Treat yellow teeth with these easy home remedies

Treat yellow teeth with these easy home remedies

Over time, teeth tend to get yellow. There could be various reasons for this -genes, unhealthy dental hygiene or eating habits or ageing.

Certain medications and dental problems could also be attributed for teeth discolouration. While a trip to the dentist twice a year is recommended, there are also some home remedies that help...



Do the soda



An effective whitening agent is baking soda. Not only will it lighten the colour of your teeth but also remove accumulated plaque. Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with some toothpaste and brush your teeth with it twice a week. Alternatively , you can also mix a few drops of water with half a teaspoon of bak ing soda and brush your teeth with your fingertips.



Lime n lemoney



Lemons contain bleaching agents, which work well against yellow teeth.You could either use lemon peel extracts to rub on your teeth or simply rinse your mouth with lemon juice mixed with some water.



Apple a day



Some experts also recommend apples to whiten teeth naturally . Chew an apple a day to let the acidic properties of apples work wonders on your teeth.



Berry good



While strawberries aren't in season currently , when they are, you can use them as an effective tooth whitening aid as well. Crush a handful of strawberries and make them into a smooth paste.Rub this paste on your teeth every alternate night.WHITE SALT Notice all those advertisements, which ask whether your toothpaste contains salt? There's a reason behind that. Salt helps clean teeth and also whitens them. Gently rub common salt on your teeth daily to reduce discolouration.



Tulsi talk



Tulsi leaves are also said to be effective against yellow teeth.Grind the leaves into a paste and use it to brush your teeth.



All for orange



Orange peels contain calcium and vitamin C, which fight bacteria in the mouth. They also remove discolouration in the teeth. Scrub your teeth with orange peel thrice a week.



Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/Treat-yellow-teeth-with-these-easy-home-remedies/articleshow/45896777.cms



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/37777.html

Do you need to see a dentist twice a year?

Dental professionals have long recommended a teeth cleaning every six months. One expert, Edmond R. Hewlett, a professor of dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, explains why a few people can get by with less frequent visits to the dentist, while others should consider going even more often.



The biannual dental visit was designed with the “average” person in mind, Dr. Hewlett says. That means people who are middle-aged, don’t smoke and who brush their teeth twice a day and don’t eat too many sweets. Within six months, the majority of people will produce enough tartar that it will need to be scraped off by a dental hygienist.



Some people may be fine going for longer periods between cleaning. But it’s a category of patient that might seem difficult to qualify for. Typically, these people are in their 20s and 30s who are otherwise healthy, eat extremely well and floss daily, Dr. Hewlett says. For the rest of us, whose dietary indulgences and dental hygiene aren’t so ideal, six months seem a safer bet.



A number of factors might make it a good idea to see a dentist three or even four times a year. People whose diet is rich in sugary foods or drinks should consider more frequent checkups, Dr. Hewlett says. And people who are older, or who have dry mouth, might be more prone to the damage bacteria can cause to teeth, gums and bones.



“As we get older, we start to accumulate more health conditions from the various problems we’ve had over a lifetime, so your risk status will change and usually go up,” says Dr. Hewlett. Dry mouth, which is a common side effect of many medications, means there is less saliva, which makes it easier for bacteria to grow.



Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/12/30/do-need-to-see-dentist-twice-year/



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/37415.html

When It Takes a Dentist’s Chair to Disconnect

I was at the dentist because I had a cracked tooth that I had long put off fixing, partly because my schedule was already brimming over, and mostly because I didn’t really want to have the procedure anyway. After months of stalling, I had finally scheduled the appointment and resolutely blocked out my calendar for the entire afternoon. I was anticipating that afternoon with dread, but I was in for a surprise.



Let me say unequivocally that the dentist’s office was the last place I wanted to be, and certainly the last place I would ever think of as a refuge. But as I reclined in the dentist’s chair, unable to do anything but lay there in a mild stupor thanks to the anesthetics and a pair of busy hands moving around my mouth, I realized with some irony that this was the closest thing I’d had to a vacation in months: no computers, no phone calls, no emails, no smartphones.



Like most parents I know, my day starts early, then careens from a hasty breakfast to packing lunches to dropping off the kids and then on to work. After work, it’s time to pick up the kids, make dinner, supervise bath time, get the kids into bed and then spend an hour or two catching up on work or other tasks that didn’t get done during the day. Before I know it, it’s 10 or 11 p.m. and time to get ready to start all over again the next morning.



I feel very fortunate to have a career and family, demanding as they can be at times. It’s just that I often feel, like many parents, that I barely have time to myself. As a psychologist, I counsel my patients on the importance of having a good self-care routine, but like them, I sometimes find it hard to follow through on this goal consistently. Life gets in the way.



So I was surprised to find an oasis of calm in a most unlikely place: the dentist’s chair.



There was nothing much to do but just be there. Multitasking was out of the question. The most I could do was listen to music or audiobooks. (I chose “Being Peace” by Thich Nhat Hanh, and cranked up the volume as far as it would go so that his soothing voice in my earphones drowned out the whine of the dentist’s drill.)



This realization that I could unplug for several hours for a dental procedure made me ask myself the obvious question: Why not set aside time for myself more often, and in more pleasant circumstances? Why did there have to be a near emergency to take the afternoon off?



To put it more bluntly: If I could lie in a dentist’s chair for several hours, why not a lounge chair?



I notice this same pattern with many of my patients. Everyone today feels busier than ever, and parents especially so. According to the results of a 2013 Pew Research survey, 40 percent of working mothers and 34 percent of working fathers said they always felt rushed, compared with 20 percent of adults without children. Clearly, we parents need a break.



