Most people agree that cavities are no fun, but are they doing enough about it?  In the world of dentistry, prevention is a big deal.  In Sweden about 8 years ago a new toothpaste brand was launched.  It contains more than triple the amount of fluoride in standard toothpaste.  This particular toothpaste was developed to help people who have a higher risk of getting cavities.

This new toothpaste went through its first evaluation by researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gotheburg.  This study has found that by using this high-fluoride toothpaste three times daily, the participants in the study were receiving fluoride protection that was four times better than that received by participants that only brushed twice a day with standard toothpaste.  You can imagine that this would be great news to a dentist.

The old standards that your dentist has been encouraging may fly out the window for patients who are prone to caries with the information from this study.  In addition, the field of dentistry may have found a new method of applying toothpaste that actually helps to increase fluoride protection.  Professor Dowen Birkhed helped to test the application of toothpaste directly onto the teeth by rubbing it on with a finger.  They suggested that this may be an easy way to add that third application of fluoride that appeared to be so essential in the study.  You can see why dentistry could be affected by this discovery. It was suggested that application by this method may be easy to do after lunch, but is not a replacement for regular brushing night and morning.  It is an extra boost that can be given to the teeth.

If you find it hard for your children to brush their teeth often enough, you may want to try this new method of rubbing the toothpaste on the teeth as an extra measure of protection.   Brushing twice a day is still essential, but brushing or rubbing on toothpaste a third time can greatly increase the fluoride protection on your teeth, which is why dentistry is very interested in this study.

Audience:

• Consumers who use or may purchase the Crest and/or Arm & Hammer Spinbrush
• Parents and caregivers who use or may purchase the Crest and/or Arm & Hammer Kid’s Spinbrush
• Health care professionals including dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants who recommend the Crest and/or Arm & Hammer Spinbrush

Medical Specialty: Pediatrics, Dentistry

Device:

A battery-powered toothbrush is a device with a motorized handle that provides movement to a brush head for the removal of plaque and food debris.

The Spinbrush line of powered toothbrushes is currently sold as the Arm & Hammer Spinbrush and until 2009 was sold as the Crest Spinbrush. The Spinbrush line is manufactured by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. For the purpose of this communication, Spinbrush will refer to both the Arm & Hammer and Crest Spinbrush lines of powered toothbrushes.

Purpose:

The FDA is issuing this communication to alert parents, caregivers, consumers and dental care professionals about serious injuries and unexpected hazards with the use of all models of the Spinbrush.

Summary of Problem and Scope:

The FDA is aware of reports of serious injuries and potential hazards associated with the use of the Spinbrush. These reports indicated that while turned on, the brush head has either “popped off” or broken off in the user’s mouth or near the face, causing cuts to the mouth and gums, chipped or broken teeth, swallowing and choking on the broken pieces, and injuries to the face and eyes. When the unexpected release of any part of the powered toothbrush occurs, there is a potential for serious injury. This risk is higher for unattended children or adults who may need assistance while using this device.

Recommendations to Parents, Caregivers and Consumers:

Church & Dwight Co., Inc has issued the following safety notice regarding the use of the Spinbrush powered toothbrushes:

“Please remember to replace your brush head after 3 months of use, or if the brush is damaged or if parts become loose. Extended usage, loose parts or excessive wear could lead to brush head breakage, generation of small parts and possible choking hazard. Inspect the brush for loose parts before use.”

The FDA supports Church & Dwight Co., Inc.’s safety message, and also recommends that consumers:

• Inspect the Spinbrush for any damage or loose brush bristles prior to using. If you notice any damage or loose brush bristles, DO NOT USE.
• Check to be sure that the headpiece is connected properly to the handle of the brush and test your brush outside of the mouth prior to using. If you notice the connection feels loose or the headpiece easily detaches from the handle, DO NOT USE.
• Supervise children and adults who need assistance when using the Spinbrush.
• Do not bite down on the brush head while brushing.
• Follow the instructions and recommended replacement guidelines included with the Spinbrush.

◦                                  NOTE: The brush head for the Kid’s Spinbrush is not replaceable. If you notice any damage or loose brush bristles, DO NOT USE.

