Latest news with #dentalhygiene
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dentists Are Sharing The Most Horrifying Things They've Witnessed In Someone's Mouth, And It Might Be The Worst Thing I've Ever Read
Earlier this month, I decided to ask dentists and dental hygienists in our very own BuzzFeed Community what turned out to be a pretty graphic question: "What's the most horrifying thing you've seen in someone's mouth or witnessed on the job?" Their answers were gross in an absolutely fascinating way, so, I decided I had to share. You might pull a face at a few of these, but you'll definitely be entertained! So, here are some of people's best answers: Related: 1."Dead bedbugs in a patient's gums." NBC —Anonymous 2."Hairy tongue." —Anonymous, 44, Connecticut, US 3."A teenager whose wisdom teeth were developing so that it was best for her to have them removed by an oral surgeon with IV sedation. She freaked out. She didn't want it done because she was scared of the could easily see over 20 piercings." —Anonymous 4."I'm a dental hygienist and the strangest thing I have found (repeatedly) in people's mouths is pubic hair. You see a little hair sticking out of a person's gums, so you grab a pair of tweezers to pull it out, and it ends up being a long curly pubic hair. 🤢 I have also found a SPROUTED SEED stuffed underneath someone's gums before. 🤣" Warner Bros. —Anonymous, 31, Illinois 5."Periodontist here. I once had a patient who had a massive infection of his wisdom teeth that was starting to come out of his cheek. So what looked like a pimple on his lower right was really the infection starting to drain." HBO / Via "I immediately sent him to a hospital that had an oral surgeon on staff. The tooth was extracted, and he had a drain placed in his face to clear the infection. When your dentist tells you that you have an infection, it doesn't get any better; it only gets worse." —Anonymous, 37, New Jersey Related: 6."I was a dental assistant and took a full-mouth panoramic X-ray of a patient with no teeth. Looked in his mouth and he was right, he had no teeth. Took the X-ray and found he had roots for all his teeth, but they had rotted, and gum tissue had grown up over to cover them. A fascinating extraction surgery followed." —Anonymous 7."Dental hygienist/hygiene educator here with an interesting story and a serious one. The interesting story: A patient lost a front tooth, kept it, cut the root off, attached it to something metal, and then superglued it in — a super creative idea! Unfortunately, superglue is acidic, so it damaged the teeth where he attached his makeshift bridge. But you can't help but admire his outside-the-box thinking." "The serious story: Years ago, I was completing the oral facial (oral cancer) examination on my patient and saw a red patch on the floor of his mouth. I referred him to an ENT, and sure enough, it was cancer, and it needed surgical removal and radiation. It was life-changing for him (though he passed away a few years later) and for me. From then on, I was more confident and took more time completing that exam, and less worried about staying on schedule. Every time thereafter I saw this patient for his cleaning, he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek and thanked me for the extra time he had with his family. Each year, I tell my students this story and tell them how important this exam is to complete, to not worry about the clock, and not to cut it out from their tasks. Worry more about the patient as a whole, and not about if you leave stain behind or a tenacious piece of calculus (tartar). I cried when my patient died, and I tear up every time I teach oral facial exams and think about what he taught me and how grateful he was for me." —Anonymous, 45, New York 8."It wasn't something I saw, exactly, but something I smelled. The patient had cancer, and we could smell it coming from his mouth. No judgment for the bad smell, not his fault, everyone deserves dignity." —Anonymous Related: 9."I'm a dentist. I had a new patient come in with a loose crown. I told him I might be able to just remove the crown after I cleaned it, then recement it back over the tooth. I removed the crown to discover a worm flopping around inside." Dotana / Getty Images "I cleaned out the crown and tooth, recementing it. Then I referred him to his MD for treatment of the worm infestation. I was very careful with my gloves on and face mask, not touching any instruments until they were cleaned and sterilized before they were put away. I nearly lost it." —Anonymous 10."Unfortunately, I am not the only dentist who has had this experience, but fortunately, it has only happened to me once. I had a patient, mid-50s, in whose dentures I found several maggots. Yes, I did leave and go throw up." —Anonymous, 47, Ohio, US 11."Teen patient with a moldy retainer. They never took it out, and there was food and gunk in a layer of slime all over the top of it. And my God, the smell." —Anonymous 12."Many drug users get to a point (and it happens more quickly than you would think) where they unfortunately do not care about oral hygiene. Dental health gets even worse when a person's drug of choice is something like meth. It's always very sad to see and difficult to deal with. Take care of your teeth, kids." —Anonymous, 38 13."Do not smoke after getting your wisdom teeth removed. You do not want a dry socket." —Anonymous Related: 14."I did a lot of free work for underprivileged people and people experiencing homelessness in my city when I was a younger dentist. (Not so much anymore, I miss being able to help, but I'm older now and would get the occasional violent patient.) This wasn't the saddest thing I ever saw, but it was pretty messed up and stuck with me: a child, around 5 or 6, with almost totally decayed teeth. They basically survived off soda, milk, candy, and other junk food." "The only silver lining was that these were baby teeth. I spoke to the mother and did report that the child was being neglected and needed help. This was about 20 years ago; I live in a smallish town, and I know the child ended up living with their grandmother." —Anonymous 15."I don't have any real horror stories, but you'd be surprised how many people don't think about their teeth when it comes to smoking cigarettes! Plenty of smokers worry about their skin prematurely aging, but pay far less mind to oral health. Smokers' breath can get pretty horrific." —Anonymous 16."Maggots." CBS —Anonymous, 48, Seattle, Washington finally: "A guy who had sharpened his incisors and tried to bite the hygienist." —Anonymous, 54 Okay, I know that got pretty gross, but at times, it was touching. Feel free to let me know all your thoughts in the comments! Even better if you have a dental nightmare of your own to share. Or, if you want to write in but prefer to stay anonymous, you can check out this anonymous form! Who knows — your story could be featured in a future BuzzFeed article. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Solve the daily Crossword
