With school starting again and all of the hustle and bustle to get ready each morning, it can be easy for routine dental care to be forgotten. We want to offer just a few tips to help keep your kids teeth healthy even with a hectic schedule.
Oil pulling is an old remedy that started in India and has been all the rage due to news coverage and social media websites. It requires swishing edible oil (coconut, sesame, or olive) for at least 20 minutes before. The idea is swish until the oil looks white, which allegedly shows that bacteria have been removed from your mouth. While it may eventually prove effective in some cases, most dentals are hesitant to get behind the practice of oil pulling until further legitimate research can be properly done.
The Associated Press has reported that up to 60% of Americans have dental benefits, which is the highest level in decades. But according to Oral Health America, the nation’s older population may be getting left behind. Almost 70% of senior citizens are without dental coverage. We will discuss why many seniors are without dental benefits and what options are available.
If you have a history of cavities or stains on your teeth, it is clear why you need to visit the dentist on a regularly. But for those who seldom have cavities or don’t accumulate a lot stain, you may wonder why we insist on cleanings and exams every six months. Even while there is plenty of studies and vast amounts of data to support six months check-ups, the bottom line is we base our recommendations on early detection and preventative care.
More and more people are becoming aware that they suffer from sleep apnea. While snoring can be an indicator, there are also other symptoms your physician or dentist may worry about. Step one should be to consult with your physician to determine if you need a sleep study. Depending on the findings and the recommendations of your doctor, you may be eligible for an oral appliance to supplement or replace your CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine if you were unable to tolerate using it every night.
Headaches can have a variety of origins: allergies, dehydration, head colds and a host of other reasons. But they can also be related to dental problems. Tooth decay, a bad bite, or night time clenching/grinding can lead to habitual headaches.
Researchers from the University of Florida have developed a mouth guard that can determine if you’re grinding your teeth at night. It can also let your dentist know how you’re grinding your teeth so we can help treat the problem. There is another version that is currently being developed to help determine if you’re dehydrated or if you have sustained a concussion. These tools could be very helpful for dentists and physicians alike in treating many different issues.
When you become a new patient at our office, we ask about your dental and medical history. Dental history is important so we know what experiences and procedures you have had in the past. Medical history is important because there are number of ways it can impact your dental health and how we go about any treatment that is needed.
Shark Tank is a show on ABC where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to millionaires to gain funding and support. Charles Michael Yim, who recently gained support on Shark Tank for his alcohol breathalyzer app, has recently launched an app called ‘Mint’ to detect the mouth’s bacteria and hydration levels. While we don’t know to what degree this will work, the potential is definitely intriguing.
As the technology improves and the demand to avoid traditional metal braces increases, Invisalign and similar products have become more popular. For adults, the thought of clear trays over wires seems much more appealing. So the advent of these clear retainers has really increased the number of people willing to embrace orthodontics. However, there are still some risks associated with using Invisalign and similar products that you should be aware of before beginning treatment.
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