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Dental News
The Chicago Dental Society just released the results of a survey of 300 of their members with some extremely interesting findings including;
* Almost 70% of dentists had a patient who tried to self-treat themselves before visiting the dentist. Among these self-treatments were using Super Glue to repair broken crowns or dentures and filing chipped teeth with an emery board. Several dentists also reported treating patients after they attempted to give themselves a root canal with a power tool
* Dental Myth #1 among the majority of dentists surveyed is that root canals are painful. Those dentists surveyed feel that advancements in dental technology have made this comment in dental procedure almost pain-free nowadays
* Basketball causes more dental injuries than any other sport. Over 30% of dentists reported treating patients who suffered an injury from playing basketball while 20% said they treated patients who got injured playing hockey. Only 15% of dentists surveyed claimed to treat dental injuries related to either baseball or softball.
* Over 50% of dentists surveyed believe that smiles are getting "too perfect" these days to the point where they look artificial
* Sweet tooths' aren't just for dental patients as almost 25% of dentists surveyed admitted that ice cream is her favorite treat, followed closely by cookies and pie. Surprisingly barely 6% of dentists claim they don't like sweets at all
* Most people (nearly 70%) are avoiding getting needed dental treatment because of the economy. However, this amount is down from last year's figure of over 75% who delayed visiting the dentist for economic reasons
The Chicago Dental Society conducted the survey in advance of it's 146th annual Midwinter Meeting which brings together 30,000 dental professionals. The Midwinter Meeting is a forum for dentists to learn about new products, technologies, and methods in dental care.
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Dental News
Don't be surprised if one day you salt your food with dental plaque as scientists the University of Nottingham (England) have discovered an artificial salt substitute from the crusty substance that forms on our teeth after eating.
Researchers have found that compounds called Dextrans --a starch like molecules made by certain types of bacteria found in dental plaque-- have the ability to trick the human brain into thinking food is salty than it actually is, giving researchers hope that it will one day enable food manufacturers dramatically reduce the amount of salt used in pre-prepared meals.
The Plaque Thickens
Food scientists have long known that thickening agents enhance the taste of saltiness in food, but can only be used in low concentrations to avoid making sauces and soups too thick. Professor Bettina Wolf and her research team at the division of food science at University of Nottingham found, however, that high concentrations of certain dextran molecules can increase the sensation of saltiness without dramatically thickening food.
"Though reducing the salt content in processed food could significantly improve the health of the population, the detrimental change in flavor presents a major challenge as consumers generally find low salt products unacceptable", said Professor Wolf. "High concentrations of low molecular weight thickeners could be used to enhance saltiness perception in low salt products."
Related Blog Posts
Dental Plaque More Dangerous To Blacks Than Whites? ( September 25, 2009 )
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Dental News
There's a new dental product that is designed to quickly and easily assist denture wearers with the unpleasant tasks of removing and cleaning their dentures and its associated adhesive.
Developed by Brian Williams of Decatur Illinois, the 3-in-1 Dental Tool, as it's called, is about the same length as a disposable razor and could be a potential replacement for commercial denture adhesives which some dental health experts say can cause zinc poisoning.
Williams inspiration for developing the tools was actually his own experience with dentures, in particular when he first got them and found it almost impossible to remove them. In addition, trying to remove the adhesive loose from the dentures made him gag.
"I was issued directions and a sample of the Fixodent," he said. "I started thinking: I can't do this every single day of my life. It wasn't working."
This tool comes in two versions, one each for the retail market and one for the medical supply market, and is particularly and useful for those who have to remove dentures from other people, such as medical personnel in nursing homes who generally have to do this with their hands. With a patient suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, for example, medical personnel risk getting bitten by the patient, something which this tool eliminates.
The 3-in-1 Dental Tool is sold by his company Here to Help Products Inc., a name he chose because the reason he invents is to help others. "I just want to assist people," Williams said. "It's all in the name. We're here to help, and all the products we will make will be biodegradable and as earth-friendly as possible."
The fact that Williams device makes cleaning dentures easier doesn't hurt, either.
Related Blog Posts
Temporary Dentures Improve Denture Wearers Self Esteem ( May 25, 2008 )
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Dental News
Can too much brushing and flossing of your teeth be irritating your bowels? A recent study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences suggests that people who brush and floss a lot may be more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which affects about 600,000 Americans.
Researchers from the Chicago-based Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science surveyed 137 people and found that compared to people with healthy digestive systems, those suffering from Irritable Bowel Disease;
* Brushed and flossed more often
* Visited the dentist more often
* Were more likely to use breath freshener
* Had increased tooth decay, dry mouth & oral sores
The researchers suggest that brushing and flossing more may alter the types and numbers of bacteria in the mouth. This could cause imbalances in the bacteria further down the digestive tract. The results are symptoms usually associated with IBD. Previous studies have suggested a link between IBD and changes in digestive bacteria.
Not So Fast
However, the researchers pointed out that the findings is not necessarily mean that frequent (i.e. too much) teeth brushing and flossing leads to IBD. "Patients with IBD have a higher incidence of dry mouth, mouth ulcers and periodontal disease and therefore tend to pay greater attention to their oral hygiene", said David A. Albert, DDS, MPH, of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. "These results do not imply that the hygiene practices caused the IBD."
