Author: drjaredc
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ToothPaste Review: Baking Soda Toothpastes
The question has been posed: Do toothpastes that contain Baking Soda work? The immediate answer is this: Whatever toothpaste is going to get you to brush twice a day is going to be better than nothing. But besides that, let’s get into it. What is Baking Soda?: Sodium Bicarbonate, (NaHCO3) for the nerds, is usually…
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Stinky Breath? Maybe it’s A coated tongue
Have you ever taken a peek at the back of your tongue and noticed a white, yellow, or brownish plaque coating your tongue? Have you also been told, or noticed, that your breath is a little unpleasant? This could be a case of coated tongue. To be fair, a malodor coming from your mouth (halitosis)…
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What is a Corneal Arcus?
During a patient exam dentists take note of more than just the teeth. We look at facial symmetries, shape of the nose, bone structures, and the list goes on. Another important area to focus on is the appearance of the patient’s eyes. Conditions such as cataracts usually stand out easily at speaking distances. The opacification…
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Another Reason to Visit Your Dentist: Oral Cancer Screenings
How often does your medical doctor do a thorough examination of your mouth and surrounding structures? How often are you visiting your medical doctor in the first place for a checkup?? We know it is recommended to see your dentist ideally twice a year. It is also recommended that your dentist provides an oral cancer…
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Infective Endocarditis: Behind the Conditions
The guidelines for when to premedicate with antibiotics have been laid out and can be found on the American Dental Association’s website7. This post will cover some information on each condition that premedication is called upon for IE. We know that prophylactic premedication for Infective Endocarditis is warranted if a patient presents with any of…
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What is a Tooth?
Our teeth have essentially three parts: The outer Enamel, middle Dentin, and inner Pulp. Enamel: The hardest tissue of the body, even harder than bone, that helps protect the softer inside of the tooth1. This is the first line of defense against acids and bacteria-causing cavities. 96% Inorganic Material: Calcium Phosphate in Hydroxyapatite crystals–this is…
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Charcoal Toothpaste Craze
There seems to be a fair amount of buzz surrounding charcoal toothpaste and it’s ability to whiten teeth. Society tells us that we need to have pearly-white teeth, white teeth are healthy, white teeth are beautiful, white teeth are this, that, and the other. While on the hunt for white teeth it is also important…
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Doc, What Kind of Toothbrush Should I Be using?
The plethora of options for buying a new toothbrush might be confusing. Should you go with an electric or non-electric (manual) toothbrush? Which brand of electric or manual toothbrush? What type of bristles should my toothbrush have, does it even matter? Let’s clear the air with some basics first: You should be brushing twice a…
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Bisphosphonate Basics for the General Dentist
Osteonecrosis of the jaw sounds terrifying. Terrifying for the patient and potentially terrifying for the practitioner who is not prepared for it. We have known that bisphosphonates can cause necrosis of the jaws since the early 2000’s1. We also have an idea how these drugs work: they inhibit osteoclastic activity, thus improving bone density. This…
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My Dentist Told Me That I Have Gum Disease?
What does that mean? Think of each of your teeth like individual trees. Each one has a large trunk and many branches, consider this to be the crown of your tooth, the white part that sticks out above your gum line. A tree also has an extensive root system below the ground. Think of this…
Teeth & Chiefs 