Many people harbor concerns that they will be exposed to too much radiation if their dentist wants to give them x-rays. The concept of a camera that can take a picture of the inside of your teeth is understandably difficult to fathom. What you may be surprised to find out, however, is that our bodies naturally give off small amounts of radiation every single day. In fact, if you sleep next to someone, you are receiving as much radiation from them over a year as you would from a set of dental x-rays at a six month exam. Your Richardson dentist, Dr. Diep Truong, explains why radiation from x-rays is nothing to feel concerned about. (more…)
Richardson Dentist on Tooth Decay Fighting Lollipops
As Halloween approaches, children are sure to expose their teeth to massive amounts of candy. Lollipops are one of the worst treats for propagating tooth decay. Teeth are literally bathed in sugar as a lollipop is consumed over a longer period of time than most candies. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar to create acid, weakening enamel, and infecting teeth with decay. Imagine if there were a Halloween treat you could pass out to the neighborhood children that would actually fight tooth decay. Your Richardson and Dallas dentist, Dr. Truong, explains how an amazing discovery called Keep 32 might impact dentistry, and candy consumption, in the future.
What is Keep 32?
Exciting new research is being conducted by Jose Cordoba of Yale University, and Erich Astudillo of Universidad de Santiago, in Chile, that can potentially eradicate the bacteria that cause cavities. Keep 32 is a chemical that only requires 60 seconds of exposure in the human mouth to kill Streptococcus mutans.The molecule, not only targets S mutans, but could prevent cavities from ever starting in the first place. A bacteria-free environment can be maintained for several hours after the initial 60 second exposure. (more…)
Richardson Dentist Says Protein Can Fight Gum Disease
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, leads to tooth decay. The early stages of gum disease might seem benign, with mildly puffy gums and a little bleeding after you brush and floss. However, when gum disease progresses, it can lead to serious infection and even the loss of teeth. Lately, gum disease has been linked to more serious conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, and pre-term labor. Luckily, ongoing research is leading to new discoveries that might, one day, eradicate gum disease. Your Dallas and Richardson dentist, Dr. Truong, shares the details of one particular study that proposes using protein filled capsules to treat periodontitis (advanced gum disease).
Gum Disease has a New Enemy: Protein
Dr. Steven Little reported on the research at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. Laboratory experiments were performed on mice to reach a hypothesis that the progression of infection could be halted. Furthermore, the experiment showed that tissues damaged by gum disease could even be regrown with the use of protein. (more…)
The Parts of a Tooth, from Your Richardson Dentist
The importance of your teeth is obvious when you do something like bite into corn on the cob. Beyond the role of breaking food down into digestible particles, your teeth provide the structure for your smile. Confident smiles can affect job performance, relationships, and general quality of life. Did you know that you wouldn’t even be able to whistle if you didn’t have teeth? The part of a tooth that we can see is called the crown, but there’s a lot going on in the roots of your teeth, below the gumline. Dallas and Richardson dentist, Dr. Truong, discusses the anatomy of your teeth.
Tooth Enamel
Can you believe that the second hardest material on earth is the enamel on your teeth? Diamonds are the only substance that is harder. Tooth enamel covers the crowns of teeth, and is designed to protect everything beneath it. The strong barrier is not infallible, however, and can fall victim to chips and cracks from injuries, or chewing things that are too hard, like ice cubes. Food and drinks that produce acid can also damage tooth enamel. (more…)
How Much Do You Know About Fluoride?
Fluoride is synonymous with taking care of your teeth. You can find it in most toothpastes and mouthwashes, and for children who aren’t getting enough fluoride, supplemental tablets and fluoride treatments are often prescribed. Fluoride has the ability to strengthen teeth topically and internally. What else do you know about fluoride? Test your knowledge and try this quiz from your Dallas dentist, Dr. Truong:
Fluoride Quiz
1. True or False: Fluoride is a man-made chemical additive.
2. Victims of fluorosis fall into which age category:
- Under 6
- 6-12
- 70 and older
- Any age
3. True or False: Many American neighborhoods infuse tap water with fluoride.
4. Which foods contain small amounts of fluoride:
- Fish
- Eggs
- Meat
- All of the above (more…)
Dallas Dentist Offers Kid-Friendly Dental Appointments
New experiences can be frightening, and when you are a child, most experiences are new. Being accustomed to regular dental check-ups might evoke fear, but it is important that a child embrace the process of dental maintenance. Your Dallas dentist, Dr. Truong, explains ways that parents and dentists can work together to ensure that children experience positive feelings in connection with dental appointments.
