Dental office of Dr. Abubakr Shafi

09/17/2026

Cold sore treatment: 4 methods to improve healing

Cold sore treatment typically involves antiviral drugs that slow or inhibit viral replication but do not eliminate the virus or its recurrence. Dr. Scott Froum looks at several...

09/16/2026

After more than 175 years in dentistry, a material once considered the gold standard for repairing cavities is entering its final chapter.

More than 150 countries participating in the Minamata Convention on Mercury have agreed on a pathway to phase out dental amalgam by 2034, marking one of the biggest global policy shifts in modern dentistry.

Dental amalgam has been used for generations because of its durability, affordability, and long clinical track record. Millions of restorations worldwide have relied on this material to treat tooth decay, making it one of the most widely used restorative materials in dental history.

The transition is primarily driven by efforts to reduce global mercury pollution and encourage the adoption of mercury-free alternatives. Composite resins, glass ionomers, and ceramic restorations are expected to play an increasingly important role as countries adapt to the new requirements.

Importantly, the agreement does not mean that existing amalgam fillings should be removed. Current policies focus on gradually reducing future use while maintaining flexibility for patient care when clinically necessary.

The decision represents one of the most significant international policy changes in restorative dentistry and could influence how future generations receive dental treatment around the world.

Sources: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) • Minamata Convention on Mercury • World Health Organization (WHO)

09/16/2026

Happy American Legion Day 🇺🇸

09/16/2026

The best compliment you can give is a referral

09/16/2026

Missing teeth can change the shape of your face.

Most people think losing a tooth only leaves a gap in their smile. But the changes don't stop there. Beneath the gums, the jawbone that once supported the tooth begins to shrink when it no longer receives the stimulation created by chewing.

Every time you bite and chew, forces travel through the tooth roots into the surrounding bone, helping maintain its strength and volume. When a tooth is lost, that natural stimulation disappears, and the body gradually starts resorbing the unused bone.

As bone loss progresses, the lower face can lose structural support. This may contribute to thinner-looking lips, a more sunken appearance around the mouth, deeper facial folds, changes in jawline contours, and an older-looking facial profile over time.

The image illustrates how continued tooth and bone loss can affect both the jawbone and the appearance of the face. While these changes occur gradually, they can become significant when missing teeth remain untreated for many years.

This is one reason dentists often recommend replacing missing teeth with appropriate treatment options. Preserving natural teeth whenever possible—and replacing them when necessary—helps maintain the bone that supports both oral function and facial structure.

Your teeth do more than help you chew and speak. They help preserve the foundation of your face.

09/15/2026

Gum Disease

This Is What Gum Disease Looks Like Beneath the Gumline

Gum disease often begins with plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that accumulates along the teeth and gumline. When plaque is not removed effectively, it can harden into calculus (tartar), creating a rough surface that allows even more bacteria to thrive.

These bacteria trigger chronic inflammation in the gums. Over time, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, forming periodontal pockets where harmful bacteria can accumulate below the gumline. Much of this damage occurs silently, often without significant pain.

As the disease progresses, the inflammation can destroy the periodontal ligament and the surrounding bone that support the teeth. This may eventually lead to gum recession, loose teeth, and tooth loss if left untreated.

The good news is that gum disease is largely preventable through effective daily oral hygiene and regular professional dental care.

09/15/2026

Please don’t ignore any kind of tooth pain.

🔗: bit.ly/4yELZeY

When Luke Woodhouse first developed a toothache, he didn’t think anything of it. However, days later, the 35-year-old was fighting for his life.

📷: Queensland Health/Facebook

09/15/2026

Every tooth in your mouth is uniquely shaped for a specific function, creating a highly efficient system for biting, tearing, crushing, and grinding food.
🦷 Incisors (8 teeth)
Located at the front of the mouth, incisors have sharp, flat edges designed to cut and bite food.
🦷 Canines (4 teeth)
The pointed teeth beside the incisors help tear and grip food. They also play an important role in guiding jaw movements.
🦷 Premolars (8 teeth)
Also called bicuspids, premolars have broader chewing surfaces that help crush and tear food into smaller pieces.
🦷 Molars (12 teeth, including wisdom teeth)
The largest teeth in the mouth, molars are built with multiple cusps to grind and crush food efficiently before swallowing.
Together, these specialized teeth work as a coordinated team, allowing us to eat, speak, and maintain proper jaw function every day.

09/14/2026

Brushing Your Teeth Twice a Day for Two Minutes Might Do More Than Protect Your Smile.

A study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions found that adults who brushed their teeth less than twice a day and for less than two minutes had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events compared with those who brushed at least twice daily for two minutes.

Researchers analyzed 682 adults and found that poorer toothbrushing habits were associated with an approximately threefold higher risk of heart attack, heart failure, or stroke after accounting for multiple health factors.

Scientists believe oral health may influence cardiovascular health through chronic inflammation. Poor oral hygiene can contribute to gum inflammation, which has been linked to processes involved in cardiovascular disease.

While this observational study cannot prove cause and effect, the findings add to growing evidence that oral health may play an important role in overall cardiovascular health.

📚 Matsui S, et al. Poor tooth brushing behavior is associated with high risk of cardiovascular events: A prospective observational study. International Journal of Cardiology. 2022;350:111–117.

09/14/2026

Halitosis creates anxiety because patients often cannot judge it accurately themselves. They brush harder, scrape their tongue, switch mouthwashes, blame reflux, inspect their tonsils, or search for exotic systemic causes. The evidence points somewhere much closer.
Roughly 80% to 90% of persistent halitosis originates inside the mouth. The leading causes are tongue coating, periodontal inflammation, plaque retention, food traps, defective restorations, caries, oral infection, removable appliances, and reduced salivary flow.
The biology is straightforward. Anaerobic bacteria, especially on the posterior tongue and in periodontal niches, break down proteins and produce volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. But halitosis is not caused by one specific bacterium. It is better understood as an oral biofilm ecology problem. That changes the clinical approach.
First, confirm that genuine malodor exists. Organoleptic assessment, meaning a trained examiner actually smells and grades the breath, remains the clinical standard. A Halimeter can provide an objective VSC measurement and help document treatment response, but it does not measure every odor-producing compound and should not replace clinical assessment.
Then look where the probability is highest: tongue coating, bleeding and periodontal inflammation, restorations, open contacts, food traps, retainers, aligners, dentures, and xerostomia. Medication burden, mouth breathing, dehydration, smoking, and aging can all worsen reduced salivary clearance.
Treatment should follow the cause. Clean the tongue. Treat periodontal disease. Correct defective restorations and food traps. Address xerostomia and appliance hygiene. Therapeutic mouth rinses containing agents such as CPC, zinc, chlorine dioxide, chlorhexidine, or essential oils can help, but they are adjuncts, not substitutes for diagnosis.
When a patient says, “I have bad breath,” are we treating the odor, or diagnosing what is producing it?