Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Colgate has two new sensitivity toothpastes: Colgate Sensitive Enamel Protect and Colgate Sensitive Multi Protection. Their introduction is a tremendous advantage for people with tooth sensitivity, increasing the options for effective sensitive toothpaste. Up to now the only sensitive toothpastes with tartar control were Sensodyne Full Protection and Sensodyne Tartar Control. If I recommend sensitive toothpaste I only recommend one with tartar control.

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Health Care Reform Alert: Young Adult Dental Coverage up to Age 26

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (“PPACA”) signed into law March 23, 2010 young adults up to age 26 are eligible for coverage under their parent/guardian’s health care plans – including dental, regardless of marital status, dependent status, student status, or residency.

When exactly this could be in effect depends on a number of factors, notably whether coverage is individual, small group or large group. The law took effect July 1, 2010 and depending on the type of coverage, coverage could be immediate, or January 1, 2011. You’ll need to look into this specifically with your insurance, and of course the young adult would need to be added to the insurance plan.

The one glaring omission from this coverage is Tricare:

The recent Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) requires civilian health plans that provide medical coverage to children to make that coverage available until the child turns 26 years of age. The Act did not give the Department of Defense the authority to offer this benefit through TRICARE.

Through July 2010, several states have reported an increase in cases and/or localized outbreaks of pertussis, including a state-wide epidemic in California. Localized outbreaks are not uncommon and occur throughout the year. Over the last 5 years, 8,000-25,000 cases of pertussis were reported per year in the United States. Everyone should make sure they are up to date with pertussis vaccinations — DTaP vaccine for infants and children and Tdap booster for adolescents and adults.

Whooping cough — known medically as pertussis — is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. Although it initially resembles an ordinary cold, whooping cough may eventually turn more serious, particularly in infants. Whooping cough is most contagious before the coughing starts. The best way to prevent it is through vaccinations. The childhood vaccine is called DTaP. The whooping cough booster vaccine for adolescents and adults is called Tdap. Both protect against whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

You can protect your family by getting yourself vaccinated or by getting a booster shot. Since babies most often catch whooping cough from a family member, the following people should make sure they’re up to date on their whooping cough vaccinations:

• Children and adolescents, especially:
  • Children less than 7 years old—they should see their pediatrician to get their childhood vaccinations.
  • Children ages 7 to 10 who have not received or completed their childhood vaccination series.
  • Children 11 years and older who haven’t had their regularly scheduled Tdap booster shot.
• All mothers, fathers, caregivers, and people living with newborns and infants, especially those younger than 6 months old.
  • Caregivers and people living with newborns include all persons who are ages 7 or older as recommended by the California Department of Public Health during the current pertussis epidemic.
• Pregnant women in their second and third trimester.
• Women who plan to become pregnant.
• All healthcare workers.

See more about vaccination requirement in Virginia Public Schools, click here.

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.