FDA Activities:

• On May 16, 2011 the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Church & Dwight Co., Inc. for violations including failure to file Medical Device Reports for serious injuries within a reasonable timeframe.
• On Dec 22, 2011, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. issued a safety notice on the potential brush head breakage hazard. The firm has also added “color-wear” bristles to newly manufactured brushes to provide consumers with a visual reminder to change the brush head every three months.
• On Jan.25, 2012, the FDA posted Church & Dwight Co., Inc.’s. Class II recall of various models of their Spinbrush line of powered toothbrushes to help communicate the potential choking hazard if the Spinbrush is used beyond the recommended 3-month brush head life.
• The FDA will continue to monitor adverse events associated with the use of the Spinbrush and will make available any new information that might affect the use of this device.

Additional Resources

• FDA Consumer Update – Toothbrush Can Chip Teeth and Cause Choking
• Church & Dwight Co., Inc. – Spinbrush Safety Notice
• Class II Recall: Spinbrush Pro-Clean (posted Jan. 25, 2012)
• Class II Recall: Spinbrush Pro Whitening (posted Jan. 25, 2012)
• Class II Recall: Spinbrush Pro Clean Re-Charge (posted Jan. 25, 2012)

Reporting Problems to the FDA:

Prompt reporting of adverse events can help the FDA identify and better understand the risks associated with medical devices. If you suspect a problem with a Spinbrush, we encourage you to file a voluntary report through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program.

Please include the following information, if available, in your report:

• Manufacturer and distributor names
• Brand name of the device
• Age of the device and brush head
• A detailed account of the event as well as relevant descriptions of what occurred before and after the event
• Relevant patient medical history

Contact Information:

If you have questions about this communication, please contact the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance (DSMICA) at DSMICA@FDA.HHS.GOV, 800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100.

This document reflects the FDA’s current analysis of available information, in keeping with our commitment to inform the public about ongoing safety reviews of medical devices.

Accessed: April 22, 2012 www.FDA.gov

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm291866.htm?utm_campaign=Google2&utm_source=fdaSearch&utm_medium=website&utm_term=spinbrush&utm_content=1#.T5Qf95vPaVw.email

By Andrew M. Seaman

NEW YORK | Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:37pm EDT

(Reuters Health) – A new study suggests people who had certain kinds of dental X-rays in the past may be at an increased risk for meningioma, the most commonly diagnosed brain tumor in the U.S.

The findings cannot prove that radiation from the imaging caused the tumors, and the results are based on people who were likely exposed to higher levels of radiation during dental X-rays than most are today.

“It’s likely that the exposure association we’re seeing here is past exposure, and past exposure levels were much higher,” said Dr. Elizabeth Claus, the study’s lead author and a professor at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

Claus and her colleagues write in the journal Cancer that dental X-rays are the most common source of exposure to ionizing radiation — which has been linked to meningiomas in the past — but most research on the connection is based on people who were exposed to atomic bombs or received radiation therapy.

There have been some studies that looked at dental X-rays, but they were from years ago and included fewer people than the current study, Claus noted. Still, they were generally in agreement with the new findings.

For her study, Claus’ team recruited 1,433 people diagnosed with intracranial meningioma — a tumor that forms in the tissues lining the brain — between May 2006 and April 2011. All of the participants were diagnosed when they were between 20 and 79 years old and they were all from Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina or the Houston or San Francisco Bay areas.

For comparison, the researchers also followed 1,350 people who were similar in age, sex and state of residence as the study group, but who had not been diagnosed with a tumor.

The study looked at how often people had three different types of dental X-rays. They included a focused image of one area, a number of images of the full mouth and a single panoramic view of the entire mouth. These are known in dentistry parlance as bitewing, full-mouth and panorex films, respectively.

Each person was interviewed by someone trained to administer a questionnaire that asked about demographic details, family history of cancer, pregnancy and medical history. The interviewers also asked — among other things — about the person’s history of dental work and the number of times they had the three types of dental x-rays taken throughout their life.

The researchers found that those diagnosed with meningiomas were more than twice as likely as the comparison group to report ever having had bitewing images taken.

And regardless of the age when the bitewings were taken, those who had them yearly or more frequently were at between 40 percent and 90 percent higher risk at all ages to be diagnosed with a brain tumor.

To put that in perspective, Dr. Paul Pharoah, a cancer researcher at the University of Cambridge said in a statement the results would mean an increase in lifetime risk of intracranial meningioma in the U.K. from 15 out of every 10,000 people to 22 in 10,000 people.

