According to studies, Quebec inhabitants allegedly have the highest rate of people without teeth!  No one knows exactly why, but it is possible that the high smoking rate and more difficult access to fluoridated water helps cause this.  A Quebec article said that getting dentures was considered a normal thing in the past.  Some people would get their teeth pulled out even if they weren’t that bad.  Throughout the 1970’s, the focus on improved dental health was prominent, and dentists did not simply pull out a tooth because a patient requested the service.

According to a Canadian survey, 6.6% of Canadian residents between ages 20-79 are edentulous (more commonly known as toothless).  This number has decreased over the years. Those who speculated the reasoning for this said that better fluoridation in the water had a positive influence, as well as better oral hygiene awareness and services.  An increased awareness of oral health may have also resulted in a decrease of people having bad breath, also known as halitosis. 

Dentures can never feel as natural as real teeth, and they can also cover some taste buds.  Sometimes wearing dentures can result in sores when a person removes them, especially when someone eats.  Also, some denture-wearers are stuck eating softer foods-eating an apple may not be possible.  Dentures can also make kissing less enjoyable.

It’s important to take care of your teeth, because when a person loses them, the face may appear to be hollower, and there is a higher risk of jaw injuries, especially in females!

Source: Associated Content

TMZ: Those grills come at a price! In an attempt to preserve what is left of his natural teeth, Lil Wayne had to suffer through eight root canals and other major dental measures.  He had multiple tooth implants redone, some new ones added, and a few real teeth repaired.  He also had his platinum and bejeweled grill removed since he has to go to Riker’s Island prison next month. 

His mouth, along with many other well-known rappers, is filled with gold and diamonds.  Some people have gold in their dentures or wear a mouth grill.  Allegedly, these grills can have a very negative effect on the teeth of those who have poor oral hygiene.  People can especially have problems if the grills are not put on properly. 

#LilWaynesbreath was actually one of the top trending topics on Twitter, and many people were speculating how Lil Wayne must have bad breath.  One of our followers even said that “maybe TheraBreath can help #LilWaynesbreath”!  If that’s the case, too bad we weren’t there to help!

After the recent deaths of many celebrities including Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, people are realizing that maintaining their health is more important than ever. People who have just learned that they have cancer may not be thinking about taking care of their oral hygiene, but this can have significant consequences. Cancer patients who do not discuss their sitaution with a dentist before starting chemotherapy or radiation may put the health of their teeth in jeopardy or delay their treatment.

 Dr. Mitchell Josephs, a dentist at Palm Beach Towers, tells people about to start chemotherapy that they should get a dental cleaning and X-ray to make sure that there are no abscesses. If there is an emergency extraction to remove an infected tooth, this could disrupt cancer treatment. Obviously, if you have to have emergency dental work done after you started cancer treatment, your healing ability is going to be reduced.

 Therapies can also weaken teeth and cause tooth decay. Chemotherapy and radiation can reduce the mouth’s ability to produce saliva temporarily. Saliva is what protects and coats the teeth so they are not damaged by acidic foods. If a person uses a custom fluoride tray to coat the teeth in a concentrated fluoride solution daily(ten minutes a day) while going through chemotherapy, their teeth are much less likely to be discolored and weakened.

 Decay is usually caused by a very dry mouth. Inflammation of the gums can also be caused by cancer treatment. Dentures that do not fit correctly can make the situation worse by possibly causing ulcerations. This problem can be fixed by getting new dentures or dental implants for replacing the teeth permanently.

 Mouth rinses can help reduce mucositis, which is the ulceration and inflammation of the mouth’s tissue. According to Dr. Daniel Spitz, when a patient goes through chemotherapy, any underlying dental problems will increase the likelihood of there being cavities, bone loss, and tooth loss. If the blood count gets low, bacterial infections can grow out of control.

Source: Palm Beach Daily News

• An Ozone Generator is one of the most powerful sterilizing devices in the world.
• Ozonated oil acts as a powerful antioxidant to a variety of skin disorders.
• Ozonated water is highly effective at neutralizing the anaerobic bacteria in the back of your throat that causes bad breath!

