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From Dr. Keith A. Hoover

PUT KIDS ON THE PATH TO DENTAL HEALTH

June 9, 2025Health

Q: How can I help my child develop good dental health habits?

A: As with many areas of parenting, the keys are patience, education, positive reinforcement and setting a good example. Get a soft-bristled brush, put a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste on it (It’s okay to experiment with toothpastes to find one your child likes) and demonstrate how to brush both the fronts and backs of teeth. Fluoride is important because it strengthens tooth enamel.

When children are old enough to understand about plaque, it’s time for parents, along with their dentists, to explain the importance of removing it. Ask your dentist about “disclosing” tablets, which contain a harmless red vegetable dye that will show the plaque on a tooth. Let your child see the plaque and successfully brush it away. As children get more independent, they’ll want to brush their teeth by themselves. If you’ve shown them the right way, they’ll be just fine.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

KEEP YOUR BREATH FRESH!

June 2, 2025Hygiene

The causes of bad breath are many. But they fall into three major areas: a mouth that’s unclean and full of bacteria; a medical condition, like a sinus infection; and bad habits like smoking or chewing tobacco.

In addition to brushing and flossing regularly, experts advise brushing the back of the tongue, where odor-producing bacteria can collect. Dry mouth, meaning a shortage of saliva, can also cause bad breath because saliva is the mouth’s natural cleansing agent, helping to wash away particles of food that can also contribute to bad breath.

Some highly pungent foods, like onion and garlic, will leave an odor on your breath until your body has eliminated them. Even certain diets, like a high-protein diet, can unfavorably impact your breath.

So, the first step in avoiding the problem is to keep your mouth clean through brushing and flossing, and to visit your dentist regularly for examinations and cleanings. Try to brush, or at least rinse your mouth out, after every meal. Talk with your dentist about the best practices you can follow to keep your breath fresh and your mouth healthy.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

REGULAR DENTAL FLOSSING MAY LOWER RISK OF STROKE FROM BLOOD CLOTS, IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS: PART II

May 26, 2025Health

The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, one of the first large-scale investigations of this kind in the U.S., assessed the home use of dental floss through a structured questionnaire of more than 6,000 people over a 25 year period.

The analysis found that flossing was associated with a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke, 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (blood clots traveling from the heart) and 12% lower risk of AFib. The associated lower risk was independent of regular brushing and routine dental visits or other oral hygiene behaviors. Increasing the frequency of flossing had a greater chance of stroke risk reduction. Flossing was also associated with a lower chance of cavities and periodontal disease.

Researchers were surprised by the reduction of irregular heartbeats, or AFib. AFib is the most common form of irregular heartbeat. It can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications. More than 12 million people are projected to have AFib in the United States by 2030, according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

Oral health behaviors are linked to inflammation and artery hardening. Flossing may reduce stroke risk by lowering oral infections and inflammation and encouraging other healthy habits. Many people have expressed that dental care is costly. Flossing is a healthy habit that is easy to adopt, affordable and accessible everywhere.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

REGULAR DENTAL FLOSSING MAY LOWER RISK OF STROKE FROM BLOOD CLOTS, IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS: PART I

May 19, 2025Health

According to a new study, people who regularly floss their teeth (one or more times per week) may lower their risk of stroke caused by a blood clot traveling from the heart and a stroke associated with an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). The benefits of regular flossing may be independent of tooth brushing and other oral hygiene behaviors. Researchers suggest that flossing is a healthy habit that is affordable, easy to adopt and accessible everywhere.

A recent global health report revealed that oral diseases — such as untreated tooth decay and gum disease — affected 3.5 billion people in 2022, making them the most widespread health conditions. The study aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior — dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits — has the greatest impact on stroke prevention.
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, one of the first large-scale investigations of this kind in the U.S., assessed the home use of dental floss through a structured questionnaire of more than 6,000 people. Among those who reported flossing, 4,092 had not experienced a stroke, and 4,050 had not been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
www.drshooverandyanda.com

CHILD oral hygiene habits: Part II

May 12, 2025Hygiene

Regular oral health maintenance prevents plaque buildup and keeps gums healthy by preventing inflammation, bleeding, and infection. Teaching kids the importance of a comprehensive oral hygiene routine sets the foundation for lifelong oral health.

Neglecting oral health habits is not only harmful for overall health but can increase the risk of discolored teeth and bad breath, which can be embarrassing for children and cause low self-esteem. Over a third of parents in a recent poll have noticed that their child has bad breath, which was more common among children who only followed one or less oral hygiene practices all or most days. To improve oral hygiene, parents need to ensure that all family members have enough time in the morning and evening while also making sure children are brushing and flossing correctly.

Most parents polled say their child’s most recent dentist visit was within the past year, but 7% said it was one to two years ago and 4% said it’s been more than two years. Parents reporting their child follows 0-1 oral hygiene recommendations all or most days are also more likely to say their child has not had a dental visit in over a year The American Dental Association recommends a dental visit every six months to discover early signs of decay, monitor the growth of teeth, and educate children and families on oral hygiene.

