According to a new study, it found that only one in ten smokers who visited a dentist in the US received advice to quit.

The US Public Health Service (PHS) developed the Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline, recommending that all healthcare providers (HCPs) promote tobacco cessation to all patients.

Your mouth has three major pairs of salivary glands. The Parotid, Sublingual and Submandibular Glands, as well as many smaller glands. Salivary glands produce and secrete saliva. In addition to helping you swallow and digest food, saliva promotes oral health by: Flushing food away from your mouth, Stopping acids that can attack tooth enamel,Replenishing minerals in tooth enamel and by Killing or reducing disease-causing organisms

Your tongue is needed for many functions such as speaking and move food for chewing and swallowing. Small bumps called papillae cover your tongue’s upper surface. Your taste buds are located in the papillae. These taste buds allow you to enjoy specific tastes, such as bitter, sour, salty and sweet.   However did you know your tongue also plays a role in oral health. Food particles can stick to your tongue, causing bad breath and promoting tooth decay. To take good care of your tongue, simply brush your tongue whenever you brush your teeth.

Tooth loss from caries and periodontal disease is an outcome from complex, chronic conditions. Several biopsychosocial factors are involved, including accessing care. Individuals reporting dental anxiety may avoid dental care; and individuals with depression may be negligent in self-care. In this study, researchers examined a potential association of tooth loss with depression and anxiety.

Your gums surround your teeth. They help hold your teeth in place. In order to keep your gums healthy, you need to practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day, floss your teeth once a day and making sure to have regular dental visits. If your gums become red and swollen or bleed easily, they could be infected. This is known as gingivitis. Prompt treatment can help restore good oral health. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress to severe gum disease (periodontitis) and possible tooth loss.

Community water fluoridation (CWF) and other fluoride modalities historically have been and remains the cornerstone for the prevention and control of dental caries. There is extensive evidence on the efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of these interventions as well as assessments of the risks associated with fluoride ingestion. In 2006, the National Research Council identified severe fluorosis as the only documented health effect of fluoride at 2 – 4 mg/L in drinking water. Concentrations recommended for CWF and current dosage schedules for other modalities ensure safety. Systematic reviews on fluorides have identified gaps in knowledge or the need to replicate some of the previous studies under current widespread use of fluorides.

Including wisdom teeth adults have 32 permanent teeth. Each tooth has two main parts known as the crown and the root.  The crown is part of the tooth is is visible  and the root is the part below your gums.   There are other parts of our tooth that include, Tooth enamel – the outer coating that helps protect the crown of the tooth, Dentin – Which is the hard substance beneath the enamel that makes up the bulk of the tooth, Pulp – The soft tissue of the tooth which is in the middle  and Cementum – the hard tissue that covers the root of the tooth and attaches it to the jawbone.

Young kids can often bite the inside of their lip cheek or tongue, when that happens apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.

The protein, Transgultaminase 2 is a key component in the process of gum disease, researchers have discovered. Periodontal, or gum, disease is one of the most common infectious diseases. In its more severe forms, such as periodontitis, it causes loss of the bone that supports the teeth. Approximately 65 million adults in the United States are affected by some form of the disease. PG is the major causative agent of periodontitis, and it may also be involved in the development of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis

Primary teeth (baby teeth) play an important role in your child life. Primary teeth are needed for chewing and eating, they affect the development of speech, they hold the space needed for the permanent teeth and help guild them in the correct position.   It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. It is a good idea to have and maintain dental insurance on yourself and family in order to maintain lower dental care cost.

Patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency, or LAD, suffer from frequent bacterial infections, including the severe gum disease known as periodontitis. These patients often lose their teeth early in life. New research by a team of scientists and dentists has demonstrated a method of reversing this bone loss and inflammation.

Children should have their first dental visit with the eruption of the first baby tooth but no later than their first birthday. This is so that an assessment and record can be made of your child’s dental development and risk of getting cavities. This will give the dentist an opportunity to discuss good oral hygiene practices at home, diet, injury prevention and possible need for fluoride supplements. Also if the dentist finds any cavities or other problems, these issues can be taken care of early before they become a bigger problem.

A research group at Uppsala University, Sweden has developed a new responsive coating for implants used in surgery to improve their integration into bone and to prevent rejection. Neutron scattering experiments at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France have shown how a protein that promotes bone growth binds to this surface and can be released in a controlled way.

After your child has a tooth pulled you will want to them him or or her home.  Normally they will have to bite down on a special pad that will help stop the flow of blood. Your dentist may give you a few to take home.  Change them when they are sodden or about every thirty minutes or so for the first two hours.   Once your child’s mouth regains some sensation you can take out the pads. Make sure your child does not use a straw or chew on tough food for a few days.  Soft food such as yogurt, applesauce, and bananas are foods that are good after getting baby teeth pulled out

Over your life time you may have had a bad experience with having a tooth pulled.  However do not let your child see your anxiety.  Just be honest and calm with your child. Do not trick a child about where he or she is going and keep things light and positive.  Even if you have some dental fears you do not want to make your fears their fears. Have the dentist go over everything before starting and reminded your child that you are right their with them.

Periodontal disorders such as tooth loss and gingivitis have been identified as a potential risk marker for cardiovascular disease in a large study reported today. More than 15,000 patients with chronic coronary heart disease provided information on their dental health, with results showing that indicators of periodontal disease (fewer remaining teeth, gum bleeding) were common in this patient group and associated with numerous cardiovascular and socioeconomic risk factors.

Taking your child to see the same dentist you see, may not be the best option.  For young children you may want to think about taking them to see a pediatric dentist.  Pediatric dentists have an additional two years of schooling in which they focus on the growth and development of teeth. They also learn how to help children be comfortable and deal with their fear and anxiety. While a good general dentist will probably do a fine job, a pediatric dentist specializes in children’s teeth, has the right size equipment, and knows how to put your child at ease.

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled “Rare Bone Diseases and Their Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Manifestations.

Hereditary diseases affecting the skeleton are heterogeneous in etiology and severity. Though many of these conditions are individually rare, the total number of people affected is great. These disorders often include dental-oral-craniofacial (DOC) manifestations, but the combination of the rarity and lack of in-depth reporting often limit our understanding and ability to diagnose and treat affected individuals

HMO dental plans are not always the best fit for young children. When buying a dental HMO plan for a child six and under you want to make sure that there is a dentist in the plan network that provide services for children at a younger age.

Many general dentist will not provide services to young child, or they will but only if your child is able to be well behaved. Many general dentist may not be able to provide the best care for a young children who may kick or bite or not sit still while having a dental check up. Normally when this happens more then once the dentist may advise that your child see a pediatric dentist ( a child specialist).

With a dental HMO your saving under a specialist is normally around 20-30 percent and is no longer the cost listed for a general dentist. Also since you have to go to dentist that are network providers you want to make sure the plan you are buying has pediatric specialist in case a general dentist is not the best fit for your child.