But when it comes to taking time off, we seem ambivalent. Even when we have earned paid vacation time, over half of us don’t use it, and when we’re on vacation, 61 percent of us still work, according to a 2014 survey conducted by Harris Poll.



Time away from our work and other responsibilities may seem like a luxury that we can’t always afford, but consider this: A long-term study found that women who skipped vacations were 50 percent more likely to have heart attacks than women who took time off. For men, the figure was 30 percent.



We run from one thing to the next, rarely stopping to pause or catch our breath unless there is an emergency, illness or something else that simply forces us to stop or slow down. When we repeat this pattern day after day, as many of us do, we are missing out on what life has to offer. We become human doings instead of human beings.



Maintaining this fast-paced, routinized existence is why so many of us feel that, as the saying goes, the days are long but the years are short. To slow down and savor the life that we have requires that we do just that: slow down. To make time for ourselves, our families and our personal priorities beyond the everyday demands of life requires that we have a plan. We must schedule an appointment with ourselves.



Research consistently shows that to have the greatest chance of success in meeting our goals, we have to have a specific plan. If our goal is to have more personal time or more family time, then we must have a specific plan for making that happen, and part of that plan is scheduling the time. That means actually putting it in our calendar, not just thinking about it.



We all have so many demands on our time. If we wait until we have a free moment for ourselves, that moment may never come.



Source: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/when-it-takes-a-dentists-chair-to-disconnect/



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/37226.html

Happy New Year 2015!

from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36897.html

Merry Christmas!

from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36645.html

5 Scary Health Conditions Your Dentist Can Spot

The health of your mouth may shine a light on what’s happening in the rest of your body. (Kulka/Corbis)



You expect your dentist to flag cavities, but did you know your drill-wielding doc might also be able to spot trouble that extends well beyond your pearly whites?



“It’s becoming clear that we need to consider integrating oral and general health care,” says Steve Offenbacher, D.D.S., director of the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The oral cavity is the mirror to the rest of the body, so we can pick up on systemic problems by simple dental examinations.” In other words, the state of your smile may shine a light on the rest of your body — sometimes even before other symptoms show up.



Case in point: Offenbacher once told a middle-aged patient he suspected she was pregnant, based simply on the redness of her gums. “The next week, she came back and said, ‘I went to the doctor, and yes, I am pregnant!’’ he recalls. In that case, Offenbacher was the bearer of good news, but not all of the secrets your mouth may reveal are so positive. Your teeth may also provide clues about these five health-threatening conditions:



Diabetes



Your dentist isn’t just worried about how white your teeth are. In a 2014 study, nearly two-thirds of dentists said they’d refer a patient with periodontitis (inflammation around the gums) for a diabetes evaluation. Why that’s a good thing: “Diabetes is not only a common problem, but it’s also highly under-diagnosed,” says Offenbacher. Read: Lots of people have diabetes and don’t know it, which means adding your dentist to your team of health detectives is a smart idea.



So what’s the dental-diabetes link? High blood sugar may be as damaging to your oral health as the sweet stuff in a can of soda. That’s because the condition can cause dry mouth, which increases plaque build-up, making people with uncontrolled diabetes more prone to dental problems.



“[Periodontal disease in diabetics] is usually severe for their age or for local factors, meaning they have pretty clean mouths, but they still have a periodontal problem,” says Offenbacher.



Two common oral signs of diabetes: multiple abscesses on the gums and bad breath. “It’s kind of a sour fruit smell,” Offenbacher says. “It’s ketones — metabolic products associated with poor glycemic control — in their bloodstream that you can smell.”



Heart disease



Your teeth may reveal what’s going on with your ticker. A 2007 study review found that people with periodontal disease are significantly more likely to develop heart disease than folks with good oral health. Among people who have both diseases, “if the periodontal disease is treated, the heart disease is greatly improved,” says Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., a professor and dean emeritus of dental medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.



The common thread? Inflammation. “When you look in a patient’s mouth and you see chronic inflammation, you know that it’s creating systemic stress,” says Offenbacher.



Although there are no dental red flags specific to heart disease, “more severe periodontal disease is strongly associated with heart disease risk,” Offenbacher says. Signs include loose, shifting, or missing teeth, and increased probing depths, where the pockets around the teeth have deepened.



Dementia



Can tooth loss indicate memory loss? In recent British research, a lack of teeth was associated with mental decline, while a 2012 study found that older adults with poor dental hygiene were 76 percent more likely to develop dementia. This is a relatively new area of research, which means the link between the two isn’t entirely clear, says Jeffcoat. However, a small 2013 study detected Porphyromonas gingivalis — a bacteria associated with gum disease — in the brains of people with dementia, suggesting that it may play a role in the inflammation associated with cognitive decline.



Osteoporosis



Osteoporosis won’t cause your teeth to decay — but your dentist may be able to spot bone loss in the surrounding structures, like the jaw, with digital X-rays, says Jeffcoat. Normal, healthy bone should be dense both at the edges and in the interior, and when that’s not the case, “the patient is more likely to have osteoporosis,” she explains.



In fact, in a 2013 study in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, the thickness of postmenopausal women’s jawbones — as measured with a panoramic X-ray — was correlated with the bone density of their spine. This means that dentists could potentially diagnose osteoporosis, which often goes undetected until a fracture occurs, in its early stages, the scientists say.



Acid reflux disease



You may feel heartburn most intensely in your chest, but its effects may be most obvious in your mouth. If you have acid reflux disease, the constant uprising of stomach acid could wear away at the enamel on your teeth, says Jeffcoat. “You’ll usually see it in the lower front teeth,” she says. “You’ll see erosion of the teeth — they get thinner. You can’t miss it.” Another sign you may be suffering from acid reflux disease: You have a persistent sour taste in your mouth, she says.



