Features That Catch Your Eye

Percentage of adults who say:

Overall Attractiveness     33%
SMILE                             23%
Eyes                                20%
Body Shape                    10%
Apparel                             6%

Source: StrategyOne for Listerine survey of 2024 adults.
By Michelle Healy and Veronica Salazar, USA Today

32 White-Hot Virgins

Teeth free of decay, dings or drilling are...virgin. Most people have 32 permanent teeth, including their Wisdom ones. I'm going to discuss Wisdom teeth in another post but the point is this: You're given these perfect pristine pearls that are 'Like a virgin...(until) touched for the very first time' (with apologies to Madonna). 
The anatomy and function of a smile is nothing short of a natural wonder and the resultant expression is generally considered very sexy!

 Hey btw, you know that old wives tale about it taking far more facial muscles to create a frown than a smile?  Well maybe, maybe not...see what Snopes (click on link) has to say about it. Smiling is the universal language of happiness so spread the joy of flashing a healthy white-hot smile. I've posted previously about teeth whitening so search this blog for the most up to date hype on the topic.

What makes those 32 virgins so hot? There are volumes of books and papers published by Psychologists on human attraction. What I am discussing here is how the arrangement and characteristics of the teeth make them appealing. First, size matters! Does your tooth size match your facial form? Usually though not always, but dentists can fix that. Second, do you have summer teeth?: "Som 'er here, som'er not". People with missing teeth are treated as second class citizens and pardon the expression, frowned-upon... hey, I'm just say'in. Thirdly, how are your teeth arranged? Like folks with missing teeth; overlapped, spaced & crowded tooth smile-styles just don't raise the Smok'in-hot-o-meter! Finally, if your virgin teeth have been violated ~ your dentist can recreate the image of Mother Nature's perfection.

Here's what I'm talk'in 'bout:

So here's the 32 White-Hot Smile recipe: Take one large helping of preventive care needed to preserve the natural wonder of the virgin tooth, add the appropriate supplement of a dentist's crafting to enhance color and match your teeth's size & shape to your facial form then mix the recipe following an Orthodontist's directions till done, and presto, you'll have a white-hot smile. It's that simple.

Watch your mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Penetrating the Pleasure and Pain of Piercing

Look, before you pierce about your lips, cheek, tongue...check out the need-to-know facts. As oral piercings become more common, so do the complications associated with them. The oral cavity environment is a unique playground for contaminates: bacteria, food and drink, irritation from chewing and contact with who knows what unsanitary objects!

Beware the wrecking ball, too. The Academy of General Dentistry recommends athletes remove oral piercing to prevent damage to teeth from contact sports. Tooth injury is so widespread that it has been designated the "Wrecking Ball Fracture".

OK, then why do people do piercings, anyway? To understand the 'Piercing Psychology' remember it is just an adornment. What motivates people to pierce is the desire to beautify one's body in order to produce a certain impression or create an image. Beauty however is in the mind of the beholder...

When selecting a piercer, safety is always paramount. Look for a piercer that meets the state health department standards and has a reputation as an established and professional business. Of course there is always the DIY method, too: 

Watch your mouth...Because Spit Happens!   

Do You Want To Havity A Cavity?

TO protect teeth from decay, don't eat one piece of dandy-candy or sweets now, then another piece an hour later t-out the day. Why: Because after eating just one piece of sugar laden goody your mouth becomes acidic and it can take up to one hour for the mouth's pH balance to return to normal. The longer the teeth are exposed to an acidic environment the greater the chance of decay.

IF you choose to eat sweets, limit your treats to one after-meal serving ~ the increased saliva production during and after a meal helps to wash away acidity. Also, try to brush or at least rinse your mouth with pH neutral fluid (that is water for the chemically challenged!) after eating sweets.

Here's a link to an interesting table of acidity related to your favorite soft drink. Please note I said soft drink because sugar-free doesn't affect the acidity of the beverage. Phosphoric acid is prevalent in all these drinks we consume daily. AND, I know you're drinking an average of 3 a DAY! I've been watching you.

                If You Snack and Sip all Day You Risk Decay.

Watch your mouth...Because Spit Happens!

The Mouth-body Connection

The relationship of your oral health to your overall health is not a one way street. It is said that the eyes are a window into the soul and today's dentists better understand how the mouth is a window into your general health.

The gums are often described as the "canary in the coal mine" or the "early warning system" for changes in general health. This is because the mouth is exposed to a greater variety and number of bacteria, fungi and viruses than perhaps any other part of the body.

Impaired host (that's YOU)! defenses become clinically visible more quickly in the mouth because of the rapid turnover of tissues. The warning signs are red and swollen gums that bleed easily. More advanced cases also display loss of bone surrounding the teeth. Dr. Mark Ryder of the University of California has published several articles on this topic. The Mouth-body connection is worth reading if you wish to live longer and healthier.

Edited February 20th, 2012: Advice from The Doctors TV show recently reported 3 Ways To Protect Your Heart:
1. Get Your Teeth Cleaned.
2. Drink Less Sugar.
3. Check YOur Vitamin D Level.

Watch your mouth...Because Spit Happens!

Radiation ConsterNation

You may have recently seen Internet chatter about Dental X-ray safety. If you received that reference via email or social media regarding this topic, it is likely referring to a segment of a Dr. Oz show about Thyroid cancer that originally aired in 2010. The doctor emphasized the use of protective aprons during radiation exposure.

House where x-rays were born.

Here's the skinny on x-rays: In 1895, physicist Wilhelm Roentgen stumbled onto these cathode tubes that had the mystical power to pass energy through solid objects.  And when projected onto a fluorescent screen, shadowy images appeared. (My guess is that Willy had a lot of time on his hands). The mystery energy was called an 'X' ray, as in science the unknown is referred to the 'X' factor.

Colgate's website has a very complete article on Dental x-ray use and safety. The American Dental Association also has information on it's website: http://www.ada.org/ . What you need to know is this: x-rays are one tool in the box dentists use to diagnose your dental health. In today's dentistry x-rays are invaluable in regards to the information derived from them and it would be considered negligent NOT to utilize them. However, dentists are trained to respect the inherent danger of overexposure and we follow the  ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle.

Here is a link to help you understand the relative radiation risks to you: http://xkcd.com/radiation/ .

Remember, in every medicine there's a little bit of poison.

And...Watch your mouth, because Spit Happens!

Sick Gums May Invite Respiratory Problems

Recent research indicates the naughty bacteria in your gums that contribute to Periodontal (Gum) Disease may raise your risk of upper respiratory infections.

An article published in the Journal of Periodontology shows that taking good care of your teeth and gums may prevent breathing problems, pneumonia and acute bronchitis. It seems the bacteria can enter the windpipe and get lodged in the lungs, raising your risk of illness.

Did you brush and floss this morning? If so...you just did your respiratory system a favor.

Watch your mouth...because spit happens!