A great smile is an indispensible asset to a professional dancer, as Cheryl Burke of Dancing with the Stars attests in the latest issue of Dear Doctor – Dentistry & Oral Health. Cheryl had more than her share of cavities growing up, but was able to turn her dental health around by stepping up her own oral hygiene routine at the suggestion of her dentist stepdad. Dad — and Mom — also got Cheryl to step onto the ballroom dance floor, where she has happily remained her whole adult life. But this talented dancer is also passionate about other endeavors, which she describes in this exclusive interview.

Many people who want to enhance their smiles choose teeth whitening. It’s a relatively inexpensive cosmetic option that has been studied extensively over the years. Dear Doctor is pleased to bring you a wide-ranging discussion with Dr. Van B. Haywood, one of the country’s foremost teeth-whitening experts. Find out what this noted authority has to say in Important Teeth Whitening Questions Answered.

If you are Seeking Relief From TMD (jaw joint pain), you’ll want to read Dear Doctor’s comprehensive guide to the often confusing world of temporomandibular disorders. Because the dental profession is in the midst of a transition regarding how best to relieve pain in and around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), it’s particularly important to become an educated consumer regarding this particular type of healthcare. Dear Doctor provides state-of-the-art information on what you should know, whom you should see, and what you should ask.

You may have noticed that the older you get, the more brown marks and darker patches you have on your skin. What you are seeing is the cumulative effect of your prior sun exposure. It’s important to keep an eye on these changes as some may be cause for concern. Learn what to look for and how to protect your skin from further damage in How Sun Damage Ages Your Skin.

Healthy Oral Habits for Children are easy to learn and will result in lifelong dental health. The time to begin teaching your children how to care for their teeth is as soon as those first pearly whites appear. From tooth-brushing for your toddler to helping your teenager stay away from tobacco, Dear Doctor offers the most important tips for healthy habit formation through childhood and beyond.

Other topics covered in this issue include:

• Dental Implants for Teenagers
• How Thumb Sucking Affects the Bite
• Confusing Tooth Pain
• Loose Teeth
• Bulimia, Anorexia and Oral Health
• A Dental Patient’s Bill Of Rights and Responsibilities
• TMD Questions To Ask Your Dentist

You probably have one on your desk: a photo of your little one that’s positively, irresistibly adorable! If so, we’d like to see it. Why, you ask?

Well, February 1 is the first day of National Children’s Dental Health Month. This annual event, sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), is a great time to think about how to keep kids’ smiles looking their very best — with a good daily oral hygiene routine and regular check-ups at the dentist’s office. What better way to support this worthwhile cause than to show off the cutest kid smiles we can find?

So if you have a child 8 years old or younger with a cute smile — and a photo to prove it! — we invite you to enter Dear Doctor’s Cutest Smile Photo Contest. Simply upload your photo to Dear Doctor’s facebook page by February 12. On February 13, Entrants, their friends and the public can begin voting for each photo they like once per day through February 26. Share your photo with friends via facebook and e-mail so everyone will know to vote! A total of three prizes will be awarded to the top three vote-getters as follows:

• 1st Place Winner: $300 VISA gift card
• 2nd Place Winner: $150 VISA gift card
• 3rd Place Winner: $50 VISA gift card

So remember, the contest entry period begins at 12:01 a.m. (E.S.T.) on February 1, 2012 and closes at 11:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) on February 12, 2012. The contest voting period begins at 1:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) on February 13, 2012 and closes at 11:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) on February 26, 2012.

To be eligible to enter the Contest, an Entrant must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent legal resident and be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission of the entry. Contest is void in Quebec, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and possessions outside of the U.S., and where prohibited by law. The child whose photo is submitted must be no older than 8 years of age as of February 1, 2012.

Good luck!

