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I tried asking this question on a dog blog site but did not get any response. I have a 55 pound dog and his teeth are really yellow and is breath stinks. I have been told that you should brush your dogs teeth. So I have been trying to brush is teeth with baking soda but he really does not like it. So can I use my Colgate. I mean if I use only a little would that be okay? Just wondering.
Multiflexdental.com announced today that their dental insurance indemnity plans were now available in 45 states. Indemnity dental insurance is true insurance and not a discount dental plan that is offered by most of the dental web sites on the internet. The Multiflex dental plans offer the insured good dental benefits while not having to close a network dentist. One can choose any dentist they want said Dr. David Blunt, while offering low monthly premium payments.
For more information see: MultiflexDental.com
Dental implants are natural-looking replacements for missing teeth due to periodontal disease or an injury. Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you may forget you lost a tooth. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. They are extremely naturalistic, and those who receive dental implants often do not notice a difference in the oral function after the surgery has healed.
Implants can replace removable bridges or dentures, or they can be used to stabilize and secure the denture, making it much more comfortable. Dental implants are very durable and will last many years. Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Dental Implants replace individual teeth and partial bridges in the upper and lower jaws. Implants are very durable, will last many years, and require the same “maintenance” as real teeth, including brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups.
For more information see: InsuranceCompany.com
Effective Strategies
- Community and school partnerships raise awareness about the value of school sealant programs. Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, a CDC-supported statewide effort to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children through school and community partnerships, began in October 2000. This program helped to establish new community-based sealant programs, and in 2007–2008, these programs provided sealants to 9,202 children in 19 counties.
- Community coalitions are essential for gaining approval for community water fluoridation. During the past decade, broad-based citizen coalitions in several large U.S. cities have educated residents about the benefits of water fluoridation. Water fluoridation was approved in many of these jurisdictions, including Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA; Manchester, NH; Las Vegas, NV; San Antonio, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT.
Hope for the future
Compared with their parents, many Americans now enjoy markedly better oral health. However, certain segments of the population (e.g., those who have low incomes, are members of racial or ethnic minority groups, or are older) have severe dental decay, much of which remains untreated. Healthy People 2010 objectives seek to eliminate these disparities, so that all Americans receive the benefits of good oral health. Community-based programs, such as community water fluoridation and school-based dental sealant programs, are cost-effective ways to achieve this goal. For example, if half of the children at high risk for tooth decay participated in school sealant programs, half of the caries that these children otherwise would develop would be prevented.
State Programs in Action: Ohio
School-based sealant programs in Ohio began in 1984, with a single demonstration program in one city. By 2000, 34 of Ohio’s 88 counties had programs. These programs target children who are at high risk for tooth decay and least likely to receive dental care.
 As the program has expanded, the statewide percentage of 8-year-olds who have dental sealants has increased steadily, from 11% in 1987–1988, to 30% in 1998–1999, and most recently to 43% in 2007. Although this percentage still falls short of the Healthy People 2010 objective of 50% of the state’s 8-year-olds having sealants, children from all demographic groups in schools with sealant programs have achieved or exceeded the objective.
The Ohio program has shown that school-based programs could potentially reduce or eliminate racial and economic disparities by reaching children at high risk for tooth decay.
For more information and references supporting these facts, please visit www.cdc.gov/nccdphp.
Community-Based Strategies to Prevent Tooth Decay Save Money
- Depending on the size of the community, every dollar spent for community water fluoridation saves from $8 to $49 in treatment costs. Savings are greatest in large communities.
- Fluoridated water saves more than $4.6 billion annually in dental costs in the United States.
- School-based dental sealant programs are cost saving when delivered to populations at high risk for tooth decay, such as children in low-income households.
Effective Strategies
- Community and school partnerships raise awareness about the value of school sealant programs. Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, a CDC-supported statewide effort to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children through school and community partnerships, began in October 2000. This program helped to establish new community-based sealant programs, and in 2007–2008, these programs provided sealants to 9,202 children in 19 counties.
- Community coalitions are essential for gaining approval for community water fluoridation. During the past decade, broad-based citizen coalitions in several large U.S. cities have educated residents about the benefits of water fluoridation. Water fluoridation was approved in many of these jurisdictions, including Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA; Manchester, NH; Las Vegas, NV; San Antonio, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT.
