My Blog Has Moved

Hello loyal readers.   My blog has moved.   You can find it at www.dentistlove.com.  

Happy reading...

Fred

If Red Wine Stains, White Should be Fine, Right? Think Again...

I'm sure you've heard (especially if you've had your teeth whitened) that dark liquids like red wine and cola can stain your teeth.  True.  You want your teeth to be white and "white" wine should be a good, non-staining choice, right? False.

A study at New York University College of Dentistry revealed that white wine may actually make teeth more susceptible to stains (if you drink it - or soak cow teeth in it for an hour, as they did in the study).  White wine contains acids that can create ridges in the teeth which allow staining agents to get deeper into the teeth.

Of course, red wine is still worse than white wine on the staining scale, especially if you drink it second.

In The Footsteps of Sy Sperling: 1-800-DENTIST edition

I am currently visiting New York City.  My wife broke a crown, so we needed to find a dentist for her.  If only we knew a way to find a great dentist.  Oh, wait... I called 1-800-DENTIST, got referred to a great dentist and she was able to be seen right away. To paraphrase Mastercard, the phone call was free and the results were priceless.

Thankfully, my hair is all my own.  However, I feel another paraphrase coming on. This time, it is Sy Sperling: I'm not only the CEO of 1-800-DENTIST, but I'm also a client.

If a Monkey Can Floss....

"Flossing is hard."  "Flossing hurts."  "Flossing takes too long."  "I can't remember to floss."   I've heard them all.  This video falls under the heading "so easy a monkey can do it." Leave it to a monkey to set a good example.....

Another Notch on Green Tea's Belt: It Helps Your Gums

Green tea has been getting a lot of great press lately.  It gets credit for helping your heart and preventing cancer (providing you drink it, of course). I have also seen it make an appearance in shampoo and face cream (which you probably shouldn't drink).

Now a study that has been published in the Journal of Periodontology indicates that drinking green tea can help your teeth and gums. Gum health was better in the green tea drinkers than it was in the non-drinkers. The benefits might be attributable to the presence of the antioxidant catechin.

Green tea works hard for your health, but it can't do it alone.  Let your dentist help.

Do You Like Brad Pitt's Smile?

Last week I attended the Chicago Dental Society's 144th Annual Midwinter Meeting, which took place in, you guessed it, Chicago. In winter. A survey was given and the responding dentists said that the the celebrity smile most men ask for is that of Brad Pitt (a change from 2006's Tom Cruise). For women, the most requested smile belongs to Julia Roberts. Movie stars do seem to have nice teeth. Does that mean if you call 1-800-DENTIST and take care of your teeth you might become a movie star? You never know....  

In another survey response, 17% of responding dentists feel that the Tooth Fairy should pay $5 per tooth! With this economy and that rate, the Tooth Fairy might want to stock up on Super Glue.

Visit Your Dentist, Not Your Junk Drawer

We hear the news stories every day. We know the words: economy, deficit, unemployment, stimulus... Yes, times are tough, but don't take it out on your mouth and your health. A woman in Colorado has actually been using Super Glue to keep her teeth in her mouth. "Self help" in dentistry involves brushing and flossing, not this.

We know why dentistry isn't cheap (and shouldn't be) and why dentistry is a good investment. Sure, you can wait a bit for the dream smile if you need to, but get basic care. I hope you know by now that if you don't have one, 1-800-DENTIST will help you find a dentist near you. Many will invite you in for a no-cost evaluation and will discuss financing options for care you may need. Super Glue sold separately.