Tom’s of Maine invites parents to take a second look at their child toothpaste and consider changing form a saccharin to strawberries.  Toms of Maine offers toothpaste that has no artificial dyes or sweeteners, a silly strawberry toothpaste that has real strawberry flavor derived from strawberry extracts and other natural flavors and is the first and only natural kids toothpaste to earn the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance for cavity prevention

The purpose of a professional dental cleaning is to remove the hard calculus (tartar) from above and just below the gum line. Brushing and flossing at home removes plaque. Only dental instruments can remove calculus. Some dental hygienists use ultrasonic instruments to blast away the larger chunks of tartar. They follow up with hand instruments to thoroughly clean the teeth. Other hygienists use only hand instruments.

Good dental and oral health care is first taught from home.  Having healthy teeth and gums are important not to have a great smile but to have long term retention of teeth. Young children may not have a good understanding of the importance of oral health care that is why it is so important to make brushing their teeth fun and not a chore. Try getting your children excited about brushing their teeth and help them to make it a lifetime habit.

A few simple ways to make bushing fun would be buying toothpastes they like.  Let your child pick their own toothbrush.  They are more likely to use one they picked on their own. Brush your teeth with them.  Showing that you enjoy taking care of your oral health will make them want to copy you.  As your child gets older do not forget to teach them how to correctly floss. Until then floss your child teeth at least once a day.

Your dentist will check for decay by looking at every tooth surface. The dentist will also poke your teeth with a tool called an explorer to detect cavities. Decayed tooth enamel is softer than healthy enamel. If you have fillings, permanent bridges, crowns or other restorations, your dentist will check to make certain that they remain whole and sound and that the teeth around them have no sign of decay.

One in three US children still lack dental insurance and proper dental dental care. While most people talk about receiving better health care dental care tends to be over looked. For the children that are on Medicaid dental care can be difficult to find. Children and adults alike have died from dental infections from lack of receiving proper dental care.  Stating that dental care without dental insurance is to high and dental insurance it too costly for them to afford. Even though most states have low cost dental insurance plans many people do not know where to look for them.

Your dentist may check how well your teeth fit together by examining your bite.  First, you will be asked to bite naturally. If the teeth do not seem to fit together properly, your dentist may have you bite down on special wax or paper. Your teeth make an impression in the wax that can help show how your teeth meet. The paper makes temporary marks on your teeth that show where your teeth come together.

Due to recent studies showing a rise in dental flourosis, Feds consider less fluoride in water. Although fluoride in drinking water is credited with dramatically cutting cavities and tooth decay too much fluoride in drinking water is causing Flurosis (white spots or streaking) This is one reason why the federal government has announced plans to lower the recommended limit for fluoride in water supplies. Which is the first change of its kind in nearly 50 years.

A periodontal dental examination involves checking the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. First, your dentist will look at the gums for signs of redness or puffiness. He or she may poke them gently to see how easily they bleed. These symptoms may indicate gum disease.

Your dentist may use a special probe to measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and your gums. Pockets deeper than 3 millimeters often indicate periodontal disease. If your dentist determines that you have periodontal disease, he or she may refer you to a periodontist. This is a specialist who treats diseases of the gums.

Mercury amalgam filling or other wise know as silver filling are made up of almost 50 percent mercury which can make some people sick.  Having mercury filling replaced with porcelain fillings makes for a healthier and stronger restoration option.

Many dentist are no longer using the old amalgam filling option but in the past these filling were commonly used. If you have questions about your silver or amalgam filling talk to your dentist and see if replacing with porcelain is a good option for you.

Due to baby boomer aging the number of older adults are increasing. Therefore more people are facing tooth loss more commonly among the elderly. One Survey taken estimates that 37 millions Americans will need dentures by 2020.  In an article taken from the Journal of Oral Implantology reports on an alternative treatment to dentures.

The “All-on-Four” therapy uses four implants to support a fixed prosthesis, and the patient’s new teeth can be put in place the day of surgery.   The All-on-Four treatment maximizes the use of available bone and allows immediate functionality. Four implants are placed two near the front and two near the back of the dental area. These support a fixed, full-arch prosthesis that is put in place the same day as the surgery. The success of this therapy is judged not only by its comfort and usability for the patient, but also by its longevity.

It is important to tell your dentist at the start of each dental visit if you think you have any new cavities, sensitive teeth, or if you feel any lumps inside of your mouth.

Do not wait to see if the dentist catches it or silently hope the dentist misses it. By telling your dentist your symptoms, you may help him or her make an early diagnosis.

A panel of multi-disciplinary experts convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs issued a report containing clinical recommendations that ugar-free chewing gum, lozenges and hard candy including xylitol or polyol combinations, and a prescription varnish with chlorhexidine and thymol could be beneficial in preventing cavities when used as adjuncts to a comprehensive cavity prevention program which includes the use of fluoride-containing products.

Make sure to tell your dentist if you have been diagnosed with any diseases or are taking any new medicines. It is important to tell your dentist about all medicines you take. This includes prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. Even diseases that seem to be unrelated to the mouth may require a different approach to dental treatments or prevention.

In Chicago IL a landmark meeting brought together experts from both medical and dental professionals.  The Diverse disciplines got together for the purpose of understanding and advancing awareness of the oral and systemic health link.  The mission was to bridge the outdated communication gap between the two disciplines.

If you have dental fears know that your are not alone. Many people have fears of the dentist that go back to childhood. However, pain control and treatment techniques change constantly, therefore the things you fear most may not exist any longer, or there may be new and improved ways of dealing with them. If you fear you have a particular disease or condition, let your dentist know. He or she can look for signs and either diagnose the problem or set your mind at ease. Often, just talking about your fears will take some of the edge off.

Make sure you talk to your dentist. An important part of every dental visit is updating your medical history. Your dentist will want to know if you have had any changes in your health or your medicines since your last visit.

Mention everything about your health, even if you do not think it relates to your mouth. Many diseases can affect your mouth and teeth. Researchers continue to discover ways in which oral health is related to overall health. For example, people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease. Research also suggests that periodontal infection can affect your blood sugar levels. It can make your diabetes harder to control. Other health conditions may require your dentist to change the type of anesthesia given.

Bring a list of all medicines you take, with dosages. Some medicines cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities. Your dentist also will want to check that any drug he or she prescribes does not interact with drugs you are already taking.

Prescribed CPAP is considered to be the standard in sleep apnea treatment, more people are opting to use a lightweight dental appliance that keep the airway open, which helps ensuring a restful night sleep. For people with sleep apnea that are not using their prescribed CPAP machine or can’t tolerate it discuss oral appliance therapy with their doctor

Stem cells found in mouth tissue can not only become other types of cells but can also relieve inflammatory disease, according to a new Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC study in the Journal of Dental Research. The cells featured in the study are gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC), which are found in the gingiva, or gum tissue, within the mouth.

A comprehensive examination likely will be done the first time you visit a dental office. If it your first dental visit you will normally receive a comprehensive dental examination, even if you have had regular care under another dentist, your new dentist will want to become familiar with your health. This will allow him or her to notice changes or problems more easily during future visits.

Two new studies published this week suggest that a type of gut bacteria found in the mouth may trigger colorectal cancer by influencing the immune response and switching on cancer genes. The researchers believe their findings may lead to more timely and improved ways of diagnosing, preventing, and treating colorectal cancer.