Dental Facts

Some of you may think that there we have been grammatically incorrecting when we write Dr. Ames's practice, for example. And while this is not a dental fact, we found this to be quite interesting, applicable and useful for all.

The Elements of Style (1918) (aka Strunk & White), by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, is an American English writing style guide. It is the best-known, most influential prescriptive treatment of English grammar and usage. According to Elements of Style, one forms the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's.

Follow this rule: Charles's friend, Burn's poems, the witch's hat.

Onto dental fun facts:

32% of Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait of their co-workers.

80% are not happy with their smile

People who drink 3 or more sugary sodas daily have 62% more dental decay, fillings and tooth loss.

Academy of General dentistry, the average person only brushes for 45 to 70 seconds a day, the recommended amount of time is 2-3 minutes.

The second most common disease in the United States is tooth decay. The first is the common cold.

Dental Health and Diabetes

People with diabetes are more vulnerable to the millions of germs that live in your mouth and dental problems caused by them. As a result, people with diabetes are more likely to have infections of their gums and the bones that hold the teeth in place. Diabetes also causes a decrease in blood supply to the gums making them more susceptible to disease. In addition, high blood sugar may cause dry mouth and make gum disease worse. The decrease in saliva can cause an increase in tooth decaying bacteria and plaque build up.
What Are the Symptoms of Dental Problems in Diabetes?
If you have diabetes, symptoms of dental problems include bleeding and sore gums, frequent infections, and bad breath.
How Can I Prevent These Dental Problems?

To prevent dental problems if you have diabetes, taking good care of your gums and teeth is very important. Here are some tips for preventing dental problems:

• Have a dental checkup every six months.
• Tell your dentist that you have diabetes and ask him or her to show you how to take proper care of your gums and teeth.
• Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day
• If you smoke, quit.
• Maintain good blood sugar control.

If severe gum disease develops, surgery may save your teeth. But if that's not possible, you may have to have teeth pulled to prevent the infection from destroying the bone around your teeth.

Dental Health and Heart Health

Several different studies conducted by cardiologists, and by periodontists (specialists in gum disease) now suggest that there are several connections between dental health and heart disease. People with gum disease, with false teeth, or with deteriorating teeth are all much more likely to have heart disease.

What many studies reveal is that people who suffered heart attacks, who need transplants, or who need heart surgery are much more likely to have dental problems. Chief among these was periodontal or gum disease, which means a large amount of bacteria are present in the mouth. In this case, you can't get by with brushing or flossing, since gums can bleed and thus be open to receiving bacteria into the blood stream.

It is theorized that one of the connections between dental health and heart disease is what the blood stream does with bacteria from the mouth. It may end up lining the walls of your arteries, causing atherosclerosis and artery blockage, or alternately, certain forms of strep bacteria can cause vegetative matter to grow in the valves of your heart, called bacterial endocarditis. Prevention of gum disease is important, and this means flossing regularly, and getting two teeth cleanings a year. If you have gum disease, you should check with your doctor or dentist about antibiotic mouthwashes that can help remove bacteria from your mouth prior to flossing.

Dental health and heart disease have an even more firmly established connection that has long been known. People who have had surgeries, especially surgeries that used artificial valves, conduits or stents absolutely need antibiotic treatment prior to receiving any type of dental treatment, even a teeth cleaning. It is always important to talk to your dentist about heart conditions or surgeries you've had, and to ask your cardiologist if you need what are called prophylactic antibiotics prior to seeing the dentist. This large single dose of antibiotics taken an hour prior to dental work does prevent the greater risk of developing bacterial endocarditis.