Cavities ARE contagious!

Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is the single most common chronic childhood disease. In fact, it is an infectious disease. Mothers with cavities can transmit caries-producing oral bacteria to their babies when they clean pacifiers by sticking them in their own mouths or by sharing spoons. According to …

Studies Show Laser-, Light-Based Systems May Detect Caries Earlier Than X-Rays

The Wall Street Journal (1/6, Johannes, Subscription Publication) reports on the front page of its “Personal Journal” section that a growing body of research shows that devices using light and lasers to detect dental caries are significantly more effective than traditional X-rays. The Journal points out that one study found …

Study: Seniors Who Sleep In Dentures At Higher Risk For Pneumonia.

Today, approximately 75 percent of senior citizens over age 65 have kept some or all of their teeth – a record -thanks to better preventive measures like community water fluoridation and daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, according to the American Dental Association,” a press release carried by the Senior Journal …

Article Considers Maximizing Health Benefits Prior To Year’s End.

Money (12/18, Glover) reports on strategies patients may use in order to maximize health benefits before the end of the year, when many benefits expire if unused. Regarding dental benefits, Money reports, “This benefit is often capped at $1,000 to $3,000 annually, according to the American Dental Association” meaning that …

Parents Should Brush Infants’ Teeth Between Bottle Feeding And Bedtime

Citing the American Dental Association, the Kane County (IL) Chronicle (11/22, Kohl) reported on the issue of tooth decay caused by infants’ baby bottles, which “is often called baby bottle tooth decay” and “most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but can occur in other teeth as well.” The …

Top Ten Dental Symptoms

The internet can be a great way to find valuable information! Unfortunately, you can also find very misleading if just not completely false information! The American Dental Association has a great app called “Symptom Checker”. it is available at http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/Symptom-Checker#. It is available to anyone and can help you determine what …

Is amalgam SAFE?

I often get concerns from people about the use of dental amalgam (often termed “silver fillings”) because of information floating around the Internet, the media, and as many places as one might imagine. It seems always to be sensational news because everyone likes a smoking gun! My first response is …