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Dental staff fired for mocking cancer patient’s private diary

<p>Shocking video has emerged of two dental staff reading a cancer patient's private diary aloud while laughing and mocking her concerns. </p> <p>The video which captured the American employees at  Premier Dental Group (PDG) of Knoxville laughing as they read the private diary entries was captioned: "Found a patients journal and now it's story time lmao."</p> <p>The footage was reportedly filmed by another staff member who could be heard giggling throughout the video, according to the<em> New York Post.</em> </p> <p>A woman in black scrubs was filmed reading passages from the diary to others in the room and describing the radiation treatments  the worried patient faces. </p> <p>Another woman was sitting cross-legged on the office floor and listening intently, a male employee was also in the room but he did not intervene or join in with the women.</p> <p>It’s not clear how staff obtained access to the patient’s private journal, or why they decided to read it.</p> <p>The video sparked outrage across social media, with  Premier Dental Group of Knoxville having to share an apology on Facebook acknowledging the incident. </p> <p>"Premier Dental Group of Knoxville is aware of a recent incident involving an inappropriate video created and shared by some of our employees that addressed an individual’s medical condition in a disrespectful and unprofessional manner.”</p> <p>“We deeply regret this incident and the hurt [it] has caused,” they wrote in the statement which has now been deleted. </p> <p>A spokesperson for PDG confirmed to the <em>New York Post</em> the female employees involved in the incident were fired “effective immediately”.</p> <p>After an investigation it was determined that the male employee in the video did not participate and kept his job. </p> <p>“We are committed to maintaining a respectful and professional environment for everyone, and we will continue to take necessary actions to uphold these standards,” the practice said.</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p>

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Take the pain out of toothache with these 11 home remedies

