regularly to be proactive about dental health!

Researchers are now discovering that untreated inflammation in the mouth acts as a driving force for multiple chronic illnesses, including clogged arteries, heart attacks, arthritis, and even cancer. That inflammation is one of many hypotheses that may explain how chronic infections can trigger systemic diseases, and even intensify existing ones. Bacterial overgrowth in the inflamed gum tissue can enter the bloodstream through the food you eat, and from daily brushing.

Caring for your mouth at home is just as important as visiting our office for exams!

Reaching new patients in the Pembroke Pines region and providing them with the signature exceptional dental care and attention is a task that Dr. Gary Yanowitz and our entire team take very seriously. Informative review sites all across the Internet translate the incredible patient-dedication and awesome results Yanowitz Family Dentistry provides, and perhaps none more broadly than Healthgrades.

Annually on Healthgrades, 20 million unique searches for dental care providers are performed, making it the 3rd largest search category on the site. These searches are from patients who are looking for the best possible dental care and attention available, and a number of those searches are from people right here in the Pembroke Pines, FL. Reaching those patients and helping them receive and maintain the treatment, care, and optimal oral health they need and deserve is our all-encompassing mission.

With Dr. Gary Yanowitz’ new enhanced profile on Healthgrades, more patients can learn about our office and the philosophy and incredible patient care we provide. The reviews for Dr. Yanowitz on his profile are a testament to the genuine commitment Yanowitz Family Dentistry has to its patients and philosophy of care.

On this topic, Dental Products Report recently published an article that features Dr. Yanowitz and our office manager, Maria, titled "I Use That: Sesame Communications and Healthgrades". In the article, Dr. Yanowitz and Maria both speak to how reviews from patients on Healthgrades, as well as how searched the site is for people looking for a new dentist, have gone to grow the practice and help more of our community receive unmatched dental care.

If you’d like to share your own experiences with the Pembroke Pines community on Healthgrades, please don’t hesitate to visit Dr. Yanowitz’ profile on Healthgrades!