DENTAL NEWS 2000
December 2000
Tea for Your Teeth?
If brushing
your teeth after a meal isn't an option, consider sipping some tea.
Studies
show that oolong and green teas may keep your teeth healthy by reducing the
amount of plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth. The polyphenols in these teas
appear to inhibit the formation of cavity-promoting bacteria.
RealAge Benefit: Flossing and brushing your teeth daily can make your RealAge as
much as 6.4 years younger
Provided by Real
Age.
An Aspirin a Day Keeps Perio Disease At Bay
Researchers found that take 100 mg of aspirin
daily significantly boosts periodontitis patients' improvement. Aspirin's
anti-inflammatory properties inhibit prostaglandins that trigger bone loss.
Visit: www.abc.net.au/science/news.
Source: Dental Practice Advisor, Advisory Publications.
Aspirin Delays Denture
Aspirin can protect against gum disease.
According to Drs Arthur Drouganis and Robert Hirsch found that men aged 50 and
above who were taking low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attacks, strokes and
other vascular disease, turned out to have healthier gums than those who didn't
take aspirin.
Dr.
Lindeberg, Probe
University of Buffalo Researchers Link Gum disease and Stroke
In the first national, population-based study of periodontal
disease and oral health, researchers at the University of
Buffalo
report that people with severe gum disease are at twice the
risk
of suffering a stroke as those with good oral health. It is a
significant study because it is the first national study (9,962
adults between ages 25 and 75) that also considered population
subgroups. The increased risk was found only for stroke caused
by
clogged arteries, the most common type of stroke.
From Smart Practice, Dec 2000
Calcium Linked to Healthy Gums
People who get enough calcium have significantly
lower rates of periodontal disease according to Journal of Periodontology.
After a study was done on 13,000 US adults,
researchers found that men and women who had calcium intakes of fewer than 500
mg (which is about half the recommended dietary allowance) were almost twice as
likely to have gum disease than those whose intake exceeded 800 mg.
Calcium may have an important role in building
alveolar bone density to keep the jaw bone strong and may make it better able to
withstand bacteria (that creates infection in periodontal disease) attacks.
Dr.
Lindeberg, Probe
November 2000
(Reuters Health): When people brush-off flossing,
they raise their risk for gum disease and tooth loss. Yet, according to a survey
of 201 periodontists, flossing gets the least attention in their patients'
tooth-care regimens. Men, they report, are the biggest offenders. Nearly 97% of
the dentists said their female patients practiced better oral hygiene than male
patients did.*
(Reuters Health) - Heart attack patients are nearly three
times more likely to have a severe type of gum inflammation called periodontal
disease than healthy persons are, researchers said here Sunday.
Dr. Efthymios N. Deliargyris of the University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill and colleagues compared 38 heart attack patients with 38
healthy volunteers. The investigators found that 85% of heart attack patients
had periodontal disease compared with 29% of healthy volunteers.
"Periodontal disease is caused by specific
bacteria.... It should not be confused with gingivitis, which is a much milder
disease," Deliargyris told the AHA. "But it may be important to have
regular dental checkups to determine if a person has periodontal disease,
because this may be an indication of a systemic problem."*
* From Health Center Dental News
Smart Practice Nov. News
Ninety
percent of the estimated 2 to 4 million Americans with Sjogren's Syndrome are
women. In people with this disease, the body's immune systems confuses its own
moisture-producing glands with foreign invaders. Compromised glands result,
leaving people with symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth. Frequently left
undiagnosed, over time the disease can be debilitating. If it spreads,
devastating and costly medical conditions may result. Some tooth loss and cavity
formation is linked to Sjogren's Syndrome. Dentists can take a leadership role
in helping to diagnose people, particularly women, who suffer from this disease.
For more information visit:
AIDS-Related Virus Spreads Though Oral Contact
A form of the herpes virus that causes an AIDS-related cancer
can be spread by oral-oral contact, including kissing, according to
researchers at Columbia University in New York. Herpes virus 8 in saliva has
been shown to spread the infection that results in Kaposi's sarcoma. Purple
skin blotches are early symptoms for the disease than can be fatal, once it
spreads. The herpes virus 8 is closely related to the common Epstein Barr
virus, long known as the kissing disease, or mononucleosis.