As you know, I’m constantly on the lookout for the latest scientific breakthroughs on how to prevent bad breath. My latest research has uncovered a device called an Ozonator that not only helps to prevent bad breath, but also helps to deodorize just about any household odor.

First, let me explain a little bit about ozone (O3). It’s a natural, colorless gas with a distinct fresh odor, similar to a day at the beach. When used properly (and my Ozonator was designed so that it can ONLY be used properly), it provides a wide range of benefits. Ozone is a natural molecule made up of three atoms of oxygen. If you want to know what ozone smells like, just close your eyes and imagine you’re smelling the fresh, clean, scent of spring rain that occurs right after a rainstorm. This scent is actually ozone – nature’s own gift to us.

There are two basic ways to use the ozone generated by my Ozone Machine:

.  To ozonate an oil (create topical solutions, sterilize cuts/burns, etc.)

To achieve the minimum concentrations required for an effective ozonated oil, you will need to accumulate at least 24 hours of ozonation. However, since my Ozone Generator runs for only 30 minutes at a time (an important safety precaution!), you will need to reset the Ozone Machine frequently. The good news is that once you’ve ozonated an oil, it lasts in the refrigerator for a long, long time.

Ozonating Water

Ozonated Water has literally dozens of different uses! Remember that ozone is an incredibly powerful sterilizer and disinfectant. Anything that you must clean, neutralize, or deodorize will benefit from ozonated water. The list includes things such as sterilizing sponges, sanitizing bedding, soaking dentures, purifying drinking water, etc. You can even use the ozonator with any of my TheraBreath Oral Rinses to make them even more effective at neutralizing the anaerobic sulfur-producing bacteria that cause bad breath!

To ozonate any liquid simply attach one of the included plastic tubes to the ozonator. On the other end of the tube, attach one of the ozonator stones. Place the stone into the liquid that you want to ozonate (whether it’s water, oil, or TheraBreath Rinse) and let the ozonator go to work!

Some other uses of ozonated water include:

• Sterilizing kitchen/bathroom items
• Deodorize dirty laundry
• Control smells
• Sanitize your bedding
• Remove pet odors
• Soak dentures and night guards

Let us know how you’re using the ozonator and we’ll add it to our list.

Until now, natural ozone could only be created by a high-priced, high-end, $600+ ozone generator. What’s more, these things sound like a diesel truck in high gear zooming down the highway! My ozonator costs about 1/6 of the price, and operates with just a quiet humm – mmmm…. much, much nicer!

I’ve compiled a how-to brochure that you can download for free which contains TONS of interesting information about the various uses of Ozone Therapy. The brochure also contains several scientific studies documenting the unique sterilizing and deodorizing benefits of natural ozone. This is a must-read for anybody even remotely interested in ozone therapy or ozone treatment.

Just all the products that I sell, my ozonator comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. If for any reason you’re not happy with this device just return it within 30 days for a complete refund.

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Special Offer on Ozone Therapy! – Save $10.00 on your purchase of a Dr. Katz Ozonator! Just add the Ozonator to your shopping cart, and in the coupon center enter Coupon Code ‘BTENOZ‘

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Canker sores, also known as “mouth ulcers,” plague the lives of millions of people all over the world. These small oral ulcers can make life unbearable when eating, drinking, speaking, or swallowing. Frustration sets in when your dentist or doctor doesn’t know how to respond to your questions about these annoying and recurring ulcerations.

Unfortunately, the public ends up creating their own canker sore problem by using commercial toothpastes, which contain an ingredient that is proved to be linked to canker sores. It’s called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and it is placed into toothpastes and some mouthwashes in order to create foaming! (Sodium lauryl sulfate is also the main ingredient in your shampoo – go check it out.)

The harshness of this chemical has been proven to create microscopic damage to the oral tissue which lines the inside of your mouth, which then leads to canker sores.