CNET
03-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
4th of July Deal: Save a Fresh 50% on This Oral-B Rechargeable Toothbrush
Having good dental hygiene is a great way to boost your confidence and can help you prevent more serious problems down the line. That means investing in quality equipment can pay off over time. Rechargeable electric toothbrushes are a step in the right direction, but they can come at a cost. However, Oral-B is offering this Oral-B iO electric powered toothbrush for just $50 from July 3 and July 11, which means you can save this Fourth of July or upcoming Prime Day. To get the full discount, make sure you clip the on-page coupon, which offers $10 off to seal this 50% discount. This Oral-B iO electric toothbrush is available in three colors and is technically a bundle include 2 brush heads and a travel case that lets you get minty fresh breath wherever you go. To help you get an optimum clean, this electric powered toothbrush includes a 2-minute timer so you won't have to worry about tracking the time spent on brushing. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Oral-B also includes other nifty features such as a pressure sensor to keep your gums safe, a refill change alert and 3 different cleaning modes. Amazon is also offering deals on Crest toothpaste individual purchases, bundles and subscriptions. Deals include this 3-pack of Crest whitening toothpaste for just $16, down from the usual asking price of $21. If you buy a second eligible item, you could score an extra $5 for a limited time. Keep in mind that this brush isn't wireless. Why this deal matters Oral-B is a pioneer in electric toothbrushes. Though the cost of these toothbrushes has risen significantly over the years, this bundle saves you $50 when you stack its current discount along with the on-page coupon. This deal is live until July 11, which gives you plenty of time to score the savings you deserve. If you're looking for more dental care options for less, check out our list of the best electric toothbrushes so you can compare before you browse. Our dedicated shopping team at CNET is going to monitor every early and upcoming Fourth of July and Amazon Prime Day deal so you can continue saving.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
"It's The Trifecta Of Bad": Dentists Are Sharing The Things They Would Avoid Doing To Their Teeth At All Costs
Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist regularly — we all know the pillars of good dental hygiene. But knowing them and maintaining them are two different things. Nearly 50% of people above 30 have signs of gum disease and 26% of adults have untreated cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's not uncommon to have issues with your teeth or gums, and dentists say certain lifestyle factors may be behind some of your oral health issues. In fact, common behaviors can negate the benefits of good oral hygiene — and you're probably guilty of some of them. Below, we spoke with dentists about the tooth-damaging habits and behaviors that they advise against and would never, ever do themselves: 1. They don't chew ice. 'The first thing that came to mind for me was chewing ice,' said Dr. Natalie Peterson, a clinical associate professor of dentistry at the University of Minnesota. 'A lot of people don't think about it, but they chew on the ice in their drink and they just don't think about the damage that it can do,' she said. Ice can break your teeth because not only is it hard, but it's cold, too, Peterson noted. It can be particularly damaging for people with fillings. 'The thought of chewing on ice just gives me shivers,' she said. 2. They don't bite their nails. According to Dr. Jennifer Soncini, a clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry at Boston University, biting your nails can lead to dental issues. Plus, nail-biting is often a habit, which means your teeth have to deal with this action repeatedly. As you bite your nails, you wear down the enamel on the edges of your teeth, Soncini explained. Enamel plays many important roles — it helps protect your teeth from cavities, erosion, infection and sensitivity to cold, hot or sweet foods. 3. They don't open bags or bottles with their teeth. Related: Women Are Revealing How Their Lives Have Been Affected By President Trump's Policies, And They're Not Holding Back ANYTHING Using your teeth to open up a bag of chips or bottle of water may seem harmless, but dentists say it's not. 'Teeth are strong and very durable, but they are not meant to open bottle tops, tear apart packages or chew on hard objects,' Dr. Jarrett Manning, a comprehensive cosmetic and implant dentist and owner of JLM Dental Studios in Georgia, told HuffPost via email. It puts unnecessary stress on your teeth. 'Utilizing your teeth in this manner can lead to pain, broken or cracked teeth, root canals, or even teeth that need extracting,' Manning added. 4. They avoid eating gummy candy. Sticky candies like gummy worms, gummy bears and peach rings are all items that dentists steer clear of. Why? They can get stuck in the grooves of your teeth and between your teeth, which can cause cavities, Soncini said. They can also pop out fillings. Beyond gummy candy, Peterson said she specifically avoids sour gummies. 'I kind of think of these as the trifecta of bad. They're sticky, they're super sugary and they're really acidic — that's why they taste sour,' Peterson said. 5. They don't consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Related: 25 Eye-Opening Confessions From A Trauma Therapist That Changed The Way I Think About Mental Health It's well known that drinking too much alcohol is not good for your liver health, your cancer risk or your sleep quality. Manning said excessive alcohol consumption is bad for your teeth, too. 