Media "Bites"
* First President In Cyberspace- In honor of the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death, the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is offering a unique opportunity to learn about his life. Thanks to a grant from the American Dental Association Health Foundation, your children can participate in a fun program that will teach them about the life of our founding father, get the true facts on his various sets of dentures, develop a perspective on the influence they played as he performed his presidential duties and explore colonial dentistry. Once they reach the website at www.dentalmuseum.umaryland.edu they can hyperlink to a timeline, quiz and hear conversations re-enacted from written correspondence between the first president and his favorite dentist, Dr. John Greenwood.
* Pets Need Dental Care Too- Did you know that by the age of 3, 80 percent of dogs show signs of periodontal disease? The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Dental Society would like to see more focus placed on the oral health needs of dogs and cats. Pet owners can checkout the website http://www.petdental.com.
* Survey Says: Smiles Are Highly Regarded- Figures from a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry show that Americans are both health-conscious and looks-conscious. Result highlights included the fact that 9 out of 10 U.S. adults see an attractive smile as an important social asset. About half the adults surveyed believe they have an attractive smile, and 3 out of 4 adults believe an unappealing smile can impact negatively on career success.
* 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.