The NobleDentist Blog

This is an article by that appeared recently in the Tri-Valley Herald – Pleasanton,CA,USA.

FEBRUARY is National Pet Dental Health month, and this week’s column contains practical, direct information on how to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, dogs and cats experience the same dental and periodontal problems as people. Although professional dental cleaning at a veterinary hospital is a common procedure, home care with the goal of maintaining good dental health and reducing the frequency of professional cleanings can be done as follows, and I encourage our clients to do as much as they can.

Teeth can be routinely brushed at home with a regular softbristle toothbrush for dogs or a toothbrush or finger toothbrush for cats.

A finger toothbrush is a small flexible plastic cap about the size of a thimble that fits over your fingertip and has short bristles on the outside. It allows you to brush a cat’s or small dog’s teeth with your finger.

There are several toothpastes, which can be purchased at veterinary offices and pet supply stores. The best time to start a home brushing program is when your pet is still a puppy or kitten.

-Even in the absence of brushing, applying a small amount of toothpaste containing glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase to a pet’s food at each meal has been shown to be helpful in reducing the amount of plaque and tartar accumulation on teeth by releasing enzymes that degrade dental plaque.

Various treats and chew toys have also been shown to help reduce plaque and tartar buildup on teeth. C.E.T. Chews are available for dogs and cats, which contain plaquedestroying enzymes and antiseptics.

Hard rubber or plastic chew toys, and leather rawhide chews for dogs, have also been shown to reduce plaque and tartar accumulation.

Although chewing on hard bones is an effective way to help reduce tartar buildup on a dog’s teeth, I do not recommend them because of the risk of tooth fractures and the potential need for surgery to remove a bone if swallowed.

-There are popular, edible tartar control treats for dogs called Greenies.

Until about a year ago these were occasionally responsible for intestinal blockages in dogs because a dog could break them into chunks and swallow the chunks, which were too dense to digest well.

In the past year, however, the manufacturer has reformulated them to be softer and to dissolve quickly if swallowed. In fact, they are bendable now, like licorice. Since reformulation has made Greenies significantly more digestible, we have yet to see a dog with an intestinal blockage from the product.

-There is a variety of oral rinses and gels that can be used daily or less often that help destroy plaque on the teeth before it hardens into tartar. Either rinses or gels can be used, depending on a pet’s acceptance.

-A specially designed food called Prescription Diet t/d sold at veterinary hospitals can be used as the regular diet, and this is what I feed my own dog. It is uniquely formulated to scrape plaque off the teeth better than regular dry food, which normally crumbles before removing any significant amount of plaque. This is available for both cats and dogs. Other brands of tartar control food can be found at pet supply stores.

The interval between professional dental cleanings varies depending on how many of the above aspects of home treatment are employed, and is also affected by differences between individual pets. Tartar buildup and periodontal disease develop more rapidly in small dogs, and in certain pure breeds of cats.

This is an article by Harley Dennett that was published recently in the Sydney Star Observer.

Medicare-funded dental care for people with HIV, raised in November to $4,250 per person over two years, is to be scrapped, possibly as soon as the 13 May budget.

Labor voted against the increase last year, and has vowed to dump the Howard government’s $377 million Chronic Disease Scheme.

The scheme allows people with complex conditions to receive bulk-billed treatment at private dental clinics without waiting lists, and under the protection of the Medicare Safety Net.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon plans to use the savings to fund a $290 million program to reduce general waiting times in state-run public clinics starting from 1 July.

Russell Westacott, ACON Director of Client Services, encouraged people with HIV to take advantage of the generous current scheme while it was still available.

“The amount of $4,250 could make an astounding improvement for many in the HIV community,” Westacott said.

Nine in 10 people with HIV have an oral condition at some stage while infected, and poor oral health can exacerbate other HIV conditions, he said.

Public clinics in regional and rural areas were virtually nonexistent and the few city clinics had waiting lists extending into years.

Dr Adam Alford from the MLC Centre Dental Surgery often gets clients referred by ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, but said for a person to qualify for the current Medicare rebates their GP has to first create a team care plan.

“It’s gum treatment or dentures mostly; that fits under the program easily. But a lot of dentists aren’t actually supporting the program,” Alford said.

Medical clinics in the city with lots of HIV-positive patients were likely to know dentists who were HIV-friendly and would support the program, Westacott said.

The Enhanced Primary Care dental scheme for people with chronic and complex conditions was first introduced by the Howard government in 2004, starting with a maximum rebate of $220 per year – less than the average hourly rate.

Roxon called it a failure because only $1.6 million of the allocated $377 million was spent.

“The current scheme has only been in place for eight weeks, not enough to determine how many people would benefit,” Westacott said.

The Government has been looking to make cuts to the 2008/09 budget starting with late promises by the Howard government.

A spokesman for Roxon said Medicare programs, except the dental scheme, were safe from cuts at this time.

ACON plans to release an issues pack on HIV and dental services on its website later this month.

AFAO has further information on the program at www.afao.org.au/library_docs/policy/Dental_Treatment_14Nov_07.pdf or phone ACON on 9206 2000.

This article by Victoria Fletcher was published recently in the Daily Express – UK.

