For the past couple of months, my toothbrush has been turning pink after brushing. At first, I pretended not to notice. Then, I started attributing the “pink” to whatever I’d just eaten. Finally, I chalked it up to my toothpaste. Why a blue gel would turn pink is beyond me.

This morning my gums sent me an impossible to ignore signal that something was wrong. After brushing my teeth, I smiled big at the bathroom mirror and saw bleeding gums … seriously bleeding gums like out of some 1970’s Italian horror movie!

There was no denying it this time. They were bleeding and I was worried.

It turns out I have good reason to be concerned. Bleeding gums are one of the most common symptoms of gingivitis. This was not good news. So I went online to research the effects of gum disease.

Left untreated, gum disease can wreck your teeth, your mouth and a whole lot more. Research shows that plaque -- the primary cause of gum disease -- can lead to many other health conditions including heart disease and stroke.

While I learned from the National Institutes of Health that approximately 80 percent of U.S. adults have some form of gum disease, it was only a small comfort to discover that at least I wasn’t alone.

The good news is that caught early, gum disease is generally easy to control through a combination of regular home and professional dental care. My next move was clear: Call the dentist and have my bleeding gums checked out. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that by working together we’ll be able to nip this problem in the bud. I’ll keep you posted.

Laser dentistry sounds cool to me, but maybe that comes from growing up in the science fiction generation. For others, the idea of condensing light into an amplified beam to cut, shape and rout out the garbage in your mouth … well, let’s say it can be a little intimidating. It doesn’t have to be scary, though.

For one thing, they’re a lot quieter than your old-school dental drill. You may hear the sound of rushing air because air suction cools the treatment area. For another, dental laser applications minimize bleeding and swelling, not to mention post-operative discomfort.

Some laser procedures even require less local anesthesia.

And most laser dentists work faster and more effectively because they have better tools. That means I don’t get temporary TMJ trying to keep my mouth open longer.

Dentists use different types of lasers to treat us. Three main types include lasers used for dental surgery, lasers to cure tooth fillings and other restorations or bleaching, and another group to remove dental structure and disease.

So … need part of a tooth removed or restored, your teeth whitened, gum disease put in check or some other oral surgery? Go see your local laser dentist for a quicker and less painful approach. You may even enjoy the experience.

The tooth fairy is one pretty cool character in my book. As a five-year-old I remember freaking out when my evil older brother told me that all my teeth were going to fall out … and there was nothing I could do about it.

The feeling of terror quickly passed when my mom informed me that something called “the tooth fairy” was paying up to fifty cents for each tooth I put under my pillow! Hearing this was better than winning the jackpot. I had lots of teeth, which meant plenty of cash to spend on comic books and other things my allowance didn’t cover.

Times are Changing

Times certainly have changed. Not only are kids today getting a lot more per tooth (as much as $10.00 in some area codes!), many are cutting out the tooth fairy entirely.

Instead of putting their teeth under pillows they’re sending them to Store-A-Tooth™, a dental stem cell banking service in Lexington, MA. It turns out that baby teeth are much more valuable as a source of adult stem cells.

The Store-A-Tooth Solution

According to my dentist, Store-A-Tooth is a dental product that has revolutionized the process of collecting and preserving the adult stem cells found in wisdom teeth and baby teeth. I was surprised to learn that adult dental stem cells – like embryonic stem cells - have the incredible ability to make many different types of cells (e.g., bone, cartilage, muscle and perhaps even neural tissue).

Researchers specializing in regenerative medicine are very excited by the prospect of using dental stem cells to treat conditions ranging from leukemia to cardio vascular disease to osteoporosis.

I really like the whole Store-A-Tooth concept. As much as the kid in me enjoyed the supplemental income the tooth fairy provided, the adult in me much prefers the idea of banking my children’s stem cells as a hedge against a health crisis in their future.

OK, so I know most people don't revel in the idea of having to go to the dentist. But as we know, it is a necessity and it doesn't always have to be bad.

I know it can be a little bit uncomfortable having to sit there while you get work done, but there is something that can take the edge off.

Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas or sweet air) is a great way to help adults and children feel more relaxed. Nitrous oxide is great for people who have some dental anxiety or who want to remain conscious but very relaxed. It has little to no side effects and patients can drive themselves home after treatment.

The gas is given to the patient before the start of dental treatment via a mask. It is inhaled through the nose and exhaled through the mouth. Once it starts to take effect, nitrous oxide makes the patient feel light and airy. Once the mask is removed, the effect begins to wear off.

Now, for as great as nitrous oxide is, it is NOT a pain killer so it should be used in conjunction with local anesthesia for pain.

Nitrous oxide works well for most patients, but it is always a good idea to make sure you discuss your medical history with your dentist and weigh your pros and cons.

So the next time you’re at the dental office, ask about nitrous oxide and see how it works for you!