Teams explore dental health

YOU might think that good dental health is as easy as brushing your teeth.

However, in Brisbane, there is a great deal of research being done on the effectiveness of health campaigns, dental technology, and the relationships between dental problems and other health issues.

University of Queensland researchers have this year won Dental Board of Queensland grants for several projects.

One research team is examining the identification of oral health issues in young defence personnel, while another is testing the effectiveness of commercially available saliva and plaque sampling products in assessing oral health.

UQ speech pathology lecturer Gail Woodyatt has also been awarded a grant from the Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland to explore the treatment environment for children with autistic spectrum disorder.

“My research will investigate the current intervention strategies of speech pathologists and inform the profession of training needs in the area,” Dr Woodyatt said.

Griffith University, which saw its first dentistry students graduate late last year, has also set up research groups including dental education, oral, head, neck, and thyroid diseases as well as oral microbiology and immunology.

Source: Teams explore dental health

Mouth is ‘window on the rest of the body’

Dental hygiene is linked to more than teeth, gums

By Debby Waldman, Canwest News Service When you hear the term “oral health,” chances are you think about brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist. All play a critical role, but Dr. Deborah Stymiest, a Fredericton, N. B., dentist and president of the Canadian Dental Association, says oral health means more than just healthy teeth. “You have to have a healthy mouth to be a healthy person,” Stymiest says. Stymiest calls the mouth “the window to the rest of the body.” She says problems there are often a warning that something is wrong elsewhere. Bacteria thrive in warmth and moisture, and the mouth is an extremely hospitable environment. The reason dentists and hygienists insist that patients brush and floss after every meal is that those rituals prevent bacteria from building up on the teeth. Unchecked, a buildup of plaque (soft bacteria), calculus or tartar can eat away at your gums, which will then wear down the bone that holds teeth in place.

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Experts Draw Connection Between Dental Care And Baby’s Health

The Orange County Health Department just got a $100,000 grant from the Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida to help educate and get pregnant women the help they need for their teeth.

The check presented during a press conference will help with a new program linking women of child bearing age to affordable dental health care — all to help reduce infant death in Orange County.

The goal is to link at least 300 pre-conceptual or pregnant women to preventative dental treatment services by providing oral health exams and cleaning services.

Source: Experts Draw Connection Between Dental Care And Baby’s Health

Teeth Whitening at home

With the kind of lifestyle we lead and the junk foods we eat, it takes a bit of efforts on your part to have sparkling white teeth. Though some people have shining white teeth, a majority of us have teeth with yellowish shade.

Until a decade ago, teeth whitening were done only by dentists at a cost which left you poorer by more than $1000 .A procedure called teeth bleaching was used which required a few visits to your dentist’s clinic. Usually a mold was made by your doctor and after a few days a custom fitted mouth piece was given to you. These mouth pieces were filled with peroxide and fitted against your gums .You were required to sit in the dental chair for an hour or so on every visit. At least 3-4 visits were mandatory before your teeth were finally bleached sparkling white. Do you think this kind of hassles and repeated visit to your dentist is possible these days?

With the advancement in medical science and technology the same procedure can be followed by you at home as and when you feel comfortable. No, you need not worry about the cost it is not going to cost you thousands of dollars either. The procedure I have described above can be followed by anyone at home.Making the mold and filling it with special whitening gel is what you can do at home.

Just put the mold in boiling water and press it against your teeth and gums until it takes the shape your teeth and gums. Let it cool down to harden. Fill the mold with the gel, fix it against your teeth, sit back and let the gel whiten your teeth. It is as simple as that.

Moreover it is affordable for every pocket. All you need to do is order it online and use it .Some manufacturer also give you a free trial offer. Check for it.

sources :- Teeth Whitening at home

Dentist helps children, one smile at a time

It’s not often you get the chance to help others while helping yourself, but this year, from March through June, local Crown Council dentist Dr. Robert Antolak is giving everyone the opportunity to give children a reason to smile, while giving themselves the gift of a brighter, more beautiful smile.

The Smiles for Life

Foundation is the children’s charity organization of the Crown Council, an organization of dentists throughout North America. Each year Crown Council dentists participate in the Smiles for Life campaign, which offers professional teeth whitening services at a considerably reduced price, and 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to children’s charities. The Crown Council’s Smiles for Life Foundation has raised more than $22 million since 1998, benefiting nearly 500 children’s charities across North America.

“The professional tooth whitening procedure is painless and only requires a few minutes in the dental chair. Getting this dental procedure done during this campaign can help touch a child’s life forever,” Antolak said. “My team and I are ready to professionally whiten people’s teeth for a great cause, and I’m inviting all members of my community to make an appointment with me during my Smiles for Life campaign to give themselves – and a child – a reason to smile.”

For details :-  Dentist helps children, one smile at a time

National Children’s Dental Health Month

J. L. Bowler Elementary School

For Desert Valley Times

Dr. Alex Blazzard visited all the first-grade classes and a couple of kindergarten classes – about 200 students – at J.L. Bowler Elementary School last week for National Children’s Dental Health.

