Bizzare Objects used for Flossing

Hi all,

Came across this in a news search. People never cease to suprise me on the objects they use to floss between their teeth. Here's a snippet from the Winston-Salem Journal about people in Albany, NY using various objects to floss:

Dentists and periodontists nationwide have been horrified to learn that poker decks do double duty as floss; a seamstress turns to her sewing thread, or needle, to remove the mid-day snack; and office workers turn pencils, paper clips or car keys into it'll-do-for-now floss. It's just not good dental practice.

"Improper tools can actually contribute to, or accelerate recession or abrasion (to the gums). People actually chew off their fingernails and use them as floss," said Dr. Gregg Liberatore, a dentist in private practice in Clifton Park, N.Y.

You can read the entire article here:

Take care, and floss everyday (with floss)


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Pit and Fissure Sealants - Positive Effects on Teeth

Hi all,

Another factoid from the Colgate Oral Health Report (Vol 15, Number 4, 2006, p.5) that applying pit and fissure sealants to teeth resulted in the number of cavities (caries) prevented at 62% to 92% (based on six studies and 1 meta-analysis)

Sealants are easy to apply, require no freezing and result in fewer cavities when properly maintained.


Take Care,

Hans

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Bad Breath - Some Tips from the ADA and AGD

Hi all,

Some suggestions from the ADA (American Dental Association) and AGD (Academy of General Dentistry) on combating bad breath:

Eliminate the bacteria and food particles that can cause bad breath. Floss, then brush your teeth, gums and tongue after each meal.

If you can't brush and floss, rinse your mouth with water after eating to dislodge food and moisten your mouth.

Have your teeth cleaned and examined by a dental professional twice (or more) per year.

Learn the proper way to brush and actually do it.

Drink lots of liquids, preferably water, to keep your mouth moist.

If your mouth feels dry, chew sugarless gum to stimulate production of saliva

You can also chew raw parsley which is a natural breath freshener.

Baking soda is an effective odor eliminator; try a toothpaste that contains baking soda.

Try rinsing your mouth for one minute with a 50-50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water to kill odor-causing bacteria.

Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol; read the label! Instead, try a mouthwash that contains chlorine dioxide. This compound doesn't just mask odor, it actually eliminates it at the source by attacking the odor-causing volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).

Snack on raw vegetables such as carrots, celery and red peppers. This stimulates production of saliva, and some dentists believe it can help to remove plaque from your teeth.

To avoid stress-related dry mouth, practice "conscious relaxation" in stressful situations: breathe deeply, visualize peaceful settings, recognize parts of your body that feel tense and consciously relax them. If you can't get past the stress, chew sugarless gum or mints to keep the salivary glands going.

Use an oral irrigation device such as a Waterpik to remove particles of food wedged between your teeth; portable models are available.

If you wear dentures or a retainer, clean them frequently, and periodically soak them in an antiseptic solution.

Seek out a dentist who offers specialized treatment in that area.

(Sources: ADA/AGD/Casey Online)

Take care all

Hans

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Oral Complications of Cancer Therapy

Hi all,

Cancer affects a great number of people around the world. While there are a number of treatments available to help combat this disease, most have significant oral side effects. This article from the AGD (Academy of General Dentistry) reflects on some of this complications:

Oral complications include salivary gland dysfunction, which leads to dry mouth; rampant dental decay and mouth sores which are painful, diminish the quality of life and can lead to significant compliance problems. According to figures from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), oral complications occur in almost all patients receiving radiation for head and neck malignancies, in more than 75 percent of bone marrow transplant recipients and in nearly 40 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy.

According to recent studies, pretreatment therapy for oral complications can positively affect the outcomes of cancer treatment. "The Academy urges that all members of the cancer treatment team should be fully informed of the treatment plan, with oral care initiated at the outset of cancer treatment," states J. Gordon Wright, Foundation board member.

You can read the entire article here:

Take care,

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Salivary Production Quick Fact

Hi all,

I was reminded of this fact from the Oral Care Report (produced by Colgate, Volume 15, Number 3, 2005) that the average person produces over 600ml of saliva per day. (That's well over two cans of your favourite beverage)

Take care all,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

National Dental Museum

Hi all,

Just posting an interesting link to the National Dental Museum in the States. This site has great educational programs for children in the junior grades. Check it out at http://www.dentalmuseum.org

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Cheese Reduces Tooth Decay

Hi all,

Here's a blurb from the dairy farmers of Canada on the relationship of cheese and reducing the incidence of tooth decay (cavities). Here's a snippet:

Research continues to demonstrate that cheese is a heavyweight contender in the fight against tooth decay. What's more, studies by the Forsyth Specialized Caries Center in Boston indicate that the caries-promoting effect of sugar and the caries-protective effect of cheese - both long noted in coronal caries - have been extended to root caries as well. Various mechanisms of action may be responsible for cheese's anticariogenic effects - from its high mineral content to its ability to stimulate saliva.

