Archive for January, 2011
What to Expect at Your Child’s First Dental Visit
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the age when your child should go to the dentist for the first time. Many people think that taking your child to the dentist before they are one year old is too early. They wonder what a dentist could possibly do with such a young child. One [...]
Where I Stand on Water Fluoridation
This is the final post dealing with water fluoridation in my week-long series discussing both sides of the water fluoridation debate. Hopefully you enjoyed the articles this week. If not, don’t worry! I’ll be back into my regular oral health writing routine next week. If you missed the two previous articles, each of them explored [...]
Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Water Fluoridation
Ever since communities started fluoridating their water, there have been people that are adamantly opposed to water fluoridation. As you can see in the 1950′s era flyer to the right, some people even alleged that water fluoridation was some kind of communist plot to overthrow the American government. Some of the arguments of anti-fluoridationists are [...]
Top 10 Reasons to Support Water Fluoridation
“You’re either with us, or against us” has been a popular quotation throughout history. I think that phrase describes the water fluoridation debate fairly well. There are many people against fluoride being added to their water, and many people that support the addition of fluoride to the public water supplies. I’ve felt caught in the [...]
Water Fluoridation Week on Oral Answers
66 years ago this week, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city to add fluoride to its public water supplies. Since then, a great debate has ensued regarding whether or not public water supplies should be artificially fluoridated. In 1962, the United States government recommended that water be fluoridated with 0.7 to 1.2 PPM [...]
How Your Teeth Affect The Length and Shape of Your Face
Most people know that teeth help us speak and chew food. However, an important, often overlooked function of teeth is that they help keep your face as long as it is. Have you ever noticed how older people sometimes look like their face was compressed together? Often this is because they have lost teeth, and [...]
Toothpaste Ingredients: The 10 Main Ingredients In Toothpaste
Ever since antifreeze chemicals were discovered in toothpaste produced in China several years ago, people have been increasingly concerned about the ingredients found in toothpaste. Luckily, anti-freeze is not found in toothpaste sold in the United States as it is illegal. Toothpaste consists of several different ingredients that leave our teeth feeling fresh and clean. [...]
At What Age Should Your Child Go to the Dentist for the First Time?
It has been said that although your baby may not be ready for a dental visit at one year of age, your baby’s teeth are ready. However, even if you take your child to the dentist on their first birthday, you may be taking them later than is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric [...]
What’s the Best Temporary Crown Cement and Method to Re-Cement Crowns?
Having a crown come off of your tooth can be very frustrating. Sometimes you just can’t get into the dentist right away because you’re too busy, you’re on vacation, or your dentist can’t fit you in very quickly. Some dentists might recommend that you use a temporary crown cement until you can be seen at [...]
Is a Labial Frenectomy Necessary After Braces?
A couple of months ago, my sister called to ask my opinion about a frenectomy that the orthodontist had suggested for my nephew. After discussing it with the orthodontist, my sister decided to postpone the frenectomy for the time being. Since then, it seems that I’ve had more than a few questions about the necessity [...]
What a Baby’s Gums Look Like While Teething
A few years ago, my wife and I kept thinking that our son was getting his first tooth. He eventually got it, but there were many times when it looked like his first tooth would be coming in and it didn’t. It’s important to know that the first tooth usually comes in around six months [...]
What Do Silver and White Fillings Look Like?
At my dental school, we recommend silver fillings for the back teeth since silver fillings last longer than white fillings. However, many people are hesitant to get silver fillings because they stand out, and they don’t want other people to notice them. If you are also wondering what the difference in appearance between white and [...]
How to Get a Copy of Your Dental Records
Many people are curious about the information contained in their dental records. Sometimes people may just want to have a copy of their dental records to see what procedures they have had done. Others, like Elaine Benes from Seinfeld, just want to know what their medical professional has written about them in their medical records. [...]
Dental Fluorosis: Too Much Fluoride Stains Teeth
Dental fluorosis happens when children swallow too much fluoride before their teeth have finished forming (usually before age 8.) It was actually dental fluorosis that led researchers to eventually find that small amounts of fluoride can be beneficial for the teeth. Dental fluorosis can range in severity from mild to severe. The mild form appears [...]
Hi, I'm Tom. I'm currently a 4th year dental student in the USA. I started this blog to help people take better care of their teeth. You can 
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