Wellesley Dental Group Blog

You may know the dangers of tobacco use to your health, but did you know that goes for vaping too?! Recent studies conducted by researchers at NYU College of Dentistry show the relationship between electronic-cigarettes (E-cigarettes)/vaping products and gum disease. They found that individuals who use e-cigarettes have a unique oral microbiome that is less healthy than nonsmokers, which may contribute to gum disease. E-cigarettes use a battery that allows for nicotine and other chemicals to be vaporized and then inhaled.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) continues to work to cure multiple sclerosis (MS) via research and many educational initiatives. Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month is an important yearly effort to spread awareness and help individuals impacted by this disease manage their treatment and overall health. MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own central nervous system. This can lead to trouble balancing, impaired vision, fatigue, and other health irregularities.

Migraines can be a nuisance! If you’ve ever suffered a migraine, you know how significant an attack can feel. Could your dentist help relieve your migraines? In some cases, yes! A study published by the American Society for Microbiology suggests that certain oral bacteria known to increase nitric oxide in the bloodstream can cause the blood vessels in the brain to widen, which consequently can trigger the onset of a migraine.

Every year, many organizations and individuals across the nation recognize National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness), which is the biggest and most recognized eating disorders education effort in the United States. This year, NEDAwareness Week runs from Monday, February 22 – Sunday, February 28. This national event aims is to shed light on eating disorders through educating, spreading hope, and making resources accessible to individuals in need. The theme for 2021 is “Every Body to Has a Seat at the Table.”

Our loving team at WDG is wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day is known for being a day full of love and sweet treats in appreciation of our relationships with others. Although delicious, we all know that sugary treats can be harmful to our teeth. But, what if we told you that there are some treats with added heart-healthy benefits to them?

Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day approaching there will be lots of kisses, roses, hearts, candy, chocolates, kind words, and lovely memories exchanged by many as people across the United States celebrate the occasion. As you begin to make plans for this special day, there is one important thing that you won’t want to neglect: oral hygiene! Take a look at these tips and facts to get you ready to have a happy Valentine’s Day:

It has been a long journey through the COVID-19 pandemic likely for everyone. As the coronavirus deaths in the United States have reached over 300,000 individuals, it can be challenging at times to see a silver lining. But, we are all stronger together and must continue to do our part in helping to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy during these challenging times. Now, news of the first doses of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech has been sent to all 50 states in the U.S., in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The CEO of Pfizer reported that the company is aiming to make 1.3 billon COVID-19 vaccine doses across the world next year, and approximately 2.9 million doses of the vaccine will be received across the U.S. this week. As of right now the first doses of the vaccine are being distributed to health care workers due to the limited supply, and it may take months until the vaccine can be administered to the general public, according to CNN.

We’ve all had to adapt to a lot of changes in 2020, with masks being one of our daily life adjustments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend everyone continue to wear masks to help lower the risk of spreading COVID-19, which has been found to be transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets from simply talking, coughing, sneezing, or even breathing. The use of masks is particularly important as COVID-19 can be spread from individuals who are not experiencing any symptoms but who are unknowingly infected with the virus. According to the CDC, not only do masks help prevent you from releasing respiratory droplets, but they also help reduce the risk of you inhaling  these droplets.The CDC reports that multi-layer cloth masks effectively block the exhalation of most large droplets (i.e., 20-30 microns and larger) in addition to up to 50-70% of aerosols smaller than 10 microns that are common when individuals speak.

National Handwashing Awareness Week is coming up (each 2nd week of December), and clean hands have never mattered more! With the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting all of our daily lives, it is of utmost importance to have excellent hand hygiene to help slow the spread of coronavirus and other infectious diseases.

As the pandemic still remains as we approach the holidays and a new year, we know that we must all continue to do our part to avoid increasing our and other people’s risk of contracting COVID-19. Although normal family gatherings and celebrations will be different this winter, we must not forget about our mental and physical health (including the health of our teeth!)