It Starts Before They Are Born

November 9, 2011

Research shows that babies are born without any harmful bacteria in their mouths. However, once bacteria colonize in the mouth, children are more prone to cavities in their baby teeth and permanent teeth. How do they get the bacteria? Caregivers.
Most parents don’t know that they can pass harmful bacteria from their mouth to their baby’s mouth. The most critical time is during the child’s first 2 and one-half years of life. Most children are born without a single tooth. Can bacteria passed to children without teeth affect their decay potential for their whole life? According to research the answer is yes.
Here’s a shocker…..If you have a history of poor oral health,… (Read More)

Room For Improvement

September 2, 2011

Dentists play a key role in screening patients for many disorders relative to nutrition and in providing appropriate referrals into the health care system. Although the importance of integrating diet and nutrition guidance into dental care has been advocated for decades by educators, it continues to be ignored except by a handful of prevention-oriented practitioners.
Many of the world’s most significant health problems are linked to poor dietary practices, including over-nutrition and under-nutrition. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in health, and dental professionals have the opportunity to be a critical link between discovery and wellness.
There is a great deal of evidence linking oral infections, including periodontal disease, nutrition and immunological response. We… (Read More)

Decay – 100% Preventable

June 7, 2011

I spent last week in Boston for the annual meeting of an organization I belong to called the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). It was a great meeting. In the four days I was there I took eight classes, went to a Red Sox game, did a Duck Boat tour, and had dinner in the North End. It was great to be a “tourist” in Boston. I learned more about the history of Boston and a great deal of information to be able to provide better care.
There are a wide variety of courses to take at a meeting like this. Most of them are obviously related to cosmetic-based dentistry, but there are… (Read More)