CDC collaborations related to periodontal disease and diabetes
The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a joint program of the CDC and the NIH (National Institutes of Health). The CDC regularly collaborates with a workgroup within NDEP called PPOD (Pharmacy, Podiatry, Optometry, and Dental Professionals). PPOD develops and promotes materials to educate patients and fellow dental professionals on the disease and how to prevent a major complication that often results from having diabetes—periodontal disease.
Available educational materials for dental professionals include:
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The recommendations were developed by a work group of experts in the fields of caries prevention and treatment, oral epidemiology, and evidence-based reviews. The work group also included representatives from professional dental organizations.
The expert work group examined new evidence on:
- The effectiveness of sealants in preventing new decay and progression of early decay
- Methods to assess decay
- Sealant placement techniques
- Scientific reviews of program practices
Based on this evidence, the following recommendations are provided for practitioners in school-based programs:
- Seal pit-and-fissure tooth surfaces that are sound or have early decay, prioritizing first and second permanent molars.
- Use visual assessment to differentiate surfaces with the earliest signs of tooth decay from more advanced lesions.
- X-rays are not needed solely for sealant placement.
- A toothbrush can be used to help clean the tooth surface before acid etching.
- When resources allow, have an assistant help the dental professional place sealants.
- Provide sealants to children even if follow-up examinations for every child cannot be guaranteed.
These recommendations are designed to guide practices of state and community public health programs for planning, implementing, and evaluating school-based sealant programs, as well as to complement the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs’ evidence-based clinical recommendations for sealant use*  (PDF–245K) published in 2008.
Preventing Dental Caries Through School-Based Sealant Programs: Updated Recommendations and Review of Evidence,”* Journal of the American Dental Association, November 2009, provides guidance to school-based sealant programs.
Sealants prevent tooth decay and also stop cavities from growing. The Surgeon General’s report on oral health indicates that sealants can reduce decay in school children by more than 70 percent.
On this page:
What Are Dental Sealants?
Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This is where most tooth decay in children and teens occurs. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from decay by keeping germs and pieces of food out.
Learn more about sealants, including how they help prevent tooth decay and how they are applied, from this Dental Sealants Fact Sheet.
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What Are School-Based Sealant Programs?
School-based dental sealant delivery programs provide sealants to children unlikely to receive them otherwise. Such programs—
- Define a target population within a school district
- Verify unmet need for sealants
- Get financial, material, and policy support
- Apply rules for selecting schools and students
- Apply sealants at school or offsite in clinics
School-based sealant programs are especially important for reaching children from low-income families who are less likely to receive private dental care. Programs generally target schools by using the percentage of children eligible for federal free or reduced-cost lunch programs Tooth decay may result in pain and other problems that affect learning in school-age children. Learn more by reading Oral Health and Learning* (PDF–81K). This report addresses the following:
- Lost school time
- Oral health and learning
- Nutrition and learning
- Programs for improving oral health
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The Scientific Evidence Shows that School-Based Sealant Programs Work
Findings from scientific studies clearly show that school dental sealant programs work to stop tooth decay.
The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends school sealant programs and issued a strong endorsement* in 2001. In 2003, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors published a Best Practice Approach Report.* This report reviews the scientific evidence that school sealant programs work and presents specific examples of practices in state programs.
Periodontal diseases are infections of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.
Causes
Bacteria in the mouth infect tissue surrounding the tooth, causing inflammation around the tooth leading to periodontal disease. When bacteria stay on the teeth long enough, they form a film called plaque, which eventually hardens to tartar, also called calculus. Tartar build-up can spread below the gum line, which makes the teeth harder to clean. Then, only a dental health professional can remove the tartar and stop the periodontal disease process.
Warning signs
The following are warning signs of periodontal disease:
- Bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Painful chewing
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- Any change in the fit of partial dentures
Risk factors
Certain factors increase the risk for periodontal disease:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Poor oral hygiene
- Stress
- Heredity
- Crooked teeth
- Underlying immuno-deficiencies—e.g., AIDS
- Fillings that have become defective
- Taking medications that cause dry mouth
- Bridges that no longer fit properly
- Female hormonal changes, such as with pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives
Prevention and treatment
Gingivitis can be controlled and treated with good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning. More severe forms of periodontal disease can also be treated successfully but may require more extensive treatment. Such treatment might include deep cleaning of the tooth root surfaces below the gums, medications prescribed to take by mouth or placed directly under the gums, and sometimes corrective surgery.
