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Two Ways to Tooth Whitening Source: WebMD.com				Gentle 'Drillings' and Fillings Source: WebMD.com The only way to treat tooth decay, technically known as dental caries, is by cutting away the decaying portion of the tooth, a procedure that is done almost 170 million times a year. Until about five years ago, the only way to do that was with the standard handpiece, commonly known as the dental drill, a device that dates to the 1700s. Modern high-speed handpieces revolutionized dentistry when they were introduced in the 1960s. Today, dentists have two other options–the erbium:YAG laser and the microair abrasion unit. FDA cleared the erbium:YAG laser for marketing for use on adults in May 1997 and for use on children in October 1998. Though the clearances were the first of their kind for treating "hard-tissue" in the mouth, the laser actually was introduced into dentistry in 1995, when FDA cleared a laser device for gum surgery. READ MORE >
Tooth whitening can be achieved in two ways. A product can bleach the tooth. That means it actually changes the natural tooth color, usually anywhere from five to seven -- but even up to twelve -- shades brighter, which is how dentists assess tooth color. Bleaching products contain peroxides that help remove both deep and surface stains. The second whitening process uses non-bleaching products that work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains only. The newcomer to the world of tooth whitening is known as chairside bleaching. This may require more than one visit, with each visit lasting 30 to 60 minutes. During chairside bleaching, your dentist applies either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the soft tissues in the mouth. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent. Whitening products are available from your dentist, but there are also many products to choose from over the counter. But do they work?		Over-the-counter products are less expensive but will not brighten your teeth as much as professional products. Procter & Gamble Co.'s Whitestrips, for example, sell for about $40, and Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s Simply White, for about $15. The American Dental Association says the products are safe; the range of whitening power they have, though, is usually just a shade or two. Bleaching isn't permanent. "You may need a touch-up every several years. If you smoke and drink a lot of coffee, you may need the touch-up more often," says Ing. READ MORE >
Diabetes and Periodontal Disease Source: WebMD.com
If you have diabetes, you know the disease can harm your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other important systems in the body. Did you know it can also cause problems in your mouth? People with diabetes have a higher than normal risk of contracting periodontal diseases.		Periodontal diseases are infections of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place. In advanced stages, they lead to painful chewing problems and even tooth loss. Like any infection, gum disease can make it hard to keep your blood sugar under control. What Is the Link Between Diabetes and Periodontal Disease? READ MORE >

Good Oral Health Important During Pregnancy Source: CNN.com				Surgeon General’s Report Links Oral Health to Total Wellness; Calls for National Partnership to Improve Public Health Source: ADHA Online The first-ever comprehensive report on the status of the nation’s oral health, released May 25, 2000, by Surgeon General, David Satcher, MD, PhD, concluded that if left untreated, poor oral health acts as the silent X-factor promoting the onset of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, which are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans each year. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General underscores the critical relationship between oral health and general health throughout life because the condition of the mouth directly mirrors the condition of the body.
Pregnancy is a bad time to skip a dental checkup, according to experts. I learned this firsthand when, a month after the missed appointment, my mouth started bleeding during brushing.		Cause for alarm? Perhaps. An infection in the mouth can set off a chain of events resulting in a premature birth, putting the health of the unborn baby at serious risk. In fact, women with gum disease are six times more likely to deliver early than women with healthy gums, according to a study led by Dr. Steven Offenbacher, director of the Center for Oral Systemic Disease at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The study was published in October 1996 in Annals of Periodontology.
Flossing and Brushing May Be Good For Your Brain Source: WebMD.com
Following a dentist's advice may not seem like the most likely way to protect the brain, but according to research presented at a meeting in New Orleans, flossing and brushing may help prevent strokes. Although past research has linked severe gum disease, or periodontitis, to 'hardening of the arteries,' stroke, and heart disease, Armin J. Grau, MD, and researchers at the University of Heidelberg in Germany have undertaken what's believed to be the first study of its kind looking at the link between periodontitis and stroke.		Last July, preliminary data revealed that one-third more people who had had a stroke were found to have severe periodontitis, compared with the control group. On top of that, the odds "tended to increase," Grau writes, when compared with other stroke risks such as previous stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, current and previous smoking, and even childhood socioeconomic status.
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