Panoramic X-rays taken at a young age, especially if done yearly or more often before age 10, also raised the risk of meningiomas by up to five times.

There was no association between full-mouth X-rays and the tumors, although the authors note they saw a trend similar to that seen for the bitewing X-rays.

The lack of association with full-mouth X-rays led one expert to question the connection.

“They found a small risk (from) a pair of bitewings, but not a full mouth series, which is multiple bitewings. That inconsistency is impossible to understand to me,” said Dr. Alan Lurie, president of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.

Lurie also echoed Claus’ caution that radiation levels from dental X-rays when some of the participants were younger was much greater than is used now.

He does warn, however, patients shouldn’t assume it’s fine for the dentist to take X-rays.

“They should ask why are (dentists) taking this image and what is the benefit to me,” he said.

The American Dental Association put out a statement in response to the study noting that the interviews relied on participants’ memories of how often they had different types of X-rays years earlier.

The statement added, “The ADA’s long-standing position is that dentists should order dental X-rays for patients only when necessary for diagnosis and treatment. Since 1989, the ADA has published recommendations to help dentists ensure that radiation exposure is as low as reasonably achievable.”

Dr. Sanjay Mallya, an assistant professor the UCLA School of Dentistry in Los Angeles, said that patients should be concerned whenever they are exposed to radiation, but “it’s important to emphasize that this concern should not mean that we shouldn’t get X-rays at all.”

According to the researchers, “while dental X-rays are an important tool in well selected patients, efforts to moderate exposure to (ionizing radiation) to the head is likely to be of benefit to patients and health care providers alike.”

SOURCE: bit.ly/HwspDv Cancer, online April

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/11/us-dental-x-rays-idUSBRE83A1E820120411

Academy of General Dentistry Responds:

A multitude of teeth are knocked out every year in the United States. The main causes in the permanent dentition are fights and sports injuries. Researchers have developed methods of saving most of these teeth. These knocked out teeth can often be re-implanted under favorable conditions. If the tooth can be replanted within minutes after the accident, there is a greater chance the tooth will be retained for life.

After the accident, the tooth should be located and picked up by the crown or enamel portion and NOT the root. If the tooth is dirty or contaminated, it should gently be rinsed with milk or water. Do not store the tooth in water.

It should be noted that if a primary (baby) tooth is knocked out, it should NOT be replanted as it could damage the permanent tooth bud in formation. Parents should NOT try to place the baby tooth back into the socket, and should immediately seek the advice and treatment of their dentist.

Modern research has developed a common thread in the success rate of the treatment of avulsed teeth. That common premise is the rate at which the teeth are reimplanted. Recent studies have shown that critical time to be in the range of five minutes to an hour. The American Association of Endodontists (2004) recommends reimplanting the fully formed tooth (closed apex) if it has been in a storage medium of milk, saline or saliva tooth even up to 60 minutes or less of extra-oral dry time (tooth out of bony socket).