A health fad for filtered and bottled water is
bad for teeth because it does not contain fluoride, dental experts here say.
October
2000
Low Dietary Vitamin C can Increase the Risk
for Periodontal Disease, Especially in Smokers
A study from The Journal of Periodontology found
that people who consume less than the RDA for vitamin C (60 mg per day. about one orange) have slightly higher rates of periodontal disease, especially
if they smoke, because smoking contains numerous oxidants that can cause gum
tissue damage regardless of vitamin C intake. "The relationship between
vitamin C and periodontal disease is likely due to Vitamin C's role in
maintaining and repairing healthy connective tissue along with its antioxidant
properties". Diet plays an important role in the overall well being
of oral health as does brushing, flossing and having regular dental
visits. Taken from Dentistry Today.
Personal Oral Hygiene is Relatively
Inexpensive!
Dental floss costs about
$13.00 per year, toothpaste costs about $9.00 a year and replacing your
toothbrush every other month cost about $16.00 a year. All total, keeping
your teeth and gums healthy and clean is quit affordable!
September 2000
Mouth Piercing and Nickel Allergy
Mouth jewelry is hip, cool, trendy. But it also presents a
serious potential risk to nerves and blood vessels, along with
hemorrhaging and infection. If this isn't enough, a recent
report
reveals that due to a percentage of nickel in the jewelry,
allergic reactions can also result. Nickel is the number one
skin
allergy in the US. That's why in Europe, stainless steel body-
piercing jewelry is banned. Most stainless steel contains up to
eight percent nickel. From
Health Center
September 2000
To The Top
TARTAR CONTROL TO PROTECT THE JOINTS?
Pyrophosphate, the substance added to
tartar control toothpaste, may prevent mineral deposits in skeletal joints that
lead to arthritis as stated in a recent issue of Science. Article from Trends in Dentistry
Children who get cavities......
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Young children who get cavities are more prone to
tooth decay as they age despite their best attempts to brush and floss their way
to good dental health, results of a study report.
The findings suggest that children with early childhood caries (ECC) may need
more aggressive dental therapies such as antimicrobials, fluoride
treatments and counseling about cavity-causing
foods. The name ECC describes a cavity pattern in infants,
toddlers and preschool children
These findings strongly suggest that more aggressive preventive
therapies may be required to prevent the future development of carious
lesions in children who experience ECC," the researchers conclude.
August 2000
PATIENTS AND PREVENTION:
Patients hate to floss! Not even once
a day. Flossing improves overall systemic health and may favorable affect
longevity. If you floss once a day it has a
positive impact on the aging process, for it LOWERS the occurrence of dental
diseases, including periodontitis (gum
disease) and gingivitis (inflammation of
the gums) and the resulting reduction in periodontitis-causing bacteria can
lessen the chance of hardened arteries, heart disease, stroke and memory
loss. (Michael Roizen, M.B. Real Age:
Are You as Young as You Can Be?)
Flossing along with brushing and good
gum care can HELP YOU LIVE LONGER. Since time and technique seem to be the
biggest barriers, we suggest you try the automatic
Flosser by Waterpik™. We have contacted the American
Dental Hygienist Association and they state that flossing with the C
technique is best, and we agree, but the automatic Flosser by Waterpik is
better than not flossing at all!
The consumption of alcohol and tobacco
use directly affect the quality of dental work you will need.
Many dentists will not perform dental work on these patients since these habits decrease
the successfulness of the patient's dental treatment by 30%-40%
People do not brush
long enough! It is recommended that you brush at least two minutes a day,
twice a day. We recommend the Sonicare automatic
toothbrush to help with this problem. It has a built in timer that
beeps every 30 seconds to tell you when to change the quadrant you are brushing
and tells you when you have brushed for two minutes.
Fluoride
will always be an issue of concern. It is reported to be the number one
most helpful item to help prevent cavities in the last one hundred years.
Since our area water is not fluoridated and more people are consuming
unfluoridated bottled water, your possible lack of fluoride intake can greatly
affect your dental health.
