Kevin Truong DDS, A Prof Co

Recently I took a trip to the different cities around the Mediteranean Sea. One of these destinations was Pompeii, an ancient Roman town near modern Naples. This town was destroyed and buried under 4-6 meters of ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Recently though, CT scans of the remains of people, preserved in plaster casts from sites around Pompeii, suggest two things: 1) that the inhabitants of Pompeii may have been killed by falling masonry and other ...objects as opposed to being suffocated by ash. This finding supports an account from a well preserved letter where one source wrote that people tied pillows to their heads to protect themselves. 2)These scans also revealed that the citizens there had very good teeth, most likely due to a high fiber Mediterranean diet. The geography of the town also fortified these inhabitants with fluorine in the air and water, thereby fluoridating everyone’s teeth making them very strong. Scientists are continuing to study 3D scans and are learning more each day. See more

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Why Sharing a Bathroom with Someone is Gross At a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Louisiana, a study presented found that about 60% of the toothbrushes collected from a sample, where people shared bathrooms, had fecal matter on it (other people’s). When people store their toothbrushes on a counter, the toothbrush is exposed to material and microorganisms from other occupants who use the bathroom. This study does not suggest that people should store their... brushes in closed containers, a practice that can encourage bacterial growth by preventing the bristles to dry out in between uses. The concern from the study is not whether or not there is fecal matter on toothbrushes, but it is about cross contamination of bacteria between people. When exposed to bacteria that is not part of your natural flora, there is a higher chance that those species may be pathogenic. It is my opinion that in order to avoid this phenomenon good hygiene practices should be practiced. If possible, have your own bathroom or choose a bathroom where the toilet is in a separate room from the sink with a door. The American Dental Association recommendations for toothbrush care are as follows: 1)Do not share toothbrushes 2)Do no cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers 3)Replace toothbrushes every 3 months 4)Rinse brushes thoroughly after brushing. Why Sharing a Bathroom with Someone is Gross At a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Louisiana, a study presented found that about 60% of the toothbrushes collected from a sample, where people shared bathrooms, had fecal matter on it (other people’s). When people store their toothbrushes on a counter, the toothbrush is exposed to material and microorganisms from other occupants who use the bathroom. This study does not suggest that people should store their brushes in closed containers, a practice that can encourage bacterial growth by preventing the bristles to dry out in between uses. The concern from the study is not whether or not there is fecal matter on toothbrushes, but it is about cross contamination of bacteria between people. When exposed to bacteria that is not part of your natural flora, there is a higher chance that those species may be pathogenic. It is my opinion that in order to avoid this phenomenon good hygiene practices should be practiced. If possible, have your own bathroom or choose a bathroom where the toilet is in a separate room from the sink with a door. The American Dental Association recommendations for toothbrush care are as follows: 1)Do not share toothbrushes 2)Do no cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers 3)Replace toothbrushes every 3 months 4)Rinse brushes thoroughly after brushing. http://www.kevintruongdds.com/?p=1326

Can Eating More Meat Improve Your Oral Health? Today I have great news for fellow carnivores. There is a recently published study in PLOS One, a peer reviewed journal, that reports the amino acid L-arginine may help control biofilm. Biofilm is that sticky layer in your mouth formed by bacteria. It is a matrix of proteins, sugars, and other bacterial products. L-arginine is found in some varieties of fish, soy, nuts, and meat. An introduction of L-arginine to saliva in a labor...atory study caused a reduction in gram negative bacteria and the volume of biofilm. Dental organizations have supported the notion of nutrition and diet’s impact on oral health and this study provides interesting insight into the biology of the mouth. http://www.kevintruongdds.com/?p=1322

After you have showered, lotioned up, and brushed you teeth, you are ready for bed right? Wrong. When you have not flossed your teeth, you have left behind about fifty percent of the surface area of your mouth uncleaned. Research has shown that there is an association between gum disease and heart disease. Prevention of gum disease, while sometimes complex, can be improved with flossing. So the next time you pick up that toothbrush, put it down, and floss first!! http://www.kevintruongdds.com/?p=1315

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