Find out the latest news and topics of interest from Dr. James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.!
Archive for the ‘Preventive Dentistry’ Category
If You Must Smoke… Source: Fox News
“Electronic Cigarettes: Are They Really Better For Your Health? Is This The Death Of Big Tobacco?”
|
*Mentioned E-Cigarettes Were Provided By: “Direct E-Cig™ E-Cigarette”
E lectronic cigarettes have recently grabbed the attention of countless tobacco users across the United States. Also known as the “E-Cigarette,” these groundbreaking devices are raising a lot of eyebrows. Are they really a healthier and cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes? Creators say these devices are very different from the traditional cigarette, and thousands of smokers have already made the switch with hopes the device will be better for their health. But can this clever looking contraption live up to all the hype? Is there any scientific evidence that electronic cigarettes truly are the #1 smoking alternative? When we first inspected the electronic cigarette, it was easy to see that the device in fact does look and feel like a traditional cigarette. Creators and product users are claiming that you can now enjoy a healthier cigarette without the bad smells, second-hand smoke, or cancer causing chemicals. Plus they claim you can still get your nicotine fix. Sounds almost too good to be true right? That’s what we thought as well. So we had our own Vanessa Michaels test these incredible claims. And the results, to say the least, were very shocking. Here are just a few of the benefits that Direct E-Cig™ electronic cigarettes have been claiming on their website:
When Vanessa received her electronic cigarette trial kit, she passed the device around so everyone could take a closer look. Sure enough, the product looked and felt like a cigarette. The device was also very well made and seemed safe to use. When Vanessa took her first few drags on the device, we all stared in amazement. It looked like Vanessa was smoking in the office, but with one huge difference. There was no tobacco smell and no second-hand smoke. Just a harmless vapor. We were also able to confirm the money savings claims. Each cartridge was equivalent to approximately 1 pack of cigarettes at a cost of only a couple of dollars each, meaning that smokers who smoke 1 pack per day can easily save over $1,000 per year. Since the device satisfied Vanessa’s nicotine cravings, we knew that we had found a product that actually works. We decided to research exactly what expert medical doctors and product users had to say about Direct E-Cig™ electronic cigarettes. The results were surprising. In fact, the United Health Organization concluded that “In the short time that electronic cigarettes have become popular, the number of people who have been able to quit smoking and stay cigarette free have risen by an estimated 300%. No other methodology has proven so successful in such a short period of time.” A New U.S. Health Trend?
Four very well known doctors, from the popular TV show “The Doctors”, have shared great insight with us on the topic of the electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette was featured as one of their top 10 key health trends for 2009. “The greatest issue with cigarettes is the 500+ other ingredients added, not just the nicotine. Do we recommend this for non-smokers? Of course not, but for current smokers this is the most revolutionary device to date” - Dr. Travis Stork The Doctors, Clockwise, from left to right. Dr. Travis Stork, Dr. Jim Sears, Dr. Lisa Masterson and Dr. Drew Ordan. None of the doctors on the show are smokers, so they used a female smoker, Beverly, as a case study. Beverly had struggled with smoking for 15 years. By day 2, this former “heavy smoker” had eliminated the use of regular cigarettes all together, and was pleased to report that she now only uses her electronic cigarette. She admits that the E-Cigarette is very satisfying and definitely recommends it to other smokers. How Does The Direct E-Cig™ E-Cigarette Work?Technology has enabled engineers to create a safer cigarette for everyone. Using the device is simple enough. If you know how to smoke a regular cigarette, then you’ll know how to smoke an electronic cigarette. A Look Inside The Electronic Cigarette Here’s a simplified explanation of the 4 step process that occurs when you enjoy an electronic cigarette:
We are pleased to report that all of this occurs in an extremely safe manner. In fact, it is virtually impossible to unintentionally start a fire with an electronic cigarette, another huge benefit that can potentially save lives. Smoking In Banned LocationsAs part of our in-depth investigation, we wanted to study if e-cigarette users would be able to actually smoke an e-cigarette in locations that have been off-limits to smokers like public offices, restaraunts, librarys, etc. We learned that these new devices are not encompassed by most smoking bans and regulations. This is because an e-cigarette are not lit by flame, and no harmful smoke is produced. The smoke you see is simply a harmless vapor mist. In fact, some airports and hospitals have even welcomed indoor electronic cigarette smoking enthusiastically. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that you might catch grief from some security guards or other public building managers. Many employeers are now even allowing e-cigarette use in the office
