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Fluoride Levels in Over the Counter Products
May 17, 2012 | 
Author Over the counter fluoride products contain varying levels of fluoride.
In over the counter products, there are three types of compounds that are allowed to be used to give fluoride. These compounds are monofluorophosphate, sodium fluoride, and stannous fluoride. From these three compounds, over the counter products must contain less than 276 mg F per tube. Most tubes contain between 1000 and 1100 parts per million (ppm) per tube. These numbers translate to 30 mg F/oz and 33 mg F/oz, respectively. Only these products receive the ADA seal and FDA approval. At Dr. Abeyta’s office only FDA and ADA approved fluoride products are used for her patients.
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Child Restraints
Difficult children are often restrained at dentist offices, but not Dr. Abeyta!
Child restraints are often used at dentist offices when children become too difficult to treat and may cause harm to themselves as well as the dentist. These restraints are known as papoose boards, which are comprised of a soft cloth and Velcro. In Dr. Abeyta’s practice, the use of restraints of any kind is not used on the children she treats. These children range in age from 1 to 17 years old. She is able to treat her patients without the use of restraints in a manner that is healthy and not harmful to the children.
More on Dental X-Rays
A new study on dental x-rays has revealed new information on the safety of x-rays.
A recent study has associated meningioma, a common brain tumor, with receiving dental x-rays. The ADA has reviewed the study’s findings and it has found that the study has been affected by recall bias, which means that the patients were asked to recall information about dental x-rays taken earlier in their lives. It is also noted that some of these patients were exposed to x-rays many years ago when the levels of radiation used were much higher. Precautionary measures, however, have been taken by recommending that all dentist offices use an abdominal and thyroid shield. It has also been recommended that dentists use fast developing or digital x-rays.
Implants
Implants are a great alternative to missing teeth.
This week is National Prosthodontics Week, so this week is about implants and their benefits. Dental implants are usually made of titanium and are used to replace single missing teeth or to support prosthodontics, such as dentures. An implant acts as a “root” in your mouth, and screws into the jaw bone. It is left with a cap on top until the jaw bone grows around the screw in a manner that is similar to a natural root in your mouth. Once the bone has regrown around the screw, a crown is placed on top of the implant, so that it looks like a natural tooth. Implants are used in prosthodontics in a similar way, but instead of a crown placed on the implant, dentures are made to fit a ball and socket model so that the dentures are not able to move around once placed. This gives the dentures extra security when in use. The healing time for an implant is anywhere from 2 to 6 months. After that period, it is safe to continue placing the dentures or crown.
Chewing Gum
As you may be aware, chewing gum is known to help protect teeth.
Chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. This flow of saliva helps to neutralize and wash away acids that are produced when food is broken down. This increase also brings calcium and phosphate to help build enamel through the saliva. The American Dental Association recommends chewing sugarless gum. Sugarless gum gives all of these benefits while not adding more sugar to your mouth. Xylitol, a type of sugar alcohol now found in gum, is one of the most effective ingredients seen in sugarless gum. It is nonfermentable, and it attracts and then starves bacteria allowing the mouth to remineralize. Gum is not a substitute to your dental hygiene routine, but it can help in reducing further the risk of plaque, gingivitis and cavities.
Flossing
Flossing is one thing most people don’t really enjoy doing, but it helps prevent cavities and infections in your mouth.
The American Dental Association recommends that you floss once daily. Flossing helps to reach the places between your teeth where anaerobic bacteria live. Anaerobic bacteria are bacteria that don’t need oxygen to survive, and in fact when exposed to oxygen, they will die. These bacteria produce a sticky film, known as plaque, on the teeth. By flossing your teeth, these bacteria are exposed to oxygen, and they are killed. If you don’t floss your teeth, these bacteria will continue to grow and multiply, making your mouth more susceptible to cavities, and in extreme cases, infections. If your gums bleed when you floss, it is a sign of inflammation caused by the bacteria. The only way for the inflammation to go away is to floss on a regular, daily basis so that most of the bacteria causing the inflammation die. Botox can also be used to reduce the appearance of a gummy smile. Botox will relax the muscle that draws the upper lip up when smiling to give a more appealing attractive cosmetic smile.
Oropharyngeal Cancer and HPV
HPV is identified as a leading cause of Oropharyngeal Cancer.
Recent research by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has shown that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer are related. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer. It is now also shown to be a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer in Europe and the United States. Oropharyngeal cancer is cancer of the mouth and pharynx. HPV now has a vaccine, which can help to decrease the risk of cervical cancer and also oropharyngeal cancer since the vaccine protects against the HPV strain that cause the majority of both cancers caused by HPV. The study also suggested that those who are found to have HPV in their tonsils and smoke have a greater likelihood of contracting oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not.
Oral Health and Secondhand Smoke
Study shows that secondhand smoke may be linked to oral health.
Studies are now showing that there is a link between your oral health and how much secondhand smoke you are exposed to each week. It was previously understood that current smokers are twice as likely to have periodontal disease as former smokers and four times as much if you had never smoked. However, in a recent study that was published in the American Journal of Public Health, it was shown that those who were exposed to secondhand smoke for 25 hours or less a week were 29% more likely to have periodontal disease and those who were exposed to secondhand smoke for 26 or more hours a week were 58% more likely to have periodontal disease.
T-Scan Technology
T-Scan technology improves occlusion measurements.
T-Scan is a way to analyze the occlusion of one’s mouth (how you bite together). It is a computerized analysis where the patient bites into a sensor, and the computer can see how the teeth come together and where the teeth touch first in the bite. This technology improves adjustments of bite guards and crowns by showing if the appliance is too high in an area, so it can be adjusted for a proper biting surface. T-scan can also be used to adjust areas in the mouth that may be causing jaw or tooth pain. T-scan also can keep records of previous appointments so that the occlusion of a person’s mouth can be evaluated over time.
Tongue Piercings and Tongue Splitting
Tongue piercing and splitting can have serious health repercussions.
Tongue piercing can seem cool, but can have lots of effects on your health. While this may impair eating and speech, it may also cause infections in your tongue and jaw due to the huge amounts of bacteria found in your mouth. After piercing there is an increased possibility of developing endocarditis (inflammation of the cardiac tissue) because the bacteria can enter the bloodstream at the site of piercing and colonize in the heart tissues. The inflammation from the piercing may also cause suffocation due to swelling in the tongue. Due to factors such as playing with the piercing in your mouth and similar actions, it can also cause chipping, loose, or even lost teeth. A similar situation occurs with tongue splitting, a body modification where the tongue is split to create a forked tongue.