Teen TV star Nolan Gould has a lot to say about life on and off the Modern Family set in the latest issue of Dear Doctor – Dentistry & Oral Health. To keep his smile camera-ready, Nolan has spent lots of time in the dentist’s chair and is happy to report excellent treatment results. And he is so meticulous about his own oral hygiene that he has reached age 13 without ever having had a single cavity! Our exclusive interview with this young actor kicks off a special section devoted to kids’ oral health in celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Learn how to get your child started on the road to a lifetime of oral health with our comprehensive overview of Dentistry and Oral Health for Children. This feature article provides a wealth of information on milestones and transitions in your child’s dental development, from the eruption of the first baby teeth to the removal of the last wisdom teeth. A must-read for all parents!

Many parents wonder what to do When Children Grind Their Teeth. This habit is so common in kids under age 11 that it is often considered normal behavior — unless it causes severe tooth wear, pain, or trouble sleeping. We review what is known about the possible causes of the habit known as “bruxism” and when to consider seeking professional help for your child.

For families facing decisions about orthodontics, we offer an update on Clear Aligners for Teenagers. This advanced dental technology, originally geared toward adults, has recently evolved to treat a greater variety of bite problems in younger people.

Adults with or without children will be interested to learn how dentists are Creating In-Office Dental Restorations With Computers. It used to be that if you needed a crown, you had to wait weeks for an off-site dental laboratory to do the work and send the finished product back to your dentist. Now, with an exciting digital technology known as Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), some dentists are fabricating high-quality restorations themselves right in their own offices — in minutes!

Other topics covered in this issue include:

• Teeth Whitening Safety
• Fluoride in Infant Formula
• Blood Pressure Screenings in the Dental Office
• Tooth Extraction for Orthodontics
• Teething Troubles
• Top 10 Oral Health Tips For Children

Babe Ruth

His name became synonymous with greatness. Michael Jordan is often referred to as the “Babe Ruth of basketball,” and Wayne Gretzky the “Babe Ruth of hockey.” A great player, and a great man who like everyone else, had his faults. He drank, womanized, smoked, and indulged in the good life but his faults were accepted because of his greatness. He went out of his way to help children and was generous with his money. But his bad habits caught up with him and oral cancer cut his remarkable life short, sending a nation into mourning.

Curt Flood

Curt Flood’s epic battle against Major League Baseball paved the way for what is the prosperous free agent market that so many baseball players enjoy today. This same market that is taken for granted today cost Flood his major league career by tarnishing his reputation in the eyes of Americans. And though American opinion about Flood reversed over time, his funeral after he succumbed to throat cancer in 1997 drew no attendance from current major leaguers who benefit from the sacrifices Flood made.

Charles Robert (“Bobby”) Hamilton, Sr.

Charles Robert (“Bobby”) Hamilton, Sr. (1957 – 2007) was a NASCAR driver and owner whose down-home demeanor and blue-collar roots endeared him to fans. Equally at home in a car or under its hood, he continued racing until the progression of oral cancer made it impossible.

Brett Butler

Brett Butler has overcome many obstacles in his life. Considered too slow and not talented enough to make it to the big leagues, Butler proved skeptics wrong and had a brilliant career in Major League Baseball. More important, off the field Brett Butler won the battle for his life by overcoming life-threatening oral cancer. He not only successfully returned to the field to finish his career, but also successfully influenced others to quit using tobacco.

Jim Thorpe

A champion famed for his versatility, excellence and drive, Jim Thorpe is considered by many as the greatest athlete of the 20th century. “He was the best natural athlete ever,” the New York Times once wrote of Thorpe. Thorpe, who later in life was an oral cancer survivor, is the only American athlete to excel at the amateur and professional levels in three major sports — track and field, football and baseball.

(The Oral Cancer Foundation)

Cat Cora, the first and only female Iron Chef, has built her culinary reputation by blending her Southern and Greek heritages into a tasty recipe for better living. In the latest issue of Dear Doctor – Dentistry and Oral Health, the television star, author and mother of four little boys shares her best tips for making favorite dishes healthier without sacrificing flavor. Cat also offers advice on how parents can help kids make better food choices. And she gives us a sneak peek at the new show she is developing for the Oprah Winfrey Network.

