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Do you know why it’s common knowledge that you have to see your dentist twice a year?

You would think that it’s based on some university study, a well-researched experiment, or some other scientific evidence.

WRONG!

Some of you might remember the famous jingle: “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.”

But Pepsodent’s 1929 ads were also responsible for promoting brushing twice a day and seeing your dentist twice a year. Madison Avenue ad men are responsible for the six-month schedule most of us believe is in our best interest.

Actually, the scientific evidence supports a different schedule. The two diseases we look to prevent by periodic visits to the dentist are decay and gum disease. And, while each disease has a bacterial component, the progression of each requires different approaches.

Preventing gum disease (the reason most people lose their teeth) is best accomplished by a three-month treatment schedule. That’s a generalization, of course. It’s based on the scientific evidence that once gum-disease-causing bacteria are removed from under the gum line, where they hide out, it takes three months for them to return to levels that can wreak havoc.

So if you have these bacteria in your mouth and your immune system reacts to them in an inflammatory way, you’d be best having your teeth cleaned every three months.

And, if you have active decay-causing bacteria and the acid level of your mouth is high, you’re going to need a lot more frequent attention than every six months, because decay can actually occur in just 24 hours. That’s why brushing and flossing at home are so important. You can’t visit the

dentist frequently enough to totally prevent decay, so other measures have to be taken.

Joanne is now in her 30s. She recently got married and is contemplating starting a family. In her teens, her gums periodically got red and swollen. She came in regularly for care like her parents had trained her to do, but six months turned into eight or nine between visits. She brushes twice a day and sometimes misses flossing a day or two a week.

We took a saliva sample from Joanne and determined that she had high levels of four periodontal disease-causing bacteria. Should Joanne not control these bacteria, she runs a high risk of developing pregnancy gingivitis when she gets pregnant. Her baby could be at risk too. Research shows that some of these bacteria can travel into the placenta and affect the baby as well. Conditions such a low birthweight, premature birth, and pre-eclampsia have been linked to the bacteria that cause gum disease.

There’s an old wives’ tale that says, “You lose a tooth for every child.” It stems from the fact that hormone changes during pregnancy (and puberty) often accelerate the inflammation that causes gum and bone destruction. We now know the specific bacteria that cause this inflammation.

WHO DID THAT?

The ancient Maya city of Tikal slept quietly, but not completely forgotten, beneath a dense blanket of jungle in Northern Guatemala for nearly 1,000 years before it was rediscovered.

Once a major cultural, economic, and military hub of the Maya civilization, Tikal is thought to have been established as such by around 750 A.D., but some structures at the site date back to as early as 200 B.C. The city was swiftly abandoned after its peak, however, and is thought to have been almost completely deserted by 950 A.D, with the few lingering inhabitants dispersing in the following century. Although historians believe that the native people knew of the stone city deep in the jungle, it wasn’t until after an official expedition by Modesto Mendez

Who Did That? PAGE 1

What’s in a Boarding Pass Barcode? PAGE 2

Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?

Lime Tea Cookie Recipe PAGE 3

The Mysterious City of Tikal PAGE 4

and Ambrosio Tut that information on the location of the site was published.

Among thousands of stone ruins, traces of the powerful and culturally advanced city remain in the temples, palaces, and centers which are unmistakably sporting arenas. Several stone monuments stand out tall among the canopy of trees — the highest pyramid, Temple IV, stands at an incredible 212 feet. It is estimated that 10,000 structures lie silently waiting to be uncovered.

The Grand Plaza is situated between two giant stone temples designated by archaeologists as Temple I and Temple II, which sit facing one another, with steep staircases leading up the front of each tiered structure.

April 2016

One can’t help but imagine an ancient Maya astronomer perched high upon these monuments, gazing at the night sky and creating detailed records of the cosmos. One of the most memorable contributions to science made by the Maya people was a detailed system of calendars developed from these observations.

Tikal became a national park in 1955 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Tikal, along with the diverse natural reserve that surrounds it, is the pride of Guatemala. The largest excavated site on the continent, Tikal is under continuous excavation. Archaeologists have uncovered many buildings and artifacts beyond the 10-mile radius of structures that have already been brought out from beneath the overgrowth. Still, only a small fraction of the city has been revealed.

Continued on page 3 ...

Rather than a blanket guideline for everyone, Manhattan Dental Health believes in a custom, individualized approach to preventive care. At MDH, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

635 Madison Ave, 19th FloorNew York, NY 10022 212-928-1000 www.MANHATTANDENTALHEALTH.com

117 Kinderkamack Rd. Suite 200 River Edge, N.J 07661 201-881-0660 wwwMANHATTANDENTALHEALTHNJ.COM

A Thousand-Year SleepThe Maya’s Stone City of Tikal

Inside

2 • www.MANHATTANDENTALHEALTH.com 212-928-1000 • 3

ingredients2 cups watermelon, diced

1 cucumber, diced

¼ red onion, thinly sliced

4–5 tablespoons mint, minced

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

A boarding pass might seem like a pretty boring document, but to someone in the know, it’s actually a treasure trove of information about you. Would you want your name, frequent flyer number, and other personally identifiable information out there? Would you want someone to be able to log in to your account with the airline and see the future flights you’re taking — or actually cancel a flight you’ve already booked?

