Beware of those Christmas goodies!

At Dr. David Ostreicher, Orthodontist Braces and Invisalign, we know maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth and between your braces. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, try pumpkin pie, marvelous molasses cookies, wonderful waffles or other braces-friendly recipes, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, and “The Braces Cookbook” by Pamela Waterman.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Happy Holidays!

Oral Health and Smoking

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco users are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75 percent of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health, we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For support, start with the office of Dr. David Ostreicher! We can help by recommending different options to help you quit, and above all we will support you throughout the quitting process. We are dedicated to helping you protect your oral health – and quitting smoking is significant step in the right direction.

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at the office of David S. Ostreicher enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at 516-342-4464 if you have any questions about getting started or ask us on Facebook!

Have a great rest of the week!

Dr. Ostreicher, supporting National Orthodontic Health Month

Tomorrow is already October? Seriously? For our staff at the office of Dr. David Ostreicher, October means one thing: National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, who put together a helpful website that provides important information on all-things orthodontics, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while undergoing orthodontic treatment at our convenient office in Levittown.

Drs. Ostreicher and McAndrews recommend you check out the AAO’s website. If you have any follow-up questions about keeping your braces in tip-top shape, please feel free to give us a call at 516-342-4464, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Ostreicher during your visit!

Enjoy your weekend!

Love your new smile? Then we invite you to review us on Google!

At the orthodontic office of David Ostreicher, we strive to provide our patients with the highest quality of orthodontic care in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Dr. Ostreicher, Dr. McAndrews and our knowledgeable staff believe in a whole health oriented orthodontic practice where patients are more than just teeth.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office has fared during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice, but we encourage you to head to our Google Places page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Drs. Ostreicher and McAndrews create more beautiful smiles in Levittown and surrounding communities around Long Island. Thanks in advance, and we hope you have a GREAT rest of the weekend!

You may write your review here.

Are you wearing your mouth guard this summer?

With summer here for another six full weeks, Dr. David Ostreicher thought this would be a great time to remind all our young athletes in braces to take care of both their mouth and appliances while participating in sports - especially contact sports - this summer.

Remember, only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. So the next time you're in for a visit at our office, be sure to ask Drs. Ostreicher or McAndrews for a mouth guard, and we'll provide one for you! In addition, the American Association of Orthodontists has five quick tips for keeping kids safe during sport activities.

• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eyewear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant, even as a spectator

We hope you're having a wonderful summer, and invite you all to share your summer photos on our Facebook page!

What are happy patients saying about Dr. Ostreicher and team?

Last week, you may remember, we asked you, our wonderful patients, what you most liked about David S. Ostreicher DDS. Well, we received some pretty great reviews, and thought we’d share a few with you today. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Long Island orthodontist Dr. Ostreicher and team love getting patient testimonials!

"Your staff makes me look forward to my visits. They are very accommodating, and your staff always makes me feel like a celebrity,and they are always able to help solve any problems that I have encountered with my aligners." ~ Laura M.

"I've never met anybody in the entire medical community so passionate about not just teeth but overall health. In his office you will feel 100% comfortable and at ease, he's not only going to make your smile beautiful but his great personality is going to make your day! I was hesitant as an adult patient to go back to the orthodontist after 15 years of not wearing my retainer. Dr. Ostreicher is making my smile beautiful again with Invisalign...because I'm worth it!‎" ~ Marcy

"Go and see for yourself! Very organized and professional! Dr Ostreicher is awesome!‎" ~ Jean

"This is my favorite place to go besides the mall. :)" ~ Cathy

"What a wonderful office! had such a great experience with everyone that worked there. they're all extremely friendly!‎" ~ Veronica C.