Sunset Smiles: Carole A Medvesky DMD

03/09/2026

Keeping caries at bay: Alternatives to fluoridated drinking water..
Dentists offered advice to help parents protect their children’s teeth if they do not have access to fluoride in their drinking water.

Although community water fluoridation has long been regarded as a safe, effective and relatively inexpensive strategy to minimize dental caries and strengthen tooth enamel in children, recent opposition to the practice has led to some states and cities ending fluoridated water, according to a news report from Tufts University. Children without access to fluoridated water often have higher rates of dental decay.

As a result, dentists cited in the report have suggested alternatives to fluoridated drinking water — including fluoride toothpaste, rinses and topical varnishes — among those with public water systems that do not add the mineral to their water. The right amount of fluoride toothpaste can be safe for younger children; however, parents or guardians should ensure that all the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned and assist with flossing until children show enough dexterity to tie their shoelaces. When children are 7 years and older, particularly those with braces, they can initiate fluoride rinses. Finally, dentists may apply a topical varnish to the teeth during visits that lasts up to several months.

02/22/2026

Is Sparkling Water Bad For My Teeth?
"Sparkling water is a far better choice for your teeth than sugary drinks. However, be mindful of what’s in your sparkling water. Citrus-flavored varieties often have higher acid levels, which can increase the risk of enamel damage. To reduce this risk, it's best to drink these types of sparkling water in one sitting or alongside meals, rather than sipping on them throughout the day. By the way, have you scheduled an appointment with us yet? Feel free to reach out!"
Here's another idea:
Just because nothing hurts doesn’t mean everything’s healthy. Biannual dental checkups catch hidden issues before they become painful (and expensive). Stay ahead of cavities, gum disease, and more with regular visits that protect your smile long-term.

It's easy to presume that if your teeth don't hurt, everything must be fine. You might wonder, why should you visit the dentist if you're not in pain? The truth is that dental issues often start quietly, long before any discomfort occurs. Biannual dental checkups are essential for catching these pro...

02/19/2026

02/14/2026

Presi-Dental Health: 4 Strange (But True) Tales
Hail to the Chief—and his teeth! You may remember their smiles and expressions from portraits and photographs, but do you know the stories behind them? Read on for some fascinating facts about our commanders in chief.

George Washington
George Washington Never Wore Wooden Dentures
Tooth decay and tooth loss plagued George Washington throughout his adult life. The Journal of the American Revolution states the father of our country had his first tooth pulled at 24 and had only one left at inauguration. Mount Vernon, Washington’s estate, says his troublesome teeth made the president self-conscious and reluctant to speak in public.

While it’s true Washington wore dentures, they were never wooden. He had many pairs made with many different materials, including: hippopotamus ivory, bone, gold wire, copper screws, lead and even human teeth. His wife, Martha, also had a partial denture. “Well aware of her husband’s travails, Martha regularly urged her children and grandchildren to tend to the care of their teeth,” Mount Vernon states.

President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland Had Top-Secret Oral Cancer Surgery – On a Yacht
Near the beginning of his second term in 1893, Grover Cleveland faced two major issues. Nationally, the country was entering a depression. Personally, a bump in his mouth had formed, grown and was diagnosed as cancer. To prevent nationwide panic, a clandestine plan was hatched.

On June 30, Cleveland boarded a yacht in New York Harbor with six doctors. In a 90-minute surgery the next day, surgeons removed the cancerous tumor, five teeth and part of his upper left jaw. Cleveland sat in a chair attached to the mast of the ship. His only anesthesia was laughing gas and ether. Four days later, Cleveland got off the yacht in Cape Cod and finished recovering at his summer home. He was later fitted with a rubber prosthesis that helped him speak normally again.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Dental Emergency or UFO Coverup?
On February 20, 1954, Dwight D. Eisenhower was eating a chicken wing in Palm Springs, California, when the cap on one of his front teeth popped off. He spent his Saturday night at an emergency dental appointment, and the unexpected trip caused led to many false reports (including an Associated Press report that he had died of a heart attack).

