Christmas rinse
As loyal and regular readers to this column will know, the December issue traditionally carries my yuletide tip for the present to buy for the dentist who has everything. There is often some new device or knick-knack that catches my eye at the autumn Showcase exhibition but, alas this year, not so.
What a bit of luck then that researchers have stepped forward with what I think will be the ideal, low cost, ecologically friendly gift that is not only a pleasant surprise but also a potentially health giving booster. The unlikely candidate is pomegranate mouthrinse; not a flavoured variety mind you, the real unadulterated crushed fruit extract. Apparently it has antimicrobial powers against at least three of the main periodontitis causing bacteria and in the experimental study performed as well as the gold standard chlorhexidine against one of them.
The only slight snag is that it is not yet available as an over-the-counter oral hygiene product so it might be a question of buying a bag full of the hard skinned beauties together with a juicing machine to complete the effect under the Christmas tree. But, hey, just think of the fun everyone will have spitting out those dozens of crushed pips.
Laugh and the world laughs with you
It has long been thought that a good laugh and sense of humour are beneficial not only for the soul but also for more temporal health: reducing stress, relieving tension and even stimulating the immune system. So, a recent study explored the role of humour on oral health status and behaviours by testing first year dental students.
Sense of humour was assessed using an index called the Multidimensional Sense of Humour Scale and the resulting highest and lowest scoring freshers were formed into two groups. It was revealed that four of the dependent variables, oral health status, gingival health status, tooth brushing frequency and dental visit frequency differed significantly among the two groups. It was also shown that participants who flossed their teeth or used mouthwash once a month presented significantly lower values of humour than those who used dental floss or oral mouthrinses everyday: perhaps they just had less friends?
...and finally
As I wish readers the usual goodwill message of a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the final column inches of 2011, I am indebted to the Journal of the History of Dentistry for a fascinating piece of trivia known enigmatically as 'Stotesbury's whimsy'.
It seems that Edward Townsend Stotesbury (1849-1938), a prominent Philadelphia tycoon who made his millions as an investment banker and financier built three fine mansions and entertained lavishly and royally. He especially enjoyed regaling his invitees with recollections of the events he experienced as a Civil War drummer boy and apparently always concluded with the lively song The Old Family Toothbrush That Hung by the Sink. Oh to have been on the guest list for that one.
October Winner
The winner of the October prize of Beverly Hills Formula products is Gary Sime of Perth for the caption: ‘Well the chap from the PCT did say that the new NHS computerised appointment book would help us to see more patients in a day!’