The sensitive information on a boarding pass is often hidden behind a barcode, but there are ways of reading barcodes. From there, an attacker can reset the PIN for your frequent flyer account, and then,

when it comes time to answer a pre-selected secret question, you can often

use social media to find out the answer. For instance, answering “What is your mother’s maiden name?” may be as easy as checking the individual’s Facebook page.

Those customer frequent flyer numbers are often treated as secret access by companies such as United Airlines, and you can see what the frequent flyer number is after decoding the barcode. There are websites that can help you decode the various information fields that are dumped by the barcode reader. On top of that resource, the standards for boarding pass barcodes are widely available, as they have been for years. It’s not hard to get a lot of information on how they work from

the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Having your boarding pass decoded isn’t ordinarily an issue, as you keep it with you until you dispose of it. However, savvy attackers can fish a boarding pass out of the trash after you toss it — and if you fly often, there’s always the chance that you’ll lose a boarding pass and it will end up in the wrong hands. It’s also possible that you may take a picture of your boarding pass to post on social media without considering the danger that poses.

It’s ironic that with all the extra attention to airport security, online security hasn’t kept pace. You should take the power into your own hands. From now on, make sure you shred the boarding pass — or better yet, for flights that allow it, simply download the boarding pass on your phone. Whatever you decide to do, it’s essential that you keep a watchful eye on that boarding pass!

directions1. Mix all ingredients in a large

bowl.

2. Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of PaleOMG.

Did you know that almost 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year? Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and it’s true! There are a number of things you can do to prevent oral cancer. Let’s take a look.

BRUSH AND FLOSS: There’s a reason people started living longer after the invention of dental care — it’s because an unhealthy mouth can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system and compromise your body’s ability to process cancerous cells. Thus, poor oral hygiene can actually be a death sentence.

AVOID TOBACCO: Smoking and chewing tobacco are some of the worst habits you can have when it comes to your oral hygiene. It is a well-known fact that any tobacco use increases your cancer risk.

DRINK RESPONSIBLY: Alcohol use has also been linked to oral cancer. Drinking more than three drinks a night can cause serious issues for the sensitive tissues in your mouth!

TAKE A HIKE: Literally! Exercise is one of the best ways to boost your immune system and help fight illnesses, including cancer.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT: The foods we choose can have an impact on the body’s ability to fight off cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that you eat lots of berries, beans, vegetables, and antioxidants to ward off diseases.

GET CHECKED: One of the most important ways that you can prevent oral cancer is to see your dentist for regular cleanings and screenings. This will help you identify any concerns or red flags early on.

Here at Manhattan Dental Health, we routinely perform head, neck, and oral soft tissue examinations as part of our new patient exams. We also perform maintenance visits with all of our current patients. You should have a cancer screening every year, so make sure you call and schedule your appointment today!

M I N T S A L A D

So before Joanne got pregnant, we instituted a specific program to help rid and reduce the levels of these bacteria. A combination of gum treatment, laser treatment, special toothpastes, rinses, and probiotics were used. Joanne’s mouth is now ready for pregnancy, and her mouth won’t cause her or her baby any harm.

Where Do These Bacteria Come From?

We get our bacteria from our environment. Most are harmless and even beneficial. You get the bacteria in your mouth from the foods you eat, and from your parents and those you exchange fluids with. YES, YOU CAN CATCH GUM DISEASE.

Today we can do a simple test of your saliva to see which problematic bacteria are in your mouth and how many of them are present. We can actually determine whether you are at risk for gum disease before you actually suffer, just as we can evaluate your individual and unique risk for tooth decay.

Once your risk is evaluated, a customized program can be designed just for you. Rather than a blanket guideline for everyone, Manhattan Dental Health believes in a custom, individualized approach to preventive care. At MDH, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

We perform a risk analysis every time you come into the office. Changes in your overall health, medications, diet, and even sleep are helpful in evaluating risk for diseases in your mouth; diseases we’d like to help you prevent. Our new computerized health questionnaire is an important tool in the process. The custom approach always takes more time and thought than the stock, impersonal approach, but we think it’s worth it for your health.

Everyone at Manhattan Dental Health has had their saliva tested. We know what our risks for gum disease are. Do You?

Michael

Take a refreshing bite out of summer with this tasty seasonal salad!

Continued from cover ...

WHAT’S IN A Boarding Pass Barcode?

Watch Your Mouth!Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?

Watermelon & Cucumber