Current Bites of Interaction

Current "Bites" of Information

                I think you'll find these current news bites interesting and informative.

* A Tasty Way To Fight Decay!  Here's a fun way to help promote healthy teeth.  Study shows that school children who chew sugarless gum have less tooth decay.  If you're wondering how, it is because chewing sugarless gum increases saliva flow, which in turn lowers the acid levels in the mouth.  It doesn't take the place of brushing and flossing, but it can help when you can't brush.  Even better, rinse with water first and then chew.  Now that's a neat trick and treat!

* Study Show Smoking Is A Main Cause of Gum Disease- A recent government survey showed that cigarette smoking may play a major role in more than half the cases of severe gum disease in adults nationwide.  According to Dr. Scott Tomar, a researcher with the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "While it has long been known that smoking can help cause gum disease, this is the first national study to show how widespread the problem is".

* A Compelling Reason To Floss- Periodontitis is a severe bacterial infection of the gums that may result in tooth loss.  Although as yet not fully understood, science is discovering links between periodontal disease and systemic diseases.  These include; diabetes, heart disease, stroke and complications of pregnancy such as premature and low-birth-weight babies.  We may not have all the answers yet, but we do know that the bacteria from periodontitis can be spread through the blood to other parts of the body.  The relationships are complicated, but what is crystal clear is that preventing periodontitis is important for reasons that go far beyond saving teeth.