Dentist Blog

The public fluoridation of water has been a hot topic in community forums around the country since its inception in 1945. Following numerous studies, that demonstrated a remarkably lower rate of tooth decay amongst children living in areas of the country where natural fluoridation deposits were high, states begin altering their water supply to include a low level amount of the mineral in tap water. Though many patients of the Brinkerhoff dentist clinic do not receive water through their tap, as the greater Brinkerhoff area has not yet elected to fluoridate the system, New York State currently has voted to fluoridate 70% of the state's water supply, with a goal of at least 75% in the near future.

Some communities like the Tampa Bay community of Pinellas, Florida are reconsidering their decision to take fluoride out of the water system due to health concerns. This community, which had maintained a fluoridated supply of water for several years, voted in October of 2010 to remove the fluoride. The decision was based on the belief of several citizens that the water may be dangerous, despite health professional's insistence that the level of fluoride used was safe. Commissioners also made their decision based on the financial burden of fluoridation, which is slightly less than $1 per citizen, per year. Later, citing concerns about the dental health of the community's poorest children, commissioners are considering reinstating the fluoridation policy.

Researchers recently discovered that there may be a connection between the bacterium present in mouth and development of several, serious, even deadly infections. The bacterium is known as Streptococcus tigurinus. Of course, there is no way to completely destroy the Streptococcus tigurinus in the mouth in its entirety. It is, however, possible to decrease the odds of having this bacterium enter your bloodstream by routine visits with your Fishkill dentist, as well as maintaining good oral hygiene.

The reason that oral health is so important to reducing your risk of being effected by this bacteria is that it is likely effecting people after entering the bloodstream through bleeding gums or ulcers. Once it is in the bloodstream it can lead to meningitis, inflammation of the heart, and inflammation of the spine. As a dentist in Fishkill, I take this news very seriously. These are deadly disease that can kill in just a matter of days and cause severe complications in only a few hours. If keeping my patient's oral health is a way of saving them from this horrible fate, than I must do everything that is within my power to do so.

Oral hygiene is crucial for all stages of life, from birth to old age. The elderly need to visit the Fishkiill dentist at least two times each year, just as children and younger adults do. Even elderly individuals who do not have a complete set of natural teeth benefit from visits to the Fishkill dentist. These visits are for all facets of dental health. During routine care visits the dentist in Fishkill screens for cancer, checks for infection, and can even make sure that dentures fit properly.

One significant reason that oral hygiene is so important for the elderly is that they are already at a higher risk for certain disorders and poor oral health simply adds to this issue. Individuals with oral health problems are more likely to develop meningitis, cancer, stroke, and heart attack. A recent study even showed that having a single oral health worker on staff at nursing homes was related to a significant decrease in the number of patients who developed pneumonia every year.

Lately, there's more and more of a buzz about alternative medicine in the United States. The United States is specified here because many countries that are considered a few centuries or so behind in technological advancement and general industrial development benefiting their entire nation are actually ahead of us in the use of alternative, mostly homeopathic medicine. We must understand that all medicinal remedies, at one point, came from the natural world. It's all we had. Everything we used to relieve pain, to boost health, to add nutrients, etc., all of it came mostly from plant life. Even the pills and other medicines given to us by our general physicians in this day and age had it's original form in plant life. This is where some people might say that we have stumbled. Today's medicinal remedies are synthetically manufactured, getting away from the more original plant-based form. This is true in almost all health care remedies or medicines, even dentistry to a certain extent.

So this begs the question, is there such a thing as alternative dentistry? Yes there is! What does that entail, then? I'll tell you! This approach to dentistry is based on holistic principles and therapies. Holistic dentists believe that the general health of the mouth is not separate from the general health of the person.

• The physical and mental state of the person will affect dental health, and vice versa.
• It recognizes that dental disease may be a cause or a result of other ailments.
• Diet is very important to oral health.
• Nutritional healing and diet control are important in the holistic approach to healing.
• Nutritional healing is based on the use of vitamins, minerals, herbs and food supplements.

Concern about food and nutrients is often associated with weight and overall health, but what you may not always recognize is how these foods also impact your oral health. You well know that sugary foods are not good for your health or your teeth. But what other eating patterns and food choices will impact your dental health? As a dentist in the area we want to help you make wise choices about healthy foods for your teeth in Fishkill. Here you will find a list of foods with the right nutritional value to help combat cavities and preserve your teeth.

When bacteria combine with sugars it produces an acid that will demineralize your teeth. Once the enamel is destroyed it can take a long while for the weekend areas to heal, if they do at all. Demineralization and remineralization is a delicate balance. Once demineralization gets ahead in the process your teeth can be at risk of decay, infection, and damage from gum disease. That is why knowing good dental health foods in Fishkill can be so beneficial.