Strange dental facts

     Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body.

     The plaque found on your teeth is home to more than 300 different species of bacteria.

     The average person spends about 48 seconds per day brushing their teeth, but dentists recommend at least 2 or 3 minutes. 

     In 1994, a West Virginia prison inmate braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall, and escaped! We suggest that you use it to clean the 35% of your teeth’s surfaces that you are missing when only brushing, rather than to escape from any prisons

     According to a recent survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather have a dental appointment than sit next to someone who is talking on a cell phone.

     At least 3 out of 4 Americans suffer from some form of periodontal gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. The good news: Gum disease can be prevented and controlled!

     In China, in 1498, the first toothbrush with bristles was made, using hair from hogs, horses, and badgers. The first official commercial toothbrush was manufactured in 1938.

     A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, but can contain over 25,000 teeth!

     In early America, blacksmiths often also served as dentists. 

     In Egypt, mummies have been found with fillings comprised of resin and malachite, and gold wire was used to bind together loose teeth. 

     The Romans, in 200 AD, used pretty impressive dental technology! They restored cavity-ridden teeth with gold crowns, and utilized fixed bridgework to fix gaps from missing teeth. They also used a form of toothpaste concocted from honey and crushed eggshells.

     In Medieval Germany, the only cure for a toothache was to kiss a donkey.

   The average woman smiles about 62 times per day! A man? Only 8.

     50% of people surveyed say that a person’s smile is the first physical trait they notice.

     Like your fingerprints, everyone has a unique set of teeth. Even identical twins have different “dental fingerprints”!

     The stone-faced farmer in artist Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic” painting was actually the artist’s dentist!

      Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year, so make sure you wear a mouth guard, if you or your little ones are athletes.

     Americans spend $100 billion per year on hair care products – and only $2 billion a year on dental care products. What good is great hair without a great smile?    

Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s famous dentures were not made from wood. His four pairs of custom dentures were crafted from gold, ivory, lead and a mixture of human, donkey, and hippopotamus teeth.

Look at all the photos you can find of George Washington. Do you ever see him smile? 

Check out photos of yourself. Do you smile in your photos? A smile makes the best first impression. It also brightens your outlook and certainly brightens the outlook of those surrounding you. If you are not smiling in your photos why not? If you do not like your smile we can help. Here are links to information about creating your picture perfect smile. 

Cosmetic Dentistry

Patient Comfort

Dental Whitening 

Schedule your dental appointment

Can chewing tobacco cause cavities?

A friend asked how her husband has so many more cavities than herself. They eat the same meals; drink the same beverages, brush and floss at the same times. The only difference is he chews tobacco. He knows this puts him at risk for oral cancer and has the VELScope evaluation performed annually, but had no idea how much sugar was in chewing tobacco. I did not realize how much sugar was in chewing tobacco either until I started researching.

 

Sugar is not natural to the tobacco leaf.  It was added by the tobacco companies to improve the flavor and sales. The flavor was added by the tobacco companies to give the chewing tobacco a better taste so people wouldn’t have to spit, but could just swallow the juice produced.

Depending on the brand and how much one chews, there could be from 3 tsp to 16 tablespoons of sugar (if one chews up an entire can of the stuff). That could be up to 32 packets of sugar!  Plug tobacco was better at 12 teaspoons of sugar added per plug. That is still 6 packets of sugar! 

 

There are many names for chewing tobacco. You can call it smokeless tobacco, spit tobacco, chew, snuff, pinch or dip, but don't call it harmless. Chewing tobacco can cause serious health problems. Many people realize there is a concern of oral cancer with chewing tobacco. However, there are many other health risks involved with chewing tobacco. Chewing tobacco can cause gum recession and mouth sores. It can also cause stomach ulcers if the juice is swallowed. The nicotine causes vasoconstriction leading to high blood pressure and heart diseases such as cardiac ischemia (not enough oxygen to the heart), angina pectoris (constricting pain in the chest) and acute myocardial infarction (nonreversible damage to the heart muscle by a heart attack). Nicotine has been shown to increase heart rate and contribute to clotting within the blood vessels.