This issue also includes the most complete overview of artificial sweeteners you’ll find anywhere. Dear Doctor takes a detailed look at what’s really in those pink, yellow and blue packets of sugar substitutes and their effects on oral and systemic (whole-body) health.

You will also discover the hidden consequences of losing teeth. It’s important to realize that even one missing tooth can lead to bone loss that is preventable with dental implants.

Other topics in this issue include:

• Periodontal plastic surgery
• Testing your smile makeover
• Orthodontic retainers
• Lasers for treating gum disease
• How saliva is used as a diagnostic tool
• Dental stem cell research — one family’s story

As host of the hit television series The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney serves as an inspiration for self-improvement. In the latest issue of Dear Doctor – Dentistry & Oral Health, the actress, author and mother of two young children talks about her own path toward fitness, and how a frank conversation with her dentist led her to change her eating habits, shed pounds and lead a healthier life. Now that she’s a 34-year-old mother of two young children, Alison is hoping to share what she has learned about health and fitness with new moms. Her recently published book, The Mommy Diet, has lots of helpful suggestions on how pregnant women and those who have recently given birth can take better care of themselves.

This issue also includes important information on managing tooth decay in children with special needs and disabilities. Good dental health is particularly important for these youngsters, yet maintaining good oral hygiene routines can be challenging for them and for their parents and caregivers.

You will also find out why and how children’s teeth are saved with root canal treatment. Though you might think it’s no big deal if a baby tooth comes out prematurely, the fact is that primary teeth provide important guides for the newly developing permanent teeth that will replace them. If baby teeth are lost too soon, bite problems can easily result.

Other topics covered in this issue include:

• Removable Full Dentures
• How Crowns Attach to Implants
• Mouth Sores
• Dry Mouth
• Silver Fillings – Safe or Unsafe?
• When Permanent Teeth Don’t Grow
• The Dangers of Hidden Mercury
• Caring for the Oral Health of Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

If your teeth are stained and discolored, misshapen or too small, porcelain veneers may be just the opportunity to treat yourself to a beautiful smile that can last for decades. They may be used to restore a single tooth that is broken or stained, or many teeth that are worn or discolored. If you have small teeth with gaps between them, veneers can close the spaces.

Porcelain laminate veneers are thin layers of dental restorative material that are bonded onto your teeth. With porcelain laminate veneers you can change a tooth’s shape, size, and color. They require a minimal amount of tooth preparation (reduction of enamel on the original tooth) and are a great way to help you have a beautiful smile now and for decades to come. Porcelain veneers without a drill are also an option for some people.

They can last from seven to twenty years or more. Part of what determines their exact longevity is the health of your mouth. Gum tissues may deteriorate and the gum line shrink back away from the roots of your teeth. So brushing, flossing, and other good dental habits are important in maintaining your investment in your smile.

Other articles of interest include:

• Potential Cases for No-Prep Veneers
• Benefits of Prepless Veneers
• Tooth Decay Risk
• Tooth Decay Disease Indicators
• Tooth Decay Risk Factors
• Tooth Decay Testing

The old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” doesn’t really apply when discussing your wisdom teeth. It’s great if they are not bothering you, but don’t wait for problems to develop before you take action. This may seem counter-intuitive, but you should know that the best time to have your wisdom teeth removed is when they are not causing problems.

Why do wisdom teeth cause problems?
Wisdom teeth are so-called because they appear at ages 17 to 25, the age of supposedly attaining wisdom. They are also known as third molars and are farthest back in your jaws. For some people they come through the gum-line only partially, or they may not erupt into the mouth at all. Unerupted they have the potential to cause problems associated with the neighboring teeth and surrounding gums.

You may have heard of “impacted” wisdom teeth. This means that they are impacted or forced against neighboring structures, teeth or bone that prevent them from coming into the mouth in correct biting position. Since they are your last teeth to come in, space for them may be severely limited. They may push into the teeth that are already in place, becoming stuck as they try to erupt. When wisdom teeth are trapped like this below the gum line and are pushing against neighboring teeth, these molars can cause problems such as infections, cysts, or gum disease.

