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Tag Archives: Dental

The Tooth Fairy Index

17 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by asefquader in General Dentistry

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Delta Dental, Dental, Dentist, DentistUSA.com, Economy, Tooth Fairy, Tooth Fairy Index

Trying to figure out a way to judge our nation’s economy? A lot of people are. Ranging from the experts of Wall Street to the at home day trader, people try to prognosticate how and when our economy will grow. 

There are the obvious ways to track the economy like home prices and interest rates. And there are some more bizarre ways, like following the sales of romance novels or the mosquito bite indicator. But allow me to present a tracking scale that beats them all:

Tooth Fairy IndexTM

The TFI was introduces by Delta Dental in 1998 and has shown a pretty accurate picture of how our economy is going based on the amount the Tooth Fairy gives for one tooth.

So far, 2021 has been looking up with an average of $4.70 per tooth. That’s an increase of $0.20 and matching right along with the growth of the S&P 500.  

“Over time, the Tooth Fairy IndexTM (TFI) shows that the value of a lost tooth is closely related to the U.S. economy. Much like Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day weather prognostication, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has generally been a good barometer of the overall direction of the economy. In fact, for 16 of the past 19 years, the trend in average giving has tracked with the movement of the S&P 500.”

So next time you have a question about our economy, instead of asking Wall Street, let’s see what the Tooth Fairy leaves under your pillow.

5 Tips to Overcoming Your Fear of the Dentist

21 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by asefquader in Adult Dentistry, General Dentistry

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Dental, Dental Fear, dental pain, Dentist, dentistUSA, Dentophobia, Fear of the Dentist, overcoming fear

Is there any profession that brings out peoples fear more than the dentist? Fear of the dentist, or Dentophobia is brought on by different issues ranging from childhood experiences, to the feeling of a lack of control while sitting in the dentist chair. Whatever the issue might be, here are some tips to help you overcome your fears and help your smile become the brightest it can be.

  1. Find a dentist you trust

Overcoming a fear of the dentist all starts with trust. Ask friends and family if they have a dentist they like. If you can’t find a recommendation from someone, try DentistUSA.com. Once you find your dentist…

2. Explain your fears

This information will help your dentist determine the best course of action to help you manage your fears, will build a trusting relationship and help you feel more in-control when in the dentist’s chair.

3. Deep breathing

There are many breathing exercises that can help relax you. If those don’t help, you might ask you dentist about…

4. Additional medication to help relax

Many dentists recommend nitrous oxide, sedation or anti-anxiety medication for nervous patients. Talk to your dentist about these options to see if it might help.

5. Visit your dentist regularly

The more you go, the more you’ll get used to the sights and sounds. Just regular check-ups and cleanings will also help prevent issues that might lead to other, more painful procedures, which could cause more anxiety.

Daily Dental Hygiene to Stay Healthy During COVID-19

26 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by asefquader in Adult Dentistry, COVID-19, dentistUSA, DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry

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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Daily Dental Care, Dental, Dental Care COVID, Dentist, isolation, quarantine, Tooth care

We are in the middle of our second week of the COVID-19 isolation and most dental practices around the country are only open for emergency cases. It is now imperative to get into a healthy tooth care regiment as you probably won’t be able to see a dentist for some time. We talked to Dr. Ian Rodd, D.D.S. and he gave us some Do’s and Don’ts to help keep your smile healthy and white, while your dentist and his team are in isolation.

Do’s

– Brush your teeth

Twice a day for a full two minutes each time. It seems simple enough but most people don’t meet the two minute requirement. You’ll also want to use a soft bristle brush. Anything harder can wear away enamel and damage your teeth and gums. Don’t forget to turn the water off while brushing!

– Floss

Floss once a day. It’s easy and quick to do and will help clean your teeth more thoroughly than just brushing. Here is how to do it: How to Floss

– Scrape your tongue daily

This is a great way to get rid of unwanted bacteria as well as freshen your breath.

– Gargle after meals

Gargling with an over the counter mouthwash is the best, but most of us don’t carry around a bottle of Scope everywhere we go. Just a simple rinse with water is a good substitute if nothing else is available. When available add salt to lukewarm water to gargle as a disinfectant.

– Check your mouth and throat for any changes

Many features of your mouth that may appear unusual are natural parts of the oral cavity. However, inform your dentist of any NEW changes that appear like lumps, bumps, ulcers or if you have bleeding gums.

Most of the time, stress or changes in your environment lead to these issues and they are not of huge concern. But in some cases it can be an early warning of something more serious. A simple call to your dentist to describe what is going on can help ease your fears of anything more serious.

Don’t

-Don’t brush too often and don’t use a hard bristle brush

Too much brushing with a hard brush can lead to irritated gums, followed by gum recession. It is also too much for the surface enamel that protects the teeth. Brushing too much with a hard brush or too hard with a soft brush can scrape away the surface of the tooth leading to a yellow smile and sensitive teeth. It is sufficient to brush twice a day for two minutes each time, using a soft bristled toothbrush.

– Don’t eat sugar in excess

Sugar promotes bacteria growth. So stay away from high sugar foods and beverages (e.g. candy, soda and fruit juices).  If you are a candy lover, try to find some sugar free alternatives. Don’t forget to wash your mouth after eating sweets and if possible substitute sugary foods with more fresh fruits like apples or pears that help clean teeth as you chew.

We’d like to thank Dr. Rodd for his help! If you keep to these do’s and don’ts, your smile will remain bright and healthy until we come out of isolation (which we hope will be soon). And once this is all over visit your dentist, it will be time for a checkup!

 

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