What Causes Canker Sores ( Mouth Ulcers)?

The latest research shows that certain chemical compounds trigger the production of canker sores. Among those items is something that may shock unsuspecting people. It’s SOAP. Yes, but it’s soap, inside your mouth. For many years the major pharmaceutical companies have used soap (chemically known as sodium lauryl sulfate) in order to create a foaming agent when one brushes their teeth. Why? The foam does not provide any benefits to the toothpaste, but does fool the you, the user, into thinking that a foaming action is related to a “cleansing” action. After speaking to many of these pharmaceutical companies, the following excuse is used: “we use sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant, in order to blend all of our ingredients together and make them work more effectively.” (A surfactant is a chemical agent, which allows other chemical molecules to get closer to each other. However, there are many surfactants out there that are not soapy or do not cause allergic reactions resulting in canker sore production.

One of the most exciting advances has been the establishment of the link between canker sores and an ingredient common to almost all toothpastes. The additive SLS may be a culprit in canker sore formation.

SLS acts just like a detergent. It is used in the laboratory as a membrane destabilizer and solubilizer of proteins and lipids. SLS is used in toothpaste to emulsify (mix) oil and water based ingredients together. In your toothpaste, it creates the foam you get when brushing. Since it is classified as a soap, you will easily understand why this ingredient can cause drying inside the mouth for many individuals. The dryness is one of several factors that will lead to bad breath.

The thought is that SLS may, in susceptible individuals, cause microscopic trauma or membrane disruption to the skin cells in the mouth. This along with trauma or actions of the immune system may lead to canker sore formation.

Recent studies have shown a link between the use of toothpastes containing SLS and the occurrence of RAS (canker sores).

The Science of Canker Sores:

Canker sores are interchangeably known as: mouth ulcers, aphthous ulcers, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, or oral ulcers.

Some people (and doctors) confuse canker sores with “cold sores” (fever blisters). We know both are painful, annoying, and recurring. Here are the major differences: 

Canker Sores Cold Sores Only occur inside the mouth Mostly on outside of mouth – sometimes on the inside of the mouth, but only on “hard” surfaces (palate) Not Contagious Contagious Not Viral (not caused by a virus) Caused by Viruses Caused by damage to oral tissue, often by sodium lauryl sulfate, a common foaming agent ingredient in almost all toothpastes The first sign is appearance of small blisters (vesicles)

 The following is a synopsis of 3 European Scientific Studies:

In a study at the University of Oslo in Oslo, Norway, Drs. Barvoll and Brokstad revealed a 60-70% reduction in the number of canker sores in patients who used SLS-free toothpaste during the three month test period. Additional studies have since shown equally promising results.

In the clinical studies, patients using SLS toothpaste displayed a greater amount of desquamation (loss of a layer of skin lining the inside of the mouth). This has led to the theory that SLS may contribute to RAS (canker sores) by causing injury to the oral epithelial cells (skin cells lining the inside of the mouth).

SLS, by denaturing protective mucus proteins, may also disrupt the protective layer of mucus which lines the inside of the mouth (a denatured protein is a protein which has lost its three dimensional shape thereby becoming nonfunctional and useless). The denaturing of mucus proteins makes the cells lining the mouth more susceptible to injury and canker sore formation.

References

. Herlofson, Bente and Pal Barkvoll sodium lauryl sulfate and recurrent aphthous ulcers: A preliminary study Acta Odontol Scand 1994; 52:257-259

. Herlofson, Bente and Pal Barkvoll The effect of two toothpaste detergents on the frequency of recurrent aphthous ulcers Acta Odontol Scand 1996; 54(3): 150-153

. Barkvoll, Pal and G. Rolla Possible effects of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) on the oral mucosa [abstract] J Dent Res 1989; 68:991

What is especially exciting is the fact that many of my patients have experienced tremendous improvements as a result of using SLS-free toothpaste. Additionally, many of the visitors to this website have also found canker sore relief by using an SLS-free toothpaste.

