Cupcake Toothpaste, Teeth Grinding, Mouth Guards & 15 Other Dental News Items - Dec. 2015

(1) Will cupcake flavored toothpaste get your child to brush for the  recommended 2 minutes, twice a day?



(2) If you suspect that you may be grinding your teeth as you sleep, I can do a quick check-up to determine if it's true.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/74789044/how-teethgrinding-can-harm-your-health



(3) For the most pressing medical issue facing the NFL today—head injuries—a mouthguard acts as an early warning system.

http://www.wired.com/2015/12/how-the-humble-mouthguard-will-help-football-get-safer/


(4) Candy Canes. Hot Cocoa. Gingerbread Cookies. Sweets overload this holiday season? Hermey the Elf, Dental Do Gooder, can help with that!

"Have You Been Naughty or Nice With Your Teeth?"

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/holiday-healthy-teeth-tips



(5) Hermey the Elf shows kids how important it is to care for their teeth in these fun, holiday coloring pages.

http://www.mouthhealthykids.org/en/activity-sheets/color-with-hermey



(6) WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL TEETH? takes children on a fun, informative, and imaginative journey as they explore what it would be like if their own front teeth were replaced by those of a different animal.

Featuring a dozen animals (beaver, great white shark, narwhal, elephant, rattlesnake, naked mole rat, hippopotamus, crocodile, and more), this book explores how different teeth are especially adapted for an animal's survival.

At the end of the book, children will discover why their own teeth are just right for them. And they'll also get a friendly reminder to take good care of their teeth, because they're the only teeth they'll ever have.

Each spread features a photograph of the animal using its specialized teeth on the left and a humorous illustrated image of a child using that animal's teeth on the right.

http://www.amazon.com/What-You-Had-Animal-Teeth/dp/0545484383/



(7) Using sugary mints to mask bad breath is a bad idea. I recall when you could buy little bottles of peppermint oil at any grocery store, to squirt into your mouth. I don't know why they vanished.

But here are some herbal alternatives for fresh breath, plus foods that improve your overall body pleasantness.

https://sg.style.yahoo.com/post/134710912833/25-foods-that-make-you-instantly-sexier



(8) Prevention and early detection can help avoid pain, trouble eating, difficulty speaking and school absences.

“When people are beginning to do their pediatrician checks to make sure their kids are school-ready, make sure teeth are part of it,” says pediatric dentist and American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Mary Hayes.

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/back-to-school



(9) Teeth from a cave in south China show that Homo sapiens reached China around 100,000 years ago — a time at which most researchers had assumed that our species had not trekked far beyond Africa.

“This is stunning, it’s major league,” says Michael Petraglia, an archaeologist at the University of Oxford, UK who was not involved in the research. “It’s one of the most important finds coming out of Asia in the last decade.”

http://www.nature.com/news/teeth-from-china-reveal-early-human-trek-out-of-africa-1.18566



(10) "Foods that are high in cellulose--a strong starchlike compound found in celery, carrots, and apples--act as natural abrasives, cleansing teeth and removing surface stains naturally," says Jeff Golub-Evans, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City.

And greens such as spinach, broccoli, and lettuce contain mineral compounds that form a film over the teeth, so pigments from other foods can't stain.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/whiten-teeth



(11) Are you making any of these mistakes with your teeth, the jewels of your mouth?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/healthcom/20-mistakes-youre-making_b_8247584.html



(12) You may be ruining your precious teeth and not even realize it.


http://www.medicinenet.com/habits_that_wreck_your_teeth_pictures_slideshow/article.htm



(13) Why do wisdom teeth get "impacted"? What are the symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth?

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/wisdom-teeth/article/impacted-tooth



(14) Your teeth connect you to life via eating and society via talking and smiling. Ever wonder why your teeth come in different shapes?

http://healthyteeth.org/different-kinds-of-teeth/



(15) People are starting to realize that neglecting dental health can bring about a disaster to their overall health.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/why-dont-we-treat-teeth-like-the-rest-of-our-bodies/380703/



(16) Healthy teeth are vital to overall health. They can also be a glamour status symbol to some people.

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/06/why-is-america-obsessed-perfect-teeth.html



(17) I hate to have to say it, but soda is incredibly bad news for teeth. More and more research is showing this to be true.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/news/a50116/diet-coke-harms-teeth/



(18) Illinois House approves greater role for dental assistants.

http://www.rebootillinois.com/2015/12/03/editors-picks/mark-fitton/illinois-house-expands-dental-care-bids-farewell-to-frank-mautino/49732/



(19) They had to chase Burge. When they caught up with him, he had hid items he stole from the store in his pants.

They found he had steaks, a bottle of Advil PM -- and a Crest Teeth Whitening Kit.

http://wnct.com/2015/12/03/kinston-police-say-repeat-criminal-stole-teeth-whitening-kit-steaks/



(20) Diabetics have special issues with dental care. They are twice as likely to lose teeth.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tooth-loss-is-higher-among-people-with-diabetes/

Teeth in the News for Early November 2015

Here are some interesting news item links related to teeth and dental health that were posted in early November 2015.

