According to an observational study featured in the online journal BMJ Open reveals that persistent dental plaque can potentially raise the risk of dying early from cancer.

Researchers decided to establish whether dental plaque may influence the risk of early death from cancer due to infection and inflammation, as both factors are believed to play a role in up to one in five different types of cancer.

The findings revealed that dental plaque was linked to a substantially higher risk (79%) of premature death. However, the overall risk of premature death remained low, with a death rate of only 58 participants from a total of 1,390 participants after 24 years. The team highlights that their findings provide no evidence that dental plaque in fact causes or definitely contributes to cancer.

Along side with proper dental hygiene (brushing and flossing daily) It is important to make and keep dental check ups every six months more if there is evidence of gum problems or for pregnant women and those suffering from bone loss.

In the past pregnant women may have been discouraged from seeing a dentist during pregnancy, now however it is strongly recommended for pregnant women to scale and plane the roots of teeth to eliminate some gum disease.

A new study finds, Only about one-third of US children on Medicaid receives dental care in a single year, and how often these kids see a dentist can depend on where they live.  In 2007, the prevalence of visits to the dentist ranged from 12 percent in Nevada to 49 percent in Vermont, but didn’t reach 50 percent in any state or the District of Columbia, the researchers found.

The researchers also compared the 2007 findings with data from five years earlier.

“This study confirms with actual paid Medicaid claims data that access to dental services for Medicaid-eligible children has increased 16 percent nationally between 2002 and 2007, even though no state has yet reached even 50 percent access,” said study co-author Dr. Allen Conan Davis, an associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and former chief dental officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Many cities fluoridated their tap water, if you add fluoridated water to your infant’s baby formula, you may be putting your child at risk of developing dental fluorosis.  Though a harmless cosmetic condition,  fluorosis  manifests by brown, mottled or discolored tooth enamel.

Although fluoride  is still deemed necessary to prevent tooth decay, in infants and children too much fluoride can cause flurosis. Talk to your dentist and make sure you are not using to much fluoride.

Amalgam filling are made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements.  Although amalgam filling are still considered to be safe there are many that have concerns about the mercury content in amalgams.

However, thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, dentists have more ways to create pleasing, natural-looking smiles. Dental researchers are continuing their often decades-long work developing materials, such as ceramics and polymer compounds that look more like natural teeth. As a result, dentists and patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to repair missing, worn, damaged or decayed teeth.

A child should see a dentist at least once every six months, starting no later then their first birthday.   Here are some tips that may help your child develop a positive attitude about seeing a dentist.

Try taking your baby with you when you go for your own dental appointments this will let them get used to the dental office and it staffing.  When talking about dental visits either to your child or around your child avoid using negative words such as shots, needles and pain or hurt.  Before your child dental appointment you can play dentist with him/her.  This will help you in a fun way to get your child familiarize with what takes place during a visit.  You may also want to ask your dentist how they explain procedures to children.  Answer your child questions about dental visits honestly and sensitively as possible. Making sure to keeping it light and up beat.

Eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods is not only bad for your body, it’s also bad for your oral health. With the coming of the New Year it is a great chance to indulge in a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh produce, a diet which can also help to prevent gum disease.

Another reason to dust off your running gear or walking boots this New Year.  Many people many know that physical workout is good for resulting into total health in the form of  health of heart, and controlling accumulation of fats and other matters such as cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and so on.

However, you may be surprised  to learn exercise  is good for the health of our teeth as well. It has been found that regular body movements are important for good oral health. People who have a proper BMI, i.e. body-mass index, who perform workouts on a consecutive basis and take a nutritious meal are less likely to suffer from gum problems as found out by researches.

In a report on oral health awareness in adult patients with diabetes, according to researchers who put out a questionnaire study that was published in the latest issue of the British Dental Journal (BDJ), several individuals who suffer with diabetes are not aware that their oral health is closely connected to their risk of developing other health complications such as heart disease and cancer.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Recommends bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday. Caring for your child baby teeth is very important for their oral and over all health care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a baby should see a dentist on their first birthday. By doing so a dentist will be able to check your child teeth for tooth decay as well as check for any signs of early developmental problems.  For new parents it give you a chance to ask the dentist about any questions or concerns you might have about your baby dental care.

One way to have better oral health is,  if you are a smoker to stop. Smoking has a detrimental effect on your mouth, teeth and gums. Research has also shown smokers to lose more teeth than non-smokers. It can also cause mouth cancer, so use the new year to kick the habit and turn around your oral health.

With the start of the New Year many people are reviewing their old budget or making new ones.  Do not forget to budget in your dental care needs.

Dental care should not be viewed as a luxury, So make sure items like toothpaste containing fluoride,  mouthwash, toothbrushes, dental floss and a check-up at the dentist find their way into your budget.

One way to help save money on your dental care needs for your budget is by having dental insurance.  If you budget the cost of dental insurance it will save you money on your dental care needs.  In most cases preventive dental care is free under dental insurance and with proper preventive dental care you can avoid having larger more costly dental services.

Generally speaking most people think that they need only to see a dentist twice a year, and for the most part that can hold true.  However opinions on that are starting to change.

Then National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines state the recommended interval between dental check-ups should be determined specifically for each patient, and tailored to meet their needs, on the basis of an assessment of disease levels and risk of or from dental disease.

Meaning you should see a dentist not by a standard stated time but what is best for your own oral health care needs.  Talk to your dentist and see what is best for you, if you have not been to a dentist within the last year or more, make sure to make a dental appointment. Oral health  is very important to maintain and poor oral health can also have negative effects on your over all health.  Also by having dental insurance it will help keep your dental care cost low.

Oral health care is important and that does include brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two to three minutes.  However try and beware of the water that is being used.

With kids it is very easy for them to run the water the whole time while brushing there teeth.  Teach them how only very little water is needed and to turn off the tap while the are brushing. Have a small cup out filled with water for them to rinse with and turn on the tap just to quickly wash the sink clean when done.