Dear Patients:
Hello from Wilmette Dental. I hope your
winter has been a pleasant one, and that you’re looking forward to
warmer days—I sure am!
2007 is turning out to be a travel year
for two of our staff. Lora, our dental assistant, recently flew with her
husband Alex to Estonia, in Northern Europe, to attend a friend’s
birthday celebration. Estonia borders Latvia, Russia, and the Gulf of
Finland. The party was a huge event. In fact, photos of the festivities
(including some of Lora and Alex) were featured in “Kronika,” a
popular magazine in Estonia.
In March, hygienist Kathleen and her
husband, Ed, attended a wedding in Ireland. After the nuptials, they
toured the Irish countryside.
Equally as exciting as travel to Ireland
or Estonia, I recently made my way to McCormick Place for the Chicago
Dental Society’s Annual Midwinter Meeting. This is one of the largest
dental events of its kind (luckily held right here in our own backyard).
My staff and I had the opportunity to sample the latest in treatment
technology, and to participate in continuing education classes. I attended
very interesting courses on aesthetic dentistry, TMJ treatments and
removable prosthetics.
At
home, my family is busy as always. Elise, now 13, is currently in dress
rehersals for her school’s upcoming performance of The Music Man. She
has a speaking role as a “pick-a-little lady” in the production.
Christopher, who just turned 11,
recently crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. I’ve dusted off my
sleeping bag and tent, and am looking forward to re-living my own Boy
Scout days by attending camp-outs with him.
Anne continues to help at the office and
is a very active school volunteer. Finally, Wolfgang the schnauzer spends
his days observing the hustle and bustle from the comfort of his basket in
the kitchen.
Have a wonderful and healthy spring.
Dr. Neuhaus
Teeth’s New Best
Friend: Licorice
It might be more than just a sweet treat
— licorice may help prevent cavities, according to findings from
scientists at the University of California. Compounds isolated from the
licorice root may inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans, a major
cause of dental cavities.
While more studies are needed to confirm
these initial findings, it could eventually mean that licorice compounds
would be used as cavity-fighting components in mouthwash or toothpaste.
Tooth Decay on the Rise!
Tooth decay is on the upswing among
young Americans, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Almost 20% of kids ages 2 to 3 have at
least one untreated cavity. And, about 50% of children ages 6 to 11 have
at least one cavity. Most distressing is that half of all kids show signs
of gum disease.
What can parents do? Encourage
brushing/flossing at least twice a day. (Even babies’ gums should be
wiped with a dampened cotton swab twice daily.) Offer nutritious foods —
and limit the “junk.” And, schedule dental cleanings and exams every
six months .
Finally, set a good example for your
child by taking excellent care of your own teeth!
Our Brains Love A Pretty
Face
Beauty may be in the eye — and the
brain — of the beholder.
We may actually be hard-wired to prefer
beauty, according to a University of Pennsylvania study in which
participants were shown faces of either extreme ugliness or extreme
beauty. In less than a fraction of a second, most were able to judge
attractiveness in what amounted to an unconscious, but highly accurate
assessment of physical beauty. And, those in the experiment were more
likely to associate pretty faces with positive traits.
Of course, a nice smile contributes
greatly to overall beauty. The Wilmette Dental staff would be delighted to
talk with you about teeth whitening and other ways to perfect your smile.
Your Smile…Before
and After
Our
patients constantly ask how they can improve their smile. Wilmette Dental
offers computer-generated “before and after” photos to show the many
treatments that can be done to correct darkened/stained, chipped and
misshapen teeth.
In fact, Dr. Neuhaus
used the technology to enhance his own smile! On your next visit, ask to
see some samples.
Bottled Water and
Cavities
Just in time for hot weather thirsts
comes news out of Australia that tooth decay is on the rise among 14–
and 15-year olds there who drink bottled water over fluoridated water. In
a report by the Australian Dental Association, the lack of enamel
strengthening fluoride in bottled water is a major factor in the high
level of tooth decay among children.
From the 1990s to 2002, Australia saw a
71% increase in tooth decay among the 14 and 15 year old age group — an
increase that coincided with the rise in popularity during that time of
bottled water and sports drinks.
Can Toothbrushes Be
Disinfected After Illness?
Have colds or flu hit your home lately?
After an illness, your tooth brush should be replaced with a new one. This
protects you from possible recontamination by “sick” germs on the
brush. The tightly packed tufts of plastic bristles on a toothbrush can be
a magnet for organisms and debris, and even the handle can host a variety
of nasty bugs.
And if you’ve dodged the cold/flu
bullet this winter, your toothbrush still may be much dirtier than you
realize.
Kept in the bathroom, your toothbrush is
subject to splatters and repeated exposure to aerosols of all types.
Worse, ventilation is minimal in most
bathrooms so even toilet flushes can result in organism-laden aerosols
that can float around the room -- and on to your toothbrush! So even if
you’ve been healthy, your brush should be replaced at least every three
months.
But, if like a favorite pair of
sneakers, you can’t stand the thought of tossing your tried and true
toothbrush, you can opt to disinfect it.
How? The best method is to run the brush
through the household dishwasher. Place the toothbrush in the utensil rack
with the bristle head up. Operate the washer on a regular cycle, including
the dry portion of the cycle.
Studies show that a household dishwasher
will reduce toothbrush bacterial loads of up to 4 million organisms down
to less than 50! And, most visible debris will be removed from the
bristles, the neck and grooves in the handle – all without damaging the
toothbrush.
And for those who think a microwave
would work as well – most experiments resulted in melted toothbrushes.
Did You Know…
In February of 1947, Evanston,
Illinois, became one of the first cities in the country to add fluoride
to its water supply.
Tooth decay ranks as the second most
common ailment in the United States today (after the common cold).
Two is the number of minutes the
average American spends per day brushing his teeth.
Contrary to legend, George Washington never owned a set of wooden
teeth. He did, however, have lifelong dental problems. Poor Washington
eventually had only one real tooth in his whole mouth!
All his life, Washington had many cavities and suffered painful
infections and inflamed gums. His poorly fitting dentures didn’t help.
The upper denture had ivory teeth, while the lower plate held eight human
teeth screwed into the base made of hippopotamus ivory. The set
was secured by uncomfortable springs that pushed Washington’s teeth
forward causing his cheeks to look puffy.
And, Washington’s dental problems probably influenced his mood. His
known bad temper may likely have been the result of constant pain. In
fact, it’s reported that Washington skipped giving his second inaugural
address because his mouth hurt so badly.
Interestingly, it may have been the brushing that hurt his teeth. Back
in Washington’s day, people brushed with tooth powders made from harsh
ingredients that actually damaged their teeth!
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