<p><strong>Toothache remedy: clove oil</strong></p> <p>Cloves are a traditional remedy for numbing nerves; the primary chemical compound of this spice is eugenol, a natural anaesthetic. Research has shown that, used topically, clove oil can be as effective against tooth pain as benzocaine.</p> <p>Put two drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and place it against the tooth itself until the pain recedes. In a pinch, use a bit of powdered clove or place a whole clove on the tooth. Chew the whole clove a little to release its oil and keep it in place up to half an hour or until the pain subsides.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: cayenne paste</strong></p> <p>The main chemical component of cayenne – capsaicin – has been found to alter some of the mechanisms involved in pain. Mix powdered cayenne with enough water to make a paste.</p> <p>Roll a small ball of cotton into enough paste to saturate it, then place it on your tooth while avoiding your gums and tongue. Leave it until the pain fades – or as long as you can stand it (the concoction is likely to burn).</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: swish some salt water</strong></p> <p>A teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of boiling water makes an effective mouthwash, which will clean away irritating debris and help reduce swelling. Swish it around for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.</p> <p>Saltwater cleanses the area around the tooth and draws out some of the fluid that causes swelling, according to Professor Thomas Salinas. Repeat this treatment as often as needed. “A hot rinse can also help consolidate the infection until you get to your dentist,” says Dr Salinas.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: soothe with tea</strong></p> <p>Peppermint tea has a nice flavour and some medicinal powers as well. Put 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup boiling water and steep for 20 minutes. After the tea cools, swish it around in your mouth, then spit it out or swallow.</p> <p>Also, the astringent tannins in strong black tea may help quell pain by reducing swelling. For this folk remedy place a warm, wet tea bag against the affected tooth for temporary relief. “The fluoride in tea can help kill bacteria, which is especially helpful after a tooth extraction,” says Salinas.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: rinse with hydrogen peroxide</strong></p> <p>To help kill bacteria and relieve some discomfort, swish with a mouthful of 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide solution diluted with water. This can provide temporary relief if a toothache is accompanied by fever and a foul taste in the mouth (both are signs of infection), but like other toothache remedies, it’s only a stopgap measure until you see your dentist and get the source of infection cleared up.</p> <p>A hydrogen peroxide solution is only for rinsing. Spit it out, then rinse several times with plain water.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: ice it</strong></p> <p>Place a small ice cube in a plastic bag, wrap a thin cloth around the bag, and apply it to the aching tooth for about 15 minutes to numb the nerves. Alternatively, that ice pack can go on your cheek, over the painful tooth. Also, according to folklore, if you massage your hand with an ice cube, you can help relieve a toothache.</p> <p>When nerves in your fingers send ‘cold’ signals to your brain, they may distract from the pain in your tooth. Just wrap up an ice cube in a thin cloth and massage it in the fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: wash it with myrrh</strong></p> <p>You can also rinse with a tincture of myrrh. “Myrrh definitely has an effect on infected tissue and can sometimes also interfere with the pain generated by tooth infection,” says Salinas.</p> <p>Simmer 1 teaspoon of powdered myrrh in 2 cups water for 30 minutes. Strain and let cool. Rinse with 1 teaspoon of the solution in a half-cup water several times a day.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: distract with vinegar and brown paper</strong></p> <p>Another country cure calls for soaking a small piece of brown paper (from a grocery or lunch bag) in vinegar, sprinkling one side with black pepper, and holding this to the cheek. The warm sensation on your cheek may distract you from your tooth pain.</p> <p>This technique is an example of the Gate Control theory of pain. By using a distracting stimulus, the ‘gates’ to the pain receptors in your brain close and you don’t feel the original pain as powerfully.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: brush with the right tools</strong></p> <p>“Sensitive toothpaste is very helpful for people with significant gum recession,” says Salinas. When gums shrink, the dentin beneath your teeth’s enamel surface is exposed, and this material is particularly sensitive.</p> <p>Look for pastes that contain sodium fluoride, potassium nitrate or strontium nitrate – ingredients which have been shown to reduce sensitivity, according to Salinas. Switch to the softest-bristled brush you can find to help preserve gum tissue and prevent further shrinking.</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: cover a crack with gum</strong></p> <p>If you’ve broken a tooth or have lost a filling, you can relieve some pain by covering the exposed area with softened chewing gum. This might work with a loose filling, too, to hold it in place until you can get to the dentist.</p> <p>To avoid further discomfort, avoid chewing anything with that tooth until you can have it repaired. Just make sure you use sugarless gum, since sugar may actually exacerbate the pain (not to mention that it can cause cavities).</p> <p><strong>Toothache remedy: apply pressure</strong></p> <p>Try an acupressure technique to stop tooth pain fast. With your thumb, press the point on the back of your other hand where the base of your thumb and your index finger meet.</p> <p>Apply pressure for about two minutes. “This works in several ways,” says Salinas. “The pressure can help prevent pain signals from being sent as well as help express some of the fluid that causes swelling.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/11-home-remedies-for-a-toothache?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p> <div class="slide-image" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div>

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9 habits that secretly annoy your dentist

