Thinking of getting your tongue pierced??

I have had a few friends who have had their tongues pierced and even I have thought about getting it done. But after hearing that they removed it do to it breaking their teeth seemed to change my mind.
I found this article about some of the ‘cons’ of having your tongue pierced. Might make you think twice before having it done.

A bit on the humorous side...

I'm a statistic junkie, lol, and I found this great site that offers a whole bunch of useless, but enlightening, knowledge. Did you know that the average woman smiles about 62 times a day and a man only smiles 8? And kids laugh around 400 times a day and adults only 15? Want more useless information? Enjoy. :)

The effectiveness of Electric Toothbrushes vs. Manual Brushing

I did some extensive 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.

Here is a link to one of the articles I read recently:

Happy Dental Health!

Connection Between Your Oral Health and Your Overall Health

As I was reading through the other blogs this morning, the one about perio disease being connected to diabetes struck me. It reminded me of an article I had read about the connection between your oral health and your health overall, so I decided to post it and add to the point.

I found the link to the article on THIS website, but you can get the actual article HERE.

Enjoy :)

Dental insurance vs a Dental plan..

I often wondered which is better. Everyone wants something that is affordable yet still saves you money in the long run. When searching around on line I found this article from Savon Dental Plan. Really helps clarify the difference and might help you decide which one is right for you.

Temporomandibular Joint Problem?

Could your aches and pains be a Temporomandibular Joint Problem? Let's review some of the symptoms of TMJ problems.
1. A malocclusion which is an imbalance in the way your teeth come together.
2. A 'clicking' or 'grinding' sound when you open or close your mouth.
3. A ringing or aching in and around the ear.
4. A pain or tenderness of the hard or soft tissue in and around the jaw area.
5. A facial pain.
6. A pain or ache when chewing or swallowing.
7. A headache.
8. A 'locking' jaw joint.
9. A shoulder and/or neck ache.
Although any of these signs and symptoms could be a Temporomandibular Joint Problem, it takes a health care professional that is trained in Temporomandibular Joint Problems to diagnose a TMJ problem.

Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer cases increase by about 33-35,000 per year in the United States. There are an estimated 8,000 deaths attributed to Oral Cancer in the United States each year. Oral Cancer usually strikes people over 40 but has no age barrier. All people, with or without teeth, should see their dentist regularly for Oral Cancer exams. Unfortunately, pain is not an early sign of Oral Cancer. What can you do to help cut down the incidence of Oral Cancer? Don't smoke. If you use alcohol, drink in moderation. Use lip balm with sunscreen.

Diabetes and Periodontal Disease

Diabetes and Periodontal Disease: The connection makes sense! I was reading in a journal the other day about the connection between Periodontal Disease and Diabetes. For the estimated 18-20 million Americans that have Diabetes it is important to understand that one of the main avenues of bacteria into the bloodstream could be from Periodontal Disease. As Diabetics know all to well , the influx of bacteria into their system is much more dangerous then if they didn't have Diabetes because of the higher risk of infections. Periodontal disease is sometimes spoken of as the sixth complication of Diabetes. Now research is suggesting that Periodontal Disease and Diabetes is a two way path. Poorly controlled type 2 Diabetics are more likely to have Periodontal Disease and Periodontal Disease can raise blood sugar levels making it harder for the Diabetic to control his/her blood sugar levels. Make sure that if you are a Diabetic you let your dental care provider know. Your dentist will want to note this important medical information in your chart so that he/she can watch it closely as you have your dental health needs evaluated and treated.