Time Magazine May 1, 2001
LOOK, MA, CAVITIES!
Thought you had heard every reason to quit smoking? Here's a new one: to protect your kids' teeth. It turns out that second-hand smoke can nearly double the risk that kids ages 4 through 11 will develop cavities. What's the connection? A by-product of nicotine called cotinine, once thought to kill off bacteria linked to cavities, actually does the opposite, encouraging tooth-destroying bugs to grow and multiply.

SURVIVORS May Have 32 Endangered Species Living in Their Mouths
Chicago, March 19, 2001
Crocodiles, poisonous snakes and the scorching sun are not the only things the Survivors have to fear. Neglected oral hygiene may also put the survival of their teeth at jeopardy, as well as increase the risk that an infection in their mouth could spread and put other parts of their body at peril. Early in the game, Survivor's Kucha tribe won a reward challenge that included in the prize toothbrushes and toothpaste. The other Survivor contestants' lack of oral hygiene and their soft diet with little nutritional value could cause periodontal problems to flare up. Bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless substance that forms on the teeth constantly, can turn into a hard substance called calculus in less than two days. If calculus develops below the gums onto the tooth root, it can irritate the gums, causing infection.

The Star Ledger 1/20/01
Toothpaste fights tarnish and cavities
Dear Heloise: Is there a home recipe for cleaning sterling-silver?

Sterling silver can be cleaned at home by simply washing the piece in warm water and rubbing it with a small amount of soap or non-gritty toothpaste (gel type). Rinse well and follow by patting completely dry with a clean, soft cloth.

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth, Nothing But The Tooth
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian court ordered a set of dentures returned to a man accused of arson, because he was having trouble eating. Police confiscated false teeth belonging to construction worker Wan Kwok Keong after a suspected arson attack on a restaurant in the capital Kuala Lumpur, the official Bernama news agency said. They also collected gasoline, cloth and ashes. The Sessions Court judge said he had no problem ordering the false teeth returned to the accused. "Take it. I don't want it either," the judge said.

WABC Radio newscast
Rabbi Shlomo Green has announced that bad breath is grounds for divorce in Israel (hmm, I wonder if he has personal knowledge). Dozens of unhappy spouses have already contacted their lawyers to freshen the air.

Dear Heloise: I have read so many helpful hints in your column! Now I have one to submit. Dentists recommend changing toothbrushes every three months. I found that if I change mine the first day of each quarter of the year, like Jan 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct 1, it's much easier to remember when I started using my new toothbbrush You could also circle the dates on your calendar.
J.B. Newark, DE

Don't forget to reuse those old toothbrushes for all sorts of handy things around the house. Be sure to mark them so everyone knows they are being used for cleaning.
~Heloise~

Did you know?

Twinkles Dental Jewelry by Echodent

Tooth jewelry is the new trend, it's fun, stylish and special.
Genuine 22k to 24k solid yellow or white gold, it's available with Diamond, Ruby or Sapphire.
Have your Twinkle painlessly bonded to your tooth by your dentist.
Your tooth jewel is easily removed or replaced without harm to your tooth.

A tip from Realage.com

Holy Molars!

Calcium doesn't just baby your bones. It can protect those pearly whites, too. Getting an adequate supply of calcium each day can reduce your risk of periodontal, gum, disease. In one study, people who consumed less than 500 milligrams of calcium per day were 50% more likely to develop periodontal disease than people who consumed at least 800 milligrams of calcium per day.