 

So again, simple activities such as chewing tobacco have a bigger impact on your body that goes well beyond what it does to your teeth.  This habit could seriously impact your health in many ways besides the impact of poor nutrition from tooth loss.  This is why our office encourages healthy habits for your entire body, not just your mouth.

 

View our earlier Blog Post - Oral Cancer survivor urges tax increase on smokeless tobacco

 

 Schedule an appointment for your dental evaluation and VELscope testing.

references:  Medicine simply put; Dip Stop; National Cancer Institute

Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures

How to restore your fresh breath—and relationships

Wondering why your loved ones are giving you more personal space than you’ve asked for? Suspicious about the Altoids left on your desk with dental floss bows? If you’re one of 90 million Americans suffering from chronic bad breath, here are some of the possible causes, as well as remedies to restore your fresh breath—and relationships.

 

Top 5 Causes of Bad Breath

 

1. A dirty mouth

“Ninety percent of mouth odors come from mouth itself—either from the food you eat or bacteria that’s already there,” says Dr. Richard H. Price spokesman for American Dental Association. “Mouth odor is like any other body odor—the result of microbes living in the body giving off byproducts.” In the mouth, this means bacteria that normally live in the mouth interact with food particles, blood, tissue, etc., to create volatile (i.e., stinky) sulfur compounds. If you don’t clean properly, the bacteria build up, and next thing you know—that’s not toothpaste on your tongue.

 

2. A mouth out of balance

Certain mouth conditions can exacerbate bacterial growth and odor, such as gum disease and dry mouth. Gum disease causes bloody gums, creating more elements for those pesky bacteria to putrefy. But it is a dry mouth that is the more common cause of bad breath. Saliva helps flush out the mouth, keeping bacteria moving so they don’t settle down and multiply, while drier mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. In spring and summer, allergy medications can dry you out; in winter, dry heat tends to be the culprit.

 

3. Stinky foods

If it stinks going in, chances are it’s going to stink coming out. The obvious offenders are onions, garlic, alcohol and tobacco. And foods don’t only create a stench in the mouth. “Plant oils are absorbed and the byproducts enter your bloodstream so you are actually breathing the odors out via your lungs three to four hours later,” says Jeannie Moloo, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. [Fulldisclosure: Moloo is the author’s cousin.]

 

4. Not enough carbs

You look great after four weeks on Atkins, so how come you still can’t get a date? High-protein, low-carb diets cause your body to burn stored fats for fuel instead of carbs and can lead to a condition called ketosis. “As fat burns, ketones build up in the body, and some are released through breath,”explains Moloo. “Unfortunately ketones don’t smell particularly good.” And bad breath trumps six-pack abs.

 

5. Illness

Occasionally, bad breath can be a sign of a more serious illness. The most common systemic causes of bad breath are diabetes or GERD (or gastro esophageal reflux disease). Diabetes can also cause ketosis, and the resulting bad breath is sometimes one of first symptoms that lead to diagnosis. GERD is a backflow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus. Less common but possible are liver or kidney disease—when toxins from these organs are excreted through the lungs, causing bad breath.

 

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Top 5 Cures

 

1. Keep it clean

Gum, breath mints, mouthwash… these are all helpful stopgaps, but they won’t cure bad breath. The way to get rid of bad breath for most of us is to brush, floss and tongue scrape twice a day. Yes, for fresh breath, the key is tongue scraping. “You can brush and floss till the cows come home, but it won’t help unless you get way back,” says Price of the American Dental Association. A tongue scraper is available at most drugstores. Price swears it helped him when he was suffering from bad breath (not something you want in your dentist, he points out). “Now I smell like a petunia,” he says. “For most of us, brushing, flossing and tongue scraping twice a day will control bad breath.”

 

2. Keep it moist

The best way to keep the right saliva balance is to drink plenty of water or liquids. To prevent dry mouth in winter, use a humidifier. If you snore or suffer from postnasal drip, try saline nasal spray to keep nasal passages moist.

 

3. Watch what you eat

Avoiding the main offenders (onion, garlic, tobacco, coffee, etc.) is the best way to avoid food-related bad breath. Dietitian Moloo also cites research that suggests certain foods can help: “Two cups of tea a day can prevent bad breath for some. The polyphenols, a plant chemical in tea, may prevent growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.” You can also chew parsley, which seems to curb offending smells from other foods and bacteria. And cranberries may eliminate offensive smells and make the bacteria less sticky, which makes plaque less likely to form. Price says sugarless gums that contain xylotol may kill some bacteria and help reduce plaque.