Advice for Parents
While honesty is a great policy between parents and children, there is a time and place for details. Be selective regarding what you tell your child about the dentist. You might feel tempted to share stories of your childhood dental experiences, but make sure you stick to the pleasant memories.
The Importance of Your Dental Checkup in Dallas
Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day is an excellent way to help protect them against issues like tooth decay and gum disease, but it is not the only part to a healthy hygiene routine. As vigilant as we can be against plaque buildup and left-behind food debris, there is always a possibility of leaving a little something behind that can affect your oral health. Luckily, there’s hope. Your Dallas dentist Dr. Truong explains the importance and benefits of attending your six-month dental checkup and cleaning.
That Extra-Clean Feeling
When plaque is allowed to remain on your teeth for more than 48 hours, it calcifies, or hardens, into tartar. No matter how persistent you are, brushing your teeth will not suffice to remove tartar. At your Dallas dental checkup and cleaning, Dr. Truong or our talented hygienist will carefully remove residual traces of plaque and tartar, including under the gumline. Often, tartar will accumulate where your tooth meets your gums, and irritate your gums enough to separate from the tooth. This separation creates pockets where bacteria can collect and cause infection. Removing the tartar from under the gums allows the connective tissue to heal and helps prevent gum disease and tooth loss. (more…)
Dallas Dentist Brings You Good News About Coffee
If you’re a coffee drinker, you may start every morning in slight distress. You cherish the refreshing, awakening power of freshly roasted coffee, but you worry about all of the reports that state coffee can be detrimental to your health. At early hours of the morning, many people disregard the possible dangers to enjoy their first cup of steaming java. Now, every coffee drinker may be able to do the same. Your Dallas dentist Dr. Truong explores research that suggests previous assumptions about coffee and your health may be wrong.
Dispelling the Myth
At one point, the only time coffee and heart health were mentioned together was as a warning against risks. Coffee was believed to cause ulcers, aggravate nerves, and increase your risk of heart disease. Research now, however, may put these myths to rest. In a long-term observational study that followed over 130,000 men and women, researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, discovered that drinking coffee did not relate to increased heart health risks. In fact, drinking one to three cups of coffee a day seemed to lower the risks of heart disease and failure. As for coffee’s previous bad rap, experts believe old studies did not account for other bad habits that were common among coffee drinkers, including smoking tobacco and inadequate physical activity. (more…)
A Brighter Smile for the New School Year with Dallas Dentist
Whether you’re a student who wishes to make a stunning impression on the first day of school, or a teacher who aims to appear flawless before your new students, your smile will help determine the outcome of either situation. A bright, strong, confident smile will infect others around you with the same smiling exuberance. A weak, insincere smile, however, can have the exact opposite effect, and cause some people to feel uneasy in your presence. When your teeth are not as white you wish them to be, your confidence can diminish slightly. The change can be seen as you attempt to hide your teeth instead of proudly showing them. Dallas dentist Dr. Truong offers a variety of options to whiten your teeth and bring the joy back to your smile.
Removing the Stains
Most toothpastes on the market today consist of mild abrasives that lift some stains from your tooth’s surface. Some toothpastes are specifically marketed as tooth-whitening products, and contain chemical agents that provide additional stain-removal power. Other abrasive products, such as baking soda, are also popular home-remedy choices for whitening your teeth, and operate on the same basis of stain-removal as whitening toothpastes. Stain removal may whiten your smile up to a whole shade. If you require more whitening power, consult with Dr. Truong to determine the best treatment to suit your needs. (more…)
Dallas Dentist Extols Tooth-Colored Fillings
Humans have been practicing dentistry almost as long as humans have had teeth. In fact, teeth found in a Neolithic graveyard in Pakistan showed evidence of near-perfect holes made into the back teeth of some skulls. The remains dated as far back as 7,000 BC. In modern times, dentistry still involves removing decayed tooth tissue. Advances in dentistry and science, however, have provided us the tools to remove tooth decay and discretely fill the remaining cavity without anyone having to notice. Dallas dentist Dr. Truong discusses tooth-colored composite resin fillings, and how they’ve changed the face of dentistry.
Before There was Composite Resin…
For over 150 years, the dental filling material of choice was amalgam, a metal compound that consists of tin, copper, silver, mercury, and other metals. Almost immediately upon its arrival in America, metal dental amalgam caused a heated debate among dentists that refused to use the material on their patients. Mercury exposure is linked to adverse health effects, and the American Society of Dental Surgeons (ASDS) asked its members to pledge never to use it. However, patients were not exhibiting signs of mercury poisoning upon leaving their dentists’ office, and the only other filling alternative at the time was gold. It was not long before the worries of the ASDS were outweighed by economics, and metal fillings were established as the material of choice. (more…)
