Is Oral Cancer Greater In Non-Smokers?

New research has discovered that non-smokers face a higher risk of developing oral cancer than smokers. CRAZY...

The research was done at the University of British Columbia where they looked at 450 patients with oral lesions and discovered that non-smokers were more than twice as likely to see them develop into cancer over smokers.

The Oral Health Foundation is calling on everyone to be alert of early signs of oral cancer. Catching oral cancer early can dramatically increase your chance if beating the disease.

Some signs of oral cancer:

• Mouth ulcers that do not heal
• Constant sore throat
• Red and white patches
• Unusual lumps or bumps on the head or neck area

It's important to do regular self checks at home and if you notice anything out of the ordinary seek medical/dental attention right away!

Why You Should Never, Ever, Ever Use Your Teeth As Utensils!

From the time we are babies, we put objects in our mouths.  Toys, rocks, keys, marbles, the dogs ear, the cats tail, however, we learn as we get older that the dog and the cat are off limits...(snicker)   Some of us never learn though, that our teeth were not meant to be used as tools! We open bottles, can tabs, plastic containers and bags that should be cut with scissors...we have oral jewelry implanted on our lips or tongue and fiddle with them all the time. We hold our keys in our mouths, our pens and pencils, sun glasses, hair clips and other things and never even think about the damage we could be causing to our teeth! Misusing our teeth in this way can cause serious chipping, cracking and misalignment, whether by accidental occurrence or over time. This adds up to $$$ spent for tooth repairs and it all could have been prevented if we had just used our common sense in the first place and avoided the impulse to chew on something that wasn't food!

The bottom line is this: Objects that are not meant for human consumption should never be put in our mouths!
Keep that in mind, and Keep Smiling!

Dentistry In A Rural Town

For the last couple years I have lived in a smaller rural community in western Arizona. Over the couple years, I have gotten to know some of the dental centers in the area and have learned the struggles that they have, that those in the big city do not.

The first challenge they face is their costs. If you have ever been a patient in a rural area dental center, then you know that the cost of dentistry is higher. Trust me, the dentists would like to charge the rates of an urban area, but their costs are so much higher, especially when it comes to supplies. It is cost them more to have them shipped to them.

The other one challenge they face is their competition. In an urban area, there are so many people that smaller, doctor owned dental centers can keep up with corporate centers and have a better chance of success. However in a rural area, 1 or 2 corporate centers that have the higher advertising budget and the ability offer dirt cheap prices can easily dominate the area and leave the dentist owned facilities fight to stay afloat.

This is part of the reason why the Savon Rural Fee schedule is different than the Urban Fee schedule. We have to accommodate for more factors in the dental office

Why Do Teeth Turn Black?

Teeth owe their color to the high amount of calcium found in the outer layer of the teeth, known as the enamel.

Over time, additional elements left behind by foods and drinks can cause discoloration (yellow or gray) but if your teeth begin to turn black, seek dental attention as soon as possible.

Causes of black teeth can either be extrinsic (outside) or Intrinsic (inside).

Extrinsic:

• Damage to the enamel
• Stains
• Tarter build up
• Certain medications
• Tobacco
• Eating/drinking dark foods

Intrinsic:

• Falling accident
• Decay
• Cavities

 A person can not do at home treatments to remove the black colorization. This needs to be treated by a dentist. The dentist may try and remove the tarter but sometimes its impossible and they may have to preform a root canal or possibly remove the tooth.

Natural Remedies for Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the tongue, gums, inner cheeks or lips.  It looks like a white pasty coating on the tongue or patchy white sores on the inner cheeks or roof of the mouth. 
Babies, people with compromised immune systems and diabetic people are commonly prone to this type of infection.  It can be difficult to treat, but there are some things you can do at home to help.

1. Check your diet! Avoid sugar and starchy foods. Large amounts of sugar and white carbohydrates can bring on or worsen a bout of candida (Thrush).  Eat fresh raw vegetables and lean proteins or yogurt, or you can eat foods that contain vinegar, such as sauerkraut or pickles to actually ward off the infection.!
   
2. Try a natural remedy such as grapefruit seed extract (a few drops diluted in water,just wish a few times a day) coconut oil ( excellent to cook with in place of vegetable oils), plain, sugar free yogurt (yogurt contains healthy bacteria that helps to balance the ph in the body).  Adults with the infection can also take acidophilous capsules or liquid to help reduce the growth of bacteria.

3. Remember to clean your toothbrush and your tongue scraper with a bleach/water solution after each use to avoid reinfecting yourself when you brush your teeth. 

These are some of the ideas I came up with from around the web.

Enjoy, & keep smiling!

Manual Brushing or Electric Brushing.

My dentist advised me to get an Electric Toothbrush. That get me wondering what the advantages of them are. I did research on this topic and it appears that electric toothbrushes are the better choice, for these reasons:

• They are more effective at removing plaque and tartar.
• They prevent you from brushing too hard which can cause abrasion.
• They make it easier for people with arthritis and other motor dysfunction to brush effectively.
• Kids will brush more often because they think it's fun ( a definite plus!).
• The ADA (American Dental Association) currently recommends electric brushes over manual brushing.

It seems that the chief drawback to the electric toothbrush is that they tend to be a little bit pricey. However, there are some affordable models out there if you're willing to shop around.

How To Treat Dental Pain Without Opioids

New research from the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University has found that Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone or in combination with acetaminophen are better at easing dental pain but sometimes opioids are the best option but should only be prescribed as a last resort.

The research found on adults: a combination of 400 milligrams of ibuprofen and 1,000 milligrams of acetaminophen was superior to any opioid containing medications.

Anita Aminoshariae, an associate professor in the dental schools department of Endodontics and one of the study's authors, hopes health care providers take note of these findings!


For the full article click here!