 

4. Eat some carbs

Apparently the only way to help the ketosis caused by low-carb diets is… to eat some carbs. Moloo recommends fruits, vegetables and whole grains over frosted doughnuts.

 

5. See your doctor

If tongue scraping and carbo-loading doesn’t do the trick, check with your doctor to see if he or she suspects a more serious cause. Diabetes, GERD or other diseases require specific diagnoses and treatments.

 

Reference : MSN Healthy Living

Brushing your teeth for two full minutes is the best for your health. Here are some great ways to encourage your child, and yourself, to brush for two minutes.

Just in time for new back to- school routines, the Ad Council, along with the American Dental Association, has launched Kids’ Healthy Mouths to teach parents and children about the importance of oral health.

It is part of The Partnership for Healthy Mouths Healthy Lives, a coalition of leading oral health organizations committed to improving children’s oral health so that they can develop into healthy, productive adults.

The Kids’ Healthy Mouths website, 2min2x.org, features fun facts, lots of helpful resources and links to 14 two minute videos produced by Cartoon Network and My Kazoo.

This new public service campaign stresses the importance of brushing for two minutes twice a day.

Many people do not know that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, with more than 16 million kids are suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S. The mouth is the gateway to a person’s overall health, and an unhealthy mouth can be associated with obesity, diabetes, oral cancer and other medical conditions.

Parents report their children usually waste more than two hours each day playing video games, texting or watching videos online. The campaign highlights the necessary balance of children’s time: If your child spends hours on playtime, why shouldn’t they spend two minutes taking care of their teeth?

“The dental profession hopes that this simple message will have a positive and long-lasting impact on children’s oral health and overall health,” according to the local dental society president, Dr. Tyler Wolf. “Most oral health problems are preventable using steps that can easily become a part of every child’s daily routine,” Wolf said. “This campaign will help parents learn how easy it is to protect their children, give them healthy mouths and help them lead healthy lives.”

Sesame Street has created videos for its “Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me” campaign. One features Elmo singing to kids, reminding them to “Brushy Brush” their teeth every day.

Not all of the videos are directly related to healthy teeth. These videos feature Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry stories, along with entertainment by Dream Jam Band, to entice children to spend two full minutes brushing their teeth.

There is also the Brushytime App that can be downloaded to your smartphone. This application allows you to choose a video and customize the time for brushing.

 

Parents are encouraged to have their children watch the videos on a smartphone or computer while they brush their teeth. Since kids are accustomed to using their electronic devices throughout the day, it’s a great way for the kids to use them for something as productive as brushing their teeth.

In addition to brushing and flossing at home, it’s important to eat healthy foods and have regular dental checkups, because a healthy smile leads to a healthy body.

References:

West Michigan District Dental Society
2min2x.org
Brushytime applicaiton
Healthy teeth; Healthy me
nylaandental.com

 

Put your dental problems to bed

When it comes to your dental health, consistency counts. Establishing simple routines and practicing them faithfully are the best ways to keep your mouth healthy and your teeth strong.

Taking care of your teeth during the day can prevent dental problems, but nighttime oral care is just as important. That’s because neglecting your teeth at night can undo all your daytime efforts. For starters, the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth both in the morning and at night with fluoride toothpaste, flossing between teeth before bed, and limiting between-meal snacks — that includes those late-night ones too. Find out what other steps you should be taking.

Watch What You Eat

Have you heard the saying, You are what you eat? Believe it or not, it also applies to your teeth. Remind yourself of it, especially if you're tempted to snack before bed. Go for healthy options. Calcium-rich foods, like milk and yogurt, will help keep your teeth strong. Fiber-rich foods, like apples, broccoli, and almonds, stimulate saliva production, which reduces the number of bacteria in the mouth. And whole grains, like brown rice and whole-grain pasta, provide iron and vitamin B for healthy gums, and magnesium for strong teeth.