'Alcohol leads to dry mouth and decrease saliva production, and because saliva's role is to help cleanse the mouth, protect teeth and neutralize acids, a decrease in saliva can increase your risk of getting cavities,' Manning said. 6. They don't use a toothbrush with too-hard bristles. Peterson said she recommends toothbrushes with soft bristles for several reasons. Hard- and medium-bristle toothbrushes 'can be really abrasive to your gums, so they can cause more recession, and it's hard to fix recession once it's happened,' she explained. Also, toothbrushes with hard or medium bristles can be abrasive to your teeth in general, she said. 7. They don't smoke. 'I would never smoke or use tobacco,' Manning said. 'Not only can smoking lead to serious health issues, it can cause severe oral health issues, tooth discoloration and in extreme cases, oral cancer.' Smoking is a hard habit to quit, but there are resources available to help you achieve this goal. If you don't smoke, don't start for the sake of your oral health and beyond. 8. They don't skip out on their daily dental hygiene. This will likely not be surprising, but dentists say skipping brushing and flossing is a major no-no. 'Flossing daily along with brushing is the key to fighting gum disease,' Manning said. Additionally, Soncini said it's extra important to brush your teeth at night. 'Never ever, ever, ever go to sleep without brushing your teeth,' Soncini explained. 'You can spend a whole day without brushing, but if you don't brush before you go to bed, that is the worst you can do to your mouth.' Going to bed with a clean mouth can keep bacteria from growing overnight, Soncini said. 9. They don't miss dentist appointments. 'I also would never ignore my regular dental checkups,' Manning said. 'Routine dental checkups are crucial for maintaining oral health and catching dental issues early.' In terms of how often you should visit your dentist for routine checkups, it depends on your personal dental history and other issues. 'Regular checkups for patients should be kind of tailored for each individual patient and their risk factors and their overall dental health,' Peterson said. 'Some people might only need to come in once a year, they might be pretty healthy; a lot of people, twice a year is a good idea; and some people that have risk factors or dental problems, they might need to come in three to four times a year,' Peterson continued. Talk to your dentist and dental hygienist to figure out what the best frequency is for article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Therapists Are Revealing The Moments That Made Them Break Their "No Judgment" Rule, And I'm Honestly Speechless Also in Goodful: 19 "Garbage" Modern Trends People Refuse To Partake In Despite Their Popularity Also in Goodful: "This Has Taken Me Years And Years And YEARS To Figure Out": This Woman's Clever Way To Tell If Someone Is Your Real Friend Is Being Called The Most Accurate Thing Ever
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Yeovil dental hygienist named finalist for Ms Great Britain 2025
A dental hygienist from Yeovil has been named a finalist for the 2025 Ms Great Britain competition. Rafina O'Brien is using her platform to advocate for oral health, support charitable causes, and highlight the Somerset community. Her 'When She Smiles' campaign centres on women's oral health, a frequently neglected issue. She raises awareness of how hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can harm gum and bone health, potentially resulting in severe consequences like low birth weight and premature birth. Ms O'Brien aims to educate women about the importance of taking charge of their dental health through community discussions and online initiatives. She said: "I believe oral health is about much more than just teeth. "It's about confidence, wellbeing, dignity, and overall health — and everyone deserves access to that, no matter their background." She also works with Dentaid, a charity that operates mobile dental units and clinics for people experiencing homelessness. Ms O'Brien volunteers at these clinics, teaches oral hygiene practices to schools and community groups, and organises fundraising events, such as recently completing three ultra-marathons in three months. She also served as the first dental hygienist on the world tour of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021, as seen in the BBC documentary, The Warship: Tour of Duty.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lincolnshire dental school to train hygienists and nurses
A training centre in Lincolnshire offering courses in dental hygiene and therapy will open in University of Lincoln has been granted funding of £1.5m to establish the facility. Vice chancellor Prof Neal Juster said it was "a first step towards training dentists themselves".The funding has been approved by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA), with Mayor Andrea Jenkyns saying the award was "great news for residents". Prof Juster said the county was "known as a dental desert" and he hoped to get to a full dental school training dentists one it opens in September 2026 the new Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health will be part of the University's Medical will accept around 30 students in its first year and will teach a new BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy alongside a foundation course designed to help dental nurses and other healthcare professionals retrain and upskill. The funding has come from the government's Shared Prosperity Fund which was handed to the GLCCA to for the first time since last month's local elections and chaired by Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns, it voted unanimously to award the Andrea said she recommended the funding was approved and was "really pleased to get this project off the ground".At the same meeting councillor Ingrid Sheard was voted in as deputy greater Lincolnshire is an elected Lincolnshire County Council member for Spalding Elloe for the Reform UK party. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
