September 1, 2010

Do You Need An Electric Toothbrush?

Recently Ric Romero,  a health reporter at KABC in Los Angeles, teamed up with Consumer Reports to test electric toothbrushes.  Because some electric toothbrushes can cost over $100 it is important for consumers to talk to their dentists about whether they need an electric toothbrush.  If it is determined that an electric brush would be helpful in keeping your gums […]
August 12, 2010

Back to School

It is that time of year again – back to school preparations are underway.  Kindergarten to college age, families are busy shopping for school supplies, new school clothes and desperately searching for the perfect backpack.  Many students are also undergoing back-to-school physicals because of participation in school sports. Don’t forget to schedule the dental check-up as well.  For college age […]
August 11, 2010

Common Myths About Your Tooth Decay

A faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine recently wrote an article outlining common dental myths – here are a few dental myths debunked: Losing baby teeth to tooth decay is OK. Myth – Some people believe this since baby teeth fall out anyway but decay in baby teeth can damage the developing adult teeth under the gums.  […]
August 5, 2010

Alzheimers Linked to Periodontal Disease

New York University College of Dentistry researchers have found long-term evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of brain inflammation, neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.  The research team looked at 20 years of data and what they found supports the idea of a possible link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Dr. Angela Kamer, lead researcher “The research […]
July 23, 2010

Twice-A-Day Brushing Good For Your Heart

A new study reported in the British Medical Journal, 2010 reports that regular twice-a-day tooth-brushing is associated with lower risks of heart disease.  The study also showed decreased levels of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, which are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, when study participants brushed with higher frequency. The study was designed to discover whether […]
July 23, 2010

Natural Fluoride Levels In Tea

Black tea is the most popular beverage in the world.  Tea drinkers gain several health benefits including protecting their teeth because of the naturally occurring fluoride contained in brewed black tea.  While we have known about the natural fluoride in tea for some time, new research from the Medical College of Georgia suggests that the levels are higher than previously […]
July 8, 2010

Are Dental Implants Right For You?

A dental implant is basically an artificial tooth that replaces a tooth that has been lost.  Implants are perfect for replacing just one tooth or many instead of using bridges or partial dentures.  Implants can even be used to anchor dentures. The implant itself is a small titanium device that is placed in your jaw to act as an artificial […]
June 24, 2010

Dental Checkups – More Important Than You Think

Opening your mouth during a dental checkup reveals a great deal about your general health and well-being.  Your teeth and gums can tell the story of your overall health to a trained eye.  Loose teeth, for example,  may point to osteoporosis; cavities and gum disease may signal underlying heart disease or diabetes; a scalloped tongue may point to obstructive sleep […]
June 16, 2010

Gum Disease – The Top Ten List

When patients are informed  they have developed periodontal disease they usually ask why.  The reasons vary for each person but here is a list of risk factors: You smoke cigarettes or chewing tobacco.  The use of tobacco is one of the biggest risks for periodontal disease because it decreases your ability to fight infection.  Tobacco use  also interferes with healing […]
June 4, 2010

Midnight Snacking Leads to Tooth Loss

Eating late at night is an easy way to gain weight but  midnight snacks have been found to be bad for your dental health as well.  A study published in the August issue of Eating Behaviors reveals that eating food late at night contributes to tooth loss.  Surprisingly, this outcome was not dependent upon the types of food eaten.  The […]
June 2, 2010

Brushing Saves Your Heart

Several studies have been released over the past several years that prove the link between gum disease and heart problems.  Now it seems that people who brush their teeth less than twice a day have nearly 3 times the risk of heart disease.  The new study, led by Richard Watt from University College London studies data from over 11,000 people […]
May 18, 2010

Dentistry with No Discomfort

Scientists have reported a new discovery that may eventually replace the needles used to give local anesthetic to dental patients.  In the journal, Molecular Pharaceutics, Dr. William Frey and his colleagues wrote that a way had been discovered to administer a common anesthetic through a nasal spray. It seems that when lidocaine is administered to the nose as nose drops […]
May 12, 2010

Gum Disease and Prostatitis

Case Western Reserve University researchers have suggested that inflammation from periodontal or gum disease and prostate problems may be linked.  In the Journal of Periodontology the researchers discuss their initial study results.  In this study the researchers compared two common markers – the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) which measures inflammation levels in the prostate and the CAL (clinical attachment level) of […]
April 30, 2010

Discovery of Laughing Gas No Laughing Matter

Medical and dental patients the world over can thank a young chemist named Humphy Davy who accidentally discovered nitrous oxide or laughing gas.  In 1799 there wasn’t even a word “anesthesia”.   When surgery was performed the doctors of the day actually believed that pain was a good thing – they believed that it helped the body rebound faster. The story […]
April 26, 2010

Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Most people believe that tooth decay is the number one reason why people lose teeth.  Not true – actually more teeth are lost because of gum disease.  Gum disease is usually found in people who have a poor diet or who neglect brushing and flossing regularly.  Alcoholism, auto-immune disorders and certain steroid drugs and cancer therapies can also leave people […]
April 25, 2010

Alternatives to Mercury Dental Amalgams

Dental amalgam or silver  fillings  have been used for over 150 years.  They were initially created as a low cost alternative to gold fillings.  The original recipe contained silver shavings, zinc, copper, tin and mercury.  We now understand that mercury is a powerful toxin.  This controversial substance is still  used by some dentists because of its low cost. In addition […]
April 13, 2010

Dental Abscess – Frequently Asked Questions

What is an abscess and how did I get one? A dental abscess is an accumulation of pus that can form in the gum but generally forms in the bone and drains either through the gums or through a tooth.  These events are painful and usually start with a bacterial infection either inside the pulp of your tooth or in […]
April 3, 2010

Oral Health Care Ohio

The International Diabetes Foundation is stressing the importance for diabetic patients to have the healthiest teeth and gums possible in their new clinical guidelines.
March 24, 2010

Oral Health Care Columbus

Your teeth and gums can tell a lot about your overall health.