In a 2008 study review, researchers found that about a third of adults with dental erosion also had gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Keep in mind, this erosion can happen even in the absence of chest pain — that is, you may have reflux without knowing it, until your dentist points out the damage to your choppers.



Source: https://www.yahoo.com/health/5-scary-health-conditions-your-dentist-can-spot-105279962062.html



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36500.html

Long-in-the-Tooth Dental Advice

Terry O’Brien, 73, a retired administrative assistant in Billerica, Mass., recently had to make a tough decision about her dental care.



“I always took care of my teeth,” she said. But even so, she was told she needed a crown — an artificial cap — at a cost of about $2,000.



Since she and her husband lack dental coverage, she opted for a less expensive filling. She worries, however, about how she will fund dental care long term. “I’ll make 100, I bet,” she said. “But I wonder how long my teeth will last.”



Older Americans face such situations often, because many people over age 65 lack dental insurance. Only about 10 percent of retirees have dental benefits from their former employer, according to Oral Health America, a nonprofit advocacy group.



And 22 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had not seen a dentist in five years, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported in 2012. The main factor is the cost of care, said Tricia Neuman, a Medicare policy expert with the foundation.



Traditional Medicare, the federal health program for older adults and people with disabilities, doesn’t cover routine dental care or dentures. Some Medicare managed care plans offer coverage, but it is often limited to preventive care like cleanings. Medicaid, the federal-state program for low-income people, may cover some dental care for adults, but benefits vary by state. Individual plans are available, but they typically cap payments at low levels and may not cover any advanced treatments, like implants to replace lost teeth.



That means most older Americans must pay for dental care out of their pockets.



According to 2013 data from the American Dental Association, which surveyed private dentists, the average cost of a basic examination is about $45, while a cleaning is $85. X-rays are another $27; a tooth-colored filling is $149, while a silver filling is about $125. Costs vary widely, however, depending on the market.



Artificial implants average about $4,000 per tooth, the A.D.A. found. But the bill can be much higher, after adding anesthesia and related treatments like bone grafts. Implants involve inserting a metal screw into the jawbone to serve as the foundation for a replacement crown.



Implants are an economic impossibility for some patients, said Beth Truett, chief executive of Oral Health America. But, “If they can afford it, they are a great solution to maintaining not only that tooth, but the teeth around it.” A full set of teeth for an adult is 28 (32 if you still have your wisdom teeth), and you should have at least 22 teeth to eat properly, she said. Once a tooth is lost, nearby teeth bear additional strain and it gets more difficult to chew; that leads to a cycle of poor nutrition and further tooth loss, she said.



Ed Decker, 69, a retired hospital pharmacist in Ashland, Mass., said he had poor dental health his entire life and had budgeted to make dental care a priority. “I think my family was born with marshmallows instead of teeth,” he said. Ultimately, he lost so many teeth he couldn’t chew, and had 10 implants, at a total cost of about $50,000. He was able to pay for it, he said, because of successful investments recommended by his financial adviser. “When you put in an implant, it’s like having a natural tooth,” he said.



Judith Jones, a professor at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and an authority on dental care for older people, recommends that after age 65, the bare minimum level of care needed is a professional examination and cleaning at least once a year. Poor mouth health has been linked to other ailments, like heart disease and diabetes.



Patients should brush at least twice a day for two minutes, she said. If older people aren’t able to do it themselves, family members or caregivers should assist them. Basic mouth hygiene, including daily flossing, is important to maintain healthy gums and remove tartar and plaque, which traps bacteria and can lead to infections.



People also need to be aware of the possibility of being pressured into unnecessary treatment. To find a reputable dentist, you may want to ask your doctor or your friends for a referral. And be skeptical of treatment that sounds overly aggressive. “If you go in and they want to replace every filling in your head, you should get a second opinion,” said Athena Papas, co-head of geriatric dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.



However, she noted, patients who haven’t been to the dentist for several years may have a real need for restoration work, particularly if they are on multiple prescriptions. Some medications can cause a reduction in saliva, which can promote development of cavities.



One way to limit costs for replacement teeth is to have implants on the lower jaw, and use dentures to replace upper teeth, said Dr. Papas; it’s easier to keep upper dentures in place.



Older adults on tight budgets generally should avoid cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, dentists say. But many dismiss the idea that older people don’t need to spend on oral care because they are near the end of their lives. Patients who are in their 80s, but who are fit and have a healthy lifestyle, can benefit from technologically advanced dental care “because it is estimated that they will have another 10-15 years of life span,” Helena Tapias-Perdigón, an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Dentistry at Texas A&M Health Science Center, said in an email.



Some dental schools offer discounted treatment, although some require deposits and may have waiting lists. The American Dental Association lists accredited schools on its website.



You can also ask dentists if they offer a payment plan. But read the fine print of any discount program, said Jim Quiggle, a spokesman for the nonprofit Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, since some programs offer little in the way of true savings.



Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/your-money/long-in-the-tooth-dental-advice-.html



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36099.html

Grassroots solutions from America's dentists: Getting everyone the dental care they need

By Dr. Maxine Feinberg, DDS Published November 28, 2014 FoxNews.com



Amid all the talk of cost and access to health care come stories of innovation and grassroots solutions to get people the dental care that they need. These solutions are not the invention of big government, corporate investment or complex social programs. Rather, they are the brainchild of collaborations in and for local communities by people like you and me.



For example:



- When hospital emergency departments in Waldo County, Maine, Calhoun County, Michigan, and six counties in Maryland were inundated with low-income patients suffering from dental pain, community coalitions and partnerships with local dentists were formed. As a result, thousands have received desperately needed dental care.



