Dental Hygiene

Xerostomia can be described as a “subjective sensation of oral dryness”1 with numerous causes. The most common are as a side effect from certain medications, Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune disorders, and radiation therapy.1 Older patients are generally taking more medications, and so we tend to see xerostomia in this population more frequently than any other. However, anyone taking medications...

As if cigarettes isn’t enough of a battle there is also smokeless tobacco (SLT) that plagues the population. It appears that people choose this method because it is slightly more discreet and is not accompanied by an odor. Some admit to transitioning to smokeless tobacco as a method to cease cigarette smoking. Many think SLT is a safer alternative...

Dentistry does not always have to be boring! Below I have found some fun facts, ancient facts, and interesting facts about dentistry. In 1866, Lucy Beaman Hobbs became the first licensed female dentist. Lucy had boarded with a physician while teaching, which sparked her interest in medicine. She was rejected from medical school but was encouraged to pursue dentistry. Jonathan Taft,...

Hygienists are known for their preventive role in health care. We often pride ourselves on being one of the only health-care providers who prevent disease and do not just treat it. Many hygienists like the idea of being able to tweak diets and home care to help their patients remain healthy and disease-free. One of the supplements often discussed by...

I can almost vouch with utmost certainty that one of the most exhilarating events for a dental hygienist is receiving and opening brand-new instruments. The sheer knowledge of knowing that new instruments pack a sharp edge is sure to have every hygienist playing favoritism among the instruments in their stash − at least until the edges become dull. While sharp...

Living on an irregular income as a temporary, commission-based, or even hourly dental hygienist can be tricky. Your income can fluctuate drastically, leaving you feeling uncertain about your finances and possibly even living paycheck to paycheck. In today's volatile economy, no one wants to be left struggling if something happens to their steady paycheck. Before I set out on my...

During my first year of hygiene school, I went home to spend Christmas with my family. Among my gifts was a package from an exchange student who my parents hosted in 2015. Inside the package were numerous gifts, but the ones that caught my attention were the thin tubes of toothpaste. One tube seemed like a traditional mint whitening paste,...

The discovery of macrophage polarization by Charles Dudley Mills changed the way immunologists viewed the immune system. Prior to this discovery, it was long thought that macrophages were like a garbage disposal, gobbling up pathogens and eliminating them, serving the T and B cells as if they were royalty while the macrophages were mere servants. These beliefs were based...

What do you think of when you hear the word holistic? Hippies? Patchouli? Herbs? Crystals? Someone who doesn’t shave or wear deodorant? The Oxford dictionary defines holistic as treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a disease. Hmm. Sounds a lot like oral-systemic health talk, doesn’t it? So far, so good. Not too strange yet? Nutrition In a holistic...

I’ve always been an introvert, the shy girl. I would stand in the back of the room and go unnoticed. The thought of walking into a crowded room where I know no one still makes me terrified. That has all improved for me, but first, let me tell you why. In 1997, I was 12 years old and in the seventh...