Research is being conducted to determine what makes a person susceptible to canker sores in the first place as well as what actions and mechanisms trigger canker sore outbreaks. Among those things that may trigger an attack or make a person more susceptible are:

A. SLS found in Toothpaste and some mouthwashes

B. Allergies to Food Products and Certain Preservatives

C. Trauma from Brushing your Teeth too vigorously

D. Lip Biting

E. Stress

F. Trauma from Eating Hard, Rough Foods (Potato Chips, Pretzels)

G. Deficiencies in Vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid.

Current theories on the causes of canker sores have focused on the immune system. This research suggests that canker sores may be caused by the body’s own immune system attacking the cells lining the inside of the mouth.

The first canker sores usually occur between the ages of 10 and 20. During life, episodes usually but not always become less frequent and less severe. Interestingly, women often report increased susceptibility to canker sore formation during certain times of their menstrual cycle. Some women report complete relief from canker sores during pregnancy.

Interestingly, canker sores affect people to varying degrees of severity. Some people may get an occasional outbreak of canker sores once or twice a year while others may suffer near continuous overlapping episodes of canker sores.

On the Subject of Preventing Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers)

The most important piece of advice we can give you is to stay away from toothpaste which contains sodium lauryl sulfate (click for list).

Secondly, trauma to the inside of the mouth may trigger the production of canker sores. This trauma includes overzealous tooth brushing, biting your cheek or tongue, and scraping the inside of your mouth with hard or sharp foods (like hard pretzels).

Cut down on eating foods like potato chips, hard pretzels, cut apples, and hard candies which might nick, abrade, or otherwise traumatize the oral tissue.

As far as overzealous brushing, most people can not consciously stop brushing so hard, because toothbrushing is such an ingrained habit. Consequently, we encourage them to use our SuperSoft Nylon Toothbrush, made for us by experienced toothbrush manufacturers in England. It’s virtually impossible to cause damage with these soft, yet strong bristles.

We know that many bite the insides of their cheeks while sleeping or out of nervousness and stress. We suggest that a mouth guard be worn during sleep. This is often very effective at preventing further oral trauma. Contact your dentist for more information.

Reactions to certain food products may be responsible for many cases of canker sores. Among the foods that may cause canker sores in certain people are: nuts, peanut butter, seafood, wheat products, chocolate, and milk.

Treatment of Canker Sores

Usually canker sores clear within 7-14 days without treatment. During this time, however, the canker sores can be painful especially when people eat or drink. Treatment helps ease the pain and may help reduce the amount of time it takes for the ulcers to go away.

Other Viable Treatments:

. Anti-Microbial Mouthwashes

Surprisingly the use of anti-microbial mouthwashes has provided effective relief for many. Canker sores are not caused by a bacteria or virus so the mechanisms by which these anti-microbial mouthwashes work remain unclear. Commonly used are anti-microbial oxygenating mouthwashes (TheraBreath Oral Rinse and PerioTherapy Oral Rinse).

. Analgesic (Pain Relieving) and Protective Ointments and Gels:

Your local drug stores stocks some pain relieving medications, including Zilactin or Oragel. After application, they create a protective cover over the sensitive areas.

. Corticosteroid Rinses and Gels:

These are prescription medications that must be authorized by your dentist or physician and should only be used for severe or painful cases. The application of these types of gels and rinses may be painful at first. The most common is a topical steroid gel (non-alcoholic) of lidex applied very gently to the ulcer 2-4 times per day.

Systemic Conditions Associated with Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers)

In a very small number of cases, canker sores may be indicative of a bodily (systemic) disorder. A medical condition known as Behcet’s Disease, for instance, has amongst its symptoms: canker sores, genital lesions, eye lesions, and dermal afflictions.

Those infected with HIV may also develop “canker sore-like” ulcers.

Some digestive conditions display canker sores as part of their disorder. These include: Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and gluten hypersensitivity (wheat allergy).

Consult your physician if any of the above sound like they may be part of your canker sore problem.