Source: Academy for Sports Dentistry

In a recent clinical study, 12 subjects who rinsed just one time with the experimental mouthwash experienced a nearly complete elimination of the S. mutans bacteria over the entire four-day testing period. The findings from the small-scale study are published in the current edition of the international dental journal Caries Research.
Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay or cavities, is one of the most common and costly infectious diseases in the United States, affecting more than 50 percent of children and the vast majority of adults aged 18 and older. Americans spend more than $70 billion each year on dental services, with the majority of that amount going toward the treatment of dental caries.
This new mouthwash is the product of nearly a decade of research conducted by Wenyuan Shi, chair of the oral biology section at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Shi developed a new antimicrobial technology called STAMP (specifically targeted anti-microbial peptides) with support from Colgate-Palmolive and from C3-Jian Inc., a company he founded around patent rights he developed at UCLA; the patents were exclusively licensed by UCLA to C3-Jian. The mouthwash uses a STAMP known as C16G2.
The human body is home to millions of different bacteria, some of which cause diseases such as dental caries but many of which are vital for optimum health. Most common broad-spectrum antibiotics, like conventional mouthwash, indiscriminately kill both benign and harmful pathogenic organisms and only do so for a 12-hour time period.
The overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics can seriously disrupt the body’s normal ecological balance, rendering humans more susceptible to bacterial, yeast and parasitic infections.
Shi’s Sm STAMP C16G2 investigational drug, tested in the clinical study, acts as a sort of “smart bomb,” eliminating only the harmful bacteria and remaining effective for an extended period.
Based on the success of this limited clinical trial, C3-Jian Inc. has filed a New Investigational Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is expected to begin more extensive clinical trials in March 2012. If the FDA ultimately approves Sm STAMP C16G2 for general use, it will be the first such anti–dental caries drug since fluoride was licensed nearly 60 years ago.
“With this new antimicrobial technology, we have the prospect of actually wiping out tooth decay in our lifetime,” said Shi, who noted that this work may lay the foundation for developing additional target-specific “smart bomb” antimicrobials to combat other diseases.
“The work conducted by Dr. Shi’s laboratory will help transform the concept of targeted antimicrobial therapy into a reality,” said Dr. No-Hee Park, dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry. “We are proud that UCLA will become known as the birthplace of this significant treatment innovation.”
The UCLA School of Dentistry is dedicated to improving the oral health of the people of California, the nation and the world through its teaching, research, patient care and public service initiatives. The school provides education and training programs that develop leaders in dental education, research, the profession and the community; conducts research programs that generate new knowledge, promote oral health and investigate the cause, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral disease in an individualized disease-prevention and management model; and delivers patient-centered oral health care to the community and the state.

Accessed Nov 26th 2011: http://www.dentistry.ucla.edu/news/new-mouthwash-targeting-harmful-bacteria-may-render-tooth-decay-a-thing-of-the-past

Click here to view the embedded video.

This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, sister site to LiveScience.
Accessed Nov 14, 2011 as reported by FoxNEWS.com (http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/06/28/bad-gums-linked-to-erectile-dysfunction/)

Xylitol is an all-natural sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables including plums and raspberries. It tastes and looks like sugar. Because of its unique molecular structure, xylitol reduces the amount of tooth eating acid that is produced by the bacteria in our mouth. Because of these and other health benefits, many consider xylitol a healthy alternative to sugar.
Xylitol was originally discovered in the 1890’s and has been used extensively in Europe since World War II. Although originally approved by the FDA in 1963, as a special food additive, xylitol is relatively new to the US market. Because of recent studies demonstrating its dental benefits, the market for xylitol in the US is rapidly expanding. ( http://www.epicdental.com/t-xylitol-faqs.aspx#1A )
The first research evaluating the use of xylitol to prevent dental cavities was performed in Finland in the late 1960′s. Since that time a number of observation studies and field trials have been performed throughout the world. (http://www.xylitolpreventscavities.com/science/how-xylitol-works.html)
The National Center for Health Statistics has reported that in the United States by the time children are 17; almost 80% have experienced cavities. In Finland it was practically the opposite. Eighty percent of their high school graduates showed no signs of dental decay. A 40-month, multi-national chewing gum study published in the Journal of Dental Research showed decreased tooth decay for children chewing xylitol gum in comparison to those who chewed none or had gum sweetened with other substances.
Cavities begin with bacteria that live inside dental plaque causing an acidic environment. When xylitol products are used, the bacteria that cause cavities cannot ferment the xylitol and therefore collectively produce reduced quantities of acidic byproducts that will damage the teeth. As a result, a starvation effect will occur due to the inability of cariogenic bacteria to metabolize xylitol.
All of the different types of bacteria in the mouth whose presence can cause tooth decay are collectively known as cariogenic bacteria. A characteristic that each of these types of bacteria has in common is that they all thrive in a low pH (acidic) environment. Because the presence of xylitol inhibits the ability of these bacteria to create acidic byproducts, the dental plaque environment in which they live is less hospitable to their growth.
Xylitol has been approved for use by people of all ages. Studies suggest that children especially can benefit from using xylitol.
Ideal exposure time is best determined by the family’s dentist or pediatrician. Dosage amounts will vary as children age.
Some dentists also recommend that the parents of young children regularly use gum or mints that contain xylitol to help reduce the cavity causing bacteria from spreading.
Studies have shown as much as an 80% reduction in cavities for children whose mothers used xylitol gum during the first few years of her child’s life.
Some now believe that xylitol will eventually replace fluoride as one of the most important scientific finds for creating healthier mouths and decreasing cavity formation. Xylitol also does not hold the controversy that fluoride has had for many years. People who are anti-fluoride have suggested that fluoride is a cancer causing substance whereas xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is as sweet as any candy and stops bad cavity causing bacteria in the mouth. Studies continue but have suggested that 4-12 grams of xylitol daily can help reduce cavities in kids by as much as 80-90%. Higher levels of xylitol diminish the dental benefits. Xylitols best use is immediately after eating and clearing the mouth by swishing water, if possible. Between meals, replace ordinary chewing gum, breath mints, or breathe spray with comparable xylitol products. In their website, the xylitol organization suggests “Striving for Five” as a great way to help decrease cavities:
1. Use xylitol toothpaste, mouthwash, and nasal spray upon waking up
2. After breakfast use xylitol gum, mints or candy
3. After lunch use xylitol gum, mints or candy
4. After dinner use xylitol gum, mints or candy
5. Use xylitol toothpaste, mouthwash, and nasal spray upon going to bed