To learn more, read Wisdom Teeth.

After skyrocketing to fame as the cover model on Sports Illustrated’s 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition in 1989, Kathy Ireland parlayed her keen sense for business into the creation of her own billion dollar design firm. She currently balances her time between running that empire, mothering her three children and writing books that provide guidance for other mothers and their children. These wonderful attributes, along with her past experiences in the dental chair, has landed her on the cover of yet another magazine — Dear Doctor – Dentistry & Oral Health’s latest issue. She attributes her still radiant smile to some much-needed restorative and cosmetic dental work and her fastidious oral hygiene routine.

This issue also includes a glimpse into the future of dentistry in a story that focuses on the scientific and technological discoveries that will enable amazing new treatments and outcomes in the coming years. The article covers several possibilities, including the ability to use stem cells to grow a tooth to replace one that is missing and the likelihood that dentists can someday use information about a person’s genetic makeup to protect babies from tooth decay.

You will also see the final results for Debra, the winner of our second Ultimate Dental Health Makeover Contest, in this issue. Debra’s smile makeover was spearheaded by Dr. Jessica Logan, and the process required a variety of treatments including periodontal therapy, orthodontics, implant therapy and restorative cosmetics, to name a few.

Other topics covered in this issue include:

• Artistic Repair Of Front Teeth With Composite Resin
• The Link Between Heart & Gum Diseases
• Local Anesthesia For Pain-Free Dentistry
• Sun Protection For The Face
• Metal Allergies To Dental Implants
• Painful Gums In Teens And Adults
• Common Lumps And Bumps In The Mouth

The latest iPhone app for parents and kids pairs the fun of losing a tooth with important dental tips from the expert herself. The Tooth Fairy Beacon app transforms mobile devices into a magical portal giving kids a peek into the Tooth Fairy’s world. Exciting animation, sound effects and narration by the Tooth Fairy adds a sense of wonderment to losing a tooth. The app includes a personalized, gender specific experience for boys and girls, oral hygiene tips from America’s Toothfairy, a personalized message from the Tooth Fairy, and a tooth scanner and beacon. The app also features a digital postcard that allows users to share the news of a lost tooth with a personalized message to family and friends sent via email, text, Twitter or Facebook.

“One of the toughest parts of my job is taking care not to disturb light little sleepers when removing a lost tooth from under the pillow,” said the Tooth Fairy. “This beacon virtually eliminates this problem by having children leave their teeth on or near their parent’s iPhone or iPad. Not to mention, it gives me the chance to communicate directly with the children I love so much — helping them to understand why it’s so important for them to take good care of their teeth and gums.”

The app was developed by Digital Apparatus, a mobile entertainment company, in partnership with the Tooth Fairy and National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF).

NCOHF is America’s Toothfairy®, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating America’s number one chronic childhood illness — pediatric dental disease. Though almost completely preventable, every day more than 4 million children suffer from dental pain so severe they have trouble eating, sleeping and learning. The NCOHF Affiliate network of community-based oral health programs provides at-risk children with ongoing preventive, restorative, and educational oral health care in an effort to permanently break this cycle of disease. Every download of the Tooth Fairy Beacon app, available on iTunes for $1.99, will trigger a donation to help NCOHF Affiliates reach more children with the care they desperately need.

Fern Ingber, NCOHF president and CEO, stated, “We are grateful that Digital Apparatus, a group that shares our commitment to eliminating America’s #1 chronic childhood illness, has chosen NCOHF as the charitable beneficiary of the Tooth Fairy Beacon app. Not only does every download of the Tooth Fairy app help support vital NCOHF oral health programs, but Tips from America’s Toothfairy included in the app reinforce our goal to teach all families the importance of proper oral care for healthy futures.”

To learn more about the Tooth Fairy Beacon and America’s Toothfairy, visit www.ToothFairyBeacon.com or www.AmericasToothfairy.org.