(1)

25% of working age adults are unemployed in Greece.

Even with their entitlement mentality, their dental needs were underserved. Now Greece is one of the most unhealthy nations on earth.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/childrens-dental-problems-are-the-latest-sign-of-greeces-decay_563b7532e4b0307f2cac4280


(2)

What's the difference between plaque and tartar? 

How many teeth am I supposed to have? 

What does the inside of a tooth look like?

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/picture-of-the-teeth

(3) 

Your body gives you hints that something's not right. 

Do you have any of these low-key indicators of potential dental problems? 

Catch tooth and gum issues them early -- and treatment will tend to be more comfortable and less costly.

http://www.local10.com/news/health/subtle-signs-of-dental-problems/35582304

(4)

Compassionate, competent dentists do exist. I enjoy seeing news articles about my colleagues who are helping to improve the world.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/downers-grove/news/ct-dgr-dentist-artist-tl-0924-20150916-story.html

(5)

Victoria's Secret model turns wisdom tooth into gold pendant.

http://www.etonline.com/news/175597_behati_prinsloo_dips_wisdom_tooth_gold_wears_it/

(6)

Health insurance often treats dental coverage as not very important.

http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/health-care/article43722282.html

(7)

Rotting teeth of babies is a big concern all over the world. 

Here's the problem being faced in Australia.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/kids-as-young-as-18-months-needing-rotten-teeth-pulled-because-of-bad-decay-20151013-gk817r.html

(8)

Baby's have very thin enamel on their teeth, so they can get cavities quite easily. Many parents are not aware of how vulnerable their infant's teeth are.

http://www.chieftain.com/life/health/3964357-120/teeth-health-tips-baby?

(9)

Current day rats are cute compared to ancient rats with teeth 10 times larger!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/terrifying-ancient-super-rats-huge-6783071

(10)

Some points to keep in mind regarding teeth bleaching.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2015/10/09/things/yI7bkwDzIRUJQSDAxCb0WJ/story.html

(11)

Glistening on the pebble-strewn bottom, in shades ranging from deep blue to black, the teeth are everywhere you look. 

The largest are nearly two inches long, and the smallest so tiny you can barely pick them up.

This particular spot, perhaps 20 feet long, sits below a small Sepulga River waterfall near Evergreen, Alabama. It ranks among the most fossil-rich places in the United States.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/11/scuba_diving_scientists_find_s.html

(12)

Oral health can ward off Alzheimer's dementia.

More reasons to keep your mouth clean and healthy all during your life, and especially as you age.

http://davisdentaldiary.blogspot.com/2015/10/oral-bacteria-linked-to-alzheimers.html

(13)

Here's a bird being a dental hygienist, giving a fellow creature a teeth cleaning.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11976883/Just-a-check-up-Bird-acts-as-dentist-to-clean-giraffes-teeth.html

(14)

10 myths about brushing and flossing.

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/616343/How-do-you-floss-teeth-brushing

(15)

What's the big deal about gum disease? 

How do I know if I have it? 

What happens if I don't get it treated?

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gum-disease

All About Baby Teeth and more dental health news

Here's a roundup of interesting recent news items related to dental issues.



(1) "Everything You Need to Know About Baby Teeth"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-swiatowicz/everything-you-need-to-know-about-baby-teeth_b_8277752.html




(2) "Dentist Asks Kids to Give Back Halloween Candy To Help a Good Cause"

http://wtkr.com/2015/10/13/dentists-office-asks-kids-to-give-back-their-candy-for-a-good-cause/




(3) Did the people of doomed Pompeii have better dental health than we do?

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/04/health/roman-sugar-healthy-teeth/




(4) "Water Pick or Floss?"

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/dental-floss/faq-20058112




(5) "Dentistry not covered in Obamacare, but needs to be included"

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/another-voice/another-voice-aging-nation-needs-to-focus-more-on-dental-care-20151013




(6) "Best and Worst Foods for Healthy Teeth"

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/health-family/article40649997.html




(7) "Debunking 10 Popular Myths About Children's Teeth"

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/609471/Children-dental-care-truths-myths





(8) "Good Oral Health Gets Harder As We Get Older"

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/oral-health-for-seniors/2789050/





(9) Newborns who breathe tobacco smoke are 50% more likely to suffer poor dental health.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/21/passive-smoking-babies-doubles-risk-later-tooth-decay




(10)  Discovery of 47 teeth in Chinese cave changes picture of human migration out of Africa.

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-human-teeth-china-cave-20151014-story.html

How To Find a Dentist You'll Love and more news

Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting recent news reports related to dentists and dental health.