Stuart Goldenberg
She wasn’t having any problems now, but our dentist said trouble could flare up unexpectedly in the middle of the semester, perhaps in the middle of exams, and then she would probably have to leave school to get the teeth pulled. Better to do it now, he said.
Each year, despite the risks of any surgical procedure, millions of healthy, asymptomatic wisdom teeth are extracted from young patients in the United States, often as they prepare to leave for college. Many dental plans cover the removal of these teeth, which have partly grown in or are impacted below the gum.
But scientific evidence supporting the routine prophylactic extraction of wisdom teeth is surprisingly scant, and in some countries the practice has been abandoned. “Everybody is at risk for appendicitis, but do you take out everyone’s appendix?” said Dr. Greg J. Huang, chairman of orthodontics at the University of Washington in Seattle. “I’m not against removing wisdom teeth, but you should do an assessment and have a good clinical reason.”
Oral surgeons have long argued that if you don’t have your wisdom teeth removed at a young age, you are simply postponing the inevitable.
“It’s hard to get a percentage, but probably 75 to 80 percent of people do not meet the criteria of being able to successfully maintain their wisdom teeth,” said Dr. Louis K. Rafetto of Wilmington, Del., who headed the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ task force on wisdom teeth.
Another expert, Dr. Raymond P. White Jr., a professor of surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, said that roughly 60 to 70 percent of patients with wisdom teeth will eventually have trouble with them, but he acknowledged that data is limited. “We’re making decisions based on the best data we have,” he said.
Those persuasive numbers are used repeatedly by dentists and oral surgeons to justify routine removal of wisdom teeth. Just last year, the surgeons’ association issued a statement subtitled “Keeping Wisdom Teeth May Be More Harmful Than Previously Thought,” saying it was imperative that patients understood “how harmful retaining these wisdom teeth can be.”
The association said that 80 percent of young adults who retained previously healthy wisdom teeth developed problems within seven years, and that retained wisdom teeth are extracted up to 70 percent of the time.
Yet when asked, the association was not able to produce the evidence for these figures. “We were not able to locate the reference for it, and subsequently deleted the statement from our Web site,” Janice Teplitz, the group’s associate executive director of communications, said last week.
As of Monday, however, the association’s Web site still said that “between 25 percent and almost 70 percent” of the time, retained, asymptomatic wisdom teeth “are eventually extracted.”
Many studies suggest that the actual number of people who have trouble with their wisdom teeth is far lower.
Oral surgeons warn that even when young people are not experiencing pain or discomfort, they may have infection or inflammation; numerous studies have found that adults who keep their wisdom teeth tend to have more such problems over time than those who have them removed. But there does not appear to be a single randomized clinical trial — the gold standard for scientific proof — comparing similar patients who have and have not undergone prophylactic wisdom teeth removal.
Our dentist warned us that cysts and tumors could grow around impacted wisdom teeth. But a new study of more than 6,000 patients in Greece found that only 2.7 percent of the teeth had a cyst or tumor. An older study, often cited by critics of routine extraction, found that only 12 percent of 1,756 middle-aged people who had not had impacted wisdom teeth removed experienced a complication.
Numerous comprehensive reviews of research, conducted by independent bodies not affiliated with oral surgeons, have concluded that there was no evidence to support routine prophylactic extraction of impacted but healthy wisdom teeth.
Britain’s National Health Service stopped paying for the procedure if there was no good reason for it after an analysis by its Center for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York concluded in 1998 that there was no solid scientific evidence to support it. Also that year, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh said that for patients who do not have a condition related to third molars or whose teeth would probably grow in successfully, removal is “not advisable.”
In 2005, a review by the respected Cochrane Collaboration said the number of extractions could be reduced by 60 percent if they were done only when patients were in pain or developed a condition related to wisdom teeth. The group also said there is “reliable evidence” that suggests that removing wisdom teeth does not prevent or reduce crowding of front teeth.
In 2008, the American Public Health Association dismissed arguments typically made for removing wisdom teeth: that adjacent teeth might be damaged, or that the teeth may harbor bacteria that cause periodontal disease. The association approved a policy saying these concerns do not justify the risks of surgery, which include possible nerve damage, complications from anesthesia. loss of the sense of taste and, very rarely, death.
“The few studies of long-term retention of impacted teeth have shown little risk of harm,” the association concluded.
So given what all agree is a lack of good evidence, how should consumers proceed when a dentist suggests removing healthy wisdom teeth?
IF EXTRACTION IS RECOMMENDED All surgery carries risks, and you should try to ensure that there is something to be gained from having your wisdom teeth removed. Ask what the reason is in your case. Is there a chance the wisdom teeth will grow in successfully? If you see a dentist on a regular basis, is watchful waiting an option?
If you have an infection or inflammation, ask about less-invasive treatment.
The general consensus among critics of routine extraction is that recurrent gum infection, or pericoronitis; irreparable tooth decay; an abscess; cysts; tumors; damage to nearby teeth and bone; or other pathological conditions justify the procedure.
IF YOU CHOOSE SURGERY Most dental plans cover at least some of the costs of extraction. If you don’t have dental insurance, pulling all four teeth may cost several thousand dollars.
Ask if you can have local anesthesia, which is considered safer than general anesthesia.
Follow postoperative instructions carefully. Avoid being very active or eating solid food for three to four days (instead try noodles and milkshakes). Keeping ice on the jaw may help with pain and swelling. Painkillers may be needed. Young patients tend to recover sooner than older patients.
IF YOU DECIDE AGAINST EXTRACTION Good dental hygiene will be even more important for you. The teeth in the back of the mouth are often harder to reach and clean well. Get frequent cleanings, and X-rays if necessary.
Smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease, as does diabetes. If you have cavities in your back molars, you may be at greater risk for problems with the wisdom teeth.
As for my daughter Emma, we have opted for watchful waiting. She went off to college last month, wisdom teeth and all.
A version of this article appeared in print on September 6, 2011, on page D5 of the New York edition with the headline: Prudence Of Having That Tooth Removed.

