Anastasia Turchetta Blog

Ever notice that when we hear something horrific about our dental profession in the news we tend to become defensive about it?

If you said, "No, that's not true...” I invite you to consider this: Stop being defensive!

The recent tragic news involving 7,000 patients who may be exposed to or infected with HIV, Hepatitis A, B, and C should not to be ignored. It's an important story to pay attention to and can be an infection control conversation starter between you and your patients.

I recently happened to catch an episode of one of the most popular TV shows: The Biggest Loser. This particular episode's challenge engaged the kids to make food choices by selecting which foods had more calories: fats or carbohydrates. Their selections then determined the total pounds the adult contestants had to lose that week.

While learning some healthy habits myself, it occurred to me that this show didn't address the importance or risk factor that oral health has in connection to obesity. With approximately one-third of the US population battling obesity, we must recognize the impact of oral health and arrive at a plan to begin a home care regimen. This should also be followed by the periodontal therapy recommended by that particular practice.