Several early cultures used chewing sticks with aromatic or antiseptic properties, such as neem or miswak. The sticks not only cleaned teeth, but also freshened breath.

In 1498 in China, an enterprising soul plucked stiff hairs from a pig’s neck and attached the bristles to a bone or bamboo handle. When this toothbrush was adopted by the Europeans, they opted for softer bristles—using horsehairs or feathers.

The toothbrush was modernized around 1780 by Englishman William Addis when he tied boar bristles into tufts and glued them into drilled holes of a bone handle. In fact, he’s responsible for the first mass-produced toothbrush. The company that Addis started more than 230 years ago, Wisdom Toothbrushes, still exists today.

In 1857, H.N. Wadsworth was the first American to be granted a toothbrush patent. However, mass production on toothbrushes in the United States didn’t begin until 1885, and animal bristles were still used as the brushing components. Fast forward to 1938 when DuPont created a new material called nylon. These synthetic fibers soon replaced natural bristles in toothbrushes.

These days, you have a variety of toothbrush options, including electric and disposable. If you’re not sure which type of toothbrush is best for your dental care needs, ask your dentist at your next checkup. And skip the twigs.

A smile makeover can help you add an extra sparkle to your smile, which, in turn, can help you improve the different relationships in your life, whether romantic, social, or on a professional. What’s more, studies have shown that patients with whiter, straighter smiles are perceived by others as more confident, attractive, and successful.

So with all this in mind, why not talk to your dentist about a smile makeover for January?

What Is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover can be one service or multiple services combined. One of the most common popular smile makeover services is teeth whitening. And just as there are different smile makeover services out there, there are also different companies that produce teeth whitening materials. Regardless of which your dentist offers, you can enjoy professional results that over-the-counter products can’t deliver, and typically in either in-office or at-home varieties.

But Teeth Whitening Isn’t the Only Option to Consider

Teeth whitening may be one of the most popular cosmetic options out there, but it’s not the only one. Many offices also offer porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, and orthodontic solutions like Invisalign and Clear Correct.

If you want to give your smile a makeover for 2012, call your local dentist to find out what he or she would recommend for you personally.

Transform your smile this January with a confident, dazzling smile makeover. You never know what opportunities a change like that might unlock.

How Vegetarianism Can Affect Your Oral Health

When designing your vegetarian diet, it’s essential to make sure you’re still getting certain nutrients. Some vegetarians might not get enough calcium, riboflavin, vitamins D or B12, or protein, and this can have a negative effect on the oral health of vegetarians.

A diet low on vitamin D and calcium can increase your risk of periodontal disease (gum disease), a very serious oral health problem. But take heart! You can counteract this problem with dietary supplements. It’s also recommended that you get guidance from a nutritionist before pursuing a vegetarian lifestyle to make sure you’re on the right track.

If giving vegetarianism a go is your new year’s resolution, there’s no need to be afraid for your oral health. Just make sure you’re getting all the important nutrients by eating a balanced diet. And don’t forget to make brushing and flossing a part of your oral health routine, too!

Around the age of six, a child’s baby teeth begin to fall out to make room for primary teeth. The last of their baby teeth typically fall out by the age of 13. Teeth fall out in the same order they erupted. So, most children lose their bottom two teeth first, and then their two front teeth.

Unfortunately, there are other ways to lose front teeth. Front teeth often take the full impact of a fall. If these teeth are knocked loose or knocked out, it’s important to get to the dentist right away. The dentist will try to reinsert the tooth so that it begins to re-bond with the bone. If it’s too late to save the tooth, then it’s likely the gap can be filled in with a dental prosthesis, such as a crown and bridge, or with dental implants.

Then I Could Wish You Merry Christmas…

In 1944, music teacher Donal Yetter Gardner asked his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas. He noticed nearly all his students had lisps because they were missing at least one front tooth, and he was inspired to pen a holiday song.  After performing “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” at a music teachers’ conference, Gardner gained the notice of a Witmark music company employee.  A few short years later, the song was recorded and released by Spike Jones & His City Slickers, and the catchy tune soared to the top of the 1949 pop charts.

What you don’t hear too often, though, is “I resolve to visit my dentist every six months,” or “I resolve to brush twice a day everyday, floss at least once a day, and gargle with a quality mouthwash at least once a day.” But these are exactly the kinds of resolutions many could benefit from making.

Every year, millions of people avoid going to the dentist, whether because of anxiety or another reason. That means that millions of people may not be giving their smile the care it needs to remain strong and healthy.

Regular dental visits and daily brushing and flossing are important because they help you keep bacteria and plaque from building up between your teeth and gums. Bacteria and plaque are what lie behind tooth decay and gum disease, but they have also been linked to problems in the rest of the body, too.

So, looked at from that perspective, resolving to visit your dentist twice a year and pay extra attention to your brushing and flossing isn’t about improving your smile—it’s about keeping your whole body healthy. And that’s a resolution anyone can get behind.

If you can, eat those carb-heavy foods such as stuffing and rolls with a balanced meal consisting of some protein. This helps to counteract some of the acids produced when sugars and bacteria in the mouth come together.

Limit your consumption of sticky foods. These foods take longer to chew, meaning they stay in the mouth longer and increase cavity risk.

Carry a travel toothbrush with you to your Thanksgiving meal destination, even if you’re just going for the day. Can’t brush your teeth immediately after eating for some reason? Rinse your mouth out with water to remove as much debris and acid as possible.

And try not to graze so much. It’s easy to spend the entire day walking around a party eating snacks, but every time you pop something into your mouth, it creates acids. Spend some time NOT eating on Thanksgiving day to cut down on the buildup of cavity-causing agents.

By following these simple holiday dental care tips, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy while still enjoying your Thanksgiving goodies. Happy holidays!