The Worst Foods for Your Teeth

Sticky foods like taffy, gummy candies, and caramel cling to your teeth, providing the fuel that harmful bacteria need to multiply. At night, because you don't swallow as much while you sleep, the bacteria in your mouth can easily multiply. Avoiding sticky foods will help keep their numbers down and protect your teeth. If you do indulge yourself in a sweet and sticky treat, be sure to brush and floss soon afterward. Also, watch out for foods, like popcorn kernels or hard candies, that can break a tooth if you bite down too hard on them.

The Biggest Enemy

Plaque, the bad guy in the battle for healthy teeth, is a film of bacteria on the surface of your teeth. When you eat carbohydrate-rich foods like sugar, breads, pastas, and soda, the sugars and starches help the bacteria multiply and release acids that harm the enamel of your teeth over time and lead to cavities. However, you can sleep easy knowing that when you brush, floss, and rinse with a fluoride mouthwash, you're also attacking plaque at the same time

Fighting Gum Disease  

Gingivitis, an early form of gum disease, occurs when plaque builds up below the gum line and hardens into a substance known as tartar. Left untreated, gingivitis can develop into a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis — a leading cause of tooth loss in later years. Red, swollen, tender gums and bleeding after brushing or flossing are early warning signs that gingivitis may be developing. Brushing and flossing regularly — during the day and before bed — are the best ways to prevent gingivitis

The Best Ways to Fight Plaque

Cavities occur when the acids in plaque break down enamel, the tooth's outer surface. The best way to prevent cavities is to brush in the morning and brush and floss before bed each and every night. Why? Because the bacteria that create plaque are constantly dividing and multiplying, so must be removed regularly. Fluoride, a mineral contained in most toothpastes, protects teeth by bonding with enamel and creating a harder surface. Toothbrush options include manual toothbrushes, and for extra brushing strength, power brushes.

 

Drill and Fill

Once plaque breaches the tooth's defense system of enamel and causes a cavity, a filling is required to re-create a hard, protective surface. After numbing the area, the dentist uses a drill to remove the weakened enamel and replaces it with a filling material, such as metals like gold, base metal alloys, and dental amalgam, or with white composite materials that match your natural tooth color. The material is selected by you and your dentist based on a variety of factors, including where the cavity is located, how large it is, and the cost.

Morning Breath vs. Bad Breath

When you wake up in the morning, your mouth is dry from not swallowing much throughout the night, and that's what typically causes "morning breath." Chronic badbreath (known medically as halitosis) can be caused by eating such foods as garlic or onions, which enter the bloodstream and are exhaled with every breath. It can also be the result of poor oral hygiene — if so, regular brushing and flossing can provide relief. Certain medical conditions can also cause halitosis, so if bad breath is a recurring problem for you, talk with your dentist or doctor to pinpoint the cause.

 

Show Off Your Pearly Whites

As we age, tooth enamel can become discolored and dull. Avoiding substances known to stain teeth (coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco products, for example) can help prevent stains in the first place. A whitening toothpaste can add an extra brightening boost, removing surface stains. If brushing alone doesn't remove stains, many in-home and professionalteeth-whitening options are available. If you use a whitening product, be sure to follow the directions faithfully, especially when using the product overnight. Not doing so can damage your enamel and lead to bigger problems.

Don't Skip Your Appointments

Regular trips to your dentist are just as important as your daytime and nighttime oral routines. That's because seeing your dentist frequently gives him or her the opportunity to catch problems early – before they turn into major trouble. Talk to your dentist about how often you should visit, but in general, two to three visits a year are normal. If it has been a while since you've seen your dentist, schedule an appointment today. Doing so could save you thousands of dollars in expensive dental work down the line!

Dealing With Dental Emergencies

Sometimes, dental emergencies arise — a tooth gets knocked out or broken; a crown lifts off. When such mishaps occur, call your dentist immediately and describe the problem in as much detail as possible. He or she will schedule an office visit and advise you on what to do in the meantime. Quick action can make the difference between saving a tooth and losing a tooth.

Put Dental Problems to Bed

As you can see, when it comes to having healthy teeth, slow and steady wins the race. Daytime and nighttime oral care at home, paired with regular dental checkups, can head off most — if not all — dental problems. It's that easy! Just develop these good dental habits, and you'll be well on your way to putting dental problems to bed.