Newborns and Ear Infections
I have a confession… I've become one of those hygienist that inundate people with dental information when they least expect it. There is one subgroup in particular that I seem to really channel in on- expectant mothers. And I'm not picky to where I give my OHE lessons.
Parks? Yep.
Mom Groups? You Betcha.
Church? Check
But here is the thing. There is a lot of research that shows that the healthier a mothers mouth is the healthier their babies mouth will be. Babies aren't born with bacteria and research shows babies tend to have their moms bacteria. I encourage expectant moms to get onto a xylitol regime ASAP.
In addition to helping prevent dental caries, xylitol has been linked to a decrease in ear infections.
Apparently the mom passing great bacteria is not the only thing that can help newborns- so can xylitol nasal spray.
The thing is xylitol gum can be a little spendy...(totally worth it in my opinion) but the nasal spray is NOT an expensive option and might be more doable for some patients.
There was a study done in the International Journal of Audiology where 10 babies had xylitol placed in their nose (2 drops each nostril) at every diaper change. And guess what? They had a 93 % reduction in ear infections. Ten babies is a small small sample size and when it was replicated it was only a 39 % decrease, but because the first study was more structured- I don’t think it can be completely discounted.
Hygiene Edge Tip: Have your patients place nasal spray by their babies changing stations and get those mamas chewing some xylitol. You could suggest they put xylitol gum by the change table and each time they change their baby, they chew a piece of gum.
Looking for a hand out about Xylitol to help with education? We have one!
2018 Dental Holiday Gift Guide
It’s hard to believe, but the minute it turned November, so did the holiday prep. And of course, the thought of getting gifts for a boss or manager lingers in the back of everyone’s mind. We want to help! A gift card is always appreciated, but this year, mix it up a bit with something new that they won’t forget. Here is a list of unique dental gifts for any dental professional in your life. Maybe yourself as well?
Did your office do Secret Santa this year? This tote is a cute option for anyone! You could fill it with the recipients favorite treats (or healthy snacks if they’re into that), or even a mascara or lip gloss or a favorite dental product (Cocofloss maybe?).
2. Custom Socks
Is your dentist obsessed with their dog or kids? These custom socks can have any face put on them, with the color being customizable as well. This gift will definitely get some laughs at the company Christmas party. And if they’re a dentist, they are probably a bit practical, which socks is the perfect gift for someone that’s practical. You can also connect over them when they (hopefully) wear them to the office!
3. Dental Mug
If you’re into humor as a gift, why not a silly mug? Even if your boss is for or against the current political situation, they’ll love something funny that goes along with it. You could pair this mug with some hot chocolate mixes or a Starbucks gift card.
4. Dental School Alma Mater Wear
Check out your DDS’ diploma. Where did they spend 4 years of their life gaining their degree? Most dentists have fond memories of where they went to school, even if it was some of the hardest years of their lives. Head over to the school they went to online book store to order a sweatshirt, mug, keychain, etc.
If they love to read, learn or have a long commute to get to the office, an Audible membership is the gift that keeps on giving! The price point is a bit higher, so going in as an entire office may be the best for this gift. Each month, they are able to download 1 book and get discounts on other books they may be interested it. I personally love my membership and listening to something new each month as I drive to work.
6. Give Service
Now, this may sound a little different, but so many people are hard to buy for. Why not do something a little different instead? Pool the money you were going to use for a gift, and give it to a local charity that your boss has an interest in. Or, use that money to purchase hygiene supplies and put together hygiene kits for the local women’s shelter. They could be put together during a lunch break or even your office party. With many hands helping, they don’t take too long to assemble. Check out JustServe.org for other volunteer opportunities in your area.
Happy gift giving! What does your office usually do for gifts?
It's Time To Get Better Instruments
Next time you need new instruments try out the XP Sharpen-Free Technology from American Eagle Instruments. Learn all about them in our latest video below.
