Have A Dental Related Question? Yahoo!

Have you ever wished that you could ask a question about almost anything and have a bunch of people that you don't know answer your question, even if their answers don't help you one bit?

Then you'll love Yahoo Answers.

I will spare you the boring details about this relatively new community at Yahoo.com where registered participants can both ask questions about any subject as well as answer other people's questions about any subject. The Yahoo Answers subject I choose to participate in is, naturally enough, Dentistry. Once there, I search for unresolved questions dealing with either the cost of dental procedures or about dental coverage in general.

How To Handle Sores On Your Mouth Or Tongue

Do You Have Recurring Sores In You Mouth Or Tip Of Your Tongue That Gets Tender & Sore?

The most common cause of recurrent sores on the tongue is aphthous stomatitis, or canker sores. These sores usually occur one or two at a time, last seven to 10 days, and are quite painful, especially when eating acidic foods. They may recur several times a year or even every month or two. The cause is unknown but they are otherwise harmless and are not clearly associated with any single nutritional deficiency or illness.

There are some research studies suggesting that up to 20 percent of canker sores are due to lack of folic acid, iron or vitamin B12, but other researchers have been unable to confirm this. A general medical evaluation to identify one of these problems should be able to determine whether your tongue sores are related to a nutritional deficiency. In addition, it might be wise to take a multivitamin (as is often recommended routinely, even for people without canker sores).

Alaska's Rural Dental Care Improving

Dental News

Alaska's efforts to deliver quality dental care to its underserved rural population via The Dental Health Aide Therapy program (DHAT) has been so successful that is being heralded as a model for other states according to a study done by RTI International of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Alaska's Rasmuson Foundation and Bethel Community Services Foundation.

The study was an independent evaluation of the DHAT program in confirmed that dental therapists at work in five Alaska communities are providing safe, competent, appropriate dental care to children and adults. Based on the Alaska study, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation announced a $16 million initiative back in November to fund similar programs in Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Vermont and Washington.

Flonase

Flonase

Generic Name: fluticasone nasal (floo TIK a sone)

Brand Names: Flonase, Veramyst

What is Flonase?

Flonase is a nasal spray containing the corticosteriod fluticasone. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Flonase is used to treat nasal symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, and runny nose caused by seasonal or year-round allergies.

Flonase may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Flonase

Before using Flonase, tell your doctor if you are using antifungal medications such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), or HIV medicines such as ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).

Tea For Two Is Good For You

Did you know that drinking either black or green tea is good for your teeth? Christine Wu, Ph.D. and associate dean for research at the University of Illinois, has conducted several studies on tea in oral health and her research has found that;

* Plant compounds found in both black and green tea prevent plaque from building up in addition to helping prevent the development of cavities.

* Tea has the potential to reduce bad breath as it inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes the odor.

* Many teas also contain fluoride which helps protect the tooth's enamel from decay.

Well, I guess it's goodbye to Coke and Pepsi for me from now on. Tea is my new drink of choice. If I'm lucky, it will save me at least one trip to the dentist.

Silent Enamel Eating Syndrome Not So Silent

Mysterious Dental Condition On Rise In USA

Cavities or not, your teeth could be in more trouble than you know because of a silent and destructive phenomenon called dental erosion, which is the steady loss of the teeth's protective enamel. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has found that the incidence of dental erosion is on the rise in the United States.

A study involving 900 middle school students was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at Indiana University, the University of California at San Francisco and the UT Health Science Center San Antonio discovered a 30 percent prevalence rate of dental erosion among 10- to 14-year-olds in the United States.

Flossing Increases Lifespan

Flossing Makes You Live Longer!

Regular flossing, long considered an essential part of daily dental cleansing, has been found to have a positive effect on your life expectancy, increasing it by up to 6 years.

The primary benefit of flossing is that plaque is removed from the sides of your teeth and gum line, resulting in fewer cavities and preventing you from developing gum disease.

If you have gum disease, you are 1.5-2 times more likely to die from a fatal heart attack and 3 times more likely to suffer from a stroke than someone with healthy gums.

Gum disease can be particularly dangerous to the elderly. Infected gums can contain pneumonia bacteria that can be transferred into the lungs. Furthermore, if bacteria from periodontal disease, a more serious form of gum disease, enters the blood stream, people with artificial joints or heart valves are more likely to suffer from a serious infection.