A water pick device is use to help remove food particles from your teeth and it might help reduce bleeding and gum disease.  However generally it is not considered a flossing substitute.  Standard dental floss is still generally considered to be the most effective tool for cleaning the tight spaces between the teeth. You can also use dental floss to scrape up and down the sides of each tooth.

The amount of fear from a dental visit may be higher among people with frequent gagging problems. The gagging issues may also cause negative beliefs about dentists and dental treatment.

The information comes from the authors of “Gagging and Its Associations with Dental Care—Related Fear, Fear of Pain, and Beliefs About Treatment.”  The authors determined that it is important for dentists to analyze their patients’ chances of gagging while also examining their fears and anxieties. Some dentists want their patients to breath slowly through their nose. Other dentists encourage their patients to lift their legs or wiggle their toes as a way of distracting themselves.

The information appears in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves. Having gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If you have a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body.  Always let your dentist know before any dental services are render if you have Endocarditis

Stem cells are cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types, aiding tissue regeneration, cardiovascular disease and blood disease treatments. But now, researchers have found that stem cells from teeth grow to resemble brain cells, a discovery they say could be harnessed in the brain for stroke therapy.

The team, from the University of Adelaide in Australia, publish their results in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.

Your mouth is alive with bacteria, which is not a problem since most bacteria in your mouth is harmless. Generally your body’s natural defenses along with good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, helps keep these bacteria under control.

However, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, dental procedures, medications, or treatments that reduce saliva flow, disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth or breach the mouth’s normal protective barriers may make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

More studies are showing that the  health of your mouth, teeth and gums may affect your general health. Your oral health can provide clues about your overall health, as well as problems in your mouth can also affect the rest of your body. Taking proper care of your oral health will also benefit your overall health and state of mind.

The simple fact is that brushing can not reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your gum-line. If you are only brushing your teeth you are only getting the job half done.  Which means you are more likely to have tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease. Flossing is easy and only takes a few minutes out of your day.

How to floss:  When flossing do not skimp. You want to use around 18 inches of dental floss.  Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand leaving about 1 inch to floss your first tooth. Floss one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gum-line to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.  Make sure to floss daily.

When it comes to buying a mouthguard, parents who want to reduce their child’s risk of a sports-related concussion should visit a dentist instead of a sporting goods store.

High school football players wearing store-bought, over-the-counter (OTC) mouthguards were more than twice as likely to suffer mild traumatic brain injures (MTBI)/concussions than those wearing custom-made, properly fitted mouthguards, reports a new study in the May/June 2014 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Providing good dental care right from the start will get your child on the right path to maintaining healthy gums and teeth for a life time.  Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth. Baby teeth lets your baby chew food, make a nice smile and talk well. You baby’s first set of teeth also holds the space where permanent teeth will eventually be. They help guild their permanent teeth to grow in straight.  Here are some basic dental health care tips to take proper care of your child teeth

1) Clean you baby’s new teeth every day: When the teeth first come in, clean them by rubbing    them gently with a clean wet washcloth. When your child gets a little older, use a  child’s toothbrush.

2) Children under two years of age should not use toothpaste. Instead, use water to brush    your  child’s teeth.

3) Do not let your baby go to sleep with a bottle that contains anything other then water.    doing so can leave milk, formula or juice sitting on your child teeth and cause    dental cavities. This is also know as “baby-bottle tooth decay.”

4) Provide low-sugar snacks, such as fruits, cheese and vegetables to your child and avoid    giving your child sticky, chewy candy.

5) Teach your children how to brush their teeth and the importance of keeping their teeth    clean and having good oral habits 6)Take your children to the dentist regularly. The ADA recommends that children see their dentist starting no latter then the age of one.

According to the study by Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, less than one per cent of healthy urban children surveyed in Toronto had received dental care by the recommended age of 12 months and less than two per cent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months. Children most susceptible to cavities were least likely to receive early dental care,

With cost of living going up as well as cost of dental care it is very important to maintain proper dental care habits at home to help keep your dental care cost low and have healthy teeth and gums as you get older.     Here are some basic dental health care tips

1) Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

2) Make sure to floss your teeth daily

3) Do not smoke or chew tobacco.

4) Ask your doctor if your medicines have side effects that might damage your teeth. If you    have to take medicines that may have side effects on your dental health make sure to tell    your dentist.  You may have to see the dentist more often in order to maintain your  dental health care needs.

5) Regularly look inside your mouth for sores that do not heal, irritated gums or any other    oral changes.

6) See your dentist regularly for your dental check ups and cleanings

7) If you do start to have any dental problems with your teeth or if you have concerns about    your mouth, see your dentist right away.

8)And remember that by maintaining dental insurance will help keep your dental care cost    more affordable.

A University of Florida study shows that the same bacteria that cause gum disease also promotes heart disease – a discovery that could change the way heart disease is diagnosed and treated. Researchers reported their findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

Teens and pre-teens can sometimes not take as good as care as they should when it comes to their oral and dental health care.  That why developing good oral and dental habits why they are young is very important as they get older.  Here are some basic dental care tips that you can check and make sure they are following.

1) They should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
2) Flossing their teeth at least once a day.
3) They should not be smoking or chewing tobacco, which can stain their teeth, give them bad    breath as well as cause cancer.
4) Make sure your teen or pre-teens wears the right protective headgear while playing contact    sports.
5) Have them see their dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings

New study suggests that moderate red wine consumption may benefit our teeth.

The researchers behind the new study, which is published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, explain that the oral cavity is “an enormously complex” and unique habitat within the human body.

Hundreds of microbial species co-exist within the human mouth simultaneously. Because the teeth are “non-shedding surfaces,” microorganisms are able to adhere to them for long periods of time, which can lead to the formation of biofilms and dental plaque.

For the first time, a new study has shown it is possible to use low-power lasers to spur stem cells in the body to make new tissue, in this case to regenerate dentin in teeth. The Harvard-led team says their work lays the foundation for a wealth of new clinical applications for healing wounds, regenerating bones and teeth, and more.

Women have hormonal fluctuations though out their life that can affect their gum health.  Periodontal disease is often a “silent” disease, many women do not realize they have it until it reaches an advanced state. However, at each stage of your life, there are steps a woman can take to protect her oral health.  Make sure to see your dental regularly for oral health check ups and practice good oral health care habits

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled “Preventive Services by Medical and Dental Providers and Treatment Outcomes.” Nearly all state Medicaid programs reimburse non-dental primary care providers (nDPCPs) for providing preventive oral health services to young children; yet, little is known about how treatment outcomes compare to children visiting dentists. This study compared the association between the provider of preventive services (nDPCP, dentist or both) to Medicaid-enrolled children before their third birthday and subsequent dental caries-related treatment (CRT) and CRT payment. The complete study by researchers A.M. Kranz, R.G. Rozier, J.S. Preisser, S.C. Stearns, M. Weinberger and J.Y. Lee is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research (JDR)

A study published in BMJ Open reveals that there are links between dental plaque and cancer mortality. The authors of the study wanted to find out if it might be a risk factor for early death from cancer as a result of infection and inflammation, both of which are thought to have a role in up to one in five cancers.   The study hypothesis was confirmed by the finding that poor oral hygiene, as reflected in the amount of dental plaque, was associated with increased cancer mortality.  However, they write, “Further studies are required to determine whether there is any causal element in the observed association.”

Scientists in Taiwan have found that intravenous injections of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous tooth pulp (SHED) have a protective effect against brain damage from heat stroke in mice. Their finding was safe and effective and so may be a candidate for successfully treating human patients by preventing the neurological damage caused by heat stroke.