article accessed Sept.13th, 2011 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/health/06consumer.html?_r=2

How SoundBite Imperceptibly Transmits Sound

Your own outer ear has natural acoustic benefits as it effectively collects and channels sound from the environment into the ear canal. To take advantage of this, a tiny microphone is placed within the canal of the impaired ear and is connected by a nearly invisible tube to the BTE.

The BTE uses a digital signal processor to process the sound and a wireless chip to transmit the sound signals to the ITM. Once the ITM picks up the signals, it in turn converts them into imperceptible sound vibrations that travel via the teeth, through bone, and to your cochlea, nearly simultaneously. In this way, sound is re-routed from your impaired ear directly to your good cochlea – bypassing the middle and outer ear entirely – to effectively restore the perception of hearing from your impaired ear.

To view a video of this new product visit www.soundbitehearing.com

What’s wrong with sugary snacks, anyway?

Sugary snacks taste so good – but they aren’t so good for your teeth or your body. The candies, cakes, cookies, and other sugary foods that kids love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay. Some sugary foods have a lot of fat in them too. Kids who consume sugary snacks eat many different kinds of sugar every day, including table sugar (sucrose) and corn sweeteners (fructose). Starchy snacks can also break down into sugars once they’re in your mouth. Did you know that the average American eats about 147 pounds of sugars a year? That’s a big pile of sugar! No wonder the average 17-year-old in this country has more than three decayed teeth!

How do sugars attack your teeth?

