Dentists think it’s a great idea, children are cheering, and teachers are somewhat disgruntled. Dentists now say that chewing gum every day is a good thing. Schools, on the other hand, find it to be rude, messy, and extremely expensive to clean. Regardless of which side you’re on in this debate, you can’t deny the many benefits.

Gum And Spit

Chewing gum stimulates your saliva glands to increase the amount of spit in your mouth. This dilutes and helps to get rid of the little bits of food that might be sitting in your mouth. It also helps to maintain the calcium and phosphate in your mouth to protect against cavities. Finally, gum helps to prevent enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.

So long as the gum is sugarless, these are significant benefits. The results are even more effective when you chew right after eating or drinking anything. The components in your saliva also remineralize and improve the quality of your tooth enamel, effectively reversing the effects of acid erosion.

Plaque Reduction

Because of the way gum moves against your tooth’s enamel and gets into all of the little nooks and crannies, chewing gum is effective at helping to remove plaque. This helps to prevent tooth decay, particularly between your teeth and along the gum line. The delicious flavor is an added bonus and helpful for fighting against bad breath.

Because it keeps plaque from building on your teeth, you’ll find it will also do a pretty good job and helping you keep your teeth white. New forms of gum such as Trident whitening further improve these results to give you a beautiful smile. You’ll also find that other brands will have added nutrients and herbs such as chlorophyll for added health benefits.

Total Body Health

It sounds silly, but chewing gum regularly can actually improve your overall health in a few different ways. First of all, good oral health means your entire body stays healthier because there are fewer germs. Also, because your antibodies and immune system don’t have to fight decay and ‘wounds’, your body is better able to fight other illnesses and injuries while preventing serious diseases.

Secondly, Dr Kenneth Allen used Wrigley’s in a study on the relationship between gum and education. The leading chewing gum company wanted to find more about the correlation between learning and using their product. So, Dr Allen took up the challenge and found that the gum actually improved focus. Why this happens, however, is still unclear.

The reasons behind this effect are relatively unknown. It could be because the constant movement increases the amount of oxygen to your brain by slightly elevating your heart rate. It is also unknown as to whether chewing on other products could produce the same effects.

Well, as it turns out, teachers may not have to worry about a room full of gummy desks or chewing children; there’s not enough proof or enough of a link between education and the sweet, sticky product to encourage schools to change the rules. In the meantime, however, it seems to make an excellent essay topic for seventh grade students.

The auto industry is doing it. The housing market is starting to do it and consumers are focusing on it. Now, dentistry professionals are going green in an attempt to keep your teeth and the environment healthy. In fact, the Eco Dentistry Association has launched a campaign to help dentists go green. It is also offering patients the information they need to make an informed decision about choosing green dental care and tips to increase their level of green living as well.

The Benefits ‘Eco-Friendly’ Dental Care Offers Professionals

The association offers full services to professionals in order to make sure they get the most out of the experience and are able to make the change as easy as possible. There are also resources such as consultants, articles, and a collective resource of materials and services. However, green dental services also provide professionals with additional benefits on their own.

Dentists and oral care professionals who adopt green practices have the unique ability to reach a new client base that values these practices. In addition, green materials are said to be far more cost-effective and staff members find these practices faster and more efficient.

Benefits Of Green Dentistry For The Patients

For patients, the ability to select a dental care provider who shares their values and worldviews is a significant benefit. Then there’s the fact that they are preventing harmful chemicals such as bisphenol-A from entering their bodies. Radiation exposure is eliminated by using digital x-rays and mercury is kept out of the water table through responsible disposal methods.

Patients of green dentists will also find their care providers are an excellent source of green tips, hints, and ideas. Many of these, such as turning off the water while brushing, can add up to a significant water savings overall. There is also information on toothpastes and mouthwashes, which contain harmful chemicals and harm your body as well as the environment.

Is Going Green A Wise Idea For Oral Care Professionals?

There’s nothing wrong with adopting environmentally friendly practices. Every little bit helps, and when we all do something, it leads to a world of change. Patients are able to live a healthier lifestyle and still maintain a healthy smile. But, is there a downside to this whole concept?

If there were a real downside to changing your business model, it would have to be the investment made by the professionals as well as the staff. Of course, it will take money to make the initial switch. Then, there’s the process of selecting all of the replacement technology and materials. Staff and professionals need to learn how to use them and this takes time to accomplish.

Two dentists in Scotland have found a new way to deliver their services and offer superior comfort to their patients. In fact, they have taken dentistry out of the traditional office and moved it into a five-star hotel. Literally. They not only want to give their patients the best dental care. These two professionals want to make sure their patients have every luxury possible while maintaining a state-of-the-art facility.

A Look At A New Level Of Luxury Dental Surgery

Dr Lubino do Rego and Biju Krishnan teamed up and invested 750K British Pounds to open the new Lubiju dental surgery facility in addition to their existing business, the Scottish Dental Implant Centre in the Drake Dental Practice.

The new facility has a set of cameras in the ceiling to transmit live video of the procedure for educational purposes. It also has all of the technology needed to perform in-depth or more serious treatments such as teeth whitening and dental implants.

In terms of treatments, Dr Krishnan and Dr. do Rego want to have the latest and most advanced treatments possible. To ensure they treat the entire patient, they have included complimentary therapy space and a massage area. The idea is that this facility will be a leading center for alternative medicine as well. For the latest dental treatments, they want to include needle-free techniques, advanced surgery implants, cosmetic treatments, and painless treatments.

As with their treatments, this pair of dentists hasn’t spared any cost when it comes to luxuries either. Quality televisions are installed in the ceilings, luxury comfort suites, and the ultimate in relaxation. Every element is designed and created specifically for their private, high-end patients.