Thousands Of Smokers Are Making The SwitchBrenda Dains, from Dallas, Texas used to smoke 5 packs of cigarettes a day until just she tried electronic cigarettes. She told us that “I was unable to quit and my health was suffering as a result”. To her amazement, when she started smoking “e-cigarettes”, she was able to stop smoking her regular cigarettes just 3 days later. Brenda told us, “I can’t tell you how much better I actually feel. I’ve tried gum, patches and everything else to try and quit over the years, but the e-cigarettes have made my goal to try and quit smoking much easier… I feel like I’ve been given a “get out of smoking jail” free card, and couldn’t be happier!” The testimonials like this one have been coming into our offices here with increasing frequency, and all of them have been positive thus far. We are confident that as more Americans learn about this new smoking technology, that more smokers will make the switch. Electronic cigarettes can be used with real nicotine cartridges or without nicotine to facilitate the ease of quitting for users desiring to do so. Our interviews and research concluded that the electronic cigarette will quickly become the #1 choice for smokers looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. With the high cost of smoking traditional cigarettes (new smoking taxes are being levied almost yearly), and with the danger cigarettes bring to your health, we also give our recommendation and “thumbs up” to anyone looking to give these devices a try. We have found Direct E-Cig™ to be one of the most trusted and quality suppliers of electronic cigarettes from all the companies we’ve researched. Customer reviews have been consistently positive and Direct E-Cig™ is so confident in their product that they are offering our readers a special Risk-Free* Trial Offer. Click Here to access this exclusive offer. We thank Direct E-Cig™ for providing smokers with the opportunity to try out this product before they buy. We encourage all of our readers who currently smoke to give the electronic cigarette a try for their health, and for the health of their friends, families, and co-workers. Article and Photos Courtesy of Fox News at http://healthconsumernews.com/healthysmoke/ |
Tips for Healthy Teeth
Sealants protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, but they don’t take the place of brushing and other steps to prevent decay. Help your child do the following:
Brush and floss daily to remove bacteria and plaque and help keep the gums healthy.
See the dentist regularly. Checkups every 6 months help detect any problems early.
Get regular fluoride treatments. Along with fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated drinking water, fluoride treatments help protect the smooth surfaces of your child’s teeth from decay.
Eat a good diet. Your child needs plenty of protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Limiting foods that are high in sugar- such as soft drinks, cookies, and sweetened cereals- reduces the risk of tooth decay.
What could you do to improve the health of your teeth?
Brushing & Flossing
Brushing
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of all of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:
-In the morning after breakfast
-After lunch or right after school
-After dinner
-At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene. Flossing For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. It is very important to floss between your teeth every day. Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth. Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.
Fluoride
Fluoride is one of the most abundant and chemically reactive elements on earth. Many foods (including certain teas, red wines, and cheeses) contain high amounts of fluoride. Everyone ingests at least trace amounts of fluoride on a regular basis.
Water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the fluoride content in local water facilities to the recommended dose for optimal dental health. Hundreds of fluoridation studies, from more than 20 countries, have proven the effect of optimal fluoride levels in local diets at reducing tooth decay. In some communities, fluoride needs to be reduced (taken out) from local water supplies and in other communities it is added to water supplies to create optimal fluoride concentration.
There are still a few areas (i.e. Spokane, WA) which have virtually no naturally occurring fluoride in local water supplies and civic leaders have chosen (I believe unwisely) not to add fluoride to the community water.
In such case, your family dentist can prescribe fluoride tablets in the right concentration for local water supplies to prevent decay in residents.
Again, numerous studies have shown that fluoridated water, at an optimal level recommended for decay prevention in teeth, is completely safe.
Application of fluoride to teeth (both systemically and topically), along with pit and fissure sealants, are the two best preventive measures in reducing or preventing decay in teeth.
Fluoride does not replace flossing, but, as part of a good oral hygiene program, can go a long way in helping to reduce or eliminate tooth decay.
Keep Smiling!
Pit & Fissure Sealants
Decay in teeth is caused by plaque. Plaque is bacteria and all the sticky material and waste products produced by those bacteria. One waste, acid, when left repeatedly, will attack enamel causing a cavity (hole) in your tooth.
Two of the best preventive methods against cavities are the application of:
Sealants to the pits and fissures on the tops of teeth
And the application of fluoride to teeth.
This article focuses on preventing decay in the premolars and molars using pit and fissure sealants. These grooves are often quite deep microscopically, making cleaning those areas impossible since the bristles of a toothbrush will not reach such tight places.
Sealants are applied by cleaning out the grooves and depressions in the tooth. The surface of the enamel is etched (roughened) with a weak acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. Once the acid is rinsed away, the tooth is air dried and brushed with the sealant material. A special light cures (hardens) the material preventing plaque from reaching the enamel. Finger-like strands of sealant material reach deep into the enamel, protecting those areas from decay.
Sealants are an important part of a total decay prevention program, along with daily brushing and flossing, the application of fluoride, and limiting the times your teeth are exposed to sugar rich foods. Twice yearly visits to your friendly dentist is also a good habit to develop.
Bon Appétit!



















Latest Comments