Dental Hygiene

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...

The recent pandemic has caused some concern among hygienists about the future of their careers. Many have voiced concerns about going back to work, and many have toyed with the idea of starting a new career. Dentists have made bold statements going as far as claiming "dental hygiene as a career is done." These concerns seem to be stemmed from...

You may have noticed lately that the shelves in the local pharmacies and retailers have been depleted of zinc supplements. News got out like wildfire on social media regarding zinc’s ability to help strengthen the autoimmune system. With COVID-19, many people are desperate to find new ways to keep their immune system strong, and are eager to try anything...

An optional homework assignment to create a clinical reference guide in dental hygiene school led one of Folio magazine’s 2020 Top Women in Media award recipients to witness the power of written communication. Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP, Co-founder and Chief Content Officer for Today’s RDH, will receive recognition on September 9th in New York City in front of publishers of all...

Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP, who is the Co-founder and Chief Content Officer for Today’s RDH, was selected for the 2020 Class of Top Women in Media. Today’s RDH is a dental website featuring content written primarily by American dental hygienists. Vavrosky is also the administrator for the popular Facebook group, Dental Hygiene with Kara RDH. The Vancouver, Wash., dental hygienist is one...

How many of us would revolt if, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were told that we could not have coffee? At times, I have felt I could not function without my java. Through the years, I have investigated coffee’s benefits to cognitive health, and some research shows that moderate coffee intake may promote a healthy brain.1 Additionally, research shows it...

Yes, this article will focus on my own personal experiences doing some good in the community. My story could show some insight on how to find what you are passionate about in your own community. Sometimes opportunities such as this are unexpected, and they present themselves to you when you aren't even looking. In my case, I was attending a...

We can all probably relate to moments when we lose sight of the reasons we went into the dental field in the first place and, at times, can get caught up in the negative, forgetting what a great profession we are lucky to be a member of. Everyone has their own journey and motivational factors that led them to...