KEEPING YOUR TOOTHBRUSH CLEAN – Why it really matters:

You probably have no clue how much gross stuff is hiding on your toothbrush.

That humble implement meant to help you clean your teeth, get rid of plaque and prevent cavities may harbor such hazards as Staphylococci, coliforms, yeasts and intestinal bacteria, according Dr. Koshki and his dental colleagues.

“The oral cavity is home to hundreds of different types of microorganisms, which can be transferred to a toothbrush during use,” Dr. Koshki tells us.

And some of these organisms can cause dental decay and periodontal disease — the two major dental diseases in adults.

But wait, there’s more. Your toothbrush may even carry fecal germs.

“Most toothbrushes are stored in bathrooms, which exposes them to gastrointestinal microorganisms that may be transferred via a fecal-oral route,” says Dr. Koshki.

These organisms, called enteric bacteria, can transfer to toothbrushes and into people’s mouths due to inadequate hand-washing or the microscopic droplets released from the toilet during flushing.

The Discovery Channel TV show “Mythbusters” tested 24 toothbrushes and found enteric microorganisms on all of them — even those that had not been inside of a bathroom.

So what can you do to help reduce these dangers and keep the gross stuff off your brush and away from your mouth?  Dr. Koshki offers these tips–

Clean your brush. You should thoroughly rinse toothbrushes with potable tap water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste and debris. Dr. Koshki also recommends soaking your toothbrushes in an antibacterial mouth rinse.

Store the brush properly. Leave your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air dry. Don’t store the brush in a closed container because a damp environment is more conducive to the growth of microorganisms. If more than one brush is stored in an area, keeping them separate to prevent cross-contamination.

Buy a new brush often. Toothbrushes should be replaced at least every three to four months or when bristles become frayed and worn, whichever comes first.

Don’t share! This seems like a no-brainer, but a large proportion of spouses admit to sharing toothbrushes, meaning that they are also sharing the bacteria on those brushes.

Get a new brush if you’ve been sick. Any illness that can be transmitted through body fluids should warrant separation of the toothbrush of the infected individual and, if economically feasible, replacement of the toothbrush after the illness.

Wash, wash, wash!  And please, wash your hands after using the toilet and prior to using your toothbrush.

Dr. Koshki also recommends that people use mouth rinse prior to brushing and get routine dental care, including regular cleanings.

Your best bet against bacterial contamination of your toothbrush is Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Plus – featuring a UV sanitizer.  We proudly provide the opportunity for our patients to purchase this excellent toothbrush in office.  Check our Seasonal Specials for rebates and coupon offers.

This list provides many natural and holistic remedies for minimizing pain

1. Eliminate or radically reduce processed foods, grains, and processed sugars from your diet. Avoiding grains and processed sugars will lower your insulin and leptin levels and decrease insulin and leptin resistance, which is one of the most important reasons why inflammatory prostaglandins are produced. That is why stopping sugar and sweets is so important to controlling your pain and other types of chronic illnesses.
2. Optimize your production of vitamin D by getting regular, appropriate sun or safe tanning bed exposure, which will work through a variety of different mechanisms to reduce your pain.
3. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a drug-free approach for pain management of all kinds. EFT borrows from the principles of acupuncture, in that it helps you balance out your subtle energy system. It helps resolve underlying, often subconscious, negative emotions that may be exacerbating your physical pain. By stimulating (tapping) well-established acupuncture points with your fingertips, you rebalance your energy system, which tends to dissipate pain.
4. Astaxanthin is one of the most effective fat-soluble antioxidants known. It has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and in many cases works far more effectively than anti- inflammatory drugs. Higher doses are typically required and one may need 8 mg or more per day to achieve this benefit.
5. Ginger: This herb has potent anti-inflammatory activity and offers pain relief and stomach- settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable juice.
6. Curcumin: In a study of osteoarthritis patients, those who added 200 mg of curcumin a day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and increased mobility. A past study also found that a turmeric extract composed of curcuminoids blocked inflammatorypathways, effectively preventing the overproduction of a protein that triggers swelling and pain.
7. Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or “Indian frankincense,” this herb contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients. This is one of my personal favorites as I have seen it work well with many rheumatoid arthritis patients.
8. Bromelain: This enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form but eating fresh pineapple, including some of the bromelain-rich stem, may also be helpful.
9. Cetyl myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a “joint lubricant” and an anti-inflammatory. I have used this for myself to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild annoying carpal tunnel syndrome that pops up when I type too much on non-ergonomic keyboards. I used a topical preparation for this.
10. Evening Primrose, black currant, and borage oils: These contain the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful for treating arthritic pain.
11. Cayenne cream: Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body’s supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to your brain.
12. Methods such as yoga, Foundation Training, acupuncture, meditation,19 hot and cold packs, and other mind-body techniquescan also result in astonishing pain relief without any drugs.