Read the rest of the article here:


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Mississauga Dentist - Promenade Court Dental

Looking for a dentist located in Mississauga? Promenade Court Dental is accepting new patients and emergencies. Call us to get your custom tray tooth whitening for 50% off! (Only $149 with complete exam.)


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Flossing Tidbit

Hi all,

Just a reminder that brushing is not enough. You can miss up to 35% of the surfaces of your teeth by not doing it everyday.

Take Care,

Hans.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis (Jaw Rot)

Hi all,

This is part two of the article sent to me by the AGD (Academy of General Dentistry). This particular snippet deals with the complications of bisphosphonates and an increased risk of jaw necrosis (jaw rot):

Breast cancer patients, individuals at risk for osteoporosis, and individuals undergoing certain types of bone cancer therapies often take drugs that contain bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates may place patients at risk for developing osteonecrosis of the jaws (a rotting of the jaw bones), according to a case report and literature review that appeared in the May/June 2006 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Bisphosphonates are a family of drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, Paget’s disease (bone cancers), and bone metastasis from other cancers. These drugs can bond to bone surfaces and prevent osteoclasts (cells that breakdown bone) from doing their job.

“Healthy bones constantly rebuild themselves,” explains co-author of the report Sally-Jo Placa, DMD, MPA. “However, since the jawbones have rapid cell turnover, they can fail to heal properly in patients taking any of the bisphosphonate drugs. Patients need to be aware of the possibility of complications from dental surgery or extractions.” Since these drugs linger in the bone indefinitely, they may upset the cell balance in how the jaws regenerate and remove unhealthy bone.

Current knowledge suggests that some of these effects can last up to 17 years! (Wow!) You can read the rest of the article here.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Pregnancy Cravings and Oral Health

Hi all,

This article was sent to me via our friends at the AGD (Academy of General Dentistry), discussing the problems of cravings during pregnancy. Here is a snippet from that article:

Pregnant women may often make ice cream runs to calm their cravings as they wait for their baby’s arrival. Other women suffering from an eating disorder called pica, will have cravings for ice, freezer frost, or even soil.

Pica combined with bulimia can have adverse effects on an individual’s oral health during pregnancy and also can be hard to diagnose and treat during those nine months, according to a study published in the May/June 2006 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Pica, usually a secretive behavior, is a compulsive eating disorder in which sufferers have a constant appetite for non-nutritious substances. Bulimia is a condition in which patients overeat and then purge due to a fear of gaining weight. While the conditions’ association and cause during pregnancy are not known, many suggest cultural and physiological factors are to blame. Others believe depression or iron and zinc deficiencies during pregnancy could be a factor.

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here:


Take care all

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Practice Poster Images

Hi all,

Just wanted to display some of our advertising that people in the area of the dental practice (South Mississauga) will see. I've had great feedback with this poster. (You will need adobe acrobat reader to view it, get it from www.download.com if you need it)

Click here to view it


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Google Map Page of the Promenade Court Dental Practice

Hi all,

Here's the link to the google map page of the Promenade Court Dental Health Group Practice.

What a url!!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.701751,59.238281&q=Promenade+Court+Dental&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14&ll=43.578712,-79.615517&spn=0.028291,0.05785&iwloc=A

Take Care,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Sportguards

Hi all,

This is a modified version of a fact sheet in my office about the need for sportguards:

Facts:

Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports, the majority of these injuries are preventable.

More than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year during sports activities.

An athlete is sixty times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard.

The cost of a fractured tooth is many times greater than the cost of a dentist diagnosed and designed professionally made mouthguard.

Every athlete involved in contact sport has about 10% chance per season of an orofacial injury or a 35-56% chance during an athletic career. A properly fitted mouthguard reduces the chance of sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw.

Take care,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Smoking, Stained Teeth, and Heart Disease Statistics

Hi all,

Got this information from Pfizer. I've reformatted it for the web:

60% of smokers report having stained teeth
56% of smokers are interested in smoking cessation products that whiten teeth

After quitting smoking:

Within 48 hours: the chance of heart attack is reduced
At 1 year: the risk of heart disease is ½ that of a smoker
At 5 years: the risk of stroke = non smoker
At 15 years: the risk of dying from a heart attack = non smoker

Pretty sobering stats, but they do indicate that some of the effects of smoking can be reversed.

Take Care

Hans

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100