I Love Smiling! Smilings My Favorite!: May 2009

Sunday, May 3, 2009

LESS IS MORE

Alright so last time I shared with you my favorite manual toothbrush but I feel that I must share with you my least favorite as well. When I saw this for the first time I thought it was a joke and then I had a patient who described this very same brush to me to explain what he used ... It was immediately clear to me why he was not able to clean his molars for at least 6 months.

DO NOT GET THIS

So I know what your thinking , that doesn't look bad. What is the big deal??? The handle actually doesn't bother me and I can imagine it might be comfortable for someone with arthritis; but take a look at that toothbrush head. I took another picture to compare it to my thumb (which my thumb is bigger than my compact toothbrush head)

People get frustrated because they don't have room to floss, with this I wonder how you have room to brush.

Take a look

Facts and Fallacies

Fallacies About Gum Disease
Get the facts about this serious infection to save your teeth and protect your health.

FALLACY: Tooth loss is a natural part of aging.

FACT: With good oral hygiene and regular professional care, your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. However, if left untreated, periodontal (gum) disease can lead to tooth loss. It is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults 35 and over.

FALLACY: Gum disease doesn't affect overall health.

FACT: Emerging research links periodontal disease to other health problems including heart and respiratory diseases; preterm, low birthweight babies; stroke; osteoporosis; and diabetes.

FALLACY: Gum disease is a minor infection.

FACT: The mass of tissue in the oral cavity is equivalent to the skin on your arm that extends from the wrist to the elbow. If this area was red, swollen, and infected, you would visit the doctor. Gum disease is not a small infection. Its result, tooth loss, leads to a very different lifestyle—dentures. The changes in your appearance, breath, and ability to chew food are dramatic.

FALLACY: Bleeding gums are normal.

FACT: Bleeding gums are one of nine warning signs of gum disease. Think of gum tissue as the skin on your hand. If your hands bled every time you washed them, you would know something is wrong. Other signs of gum disease include: red, swollen or tender gums; sores in your mouth; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; persistent bad breath; pus between the teeth and gums (leaving bad breath); loose or separating teeth; a change in the way the teeth fit together; and a change in the fit of partial dentures.

FALLACY: Gum disease is easy to identify, even in its early stages, so my dentist would tell me if I had it.

FACT: Millions of people don't know they have this serious infection that can lead to tooth loss if not treated. You should always get involved in your dental care, so that problems are detected in the early stages. You should inform your dentist if any signs of gum disease are present; or if any changes in your overall health or medications occurred in between visits. Most importantly, you should ask your dentist about your periodontal health and what method was used to evaluate its condition. This level of participation enables you to work in a team approach with your dentist to identify subtle changes that may occur in the oral cavity.

FALLACY: Cavities are the number-one cause of tooth loss.

FACT: Periodontal disease is the number-one cause of tooth loss. According to the 1996 American Dental Association/Colgate survey, U.S. dentists say gum disease is a more pressing oral health concern than tooth decay by a 2-to-1 margin.

FALLACY: Pregnant women should skip professional dental checkups.

FACT: Teeth and gums are affected during pregnancy like other tissues in the body. In order to decrease the risk of damaging the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth, pregnant women should schedule an appointment for a periodontal evaluation.

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I Love Smiling! Smilings My Favorite!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

LESS IS MORE

At Least She's Flossing...

Facts and Fallacies

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