- In San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Sarah Dirks, a dentist, brought care directly to vulnerable elderly people whose medical conditions confined them to nursing home facilities.



- In Vermont and Florida, Jenna Linden was a game changer in overcoming local obstacles to dental care. As a Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC), an initiative launched by the American Dental Association, she helped coordinate care for and provide oral health education to more than 2,800 people. Over the past three years, 34 CDHCs have been active in eight states.



- In New Orleans, Dave Wyatt received dental care for the first time in eight years following the loss of his business and insurance in Hurricane Katrina. He is one of the 172,000 patients since 2000 to receive treatment at a Mission of Mercy event, staffed by local dentists and volunteers totaling nearly $1.2 million in charitable care.



- Jeff Dalin, a St. Louis, Missouri dentist, started Give Kids a Smile in 2003 to provide dental services to underserved children. This year, 350,000 kids will be given dental care through 1,500 events in 49 states. Since the program was founded, Dr. Dalin, fellow dentists and volunteers have treated nearly 5 million children. Importantly, the program now serves as a gateway to keep children in the dental health care system.



With most states allocating a paltry one percent or less of their Medicaid budgets for dental services, dentists are also advocating for common sense Medicaid reforms and adequate funding to expand access. Nearly 70 percent of Medicaid enrolled children had at least one dental visit per year, compared to 15 percent who saw a dentist prior to Medicaid reform.



So, beyond the rhetoric of cost and access that have driven the health care debate and proposals that will take years to implement are the here and now community-created solutions.



They demonstrate that social innovation doesn’t have to be triangulated, legislated or regulated. As the solutions above suggest, the obstacles that underserved people face are many and complex but when communities come together with innovative grassroots solutions, we can eliminate those barriers and improve health outcomes.



In keeping with the American Dental Association’s mission to advance America’s oral health, 18 months ago we created Action for Dental Health to further encourage the already strong grassroots efforts by and with America’s dentists like those described above. Action for Dental Health has now taken root in every state in our nation.



ADA is demonstrating that the obstacles to better dental health are not a result of insufficient numbers of dentists, as some would imply.



A recent report by ADA’s Health Policy Institute should put to rest any speculation about a future dentist shortage. The new research shows that the number of dentists practicing per 100,000 people today has climbed more than 4 percent from 2003 to 2013 and is projected to climb 1.5 percent from 2013 to 2018 and 2.6 percent by 2033. The supply of dentists will more than serve our nation’s needs.



Additionally, when it comes to access for children, significant preliminary unpublished data was shared by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researcher Dr. Bruce Dye at a national conference this month. A preview of the data suggests a downward trend in early childhood caries (cavities) in the United States with increased treatment of children, indicating progress in kids accessing needed care.



These are promising developments for sure, but our work is not done.



ADA is nurturing the creativity of communities to develop programs that fit their unique needs. While others may be looking far out and far away--lobbying for laws to be changed, new educational systems to be built and the introduction of new types of providers-- the American Dental Association, individual dentists and the many public and private partners in Action for Dental Health are providing care today to the people who need it most.



Further, through public education efforts such as the Ad Council’s 2min2x campaign, we are raising awareness about how to prevent dental disease in the first place.



Our nation’s dentists are continuing to lead the way to community-based solutions that help underserved people now.





Dr. Maxine Feinberg is president of the American Dental Association.



Source: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/11/28/grassroots-solutions-from-america-dentists-getting-everyone-dental-care-need/



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35867.html

Survey: Some older adults in need of dental care

A survey of senior centers in New Hampshire shows that nearly 19 percent of older adults are in need of early or urgent dental care that may be difficult for them to access.



A total of 610 adults age 60 and older were screened last winter and this spring in the survey, which was funded by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services. The survey said 38 of the participants received restorative treatment using state funds.



The survey showed that only 18.4 percent of older adults have some type of dental insurance to help pay for routine dental care. It also showed that 28 percent have no functional top-to-bottom tooth contact, which affects proper chewing, and 15.9 percent have lost all of their natural teeth. About 5.2 percent of those with no teeth have no dentures.



Similarly, 25.4 percent of older adults have untreated decay or root fragments, and 6.8 percent are in need of periodontal care.



The report also showed that older residents living in rural areas and those with lower incomes have a much greater need for dental care.



“Oral diseases and conditions are common among our New Hampshire seniors, many of whom grew up without the benefit of community water fluoridation and other fluoride products,” said Dr. José Montero, director of public health for the state Department of Health and Human Services. “This survey illustrates that New Hampshire seniors with the poorest oral health are those who are economically disadvantaged and live in the most rural parts of our state. This is not a cosmetic issue.”



Source: http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/14701916-95/survey-some-older-adults-in-need-of-dental-care



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35757.html

New recommendations for fighting dental caries

Do you know what the most common chronic disease is affecting American children? It's not obesity. And it's not allergies, though those are good guesses. It's cavities. Or as health experts call them, dental caries.



Well, that's no big deal, right? Dental caries just affect the teeth — teeth that kids are going to lose anyway as they make way for their adult chompers. So why worry?



Dental caries are a big deal. Cavities lead to inflammation and infections that could seriously harm a child's health. And they can affect the growth and development of permanent teeth even before they break the surface of the gums. To combat the recent increases in dental caries, health experts have announced new dental recommendations for kids that they hope will reduce the number and severity of cavities in kids.



Cavities are caused when bacteria sit around in the mouth and start to erode tooth enamel. According to a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 59 percent of kids between 12 and 19 have at least one cavity, and poor and minority children are disproportionately affected. A child's chances of getting dental caries depend on a number of factors, namely diet, genetics and oral hygiene.