<h2>The importance of maintaining dental health</h2> <p>Maintaining good dental health does more than just keep your pearly whites bright. Recent research – such as one 2020 study – has found that poor oral hygiene is connected with other physical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.</p> <p>A recent report from the American Heart Association also found a link between poor dental care and declining brain health. But even if you’re brushing, flossing, and up-to-date with professional cleanings, dentists say many of us are guilty of some lifestyle and oral health habits that could be doing our mouths more harm than good.</p> <h2>Your love for citrus</h2> <p>Most people are aware that soft drinks are damaging to teeth, says dentist, Dr Arthur Jeske. “Others may be less obvious,” Dr Jeske says, like your morning smoothie with a squirt of lime juice or the lemon wedge you add to a beer or cocktail. This is because the high acidity levels in many fruits (even grapes and peaches are quite acidic) can cause demineralisation, “which means [they] can literally dissolve your tooth enamel over time.”</p> <p>Dr Jeske’s recommendation: drinking plain water after eating or drinking can help reduce fruits’ impact on your teeth.</p> <h2>That firm toothbrush</h2> <p>“Many people believe brushing with firmer toothbrush bristles and abrasive toothpaste will make their teeth cleaner and whiter,” says dental surgeon, Dr James Galati. But these products (and heavy-handed brushing in general) can actually damage teeth by taking off the protective enamel and traumatising gum tissue around the teeth – leading to receding gums and root exposure. Instead, aim for soft-bristle brushes and toothpastes with fluoride.</p> <h2>Overusing whitening toothpastes</h2> <p>Toothpastes vary widely in their abrasiveness, Dr Jeske explains. A product’s Relative Dentin Abrasion Value (RDA) is categorised by low, medium, and high abrasiveness.</p> <p>If you brush frequently, for instance, you may want to stick with a product on the lower end of the spectrum (this ranges from zero to 250, and Dr Jeske says you can look up the RDA for specific products online). But he points out that most whitening toothpastes tend to be among the more abrasive. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid them altogether, but he recommends using them less frequently in your routine and swapping in a gentler toothpaste to avoid excessive wear.</p> <h2>Brushing right after eating</h2> <p>It’s important to wait 15 to 30 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth, says dentist, Dr Jacquelyn Schieck. “[This time] allows the pH of the mouth to revert to neutral, which prevents brushing away enamel that’s been softened by acids in foods or beverages.”</p> <h2>Improper flossing</h2> <p>If you floss daily, you’re already ahead of the curve when it comes to your dental health. Population research is limited, but according to the Australian Dental Association only 25 per cent of Australian adults floss their teeth every day. So three quarters of Australian adults don’t floss daily.</p> <p>Still, “while flossing is considered a ‘gold standard’ for cleaning between the teeth and promoting gum health, it may not be as effective if used improperly,” Dr Jeske explains. For example, interdental cleaners – tiny, round brushes with handles – are recommended over string floss for certain people, such as those with more advanced gum disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist can advise you on what type of floss is best for you and how to use it effectively.</p> <p>Flossing technique is important, too: you want to be sure to thread your floss into your gums to make sure you’re effectively loosening food and other debris.</p> <h2>Charcoal toothpaste</h2> <p>Dr Galati says that one of the more potentially harmful internet fads he’s seen is charcoal-based toothpaste, powders, or tabs. These products are often promoted as eco-friendly, ‘natural’ teeth cleaners that can remove surface stains to whiten teeth and absorb bacteria that cause bad breath.</p> <p>But Dr Galati says that most charcoal-based toothpastes are very abrasive and can cause damage that makes your teeth more susceptible to decay and bone loss. Plus, “there are no studies showing they whiten teeth any better than standard toothpastes,” he says.</p> <h2>Your high stress levels</h2> <p>High stress levels and a demanding work or life environment have been linked to increased dental health problems, Dr Galati says. Stress can make you more prone to grinding and clenching your teeth, for example, which leads to excessive wear. Unconscious nervous habits like chewing on fingernails, hairpins, pen caps, or ice can cause similar damage, Dr Shieck adds.</p> <h2>Lying to your dentist</h2> <p>Medical professionals are there to help you, not judge your habits. Accurate information – including your lifestyle habits like smoking, vaping, diet, and alcohol use, dental habits, and medications or supplements you take – is crucial for your dentist to properly identify dental problems and design the optimal treatment plan. “Some misrepresentations are easy to detect,” Dr Jeske says, like if someone says they brush and floss twice a day but their gums bleed during a dental exam. “But others may confuse the diagnosis or delay it, resulting in additional harm,” (and often, financial costs.)</p> <h2>DIY orthodontics</h2> <p>“[This] is one of the most dangerous and concerning fads I’ve seen online,” says Dr Schieck. The movement of teeth is a complex biological process that requires a highly-trained doctor’s oversight to avoid harmful consequences. “It’s amazing what people will try,” she says. “But trying at-home aligner systems in the absence of orthodontic guidance, using elastics or other household items to move teeth, or even attempting to 3D-print appliances yourself is not safe or effective.”</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/9-habits-that-secretly-annoy-your-dentist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Dentist slams dangerous “aesthetic” teeth hacks

