New $300 Smart Toothbrush Encourages Good Dental Habits

The world’s first smart toothbrush debuted in Barcelona, Spain at the four-day World Mobile Congress beginning on Monday. The advanced toothbrush records users’ dental habits and relays them to a smartphone. Users can then share their progress and results on social media or online with their dentist and friends. The toothbrush will hit stores in June. Click here for the full article.

Study Finds Poor Dental Hygiene Can Lead to Arthritis

A new study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens identified a link between poor dental hygiene and rheumatoid arthritis. When arthritic mice were infected with the gum disease bacterium, P. gingivalis, they manifested more severe symptoms of arthritis including a significant increase in bone and cartilage destruction. Previous studies have also found that gum disease is twice as common in patients suffering from arthritis. Click here for the full article.

Mothers Can Transmit Dental Caries to their Children, Research Shows

Studies have found that cavities may be contagious. Mothers with cavities can transmit caries-producing oral bacteria to their babies when sharing food or utensils. Dental decay is a serious disease that can cause children both physical and emotional pain. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) strongly recommends that parents place both their children and their own oral hygiene as a top priority. Click here for the full article.

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.

American Dental Association Encourages Use of Fluoride Toothpaste on Infants

The American Dental Association (ADA) recently updated their guidelines for using fluoride toothpaste on children. Previously, the ADA had recommended that parents use only water when brushing their infant’s baby teeth. Once the child reached the age of two, parents could begin using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Now, however, the ADA has changed that recommendation, saying that a parent should begin brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as their baby’s first tooth becomes visible. For the full article, please click here.

Why Your Pet’s Teeth Need Attention Too

February is Pet Dental Health Month, which means it is the perfect time to evaluate the dental health of your pet. Your pet’s oral hygiene can directly affect his or her overall health. Untreated dental decay can have serious ramifications and can affect your pet’s liver, kidneys and heart. Schedule an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian to learn how to properly care for your pet’s teeth and gums. For the full article, please click here.

We May Not Have Needed Another Reason to Love Chocolate, But Now We Have One

Crest recently launched a new line of unusually flavored toothpastes to bring a little excitement back into dental hygiene. Crest's most recent flavor to their Crest Be line of toothpastes is called Mint Chocolate Trek. To see our blog about the new toothpaste from Crest, click here.