oral health briefs

GREAT NECK | LONG ISLAND

Great Neck Periodontist Promotes Patient Education

Given the connection between oral and overall health, caroline LM/Unsplash.com a new toothbrush isn’t the only thing we should take home from a trip to the dentist. Dr. Jonathan Richter, owner of Cariodontal, in Great Neck, says his goal is to send patients home with the information they need to protect themselves from disease through proper oral care. “There’s a direct correlation between chronic systemic diseases and the condition of your mouth,” he says. “Periodontal inflammatory disease can have a negative impact on your health because the increased inflammatory response in the body caused by periodontitis is associated with various systemic conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and more recently Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. It can even affect your pregnancy. Every year, new research identifies another systemic condition linked to bacteria that we find in our mouth.” Treatments such as prescription drugs and chemotherapy can also increase susceptibility to periodontal inflammatory disease, Richter says. Awareness of these interrelationships can help dentists determine better treatment and prevention. “Education and prevention are key to maximizing each patient’s unique biochemical makeup and to achieve optimal wellness,” he says. “The more a patient understands their dental health situation, the better they can plan for the future.” Richter is a dual-trained holistic periodontist (gum disease specialist), a prosthodontist (an expert in restoring teeth), and an expert in implant dentistry.

Location: 310 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 101, Great Neck, NY. For information, call 516-282-0310 or visit Cariodontal.com. See ad, back cover.

MANHASSET | LONG ISLAND Manhasset Dentist Offers Homebound Health Tips

Between Covid-19 and last month’s huge cold front, most of us feel sluggish and stale from being cooped up inside. Dr. Linda Golden, owner of Golden Dental Wellness Center, kadarius seegars/Unsplash.com in Manhasset, offers two suggestions for staying stress-free and healthy indoors, naturally. First, use diffusers to add humidity and freshness to stale heated air, adding essential oils to reduce stress and boost immunity. “A blend of lavender, lemongrass, tea tree and eucalyptus is not only the perfect spa-like scent to relax you, but it’s also a great way to harness the antimicrobial power of essential oils,” Golden says. “The vapors of botanicals, like tea tree and lavender, can neutralize airborne germs, while tea tree and eucalyptus oils can alleviate some winter illness symptoms, clean the air and help out your immune system.” Second, stock the fridge with antioxidant-rich produce, like blueberries, pomegranate, cherries and plums, which will strengthen the body’s natural defenses. “You can buy the juice of these fruits, but check the label,” Golden says. “Lots of fruit juice contains less than 10 percent real juice.” For a strong antioxidant effect, she recommends the juice of Chinese wolfberry, available through Young Living or at Chinese food and supplement markets. “At Golden Dental Wellness Center, we treat the whole body,” she says. “If you’re interested in a lesson in essential oils or dental nutrition, let us know when you call our office for an appointment.”

Location: 444 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY. For appointments or more information, call 516-627-8400 or visit GoldenSmile.com. See ad, page 2