<p dir="ltr">A dental surgeon has slammed a series of online hacks that show people attempting their own DIY dental work to achieve the perfect smile. </p> <p dir="ltr">Prominent Queensland dental surgeon Dr Heath Fraser has argued against grim TikTok viral trends that have people trying to whiten and straighten their teeth at home, saying these “tips” can cause serious damage. </p> <p dir="ltr">Among the worst offenders was a woman who filmed herself filing down her teeth using a nail file and promoted the tactic as a cheap way to get a straight smile. </p> <p dir="ltr">The bizarre video amassed thousands of views, with copycat users claiming they had also tried the hack and experienced no lasting damage. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Fraser, however, revealed people who filed their teeth could be setting themselves up for “invasive procedures such as fillings, crowns, veneers and even root canal treatment to resolve the erosion issue”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He described filing teeth as “highly irresponsible” and explained that “once tooth enamel has been removed it is impossible to regenerate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Even when performed in the dental chair by a professional, patients run the risk of eroding their tooth enamel,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other problematic “hacks” saw millions of TikTok users exposed to highly dangerous teeth whitening methods involving the use of household cleaners and hydrogen peroxide as a teeth scrub.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Fraser said there were enormous consequences for people who used these products on their teeth, saying they posed “irreversible risks to the health of your teeth”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other users were desperate to straighten their teeth, as they shared how they tried using elastic hair bands in place of braces.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Fraser condemned the method, as one video racked up millions of views promoting the use of elastic bands. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Using elastic bands may work to move your teeth, but not in the aesthetic way you probably desire. The thin, tight elastic bands used by users on social media can penetrate the gum, severely damaging the soft tissue in your mouth which may ultimately lead to serious irreversible damage, including your tooth falling out from the root,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Fraser reminded people that for any dental work, attending a dentist is always the safest and most effective option. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

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4 habits that are surprisingly bad for your teeth

<p>While we’d never go weeks without taking a shower or eating, why is it that so many of us are guilty at neglecting our teeth every day? Just as much as taking care of your teeth is about keeping them clean and your breath fresh, it’s also about preventative maintenance.</p> <p>How many of these bad oral health habits are you guilty of? </p> <p><strong>Not visiting the dentist enough</strong></p> <p>Even if you think you go above and beyond when looking after your oral health – think brushing, flossing, and even use a special set of dental tools remove plaque – that still doesn’t mean you can skip your yearly cleaning at the dentist’s office.</p> <p>Make sure to schedule an appointment at least once a year.</p> <p><strong>Brushing from side to side</strong></p> <p>If you clean your teeth twice a day you deserve a pat on the back, right? Simply sticking a toothbrush in your mouth and moving it around is not enough. Good tooth brushing requires a certain technique. This does not involve any side-to-side action. Rather you’ll want to go in small circles. Forceful side-to-side brushing combined with an abrasive toothpaste can actually damage the teeth.</p> <p>You also need to ensure you brush along the gum line and the back of your teeth to loosen bacteria. Another big brushing mistake? Not doing it for long enough. While most people would’ve heard that the ideal length of time is two minutes, this is an arbitrary number, rather you should brush until you completely get all sides of every single tooth.</p> <p><strong>Using a non-fluoride toothpaste</strong></p> <p>Not all toothpastes are created equal! Some toothpastes, especially natural ones, brand themselves as fluoride-free, even though you need fluoride to achieve the healthiest mouth possible.</p> <p>Fluoride is essential because unless you remove absolutely every bit of plaque each day, fluoride can help replace the minerals worn away by bacteria-produced acid.</p> <p><strong>Chewing on ice</strong></p> <p>While chewing ice can be very refreshing, given that teeth don’t have great fracture resistance, it’s not a good habit to get in. Furthermore, as ice will take your mouth from warm to cold – and this tends to make things expand and contract very slightly – it can be enough to put little micro-cracks in your enamel.</p> <p>You can get away with it for a while, but the little cracks in your teeth can build up and one day, a piece might just break off.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Man accidentally inhales drill bit at the dentist