Some Things You Don't Learn In a Text Book
If you are a dental nerd like me you love all things dentistry. Even after school there are so many interesting things to learn and implement. I do keep a few trusty old books close by in the operatory for reference, as you can see in my photo, but one thing school books don’t train you on is your chairside manner. I remember struggling as a new grad to find my stride on educating patients on treatment plans and providing the best customer service. I ordered book after book on the best practices to become an amazing hygienist, and how to build a hygiene department. There are so many great resources we have in dental hygiene to guide us on this path.
Here at Hygiene Edge we have a subscription to Speareducation.com. They have helped me to become a better dental hygienist through their helpful videos. Lately, I especially like the ones on restorative dentistry so I can better help patients understand their treatment needs. There are a lot of offices that invest in their team and get an office subscription. You can watch these and learn techniques together during staff meetings or during down time. Learning is always informational with their unique site.
What are some of your favorite resources that have helped you on your path as a hygienist?
Hygiene Round Up- July
With summer in full swing, it's time to brush up on your skin cancer knowledge for extra oral exams.
Are you a dental hygiene student? We'd love your help with a survey all about dental hygiene clinical instructors.
Loving this new print for a scrub top.
A great perspective on being part of the American Dental Hygienists' Association.
Pretty interesting that some monkeys have better hygiene habits than many of our patients.
2018 Student Essay Contest
It's time again for our Annual Student Essay Contest!
This year, we've decided to look into ADHA and being part of your student chapter. We'd love to know how being part of it as helped you learn and grow as a person and as a dental hygienist. Any fun activities you've done? Any great events or volunteer opportunities that your classmates have been involved in? What have you learned from being part of the events and a dental hygiene community? We want to know!
Winner will be chosen and given $100, a prize package from our shop, and be published on Hygiene Edge. Email your submissions by August 1 to hygieneedge@gmail.com.
We're so excited to hear what you've been up to with the ADHA and SADHA!
Fine print: You must be a current dental hygiene student OR have graduated dental hygiene school in the last 6 months. Entries are due August 1, 2018 and should be emailed to hygieneedge@gmail.com. All writing must be original work. Entry must been less than 1000 words long. Photos can be included, but must be copyright free.
What, No Toothpaste?!?
Before you have a heart attack, you can add toothpaste, just not in the way we were taught in hygiene school.
Am I the only one that squirms when a patient asks about toothpaste ingredients? The patient starts rambling off ingredients that you're pretty sure you recognize from hygiene school, but the recall is not there. Thank heavens we are "able" (required) to take Continuing Education classes.
Apparently its not only the ingredients we should be worried about but WHEN the patient brushes.
I recently took a course from Spear Education from one of my FAVORITE hygienist-Trisha O'heir. The course was called, "The Toothpaste Secret: Helping Patients Develop Effective Toothbrushing Habits." The course was short and it was fascinating. She shared that in the 70's before there were strict laws on recording people without their consent, researchers put up secret cameras to watch people brush their teeth.
As hygienist we already know what the research confirmed- patients brush sporadically-they start on the facials and barely touch the lingual side of their mouth, they don't brush very long and aren't very effective.
Her remedy was to have them brush WITHOUT toothpaste, starting on the lower right linguals for right-handed patients and lower left linguals for left-handed patients. This is called "dry brushing." When dry brushing is done the research shows that patients brush longer and more effectively!
Genius!! it makes perfect sense to have patients start brushing where they brush the least. And because toothpaste numbs senses, without toothpaste the patient can feel if his/her mouth is actually clean or not. After the patient's mouth feels clean, advise him/her to add toothpaste and brush again.
We still want our patients to use toothpaste but WHEN the patients uses it is very important.
As far as patient ingredients: O'Heir advises against any kinds of toothpaste containing microbeads. Proctor and Gamble has been working on getting the little pieces out of toothpaste but definitely look before you recommend any brand. Also, O'Heir strongly advises against Sodium-laurel sulfate (the ingredient that causes toothpaste to foam) because of its increased risk of aphthous ulcers.
Hygiene Edge Advice: If you have a patient with a lot of plaque- teach them how to dry brush (we included a handout for you below). Patients trust your opinion so be a detective and research toothpaste ingredients before you recommend a toothpaste.
