Vision and Dental Health + Original Articles

Are x-rays really so dangerous that we need to put on armor against them? And how many x-rays are too many? Get the whole story here. A trip to the dentist can be nervewracking enough without being asked to don a heavy protective apron while having x-rays taken. Are x-rays really so dangerous that we need to put on armor against them? And what about all the other x-rays we may be subjected to over our lifetime? Coughs that won't quit may necessitate chest x-rays, while falls on pavement or concrete mean x-rays of our arms, legs, wrists, or even heads.

Avoid sipping on these drinks that erode enamel and cause tooth decay. When you need to quench your thirst, think twice about which drink you choose. According to several dental associations around the country, including the American Dental Association, some of the most popular drinks that we consume erode enamel and lead to tooth decay.

Learn how rheumatoid arthritis can affect your eyes. About 2.1 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis and suffer from symptoms such as pain, swelling and stiffness. Fortunately, most people with rheumatoid arthritis will not develop eye problems, but some will. Rheumatoid arthritis may be more likely to affect your eyes if it isn't under control, or it's at an advanced stage.

In addition to revealing a couple cavities, your next dental visit may also provide important clues about the health of your bones. As medical consumers, we love getting more than we bargained for. What if you could get screened for osteoporosis during a dental exam?  In the near future, that just may be the case. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break.

While sunglasses can give you an aura of glamour or "casual cool", don't forget that the primary reason for wearing them is to protect your eyes from the sun. But you can still create the fashion image you want while preserving your vision and the entire area around your eyes.

Over four million Americans have this eye disease, which is a common complication of diabetes. Find out how to prevent diabetic retinopathy and preserve your vision. For people with diabetes and health professionals, methods to prevent diabetic retinopathy are high on the radar. Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetes eye disease, is one of the leading causes of blindness. The retina of the eye is essential to good vision.

Want a clean and healthy mouth? Follow these five tips. Brush after meals, floss daily—you know the drill. When it comes to your teeth, there's nothing new to learn, right? Wrong. We've uncovered some surprising ways to boost your tooth health. Read on for your best-ever choppers: Embrace braces.

Eye laser surgery improves quality of life for millions, but in some cases it can have serious side effects, and may be performed only on people who meet certain criteria. New laser techniques promise to address these problems. For many people, the benefits of eye laser surgery or LASIK seem obvious-fewer visits to the optometrist, no more expensive prescriptions, no more wrestling with smudged lenses, and no more wasted hours looking for lost glasses or contact lenses. Since the surgery was introduced in 1995, over three million Americans have taken advantage of it.

Learn what you can do to keep your mouth healthy. Diabetes affects so many parts of the body, and your mouth and teeth are no exception. Everyone has bacteria in their mouths, but diabetics, with their high blood-sugar levels, are more prone to tooth and gum problems than the average person. This is because high blood sugar enables germs to multiply and grow, and also lowers a person's resistance to infection.

Clean teeth and healthy gums might be your first line of defense against other diseases. Learn more. As a kid, brushing your teeth may have seemed like a hassle, but as an adult, you should be aware of how important healthy teeth and gums really are. Oral health goes hand in hand with your overall health. Think of your mouth as a window to your body's health.

When it comes to neglecting your chompers, the consequences can go far beyond making children cry or knocking people out with your lethal halitosis. Let the dental disasters below be a warning. If you don’t take care of your smile, you could find yourself on a toothless road to ruin. We presented two dentists with five memorable mouths and asked them to assess the damage – both physical and financial – of neglect and bad genetics.

Tired of wearing contacts or glasses? Set your sights on CRT, a non-surgical way to improve your vision. If you rely on glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision, you're already familiar with the expense, inconvenience, and other drawbacks they present. For these reasons, millions of people have turned to elective procedures such as corneal refractive therapy (CRT) to restore their vision.

For many patients, LASIK offers a welcome alternative to glasses and contact lenses. Find out if you could be a candidate. Not too long ago, patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism basically had two options: eyeglasses or contact lenses. Although these methods provided temporary vision correction, each could be a hassle. Glasses weren't especially suitable to an active lifestyle, while contacts had to be put in, taken out, and cleaned.

One in five orthodontic patients is an adult, proving you're never too old for braces. Learn more about the latest teeth-straightening options. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and nothing is quite as attractive as a confident smile. But millions of adults have dental problems that weren't addressed during their childhood--something that can make them self-conscious and reluctant to smile.

Want to get rid of freckles? A hangover? A burn? Don't try these methods at home...or anywhere else, for that matter. For every one ailment, there are a score of home remedies that claim to cure it. Some are effective--like drinking ginger tea for a troubled stomach or soaking in Epsom salts to soothe achy muscles--while others are pretty useless or, worse still, dangerous.

Keep your teeth in top condition by steering clear of these dental offenders. Nothing conveys confidence like a bright smile, but if your teeth aren't as white and healthy as you would like, you probably aren't grinning as widely as you could be. While you'll find a variety of teeth-whitening products at your local drug store and can ask your dentist about professional services, the best way to keep your teeth pearly is by not staining or eroding the enamel in the first place.

Could you spot the warning signs of cataracts, glaucoma, and other vision disorders? Get the whole picture here. How much do you know about your eyes? Many Americans are in the dark about eye diseases that could cause blindness, according to a recent survey conducted by U.S. National Eye Institute and the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Use this guide to separate sight myths from reality and to become more enlightened about your vision.

The latest dental advances are enabling more people to achieve their dream of a flawless smile. Here, a guide to some of the most popular procedures. Your smile can indicate a great deal about you, revealing whether you're happy, surprised, excited, or confident. In fact, 99 percent of people believe a smile is an important social asset, and nearly 75 percent say an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chances for career success, according to a study conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).