<p>A run-of-the-mill trip to the dentist for a 60-year-old man from Illinois in the US turned into anything but a normal occasion with the unthinkable happened.</p> <p>Right at a crucial moment during his dental procedure, the man inhaled sharply right before an innocent cough – and accidentally breathed in the dentist’s drill bit, resulting in an emergency trip to the hospital.</p> <p>In recounting the terrifying incident, Tom Jozsi said that he was at the dentist getting a tooth filed when he was told he had "swallowed" the tool. However, doctors later determined that he had "inhaled" it right before he coughed, sending the 2.5cm drill bit deep into the lung.</p> <p>“I didn’t really even feel it going down. All I felt was a cough. When they did the CT scan they realised, ‘You didn’t swallow it. You inhaled it,’” he said.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/Drill-bit.jpg" alt="" width="572" height="370" /></p> <p>Dr Abdul Alraiyes, at Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha in Wisconsin, said the bit was so deep that normal scopes couldn’t reach it. Jozsi said he was told that if it couldn’t be taken out, part of his lung would have to be removed.</p> <p>Alraiyes and his medical team decided to try a newer device to remove the object – one that’s designed for early detection of cancer. They were able to pull out the drill piece without harm.</p> <p>“I was never so happy as when I opened my eyes, and I saw him with a smile under that mask shaking a little plastic container with the tool in it,” Jozsi said.</p> <p>Joszki said he now keeps the drill bit on a shelf at home.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty & NBC</em></p>

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Do I really need this crown? Dentists admit feeling pressured to offer unnecessary treatments