The AAP recently announced new recommendations for dental hygiene for children, stating that all children should start using toothpaste with fluoride when their teeth appear, regardless of their risk level for cavities. Previously, health experts worried that fluoride toothpaste might be harmful for young children who may be more likely than older kids to swallow the paste. But these new recommendations reflect the view that a small amount of fluoride is necessary to protect teeth and keep kids healthy. The AAP recommends that parents use only a teeny bit of fluoride toothpaste — about as big as a grain of sand — to brush their child's teeth. And that they start doing so as soon as the teeth start popping through the gums.



Talk to your child's doctor or dentist for more information about kids and cavities and the best ways to protect your kids from tooth decay.



Source: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/new-recommendations-for-fighting-dental-caries



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35384.html

Saliva Really Does Help Protect Teeth From Cavities

Salivary mucins work to actively protect the teeth--what's otherwise known as the cariogenic bacterium. Now, recent findings published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology reveal that bolstering these native defenses could help to fight dental caries instead of simply relying on exogenous materials such as sealants and fluoride treatments.



Lead study author Erica Shapiro Frenkel of Harvard University and principal investigator Katharina Ribbeck, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both in Cambridge, Mass., found that the body's natural defenses work in a better way to prevent tooth decay while relaying on external agents such as sealants and fluoride treatments.

"We focused on the effect of the salivary mucin, MUC5B on S. mutans attachment and biofilm formation because these are two key steps necessary for cavities to form," said Frenkel, via Medical News Today. "We found that salivary mucins don't alter S. mutans' growth or lead to bacterial killing over 24 hours," she added. "Instead, they limit biofilm formation by keeping S. mutans suspended in the liquid medium. This is particularly significant for S. mutans because it only causes cavities when it is attached, or in a biofilm on the tooth's surface."

Furthermore, she went to say that the oral microbiome is better preserved when naturally occurring species aren't killed. "The ideal situation is to simply attenuate bacterial virulence," she concluded.

Researchers said they believe that the research makes a fundamental contribution to scientific understanding of host-microbe interactions.



Source: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/18973/20141117/saliva-really-does-help-protect-teeth-from-cavities.htm



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35092.html

Cheese May Prevent Dental Caries, New Study Suggests

According to new research led by Dr Ravishankar Telgi from the Kothiwal Dental College and Research Center, India, consuming cheese and other dairy products may help protect teeth against cavities.


The new study suggests that cheese has the highest anticariogenic property among the dairy products. The image shows cheddar cheese cubes (Guillaume Paumier / CC BY-SA 3.0)


In the study, reported in the journal General Dentistry (paper in .pdf), Dr Telgi’s team sampled 68 participants ranging in age from 12 to 15. The scientists looked at the dental plaque pH in the subjects’ mouths before and after they consumed cheese, milk, or sugar-free yogurt.



A pH level lower than 5.5 puts a person at risk for tooth erosion, which is a process that wears away the enamel of teeth.



“The higher the pH level is above 5.5, the lower the chance of developing cavities,” said co-author Dr Vipul Yadav.



The participants were assigned into groups randomly. Dr Telgi and his colleagues instructed the first group to eat cheddar cheese, the second group to drink milk, and the third group to eat sugar-free yogurt. Each group consumed their product for three minutes and then swished with water. The scientists measured the pH level of each subject’s mouth at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consumption.



The groups who consumed milk and sugar-free yogurt experienced no changes in the pH levels in their mouths. Subjects who ate cheese, however, showed a rapid increase in pH levels at each time interval, suggesting that cheese has anti-cavity properties.



The findings indicate that the rising pH levels from eating cheese may have occurred due to increased saliva production, which could be caused by the action of chewing.



Additionally, various compounds found in cheese may adhere to tooth enamel and help further protect teeth from acid.



“It looks like dairy does the mouth good. Not only are dairy products a healthy alternative to carb- or sugar-filled snacks, they also may be considered as a preventive measure against cavities,” said Dr Seung-Hee Rhee, spokesperson of the Academy of General Dentistry, who was not involved in the study.



Source: http://www.sci-news.com/medicine/article01165-cheese-dental-caries.html



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/34966.html

Our mouth naturally fights dental cavities

Salivary mucins - key components of mucus found in mouth - actively protect our teeth from the cavity-causing bacterium, a new study has found.



Bolstering native defences might be a better way to fight dental caries than relying on exogenous materials, such as sealants and fluoride treatment, said first author Erica Shapiro Frenkel, of Harvard University.



The bacteria Streptococcus mutans attaches to teeth using sticky polymers that it produces, eventually forming a bio-film, a protected surface-associated bacterial community that is encased in secreted materials, said Frenkel.




As S mutans grows in the biofilm, it produces organic acids as metabolic byproducts that dissolve tooth enamel, which is the direct cause of cavities.



"We focused on the effect of the salivary mucin, MUC5B on S mutans attachment and biofilm formation because these are two key steps necessary for cavities to form," said Frenkel.



"We found that salivary mucins don't alter S mutans' growth or lead to bacterial killing over 24 hours," said Frenkel.



"Instead, they limit biofilm formation by keeping S mutans suspended in the liquid medium. This is particularly significant for S mutans because it only causes cavities when it is attached, or in a biofilm on the tooth's surface," she said.



She adds that the oral microbiome is better preserved when naturally occurring species aren't killed.



"The ideal situation is to simply attenuate bacterial virulence," she said.



"Defects in mucin production have been linked to common diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and ulcerative colitis," said Frenkel.



"There is increasing evidence that mucins aren't just part of the mucus for structure or physical protection, but that they play an active role in protecting the host from pathogens and maintaining a healthy microbial environment," Frenkel added.



The research was published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.



Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/our-mouth-naturally-fights-dental-cavities-114111200599_1.html



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/34603.html

Improving oral health for ageing populations

Millions of elderly people across the globe are not getting oral health care they need. Poor oral health amongst older people has been particularly evident in high levels of tooth loss, dental caries and the prevalence rates of other dental disease and oral cancer.



Many elderly people worldwide do not have a full set of teeth. Poor oral health negatively impact on the quality of life of older adults and is an important public health issue which must be addressed by policy-makers. Experts warned that failure to address oral health needs today could develop into a costly problem tomorrow.



Advancing age puts elderly at risk of a number of health problems. As the number of aging population increasing worldwide, it will be a big problem in near future. The burden of oral disease is likely to grow in many developing countries like Bangladesh because of unhealthy diets rich in sugars and high consumption of tobacco.



In many developing countries, the only treatment is tooth extraction in case of pain and problems with teeth. Thus, millions of older people suffer tooth loss. Eventually they live without natural teeth.



As with other health issues, older people have very different oral health needs to children and younger adults. They are more likely to take medication that causes dry mouth, leading to tooth decay and infections of the mouth. More than 400 commonly used medications — many of them for chronic conditions to which the elderly are susceptible — can dry out the mouth.



Oral cancer is another danger that can strike after years of over-consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The incidence of this cancer is rising in places with growing or high tobacco use. In many cases, ill-fitting dentures can reduce a person’s quality of life, for example by impeding their ability to chew.



An unfounded belief by families and healthcare practitioners that tooth loss is inevitable during ageing, lack of education on the importance of oral health and components of dental care, poor access to services and a low dentist-to-population ratio complete the picture.



The World Health Organisation recommends that countries adopt certain strategies for improving the oral health of the elderly. National health authorities should develop policies and measurable goals and targets for oral health. National public health programmes should incorporate oral health promotion and disease prevention based on the common risk factors approach.



Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/improving-oral-health-for-ageing-populations-48420



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/34425.html

Consider your family’s oral health

On Nov. 15, the open enrollment period will begin under the Affordable Care Act, giving Illinois residents an opportunity to shop for health care coverage that could have a major impact on their physical and financial health in 2015. Whether you are already covered or are looking for the first time, it is important to evaluate the available options and remember not to overlook dental coverage for your family’s oral health.



Although dental disease is largely preventable, it still finds its way into the mouths of our state’s residents and is actually the most common chronic childhood disease today. In fact, by third grade, more than 50 percent of Illinois children have cavities. Alarmingly, many are left untreated, which can affect a child’s ability to learn, speak and eat.



Fortunately, dental coverage for children is an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act. This means that if you have a child under 19 and purchase a health care plan, pediatric dental coverage will be included.



However, health plans are not required to offer adult dental coverage, but you should strongly consider its importance. Nearly one in four Illinois adults has unresolved oral health issues, and nearly three in five say the biggest reason for not addressing a problem is the ability to pay for care, according to a survey by Delta Dental of Illinois.



Serious oral health problems can be expensive and time-consuming to treat. But the fact is that dental coverage is relatively low cost, and because it is prevention-based, it actually encourages regular dental checkups that can save money in the long run. Nearly eight of 10 Illinoisans with dental coverage visit the dentist at least once a year versus a little more than half who don’t have coverage.



Seeking preventive oral health care, like checkups and cleanings, can be far less expensive than receiving costly treatments down the road. Plus, oral health is linked to your overall health and a dental exam can help you protect your overall health. During a checkup, your dentist can detect as many as 120 different diseases in their earliest stages, when they are most effectively and cost-efficiently treated.



Studies also suggest that the state of your oral health can affect other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. The mouth is a key part of the body, and good dental habits such as brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist contribute to better oral and overall health.



These are just some of the reasons why it is important for you and your entire family to have dental coverage that encourages regular dental visits.



On the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, it is possible to purchase pediatric and adult dental benefits through a medical carrier or from a stand-alone dental benefits carrier. Many Illinois residents choose stand-alone dental benefit plans because of the likelihood their dentist is in-network and the overall value they provide. For example, since many medical plans may require the policy’s annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximums be met before paying dental benefits, a stand-alone dental policy may expand benefits and reduce overall expenses.



Along with dental coverage for individuals and families, most dental benefit carriers also now offer dental plans for small businesses off-exchange that are compliant with new Affordable Care Act guidelines.



Choosing health care coverage is one of the most important decisions you will make this year. Therefore, it is essential that you fully understand your options during open enrollment so you can choose benefits that are best for you and your family. For more information or to select a dental plan that helps your entire family maintain great oral health, visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov or DeltaDentalIL.me.



Source: http://illinoistimes.com/article-14671-consider-your-family%E2%80%99s-oral-health.html



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/34147.html

Building a Story on Autism’s Impact on Dental Care

Sometimes reporters hear about important stories by chance. In this case, a friend who is the mother of a 9-year-old son with autism had recently moved to New Jersey and had finally found a dentist willing to work with him after years of struggle.



She said their first dentist had given up on her son. Cleanings were possible only if he sat on her lap in the chair and she wrapped her arms and legs around him to keep him still. “It is awful,” she said.



Another dentist suggested general anesthesia to facilitate a simple cleaning, which I later found is not uncommon, but ill-advised for routine preventive care because of anesthesia’s risks.



The situation changed only when she happened to find a dentist who specialized in using behavior modification techniques. Her son had been “terrified,” she said, but with accommodations, he could finally tolerate cleanings and sit on his own. (X-rays are still but a dream, alas.)



Her odyssey surprised me and jump-started my own. Some stories hinge on convenient statistics demonstrating a change and thus can be swiftly assembled. Instead, this piece was built brick-by-brick this past summer.



