A Toothbrush Must Read

Taking proper care of your toothbrush is important to your overall health, according to Maria L. Geisinger,

DDS, assistant professor of periodontology in the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Staphylococci, coliforms, pseudomonads, yeasts and even intestinal bacteria can become present on a toothbrush. Appropriate care and storage should be a main concern.

Let's take a look at protecting yourself.

1. Toothbrushes are not required to be packaged in a sterile manner, immediately requiring sterilization.
Soaking your toothbrush in Listerine or an antibacterial mouth rinse when new will reduce the levels of bacterial.

2. Remember to change out your toothbrush after an illness, or soak it in mouth rinse.  It is possible to reinfect yourself with your toothbrush.

3. Toothbrushes should be replaced if possible every three months, if not every month.  If your bristles have become frayed or bent you are past the time when your toothbrush should be replaced.

4. Wash your hands after using the rest room.  Fecal contamination of toothbrushes is more common that you may think.  Enteric bacteria from intestines can be released from the toilet in microscopic airborne droplets or on your hands, both able to infect a toothbrush.

5. Never share a toothbrush.  Your mouth does not need a foreign bacteria introduced.

+Verde Pointe Dental Associates +Suzanna Aguilera and +Kirk Kimmerling DDS are happy to offer tips on toothbrush care. New patients welcome at the Marietta cosmetic dentist office.

Tooth Tattoo

A new "Tooth Tattoo" developed by Princeton nano-scientist Michael McAlphine and Tufts bio-engineersNature Communications.  The new technology is a ultra-thin oral sensor that measures bacteria levels in the mouth.  It is a small device temporarily attached to a tooth, and may one day help dentists with oral conditions and overall health.

Fiorenzo Omenetto, David Kaplan and Hu Tao was published in the journal

The senor has three layers; gold foil electrodes, a layer a graphene and a layer of peptides.  The peptide is the chemical structure that is able to indicate bacteria.  The sensor is soft and pliable enough to wrap around the irregular contours of tooth structures.  A silk backing dissolves within 15 to 20 minutes leaving the sensor.  It's a advantageous way to monitor the bacteria.

The senor has a built-in antenna for power, allowing the  team to ping it with radio waves to send back information if bacteria is present.  The idea is for dentists to develop customized treatment plans for patients with chronic gum disease.  Patients with a high number of cavities could be given a fluoride varnish  or rinses.
As for overall health, the tattoo may have a future to monitor biological markers for diseases such as AIDS or stomach ulcers before it becomes serious.

Marietta Cosmetic dentists are also Marietta Emergency dentists welcoming new patients to the dental office.  +Kirk Kimmerling DDS and +Suzanna Aguilera can help with dental fillings, root canals, tooth extractions, toothaches, broken teeth, periodontal disease, gum disease and any dental emergency you may have.  Please accept a new patient coupon to help cover insurance deductibles and co-pays.