It’s Halloween! Or, as I like to call it, Job Security Day. It is estimated that we eat almost 3.5 pounds of candy on Halloween; that’s a lot of sugar! I love sugar (many of my patients know that I love a frozen Snickers), but it has the potential to damage your teeth. Below are a few things you and …
Sex! …. And Oral Cancer
A recent article in the Washington Post that oral cancer is becoming more prevalent in men. The data, culled from insurance claims, shows a 61% increase in oral cancer in men from 2011 to 2015. The article suggests that the prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (“HPV”) is part of the reason. HPV is a group of viruses named for the …
Do I Really Need to Floss?
Since the summer, many patients have been asking me if they really need to floss. No doubt encouraged by the many articles suggesting that flossing may not be necessary, I instantly broke the hearts of men and women when I highly encouraged my patients continue flossing. I’m not a researcher, but I can tell you that, anecdotally, I can usually …
Inhalable Novocaine
The FDA has approved a needleless way for dentists to deliver anesthesia: a nasal spray. While it is not yet available, it will be soon, and we will certainly let our patients know! Although only available for certain upper teeth, this may pave the way for more pain-free dentistry in the future. You can read more about this novel approach …