News and Features Related to Oral Care
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Keep That Smile! Calcium and Vitamin D Prevent Tooth Loss
Sept. 27, 2000 -- If you're supplementing your diet with calcium and vitamin D to prevent bone loss, you may be more likely to hang onto your pearly whites, according to a report at this week's meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Toronto. Even so, older adults need to fl
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Premature Babies' Teeth Aren't Necessarily Problem Teeth
Sept. 22, 2000 -- When Sara DeSanto's water broke at 36 weeks, her first question was why her labor began early. But the Minneapolis attorney's thoughts quickly turned to concern for her five-and-a-half pound daughter, Natalie, whose sudden birth meant she was now considered a premature baby. "Of co
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Dreading the Drill? Therapy Can Ease Dental Phobia
July 21, 2000 -- It's an age-old phobia, this fear of dentists. We cringe at the thought of those drills. We make appointments, then break them. We have nightmares about that whirring, whirring, whirring drill ... and the pain of it all. But psychiatrists say that there's hope for us. A new study sh
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Too Few Heart Patients Take Antibiotics Before Dental Work
July 5, 2000 -- Last year, 52-year-old Richard Collett was diagnosed with a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation. Whenever he goes to the dentist, he is reminded of his condition, in which one of the heart valves is leaky and allows some blood to flow backward between beats
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Pregnant? See Your Dentist
May 9, 2000 -- Most pregnant women know that to keep a growing baby healthy, they must lay off alcohol and cigarettes and eat a balanced diet. Now, researchers say, they should add carefully caring for their teeth and gums to that list. A new study shows that women with serious cases of periodontal
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Accidental Death Rate Hits 11-Year High, Group Says
April 25, 2000 (Washington) -- The U.S. death toll from accidents in the home and office and on the highway is at its highest level in more than a decade, and a nonprofit group called the National Safety Council has launched a campaign do something about it. More Americans between the ages of 1 and
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Teething vs. Illness: How to Tell the Difference
April 10, 2000 (Atlanta) -- Pediatricians and parents have long disagreed on which of a child's symptoms are caused by teething and which symptoms could indicate a serious illness. A new study helps confirm what the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has said, that fevers greater than 102°F sho
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Transcendental Meditation Can Help Ward Off Stroke
March 2, 2000 (Los Angeles) -- Transcendental meditation (TM), an ancient stress-management technique, may decrease blood vessel blockage and help people avoid a heart attack or stroke. A study published in the March issue of the journal Stroke shows that TM decreased the thickness of blood vessel w
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Flossing And Brushing May Be Good For Your Brain
Feb. 14, 2000 (Atlanta) -- 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,
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Dental Insurance: A Not-So-Rare Fringe Benefit
In the past 30 years, dental insurance has grown from a rare fringe benefit to standard fare in many employee health-care packages. About 156 million Americans have dental coverage, estimates Evelyn Ireland, executive director of the National Association of Dental Plans, a Dallas-based trade organiz
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How Do I Measure Up? Get the Facts Fast!
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Only 18.5% of Americans never floss. You are missing out on a simple way to make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Floss removes food trapped between the teeth and removes the film of bacteria that forms there before it turns to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Try flossing just one tooth to get started.
You are one of 31% of Americans who don't floss daily. You are missing out on a simple way to make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Aim for 3 more days!
You are one of 31% of Americans who don't floss daily, but you're well on your way to making a positive impact on your teeth and gums. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Aim for all 7 days!
Only 50.5% of Americans floss daily, and good for you that you are one of them! Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Congratulations on your good oral health habit!
SOURCES:
American Dental Association, Healthy People 2010
This tool is intended only for adults 18 and older.
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