Dear Hygiene Insider,
For hygienists, there's never enough time, including time to give dietary advice to patients. A study found that although hygienists and dental therapists value the importance of nutrition counseling, they believe time is the No. 1 barrier to providing advice at the dental office. Read more in this Insider Exclusive by Assistant Editor Theresa Pablos.
In other Hygiene Community news, healthy teeth and gums start before a baby is born, according to a session on oral health and pregnancy at the 2016 ADA annual meeting. The session focused on several ways hygienists and dental practices can help both moms-to-be and newborns get and stay healthy. Read more here.
Those in a dental office may think that flushing their office water lines with disinfectants eliminates bacteria and fungus and meets infection-control guidelines. But a new study found that patients, hygienists, and dental staff remain exposed to the risk of infections even after water lines have been flushed using industry-standard sterilization techniques. Read more here.
An all-too-timely example of water line infection issues is the ongoing situation at a Southern California dental clinic. The number of children who have been hospitalized for dental infections after having pulpotomies caused by an infected water line has risen to 57. Read more here.
Nearly 100 organizations, including the U.S. government and the National Dental Association, have accepted millions of dollars in sponsorship funds from the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, according to a new study. Read more here.
In response, the National Dental Association defended its actions in an exclusive Second Opinion, which you can read here.
