Tooth Transplant Cured Blindness

We all know the saying, “An eye for an eye & A tooth for a tooth”, but what about “A tooth for an eye!” If you ask Kay Thornton, “A tooth for an eye” isn’t figurative, but quite literal. Kay was diagnosed with a disease called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome 31 years ago & the symptoms led to blindness.

Advancements in medical treatments gave Kay hope in seeing again one day…a day that came recently. Kay sought medical advice from her eye doctor, who found her to be a good candidate for a relatively new type of transplant procedure to cure her blindness. But little did she know that the person used to facilitate her cure would be her own dentist.

Her eye doctor explained that she would need something special to hold the optical lens in her eye…her very own tooth! Kay’s canine tooth was removed by her dentist, then it was converted into a special holder for her optical lens by drilling holes in it. After several hours of surgery, the tooth was inserted into her eyeball. And voila…sight once again.

The mouth, teeth and gums were once thought of as a separate entity from the rest of the body by the general population, but that’s not the case anymore. More and more studies are finding that good oral health can prevent many diseases, such as heart disease, stroke & diabetes. So taking the time to see your dentist regularly, in addition to brushing & flossing daily, is not only important, but a necessity to maintain good oral health.

Fortunately, Kay had a healthy, stable tooth that was required for the procedure. If you are unsure of the health or stability of your own teeth, see your dentist…it could be an eye-opening experience.

Sink Your Teeth Into This...

Last week, a man named Conrad Feasel was arrested for biting his 3yr old daughter on the arm—2yrs ago. It was said that the bite was intended to teach his daughter a lesson, but investigators say it was a hard enough bite that the girl needed medical treatment. And why did it take 2yrs for the arrest?—Officials say it was due to a backlog at the police department, and the father had since moved.

As cooky as this story may seem, it actually reminded me of my own childhood-- I remember my younger sister going through a ‘biting phase’. Only separated by two years, I recall one evening I upset her, causing her to bite an arm-- just like Mr. Feasel; however, in this case, she didn’t bite my arm…she bit her own…then blamed it on me!!! Being the middle child I am, I pled my case to my mother explaining how I wouldn’t do such a thing, how my little sister was such a liar, and of course, how I get blamed for everything. The jury came back GUILTY. So I was sent to bed as my sister sat with a smirk on her face.

Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. It wasn’t long before my mother entered my bedroom with an apology, accompanied by my sister...now wearing a frown. Apparently my futile attempt at pleading my case actually worked. I found out that my mother began a little “discovery” of her own and began looking at teeth marks. Fortunately, these incriminating marks left a deep enough wound for the evidence to remain in existence long enough for the truth to be revealed.

Most people have never measured the amount of force used when biting, so the following numbers may seem a little surreal. Adults with their natural teeth can bite with ~200 lbs of force. Young children, with their primary teeth, can bite with ~50 lbs of force or less. As a child’s permanent teeth erupt, their biting force increases. These biting forces allow us to not only chew our food, but to chew our food well. Those that do not have a full complement of teeth (denture wearers) can only bite with ~50 lbs of force, and those that have been wearing dentures for more than 15yrs can only bite with ~6 lbs of force.

Basically, the more teeth you have, the stronger you can bite, the more you can chew your food, and the longer you will live—(denture wearers have a 10yr shorter life span).
The circle of life takes us from childhood to adulthood, then back to childhood again as our body wears out & ages…but your teeth only wear out because of poor habits or trauma. They can stay in adulthood with proper care and at least 2 annual visits to your dentist.

So the next time you want to bite your child to teach them a lesson (and if you haven’t done it already, I know it’s crossed your mind), remember the power of your adult teeth…and the power of the law.

Flu Increases Risk of Heart Attack

Recent studies, conducted by Dr. Andrew C. Hayward of University College London, reveal a correlation between influenza and heart attack. Dr. Hayward led a total of 39 studies between 1932 and 2008, and what he found was pretty astonishing…35-50% of cases in which people who had the flu died, the cause of death wasn’t from influenza…it was from a heart attack or other cardiovascular related events!