It also birthed a UFO conspiracy theory. Some believe the dental visit was a cover up for a secret meeting with aliens at Edwards Air Force Base. “In the most recent version of this story, alleged in several books dating back to the late 1980s, two aliens offered to share their knowledge with earthlings if Ike would eliminate America’s nuclear weapons,” according to the Bulletin of Dental Education (July 2004).

Thanks to Eisenhower’s long military service and time as president, his dental records are thorough and document many troubles with that particular crown. Still, the theory lives on with believers because the dentist who treated Eisenhower passed away without leaving record of the visit.

Photo: Library of Congress
White House dental office

07/16/2022

Who knows the 'question" for this Jeopardy answer?

07/02/2022

😁

03/06/2021

NATIONAL DENTIST'S DAY - March 6, 2021 | National Today
https://nationaltoday.com/national-dentists-day

Mar 06, 2020 · March 6 is National Dentist’s Day, a day to celebrate the men and women who keep our chompers chomping, our gnashers gnashing, and our whites pearly. Dentists are doctors who specialize in oral health.

Are you getting ready for National Dentist's Day? We have the best discounts, tips, and ideas to make this day amazing for you!

02/09/2021

What a great way to say thank you...

12/29/2020

Worth noting:

An undiscussed risk factor for worse COVID symptoms which increases risk of hospitalization:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Researchers recently identified this risk factor.

Makes total sense.

I discuss in the book, Dirty Genes, that if we’re not properly breathing, our entire cardiovascular system (and others) struggles.

A specific gene called NOS3 is one that’s very dependent upon healthy nose breathing.

If you wake up with a clogged nose, dry mouth, bad fatigue, hear that you’re snoring from someone, you’re experiencing some form of sleep apnea.

Obesity is a big risk factor for sleep apnea as well.

To improve your sleep apnea, lose weight, identify and eliminate food allergies, environmental allergies (mold, pollen, dander).

Replace your pillow, get HEPA air filter, use histamine supportive probiotics, breathe through your nose not your mouth, and consider mouth taping or a CPAP machine.

Read the NOS3 chapter in Dirty Genes. This will explain many reasons behind why people struggle with cardiovascular issues from COVID.

If you’re yawning often, you’re not oxygenating well. Breathe deeply and slowly in and out through your nose. NOT your mouth.

Breathing through your nose is how your body makes nitric oxide. Breathing through your mouth doesn’t.

Read Dirty Genes. I wrote it for you.

I want to help you reduce your risk of hospitalization. If you implement what you read, you’ll likely improve significantly and faster than you imagined.

❤️

12/23/2020

Another good reason to see your hygienist regularly ...

Successful control of periodontal inflammation can be beneficial to the lungs and potentially decrease severity and risk of COVID-19 respiratory problems, according to a study published by the Journal of the California Dental Association.

09/11/2020

Dental Visits Listed Among Appointments People Should Prioritize
In a consumer-focused article, U.S. News & World Report (9/9, Howley) said, “The coronavirus pandemic that took hold this past spring upended normal life for just about everyone, and for many people, that meant delaying health care appointments.” Now that more is known about the virus and how it is transmitted and access to personal protective equipment has improved, the article stated that “health care providers from across the whole health care spectrum are urging patients to reschedule appointments that may have been canceled or postponed.” With this in mind, the article said “any routine appointment that has been put off should be rescheduled as soon as possible,” and dental visits are among “appointments that might take priority.”

09/08/2020

Mexico is kicking butt lately.

They’re phasing out RoundUp.

Now they’re attacking big food and hitting them hard with a soda tax.

Obesity is a massive issue globally.

WHO even knows it. But you don’t hear a peep about it here.

The Guardian quotes: The World Health Organisation calls soda taxes the most effective strategy for improving diet (along with subsidising fruit and vegetables). The evidence that a soda tax can reduce obesity and disease.

Biggest risk factor for COVID? Obesity. Hands down.

So put down your soda.

source: How one of the most obese countries on earth took on the soda giants.