Invisible germs called bacteria live in your mouth all the time. Some of these bacteria form a sticky material called plaque on the surface of the teeth. When you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria in the plaque gobble up the sweet stuff and turn it into acids. These acids are powerful enough to dissolve the hard enamel that covers your teeth. That’s how cavities get started. If you don’t eat much sugar, the bacteria can’t produce as much of the acid that eats away enamel.

How can I “snack smart” to protect myself from tooth decay?

Before you start munching on a snack, ask yourself what’s in the food you’ve chosen. Is it loaded with sugar? If it is, think again. Another choice would be better for your teeth. And keep in mind that certain kinds of sweets can do more damage than others. Gooey or chewy sweets spend more time sticking to the surface of your teeth. Because sticky snacks stay in your mouth longer than foods that you quickly chew and swallow, they give your teeth a longer sugar bath. You should also think about when and how often you eat snacks. Do you nibble on sugary snacks many times throughout the day, or do you usually just have dessert after dinner? Damaging acids form in your mouth every time you
eat a sugary snack. The acids continue to affect your teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized and can’t do any more harm. So, the more times you eat sugary snacks during the day, the more often you feed bacteria the fuel they need to cause tooth decay. If you eat sweets, it’s best to eat them as dessert after a main meal instead of several times a day between meals. Whenever you eat sweets – in any meal or snack – brush your teeth well with fluoride toothpaste afterward.

When you’re deciding about snacks, think about:

The number of times a day you eat sugary snacks.
How long the sugary food stays in your mouth
The texture of the sugary food (chewy? sticky?)

If you snack after school, before bedtime, or other times during the day, choose something without a lot of sugar or fat. There are lots of tasty, filling snacks that are less harmful to your teeth — and the rest of your body — than foods loaded with sugars and low in nutritional value. Snack smart! Low-fat choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole-grain crackers or bread are smart choices. Eating the right foods can help protect you from tooth decay and other diseases. Next time you reach for a snack, pick a food from the list inside or make up your own menu of non-sugary, low- fat snack foods from the basic food groups.

Note to Parents

The foods listed in this leaflet have not all been tested for their decay- causing potential. However, knowledge to date indicates that they are less likely to promote tooth decay than are some of the heavily sugared foods children often eat between meals.
Candy bars aren’t the only culprits. Foods such as pizza, breads, and hamburger buns may also contain sugars. Check the label. The new food labels identify sugars and fats on the Nutrition Facts panel on the package. Keep in mind that brown sugar, honey, molasses, and syrups also react with bacteria to produce acids, just as refined table sugar does. These foods also are potentially damaging to teeth.
Your child’s meals and snacks should include a variety of foods from the basic food groups, including fruits and vegetables; grains, including breads and cereals; milk and dairy products; and meat, nuts and seeds.

Some snack foods have greater nutritional value than others and will better promote your child’s growth and development. However, be aware that even some fresh fruits, if eaten in excess, may promote tooth decay. Children should brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste after snacks and meals. (So should you!)
Please note: These general recommendations may need to be adapted for children on special diets because of diseases or conditions that interfere with normal nutrition.

Pick a variety of foods from these groups:

Fresh fruits & raw vegetables
!” berries !” oranges !” grapefruit !” melons !” pineapple !” pears
!” tangerines !” broccoli !” celery !” carrots !” cucumbers !” tomatoes !” unsweetened fruit and vegetable
juices !” canned fruits in natural juices
Grains
!” bread !” plain bagels !” unsweetened cereals !” unbuttered popcorn !” tortilla chips (baked, not fried) !” pretzels (low-salt) !” pasta !” plain crackers

Milk & dairy products
!” low or non-fat milk !” low or non-fat yogurt !” low or non-fat cheeses !” low or non-fat cottage cheese

Pick a variety of foods from these groups:

Fresh fruits & raw vegetables
!” berries !” oranges !” grapefruit !” melons !” pineapple !” pears
!” tangerines !” broccoli !” celery !” carrots !” cucumbers !” tomatoes !” unsweetened fruit and vegetable
juices !” canned fruits in natural juices

Grains
!” bread !” plain bagels !” unsweetened cereals !” unbuttered popcorn !” tortilla chips (baked, not fried) !” pretzels (low-salt) !” pasta !” plain crackers

Milk & dairy products
!” low or non-fat milk !” low or non-fat yogurt !” low or non-fat cheeses !” low or non-fat cottage cheese
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research