Brushing and Flossing
At DentalInsurance.com, our goal is to provide a number of plans to choose from so that clients can find the dental coverage that most precisely meets their needs. One priority for clients is the cost of premiums. Patients have the most control over premiums when they are presented with a wide range of choices. Did you know that healthy habits can also help your premiums? When patients exercise healthy habits, they need fewer procedures and office visits, which can result in lower dental insurance premiums over the long-term. Our clients’ health is important to us. For this reason, we provide articles that contain current news and tips on oral healthcare. Choosing the right personal dental insurance plan is critical, but maintaining strong oral health and healthy daily routines is just as important. The articles below include useful tips and valuable information on keeping teeth and gums clean and healthy.
12/14/2005
Pediatr Dent. 2002 Jul-Aug;24(4):295-9.
Transient bacteremia induced by toothbrushing a comparison of the Sonicare toothbrush with a conventional toothbrush.
Bhanji S, Williams B, Sheller B, Elwood T, Mancl L.
PURPOSE: Several investigations have demonstrated toothbrush-induced bacteremias. Transient bacteremias are well tolerated by healthy individuals but may increase endocarditis risk in patients with cardiac conditions. This study assessed bacteremia levels after brushing with either the Sonicare electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush.
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12/03/2005
Bad breath is a great social embarrassment whose technical
name is halitosis. It is mostly due to bacteria from rotting
food, plaque and other debris in the mouth, in between the
teeth, gums and the tongue. The small particles of food are
left behind either because one does not brush well or frequently
enough, or at all.
A coated tongue not brushed for a while also contributes
to bad breath. The bacteria and the decaying food give off
an unpleasant sulphur compound.
Gum disease is another cause of bad breath.
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12/01/2005
Got Gum Trouble? Your Heart Might Be Next
By E.J. MundellHealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Nov. 29 (HealthDay News) -- There's mounting evidence that brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups may be at the heart of good cardiovascular health.
"People who have chronic infections -- and gum disease is one of the major chronic infections -- are at increased risk later in life for atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and coronary heart disease," said American Heart Association spokesman Dr. Richard Stein, who is also director of preventive cardiology at Beth Israel Medical Center, in New York City.
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11/29/2005
We're all familiar with "morning breath". How is it that you can brush your teeth before bedtime and drift off smelling minty fresh, then awaken hours later smelling like rotten eggs? The answer is something called Volatile Sulfur Compounds, or "VSC's". These VSC's are the by-products of bacteria that populate our mouths and multiply rapidly while we sleep. Because we don't swallow nearly as much while sleeping, the bacteria build up more quickly and the VSC's aren't washed away by saliva. A dry mouth can also cause bad breath while you're awake.
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11/28/2005
According to researchers cranberries, well-known for their ability to help thwart urinary tract infections, may also help prevent tooth decay and cavities.
It seems that the same sticky compounds in the small red fruit that help keep bacteria at bay in the bladder also appear to help prevent bacteria from clinging to teeth.
The dental researchers also found that it appeared to help ward off plaque, the gooey substance formed from bits of food, saliva, and acid that can harbour bacteria and eventually irritate the gums.
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11/23/2005
If you frequent your neighborhood pharmacy and peruse the dental hygiene aisle in the section reserved for toothbrushes, it may overwhelm you. There are multiple brands, prices ranging from US $1.99 to US $7.99, and hues that span the colors of the rainbow -- sometimes all on the same brush. The designs appear more high-tech than your average sneaker, and have a similar aesthetic: loud colors, lots of rubber, and bells and whistles up the wazoo.
The shape of the toothbrush has also proliferated beyond the point of functionality. Most toothbrushes have curved handles, mimicking the classic feminine "hourglass" shape.
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11/22/2005
DO you have confidence when you smile or open your mouth to talk? Can you display your set of teeth without any reservation? Are you healthy orally? These and other posers havemore or less been order of the day since GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Plc. relaunched Macleans Freshmint Toothpaste into the market recently.
The focus, over the course of the event and thereafter, was oral health, which consists of the health of the teeth and mouth. Experts say oral health is not only important to an individual's appearance and sense of well-being, but also essential to overall health.