To help prevent or control periodontal diseases, it is important to:
- Brush and floss every day to remove the bacteria that cause gum disease.
- See a dentist at least once a year for checkups, or more frequently if you have any of the warning signs or risk factors mentioned above.
If you can’t afford dental care, you may be able to find help through the following sources:
- The Health Resources and Services Administration supports a network of “safety net” clinics for people who qualify for reduced-cost care, and many have a dental clinic (toll free:
    1-888-275-4772 ).
- Most dental schools* have a clinic staffed by the professors and students, where care is provided based on your ability to pay.
- Your state dental organization* may be able to refer you to dentists in your area who provide care at a reduced rate.
Exposure to 2009 H1N1 influenza virus occurs in household, community, and occupational settings, and transmission is thought to occur through droplet exposure of mucosal surfaces; through indirect contact, usually via the hands, with respiratory secretions from an infectious patient or contaminated surface; and through inhalation of small particle aerosols in the vicinity of the infectious individual.
Symptoms of Influenza
Persons with influenza, including 2009 H1N1 influenza, may have some or all of these symptoms:
- fever*
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- fatigue
- sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
*It’s important to note that not everyone with influenza will have a fever.
Control of 2009 H1N1 Influenza
A hierarchy of control measures should be applied to prevent transmission of 2009 H1N1 influenza in all health care settings. To apply the hierarchy of controls, facilities should take the following steps, ranked according to their likely effectiveness:
- Elimination of potential exposures (e.g., deferral of ill patients and source control by masking coughing individuals).
- Engineering controls that reduce or eliminate exposure at the source without placing primary responsibility of implementation on individual employees.
- Administrative controls including sick-leave policies and vaccination that depend on consistent implementation by management and employees.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) for exposures that cannot otherwise be eliminated or controlled. PPE includes gloves, surgical facemasks, respirators, protective eyewear, and protective clothing (e.g., gowns).
Vaccination, an administrative control, is one of the most important interventions for preventing transmission of influenza to health care personnel. For more information on this hierarchy of controls, see CDC’s Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel.
Specific Recommendations for Dental Health Care
- Encourage all dental health care personnel to receive seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccinations.
- Use patient-reminder calls to identify patients reporting influenza-like illness and reschedule non-urgent visits until 24 hours after the patient is free of fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
- Identify patients with influenza-like illness at check-in; offer a facemask or tissues to symptomatic patients; follow respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette; and reschedule non-urgent care. Separate ill patients from others whenever possible if evaluating for urgent care.
- Urgent dental treatment can be performed without the use of an airborne infection isolation (AII) room because transmission of 2009 H1N1 influenza is thought not to occur over longer distances through the air, such as from one patient room to another.
- Use a treatment room with a closed door, if available. If not, use one that is farthest from other patients and personnel.
- Wear recommended PPE before entering the treatment room.
- Dental health care personnel should wear a NIOSH fit-tested, disposable N95 respirator when entering the patient room and when performing dental procedures on patients with suspected or confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza.
- If N95 respirators and/or fit-testing is not available despite reasonable attempts to obtain, the dental office should transition to a prioritized use mode (i.e., non-fit-tested disposable N95 respirators or surgical facemasks can be considered as a lower level of protection for personnel at lower risk of exposure or lower risk of complication from influenza until fit-tested N95 respirators are available). Detailed information can be found in CDC’s Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel. Additional guidance, including recommendations regarding fit-testing issues, can be found on Questions and Answers Regarding Respiratory Protection for Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Among Healthcare Personnel.
- As customary, minimize spray and spatter (e.g., use a dental dam and high-volume evacuator).
Dental Health Care Personnel
- Dental health care personnel should self-assess daily for symptoms of febrile respiratory illness (fever plus one or more of the following: nasal congestion/runny nose, sore throat, or cough).
- Personnel who develop fever and respiratory symptoms should promptly notify their supervisor and should not report to work.
- Personnel should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100°F/37.8°C), or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Personnel having a family member who is diagnosed with 2009 H1N1 influenza can still go to work but should monitor themselves for symptoms so that any illness is recognized promptly.
Additional Resources
For comprehensive information on CDC 2009 H1N1 influenza infection control guidelines, visit Infection Control and Clinician Guidance on H1N1 Flu Clinical and Public Health Guidance:
Related Link
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Suggestions to help get teeth nice and white?
