Toothbrushes Saving Lives.........

Toothbrushes Trump Seat Belts

Yes, you read this correctly.  As important as seat belts are as a preventive measure, toothbrushes have a far greater impact on the health and longevity of the American public.  According to the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts save about 13,000 lives a year, nationwide.  That is no small number:  more than 1,000 Americans each month owe their lives to the 5 seconds it took them to "buckle up".  NHTSA points out that seat-belts reduce a person's chances of dying in a crash by 45% and being injured by 50%.  However seat belts probably will not play a role in saving your life, because chances are you will not be in a serious car crash, most Americans never are.

On the other hand, most Americans have gum disease.  Estimates are that up to 80% of American adults suffer either from gingivitis or periodontal disease.  The most common cause of tooth loss among adults is periodontal disease.  What you may not know is that tooth loss is one of the least important consequences of periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease is a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke, low-birth-weight infants, and some forms of cancer.  While very few of you will die from a car crash, many of you will die from a heart attack or cancer.  And, believe it or not, using a toothbrush and eliminating periodontal disease reduces the chances of dying from either of these causes.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia , 24153

540-387 - 3844

Pediatric Dental Disease and the Domino Effect

First Tooth Pain, Then School Absence, Then Lower Grades, Then Parental Concern, Then Lost Work Days . . .

Poor oral health, dental disease, and tooth pain can put children at a serious disadvantage in school.  Researchers had previously documented that 73% of disadvantaged children in Los Angeles have cavities.  This study illuminates the specific connection between oral health and performance in school for this population.  Children who reported having recent tooth pain were 4 times more likely to have a low grade point average (GPA)--below the median GPA of 2.8--when compared to children without oral pain.  Poor oral health doesn't just appear to be connected to lower grades.  Dental problems also seem to cause more absences from school for children and more missed work for parents.
On average, elementary children missed a total of 6 days per year, and high school children missed 2.6 days.  For elementary students, 2.1 days of missed school were due to dental problems, and high school students missed 2.3 days due to dental issues.  In addition, parents missed an average of 2.5 days of work per year to care for children with dental problems.
A factor determining whether children miss school due to dental health issues was the accessibility of dental care.  11% of children who had limited access to dental care--whether due to lack of insurance, lack of transportation or other barriers--missed school due to their poor oral health as opposed to only 4% who had easier access to dental care.
The date indicated there is an impact on students' academic performance due to dental problems. 

Info from Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, "American Journal fo Public Health"-The Impact of Oral Health on teh Academic Performance of Disadvantaged Children, Dr. Roseann Mulligan.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS
Complete Dental Care
103 South Colorado Street
Salem, Virginia, 24153
54-387-3844

Can parents contribute to a childs fear of the Dentist

Fear of visiting the dentist is a frequent problem in pediatric dentistry. A new study confirms the emotional transmission of dentist fear among family members and analyses the different roles that mothers and fathers might play.

A new study conducted by scientists at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid highlights the important role that parents play in the transmission of dentist fear in their family.

Previous studies had already identified the association between the fear levels of parents and their children, but they never explored the different roles that the father and the mother play in this phenomenon.

América Lara Sacido, one of the authors of the study explains that "along with the presence of emotional transmission of dentist fear amongst family members, we have identified the relevant role that fathers play in transmission of this phobia in comparison to the mother."

Published in the International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, the study analyzed 183 children between 7 and 12 years and their parents in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. The results were in line with previous studies which found that fear levels amongst fathers, mothers and children are interlinked.

A key factor: the father

The authors confirmed that the higher the level of dentist fear or anxiety in one family member, the higher the level in the rest of the family. The study also reveals that fathers play a key role in the transmission of dentist fear from mothers to their children as they act as a mediating variable.

"Although the results should be interpreted with due caution, children seem to mainly pay attention to the emotional reactions of the fathers when deciding if situations at the dentist are potentially stressful," states Lara Sacido.

Consequently, transmission of fear from the mother to the child, whether it be an increase or reduction of anxiety, could be influenced by the reactions that the father displays in the dentist.

Positive emotional contagion

Amongst the possible implications of these results, the authors outline the two most salient: the need to involve mothers and especially fathers in dentist fear prevention campaigns; and to make fathers to attend the dentist and display no signs of fear or anxiety.

"With regard to assistance in the dental clinic, the work with parents is key. They should appear relaxed as a way of directly ensuring that the child is relaxed too," notes the author.

"Through the positive emotional contagion route in the family, the right attitude can be achieved in the child so that attending the dentist is not a problem," she concludes.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844

Understanding Antioxidants

Antioxidants are prolific in our diets, being present in spices, herbs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, grains, and certain beverages.  At a cellular level the body also produces natural antioxidants and there are many supplements that either contain antioxidants or enhance the body's ability to produce antioxidants.  Studies have revealed a correlation between measurably low antioxidant levels with many inflammatory oral soft-tissue conditions and diseases.  Recently, antioxidant products have been introduced in the marketplace that allow for immediate absorption into the oral cavity.

Dental patients who have an antioxidant/oxidant imbalance favoring the production of oxidative stress and low antioxidant capacity are at higher risk for the development and progression of many oral inflammatory conditions and diseases.  The same antioxidant imbalance can predispose individuals to numerous chronic illnesses, cancer and accelerated aging processes.

New antioxidant products are emerging onto the marketplace almost daily.  Novel therapies exist to increase antioxidant absorption directly into the oral tissue and improve clinical outcomes, and adjunctive dietary supplements have the potential to improve periodontal parameters.  Supplements are available that will activate the body's antioxidant productions within the cells, and turn down the pro-inflammatory genes.  There has never been a better time to increase your understanding of antioxidants.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844

Kids Get It ......

As Halloween approaches, children's views and perceptions were measured by experts and revealed that kids agree that they eat too much candy and would actually prefer to receive a gift like a video game, instead.

A new questionnaire, conducted by the American Dental Association and PopCap Games, targeted trick-or-treating aged children (5 to 13 years) in the U.S., inquiring about their views on Halloween.

The researchers found that around 94 percent of all American children participate in trick-or-treating, and 65 percent of them think Halloween is the best holiday of the year. However, the survey also found that a vast majority of kids are ready for changes regarding the holiday.

Other top findings included: Two-thirds of kids questioned agreed that they eat too much candy during Halloween, while 89 percent reported that they would still like the holiday if it was not candy focused, but rather, aimed towards other types of fun. Ninety-three percent of children surveyed would prefer to receive a video game instead of candy while trick-or-treating.

Youths' Favorite Holiday

The most-liked Halloween activities are "trick-or treating" (75 percent), "Dressing up in a costume" (71 percent), and "Getting lots of candy"(66 percent).

Health-Conscious Kids

Over three quarters of children surveyed (78 percent) agreed with the statement "too much candy is bad for me", and two-thirds (67 percent) report they eat too much candy near Halloween. Out of the chidlren who were questioned, girls (82 percent) were slightly more likely to respond favorably than boys (74 percent) to the statement: "too much candy is bad for me".

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844