Study Urges Olympic Athletes to Make the Toothbrush as Important as the Stopwatch

A study recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, revealed that many dental athletes suffer from serious dental health problems. The study examined the oral health of 302 athletes participating in the 2012 Olympic games in London. The study found that 55% of the athletes exhibited dental caries and over 75% had gingivitis. Many of the athletes admitted that oral health problems affected their training and performance. For the full article, please click here.

“Parents are Encouraged to ‘Think Teeth’ to Protect Children from Tooth Decay”

Because tooth decay is currently one of the most common chronic diseases among U.S. kids, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encourages parents to "think teeth." With regular dental check-ups and daily brushing and flossing, tooth decay can be easily prevented. Parents should begin advocating for their child’s dental health as soon as the child turns six months of age. For the full article, click here.

Do You Need Dental X-rays?

Although dental X-rays play a vital role in detecting serious oral health problems, not all X-ray methods are created equally. Because radiation exposure can be dangerous, especially for the developing tissues of children, dentists and patients must be wary of the type of X-rays they use. Because of this, experts recommend that dentists forgo annual routine X-rays and instead allow the patient’s needs and medical history to determine whether or not an X-ray is necessary. For the full article, click here.  

Teach Kids To Have Fun With Dental Health

The philosophy that children learn best through fun and games is not a new one, which is why the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) created their website, www.padental.org/kidscorner. Their Kids Corner section debuts the lovable Topher Tooth who teaches children how to take care of their teeth through interactive games and activities. The website also features a section on nutrition, brushing and flossing and frequently asked questions. For the full article click here.

5 Foods To Avoid This Christmas To Maintain Beautiful Teeth

The holidays are full of serious dental dilemmas, as sugar is the key ingredient to many of our favorite holiday treats. Not all festive desserts are created equally though. Experts have compiled five of the naughtiest holiday treats you should make sure to avoid. Candy canes top this year’s list as they can cause cavities as well as tooth fractures and breakage. For the full article, please click here.

Let Your Mouth Do the Talking and the Listening

A new cutting edge hearing aid allows patients with single-sided deafness to hear through their teeth. Because bone is a good conductor of sound, patients are able to hear again when sound is transmitted through their teeth. This recent technology is called the Sound Bite Hearing System and it allows hearing-impaired patients a convenient and non-invasive way to hear sound. Read the full article here.

Can Brushing Our Teeth Actually Do More Harm Than Good

Conventional wisdom has us believing that it is always a good idea to brush our teeth after consuming food or sugary beverages. However, recent studies suggest that this can actually cause our teeth more harm than good. The acidity of the foods we eat can demineralize and weaken the tooth surface, making it more prone to decay, and scrubbing with a toothbrush can actually encourage this process. For the full article click here.