WHY 3 MONTH PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE RECARE vs. REGULAR TEETH CLEANING

Why am I not eligible for a prophylaxis? “I just want my regular teeth cleaning appointment.” Or “I don’t want to pay more out of pocket, doesn’t my insurance company know best?”

Your individualized Gum Care Program is a non –surgical approach to control periodontal disease. There is NO CURE for periodontal disease. It can only be managed or controlled.

The bacteria that causes periodontal disease begins to re-establish very soon after treatment. A 3-month RECARE visit is critically timed to disrupt this bacteria in pockets, in order to disable this destructive process at its critical stage. This critical stage is when the bacteria and their toxins do the most harm to the supporting structures, namely, the periodontal attachment.

For patients with history of adult periodontitis, supportive 3-month recare is not an option but a requirement for successful long-term management.*

Waiting longer than three months for recare may result in recurrence of active disease and inflammation, and may require anesthesia to eliminate discomfort when treating the inflamed sites. Your recare interval will be determined by your hygienist and dentist to best manage your oral health.

* According to the American Dental Association.

It’s Springtime 2014 – just the right time to start a new blog here at Dr. Koshki’s place on the internet. Come here to read about what’s happening in our practice and with dentistry in general. Dr. Koshki welcomes an open dialogue between himself, his staff and his patients. We invite you to visit here often as well as our Facebook page Let us know your thoughts – we’d love to hear your opinion on what we have to say. Let’s all work together to stay informed and interested in excellent oral health; after all, we only have to worry about the teeth we want to keep!

We want to maximize your dental benefits …

Dr. Koshki is a preferred provider, or in-network provider for most dental insurance plans. The greatest benefit our patients receive from having dental coverage is greatly reduced fees for most procedures. Please keep in mind that dental coverage is determined by a set contract negotiated between your employer and the insurance company. Dr. Koshki has no involvement in setting the fees, which are often 50% less than his already fair fees. Also, the specific contracts have limitations and restrictions which have become near labyrinth like in their complexity. To help us help you get every dollar of benefit you signed up for, let us know as soon as you have a change in dental coverage; do not wait until you come in to see us. We pride ourselves on providing accurate fee estimates for your services, and being prepared with your dental coverage information can ensure this process. Unsure of your benefits with your plan? Just give us a call and let us help.

Dr. Koshki excels in cosmetic dentistry….

Many of our patients have seen Dr. Koshki and Team for exams, teeth cleaning, fillings and other small restorative needs. What you might not know is that Dr. Koshki has the training, experience and passion to completely restore your smile! From porcelain veneers on front teeth to replace old cracked and discolored fillings, to implants which can replace missing teeth or ill fitting partials or dentures – Dr. Koshki can make it happen.

Does it really make any difference if I use a special tooth brush….

Good question and yes! For brushing teeth to be very effective we need to be employing the proper technique for an adequate amount of time. Along with flossing, this ensures that we are getting every nook and cranny of our teeth and gums free of bio-film and debris. Data shows that most adults brush once or twice a day for about 20 seconds. The ADA tells us that if we are not brushing for at least 2 full minutes at least twice a day, we are not coming close to being effective at brushing our teeth. Dr. Koshki and his hygienists recommend Sonicare tooth brush systems. We are proud to offer the Sonicare DiamondClean and Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Plus tooth brush systems for purchase in our office. With these sleekly designed brushes you will get 32,000 strokes per minute to clean your teeth and caress your gums. Your teeth will feel smooth and look bright, which the manufacturer guarantees. Our hygienists tell us that they have seen a remarkable difference in gum health with those of our patients who have switched to Sonicare tooth brushes.

How about the cost? …. Not only are our prices below that of any retailer, but we offer you a personal guide to discover which system is best for you and we explain in detail how to use and care for your brush. If any manufacturer’s rebate is available, we have it, and our office will be happy to mail it in for you. Want more information about Sonicare? Just contact us with your questions via the form on our contact page.

Did you know that our office is a comprehensive dental care center…..

From time to time some people have dental needs that require special attention such as root canals, implant placement, gum surgery and surgical extractions. Dr. Koshki is trained and licensed to perform all dental procedures. He does perform root canals, extractions and implant placements; however, there are certain circumstances that call for treatment to be provided by specialists in their field. Dr. Koshki wants to ensure your ultimate comfort by having a Board Certified Endodontic Specialist, Edon Hirt, D.D.S, available in our practice at least once a month for root canal treatment. Dr. Hirt is meticulous in his assessment for treatment and uses a microscope to guide him in his therapies. Moshe Benarroch, D.M.D. brings his expert surgical periodontal services to our office at least once a month providing gum surgery, extractions, implant placement and gum tissue grafting.

Our patients really enjoy the convenience of seeing these fine specialists right here in our office, where costs are controlled and insurance is still taken care of in the prompt and efficient way that they have grown accustomed to. Of course, if any of our patients have an urgent or emergency issue, we have an excellent group of Oral Surgeons, Endodontists and Periodontists standing by to see our patients as soon as the same day.