Thank you to everyone who attended the Tiny Tots Expo at the Boys and Girls Club last weekend! It was a great morning for kids to learn about teeth (and to visit with the tooth fairy). To learn more about caring for the teeth of your tiny tot, check out this link for some helpful resources.
GRD at Tiny Tots Expo!
April 15, 2015 By
Microbeads in the News
April 8, 2015 By
Despite their tiny size, microbeads have been getting big attention lately.
Microbeads are tiny non-biodegradable spheres of plastic (polyethylene) that can be found in exfoliating products such as face washes and soaps, but can also be in products such as chewing gum and toothpaste. People are wondering…are microbeads safe? The American Dental Association (ADA) evaluates and places a seal of acceptance on approved oral health products. At this time the ADA seal can be found on toothpastes containing microbeads.
According to a statement made by the ADA “The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs, on an ongoing basis, monitors and evaluates the safety of all ADA Seal-Accepted products. If the council’s evaluation determines sufficient scientific evidence exists that an ADA Seal Accepted product poses a health risk, the council has the authority to withdraw the Seal from that product. At this time, clinically relevant dental health studies do not indicate that the Seal should be removed from toothpastes that contain polyethylene microbeads.”
While there is no scientific evidence that indicates these microbeads pose a risk to oral health, the possible environmental impact is worth considering. Microbeads are so small they can pass through wastewater treatment plants and potentially have adverse effects when entering our lakes and rivers.
To read the entire ADA statement on polyethylene microbeads in toothpaste visit ADA.org.
Dry Mouth?
October 12, 2014 By
A dry mouth can be annoying, but did you know it also has a significant impact on your oral health? Find out more about the importance of saliva, causes of dry mouth, and what you can do about dry mouth here.
Is your smile ready for school?
July 30, 2014 By
The new school year is just around the corner, and with that comes busy schedules. As “back to school” activities are planned, make sure your teeth are ready as well. Call to schedule a check up today! Enjoy the rest of the summer.
Oil Pulling
March 25, 2014 By
Oil pulling is a subject several patients have asked about in the past few weeks. To learn more about the topic we gathered information by searching “oil pulling oral” on Pub Med and here is what we found:
Oil pulling is a technique that is associated with the practice of Ayurveda, which is a traditional natural system of medicine in India that has been practiced for thousands of years.
The process of oil pulling consists of swishing (sipping, sucking, and pulling), but NOT swallowing, an edible oil (the studies that we read used sesame oil) for 20 minutes. Oil pulling is completed with the intent of preventing tooth decay, bad breath, and gingivitis (gum inflammation).
One study found that oil pulling can reduce the amount of Streptococcus mutans (the primary bacteria linked to tooth decay) in the mouth after 1-2 weeks of daily use. The study found that there are other mouthrinses that reduce bacterial counts more rapidly than oil pulling.
While oil pulling has recently resurfaced in social media, keep in mind it is not a substitute for good brushing and flossing or for daily fluoride exposure!
Source: Asokan S, Rathan J, Muthu M S, Rathna PV, Emmadi P, Raghuraman, Chamundeswari. Effect of oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent [serial online] 2008 [cited 2014 Mar 24];26:12-7. Available from: http://www.jisppd.com/text.asp?2008/26/1/12/40315
We are on Facebook!
August 9, 2013 By
Check out Great River Dentistry’s new Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-River-Dentistry/151102684931157
Welcome to Our New Website!
December 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
At Great River Dentistry we are changing the way patients think about their dental care. It is our goal to be your resource for all of your dental questions and needs. When it came time to redesign our website, we wanted it to be a direct reflection of our office: warm and welcoming.
Using the same earth tones that cover our walls and vibrant photos of our staff, we were able to design a functional website filled with information for our patients. New patient information, transfer patient forms, post-operative care instructions and in-depth explanations of procedures can all be found on our site. It was our goal to give our patients as many resources as possible to help educate and ease an anxious mind.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or click here to make an appointment. Remember, here at Great River Dentistry you can smile because you’re in good hands!
Great River Dentistry Welcomes Dr. Willams-Furfaro to its Practice
December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Great River Dentistry is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Baret Williams-Furfaro, daughter of dentist, Dr. Doug Williams, to its Bemidji practice.
Dr. Williams-Furfaro joins the practice after completing a 12-month postdoctoral residency program at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis. Prior to this, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, earning her DDS degree from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in May 2011. Dr. Williams-Furfaro is excited about applying her expanded knowledge of dentistry and years of professional development to further offer Great River Dentistry’s expanded services to the Bemidji area.
“I am excited to follow in my father’s footsteps by continuing to serve the Bemidji region with the exceptional care patients have come to know and deserve,” said Dr. Williams-Furfaro.
For more information about Great River Dentistry’s practice or to make an appointment, click here!
