What About Those Mercury Amalgams?

This email came from a customer today (April 22, 2013):

"Our family is focusing on amalgams right now (mercury), although gum disease is effectively being addressed.  You might mention oil pulling and the use of a tooth pick around the gum as additional actions in addition to using your oral irrigator just fwiw."


My Answer (modified) :

Please keep in mind that every time you remove a filling to replace it with a new one, the hole is made bigger.  You can only do that so many times until you have to get a crown or worse.

Also, understand that most of the mercury is gone in 5 years.  So if it is longer than 5 years and you are thinking of replacing them, keep in mind the point above.

Fillings do not last forever.  Every time they need to 'replace' one, they have to make the hole even bigger.   You can only go so far with that.

The use of a tooth pick around the gumline is a great idea. you can get a tool called a perio-aid to help you with that.  Most periodontists give them away for free.

Ceramic Fillings

Ceramic  fillings are not without problems either.   I think a person should do their research.  It appears that these ceramic fillings, for one thing, change the natural electrical charge that the tooth has.

While that may or may not mean anything in reality,  no one is really shore what the effects of this charge could be in the long run.    (if any).

There may be other cons to ceramics as well.

I'm certainly not saying you should choose mercury either.    I'm just pointing out that one should probably research the pros and cons before getting all of your fillings redone.  


Feel free to comment.


Sincerely,
David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849


PS:  Get your free guides on fighting gum disease and stopping bad breath   

PPS: prevention can also help a lot in reducing an individual's or family's health care costs.  My favorite prevention tool.   

Hydro Floss Customer Reviews  

Noble Smile Dental Website in Katy Texas Answers The Question: Can I Reverse Gingivitis

I thought this was a decent article on the question:  Can I Reverse Gingivitis? from a Katy, Texas dentist's website.

Nice thing about this article is that  they even mention cranberry juice for its antibacterial properties.  I believe they intended to say that it helps to keep bacteria from adhering to the teeth and tissues.

Gingivitis is, of course, said to be the reversible form of gum disease.   The article went on to remind us that when left untreated the disease will progress to lost gum tissue and eventually lost teeth.

Aside from the exceptional cranberry juice mention, we received the standard advice about brushing and flossing 2-3 times per day.  However,  with such a high incidence of gum disease in the world, we have to question whether JUST brushing and flossing is enough.

Periodontal Pockets 

The one thing I would like to add to that information, which would actually be helpful to people, is the generally objective measurement of gum health called - periodontal pocket depths.   It would be absolutely fantastic to let people know that those measurements are important and why.

Of course, that would mean - gulp - empowering patients to make - gasp - their own choices.

NOT really!  But, it does help patient's understand what they need to do to improve their dental health and a way to measure their results.   Without such an understanding, it is really hard to just follow advice.

Give someone a goal to go after and LOOK out!   Of course, that is not true of everyone, but I think it would be helpful to a lot of people!    You do still need your dentist or hygienist to actually measure those depths - so it is not like people will stop visiting their dentist.

I think many people actually enjoy getting their teeth cleaned.  I know I do!

Thanks to Noble Smile Dentistry for writing a helpful article on dental health.

We should not overlook, nor forget about prevention.  Many expensive dental procedures could be avoided in the first place, if patient's were more educated about prevention.   My favorite.  

David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849

PS:  Get your free guides on fighting gum disease and stopping bad breath  

PPS: prevention can also help a lot in reducing an individual's or family's health care costs.  My favorite prevention tool.  

University of Michigan Has A New Dental School Dean - The First Woman To Hold The Post Since 1875

Here is the story from Dr. Bicuspid Website

Congratulations to Laurie McCauley, DDS, PhD  - She is now the 13th Dean of the school (since 1875) and the first woman to hold this position. 

I am delighted to hear about this.   It is an important position that involves the ability to influence both staff and students in powerful ways.   

I hope Dr. McCauley will use her new found powers for good!   

Part of that work should be a focus on prevention 

Dental health bills for patients are very expensive.  Whenever expensive treatments can be legitimately avoided, it is a good thing. 

Educating patients about prevention, particularly in regard to their periodontal health, can make a big difference.  Even more so,  because gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss.  

 If patient's were educated about keeping their periodontal pocket depths to 3mm and below, I'm pretty sure it would save them from expensive treatments in the future.  

I sure hope Dr. McCauley will put special emphasis on preventing periodontal issues for the patient but impressing the great need for this service to the patients on her  students.   



My favorite dental health tool for home use is this one.   




Sincerely,

David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849


PS:  Get your free guides on fighting gum disease and stopping bad breath  

David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849


PS:  Get your free guides on fighting gum disease and stopping bad breath   

 This page

  http://blog.toothygrinsstore.com/2013/02/can-hydro-floss-help-improve-your.html

University of Louisville Dental School Offers Free Clinic In Harlan - video

 

To The Page Shown In The Video

Kudos to the University of Louisville Dental Skill for their free clinic program.   

Read More

 

Sincerely,

David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849

PS: pick up your free guides on   stopping gum disease  and defeating bad breath

 

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Llelenys Rivera Rivera, Dental Student, 22 Sworn Into Army Reserves

Here is the full article on Dental Student Llelenys. 

She will receive a monthly stipend from the US Army until she graduates upon which time she will achieve the rank of Captain in the Army medical / dental corps. 

She is currently attending the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine

Congratulations to Llelenys for embarking on her career as a Dentist with the US Army.

Sincerely,

David Snape
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849

PS: pick up your free guides on   stopping gum disease  and defeating bad breath