Remember when people rode around in horse-drawn buggies and went to the barber for their teeth whitening needs? No? Yes, indeed, the barber once did your hair and your dental care. Sounds pretty convenient, right? Well, once you find out how it was done, you’ll be glad you go to the dentist for teeth whitening.
The Quest for Whiter Teeth Begins
The ancient Egyptians were known for their beautification techniques, and they certainly sought after whiter teeth. Around 4,000 years ago, they used a paste of wine vinegar and ground pumice stone to whiten their teeth. The mixture was brushed on with frayed sticks (yes, like very small tree branches). The whiter your teeth, the wealthier people thought you were. Continue reading The History of Teeth Whitening
Nineteenth century novelist George Eliot once said, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”
It’s the middle of the day and you’re hungry. You could eat that apple you brought for an afternoon snack, but there’s also that box of cookies in the break room. And not just any cookies—homemade double fudge cookies.
It’s that time of year. Allergens permeate the air we breathe, irritating our sinuses and making us feel all sick in the head. Viral infections, allergies, pollution… all can trigger sinusitis, which often leads to the dreaded sinus infection.
You know that fuzzy feeling on your teeth at the end of the day? Well, it’s not fuzz (phew!), it’s actually plaque (oh no!). What is plaque? It’s a sticky biofilm attached to your teeth containing hundreds of bacterial species. Before you run for the mouthwash, you should know those bacteria occur naturally. And it’s not just you, everyone has them!
Why are we discussing cancer on a dental newsletter? Because dental health affects your overall health, and your smile is your dentist’s business. Oral Cancer is a little discussed cancer that is on the rise, despite the overall decline in cancer rates. Why? Awareness. Many people simply don’t talk about oral cancer. Your dentist wants to change that.
and even protozoa. A few help promote good oral health, some do you absolutely no harm, and others meet their fate in saliva or your belly.
Dental museums are few and far between. Merely a handful of dental schools and private organizations devote resources to preserving our toothy beginnings. And yet dental products, remedies, and prosthetics have been around for hundreds of years. In a fascinating exploration of dentistry and advertisements, the University of Michigan’s Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry currently displays vintage print ads for everything from pink toothpastes to powdered-glass dentifrice!
Drink your milk! How many of us immediately revert to childhood memories of sitting around the dinner table with mom and dad upon hearing these words? What if, instead, our moms had insisted, “Eat your cheese!”? I imagine we’d all have fonder dinnertime memories, for one.
How many of you out there have a pet? Raise your hand. Whoa, that’s just about everyone! Pets are a huge part of our lives and we love them like family members, which means that we provide them with more than just a place to sleep and an occasional bowl of grub. We give them a safe and loving environment, lavish them with attention, teach them, and maybe even buy them a sweater or two for the winter (okay, we’re pretty sure they don’t like the sweaters, but we do!).