September 8th, 2011
Your Smile, and Your Overall Health, Is Under Attack
You can’t tell it right now, but your body is under attack from free radicals.
What are free radicals? To understand that question, you need to know a little bit about the human body.
You already know your body is made of cells, and that cells are made up of molecules, and that molecules are made of atoms. You may also know that every atom is made up of two positive protons and two neutral electrons.
A free radical is an atom that’s lost one of its electrons. In this state, the atom is unstable. Its singular goal becomes stealing an electron from wherever it can find one, and that usually means taking one from another nearby atom, resulting in a chain reaction of electron-stealing known as oxidation.
If this chain reaction is allowed to continue, your health can be negatively impacted. Problems like diabetes, gingivitis, heart attack, and even cancer, have all been linked to free radicals.
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Tags: antioxidants, antioxidants healthy lifestyle, antioxidants oral health
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August 25th, 2011
![shutterstock_41235853-[Converted]](http://bestdentistnews.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_41235853-Converted1-300x278.jpg "shutterstock_41235853-[Converted]")
While most of us can’t imagine a world without the tooth fairy, she didn’t actually grace us with her presence until the early 1900s… at least, not in her current form. And depending where in the world you are, the “tooth fairy” is likely unrecognizable to those of us who grew up waking up the morning after losing a tooth to find a quarter under our pillow.
In fact, it would appear that our own nocturnal visitor’s origins have been influenced by rituals and superstitions held all over the world, many of which date back hundreds of years. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: history of the tooth fairy, Tooth Fairy
Posted in Uncategorized | 760 Comments »
July 25th, 2011
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. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, teeth whitening, whiter teeth
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry | 957 Comments »
July 8th, 2011
Nineteenth century novelist George Eliot once said, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”
Yet smiling is more than just a way to convince your mother that you really did enjoy that meatloaf surprise. Even the smallest upward lip curve—whether or not it’s sincerely delivered—has far-reaching emotional and physical benefits.
Here are five advantages of turning that frown upside down:
1. Studies have shown that smiling lowers blood pressure. If you need some instant Zen, then all you have to do is smile. Chanting is optional (especially if you’re standing in line at the grocery store). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: best dentist, Coping with stress, dental health, oral health, pregnancy and oral health, teeth brushing, teeth whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry | 805 Comments »
June 24th, 2011
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.
That apple’s lookin’ pretty dinky now, isn’t it?
But before you go hog wild on those cookies, stop and think about all that sugar you’ll be eating. You’ve always heard your dentist say sugar is bad for your teeth, but do you know why? It’s because sugar energizes bacteria and leads to the production of acid, which destroys the enamel protecting your teeth from decay.
Brushing can help protect you, of course, but that happens just twice a day—if that much. So what can you do in the meantime?
How about having a little Xylitol?
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May 18th, 2011
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.
The painful pressure behind your eyes and cheekbones. The constant need to grab for a tissue (or five). The sore throat and irritating cough. The pain in your teeth. Wait… pain in… what? That can’t be right. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Uncategorized | 956 Comments »
May 4th, 2011
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!
What Causes Plaque?
Those little germs on your teeth use ingredients in saliva to flourish, namely sugar. As the bacteria metabolize tiny sweet particles, they produce acids that erode tooth enamel, cause cavities, and lead to gum disease and tooth loss. A diet full of candy, soft drinks, and carbohydrate-rich foods ups the ante. Read the rest of this entry »
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April 19th, 2011
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.
Every year, almost 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of these cases, 70% are discovered in the disease’s later stages. As many as one fourth of those diagnosed didn’t even participate in the risky behaviors commonly attributed to the disease, such a tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption.
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Tags: dental health, General Dentistry, National Cancer Control Month, Oral cancer, oral cancer screening, oral health, Preventive Dentistry, VELscope, ViziLite
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March 28th, 2011
Our mouths are full all kinds of interesting little organisms. It’s sort of like a mini rainforest in there –warm, wet, and home to more than 600 different species of bacteria, viruses, fungi, 
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.
Most of us don’t give mouth germs a second thought since we brush twice a day, floss nightly, and attend routine preventive dental visits every six months (RIGHT?!). But if you wear a retainer, clear aligner, or bite appliance, you may need to take extra precautions to prevent tiny invaders from taking over. Researchers have found that Candida (a type of yeast) and Staphylococcus, both potential illness-causing microbes, are present on 50% of all retainers. YIKES! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bite appliance, cleaning appliances, cleaning retainers, clear aligner, orthodontic retainer, retainer
Posted in Family Dentistry, General Dentistry, Uncategorized | Comments Off
March 11th, 2011
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!
Explore the collection of 22 vintage images on their Flickr page or the Sindecuse Museum’s website.
If you’re not in Michigan and would still like to saturate your brain with obscure dental knowledge, consider visiting these other dental museums:
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