Soda Vs. Egg Experiment For Kids

Currently, a Polar Vortex is reeking havoc on the majority of the United States. Schools, State agencies, and major stores have been closed for almost a week due to extreme temperatures.

Kids can get extremely bored being cooped up all day, and I'm sure most parents have pulled out all the stops to keep their kids bordem at an all-time low.

How about learning healthy brushing habits by doing a fun experiment?

Supplies:

• ADA-accepted toothpaste
• ADA-accepted toothbrush
• Hard-boiled egg
• Cup
• Dark soda or juice 

 Tell your children that they will be doing an experiment to see what happens when the outer shell of the egg is exposed to the soda or juice. *The egg is the replica of a tooth*

• Submerge the hard-boiled egg into a glass of soda or juice and let it sit overnight. 
• Take bets on what will happen to the egg.
•  In the morning remove the egg from the soda or juice and let the children examine the egg. 
• What's the color look like?
• Is the egg as hard as it was the night before?
• Explain that this is what happens to your teeth when you eat/drink sugary products.
• Now load up the egg with toothpaste and try to scrub away the strains!

Hopefully, this is a fun experiment for the kids and one they will never forget!

The experiment found here!

Is Sedation Dentistry The Right Choice For You?

If you are dental phobic, anxious because you have a long complex procedure ahead of you or are having oral surgery, conscious sedation may just be right for you! What if you could have your dental procedures done while "consciously asleep" and wake up with no memory or trauma whatsoever? It sounds too good to be true but it is becoming a safe and efficient way for a dentist to treat severely anxious or phobic patients.
Conscious sedation allows you to relax in the chair while allowing the dentist to complete long or complex procedures without further distressing you. Now, please don't confuse this with general anesthesia, because it isn't! You will still be able to respond to questions and follow instructions. You will typically still be given local anesthesia such as lidocaine, but won't remember the shot. While you are not actually physically asleep through the procedure, you may think that you were because of the mind-erasing effect.
The process is rather simple. A small pill, such as triazolam, is given approximately an hour before the procedure. More medication may be given depending on the patients response to the first pill. Everyone is different. It is advised to ask someone to drive you to and from the appointment.
Now, keep in mind that not every doctor is able to use this form of sedation. It requires special training and certification.  This includes Cardiac Life Support training to help ensure the safety of the patient in an emergency.
It is becoming a more popular way to treat anxious and fearful patients, but as always, do your homework first. Check the doctors credentials and make sure he/she has had the proper training, or has a qualified, licensed anesthetist on staff.

Now this is something to smile about! So, Keep Smiling!

Hydrogen Peroxide: Benefits For The Mouth

Keeping hydrogen peroxide on hand comes with many other benefits besides cleaning cuts and wounds. Did you know that you can use hydrogen peroxide in your mouth?

Whitening teeth - Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent but not as effective as other whitening methods.

Easing a sore throat - Gargling hydrogen peroxide may ease discomfort by reducing the bacteria count.

Gum Disease - Since hydrogen peroxide contains antibacterial properties, it may help treat gum disease.
When plaque forms on the teeth, it consists of a slimy film of bacteria called biofilm and when hydrogen peroxide is used it releases oxygen that helps destroy that bacteria.

Mouth sores -Like I mentioned above with all of its antibacterial properties, hydrogen peroxide may help treat minor mouth irritations like canker sores and cuts from braces.

Mouthwash - Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water and swish around the mouth.

Disinfectant - That's right, soaking your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide helps kill germs. It also works on retainers and mouth guards!

Here are a few important notes:
*Do not use any type of hydrogen peroxide. Use  3% concentration!
*You may experience foaming in the mouth, don't worry its normal!
*To avoid irritations, limit usage to 1 time a week!


Information found here and here!

The Interesting Functionality of Taste Buds

When your're taking a bite of a big, juicy burger or sipping on a milkshake, you know one thing... It tastes good, right? Did you ever think about why that is? 

Your tongue and the roof of your mouth are covered in thousands of these tiny little buds. When you eat, your saliva helps break down food. Your taste buds send little messages to your brain which tell you all kinds of information like whether or not the food tastes good, if it's hot, cold, sweet, sour, etc.

Taste buds are most important because they play the biggest part in how we enjoy different foods and flavors. As a child, you would have been more sensitive to different foods because your taste buds were not only on your tongue, but on the roof and the sides of your mouth. As an adult, you may notice that certain foods you were unable to eat as a child taste better. This is because your taste buds are more centered to your tongue area and are now less sensitive.

Here are some tidbits of information about your taste buds:

-Buds that taste bitterness are located at the back of the tongue. Sour taste buds are located on either side of the tongue, with salty/sweet buds on the tip. The center of the tongue does not have many taste buds. There is research that disputes this theory.  Some believe that there are no "zones" in your mouth for sensing specific tastes.  Who knows?  Things (and theories) are always changing!

- The five taste categories are salty, bitter, sweet, sour and umami (savory).

- If you get fat, so does your tongue!  This is believed to be a contributing factor in Sleep Apnea.

- Taste buds are not visible to the naked eye.

-Taste is the weakest of the 5 senses.

- Girls have more taste buds than boys.

-We have approximately 2000-4000 taste buds inside our mouths.

Taste on, and Keep Smiling!

Do You Know How Forensic Dentistry Works? Check This Out!

I personally find it amazing how a forensic dentist can identify a person just by using dental records.

The deceased people who are most often identified through dental records are those who were victims of fires, this is do to the fact that the tooth enamel is hardest substance of the human body and can sustain temperatures of more than 2,000 degrees. Teeth that have been through this kind of heat can be very fragile and could shrink but if used carefully they can still be used in identification.

