Latest From Our Blog
About 80% of American adults have some form of gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis). Let’s review the more serious disease, periodontitis. Periodontitis is a disease of the gums and bone around teeth. When plaque accumulates along the gum line, the gums get inflamed and red. This is called gingivitis. If the plaque does not get […]
Italian scientists have discovered that ancient humans were performing dentistry 14,000 years ago, 5,000 years earlier than originally thought. It is believed the early dentists used sharpened flint to remove cavities. Quite surprisingly, it was known even thousands of years ago the importance of treating an infected tooth! From The Telegraph
No! If you ever meet a dentist who says all wisdom teeth must be extracted, proceed cautiously! Let’s review situations in which third molars (wisdom teeth) should be extracted. First, some background information. The average age for completion of eruption of wisdom teeth is 20 years, but eruption can continue to age 25 years in […]
Bad breath (halitosis) is experienced by up to 20% of the population. While bad breath can be caused by a systemic condition, this post will focus on intraoral causes. The tongue, especially the back of the tongue, is the most common location for mouth related halitosis. Bacteria on the tongue produce compounds with a foul […]
HealthDay reported that research published in Dentistry shows that treating gum disease may help reduce symptoms of prostate inflammation. Prostatitis can make urination difficult and mimic symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The link between periodontitis and prostatitis is the increased level of systemic inflammation in periodontal disease. Men who received treatment for gum disease had improved […]
CNBC posted a press release describing how the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists believes the dental office is a logical place to be screened for diabetes. Patients tend to visit their dentist more often than their physician so getting screened for diabetes at the dental office is innovative and convenient. The main goal is prevention. There […]
Dr. Pearl’s son, Scott, is a third year dental student at UConn School of Dental Medicine. He recently spent a week in Honduras in remote villages providing dental care to Hondurans, many of whom have never seen a dentist before. The experience was fantastic and rewarding. Extractions, fillings, and stainless steel crowns were performed. We […]
The word “floss” comes from the french soie floche, meaning floss silk. The first recorded use of flossing dates to a New Orleans dentist named Levi Spear Parmley in 1851. He recommended running a wax silk thread between the teeth “to dislodge that irritating matter which no brush can remove and which is the real […]
In its list of 10 symptoms of overstress, Prevention Magazine (4/22) reports that a sore mouth or jaw, and bleeding gums may be two such symptoms. A sore jaw can be a sign of teeth grinding. A custom made night guard can protect teeth and prevent headaches. In addition, high stress is related to increased cortisol […]
US sales of gum have fallen 15% since 2009. According to the American Dental Association “clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.” Many new chewing gums have displayed the ADA’s seal of acceptance to widen the product’s appeal. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-09/hershey-wants-to-get-americans-chewing-just-don-t-call-it-gum
The Pearl Dental Care team learned the latest standards of care in CPR training and Basic Life Support. Thank you to our great teacher Catherine Collier!
We are going to begin a new weekly series of dental tips. Here is the tip of the week featuring a segment on first aid “dos and dont’s” at CBS’ The Doctors! If a tooth is knocked out, put it in a cup of milk or saliva. The tooth can even be stored under the tongue […]
The recent boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao reminds us of the importance of wearing mouthguards during contact sports. Mayweather is a stylish guy with millions of dollars worth of cars and the finest clothes. For his mouthguard, he chose Dr. Lee Gause as his dentist. Dr. Gause also makes the mouthguards for NBA professional […]
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is the virus that causes cold sores around the mouth. It is present in more than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most people catch the virus in childhood and then get recurrent exacerbations. Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is most often […]
The New York Times “Ask Well” section discussed the order of brushing and flossing. Some dentists recommend flossing first because it is less enjoyable and more likely to be skipped. However, if you brush first, floss can guide the fluoride in toothpaste between your teeth. Flossing is important because it removes debris the brush bristles […]