If you add fluoridated water to your infant's baby formula, you may be putting your child at risk of developing dental fluorosis, a harmless cosmetic condition manifested by brown, mottled or discolored enamel. Although fluoride – found naturally in all water ...
Continue ReadingDespite recommendations and warnings from dentists about the importance of regular flossing, many people admit they still don't do it, and countless more floss only in the days and weeks before or after their semi-annual cleanings and checkups, reports the ...
Continue ReadingWith as many as 35 million men and women suffering from eating disorders in the United States, more dentists are becoming the first line of defense when it comes to spotting eating disorders in patients, according to the May 2005 ...
Continue ReadingAllergic reactions are sensitivities to a specific substance, called an allergen, that makes contact with the skin, or is inhaled into the lungs, swallowed, or injected. Some allergic reactions are mild, while others can be severe and life-threatening. Allergic reactions ...
Continue ReadingCold sores, also known as fever blisters, are tiny, clear, fluid-filled blisters that form around the mouth and are caused by the herpes simplex virus (usually type 1, or HSV-1) living inside your nerve tissue. Cold sores usually do not ...
Continue ReadingDental insurance can be helpful to patients in defraying the costs when paying for dental treatment. Insurance, however, can sometimes be a double-edged sword and it is important for consumers to investigate what plans will keep them and their families ...
Continue ReadingFrequently consuming foods with a low pH value, such as soft drinks, fruit juices, pickles, fresh fruit and yogurt can lead to irreversible dental erosion, according to a report in the January/February 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of ...
Continue ReadingDentist Should Advise Vegetarians on Good Oral Health Health concerns about fat and cholesterol have prompted many people to become vegetarians, and the nutritional deficiencies that can sometimes result may reveal themselves during dental exams. Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Ludwig Leibsohn, ...
Continue ReadingPatients become anxious about going to the dentist for different reasons. This may include fear of receiving local anesthetic or concerns about the effectiveness of the anesthesia. Negative past experiences also may play a large role in a patient's anxiety, ...
Continue ReadingHow TMD Pain is Caused The pain associated with TMD is caused when the temporomandibular joint (the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull) is damaged or has deteriorated or when the muscles surrounding the joint are malfunctioning, ...
Continue ReadingMore than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses. Despite these numbers, many children still do not visit the dentist. In addition, almost 50 percent of tooth decay remains untreated in ...
Continue ReadingMen: Looking for a Better Job? Start by Visiting the Dentist An online poll of 289 general dentists and consumers confirms the traditional stereotype that men are less likely to visit the dentist than their female counterparts, ...
Continue ReadingDo I Really Need to Floss? Yes. Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates ...
Continue ReadingResearchers are finding possible links between periodontal (gum) infections and other diseases throughout the body. Current studies suggest that there may be a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. In fact, some research suggests that gum disease may be ...
Continue ReadingRadiographic, or X-ray, examinations provide your dentist with an important tool that shows the condition of your teeth, its roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones. X-rays can help your dentist determine the presence or degree ...
Continue ReadingIf there's one thing that all dentists have in common, it's that they regularly see young patients with tooth decay. Roughly 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have had decay in their primary teeth, while approximately 32 percent ...
Continue ReadingIs kissing harmful to your health? With just one kiss couples can share more than 500 different types of disease-causing germs and viruses, warns the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), a professional association of more than 35,000 general dentists. "Not knowing ...
Continue ReadingMore than 1 million adults in the United States, mostly women in their postmenopausal years, are affected by a poorly understood and difficult-to-diagnose condition known as burning mouth syndrome (BMS). The chronic disorder is characterized by pain and a burning sensation ...
Continue ReadingOsteoporosis, a disease that decreases bone density and weakens bones, affects 10 million people. In addition, more than one-third of females over age 65 display signs and symptoms of the disease. Most individuals inflicted with osteoporosis are not diagnosed until a ...
Continue ReadingThe Centers for Disease Control report that nearly 25 million women are infected with some form of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Of those, more than three million are thought to have one of the four strains known to cause ...
Continue ReadingIt's a myth that calcium is lost from a mother's teeth and "one tooth is lost with every pregnancy." But you may experience some changes in your oral health during pregnancy. The primary changes are due to a surge in ...
Continue ReadingWomen can attribute bloating, irritability, moodiness, and the occasional hot flash or emotional outburst to hormones. But, according to an article in the May 2009 issue of AGD Impact, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) monthly newsmagazine, the state of ...
Continue ReadingVeneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic (porcelain) or a composite resin material, which are bonded to the front of teeth. This procedure requires little or no anesthesia and can be the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front ...
Continue ReadingIf you experience frequent headaches and pain in your lower jaw, check your posture and consult your dentist about temporomandibular disorder (TMD), recommends the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education. Poor posture ...
Continue ReadingOral piercing can cause pain, swelling, infection, drooling, taste loss, scarring, chipped teeth and tooth loss. Most dentists discourage oral piercing because of these risks. Regulations vary in each state, so be careful if you decide to get any kind of ...
Continue ReadingThe average person swallows 2,000 times per day, causing the upper and lower teeth to come together and push against the skull. People who have a poorly aligned bite or missing teeth can have related health problems, such as frequent ...
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