SITTING in the dentist’s chair for a simple check-up may help to save the lives of breast cancer patients.

Scientists have developed a device which will check saliva for early signs of the disease.

Dentists already look for mouth cancer, and researchers want the new procedure used during regular visits.

Results could be linked to existing hospital routine such as mammogram and ultrasound examinations.

“Dentistry has entered an exciting new era,” said Catherine Flaitz, dean of the University of Texas dental branch in Houston, where the discovery was made. “Our researchers are exploring links between oral health and the general health of patients, often with astonishing findings.”

Scientists analysed saliva samples from 30 patients and found 49 proteins revealing those who were healthy and those with breast cancer tumours.

The proteins could also distinguish between benign or malignant tumours. Professor Charles Streckfus, who led the research, said: “Most people, especially women and children, visit the dentist a lot more often than they ever see their doctor.

“Saliva is a non-invasive, quicker way for detection.”

The study is part of a programme at the university to develop new “lab-on-a-chip” technology that can be used by dentists or GPs to find cancers before they form tumours.

Further research could lead to saliva tests being used to diagnose ovarian, womb, cervical, head and neck cancers. Results also could eliminate possible false positive results and allow doctors to make better treatment decisions.

With clinical trials of the prototype now planned, Prof Streckfus and his team of biochemists hope to reduce the device from the size of a refrigerator to that of a mobile phone.

Earlier this week, UK cancer experts said the prompt detection of breast cancer was vital and had boosted survival rates over 20 years through the national breast screening campaign.

This is an article that appeared recently in www.newsok.com – Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

Poor oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant effect on quality of life. In fact, the condition of the mouth often mirrors the condition of the whole body. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, recent reports indicate a relationship between gum disease and stroke, heart disease, oral cancer and the digestive system. More than 75 percent of the population is affected by some type of gum disease or gingivitis.

Here are a few steps you can take to keep your mouth and body healthy:

•Visit your dentist every six months for regular screenings and cleanings. A regular exam allows your dentist to keep your mouth in top shape and watch for developments that may point to problems elsewhere in your body.

•Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach every surface of the tooth. If the bristles become bent or frayed, it’s time for a new toothbrush.

•Use toothpaste with fluoride. This can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent.

•Brush properly. Spend at least two-and-a-half minutes brushing your teeth twice a day.

•Floss properly. Make sure to floss once a day. Gently insert floss between your teeth. Don’t force the floss or snap it into place.

This is an article by Laura Elder, Rhiannon Meyers, Chris Paschenko & Leigh Jones of the Daily News – Texas.

We all know the tricks and traditions of New Year’s resolutions, but what do experts in health and personal finance think our resolutions should be? We asked what people should do to live longer and better, to have more wealth and help the planet. Here’s what they had to say:

Go Coastal?

A recent article in the “New England Journal of Medicine” published research that concluded people stuck in traffic are three times more likely to have heart attacks within one hour than those who aren’t. Researchers, however, weren’t sure whether the heart attacks were caused by stress or exposure to pollution.

The moral of the story?

“Try to stay on the island,” said Dr. Ken Fujise, who in November was named director of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. “Try not to go to Houston.”

Fujise, a former Houstonian, was only half kidding.

“Inhaling particulate matter, small dust particles … (is) really bad for the heart.”

And Fujise offers yet another reason to embrace a laid-back coastal lifestyle that includes plenty of reel time.

“Studies have indicated that if you eat fish three times a week, your longevity increases,” he said.

Finally, be happy, Fujise advises. Angry people tend to have more heart muscle damage, he said.

“The precipating factor for acute heart attack is anger,” he said. “Just jog on the beach, surrounded by the natural beauty of Galveston.”

Move Faster, But Eat Slow Food

As the the American waist grows, so goes the number of people who have Type 2 diabetes, researchers say. More than 20 million U.S. residents have diabetes, according to medical reports. Most have Type 2, a disease that occurs when the pancreas can’t make enough or the body can’t properly use insulin, which controls the level of sugar in the blood. With time, Type 2 diabetes can damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys and heart and predispose a person to hardening of the large arteries, which can cause heart attack and stroke.

Lynn A. Maarouf, diabetes nutrition educator at The Stark Diabetes Center at the island’s medical branch, would like families to resolve to exercise.

“The biggest single thing is for people to get up and get moving,” Maarouf said. “We’re seeing a Type 2 epidemic among adults and children, and it’s in a big part related to people not getting enough exercise.”

The latest recommendations for people trying to lose weight is 90 minutes of exercise a day.

“A little bit of walking goes a little way,” Maarouf said. “If you’re not getting close to the one hour mark, you’re not doing enough to achieve changes.”

Maarouf recommends people make a serious plan for more exercise.

“Some people say they don’t have enough time, but how much time do they spend watching television?”

Finally — and everyone’s heard this before — cut back on eating. Most people could cut back on calories if they cooked at home, rather than grab fast food or restaurant fare.

“I think most people do better when they prepare meals at home,” she said. “There’s a lot of literature coming out that say meals eaten away from home have about 2,000 to 3,000 calories. I don’t think people are really aware of that.”