Going Too Far Or Are They On To Something?

The entire thing seems rather frivolous. Everything seems to go way over the top, but is it?

Dentists around the world have struggled since the dawn of time with the image that they are ‘torture specialists’. If anything in the world could dispel this myth, you’d think this would certainly be it. It is essentially a hybrid between a new age spa and a dental office for society’s rich and famous.

In terms of the industry of dentistry, this new office will be on the leading edge. They will not only have the latest techniques and technologies, but will also focus on the education of other professionals. In a profession that outwardly appears to evolve rather slowly, this will be vital in bringing the brightest minds together.

The alternative medicine focuses on healing the soul and the mind of the patient. While many patients may be skeptical, several studies have shown these practices to have a full range of benefits. At the very least, it will be a relaxing and pleasant experience.

The other thing to consider is the niche this new type of office is satisfying. In fact, it may be one solution dentists in the US should consider. It is definitely a unique selling point. The profits margin should also be significant so long as it has the right business model to go with it.

It’s unsure whether this pair of Scottish dentists will be able to make this a profitable venture, but dental patients and dentists will find it interesting regardless of how it turns out.

If you would like to get your children more interested in their oral health or if you just want to do something different for an afternoon, take a trip to the National Museum of Dentistry. Once you see what they have to offer, it just may become a favorite destination.

Education

The entire purpose of the National Museum of Dentistry is to educate and encourage the general public to have a good oral health regimen, which leads to a beautiful smile. But, it’s how they do it that makes it so unique. They let you delve into the history and innovation that has made dentistry what it is today. They also give you a hint as to what the future of this profession might hold.

While you are here (either online or offline), you can find out about caring for your teeth and mouth. Even professional dentists and oral care professionals find the National Museum to be of great value and entertainment because of its extensive archives of history, collections, research, and information.

Fun At The National Museum Of Dentistry

Did you know that George Washington’s teeth were not made of wood? Have you seen some of the world’s earliest toothbrushes? Can you name the patron saint of dentistry? The museum explores these questions and more.

You can reminisce with toothpaste commercials from the early days of television and radio, look at how dentistry tools have changed over the years, and even learn how the dental education has changed. If it has anything to do with dentistry, you’ll find it here.

A Style Of Exhibit For Everyone

For the littlest visitors, there are all kinds of interactive displays and educational exhibits to explore. It transforms the world of dentistry into a fun and interesting place. For adults, there are all kinds of displays to see. You can see how the profession has evolved and are sure to learn many fascinating things. For art lovers, there are all different kinds of dentistry posters and songs. You can even see what Queen Victoria used to keep her smile looking great.

So where can you find this amazing place? Well, you can visit the National Museum of Dentistry online. If you would like to wander around the museum in person, you’ll need to plan a trip to downtown Baltimore. Located a short distance from the Inner Harbor, the museum is near the University of Maryland Baltimore. If you live too far away to visit in person, the museum offers exhibits that travel all over the country to ensure everyone has a chance to learn and enjoy dentistry. Regardless of how you experience this wonderful place, it’s an experience to remember.

Like the look of ‘teeth jewelry’ or ‘tooth gems’? Have you improved your smile with dentures recently? Had cosmetic dentistry procedures that reshaped your teeth? Maybe you’re a dentist who has drilled a patient’s tooth lately. If you have, you’re not alone. In fact, archeologists have discovered these procedures have been popular for as long as 9,000 years in some instances. Surprised? So were many experts in and out of the dental profession.

The Reshaping Of Teeth By Vikings

Somewhere between 750 and 100 AD, the Vikings discovered the aesthetic value of shaping their teeth. Yes, these big nasty brutes known for raiding, murdering, and other heinous acts, saw their teeth as being important to their overall appearance. To look their best, they would file the enamel on their teeth down to create certain patterns.

This wasn’t the first time this idea was found in history, but it was the first time a practice of this type was noticed in European history. Experts believe the Vikings might have picked up the idea from ancient African cultures that filed their teeth to fine points. We don’t generally file tooth enamel for appearance now, but we do undergo procedures such as bonding to achieve a pleasing, unified look.

Ancient Mesoamerican Tooth Gems

Some people choose to have precious or semi-precious stones implanted into their teeth for a unique look, but they weren’t the first to come up with this idea either. As reported in the National Geographic, ancient Mesoamerican cultures added stones to their front teeth.

However, this practice has the experts confused. Archeologists aren’t sure why these ancient people had an archaic dentist perform this work. It didn’t signify class and doesn’t appear to signify a specific position within the community. The only real thing researchers have noticed is that it seems to be predominantly a male trait.

Dentures From A Mesoamerican Dentist

From the same time period, archeologists discovered this ancient culture also used to file their teeth flat in order to fit them with a rustic type of denture. This may have worked for a short time, but it also proved dangerous. Because this would have exposed the pulp inside the tooth, it likely caused terrible infections that might have caused the death of the patient. Not a pleasant way to go by any means, but certainly an interesting concept when you consider today’s methods of replacing smiles we can no longer repair.

Dental Repair The 9,000-Year-Old Way

Believe it or not, even without all of the new technology, dentists drilled and fixed teeth as early as 9,000 years ago in Pakistan. Again, researchers aren’t entirely sure why the teeth were expertly drilled out, but they believe with some decay present in some of the holes that it was meant as a treatment for toothaches. Again, experts believe this drilling technique would have caused infection and even death. However, the dental tools and precision of the dentist’s technique are nothing short of amazing.

The next time you have to go to the dentist, you will have something to talk about while you have your mouth gaping open and full of tools.