Just in time for Valentine’s Day, match.com has done a survey that reveals what characteristic men and women each find most attractive in the opposite sex. Any guesses? Watch the video to find out:

That’s right, it’s the teeth! A set of good-looking chompers was the #1 answer for both men and women, so if you’re looking to improve the way your significant other (or potential significant other) sees you, give us a call and see what we can do for your smile. You’ll be glad you did.

It’s that time of year again – that’s right, SHARK WEEK! Of course, being a dental office, we get a little excited about an entire week dedicated to an animal known and revered for its teeth.

This year’s shark week is particularly exciting for fans of both sharks and teeth because of some recent findings published in the Journal of Structural Biology. Don’t worry, we won’t make you read a scientific journal – all the cool points are summarized below:

Shark teeth naturally contain fluoride.

Yes fluoride, that same ingredient found in most toothpastes, several mouthwashes, and most likely in your drinking water. One of the reasons dentists like fluoride is because of it’s ability to prevent (and in some cases reverse) tooth decay. Because the shark’s teeth are already made of fluoride, they don’t need to use toothpaste and are hereby excused from brushing.

Human teeth are just as hard as shark teeth.

This is actually a surprising discovery. Human and shark teeth both contain dentin and enamel layers. The dentin is the same in each tooth, but the enamel of sharks is made of fluoroapatite (built from fluoride) while human enamel is made of hydroxyapatite (also found in coral reefs).  Normally, fluoroapatite is much harder and stronger than hydroxyapatite, but because of the specific arrangement of the crystals that make up human enamel, the strength of the teeth are roughly equal. However, your dentist strongly discourages biting into a live seal.

Sharks don’t get cavities.

Two things are helping sharks. First, the fluoride-based tooth structure is naturally resistant to the acids that cause tooth decay.  Second, sharks go through several sets of teeth throughout their life, and most of their teeth don’t stick around long enough to develop a cavity. Which is a good thing, because nobody wants to do fillings on a shark.

We’ve been having a great time so far in the Bountiful Bowl Summer League. There are just three weeks left, and we’re currently in 3rd place, which is way better than we were expecting! But rest assured, we will be making a push to get into the championship game.

Win or lose, everybody loves feeling like Iron Man.

I’m sure you’ve heard that George Washington had wooden teeth. What do you think, is it true? What else do you know about the dentition of our nation’s first president? Take this quiz and see how smart you are.

(Most of the information for this quiz was shamelessly stolen from wikipedia, so if you’re going to cheat, check there.)

[Above: George Washington's lower denture, being analyzed at the Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore Maryland.]

Don’t worry, this isn’t real. (Although bacon-flavored toothpaste is.)

Bountiful Dental is excited to announce that we will be joining the Bountiful Bowl Summer League! We’ll be demonstrating our bowling skills (or lack thereof) every Thursday evening from May through August. If you’re interested in watching, or if you want to form your own team and engage in some friendly competition, click HERE for more info.

Oh, and don’t worry, we have a secret weapon. After a long day of dentistry, this is what the pins look like to us:

(Image from a German advertisement for dental implants, via Ads of the World)

Recently the journal Cancer published a study that appeared to link regular dental x-rays with an increased risk for meningioma. Despite several inherent flaws in the research, many media outlets covered the story without explaining some of the important details.

Yesterday the Academy of General Dentistry came out with a response which should resolve any concerns you might have with this issue. According to the press release, “the study’s findings are not applicable to modern dentistry because the study was based upon an examination of outdated radiographic techniques, which produced considerably more radiation than patients would be exposed to today.”

If your dentist is using digital x-rays, you should be just fine. Digital radiology significantly reduces the amount of radiation to which you are exposed in the dental office. In fact, with digital technology, the amount of radiation you receive from one “bitewing” x-ray (the most common in periodic exams) is equivalent to a few days worth of backround environmental radiation exposure – that’s the radiation you get just by living here on earth.

So, how do you know if your dental office is using digital x-rays? Well, if you’re a patient at Bountiful Dental, rest assured, we are using the very latest in modern dental technology including digital x-rays. Otherwise, just pay attention to what the x-rays look like. If they’re on a computer screen then yes, they are digital. If the x-ray is on a film that has to be held against a light, it’s not digital.

This isn’t the first time a media outlet has caused some concern regarding the risks of cancer from x-rays. Last year Dr. Oz did a show on thyroid cancer, explaining that without the use of a thyroid collar, you increase your risk of developing thyroid cancer from dental x-rays and mammograms. By using a thyroid collar, in addition to digital technology, this additional risk is avoided. As Missy and Raegen demonstrate below, we definitely use a thyroid collar.

At Bountiful Dental, our patients are important to us. Not only do we care about your dental health, but we value total health and well-being.

For more information about dental x-rays and meningioma, please read the entire press release from the AGD.

Actress Alicia Silverstone made headlines last week when she shared a video of her unique way of feeding her son, Bear (or is it Bird?).

Yes, you’re seeing right, she’s chewing his food for him. A number of medical and nutritional experts have already come forward explaining the dangers of this practice, which include exposing the child to a variety of microbes and viruses.

Among the scores of nasty bacteria are Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobaccilus, a.k.a. my mortal enemies, a.k.a. the two bugs most responsible for causing tooth decay.  It’s worth noting that these bad guys reside in (and only in) the mouth. Also worth noting – when a baby is born, the oral cavity is a clean and sterile environment with no hint of S. Mutans or Lactobaccilus.

So why do kids still get cavities? These bacteria somehow make their way from one mouth to another. With most children it doesn’t happen in the blatant and disturbing manner you see in the video above. Most kids are exposed to these bugs through the seemingly harmless practices of sharing a drink, giving a kiss on the lips, or even from a well-intentioned mother blowing on her child’s hot soup.

In addition to brushing their teeth and limiting sugars, you can help prevent cavities in your toddler by minimizing the amount of other people’s saliva they are exposed to.  Have them blow on their own hot food, or use an ice cube to cool it down. Don’t share your food or drinks with them. And definitely, absolutely, don’t try to feed them like a bird.

From ada.org:

Overview

Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.

Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular cleanings at your dentist’s office. If you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.

You can take several approaches to whiten your smile:

In-office bleaching;
At-home bleaching;
Whitening toothpastes

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