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11/22/2005
National first . Dentist Geoffrey Spicer has launched a clinic to treat bad breath. Picture: Justin Lloyd
SPARKLING white teeth are something we all aspire to when we flash our best smile but one dentist has made it his business to go one step further by sending his clients home with a recipe for fresh, clean breath as well.
Geoffrey Speiser founded Australia's first Bad Breath Clinic after spotting a real need for bad breath solutions among his clients.
People suffering from this rather anti-social affliction are more common than you might think but Dr Speiser says traditional dentists just don't have the tools with which to treat it.
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11/15/2005
The Oral Health Plan supports the new contracts for dentists in promoting preventive oral care, and will help Primary Care Trusts target poor oral health across the country. The Plan sets out a number of measures local Primary Care Trusts can take to improve the oral health amongst their own communities.
The Oral Health Plan has a 6 step programme aimed at improving oral heath and reducing health inequalities:
Fluoride - Increasing the use of fluoride will help prevent tooth decay. The almost universal use of fluoride toothpaste is one the main reasons for improvement in oral health over the last 30 years.
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11/15/2005
11/11/2005
Choosing The Right Toothbrush
Your dentist told you to brush two to three times a day. But is that toothbrush getting the job done?
There's an entire aisle devoted to the toothbrush and the varieties are endless. But when it comes to electric or the standard way, which is best?
Dentists can actually tell what kind of toothbrush you use and whether it has hard or soft bristles - with just a peak in your mouth.
Dentist Dr. Mark Berdahl said, "We're brushing away healthy gums perhaps and even tooth structure."
Berdahl says certain electric toothbrushes can reduce the wear a standard toothbrush can leave on your teeth.
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11/13/2005
New chewing gum could replace toothbrushes for soldiers
POSTED: 11/11/2005 9:09 pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -AP- During World War Two, America's fighting men made their way across Europe with Juicy Fruit in their rucksacks.
The G Is of the future could be carrying a type of chewing gum that would be a lot better for their teeth.
Colonel Dennis Runyan of the Army Dental and Trauma Research Detachment in Great Lakes, Illinois says Army and civilian scientists are working to develop gum for combat soldiers too busy to brush. The gum would contain a special bacteria fighting agent to prevent plaque, cavities and gum disease.
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11/11/2005
We can all use some foolproof tips for avoiding plaque. Plaque is an aggregation of harmful bacteria that collects on our teeth and gums, showing up as a fuzzy, whitish coating near the gum line. If plaque is allowed to build up and isn't removed on a regular basis, it inevitably leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
So that said, here are ten surefire tips to avoid plaque build-up and enjoy a fresher, healthier mouth.
1. Brush at least twice a day to avoid plaque.
Use a small, circular motion and be sure to brush each individual tooth on all sides. Pay special attention to back teeth which may be harder to reach.
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10/27/2005
Most people would say the creepy crawly kind that occasionally show up on the wall or at the dinner table; but if you were to walk around your house with a microscope, you'd be truly disturbed by what you'd find. Even if you're a stickler for keeping things clean -- always vacuuming, sweeping the floors, wiping the counters, etc. -- there are still millions of germs crawling around.
They are on all the places you'd expect to find them -- doorknobs, countertops, TV remotes and telephones -- and some you wouldn't, like your toothbrush.
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10/14/2005
Flossing let me save my ailing mouth -- and spirit
By Robert Lipsyte | This is an ode to a piece of string, waxed or unwaxed. Flossing is my life. Don't snicker, tartar tooth. If you knew what I know, and soon you will, you would hop off your StairMaster, pour out the Merlot and sell the country place. You would take your mental health in your own two hands, a few inches apart, and floss your troubles away.
Like so many great discoveries, this one was accidental. I was seeking dental -- not mental -- health, when I first stumbled into the offices of Dr. Mark.
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10/11/2005
You smile an average of 50 times a day and your teeth usually make their appearance with each grin. Chemical bleaching and whitening products are the latest minor forms of cosmetic adjustments, both of which are often used at home as an alternative to professional treatments.
Despite their visibility, pearly whites aren't the only mark of good dental hygiene, however. Your primary concern should be with overall oral maintenance and problem prevention, the only lifelong way to preserve a beautiful smile.
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