Wellesley Dental Group Blog

Did you know, lung cancer takes the lead for causing the most cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States. November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, in which many organizations help encourage lung health and educate the public on lung diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screenings for individuals who have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, and are between the ages of 50 and 80 years old.

Researchers are constantly trying to find new innovations and insights to help fight oral diseases. Most recently, a research team at Tel-Aviv University Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine along with and researchers from the University of Michigan revealed groundbreaking insights on the regeneration of oral bone that supports our teeth.

Most likely, no one wants to experience acid reflux. But it happens to all of us at some point in our lives. Some people, however, experience this feeling more frequently and suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In fact, 1 out of every 5 Americans suffer from this condition, according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD). The Annual GERD Awareness Week is being celebrated November 20-26, 2022. Individuals are encouraged to speak with their medical and dental professionals for support with this condition.

Researchers at the University of Queensland Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences and School of Dentistry have suggested that young children exposed to fluoridated water were not negatively linked to emotional, behavioral development and executive functioning as adolescents. This study was published in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR). They evaluated the information of individuals aged 5-10 years from Australia’s National Child Oral Health Study of 2012-2014. These individuals were followed-up with after 7-8 years prior to turning 18 years old.

Treats can be Tricky!

Halloween: a day dedicated to eating candy -what is there not to love! The simple answer to that is dental cavities. Not to worry though, with a few tips you can balance candy with healthy teeth this Halloween.

One thing to note is that the length of time sugar stays on the teeth plays a significant role in cavity development. Avoid candies that last in the mouth for long periods of times such as sticky and hard candies like tootsie rolls, gummy worms, caramel, and lollipops. Not to mention, hard candy can increase your risk of damaging your teeth if accidently biting into them, which can lead to tooth fracture or dislodge a filling or restoration. If you are indulging in a sweet treat, it is best to do so during mealtimes. This allows for more saliva to be present within the mouth, which can help neutralize the sugary acids produced by oral bacteria.

It is also best to limit the amount of sugar you consume. Take a look at these tasty Halloween treats and their sugar content:

Sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 23–29, 2022) recognizes respiratory therapists across the nation and helps bring awareness on respiratory health. In 1982 this observance was first created with the proclamation, “Chronic lung diseases constitute an important health problem in the United States. They afflict nearly 18 million Americans and cause nearly 70,000 deaths each year, many of which are the direct result of cigarette smoking.” Today, vaping and e-cigarettes have also been added to the list of harmful culprits impacting our society. 

Each day we are reminded of how grateful we are to our dental hygienists for all that they do! Their hard work in helping us all reach good oral health and overall wellness is invaluable. National Dental Hygiene Month was created by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Health Care Program (WOHP) to celebrate the amazing dental hygiene community nationally every October. There are over 200,000 dental hygienists in the United States working hard each day to keep our pearly whites sparkling and healthy.

With Halloween quickly approaching, many preparations are now in place. From Halloween costumes to pumpkin carvings, to decorations, and sweet treats, there’s a lot that goes into the day for those who celebrate. But we all know that Halloween can bring its own challenges when it comes to oral health. This isn’t to say that all the sugar should be taken away, but there are some tips to make Halloween safe and still fun for you and your family.

As we all know, water is an essential part of life. Your oral health also relies on water. Staying hydrated with water, especially fluoridated water, can provide many benefits for your teeth. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen your tooth enamel and lower your risk of developing tooth decay. Many communities have made the choice to fluoridate their community water supplies. According to the published study, which can be found in the British Dental Journal, over 35% of the world’s population have access to water fluoridation. New research conducted by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the University College London has shown the environmental friendliness of water fluoridation. According to their study, water fluoridation has a low environmental footprint and is effective in reducing tooth decay.

When you have an infection, your body does the best it can to defend itself from harm. Different infections trigger unique responses from the body, which can sometimes be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. For instance, pus may be an indication of a tooth abscess, which can result in serious health complications if untreated. A tooth abscess is small pouch of pus within the gums that is caused by a bacterial infection. This may occur as a result of a dental cavity left untreated, a damaged tooth, gum disease, or other dental issues that allow oral bacteria to thrive and wreak havoc.