John A. Halpern, DDS

Give Sue a call! Can't wait to see you. It's been way too long. :-)

We can't wait to see you again. But until then, if you have any sort of dental/oral health question or concern, PLEASE call us or take a photo and email it to us at [email protected]. There will be absolutely no fee for this. Even if you are not a patient of ours, we are happy to help. Stay safe, stay healthy.

To the patients who have reached out to us, asking how we are doing (we are perfectly healthy, and so anxious to come back to work to take care of all of you!) we say a heartfelt THANK YOU. Your thoughtfulness means so much. Let's stay safe and compliant. This too shall pass. Be well.

Cold and Flu Season: 5 Ways to Care for Your Mouth When You’re Sick Here are some simple ways to care for your dental health when you’re not feeling well: When you’re sick, you know to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Don’t forget to keep up your dental and toothbrush hygiene as well.... According to the CDC, the flu virus can live on moist surfaces for 72 hours. The number one rule is not to share your toothbrush anytime, but especially when you are sick. You also probably don’t need to replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick. Unless your immune system is severely compromised, the chances of reinfecting yourself are very low. But if you’re still in doubt, throw it out, especially if you’ve had your toothbrush for 3-4 months, when it’s time to replace it anyway. Choose Sugar-Free Cough Drops Read the label before you pick up a bag at the drug store with an eye to avoid ingredients like fructose or corn syrup. Many cough drops contain sugar, and it is like sucking on candy. Sugar is a culprit when it comes to cavities. The longer you keep a sugary cough drop in your mouth, the more time cavity-causing bacteria has to feast on that sugar, which produces the acid that can leave holes in your teeth. Swish and Spit After Vomiting One unfortunate side effect of a stomach flu, among other illnesses, is vomiting. You might be tempted to brush your teeth right away, it’s actually better to wait. When you vomit, stomach acids are coming in contact with your teeth and coating them. If you brush too soon, you’re just rubbing that acid all over the hard outer shell of your teeth. Instead, swish with water, a diluted mouth rinse or a mixture of water and 1 tsp. baking soda to help wash the acid away. Spit, and brush about 30 minutes later. Stay Hydrated to Avoid Dry Mouth When you’re sick, you need plenty of fluids for many reasons. One is to prevent dry mouth. Not only is it uncomfortabledry mouth can also put you at greater risk for cavities. The medications you might be taking for a cold or flusuch as antihistamines, decongestants or pain relieverscan also dry out your mouth, so drink plenty of water and suck on sugarless cough drops, throat lozenges or candies to keep that saliva flowing. Choose the Right Fluids When it comes to your mouth and your body, one beverage is always best. The safest thing to drink is water. Sports drinks might be recommended to replenish electrolytes when you’re sick, but drink them in moderation and don’t make them a habit after you’ve recovered because unless they are a sugar free version, they contain a lot of sugar. You might also want something to warm you up. When you have a cold or the flu, you may want something comforting to get through it, like tea. Try not to add sugar or lemon if you can avoid it. Sugar can helps to fuel cavity-causing bacteria, and lemon is acidic. It’s something to keep in mind once you’re feeling 100% again, as well. Feel better!!

New Year, Healthier Mouth What does ringing in the new year have to do with being mouth healthy? More than you may think. Did you know that you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months? Bristles that become frayed and worn are less effective at cleaning your teeth. That means, celebrating the new year with a brand new toothbrush is actually smart dental hygiene.... Here are MouthHealthy resolutions: Start brushing 2min2x. Always brush twice a day for two minutes for healthier teeth, good breath, fewer cavities, and to avoid painful dental problems. Floss daily. Flossing is part of being mouth healthy. Chew sugarless gum. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay. Eat a healthy diet. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. Drink fluoridated water. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by making teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. See your dentist. Regular dental visits will help you be Mouth Healthy for Life!

An early holiday shout-out to our patients old, and new, and yet to be. It is our privilege to serve you. So grateful for every beautiful smile that comes through our door. Wishing you all a Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas.

E-cigarettes and their harmful effects have been at the forefront of the news lately. What else may we not yet know about what they do to our dental health? How does vaping affect your teeth and gums? Current research suggests vaping can have a variety of negative effects on your teeth and gums. Some of these effects include:... Excess bacteria One 2018 study found that teeth that had been exposed to e-cigarette aerosol had more bacteria than those that hadn’t. This difference was greater in the pits and crevices of teeth. Excess bacteria are associated with tooth decay, cavities, and gum diseases. Dry mouth Some e-cigarette base liquids, particularly propylene glycol, can cause mouth dryness. Chronic mouth dryness is associated with bad breath, mouth sores, and tooth decay. Inflamed gums One 2016 study suggests e-cig use triggers an inflammatory response in gum tissues. Ongoing gum inflammation is associated with various periodontal diseases. Overall irritation A 2014 review reported that vaping can cause mouth and throat irritation. Gum symptoms may include tenderness, swelling, and redness. Cell death According to a 2018 review, studies of live cells from human gums suggest vaping aerosols can increase inflammation and DNA damage. This can lead cells to lose their power to divide and grow, which can speed up cell aging and result in cell death. This may play a role in oral health issues such as: periodontal diseases bone loss tooth loss dry mouth bad breath tooth decay Of course, results from in vitro studies aren’t necessarily generalizable to real-life scenarios, as these cells have been removed from their natural environment. Please be on the safe side, and don't smoke cigarettes or vape at all. Are you concerned about what vaping has done to your teeth? We are offering a free consultation with Dr. Halpern if you are a new patient. Call 212-757-0771.

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/brushing-mistakes-slideshow

our very best wishes to all of our patients and Facebook friends!

Fear of any kind can be crippling. Fear of the dentist can lead to many of its own problems. We don't want that for you! We cater to the frightened patient, we vow to be kind and gentle. Come in to see us, tell us what frightens you.... we will take good care of you. Call Sue for an appointment at 212-757-0771.

Having been utilized since the early 1900s to detect and diagnose health issues, an X-ray is the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. With the continuous advancement of medical technology, traditional X-rays have evolved into digital X-rays. This modernized digital type of medical imaging has a variety of benefits compared to the traditional X-ray. Less radiation. Medical studies have revealed that a digital X-ray produces 80 percent less radiation than a ...traditional X-ray. While many consider traditional X-ray’s minimal radiation exposure safe, a digital X-ray is found to be even safer. More efficient. With a digital X-ray, there is no need to spend time developing the image as it can produce and display an image in as little as three seconds! Another benefit of digital radiography is that storage space is unlimited as you can simply transfer digital images onto a hard drive for convenient access in the future. Dr. Halpern easily emails x-rays to other dentists when necessary. When using traditional X-rays, film is difficult to store and maintain as images degrade over time. However with digital X-rays, the image does not lose its quality. The digital image can also be easily resized to a larger image without any distortion or loss of quality. For medical providers, this means an easier, more accurate diagnosis process. For patients, this means that they can view their images on a larger scale where they can view the problem or abnormality more easily. More environment-friendly. Digital technology is considered more green than traditional technology. A digital X-ray does not require chemicals or film paper that is disposed into the environment as a traditional X-ray does.