Blazzard visited the kids to review why teeth are so important and how to keep teeth clean. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma, according to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General. Tooth decay affects 50 percent of U.S. first graders. Nationally, more than one-half of children ages 6 to 8 have tooth decay, and one-third of it goes untreated.

This really emphasizes the importance of educating children on healthy eating, good oral health care habits and regular dental visits.

Sources :-  National Children’s Dental Health Month

Local dentist visits area schools during National Children’s Dental Health Month

WESTFIELD–February is national Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) a month-long celebration sponsored by the American Dental Association to promote dental education and awareness for all children.

The annual celebration focuses on oral hygiene care, nutritional concerns, prevention, and the importance of regular dental visits.

“By helping children develop a positive attitude and healthy habits, we will provide the tools they need to maintain good oral health throughout their lives and to keep their smiles healthy and beautiful,” said Dr. Scott Gersch.

In observance of NCDHM, Dr. Scott Gersch, and his dental team from Gersch Orthodontics, visited a number of elementary schools in Westfield, Cranford, Garwood and Linden and spoke to grades one through four about dental health and maintaining a beautiful smile.

Stars shine in Colgate’s Oral Health Month

MANILA, Philippines – Billy Crawford, Nikki Gil and Sam Concepcion showed their support for Colgate’s celebration of Oral Health Month at the SM Mall of Asia recently. They, together with Colgate, Philippine Dental Association and the Department of Education pledged their support to the Zero Cavity Mission, which helps both young and adults alike to jumpstart their oral health care.

Colgate reaches almost all of the public elementary schools nationwide through its various oral health education materials. Colgate and the DepEd, had also put into action a nationwide toothbrushing campaign called the 7 o’clock Toothbrushing Habit. This is the result of Colgate breaking the Guinness World Record for most students brushing their teeth at the same time. This year, oral health care programs of Colgate will continue in partnership with the DepEd and the Philippine Dental Association with the provision of free dental services and good oral hygiene lectures to various beneficiaries and in schools, malls, barangays. Colgate will also conduct oral and systemic health symposia to thousands of dentists and dental students nationwide, and give financial assistance to qualified dental schools to help them complete their dentistry courses.

Article Source :- Stars shine in Colgate’s Oral Health Month

Does home tooth bleaching work?

Q. My teeth have been yellow since I was young. Who can fix this problem for me, or is there some product I can buy to do it myself?

A. Tooth bleaching – also known as tooth whitening – is a common procedure in general dentistry and especially in cosmetic dentistry.

Your teeth enamel can be discoloured by ageing, chemical damage or stains from external sources, including medication, coffee, tea and cigarettes.

Tooth bleaching can be done on your own at home, but in the dentist’s office you have a special light or laser, both of which use a whitening gel.

This translucent bleaching gel is applied to the teeth and a laser beam is used to activate crystals that absorb the beam’s energy and penetrate the enamel.

The time this takes depends on the degree of discoloration. One visit is usually enough for brighter teeth, but often you need to follow up with bleaching at home for the best results.

To do the bleaching at home you need a custom-fitted tray that contains bleaching gel and is worn over the teeth for a short period each day.

Some people experience discomfort wearing the mouth tray, but your dentist can adjust it for a better fit.

“Take-home” or “over-the-counter” bleaching is easy and less expensive that a trip to the dentist, but results can vary with the kind of application used.

Results can sometimes be evident in a couple of days, but it usually takes a week or two to see the full whitening. Meanwhile others might see no results at all.

And while bleaching is quite effective, there can be short-term disadvantages, such as sore gums or teeth due to the bleach.

Some individuals are more chemically sensitive. If you are, inform your dentist. He’ll test your sensitivity to the bleach solution.

When there is serious discoloration, veneers or crowns might be the better choice.

Source :- Does home tooth bleaching work?

American Cancer Society plans new recruiting blitz

Volunteers will ask people in Shreveport, Bossier City and Coushatta next week to “paint the town purple” as the American Cancer Society prepares for its Relay for Life fundraiser.

Groups will visit stores, schools, hospitals and churches in each city to recruit teams for the walk in April. They’ll also set up command centers at prominent locations to raise awareness about the event.

“We encourage each community to wear purple on that day,” said Lindsay Irvin Dean, a development representative with the local affiliate.

The recruiting blitzes are new locally and in other chapters across the nation. The local affiliate doesn’t have any recruiting goals beyond getting more people interested in the walk.

“It’s more of an awareness day,” Dean said.

Teams can be supported by businesses or consist of a group of individuals. Some families — especially those touched by cancer — form teams for the event. Teams often create T-shirts to show their solidarity or give their sponsors a plug.

People can form a team by recruiting friends or family members, or they can join an existing team. People also can particpate as individuals. There is no fixed cost to participate in Relay for Life. Instead, teams set fundraising goals.

Forty-five teams participated in the local Relay for Life last year. Money raised by Relay for Life provides services to local cancer patients and helps underwrite cancer research. The event also recognizes cancer survivors.

The local American Cancer Society affiliate provided services to more than 1,300 newly diagnosed cancer patients last year, Dean said.

Source :- American Cancer Society plans new recruiting blitz