teeth

I've heard of beach erosion, but teeth erosion? I always thought you just get cavities.

Nope. It turns out if you're drinking a lot of citrus juices, tea and soda you're probably slowly wearing away the enamel on your teeth.

So, how do you fix it? Well, the answer is pretty simple. Whatever bad stuff you're drinking, stop!

Most people (myself included) would rather light their faces on fire than visit the dentist.

Although I floss regularly now, I never gave much thought to strict oral hygiene. I was always under the impression that if I burned to death (perhaps by lighting my face on fire), my teeth would survive. Logically, if my chicklets could endure a blazing inferno, why is my hygienist hounding my about daily flossing?

As it turns out, periodontal health is not only important for your teeth and gums, but it can also impact overall health, including obesity.

The NY Times Wellness Blog points to an intriguing study. It seems that overweight kids have better teeth than their normal weight peers.

Confounding?

In the middle ages they had chastity belts. Now we have the "Charlie Bite" - a device inserted into the mouth that prevents the user from chewing too vigorously.

The Utah dentists that offer the device claim their patients lose about 1.3 lbs per week.

Periodontitis is a disease affecting the gums that can result in the loss of bone surrounding the teeth. The disease is exacerbated by diabetes. A new study points to the reduced risk of periodontitis - due to the benefits of whole grain foods

Lobby group CSPI are demanding health warnings on soda cans and bottles. The American Beverage Assocation's response is predictable: "To ask the FDA for warning labels on soft drinks, or any food products that contain caloric sweeteners, patronizes consumers and lacks common sense," said ABA President and CEO Susan Neely.

Something to chew on for all the soda drinkers out there (via Reuters). ...making a habit out of drinking soda instead of water "may cause significant, irreversible long-term problems and damage."