Losing your natural teeth is something no one really wants but it can happen.  In the past dentures, partials and bridges where the only options.  Dental implants bring another option for a people that a healthy smile without having dentures.  Talk to your cosmetic dentist and find out the best dental option available for you and your dental needs.

According to new research study it suggest that  the emotional health and education level of mothers during their children’s adolescent years can impact their children’s oral health.

Over a million children under five have at least two fillings because their parent fail to make them brush their teeth, a British study has found.

Researchers found almost a quarter of parents saying their little ones only cleaned their teeth once a day, with half saying they found the whole experience too stressful, Daily Mail reported.

As a result, one in six admitted their child had at least three fillings and almost half of children under 12 have been told they have tooth decay.

Having Poor Oral and Dental Health is Tied To Chronic Disease and Worse Overall Health. Even though studies are coming out that suggest that Poor oral health can contribute to many more serious medical condition as well as affect a person’s ability to chew and digest food properly, 45% of Ontarians ages 65 and up have not see a dentist within the last year.

 According to a study from the University of California, women who brush their teeth regularly could keep their memory sharp later in life.

The researchers found that elderly women who brushed their teeth less than once a day were up to 65% more likely to develop dementia than those who brushed three times a day.

The study done which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, tracked the health of almost 5,500 residents at a Californian retirement community from 1992 to 2010.

The answer to that question is sometimes you get what you pay for.  When you choose to get cheap a cookie cutter denture product you are not only going to get poor aesthetic look but they may also be a poor fitting product.

Talk to your dentist about the options available.  If you are wanting a more aesthetic looking denture think about spending a more if possible for the better choice.  In most cases the dentist will be about to show you photos of each denture option.

In a study titled “MicroRNA Modulation in Obesity and Periodontitis,”  the lead author Romina Perri, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Oral Health Institute conducted to determine whether obesity or periodontal disease modified microRNA expression and whether there was any potential interaction between obesity and periodontitis that could involve microRNA modulation   This study is published in the Journal of Dental Research, the official publication of the International and American Associations for Dental Research

Dry socket can happen after a tooth extraction.  Dry socket occurs when the blood clot that covers the extraction for healing becomes dislodged or does not form.  When that occurs the bone and fine nerve ending are not protected and left exposed to air food and liquids.  Dry socket will delay the healing process and many times can be very painful.

HAWK-I is a program that offers dental only coverage for kids who have medical insurance but does not have dental care coverages.   The program is for Iowa Children under the age of 19. It is based on family yearly countable income, this is a good source for low income household to get dental care for their children.

After having a wisdom tooth or other tooth remove proper aftercare is important in order to have a quick recovery.  You dentist will normal provide aftercare instructions but here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

Be mindful of the blood clot.  The blood clot covers the extraction site and helps the healing process.  You do not want to dislodge the blood when brushing near the extraction site.  Also avoid drinking though straws of smoking the sucking action can loosen the blood clot before the extraction has time to heal.

For the first day or two stick to a liquid and soft food diet, such as soups yogurts, mash potatoes anything that dose not require much chewing.  Avoid hot food or drinks as well since you do not want to irritate or burn the extraction area.

Your dentist may prescribed antibiotics in order to avoid any infections. Make sure to follow the instructions and finish the prescribed amount.

After having a tooth removed you may experience swelling. This is normal.  The worst of the swelling, pain and jaw stiffness will normally be within the first two to three days after surgery. You may want to apply ice packs for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off until bed time for the first day.

Many studies over the years have showed their is a link between Periodontal disease and over all health care.  These studies suggests that people with periodontal disease are at higher risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease. By having good oral health habits, it will reduce the risk of periodontal disease.

Two more small studies have strengthens the evidence that links periodontal disease with other health conditions. One Study focused on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).  The researchers took samples of diseased arteries from 53 people. They also took samples of healthy arteries from 21 other people. They tested the arteries for bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

The study found that 53% of the diseased arteries had periodontal bacteria in them and only 24% of the healthy ones did. The other study focused on people with type 2 diabetes which included 60 people. Twenty had periodontal disease and diabetes. Another 20 had periodontal disease, but not diabetes. The last 20 had diabetes, but not periodontal disease. People with diabetes and periodontal disease had higher blood sugar levels and poorer blood-sugar control than people who had diabetes only. The  people with both conditions also had more of a protein called C-reactive protein. Higher levels reflect more inflammation in the body. This group also had the lowest levels of HDL. The study is in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

Two studies appearing in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation, now freely available on-line, evaluate stem cells derived from dental tissues for characteristics that may make them therapeutically useful and appropriate for transplantation purposes.

According to Japanese researchers, older adults with more gum inflammation are at risk for kidney problems. The study was done on 317 people who where all 75 years old.  At the start of the study each person had an oral exam. The researchers calculated how much of each person’s gum tissue was inflamed. The people were followed for 2 years. During that time, 45 of them developed kidney problems. Those with the most inflammation were more than twice as likely to develop kidney problems as the rest of the people in the study. Other studies have suggested a link between periodontal disease and kidney disease. A 2010 study focused on people with both conditions. It found that by having periodontal treatment also improved kidney disease symptoms  This study appears in the October 14th issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

According to a long term study done, it suggest that dry mouth is common in those over the age of fifty particularly in older women. In the Swedish study, started in 1992 researchers sent questionnaires to every 50-year-old in 2 Swedish counties. Fifteen years later, they sent the same questions to every 65-year-old in those counties. They also sent them to a sample of 75-year-olds.

The study showed that in every age group, dry mouth was more common in women than in men. The authors speculate that the higher prevalence of dry mouth in women may be the result of decreased saliva production in the mouth following menopause. Dry mouth occurred more often as people got older, and more at night than during the day.

Dr Alison Coates from the University of South Australia and colleagues from the School of Dentistry at University of Adelaide in Australia reviewed evidence from eight unique studies that involved humans, to evaluate whether fish oil supplementation could be an adjunct therapy for periodontitis.

The studies showed that improvements in clinical measures were common in all studies, but were scientifically significant in two that used a combination of fish oil and aspirin. Although this is not conclusive evidence, intake of fish oil is recommended for health benefits beyond the teeth.

Sugar Substitute that helps to prevent cavities may also help prevent ear infections.  This according to the scientists from the University of Toronto who reviewed published research.  The scientists reviewed the last 61 years of studies on xylitol and ear infections. They found four studies that included a total of about 3,000 children up to the age of 12. Three of the studies included healthy children. Those who consumed xylitol gum, candies or syrup had 25% fewer ear infections.

How much do you think your are worth?   Well apparently John Lennon’s molar was sold for about $31000.00 an the Omega Auction House in early November of  2010.  it is probably  safe to say your tooth will probably never be worth any money much less $31000.00.  Therefore it is important to take proper care of your teeth to avoid having high dental care cost.  Having dental insurance in place will also help control your cost for dental care.