A New Smile For A New Year

Those looking to achieve the “American dream of the white, straight teeth” in 2008 ought to add a few mouth-friendly resolutions to their New Year’s list, said Galveston County dentist Brent Patterson.

• Make an appointment with the dentist.

“A lot of people haven’t been in any dental office in five to seven or 10 years,” Patterson said. “You need a thorough examination by a dentist before you can jump into a regular routine.”

• Brush twice a day, in the morning and just before bed.

“I’m amazed by how many people just brush in the morning,” Patterson said. “You need to brush two times a day to rid bacteria before bed and to rid the bacteria that built up overnight.”

And even though your $2 toothbrush will do the job, those who can afford it should probably consider buying an electric toothbrush. Battery-powered brushes have timers forcing you to brush for a full two minutes, the American Dental Association’s “party line” on brushing, Patterson said. Patterson likes the Phillips’ Sonicare. An electronic brush costs between $30 and $100, depending on the variety.

The Sonicare acts on your teeth the way an electric jewelry cleaner acts on jewelry by vibrating all the junk from between teeth and fillings, Patterson said.

“When people have a mechanical brush, their oral hygiene level increases,” he said.

• Floss at least three times per week. Some people think you should floss every time you brush, but that’s unreasonable, Patterson said.

“Two to three nights out of the week, that’s more than adequate,” he said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t do it at all. Anything is better than nothing.”

• Stock your bathroom with fluoride rinse. Most people aren’t getting enough fluoride, and almost every American can benefit from a fluoride rinse, Patterson said. Fluoride helps strengthen teeth, making them more resistant to cavities, he said. Fluoride rinses also help reduce sensitivities after dental work, including whitening and bleaching, he said.

• Ditch the workroom candy dish.

“I’ve seen a lot of people with problems because there’s always a bowl of hard candies at work for them to suck on,” Patterson said. “You can do a great deal of damage with that.”

Aside from the hard candy, children and adults should avoid regular soda or chewing gum with sugar.

“That constant all-day-long exposure to syrups and sugars can override what you brush away and soften teeth,” Patterson said.

Instead, choose sugar-free gums and diet sodas, he said.

• Snuff the cigarettes. Oral cancer most often can be linked directly to smoking and chewing tobacco. Smokers and dippers should toss the tobacco in 2008, drastically cutting their risks of oral cancer and starting down a path to a healthy new smile, Patterson said.

• Don’t ignore the warning sings. Painful or bleeding gums, or sensitive teeth, could indicate serious gum disease. If you experience these symptoms, forget your fear of the dentist and make an appointment, Patterson said.

“These are the people that need the dentist the most,” Patterson said. “Gum disease is a silent disease. No matter how much brushing or flossing you do, you’re not going to take care of it at home. It has to be dealt with in the dental office.”

Get Out Of Debt

Another vow some New Year’s revelers make — after awaking from their debt-induced, post-holiday hangovers — is a resolution to get out of debt.

Sam Collins, a local financial planner, said many people take the opportunity to start the new year with a resolution to resolve debt.

But avoiding indebtedness in the first place is the best cure for bruised wallets.

“Often times people come out of the holiday season, wanting to retire debt accumulated from the Christmas holidays,” Collins said. “Because they don’t want to be in the same situation next year, so they set financial goals.”

The most common goals entail reducing debt obligations and saving more for retirement, he said.

“It’s just like people who take an annual physical for their physical health, an individual should sit down for a financial checkup, too,” Collins said. “Often times, people wait too close to retirement and realized they haven’t saved enough.”

Avoiding large purchases from one-time windfalls, such as earned income credit allowances or tax refunds, means more money could be available for debt reduction.

Families who qualify for earned income credits can avoid the temptation to make large purchases by having the money sent to them in monthly installments, rather than paid in one lump sum.

“It’s not that people necessarily spend money unwisely,” Collins said. “Instead of making larger purchases, they could use the money for something they need.”

Go Green

And once you have your own house in order, you migh think about the larger environment.

Robin Schneider, executive director for Texas Campaign for the Environment, says in addition to the typical weight loss and organizational resolutions, people should commit to reduce their carbon footprint during 2008.

A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released through burning fossil fuels.

An individual’s carbon footprint is determined by the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated by his or her daily activities. A carbon footprint can be reduced through using green energy, conserving energy, using alternative or bio fuels in personal vehicles and recycling.

“Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do to reduce our footprint on the earth,” Schneider said. “We need to use the programs that are out there and push for more recycling programs, so that we’re not wasting resources and energy.”

Although few Galveston County municipalities offer curbside recycling, many have drop-off centers that take materials like cardboard, aluminum and paper products for free.

Schneider also suggests people can reduce consumerism, and therefore the need to recycle as much, by having something repaired instead of replacing it with a new one.

“We cannot continue to consume resources like we have been,” Schneider said. “We all need to do our part to reduce our unsustainable level of consumption.”

Things to do:

• Recycle;

• Push for better recycling programs in your area;

• Have something repaired instead of replacing it; and

• Pay attention to what the things you buy are made of. Try to buy things made with recycled materials or designed to be easily recycled at the end of their life.