Each child’s oral health needs are unique. Dentists can provide tailored recommendations; for example, some children will benefit from sealants or fluoride varnish to protect the teeth from sources of decay. Early detection allows for timely intervention, often reducing the need for more invasive treatments later.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

CHILD oral hygiene habits: Part I

May 5, 2025Health

More than a third of parents say their child doesn’t regularly brush teeth twice a day, and many kids don’t follow other dental recommendations like flossing.

More than one in three parents say their child has faced issues like tooth decay, cavities, stained teeth, gum concerns or tooth pain over the past two years, a national poll suggests. And these problems were linked to children’s oral care routine, more commonly experienced among those who skipped dental hygiene recommendations or followed them less often, according to a National Poll on Children’s Health.

Oral hygiene practices often neglected

Sixty-four percent of parents say their child brushes their teeth twice a day and roughly 60% say brushing lasts for at least two minutes. But fewer parents say their child consistently follows other oral health recommendations. For example, only a third of parents report their child regularly brushes the tongue, and less than a quarter floss regularly, which helps remove hard-to-reach food remnants between the teeth. Both the tongue and the crevices between teeth are areas that harbor bacteria that cause tooth decay, gum disease or bad breath. In between brushing, rinsing the mouth with water after consuming sugary foods or beverages can help to prevent the sugar from adhering to the teeth; however, only 15% of parents report their child regularly uses this strategy.

Overall, just one in five parents say their child does at least four of the top six recommended oral health tasks on all or most days — with less consistency reported among boys than girls. Children who followed fewer practices and did them less frequently had more oral health challenges.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Bacteria involved in gum disease linked to increased risk of head and neck cancer

April 28, 2025Health

More than a dozen bacterial species among the hundreds that live in people’s mouths have been linked to a 50% increased chance of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a new study shows.

The new analyses, which followed participants for 10 to 15 years, looked at the genetic makeup of oral microbes collected from healthy men and women. Of the hundreds of different bacteria that are routinely found in the mouth, 13 species were shown to either raise or lower risk of HNSCC.

Overall, this group was linked to a 30% greater likelihood of developing the cancers. In combination with five other species that are often seen in gum disease, the overall risk was increased by 50%.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Non-opioid pain relievers beat opioids after dental surgery

April 21, 2025Health

A combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) controls pain after wisdom tooth removal better than opioids, according to a study that could change how dentists treat post-surgical pain.

For many young adults, dental procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction are their first exposure to opioid medications. Recent studies show that when young people get introduced to opioids, there’s an increased likelihood that they’re going to eventually use them again, and then it can lead to addiction. Opioid overdoses kill more than 80,000 Americans each year.

To compare opioid and non-opioid pain relief, the researchers conducted a randomized trial on patients undergoing surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth, a common procedure that typically causes moderate to severe pain. Half the patients received hydrocodone with acetaminophen. The other half got a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Patients rated their pain levels and other outcomes, such as sleep quality, over the week following surgery.

Results in The Journal of American Dental Association showed the non-opioid combination provided superior pain relief during the peak-pain period in the two days after surgery. Patients taking the non-opioid medications also reported better sleep quality on the first night and less interference with daily activities throughout recovery.

Patients who received the over-the-counter combo were only half as likely as the opioid patients to require additional “rescue” pain medication. They also reported higher overall satisfaction with their pain treatment.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Individuals with complications of diabetes are at higher risk of gum disease

April 14, 2025Gum Disease

Gum disease is more common in individuals with microvascular complications of diabetes, new research published in The Journal of Dental Research has found.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and the bones supporting the teeth. It is caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque, and if left untreated, it can lead to the destruction of the tissues that hold the teeth in place, ultimately resulting in tooth loss. This tooth loss can affect essential functions like chewing and speaking, while also affecting self-esteem. As a result, periodontitis can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life, leading to difficulties with nutrition, communication, and social interactions.

Some studies have found that individuals with microvascular complications of diabetes such as retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels of the retina) and neuropathy (damage to the nerves) are at higher risk of periodontitis. The results found a clear link between microvascular complications and moderate/severe cases of periodontitis.

Individuals with diabetic retinopathy were 21% more likely to have moderate/severe periodontitis than those without complications of diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy was associated with a 36% increase in risk of having severe gum disease. When the participants had both diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, their likelihood of having moderate/severe periodontitis was 51% higher than in those without complications of diabetes.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Sleep Apnea: Dentists’ Role in Saving Lives

April 7, 2025Uncategorized

Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea affect more than half of Americans at some point in their lives. Many cases go undiagnosed, but dentists can play an important role in reducing those numbers. There are several key indicators that dental clinicians look for during examinations, including enlarged jaw muscles, scalloped tongue edges, white lines on the cheeks, restricted visibility of the throat, dental wear patterns and tiny cracks on teeth.

These physical signs, combined with patient history, can help dentists identify at-risk patients for sleep apnea.

Another sign of concern is bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding. Recent studies suggest teeth grinding is often a symptom of underlying sleep issues rather than a standalone problem caused by dental misalignment.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.