(1) "How To Find a Dentist You'll Love"

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151012/entlife/151019992/




(2) "A Life Saving Trip to the Dentist"

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2015/10/13/life-saving-trip-dentist/73774230/




(3) "Dentist Helps Syrian Refugees"

http://wivb.com/2015/10/19/ub-dentist-professor-supports-syrian-refugees-with-clinics-education/




(4) "Zimbabwe Won't File Charges Against Dentist Who Shot Cecil the Lion"

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/12/africa/zimbabwe-cecil-lion-walter-palmer-no-charges/





(5) "Dentist Donates Money for Every Selfie Posted to His Facebook Page"

http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2015/oct/16/local-dentist-office-trending-selfie-esteem-challe/





(6) "3D Printed Teeth?"

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dentist-could-3d-printing-teeth-134237691.html#7q2O1c1

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22830442-000-3d-printed-teeth-to-keep-your-mouth-free-of-bacteria/




(7) "The Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Your Teeth"

http://www.9news.com/story/news/health/2015/10/20/best-worst-halloween-candy-smarties-milk-duds/74299562/

Dental topic news stories June 2015

Here's a recap of recent news stories related to dentistry -- commentary and links I have posted on my Facebook page.


(1) In medieval times, the common people ate very little sugar and used honey sparingly. Peasant diets consisted of healthy fruits and vegetables, with plenty of calcium.

Sugar has been the modern nemesis of dental health.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/quora/dental-hygiene-was-actual_b_7590896.html






(2) Dental plaque isn't all bad -- for archaeologists. It has preserved microscopic organic remains for thousands of years, revealing the diet of ancient humans.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/06/17/oldest-evidence-of-manmade-air-pollution-found-in-dental-plaque-from-palaeolithic-israel/






(3) Why is dental treated differently than medical? Too many times, dental insurance is considered less critical, a garnish, like parsley on a steak dinner. This is old fashioned and dangerous thinking.

QUOTE

About a third of people in the U.S. don’t visit the dentist every year, and more than 800,000 annual ER visits arise from preventable dental problems.

“Medicaid doesn't acknowledge that you have teeth unless you're a child,” said Thomas Ritter, a dentist who was volunteering at the event.

One reason for this is that since the beginning of time, dentistry and medicine have been considered inherently distinct practices.

The two have never been treated the same way by either the medical system or public insurance programs.

But as we learn more about how diseases that start in our mouths can ravage the rest of our bodies, it’s a separation that’s increasingly hard to rationalize.

END QUOTE

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/why-dont-we-treat-teeth-like-the-rest-of-our-bodies/380703/





(4) Your teeth are amazing. Learning more about your teeth can inspire you to take better care of them.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/picture-of-the-teeth





(5) How would you feel about dentures made from the teeth of dead troops? Dentistry has certainly come a long way since that time!

Contact me to learn about the new dental technology that increases efficiency and comfort, while giving you the smile you deserve!

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33085031





(6) Don't let tooth decay fester, in hopes that it will somehow "go away." You'll just make your problem worse and more expensive to fix. Don't let a problem turn into a disaster.


http://time.com/3856212/cavity-tooth-decay/






(7) Your inner conversation (internal dialogue) can be shaped to overcome fears. Those who suffer from severe Dental Anxiety (DA) are being helped with cognitive therapy.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150612091325.htm




(8)

Some good news about free bilingual dental screenings.

"Due to factors such as language barriers and lack of awareness about proper dental hygiene, a large percentage of U.S.

Latinos tend to experience poor dental conditions and difficulty in accessing oral health education. Colgate's Oral Health Month aims to empower these consumers by providing the oral health tips and information they need."

http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp





(9)  The golf tee, that is most often used today, was invented by a dentist. Dr. George Franklin Grant, a Boston dentist, secured US patent no. 638,920 for the golf tee on Dec. 12, 1899.

Dr. Grant graduated from Harvard in 1870 and was the 2nd African-American to receive a dental degree in the US.

While a number of others claimed to have invented the golf tee, in 1991 the USGA officially recognized Grant as the original inventor of the golf tee.




(10) "Only floss the teeth you want to keep" is a slogan being used to communicate dental hygiene to disadvantaged people.

http://www.coronadonewsca.com/news/coronado_home_and_business/only-floss-the-teeth-you-want-to-keep/article_0b0dd0a8-0a19-11e5-a9e6-377159e2c5f5.html




(11) Jurassic Dinosaur Teeth Quiz.

Fun for you and your kids.


https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDentalAssociation/posts/10152801633617167





(12) How a mobile dentist brings a dental office on wheels to companies who offer it as a perk to employees.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/07/16/mobile-dentists-office-keeping-bay-area-tech-workers-teeth-clean/





(13) “He’s the guy with no cavities, (and) to think he came from poor origins where people lose their teeth,” de la Vega [dentist] said.

He said mouth guards for pro athletes – whether the sport is football, basketball, hockey or even badmitton – is highly specialized work that can play a major role in preventing catstrophic injuries.

He believe’s Pacquiao’s mouth guard, adorned in the colors of the Filipino flag, is well-made.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/02/dentist-crafts-colorful-mouth-guard-for-manny-pacquiao/