Here is a handout for you to give to your patients all about dry brushing :)
What Patient's are Saying About: Crest Gum Detoxify
Gum Detoxify is Crest’s latest and greatest toothpaste on the market. And they’ve been heavy on the marketing for this new product. They even have a sponsored Buzzfeed video! Of course, with all this marketing of the paste, your patients will definitely ask about it. Here’s a little bit about it:
Ingredients
When you compare the ingredients from Crest Pro Health and the new Crest Gum Detoxify, they are surprisingly similar. The active ingredient is the same, stannous fluoride 0.454%, and most of the inactive are exactly the same. I talked to a few reps about the difference in products, and they mentioned that the new paste has a higher concentration of SLS which causes an increase of “bubbling” and a clean feeling, and the list of ingredients does have SLS higher in the list.
Subgingival Cleaning
One claim that Crest does make is that Gum Detoxify does clean subgingivally better than other pastes. There is a study posted on their website, however reading through it, the conclusion that they came to doesn’t say too much about how Gum Detoxify is better than any other toothpaste.
Different Packaging
Also, you’ll want to be aware that there are 3 “different” Gum Detoxify toothpastes out in stores. They are, however, all the same product but are marketed differently depending on the purchaser. Currently, there are Gentle Whitening, Sensitivity, and Deep Clean packeting at major retail stores like Target. They all have the same ingredients however. “Deep Clean” is currently the only one that is sold and marketed to dental professionals and to dental offices. If you request a sample, you’ll definitely be given that “Deep Clean” packaging.
My Experience
I personally have been using this paste for the last 2ish months to try it out and see. And honestly, I like it. Because of the extra foaming agent, it “feels” like it cleans better. I don’t know if that’s a great feature for the everyday patient who rarely brushes or only brushes the anterior teeth, but if it helps motivate then hey! Sign me up. The cost is another factor for both patients and me. Since it's a premium product, it costs $3-5 more than another toothpastes on the market.
Have you tried this new Crest toothpaste? What did you think?
What are your patient's asking about? Let us know!
Hygienist Spotlight: Whitney DiFoggio, RDH, BS
Name: Whitney DiFoggio RDH, BS (aka Teeth Talk Girl on YouTube).
Where/when did you graduate DH school? I graduated from dental hygiene school in 2015 from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL. Before that, I graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
What are you doing now? I’m currently working in private practice at two offices part-time…the goal is to become a full-time YouTuber/Filmmaker one day, but like Jasmin Haley reminded me, as I was listening to her amazing podcast “Beyond The Prophy” today… I won’t quit my day job just yet. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love working in a clinical setting. I just love creating health videos on YouTube slightly more! If video creating ever becomes an actual hustle, I can’t even explain to you what my level of happiness would be…
Any funny stories from school or practice? I feel like everyday is a funny story. I used to be super involved in the acting scene, and each day when I’d show up at my office, my co-workers would notice glitter in my hair, or something like that …and they knew I was up to some acting gig the night before. They would always joke that I was living a double life. We’ve had some good laughs.
What is one reason you love being a hygienist? I know it may sound naive, but I truly enjoy helping people. I love going to sleep each night knowing I’ve done my ultimate best to help each person I’ve seen throughout the day, in one way or another. Whether it was scaling away tenacious calculus, or being a good listener when your patient needs to vent about a hardship in his or her life - it all counts.
What is one piece of advice you'd give a new dental hygiene grad? My best advice is to of course be professional, but never too professional. Just be genuine and be yourself. If you’re sincere and want to help others, then by doing your honest best, you will shine as an outstanding clinician and a kind & thoughtful human.
To check out Whitney online, check her out on social media!
YouTube: YouTube.com/TeethTalk
Website: teethtalkgirl.com
Instagram: @teethtalkgirl
Facebook: @teethtalkgirl
April Favorites Round Up
Spring is here! Also, convention season is in full swing! Which dental hygiene or dental conventions are you going to this year? What are your favorites to attend?
Another great research article shows a high correlation between gingival inflammation and preeclampsia. It highlights how important oral hygiene education is for pregnant woman.
Remembering the "Big Picture" of dental hygiene.
This print is perfect for a Waterpik enthusiast.
What are your patient's favorite flavor of prophy paste?