If It Ain't Broke, Why Fix It? Patients are sometimes surprised when they have a cavity or two and wonder, "How can I need a filling when I haven't been in any pain?" Unfortunately, this is common because cavities often don't give any warning signs at all. Teeth can become extremely broken down and even abscess due to decay and still never hurt. So while it may not be causing you any discomfort at the moment, our experience has shown that catching problems early [...]
The best rule for fluoride is not too much. Not too little. Ever since the first American city began to manage fluoride levels in its water supply, there's been plenty of misinformation floating around regarding the potential benefits and dangers of this substance. In a nutshell, fluoride has been shown to help protect against tooth decay. It also exists naturally in most water supplies. When communities fluoridated their water, they weren't necessarily adding it; they were adjusting the dose to the best level. That's [...]
Prevention is the Best Way to Avoid Costly Dental Emergencies We understand that not all emergencies can be avoided, sometimes accidents happen. But skipping check-ups and avoiding the dentist is never a good way to save money. It will only result in more costly treatment needed down the road. Instead, we like to emphasize the value of maintaining your oral health. Just imagine that every time you brush, floss, or have a cleaning, it's as if the cost of a future dental problem becomes [...]
Tooth decay is declining in everyone except among preschoolers. What can you do to give your kids a better future? Before the first tooth comes in, wipe baby's mouth clean with a damp washcloth. Once a tooth emerges, use a soft toothbrush twice daily for about 3 minutes. Kids are old enough to brush their own teeth when they can write their own name (which displays the dexterity required for brushing). Flossing begins when teeth grow to touch each other. Try flavored floss, and [...]
As a direct result of fluoridation, dental health in our part of the world turned around dramatically. The improvement is evident in our children, fluoride in our water reduces tooth decay in children by 50 percent. Why then, are some put off by the idea of fluoride? It's true that excessive levels of fluoride can actually damage tooth enamel—too much of any good thing is too much. But continuing research, down to the molecular level, proves the bottom line: fluoride is good for us. [...]
Sifting Fact From Belief Dental researchers call it The Fluoride Story—the most dramatic turn-around of a population’s dental health in history. So far. The Fluoride Story began as one of many smaller, ongoing stories. And we have research to thank. In university laboratories in the US and Canada, in dental products labs, in national science centers—the research goes on. It seems far from an everyday visit to the dentist. There is an air of mystery to the research process itself. What motivates the people [...]
The diet of today is the result of a 50-year increase in consumption of the rapidly absorbed sugars—specifically, soft drinks, commercial juices, candy, and easily digested sugar foods such as cakes, cookies, etc. This change has generally gone unnoticed by consumers, until very recently it has been unquestionably assumed that this is "the way this age is." However, now it has become increasingly apparent that we suffer from more and more glucose (sugar) metabolism diseases and dental caries because of poor diet. These high-energy [...]
