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Preparing For Your Dentist Appointment

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As your next dental appointment quickly approaches, what are you doing to prepare yourself?

If the answer is little or nothing, then you may be missing out on receiving the very best dental care. Before each and every dentist visit, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself.

Do I see any blood when brushing or flossing?

If you are seeing bleeding at these times, then it could point to a serious problem, such as gum disease. It is not something that should be overlooked. While a slight amount may be nothing to be concerned about, if you are uncertain, it is best to bring up the topic while in the dentist’s chair.

Are my teeth more sensitive than usual?

If you find yourself cringing while eating hot or cold foods suddenly, it could be a red flag pointing to a bigger problem. Often increased sensitivity is due to a crack, deep cavity, or loose filling in one or more of your teeth. Be sure to mention the sensitivity, even if none of these problems are noted. There are things that can be done to decrease the sensation.

Have I had any abnormal or lingering sores in or around my mouth?

Sores in the mouth should be taken very seriously, especially if they last for more than two weeks, as they could point to the early stages of oral cancer.

Am I having trouble with flossing or pain when brushing?

There are many possible reasons for problems like these. For that reason, it is important to speak to your dentist about them, so a solution can be devised.

Have I been grinding my teeth or clenching them?

Often this is done overnight, but if you notice yourself doing it during the day, speak up. Clenching and grinding can cause serious jaw problems, headaches, and increased risk of cavities.

For more dental appointment preparation ideas, continue reading the full article.

Common Mistakes When Flossing Your Teeth

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A lot has been learned about dental care in recent years, but it has long been known that brushing and flossing are the first lines of defense against bacteria and decay. However, failing to floss properly can leave teeth just as vulnerable as they were before you began.

Are you making one of these mistakes?

1. Failing to clean the sides of the two teeth the floss touches means that the job is not being done correctly. Just pulling the floss into the crevice and back out is not enough.

2. Reusing a dirty section of floss for each of the gaps between your teeth means that you are spreading bacteria rather than removing it.

3. Forcing the floss into position in one motion can injure the gums. If two teeth are packed tightly together, gently work the floss into place by moving it back and forth.

4. Forgetting to pay attention to the open side of the backmost molars is ensuring that the surface is left susceptible to plaque and tartar build-up and therefore likely to face decay in the future.

5. Rushing through the flossing rather than taking time to follow a pattern can mean that you miss teeth along the way.

6. Attempting to use traditional floss with dental fixtures can mean that the job is not done correctly or at all. Superfloss or floss threaders can be used in its place to ensure the areas around wires, bridges, and other corrective pieces are cleaned effectively.

Keep reading for more common mistakes when flossing.

Periodontal Disease Samples Detect Diabetes

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Do you have a family history of diabetes? Have you been screened for the condition recently?

If not, you may find that your first screening is done in the dentist’s office. That’s right.

A new study has shown that diabetes screenings in the dental chair could prove as effective at diagnosing the common disease as the traditional finger stick in the doctor’s office.

In order to perform this study, the research team double tested seventy-five patients. Each participant had blood samples collected from a finger stick and then via pockets formed as a result of periodontal swelling.

Each test looked for elevated hemoglobin A1c counts. Classically, doctors would be looking for levels over 6.5, which suggests the patient is within the diabetic range.

However, after this study, it was found that the oral samples were equally as effective at diagnosing the disease, with a count of 6.3 being the equivalent of a 6.5 from the finger stick blood samples.

Does this mean that dental patients could soon face diabetic screens while in the dental chair?

It very well could be the case, as many experts feel that this could provide a form of screening that many patients would consider less invasive than the traditional method.

It also provides medical professionals one more way to detect diabetes early, which means that patients can receive treatment plans earlier and prevent (or at least prolong) the more serious complications related to diabetes.

For more information about the study and the researchers behind these findings, keep reading the full article.

Could a Higher Sales Tax on Sugary Drinks Save Your Health?

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The amount of sugar consumed each year in the form of soda and other liquids is simply astounding.

It has been reported that as many as 13 billion gallons of sweetened liquid are consumed each year and that fact is thought to have a major impact on the number of diabetes cases reported each year.

It also has researchers considering the impact of a price hike on the less-than-healthy drink options.

Could cost make a difference?

Researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center are saying yes.

They expect that there would be, at least, a 15% reduction in sweet liquid consumed if the government considered the possibility of imposing a penny-per-ounce tax.

