Dental News

A Century of Innovations That Transformed the Practice of Dentistry No one doubts that the past century gave rise to major advances in dentistry. To evoke the triumphs of the recent past, experts in various areas have provided a retrospective glance – and in some cases, personal reminiscences – that take us “back to the future,” a time not so very far away that set the stage for the dental technologies we now take for granted. Fluoride At the dawn of the twentieth century, the dentist’s armamentarium for treating dental caries consisted basically of one approach: tooth extraction. Effective caries prevention techniques were nonexistent and, not surprisingly, dental decay was rampant in the United States and in most Western nations. Then, in 1945, Dr. H. Trendley Dean, the first direc - tor of the National Institute for Dental Research, now the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), introduced the concept of water fluoridation. Since that ti...

MNT - Hourly Medical News Since 2003 SEARCH NEWSLETTER MNT - Hourly Medical News Since 2003 SEARCH Is flossing or water picking better for you Flossing Oral health best practices Most people know to brush and floss their teeth regularly. However, many people have questions about whether water flossing is an alternative to traditional flossing. Read on for more information on each of these techniques, and whether one is better than the other. Flossing Brushing the teeth is an effective way of removing food plaque from the surfaces of the teeth. However, it is not a great way to get rid of food that is in between the teeth or below the gum line. Flossing may be recommended as it is an affordable and quick way to remove food particles that a toothbrush cannot reach. The process of flossing uses a thin piece of string that is passed in between each of the teeth. This string gently scr...

What to do about brown spots on your teeth R Spots of brown discoloration on the teeth are very common. People can often prevent or eliminate them by making certain lifestyle changes or seeking dental treatment. These spots can vary in color from yellowish-brown to black-brown. The shape and size can vary. Some people may notice irregular, blotchy patches, while others have brown lines. In this article, we look at what causes discolored spots to form on the teeth. We also describe ways to prevent and remove them. Causes The following factors can lead to brown spots on the teeth: Foods and drinks The tannic acid in red wine may cause a person to develop brown spots on their teeth. Many dark-colored foods and drinks contain chemicals called chromogens . Like the tannic acid in red wine, these chemicals can stain tooth enamel. Over time, these stains may become permanent, especially if a person has poor dental hygiene. Foods and drinks containin...