I am a smoker, but that does not stop me from wanting to have white teeth. I am wondering if there are any products which can help me get my teeth whiter again? I have used many different toothpaste that have whiting but they do not work. Any advise or suggestions would be good. I just want white teeth like everyone else
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At some point you need to do what you feel is best for you and or your family. Is fluoride toxic? Yes it is, and yes you can overdose on fluoride. That is why some people feel that until their children know better not to eat toothpaste they buy toothpaste that is all natural with no fluoride. It is also the reason that there are warning label on tooth paste. Tooth paste is not made for you to eat. In my opinion one should just be aware of just how much fluoride they are using to avoid any issues.
Keep in mind there are all kinds of every day products that you can overdose and die from. Some examples would be Iron, vitamins, water and salt. These things are not meant to be used in excess yet people still do. People use toxins for all kinds of things and if use correctly there should not be any issue. It is when you are not aware of the products and there uses.
There are many products that you can use to avoid fluoride if you so choice. It all comes down to reading and making the right choice for you.
Like soda carbonated water can wear down your enamel on your teeth.
In today’s times I can understand your parents not wanting to spend extra money on whiten treatment. Here are a few suggestions you may want to see if they would work for you.
1) See if your parents would be willing to have you brush with toothpaste with whiten. That is normally not any more expensive then toothpaste without whiten
2) See if your parents would be willing to spend around 45.00 to 60.00 for over the counter whiten strips.
3) Keep in mind if you really want white teeth avoid staining them in the first place.
4) Do not smoke or chew
5) Drink staining drinks (coffee, soda, tea etc.) though straws.
6) Brush after eating whenever possible. When you can not brush right after try chewing whiten gum.
7) There is also mouthwash with whiten you can use that is over the counter as well.
8 ) And finally as my mom would say, start saving your pennies for when you can afford to do it yourself.
Whiting treatment is safe and but generally speaking the main side effect is tooth sensitivity, but that is short term and normally stops when the treatment is over. Getting your whiting treatment done by a dentist will also help in the effectiveness of your treatment.
With that being said if you feel that your teeth are too sensitive or your gums get irritated then stop the treatment
The Best Ways to Whiten Your Smile
Teeth whitening has become all the rage nowadays, have a nice smile is important and having a whiter smile because you took some extra steps is always a plus to those you’re trying to impress. Brushing your teeth with a whitening toothpaste is the most basic step to achieving a dazzling smile, if you want to try a more elaborate method there are a few that will cater to your request.
First you’ll need to look at your daily intake of dark liquids, coffee, tea; soft drinks and smoking can discolor your teeth. If you want to whiten your teeth back to their original brightness then you’ll have to limit your vices.
One way to make sure that your teeth are not exposed to any of the afore mentioned stain bandits is to drink your favorite coffee, tea or soft drink through a straw, this allows the liquid to bypass your teeth. This might be something you’ll want to do after you begin whitening your teeth so you can keep the brightness at a maximum.
If you want to spend a little more money on teeth whitening procedures that are faster then there are a few options available. There are home kits that contain whitening strips; it seems each company that toothpaste on the market has an addendum to their product.
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You would then at that point go on to post graduate education to become a specialist in oral surgery/orthodontist/periodontitist/pedodontist/ endodontist.
This all comes down to shopping around and doing your homework. I do not feel that one is necessary better the the other and would be un fair to make a blanked statement like that. I am sure that there are good dentist and bad dentist in both. Here are some suggestions you can do when trying to find a dentist.
1) Call the dental offices you have in your area that you may want to go to. Ask them all the general questions you may have. This will help give you get an idea of how they are.
2) You may want to just stop by. I have done this before. Just walk in and see what it looks like. Is it clean are the people friendly. Also talk to the people who are waiting. What better reference you can get. Ask them what they think of the dentist and the office. Most people will tell you the good and bad about their dentist.
3) You mentioned cost and not wanting to pay exorbitant amount for services. For this you may want to invest in getting either dental insurance or a dental discount plan. Either will help you control your dental cost.
4) When you find a dentist you might want to go to, find out what plans they participate in. This way you can look for those plans.
5) Do not forget the power of the internet. You can do a search on the dentist to see if there has been any comments about the office or the dentist by others that went there.
6) Finding a good dentist takes time but it is worth the effort you will put into it.
Good luck to you in your search.
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