It is thought that the penny-per-ounce tax could cut new diabetes cases by more than 2% in just ten years.

It could also make drastic impact on the number of cases of coronary heart complications, strokes, and premature deaths.

In fact, the new tax could save twenty-six thousand lives in that same ten year period. In addition to saving lives, the tax could add up to 13 billion dollars in tax revenue over a decade.

There is no guarantee that people would choose a safe alternative to the sugary drinks, but fifteen percent, researchers say, is a conservative estimate.

If people turned to water and diet drinks as researchers hypothesize, then each sugary drink not consumed could represent sixty calories not consumed.

Considering that the United States pays out a whopping $174 billion each year on diabetes treatments alone and nearly that much on obesity-related complications, the penny-per-ounce tax would appear very little, but some worry that the tax would negatively impact lower income households where the most sugary drinks are consumed.

Still others defend that the savings in medical expenses would more than cover the difference in price, when families are forced to refrain from drinking so much ‘liquid candy’.

To continuing reading about this study and the proposed change, visit the full article.

Children’s Dental Health: Braces and the 3D Imaging Controversy

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With the invention of 3D x-rays came great excitement, and though the technology is undeniably worth the praise, it can also be harmful if used in the wrong setting.

Researchers and experts are now saying that it is not wise for dentists and orthodontists to order the new high resolution imaging for common, every day orthodontic cases, as it can expose children to excess radiation.

The number of orthodontists relying on this technology on a regular basis is still small, but experts agree that the continued use on children in unnecessary conditions could lead to problems in the future.

It is often perfectly acceptable and just as useful to opt for the two dimensional technology.

Professionals in the dental field are quick to remark that the amount of radiation produced by 3D X-rays varies substantially, depending on the machine used.

While the amounts, in most cases, are minimal, there are concerns that some clinicians may be unaware of the differences in radiation levels between 2D and 3D imaging.

A single three dimensional image could produce two to five times the radiation produced for an entire series of 2D x-rays.

This is not to say that orthodontists should turn their backs on the technology all together. It does have a very practical purpose in the field that is invaluable.

Researchers simply suggest that the decision of which technology best suits the problem at hand be weighed carefully.

The choice to use the 3D imaging on a patient for generally scanning purposes should be made on a case-by-case basis, weighing the pros and cons of each method.

For more information on the controversy regarding this new technology, visit the full article.

Children’s Dental Health: Chocolate Toothpaste for Kids?

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A recent study has many kids cheering for joy as news of new toothpaste, which will soon reach the public.

The team, hailing from Louisiana, has developed the new brushing paste, which they call Theodent. It contains no fluoride, but does involve a blend of cocoa extracts.

That’s right — it’s toothpaste with a chocolate base.

After a lot of media coverage on the topic of the dangers associated with fluoride consumption, many parents are trading in traditional toothpaste for those without the compound.

So, this new variety of teeth cleaners could provide parents exactly what they want. Of course, the kids want it to taste like the milky, sweet chocolate that they have come to know and love.

The toothpaste was first released in New Orleans at a news conference and is now available in some Whole Food stores around the country, wrapped in a fantastically attractive casing of brown and gold.

The whole idea stems from research started in the 1980’s when a man named Tetsuo Nakamoto, who discovered that cocoa extracts were beneficial to pre-natal teeth.

In fact, it was an excellent form of cavity prevention.

Comparing, side-by-side, fluoride to cocoa extract, it was found that the latter was able to strengthen the enamel, responsible for defending the tooth from decay, without adhering to the tooth.

More information on this team’s discoveries and the resulting product, which now sells for $9.99 per 3.4 ounce tube, continue reading the full article.

How to Experience Dental School Vicariously

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Ever wondered about your dentist’s education before they opened a practice and began working on your teeth?

It’s likely that conversations with your dentist have been primarily focused on keeping your teeth in good shape. And rightly so. However, getting to know your dentist’s background and what it takes to get through dental school can be not only be fascinating, but further your own knowledge and appreciation for dental care.

For more than two years now, Patrice Smith has been sharing her journey through dental school on her blog The Stu-DENT Diaries. Patrice regularly writes and provides photos about projects she’s completed, books she’s reading, comments on dental news, and gives helpful study tips for her fellow pre-dent and dental students in a realistic yet humorous manner.

