Fad Diets? You've Been Warned

There may be dental danger lurking behind that new diet you've adopted. Beware...

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Will Keep-32 End Dental Visits Forever?

Ta'Dah

In my 35 years of clinical practice there have been at least a dozen announcments of a developing technique, contraption or chemical to eradicate the dread of dental decay. The latest entry into the frey is Keep-32. This one may be the miracle we've been waiting for all our lives but don't bet the farm on it. There is a huge leap from test tube to clinical trials and final approval for distribution to the consumer product mainstream.

It is encouraging that researchers continue to search for the silver bullet, because that's what new finding are all about. I'm not disparaging research; but publishing reports like Keep-32 usually makes for nothing but interesting conversation.

 Oh, and in case you're wondering, the name comes from the number of adult teeth with which most people are graced: 32.

Now about that nonsense that the chemical will make teeth cavity proof & will eliminate dental visits forever.  Well...that's simply horse hockey. For those of you not familiar with this Hoosier expression check out the demonstration below: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQzqYzrjpd8


Teeth are cleaned to remove tarter and stains that you can't remove at home. And, for all of you under the illusion that fillings & crowns last forever, think again. Even if no one developed another cavity, dentists would be busy for decades repairing & replacing already existing dentistry. Or, you can fix your own teeth...

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Smiling Your Way To Better Health?

A new study says you may help reduce stress and save heart muscle by smiling! Visit the site to read all about it: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248433.php

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Benzocaine, Oh Baby! Proceed With Caution.

New FDA report: Babies should not be given Orajel. Benzocaine is a local anesthetic found if many popular over the counter products. Read the entire article at the highlighted link.

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!

If You Have More Tatoos Than Teeth...You Might Be A Redneck.

This title could also be Dollars and Dentists! Comedian Jeff Foxworthy made a career with his trademark line...If you -fill in the blank - then you might be a redneck. I have nothing against tattoos and this blog is not about tattoos. It's about your priorities.

Here's a dentist's typical emergency toothache patient: Doc, I've been up all night, this thing has hurt off and on for several months but last night it just didn't let up, can you please make it stop hurting? So we present the options to provide relief: 1. Root Canal Treatment or 2. Extraction.
This Q & A dialogue follows: 
Patient question: Can't you just put a filling in it?
Dentist: NO, a sensitive tooth may be calmed with a filling but an infected tooth is sick beyond what a filling will resolve.
Patient: What do you think is best?
Dentist: It's always best to save a tooth.
Patient: How much will it cost?
Dentist: It always costs more to save a tooth than to remove it and generally a Root Canal Treatment and Crown costs 10 times what having the tooth removed will cost. 

This is when the entertainment starts.
Patient: I can't afford that kind of money! Are you serious? That much for just one tooth?

Dentist: Yep.

Now here's the fun part, the patient begins to tell us that their trip to Mexico for spring break zapped their savings. Or...My sister just got married in Hawaii and we just couldn't miss the opportunity to tie a family vacation into the trip, Or...We just bought a new SUV and didn't realize how much the license plates were going to be. Get the idea?

            Halloween                        Hollywood               

If you choose a Halloween smile over a Hollywood smile, please don't blame your dentist!

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Chew On This!

There are things people do that are well recognized as undesirable then there are habits that are relatively inconsequential...nail biting, hair twirling or even ice crunching for instance. It's done without thought or consideration and that's why by definition it becomes habitual.

Severe Grinding

Dentists have long advised patients of the damage to teeth from habitual grinding. The literature is replete with mouths that have been literally destroyed

Factory Original

by this unwitting whittling. The only fix when this habit occurs over a long period of years is to rebuild the teeth to factory original condition at great time and expense.

Another oral habit, not frequently discussed but pervasive, is cheek and or tongue chewing. Dentists know this habit as Pathomimia Mucosae Oris

Cheek Chewing

and the consequences can be serious in nature with the range of nipping running from the subtle to the absurd. Biopsy is indicated to rule out a potentially serious malady (the big casino).

Tongue Cancer

Psychologists tell us it takes three weeks to create or break a habit.

Watch your mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Oral Health Problems to Report to Your Dentist!

Call your dentist if you develop any of the following signs and symptoms that may suggest oral health problems.

• Red, tender or swollen gums
• Gums that are pulling away from your teeth
• Gums that bleed when you're regularly brushing and flossing
• Pus around your teeth and gums when you press on the gums

                                               

• A bad taste in your mouth
• Loose teeth
• Changes in the way your top and bottom teeth touch
• Changes in the feel of your dentures
• Sensitivity to hot and cold

A good rule to follow is to give it 48 hours...if things aren't improving, seek the attention of a dentist. Most dental issues will be resolved by the immune response system of your body if you simply give it time. Dentists routinely have patients on their schedule for a sensitive tooth check. When asked how long the tooth has troubled, we often hear something like this: "I took a drink of soda earlier today and it felt really cold." This is not indicative of a problem. Now if the patient's response is: "I took a drink of soda earlier today and it ached for 30 minutes." This tooth is sick and needs treatment asap!

    

                                                    
 The "...it felt cold" is most likely a transient aggravation; is a temporary inconvenience and nearly 100% resolve without treatment. The moral of this dental story is...use common sense about when to call your dentist. But when you're in doubt, always call the dentist, because you don't want to wait until it hurts to seek attention.

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!