May 11, 2012

Why Skipping Dental Appointments Can Affect Your Health

Skipping out on making that appointment for your dental hygiene visit? If you think that the worst that will happen is fuzzy teeth then you need to continue reading. There are several health benefits that go along with your regular dental visit that might surprise you. Most of us go to the dentist at least once a year. A survey […]
April 26, 2012

Cancer Causing Chemical Discovered in Smokeless Tobacco

Smoking is bad for you. We’ve known for a long time that smoking cigarettes causes cancer and other health problems. The use of  smokeless tobacco is no safer — using chewing tobacco or snuff also causes cancer. The big news is that scientists have isolated a chemical from smokeless tobacco that caused oral and esophageal tumors in every animal exposed […]
April 19, 2012

What's Lurking On Your Toothbrush?

Researchers in once recent study found 100 million bacteria on one uncovered toothbrush. With all those bacteria lurking on your brush should you be worried? Relax, we’ve got tons of bacteria living in our mouths every day. We brush and floss to keep the numbers under control. Some of these bacteria are good guys and some are bad and cause […]
April 13, 2012

News About Dental X-Ray and Cancer Link

News stories in newspapers and on TV were talking about a study published by the American Cancer Society this week. The study linked frequent dental x-rays with a certain type of non-cancerous brain tumor called a meningioma. This type of tumor occurs in about 8 of every 100,000 people which makes it a rare disease although it is the most […]
March 29, 2012

The Link We Don't Think About

We know they are linked but we don’t usually think about it, I mean the connection between oral health and colon health. Research from England has shown that the oral bacteria responsible for gum disease can also play a role in the development of colon cancer. More work is needed to confirm the link but it seems that the bacteria […]
March 27, 2012

Are Canker Sores Dangerous?

Canker sores are annoying and painful but not dangerous to your dental health. Some people get canker sores often, some every once in a while. Only about 20% of us get canker sores and scientists still don’t really understand what causes them. The theory is that we get canker sores because of a problem with our immune system. These sores […]
February 23, 2012

Rasberries May Treat Pre-Cancerous Oral Lesions

Oral lesions may or may not become cancerous but most are removed surgically before they become a problem. Even with surgical removal almost one-third of patients with cancerous oral lesions will have them recur. Scientists have been looking for new drugs that could make sure that the precancerous lesions don’t become malignant and hopefully avoid repeat removals of these types […]
February 14, 2012

What To Expect (About Your Smile) When You're Expecting

Expecting a child? Thinking about it? Pregnancy causes lots of changes, including a shift in your oral health. Healthy teeth and gums are essential for both mother and baby and you should start by visiting your dentist as soon as you start planning your family. Starting out with healthy gums protects you and your baby. The hormonal changes that occur […]
January 30, 2012

Why Do A Root Canal?

Why do you need a root canal? For most people it is because a tooth has been damaged by decay or accident. Root canal therapy works to heal the inside structure of the tooth which has been damaged and infected. The pulp inside your tooth is made up of of arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatic vessels. This  is what gives […]
January 23, 2012

Energy Drinks Causing Damage

Is your energy boost damaging your smile? Not too long ago, if you wanted a little energy boost you drank a cup of coffee. Today we can skip the coffee and get our caffeine fix from any number of energy drinks on the market. The growth in sales of these drinks has been amazing and more products are coming to […]
January 11, 2012

Changing Health Trends for 2012

Health trends for 2012 will be changing. The Values Institute at DGWB, a national research group,  determined the following are going to be hot in 2012: Natural energy drinks – Instead of Red Bull and Monster consumers will be looking for an energy boost from more natural ingredients like vitamins and tea extracts. Sleep – Study after study confirms the […]
December 27, 2011

How Bacteria Fight Fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that has been used for many years to fight tooth decay but it seems that bacteria are learning to fight back. The incidence of tooth decay in America has greatly declined with the advent of fluoride toothpastes and the addition of fluoride to municipal water supplies. While this is controversial in some areas the […]
December 20, 2011

Quitting Smoking Smart Resolution for the New Year

For smokers it is probably the resolution they make every New Year. Quitting smoking offers all sorts of health benefits and it is well known that smoking contributes to harmful bacteria in the mouth that are responsible for gum disease.  Scientists have also known that when smokers quit, the microbe population in their mouths change.  What they didn’t know was […]
December 9, 2011

Can Dental X-Rays Predict Bone Fractures?

A study from Sweden says that it is possible to use dental X-rays to predict which patients may be at risk of bone fracture. The research was published in the journal Nature Reviews Endocinology and showed that sparse bone structure in the lower jaw is an indicator that the individual is at greater risk for bone fractures in the future. […]
December 7, 2011

Gum Disease Improves With Weight Loss

Can gum disease treatment really work better when people lose weight? Can body weight and gum disease be connected somehow? A recent study from Case Western Reserve University seems to answer yes. Researchers found that when fat cells disappeared the human body was better at fighting off gum disease. The study looked at 31 obese patients with gum disease. Half […]
December 2, 2011

More People Aware of Oral Cancer Dangers

More and more people have become aware of the dangers of oral cancers. The diagnosis and treatment of celebrity patients like Michael Douglas help put this dangerous disease in the news. But do people think that oral cancer screening is important and worthwhile? The answer in Britain seems to be yes. A study completed in Britain showed that almost 90% […]
November 17, 2011

Reduce Your Heart Attack Risk

Researchers  from Taiwan reported this week that people who had their teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not visit the dentist. Drs. Emily Chen and Hsin-Bang Leu reviewed medical  data on over 51,000 adults who had their teeth […]
November 12, 2011

A Great Smile After Age 40

Looking forward to celebrating your 40th birthday? During our 40’s we start to experience some changes in our bodies but the good news is, if you have been taking care of your teeth (brushing, flossing, etc.) your dental health should continue to be terrific. There are a few things to keep an eye on when when you hit your 40’s: […]
October 18, 2011

Chipped Teeth Are Common

Chipped teeth are a common problem we see in our office. The reasons for the damage range from accidents to people who grind their teeth so severely they cause breakage How we repair the damage depends on factors such as the size and location of the chip, which tooth is chipped and the overall oral health of the patient. Options […]
October 14, 2011

Healthy Gums Important for Diabetic Patients

Even though the importance of healthy gums for diabetic patients has been well documented a new report in the British Dental Journal has confirmed that most diabetes patients do not understand the link. Researchers surveyed adults visiting a diabetes clinic and discovered that only 13% of participants knew that swollen or tender gums could be affected by diabetes and vice-versa […]