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Mouthwash is important for more than just keeping your breath fresh and smelling great. Combined with other forms of dental hygiene, it can help prevent plaque, cavities, gingivitis, and other gum diseases. But it may be difficult for you to choose the right mouthwash off the shelf. Dr. Bill Whitley and our team at Whitley Family Dental wanted to share a few things to look for when choosing a mouthwash.

Fluoride mouthwashes

Fluoride has been the subject of many debates in the oral health community. If you live in the United States, the tap water already contains small amounts of fluoride to promote dental health. You may not need to use a fluoride mouthwash if this is the case. However, if you are cavity-prone, fluoride creates a protective film over the teeth that protects against these buildups. It also helps strengthen the enamel over the teeth, maintain good dental hygiene, and keep your teeth strong for the rest of your life.

Alcohol mouthwashes

Alcohol in mouthwash works as an antiseptic: it clears the mouth of germs and some viral infections. However, if you have issues relating to dry mouth, alcohol can exacerbate the problem. If this is the case, consider using an alcohol-free mouthwash. This will free your mouth from the drying effects of the alcohol base. Also, if you have children, you will want to get an alcohol-free children’s mouthwash, because kids are prone to swallowing the substance, and this can lead to toxic side effects. Even if you are an adult using the mouthwash, if it contains alcohol, you should avoid swallowing it.

Antibacterial mouthwashes

Antibacterial mouthwashes have chemicals to help fight gum disease and other infections. Most mouthwash products contain at least trace amounts of these antibacterials; however, some mouthwashes are made specifically to fight bacterial infections. Remember that mouthwash is prevention, not a cure, so if you are presently suffering from a bacterial infection, you should visit our Dallas office right away. Dr. Bill Whitley may be able to recommend a more powerful antibacterial mouthwash that can help you reduce your pain and other symptoms.

The community health awareness group Oral Health America has reported that 82 percent of adults are unaware of the role that infectious bacteria can play in tooth decay or cavities, and almost three out of five children aged 12 to 19 have tooth decay. Since June is National Smile Month, Dr. Bill Whitley and our team at Whitley Family Dental thought we’d remind our patients about the importance of good oral hygiene visits between office visits.

To keep your family’s smiles healthy and beautiful for years to come, be sure to:

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss every day to clean between your teeth
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
• Visit Dr. Bill Whitley for scheduled appointments

If you want to know more about healthy home care habits, feel free to ask our team at your next appointment, or ask us on Facebook!

When it comes to dads, it seems as if there isn’t anything they can’t do. From the very beginning they love us unconditionally, become our first teachers, steady us during our failures, and provide valuable fatherly advice. Fathers are so important in our lives and with Father’s Day right around the corner, we thought we’d take a moment to celebrate just how special they are!
This Father’s Day is especially meaningful to Dr. Bill and his wife Tamara. Dr. Bill will spend Father’s Day taking his son to Drum Major Camp. Most importantly, both Dr. Bill and Tamara will take time to reflect on both their fathers who have passed away this year. Dr. Bill and Tamara believe that fathers are so influential as they are the leaders of the family unit and set the foundation for family values.
One of Dr. Bill's favorite memories of his father was when he took Dr. Bill to Canon City, Colorado. They stayed at the Park Lane Motel, ate at Merlino's Belvedere, and drove along the Skyline Drive at sunset. Tamara's cherishes the memory of her father attending all of his grandson's, Nick, school events! Both Dr. Bill’s and Tamara’s fathers believed that family mattered most. Dr. Bill’s father made his way back to him after a 16-year absence. Tamara loved the way her father loved her mother for almost 65 years during their time together before his death.
Fathers play a large role in who we become, Dr. Bill inherited the love of books - especially Ian Fleming's "James Bond" series from his dad. Tamara inherited her detail oriented, perfectionism from her dad. If Dr. Bill and Tamara could each describe their fathers with one movie Dr. Bill would choose “Let it Ride” because his dad threw caution to the wind. Tamara’s father would be “Dances with Wolves” because it was one of the only movies he ever actually watched in a theater!
We hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day celebrating all the amazing fathers out there! Have a great rest of the month!

Cancer has become a common word, and it seems like there is new research about it every day. We know antioxidants are important. We know some cancers are more treatable than others. We know some lifestyles and habits contribute to our cancer risk.

Smoking increases our risk of cancer, as does walking through a radioactive power plant. But there is a direct link to oral cancer that you many may not know about—the link between HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and oral cancer.

This may come as a shock because it has been almost a taboo subject for some time. A person with HPV is at an extremely high risk of developing oral cancer. In fact, smoking is now second to HPV in causing oral cancer!

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, “The human papilloma virus, particularly version 16, has now been shown to be sexually transmitted between partners, and is conclusively implicated in the increasing incidence of young non-smoking oral cancer patients. This is the same virus that is the causative agent, along with other versions of the virus, in more than 90% of all cervical cancers. It is the foundation's belief, based on recent revelations in peer reviewed published data in the last few years, that in people under the age of 50, HPV16 may even be replacing tobacco as the primary causative agent in the initiation of the disease process.” [http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/]

There is a test and a vaccine for HPV; please discuss it with your physician.

There are some devices that help detect oral cancer in its earliest forms. We all know that the survival rate for someone with cancer depends greatly on what stage the cancer is diagnosed. Talk to Dr. Bill Whitley if you have any concerns.

Please be aware and remember that when it comes to your own health, knowledge is power. When you have the knowledge to make an informed decision, you can make positive changes in your life. The mouth is an entry point for your body. Care for your mouth and it will care for you!