One parent’s story is just one story, so the tip might have ended there. But it turned out that her plight to find a dentist was not uncommon among parents of children with autism, nor was her distress. In interviews, parents told me again and again that dentist visits were terribly stressful for a host of reasons: Children with sensory issues can get overwhelmed by gritty paste, odd noises or simply the new environment. Some kids can’t talk about their fear, so they squirmed, kicked or clamped their mouths shut. Some dental offices didn’t let parents accompany their nonverbal children for cleanings, even to act as translators. Meltdowns ensued.



It felt as if I had my first brick in the wall.



I called around to dentists nationwide to ask what barriers historically have existed for children on the spectrum and what, if anything, had changed of late.



One issue was that dentists — especially general practitioners who haven’t done a pediatric residency — might not have been taught to provide care for people with autism spectrum disorders. Only relatively recently, in 2006, did the Commission on Dental Accreditation implement a standard requiring graduating dental students to be competent in assessing the treatment for patients with special needs.



A little digging unearthed a wealth of continuing education courses that dentists and hygienists were taking to better accommodate children on the spectrum. In the last year, more than 14,000 dental professionals completed one online offering.



Some sources played down continuing education’s ability to spur dentists who had been on the sidelines to start treating children with autism spectrum disorders. But not Dr. Richard Valachovic, the executive director of the American Dental Education Association. In addition to dental schooling, continuing education “increases the level of patients that dentists are comfortable treating and not having to refer out to somebody else,” he said.



As I deepened my reporting, an unforeseen thread emerged: Some parents took their child with autism for a first cleaning only at age 8 or later, and others only went once there was an emergency. The children never got preventive care, though dentists recommend a visit by the eruption of the first tooth or by the first birthday.



It was odd because the importance of early intervention is drilled into the heads of parents in the autism community when it comes to talking, walking or social interactions. But somehow oral health was not part of that broader message.



“Parents basically avoid dental visits for fear of their child’s behavior,” said Dr. Cavan Brunsden, a pediatric dentist in Old Bridge, N.J. Yet, he said, if patients on the spectrum could come to see him before age 5, dental cleanings could become nonthreatening with repetition.



Getting that public-health message to parents seemed important to me and my editor, Mike Mason, who, by then, was pushing to get the story into the Science section.



I was thrilled that the video department decided to send a photographer and video journalist named Katie Hayes Luke with me to visit Dr. Amy Luedemann-Lazar, a pediatric dentist in Katy, Tex. She captured what my words couldn’t: how tricky even sitting in the dental chair can be for a child with autism. Equally important, the video captured the emotion in the voices of grateful parents.



This month, the final brick in the wall came when I met Nicole Brown and her 13-year-old daughter, Camryn Cunningham, at Dr. Luedemann-Lazar’s office. Ms. Brown’s odyssey to find dental care had been a long one, and even included a frustrated dentist screaming at her daughter.



Yet, Ms. Brown’s story, too, had a hopeful ending, because step by step, a hygienist and an assistant taught Camryn what was expected of her, starting with how to sit in the dental chair.



We watched as Camryn sat — hands on her stomach, legs out straight — through a full cleaning, only her second ever. “I was thinking this is unbelievable. I didn’t know it would be that good of an appointment,” Ms. Brown said, adding, “It’s embarrassing to say that at one point I was afraid to take her to the dentist because I didn’t know where to start.”



Since the story ran last week, I’ve heard from dentists who champion improving access to routine care for children with autism who hoped my article would spur more dentists to educate themselves to be able to treat children on the spectrum. The story has been shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook. Parents desperate to find a dentist willing to treat their child emailed. And on the New York Times Facebook page, some parents asked for pointers on how to find a dentist, so I joined the conversation and tried to help. One mother in Miami wrote about struggling to find a dentist who is “autistic friendly” and mentioned that she had been told her child needs to be treated under general anesthesia, to the tune of $2,800.



Source: http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2014/10/28/building-a-story-on-autisms-impact-on-dental-care/



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/33909.html

Dental treatment for kids should be priority

Dental treatment for children aged six and under should be prioritised, a new report has stated.



According to the first National Oral Health Forum Report, A Vision for Improved Oral Health in Ireland, the Government's decision to provide universal healthcare for all children aged under six provides the perfect opportunity to extend dental cover to this age group.



This would result in children becoming engaged with dental services at a younger age, which would lead to more disease prevention.



The report also highlighted the impact of the recession on dental services in Ireland. The PRSI scheme used to allow taxpayers to receive subsidies towards certain dental work, such as fillings. However, spending on this scheme has fallen from over €70 million per year to just €10 million per year and taxpayers now only receive one dental check-up per year.



Meanwhile services for mental card holders have also been severely cut, leading to poorer dental health for many.



In response to this, the report recommends that the use of patient co-payments should be assessed as a potential method of payment for medical card patients. This would see the patient and the State both making a contribution, not unlike the old PRSI model, to ensure that patients receive the appropriate treatment when they need it.



The report also said that the roles of the HSE and the Department of Health need to be clearly defined in this area.



"Delivery decisions in the HSE need to be matched to clinical needs and prioritised in line with the available resources. At the moment the delivery of services is considered to be patchy, with no uniform patterns of delivery decision or priority setting," the Forum said.



The report added that when it comes to dentistry, the main interests seem to relate to fluoridation and orthodontics and there is little or no political representation about important issues such as the provision of dental services to people with disabilities, and the prevalence and suffering caused by cavities during childhood.



The report is an initiative promoted mainly by the Irish Dental Association, the Dublin Dental School, the Cork Dental School and the RCSI Faculty of Dentistry.



Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=24172



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/33623.html

Tips for fresh breath and oral health

Halloween kicks off a series of holidays celebrated with delicious treats, from yummy chocolate candies to gut-busting dinners to seasonal alcoholic beverages. While most parents will make sure their kids brush after eating their treats, National Dental Hygiene Month in October encourages a fuller approach to oral health.



“Teeth and gums are obviously key components of oral health care, but they’re just part of the whole environment inside one’s mouth,” says Dr. Bob Kross, a biochemist who’s been researching and developing oral health-care products since the 1980s.



“The nooks and crannies in our mouths and gums are not the only places crammed with organic debris, which feed the bacteria that create biofilm, such as plaque, to protect themselves from oxygen. There are also cracks on the tongue’s surface and in the other soft tissues in the mouth and pharynx where bacteria collect, further compromising dental health and creating bad breath.”



Normal oral bacteria are fine, actually even necessary, when present in proper balance with each other, but it’s a problem when putrefying and pathogenic bacteria start to take over, he says.



Kross offers this tip for preventing bad breath:



Add tongue scraping and an oxidizing daily rinse to your oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing reach about 25 percent of your mouth, and that’s why you should add tongue scraping and rinsing to your daily routine. That white stuff you might see on your tongue is a collection of food particles and other organic matter, which can putrefy and create oral malodorants. Oxygen inhibits the growth of the responsible anaerobic bacteria, so scraping off the film and using an oxidizing mouthwash will counter that problem.



Source: http://www.ardmoreite.com/article/20141028/Lifestyle/141029743



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/33401.html

Diabetes and Dental Health

Good dental care is a key component in the health of you and your family.


TORONTO – HEALTH - “Diabetes can be associated with an increased prevalence and severity of periodontal diseases, and as an infectious and inflammatory disease, periodontitis can affect the control of blood sugar,” says Dr. Gerald Smith, President of the ODA. “When blood sugars remain high over time it can put people with diabetes at risk for further complications.”



Did you know there is a connection between diabetes and oral health? Research shows that poorly managed blood glucose (sugar) levels put you at greater risk for developing oral health problems such as gum disease, fungal infections, tooth decay, taste impairment, dry mouth and delayed healing. Conversely, having periodontal (gum) disease can intensify the complications associated with diabetes.



November is Diabetes Awareness Month and the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) and dentists across the province will be supporting the Canadian Diabetes Association’s “Don’t Be Risky” campaign which urges Canadians to identify the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.



The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA), estimates that today more than 1.4 million people in Ontario are living with diabetes, representing 9.8 percent of the population. By 2024, that number is estimated to rise to 2.2 million. “Knowing the risk factors for diabetes and its complications will provide Canadians with information to act and potentially lower their risk, in consultation with their health-care teams, including their dentist,” says Rick Blickstead, President and CEO of the CDA.



Dentists have the training and expertise to help prevent and treat any oral health problems associated with this serious disease. Through oral examinations, dentists can also detect certain oral-health conditions that could signal a need for you to be tested for diabetes. If you are experiencing any problems with your oral health, such as bleeding gums, impaired taste or dry mouth, see your dentist immediately. To help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, the ODA recommends following a routine which includes brushing your teeth, flossing, using a toothpaste containing fluoride, consuming sugar in moderation and having regular dental exams.



“Diabetes is one of many medical conditions that prove the connection between your oral health and your overall health,” says Dr. Smith. “Your dentist can be a vital part of your health-care team by helping you manage the oral complications that may come with having diabetes.”



Your oral health is related to your overall health. Stay in touch with your dentist to assist you with your oral health needs. For information on your oral health and diabetes, go to youroralhealth.ca. For more information on diabetes, visit diabetes.ca or alternatively you can visit DontBeRisky.ca and fill out a CANRISK questionnaire to find out what your risk is of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.



Source: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2014/11/04/diabetes-and-dental-health/



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/33248.html

NEW MATERIALS FOR BETTER, STRONGER AND CHEAPER DENTAL IMPLANTS

Experts from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), in the east coast of Mexico, develop new generation dental implants from mixtures of polymers with ceramic and a light consistency. So far the experts at this university have optimized the performance of those dental tools as they simulated the repetitive force of mastication and considered this factor to ensure that the impact of stress is absorbed by the piece and not by the bone structure.



They have proposed some formulations that allow those teeth to be resistant to the effort of chewing and corrosion as titanium implants (which are often used by dentists), but at a more affordable cost. “By optimizing the geometry and consistency of the implants we can ensure that they remain in place longer, but with a lower cost than the titanium implant,” said Mauricio Paz González, project collaborator in charge of industrial design.



Through mathematical simulations, UABC experts seek to reduce stress levels in patients before the introduction of these auxiliary pieces. Traditional implants are placed with the same dynamics as a screw, and bone structure functions as a base for holding those dental tools.



Meanwhile, Juan Antonio Paz González, head of the manufacturing processes of the pieces, commented that a goal is to have the implants coated with vitamin D, because that chemical stimulates production of bone tissue around the piece. This, he said, adds support; he added that once pilot tests were trough, they will be compared to traditional implant performance.



Luis Villarreal Jesus Gomez, head of research, said that the manufacture of these implants will not only improve the oral health of patients, but also benefit their economy. “Most people who require implants are older adults, who often find it impossible for a transaction of this nature to be affordable,” he said.



So far, the specialist has proposed several possible formulations for achieving the implant. “Additionally we seek to include vitamin D in the composition of dental implants, to achieve a better integration of the piece with the bone structure of the patient,” commented the scientist at UABC.



Source: http://www.eurasiareview.com/04102014-new-materials-better-stronger-cheaper-dental-implants/



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from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/32996.html