We all know that the flu causes inflammation throughout our body, which is why the symptoms are usually fatigue, fever, and other unsightly emissions. This inflammation is theorized to alter the plaque in your arteries, thus triggering clot formations that lead to heart attacks. And did you know that the bacteria that creates the plaque on your teeth is the same bacteria that is found in the plaque in your arteries?

Dr. Hayward also found that people who were vaccinated against the flu were at a significantly lower risk for cardiac related death and other studies have shown that a decrease in oral plaque is indicative of a decrease in arterial plaque as well.

So what can you do to prevent the flu from affecting your heart? 1) See your dentist to ensure your oral plaque is maintained, 2) See your doctor for a flu vaccine if you have a history of heart disease or ailments, are over the age of 65, or have a compromised immune system.

Don’t get heartsick over the flu… See your dentist & your doctor today!

Oddity Removed from Man's Ear

In recent history, we heard much about the 33 Chilean miners and their 66 day ordeal trapped inside the earth…from heroic measures by their team leader to an outed affair upon rescue, we certainly know more about these miners than they ever dreamed. Many have been offered movie deals, book deals, and many other tell-all deals for their stories from beneath the earth’s surface. These miners will have to get used to the limelight, seeing they’ve now adjusted to the sunlight.

So much focus was put on the Chilean miners that one miner in particular almost went unnoticed. This miner, named Stephen Hirst, was not a Chilean miner, but a 47yr old ex-miner that had spent the last 33yrs living w/ excruciating pain in his ear & constant ear infections. Mr. Hirst had been to several doctors over the 33yrs, but no one was able to diagnose his problem or help ease the pain. Mr. Hirst continued to seek help & finally found it from the Doctors at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They were determined to find the problem and offer a solution….and they did.

“The nurse put a suction tube in my ear and cleaned it, then (tried) a microscope probe,” Hirst said. “Finally, she used some tweezers and got it out.” So what was “it”? A TOOTH! To this day, no one knows why it was not found sooner, but Mr. Hirst says his ear pain is now gone for the first time since he was a teenager and theorizes that the tooth became lodged during one of his childhood accidents.

Although now deaf in one ear, due to years of constant ear infections & pain, Mr. Hirst is grateful he listened to the still-small voice of perseverance.

Are There Bugs in Your Grill?

Are There Bugs in Your Grill?

As most Floridians know, it is Love Bug season. These creatures don't sting like bees, or buzz like mosquitos, but gently swarm their way to death by air conditioning or death by car. There are a few urban legends as to how love bugs came into existence, but the fact of the matter is--these gentle creatures do a lot of damage--to your vehicle.

Someone recently stated a love bug has the life expectancy of 6 days....and they must know it. I was driving down the road at 55mph and noticed a pair of love bugs on my driver's window. The funny thing was that only one of them was hanging on for dear life as the other fluttered in the wind--at 55mph. And yes, this lasted for a significant amount of time before they were whipped through the air to their probable death of a car grill. Poor bug, poor car!

The "bug juice" from any insect can be significant if left untreated, but the quantity of "bug juice" during love bug season combined with the hot sun of Florida can do a lot of paint damage in a short amount of time--if not cleaned immediately. "Bug juice" produces acid, which eats through the paint, eventually causing other problems, such as holes in your vehicle.

Your car grill isn't the only grill that has "bug juice". Your mouth actually has thousands of bacteria swarming in it everyday. These bacteria live on particles of food on your teeth and gums & in the crevices of your tongue & cheeks. These bacteria, like love bug juice, produce acid that eats through the enamel and bone of your teeth, causing cavities, gum disease, bone loss, bad breath, and many other problems. So like your vehicle, your mouth must also be cleaned immediately, by brushing & flossing, to decrease the acid-producing bacteria & prevent any significant damage.

Love bugs are seasonal, but oral bacteria are a constant presence that must be kept under control by brushing after meals, flossing at least once a day & seeing your dentist at least twice a year. We may not have control over our external environment, but a toothbrush and floss can certainly help us to control our internal one.

