At UPD, we care about the health of our community, and we partner with various healthcare professionals to ensure that we stay healthy. To us, oral health is deeply connected to our overall health. It has come to our attention that New York State has published information on Tick-Borne diseases, which have more than doubled since 2004-2016. Seven new pathogens have been detected in the US. due to expansion, weather, development, and climate. Not all ticks can cause disease and not all bites will make you sick, but as these diseases become more common it's important to learn how to prevent a bite, how to remove a tick and what to do if you think you could have a tick-borne disease.

Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in New York but there are other serious illnesses spread by ticks. And like Lyme, the other diseases will begin to spread to other regions across the state. We want our patients and families to be safe, and urge you to watch the video below about the use of tick repellents and how they may help.

What to do to prevent tick bites:

• Dress appropriately for public activities. Tuck your pants in your boots, and try not to expose your ankles and feet.
• Shower after coming indoors and check for ticks.
• Consider using repellents. DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 are all good options. Try only to use what is necessary.
• Prompt and proper removal is necessary. Fine tipped tweezers are good for tick removal and special tweezers can be bought to ensure that it is removed appropriately.

More information can be found on the NYSDOH website: NYSDOH Publications