Even if you’re not enrolled in a college of dentistry, there’s plenty of valuable information and insight on oral hygiene from a different perspective from which the general public can learn. Reading Patrice’s blog posts and viewing the photos of teeth she’s repaired in class could help ease dental anxiety. The visual examples of dental work allow you to see how the procedure is done in a way that removes you, (and your nervousness before receiving treatment) out of the equation.

The Stu-DENT Diaries is worth the reading. Check it out.

National Children’s Dental Health Month: Tips for Parents

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February is National Children’s Dental Health month and a great time for parents to consider what they could do to improve the dental health of their kids at home. Here are a few things to consider before your child picks up his or her toothbrush.

Lend a Helping Hand

If you are like many parents in this country, you likely give the instruction to ‘brush your teeth’ before bed each night and then again each morning, but if you are not following your little ones to the bathroom, then you might be doing them a disservice. Though it is good to have children practice the act of brushing on their own, it is also highly recommended that a parent help with the brushing at least once per day until the age of eight.

Exchange Snacks

When the kids come running off the bus each afternoon, they are likely on the hunt for a tasty treat to tide them over until dinner. But, choosing the wrong snacks at that time or any time of the day can have a devastating impact on tooth health. Though a sugary treat is okay once in a while, it is a good idea to substitute healthier snacks whenever possible. Also, when offering sugary foods, choose those that are consumed all at once, rather than a lollipop or popsicle that prolongs the teeth’s expose to sugar and acid.

For more great tips, just keep reading the full article.

Researchers Find New Method to Replace Teeth

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Unfortunately, a large percentage of the world’s population will face tooth loss aside from the natural shedding of baby teeth.

This can occur as a result of injury, illness, decay, or infection.

Whatever the reason might be, there are typically efforts made to fill the gap in the tooth line. Dentists rely on implants, which are set in the jaw done, to hold the artificial replacements.

This procedure has been very successful, but would often require that the jaw bone be built up surgically, due to loss of mass after the tooth was removed.

When the tooth falls free, the jaw bone immediately begins to shrink, making it impossible for the bone to support the surgical implant without the assistance of artificial aids.

Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the Univerty of Gothenburg, Sweden have discovered a potential game changer.

Using a brace, the researchers were able to move the existing teeth of dogs into the area of limited jaw volume. With the old opening filled, dentists could fill the new gap with an implant.

Though some jaw bone size loss was noted, it was not nearly as substantial as what was seen in the areas where tooth loss occurred for other reasons.

The bone was still strong enough to support the implant without the need for further surgery.

Minor amounts of root resorption (damage to the existing root structure) was noted in the teeth moved by the braces, but it was not serious enough to causing lasting issues and had partially repaired itself at the one year follow-up.

For more information on these findings, read the full article.

4 Things You Should Know About Poor Dental Care and Overall Health

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Did you know that poor dental care can lead to more serious health problems and medical conditions?

A Harris Interactive poll of 1,000 people over age 35 found that 60 percent of adults knew little, if anything, about gum disease, the symptoms, available treatments and consequences.

Even worse than not knowing how much dental care and oral health can impact your overall health is the fact that gum disease (both gingivitis and periodontal disease) can lead to serious medical problems that would max out both your health and dental insurance.

In recent years, studies by researchers at medical and dental organizations have brought more awareness about poor dental care and its relationship to your health and well-being. Here are 4 things you should know:

1. Heart Disease – According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the number one cause of death in America. In 2011, the American Heart Association published two studies which revealed that dental patients who had an annual, professional teeth cleaning had a decrease in the incidence of heart attacks and stroke.

2. Preterm Birth – Premature birth (babies born before 37 weeks) is the leading cause of infant death and a major cause of lifelong disability. According to research, women suffering from periodontal disease are three to five times more likely to have a preterm birth.

3. Diabetes – Because diabetics face an inadequate amount of controlled blood sugars, they have a much higher risk of oral health problems, such as dry mouth, gum inflammation and poor healing of oral tissues. In addition, smokers with Diabetes are more likely than non-smokers to develop Periodontal Disease.

4. Breast Cancer – In 2011, the British Dental Health Foundation released a first-of-its-kind report which studied the potential link of breast cancer and oral health. The study revealed that women with gum disease are 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer.

For more information about the health risk factors associated with poor dental care, you can click the image to view the “Dental Care and Your Health” infographic from DentalPlans.com.

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