To identify a person the forensic dentist needs a copy of the deceased persons dental records. In case of multiple people the forensic dentist receives a list of possible dental records and compares them to the teeth in hopes to find a match. A forensic dentist that is working on a corps were the teeth are still in tacked requires them to work in the morgue. The best way to compare teeth is through X-Rays, but sometimes those aren't available, so notation on the members charts can also tell the dentist if they are a match.

Identifying a person without any dental records can be very difficult but things such as broken teeth, missing teeth or anything that may be recognizable by family and friends can be helpful. Also things about a persons lifestyle can be helpful in determining the deceased person such as if they smoked a pipe or was a bagpipe player they will have a distinctive wear pattern.

In addition to dental records, the forensic dentist can pull DNA from the pulp located in the center of the tooth. Unlike the enamel, the pulp can become damaged.

Dental Identification is often the last resort in trying to identify a deceased person.


*Information was found here

Surprising Uses for Whitening Toothpaste-Who Knew?

Here are five toothpaste "hacks" that may not be commonly known. I may just have to try some of these myself!

• Remove crayon from painted walls.  All you need is some toothpaste and a damp cloth, buff lightly then rinse the area.  Off it goes!
• Scuffs on linoleum or tile floors.  Again, just a little toothpaste and a damp cloth.  Works like a charm.
• Fingernails and Toenails.  This one I wish I had thought of myself!  Wet an old (emphasis on old) toothbrush, add toothpaste and generously apply to fingernails and toenails. Wait a few minutes, then scrub a little bit.  Rinse.  They will look fresh and bright!  It takes away the yellowing effect. Of course it would!  It works on teeth, right? I love this!
• Clean jewelry.  It shines up diamonds and gold just as good as any jewelry cleaner would, and you already have it in your cabinet.  
• Headlight haze.  How many of us pay good money to have the headlights treated after yellowing and scratching occurs?  Buff it out with toothpaste. If nothing else, you may be able to put off the expensive treatment for awhile. 
• Skunk Spray Deodorizer.  Never would have thought of this one! The instructions I read are as follows: If your pet encounters a skunk, try this.  Wet him down, rub toothpaste into his fur, then rinse. Apparently the fluoride helps to eliminate some of the odor.  Not sure about this one.  I'd check with the vet first.  Some toothpaste contains xylitol, which is known to be a health risk for pets.

Enjoy!
Keep Smiling! 

Cold And Flu Remedies Could Effect Your Teeth

Sneezing - check
Coughing - check
Sore Throat - check
Headache - check
Exhausted - check
Feel like crap - check

Yup, you caught a dreaded cold.

There are tones of remedies that you can try to help relieve your symptoms but did you ever think that they may be causing damage to your teeth?

Decongestants:
These help battle runny noses by drying things out, but it can ultimately leave things to dry, like saliva flow. Reduced saliva flow can cause bacterial growth in the mouth, which can cause problems like gum disease and tooth decay...Gross

Cough drops and throat lozenges:
Sugar is the common ingredient in these products, and we all know sugar can lead to tooth decay. So this means, holding it in your mouth for extended periods can cause damage. Try using sugar-free cough drops and lozenges next time.

Cough Syrup:
Cough syrup is sticky and can leave a film on the teeth which can lead to tooth decay. Also, cough syrup contains alcohol which can decrease saliva flow. This makes it hard to wash away the film stuck to your teeth.

Hot Tea:
Yes, drinking hot tea is great to help cure a cold but it still has tooth eroding ingredients.  It is best to drink hot tea through a straw, this minimizes the contact with the teeth.

Orange juice:
Orange juice is rich in Vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system but the acidity can soften tooth enamel.

Even though protecting your teeth is the last thing on your mind when your sick, it will help prevent further damage in the future!


Information found here.

Tooth Loss And Premature Aging

Did you know? Having a full set of teeth isn't only essential for a healthy smile - it's also critical to keep you looking young! Tooth loss can age you without immediate treatment. That's because the bone tissue around the missing tooth no longer gets stimulated by chewing, causing the bone, skin, and jaw to deteriorate over time. Even one or two missing teeth can lead to noticeable facial sagging.

The best thing you can do to prevent premature aging due to tooth loss is to see your dentist as soon as possible after you lose a tooth. Depending on the severity of your tooth loss they may recommend a fully customizable dental bridge treatment for one or more missing teeth.

Information is from a flyer my dental office sent to me.
Winning Smiles - Dr. Ghasem Darian

Digital Dentistry-Advanced Technology At Its Best

Dentistry has never been an exact science, but it's getting closer! With the introduction of digital equipment and qualified personnel to manage it, both doctor and patient are reaping the benefits.  Intra-oral cameras, 3D imagery, and virtual restoration software makes for more precise diagnoses and treatment, meaning less pain and trauma for the patient.
With these advancements it is now possible for the dentist to produce same-day crowns from a 3D digital model of your tooth, using a small square ceramic block.  The computer can match the dimensions exactly. He can create digital dentures. Although these generally cannot be done in a day, the process is definitely more precise.  He can take a digital x-ray or scan of your face and jaw and virtually rebuild your mouth with implants, allowing you to see the finished product on a screen before treatment even begins!  All of this technology comes at a hefty cost, however.  It can cost upwards of $150,000 to $200,000 to equip a dental office with this type of software and machinery. Of course, the cost is passed on to the patient in different ways, but, wouldn't you rather have a well fitting set of dentures as opposed to a loose pair that you can't wear?  Or a crown that fits like the permanent tooth you once had? Or implants that function and feel like a brand new set of natural teeth?  Worth the cost, in my opinion.  Feel free to weigh in! I welcome your opinion.

As Always, Keep Smiling!