Advanced + Family Dentistry - February 2019

REPORT THE WELLNESS

February 2019

770-932-4240

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www.DaculaDentist.com

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SPECIAL REPORT:

TOXIC FLOSS?

On Jan. 9, the New York Post reported a recent study linking Oral-B Glide dental floss to toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology this month, the study initially aimed to identify behavior and products that could result in elevated body levels of PFAS. PFAS are chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products, from fast-food packaging to nonstick pans, waterproof clothing, and even stain-resistant fabrics and carpets. PFAS chemicals have been linked to health problems including cancers, thyroid disease, low birth weights, and high cholesterol, and they negatively affect the immune system. 178 women were used for the study. Blood samples were compared against self-reported use of a wide array of consumer products and foods. The study concluded that the women who reported using a certain brand of dental floss — in this case, Glide and store-brand equivalents — tended to have higher levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) than women who used other brands. The study then tested 18 dental flosses, including three Glide products, for the presence of fluorine, which this study used as a marker of PFAS. All three Glide products tested positive for fluorine, consistent with previous reports that Glide is manufactured using Teflon-like compounds. According to the ADA Science Institute, one of the major shortfalls of this study is that fluorine was used as a marker of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), though the women in the study were found to have elevated levels of PFHxS. Furthermore, no link relating the PTFE contained in certain types of floss has been correlated to the PFHxS elevations found in the women. The ADA Science Institute also pointed out that PTFE is commonly used in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries for products.

A representative for Procter & Gamble, which manufactures Glide products, commented to the New York Post: “The safety of the people who use our products is our No. 1 priority. Our dental floss undergoes thorough safety testing, and we stand by the safety of all our products.” Furthermore, the ADA reports that they see no cause for concern based on current evidence. Above all, they continue to

encourage people to clean between their teeth daily with floss or other interdental cleaner as part of the ADA’s daily oral-hygiene recommendations. With this story breaking in the past few weeks, I hope you find the above information useful to form your own opinion. Our office will continue to stock and supply Colgate total floss, which was not found to contribute to the toxic chemicals noted in the study. Whatever floss you prefer, I want you to know that you can use it confidently as a part of your daily hygiene — so don’t forget to brush, floss, and smile. Please pass this information on to family or friends who might find it useful!

–Dr. Parth Patel

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Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com

FAMILY GAME NIGHT BREAK THE MONOTONY OF OVERPLAYED BOARD GAMES!

problem-solving skills a typical chess game offers but with a twist. At the end of each turn, a player fires a small laser beam that bounces off the mirrored chess pieces. If it hits the non-mirrored surface of a piece, that piece is taken by the player. A player wins when the opposing player’s king piece is illuminated. CATAN Welcome to the island of Catan! After a long voyage at sea, the people in your expedition compete against other seafarers in building settlements. Enjoy the 45–90-minute game as you and your family build roads, barter resources, and race for absolute supremacy on Catan. ONE NIGHT WEREWOLF Every night, werewolves prowl around the village, and it’s up to the villagers to find the werewolf once the sun rises — before it’s too late. Each person plays a unique role with different abilities to help find or conceal the werewolf. If the werewolf is caught, the villagers win the game, but if the werewolf manages to escape, the villagers lose. Now you can bring some exciting variety into your family game nights. Don’t miss out on these excellent tabletop games, and most importantly, have fun!

Family game night is a time when a family can forget about all of life’s commitments and bond over a good old-fashioned board game. But the old, tattered Monopoly box or worn-out UNO cards can leave something to be desired, and the classics might be getting a little dull. If you’re tired of playing the same board games over and over, it might be time to start looking for ways to change things up. Here are four tabletop games you might not have heard of that are perfect for spicing up family game night. MYSTERIUM Your family will love delving into this cooperative murder mystery game that is a mixture of Clue and Dixit. You can play as the ghost or as one of the mediums who enters the haunting. The ghost player gives each medium a clue or vision about a potential murderer, and the mediums have to guess which person, room, or weapon was used to murder the ghost player. After each turn, the ghost reveals whether each of the mediums’ guesses are right or not. If all of the mediums succeed in guessing correctly by the seventh in-game hour, they work together to find the true murderer. LASER CHESS A classic game of chess is a great way to spend an evening, and it just got a little more interesting. Laser chess includes all the

WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING

“Dr. Jones and Dr. Copeland are the best! They have an amazing team of professionals, from the front office personnel to my dental hygienist! I especially want to brag about my dental hygienist. Ms. Kelly is exceptional. She creates a sense of peace and security from the second I step in. She thoroughly explains the entire process of what’s being done and answers all of my questions.” –ANONYMOUS

“For many years, I had dealt with my teeth just being fixed as needed, and I let things go that shouldn’t be let go. I finally got to the point where I felt like I really ought to do something. I had put off the expense as long as I could, but then it became less about expenses and more about improving my life and my appearance, and that’s what was accomplished with Dr. Jones.” –KEN

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The ‘Smart’ Way to Brush Your Teeth

CONNECTING YOUR DENTAL HYGIENE TO YOUR PHONE

The history of the toothbrush includes some of the most fascinating inventions in dentistry. Starting in 3,000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians constructed brushes from twigs and leaves and inventively used the foliage to clean their chompers. By the 17th century, Europeans brandished a slightly more controversial toothbrush assembled from a sheep’s tibia and bristles of boar hair. Because of the off-putting nature of using sticks and bones as tools for oral hygiene, modern inventors have created a toothbrush that overshadows our ancestors’ devices by a long shot. In 2018, Philips, Oral-B, and Prophix released smart toothbrushes to give tech-savvy brushers an entirely different cleaning experience. Today’s smart toothbrushes use Bluetooth wireless technology to transmit your brushing behavior to your phone’s app. Each brand comes with different bells and whistles, but if you are looking for a fun, more efficient way to manage your dental hygiene, there are several innovative brushes to choose from. The ones geared toward adults send updates to your phone in real time and give you feedback on your brushing habits. This means you can evaluate the >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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