Animal Tendencies

A diastema is a natural feature of several mammal species, especially herbivores. The diastema in the dentition of animals such as rodents, sheep, and beavers allow food to be routed into the cheek so consumption can continue unimpeded. A diastema also allows material from gnawing to be expelled through the gap.

Ah, L’Amour

Some people in medieval times believed that women with gapped teeth (or, say it with me, a diastema) were passionate. Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned the “gap-toothed wife of Bath” in his Canterbury Tales, which is said to refer to her lusty nature. In Nigeria and other African countries, a woman with diastema is considered more attractive and fertile. And the citizens of France love diastemata, calling them “lucky teeth.”

Space Fillers

A diastema can be caused by tooth size discrepancy, oversized tissues, alignment problems, or protruding teeth. Though a diastema is considered harmless—meaning it rarely affects dental health—some dental patients want to close those smile gaps.

Some treatments dentists may use to close the diastema include:

• Orthodontics to move the teeth together and close the gap
• Customized porcelain veneers that cover the gap
• Dental bonding materials sculpted onto the teeth so the gap disappears
• Crown and bridge that uses a replacement tooth to fill in the space
• Dental implants to embed a porcelain crown into the gap

But you probably have memories of getting a filling, too. And though getting fillings is a much more comfortable experience now than it was in the past, you’d still like to see your own little one get through Halloween cavity-free.

So why not stock up on candy made with xylitol this Halloween?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibers of many fruits and vegetables. It has fewer calories and won’t raise blood sugar levels, making it perfect for patients with diabetes.

The greatest benefit xylitol provides, though, is protection from cavities. Unlike sucrose, which spurs decay and the growth of bacteria, xylitol promotes healthy pH levels in the mouth and makes it harder for bacteria to stick to teeth, preventing cavities in the process.

Where Can I Find Candy Made with Xylitol?

The best place to start is the Internet. Both Amazon and xclear.com offer a range of choices. You can also find xylitol candy for sale on websites that cater to customers with diabetes.

If you’d like to find something locally, you might try your local health food store or even your local grocery store. It may be harder to find xylitol candy than it is to find Milky Ways and Snickers, but with a little research and a little digging, you can find exactly what you need to make your child’s Halloween fun and healthy.

Have Any Questions About The Benefits of Xylitol?

If you’d like to know more about how xylitol is different from traditional sugar and what benefits it has for oral health, contact your local dentist or visit xylitol.org.

So, in the spirit of helping you avoid future cavities by educating you on some of the many risk factors, here’s a list!

Already having cavities: This may sound silly, but if you’ve already had cavities, you’re more likely to have cavities in the future.

Eating lots of sugary or acidic foods: Cavities are caused when sugar meets the bacteria in your mouth and turns into acid. Acid erodes tooth enamel, so highly acidic foods also weaken teeth.

Poor oral hygiene: Just like sugar is one part of the process that leads to acid production, bacteria is the other part. Not brushing and flossing properly will let bacteria multiply, allowing cavities to form.

Lack of fluoride: Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making them more resilient and cavity-resistant.

Badly done fillings and crowns: When a filling or crown is not done properly, it can provide crevices in which cavity-causing bacteria can hide and escape toothbrushing.

Family history: Whether it’s because good oral health habits weren’t taught at home or genetics that make teeth more susceptible to decay, a family history of cavities increases your risk.

Dry mouth: Saliva actually helps flush bacteria from your mouth, so dry mouth can increase cavity risk.

Eating disorders: Poor nutrition weakens teeth, leaving them open to decay. Also, if your eating disorder involves self-induced vomiting, the increased acid wears down tooth enamel.

Not visiting the dentist regularly: Even if you practice excellent oral health care at home, you need regular dental hygiene visits and dental exams to keep cavities at bay. It is recommended that you visit the dentist every six months for optimum cavity protection.

Special needs: If you care for a family member who has a disability, make sure you’re thinking about their oral health care. This often gets overlooked and can cause them to get cavities.

It may seem like there’s no way to win against tooth decay and cavities, but many of your risks can be lowered by making certain choices. Cutting back on sugary foods, using tooth care products that contain fluoride, and regularly visiting your dentist are some simple steps that make a big difference. Don’t let yourself get caught with cavities! Assess your risk, and lower it.

Tooth Worms are Eeeeeeevil!

It was long believed cavities were caused by worms that burrowed inside the tooth and caused pain by wiggling around. The earliest reference to tooth worms was in a Sumerian text dated around 5,000 BCE.  Right up until the 18^th century most people, including dental practitioners, believed that tooth worms caused decay and discomfort.

Some ancient doctors mistook tooth nerves as tooth worms, and removed them. It was the barbaric version of root canal therapy. Well, except the doctors would also take out the entire tooth. Present-day dentists try to avoid extractions because tooth roots are important to the health and strength of the jawbone.

Curious Cures

Roman writer Pliny the Elder suggested catching a frog under a full moon, spitting into its mouth, and then telling it to take the toothache away. Some cultures attempted to cure toothaches with chanting. In ye ol’ merry England, citizens would steal teeth from corpses to create toothache talismans. Other ways our ancestors tried to cure toothaches:

• Ancient Egyptians wore magical amulets.
• Aztecs chewed on hot chilies.
• Romans tried oral fumigation followed by a hot mouth rinse.
• Medieval people relied on sorcery.
• The Talmud recommended drinking sour fruit juice.

Modern Treatments

Dentists today know that toothaches are caused by decay and bacterial infection. Most toothaches can be relieved with root canal therapy. Dentists can remove the diseased nerve and pulp, and then restore the tooth, usually with a filling and porcelain crown. And lucky for us, there is anesthesia and pain medication to ensure we don’t have go frog-hunting at the next full moon.