What's on Your Toothbrush?

Three things come to mind when I hear the word "toothbrush"--1) Clean teeth, 2) Dentist and 3) Bathroom bacteria. A toothbrush is great because it brushes away the bacteria on your teeth & in your mouth, but having an unclean toothbrush causes you to actually brushyour teeth WITH bacteria.

Studies have shown that several micro-organisms (tiny organisms that include bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) remain on toothbrushes. Some of them include:

• Mutans Streptococcus: the main bacteria that causes cavities
• Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus: the main bacteria that causes strep throat
  
• Candida Albicans: the main fungus that causes thrush in babies
• Coliform: the main bacteria found in the bathroom (we'll call this "toilet-bowl" bacteria, if you know what I mean)
• Herpes Simplex Virus: the virus that causes cold sores

Becuase these micro-organisms can cause multiple viruses and/or infections, and can also spread to others upon contact, it is extremely important to change your toothbrush frequently--probably more frequently than you think.

A toothbrush should be changed every 3 months, according to the American Dental Association. They should also be changed when the bristles begin to show wear (see picture below) and as soon as possible after a sickness, or cold, to prevent re-infection or infection of someone else.

Because bacteria and micro-organisms love a warm, moist environment, NEVER store your toothbrush in a container. It should be stored in a well-ventilated environment at least 6ft from a toilet (studies have shown that aerosols from a toilet flush can migrate up to 6ft). And anyone with children should label or clearly identify each child's toothbrush so that sharing is avoided.

Other interesting facts include:

• Parainfluenza virus can survive on toothbrush bristles for over 24 hours (Dr. Kim Loos - Clinical instructor University of Pacific School of Dentistry)

• A New Zealand study found that toothbrush sharing was a risk factor for transmitting the Hepatitis B virus between children (New Zealand Medical Journal)
  

• Within only 48 hours, even a new toothbrush becomes infected with potentially disease-producing bacteria, viruses, and fungi, some of which can remain alive and multiply on a toothbrush for hours and even days. (Dr. John Rippin - Head of Oral Pathology at the University of Birmingham {UK})

So don't wait for another toothbrush from your dentist. Better health can be achieved easily just by changing your toothbrush more frequently...and better yet, it may even save you a trip to the doctor!

The Right to Wear White

Labor Day has come and gone...and so has the wearing of white for some people. In years past, the wearing of white was considered poor etiquette. It began with white bags & pumps and progressed into other clothing garments until fashion designers began incorporating a "winter white" into their fall/winter collections. Although the reason is not clear, most assume the ritual began due to white shoes not mixing with messy winter weather and slim dry-cleaning budgets of the past. In either case, the color white continues to still have a stigma associated with it post-Labor Day. But there is one place on the body that white is encouraged to be worn all year 'round---the teeth!

No one likes to have dingy whites (proven by the Clorox campaign for years), so why would you have dingy white teeth? There are many products and services today that have the ability to whiten or substantially whiten your teeth, ranging from in-office whitening procedures to simply eating more fruits and vegetables. Whatever your budget, whiter teeth can still be in your future.

In-office teeth whitening procedures are done at the dental office, using a high strength whitening agent and, most often, are accompanied by custom fit trays so you can continue whitening at home. This option tends to deliver the greatest whitening results with the greatest investment. Over-the-counter products are not custom fit and tend to be a bit messier. Since these products can be bought over-the-counter, and don't require supervision by a dentist, the concentration of whitening agent is less. The whitening results are often less than in-office whitening, but so is the investment. The least expensive option, eating more fruits and vegetables, actually comes with health benefits, too. Eating fruits with seeds, such as strawberries, or biting into crunchy vegetables, such as carrots or celery, actually help to remove stains from your teeth. The hard vegetables and seeds act as abrasives (like toothpaste) for your teeth and fortify your body at the same time.

So Labor Day or not, white is always in fashion...you just have to know where to wear it.