Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

They’re back. Seasonal allergies, and soon the flu.

A lot of people are coming in for their dental appointment and report having a cold for a couple weeks, sore throat, headaches, and feeling run down – with the HIGH pollen count (click here for our local pollen count), it’s is most likely you have seasonal allergy symptoms.

The Seasonal Flu Vaccine

And … it’s time again to think about getting a flu shot, which is generally offered between September and mid-November - typically before the late-fall to early-winter start of flu season. It takes up to two weeks to build immunity after a flu shot. Read the rest of this entry »

The recent nationwide recall of eggs does not affect our area in Northern Virginia (Washington, DC metropolitan area).

The recall affects eggs shipped since May 16, 2010 were sent to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Washington (state), Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Iowa.

For more information from the FDA about this recall, click here. Specific information about affected brands and descriptions is available on EggSafety.org, click here.

Fast Facts:

• The current recall of eggs in their shells, or “shell eggs,” is part of an ongoing and intensive investigation by local, state, and federal officials into the cause of recent cases of Salmonella Enteritidis.
• This recall affects shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. The eggs are packaged under different brand names and distributed nationwide.
• The shell eggs may contain Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and may cause serious illness.
• Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
• Consumers should throw away the product or return the product to the store

We’ve known for decades that dental disease (cavities, gum problems) is contagious. Cavities and gum problems are caused by bacteria that are transmitted from person to person. When children are born they’re sterile – no bacteria, but right away they pick up bacteria for their skin, mouth, intestines.

In a recent article in Pediatric Dentistry (Volume 32, Number 3, May / June 2010 , pp. 205-211(7), published by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) researchers concluded that “mothers are an important source of infection [with Streptococcus mutans – the primary bacteria causing cavities in children] for the child at an early age.”

What this means is that they dental health of the mother is more responsible for the risk for cavities in their children. Cavities need three things: a tooth, food and bacteria. What can be modified to prevent cavities is straight-forward: a healthy diet, effectively cleaning teeth (brushing and flossing), sealants, and fluoridated water and toothpaste. In addition, moms can work towards a very healthy mouth for their own benefit, but also for their children. Children will further pick up on what their parents do (or don’t do), and will model their behavior after them: if parents brush and floss regularly and go to scheduled dental checkups this will not be lost on what the kids perceive about the importance of dental health.

Nope, nada, gone. Wild Flossers – you can’t find ‘em anymore – that’s because they were discontinued by Johnson & Johnson in August 2009. Some online resources still have them, but once that runs out they’re gone.

So … Glide has always been the best floss, the platinum standard for almost 25 years. You won’t find a dental professional using anything else (#1 brand of floss in dental office use, and #2 floss in retail.). Glide does comes as a floss pick too, and now that you can’t get Wild Flossers, look for ‘Crest Glide Floss Picks’.

The xylitol gum I’ve recommended for many years, Xylimax, is no longer available. In it’s place you can now get a comparable gum, Xponent gum from GlobalSweet.com.

 In addition, the xylitol mints, Smints, have been discontinued, and a Fragmints from GlobalSweet.com are a great replacement.

Xylitol is a naturally derived sweetener that does not cause cavities. Bacteria grow on other widely used sugar alternatives used by manufacturers, such as sorbitol and mannitol. You’ll notice that the commonly available “sugarless” products never say cavity-free. They’re sugarless because they don’t contain sucrose (sugar).

I’ve updated the links on for the gum and mints throughout my site.

Recently a patient asked my about the cavity-free xylitol gum I recommend, and in checking the link on my website I was amazed to find the link was down. The company that imported the gum from Finland is apparently no longer in business, and in fact the Finnish manufacturer was acquired by another larger confectionery company in 2008.

To date, the FDA has not issued any advisory to the public or the profession on this issue.

Nearly 35 million people in the United States wear dentures and many of the widely used denture adhesives previously contained zinc. If a denture wearer used large amounts of the adhesive, and swallowed it, there are claims that a person could receive too much zinc, potentially resulting in a lowering of copper and possible serious neurological issues.

Since 2009 lawsuits have been filed claiming inadequate warning labels on Poligrip and Fixodent alerting wearers to potential effects of too much zinc consumption. There is a recent resurgence in television advertising for such lawsuits and it is important to note that zinc containing denture adhesives have been pulled by major manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline. Zinc-free is now clearly shown on packaging.

• American Dental Association (ADA) statement on Zinc in Denture Cream, click here.

Denture wearers are advised to see their dentist if their dentures do not fit well or if they have questions about the use of dental cream. Dental examinations and appropriate care can reduce the need for denture adhesive products. Regular dental checkups are important for everyone, including denture wearers.

Hard to believe, but it really is not long before school starts up again. Make sure if you or the kids are due for your checkup that you schedule your appointment during the summer break when it’s easier. If college students need to have wisdom teeth removed, that’s best done at least a few weeks before returning to school.

Most contact sports require a mouthguard, and once all permanent teeth are present you may want to consider a custom mouthguard that protects teeth 9 times better than the boil and bite type.

School calendars: Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudon.

Because Lyme disease cases increased in Fairfax County last year, Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova and Providence District Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth are hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m. to noon. The event will take place in the Board Auditorium, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. More info, click here.

Special guest U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly will participate in the town hall. The event will feature presentations and a panel discussion with county staff and two of the nation’s leading experts on Lyme disease.

“Lyme disease is on the rise in Virginia and the United States, according to the CDC,” said Bulova. “As people spend more time outdoors because of the warm weather, we want them to know how to protect themselves from the ticks that transmit Lyme disease.”

   Lyme Disease Update, VA Department of Health (221.7 KiB)

Two leading experts from the U.S. Centers on Disease Control and Prevention will make presentations. Benjamin Beard, Ph.D., chief, Bacterial Diseases Branch, and Dr. Paul Mead, chief, Epidemiology and Surveillance Activity, will discuss a variety of topics, including:

• How ticks transmit the disease.
• How the disease is spreading from the Northeast into Northern Virginia.
• What people can do to protect themselves.

On April 30, 2010 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) together with manufacturer McNeil Consumer Healthcare issued a voluntary recall of specific children’s over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. It is important to note that the recall is specific for certain lots of Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl and that the medicines being recalled are all liquid, drops or syrup.

Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl are safe medications – the recall is in effect for reasons of concentration or contamination.

• For complete information, please see the FDA web page on this topic, click here.
• Further information about a refund or coupon if you have one of these recalled products, click here.
• For additional information about the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen) in children see this information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, click here.

Professional teeth whitening is safe, effective and easy to use. Two short appointments are all that are needed to get the process started. Note that fillings, bonding, veneers, crowns, bridges and dentures do not whiten. A dental examination must have been performed in the last 6 months and there can be no active, unrestored cavities present. It’s best to have teeth cleaned prior to whitening. If you plan significant fillings or veneers on front teeth it is best to whiten before. More about teeth whitening, click here.