Nutrition
and dental habits have progressively worsened,
primarily because of increased demands on our time. We offer nutritional
counseling by a Registered Dietitian and would be glad to help you with this
area. Just bring in a food diary
for three week days and two weekend days for us to help you with. We will
work out an individual plan to help you not only improve your dental health but
also your total well being.
Older
Americans are the group showing the largest increase in caries
over children and adults. Good dental health habits
and completing your comprehensive exams and
treatment plans
can prevent this from happening to you. This group will more than likely
have more teeth remaining at this age and there will be fewer with dentures than
their parents. Good job!
So let us help you to embrace flossing,
improve your brushing techniques,
avoid overuse of alcohol and tobacco,
include fluoride in your choices of products and
nourish your smiles by maintaining healthy
dietary habits.
To The Top
July 2000
What Do Your Dreams Mean?
YOUR TEETH FALL OUT- Ron Geraci states that more women
than men have this dream. The most common interpretation the fear of
losing our youthful attractiveness. Another is that it is a sign that you
may feel your are verbally aggressive-that you make too many "biting
remarks"! July 2000 Dentistry Today
Asthma In Children Is Linked with Dental Cavities
A study done in Texas found that children with asthma are
at greater risk for developing caries and other oral problems. The study
don on 179 asthmatic and 165 healthy children, ages 2-13 found:
June
2000
Toothpaste Use In Children
Amount of toothpaste to use with children, especially under
the age of 6:
However, parents can avoid fluorosis in children by making sure their
preschool-aged children use no more than a pea-size portion of toothpaste,
regardless of whether or not their water is fluoridated.
And parents need to ``encourage the child to spit out the toothpaste,''
he said.
``Parents should encourage their children to expectorate the toothpaste at
the earliest possible age rather than swallow it, avoid toothpaste with flavors
that would encourage young children to wish to eat the toothpaste, and keep
toothpaste and all other fluoride-containing products out of the reach of
preschool-aged children,'' he notes in the report.
Fluorosis is not a concern after seven years of age
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dental Association 2000;131:746-754.
To The Top
June 2000 I.D.F Newsflash:
DON'T USE BAKING SODA TOOTHPASTE WITH ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES it
causes corrosion and premature breakdown of the plastic
June 2000
WALK DOWN THE AISLE WITH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
Several options exist to correct the shape,
color, alignment of and look of your teeth and these procedures need time so
make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Veneer and
bleaching can take from 2 weeks to 2 months and braces can take 1-2 years!
Remember to have procedures completed at least two months in advance, in case
problems need to be corrected so your mouth has time to adjust to the changes so
your smile will be camera ready. (See Smile Enhancement)
Dental Waterlines:
According to the ADA and CDC, there is no
science showing that dental waterlines pose a health threat. Flushing
waterlines daily and between patients is sufficient protection for
patients. There are no scientific reports linking illness to dental
waterlines. Biofilms (microscopic communities that consist primarily of
naturally occurring water bacteria and fungi) are in all water lines and pipers
including faucets, showerheads, dishwashers, etc. They form thin layers on
virtually all surfaces. The exposure to biofilms is much greater in these
lines than in dental waterlines. We shower ever day but usually go to the
dentist only infrequently. Thus patients ingest and inhale very small
amounts of dental unit water due to routine use of high velocity suction, absorbent
material that absorb most water (cotton rolls, gauze sponges and pads)
We test our water, please ask us
about our findings.
To The Top
DENTAL NOTES
Summer 2000
1. TONGUE PIERCING!?!
Have you thought about chipped teeth,
drooling, gum damage, nerve damage, taste loss, tooth loss or infection?
The greatest damage occurs through fractured teeth that occur while eating,
sleeping, talking and chewing on the jewelry. Every time you swallow the
barbell hits the teeth, causing irritation, ulcers that can become pre-cancerous
lesions. Infections are common and can cause more than pain. A
tongue can swell so much that is may cut off breathing. The tongue is
covered with bacteria (see bad breath article), so once it is pierced bacteria
are introduced into the blood which can reach the heart to cause serious
problems. If you decide to do this, make sure:
FAMILY GENTLE DENTAL CARE