<p>If your dentist recommends a crown, your wisdom teeth extracted, or some other common treatment, you may wonder whether it’s really necessary.</p> <p>We don’t know how common such over-servicing is. However, our research, which includes interviews with Australian dentists in private practice, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12592">published today</a>, shows it is an issue.</p> <p>Not only is this a problem for patients, some dentists say they feel pressured to recommend unnecessary treatments. And the way dentists are paid for their services actually encourages it.</p> <p><strong>What is over-servicing in dentistry?</strong></p> <p>Over-servicing <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h869">can occur</a> in many types of health care, with various definitions. But in dentistry, our research defines over-servicing as when dental treatments are provided over and above what’s clinically justified, or where there is no justification for that care at all.</p> <p>Over-servicing in dentistry is reported <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/05/the-trouble-with-dentistry/586039/">internationally</a> and <a href="https://www.cdhjournal.org/issues/36-3-september-2019/986-dentistry-and-oral-health-in-online-media-sources-a-discourse-analysis">discussed online</a>.</p> <p>And we’ve known about it in Australia for some time. In 2012, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/1-7m-fine-for-cheating-dentist-patient-had-75-000-of-unnecessary-work-20120725-22q04.html">a Sydney dentist</a> went to court and was fined more than A$1.7 million for performing almost $75,000 worth of treatment on one patient, knowing it was unnecessary and would be ineffective.</p> <p>In 2013, another Sydney dentist was <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/andrew-istephan-escapes-jail-over-unnecessary-dental-work-on-nursing-home-patients-20131129-2yg62.html#ixzz2m09GwDUz">found guilty</a> of over-servicing elderly nursing home patients, some of whom had dementia. He filed down their teeth to fit them for crowns they did not need, without anaesthesia.</p> <p>However, over-servicing can be less extreme than revealed in these landmark court cases. Dentists we interviewed said they often felt pressured to over-service as part of their day-to-day practice.</p> <p><strong>What we found</strong></p> <p>We analysed interviews with, and diary entries from, 20 Australian dentists working in private practice, the first study of its kind to include their perspectives on over-servicing.</p> <p>Most dentists we interviewed had felt pressure to provide unnecessary care. Pressure came from practice owners, or their own need to meet financial commitments.</p> <p>They spoke about a culture in some practices of “finding treatment” to do, rather than simply treating the issues patients had:</p> <p><em>I quit my first job because they were overly commercial and I figured that out about two weeks in because there it was very much a matter of, “how many crowns are you doing per week? We expect our clinicians to be doing at least a crown a day” and there was no real care factor towards, what does the patient actually need? It was very much a matter of, “Okay, you’re seeing a new patient, see if you can get this much revenue out of that one”.</em></p> <p><strong>Why does this happen?</strong></p> <p>Most private dentists in Australia earn their wage linked to how much treatment they provide. So this fee-for-service model provides <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdoe.12267">an incentive</a> for them to provide more treatment, rather than less.</p> <p>However, over-servicing isn’t inevitable. Some participants said their professional identities as dentists helped them place patients before profit:</p> <p><em>Look, I’d always put my professionalism first. There’s been a couple of times when I’ve recommended a crown and I sort of thought “OK, am I doing this because the crown is a high-end item or because I really believe it’s the best thing for the patient?”, and I always go with what I believe is the best thing for the patient.</em></p> <p>The dentists we spoke to also said they spent a lot of time considering how they managed patient care in a system inherently skewed to promote over-servicing.</p> <p>So what happens when you shift away from purely a fee-for-service model? This might include a monthly fee for having a patient registered with a practice or service, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cdoe.12544">as trialled in the United Kingdom</a>.</p> <p>The amount of clinical treatment <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cdoe.12544">reduced</a>, with patients noting little change in the service they received.</p> <p><strong>How do we tackle this?</strong></p> <p>We could address the culture of over-servicing by changing the way dentists are paid, away from a pure fee-for-service model. Payments could be linked to measurable improvements in oral health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/two-million-aussies-delay-or-dont-go-to-the-dentist-heres-how-we-can-fix-that-113376">rather than purely just how much dentists do</a>.</p> <p>However, with fee-for-service being so entrenched in Australian dentistry, we admit this would be a difficult task, despite the increased awareness of the topic that research like ours brings.</p> <p><strong>What if I’m not sure I need a recommended treatment?</strong></p> <p>If you’re not sure why your dentist is recommending a certain treatment, ask. You can also ask about the pros and cons of other options, including doing nothing for now and keeping an eye on things.</p> <p>If you’re not satisfied with the answer, you can ask for a second opinion. One thing to consider is that you’ll need to ask your dentist for a copy of your clinical records and x-rays (to avoid these needing to be taken again). And if visiting another dentist, you probably will need to pay for another consultation.</p> <p>If you’re unhappy with your care, the best place to complain to first is your treating clinician; dentists really value receiving feedback and the opportunity to put things right.</p> <p><em>Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexander-holden-305567">Alexander Holden</a>, University of Sydney. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-i-really-need-this-crown-dentists-admit-feeling-pressured-to-offer-unnecessary-treatments-148638">The Conversation.</a></em></p>

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The reason why 2 million Aussies are skipping their dental appointments

<p>Dental care in Australia is a policy anomaly; for some reason, the mouth is treated very differently to other parts of the body. <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2016-17/contents/data-visualisation">About 58% of dental costs</a> are met directly from patients’ pockets, compared to 11% for medical primary care, and 12% for prescriptions.</p> <p>As a result of these large out-of-pocket costs, <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4839.0~2017-18~Main%20Features~Dental%20professionals~4">two million Australians each year</a> defer visits to a dentist or miss out on dental care. Poorer people are more likely to miss out.</p> <p>Every few years <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0809/09rp01">the Commonwealth government introduces a new dental scheme</a> to fill the dental gap in our health system, and then a few years later the scheme is abolished with a change of government.</p> <p>This start-stop nature of dental policy has to change. What’s required is a long-term vision to reunite the mouth with the rest of the body.</p> <p><strong>The architecture of a universal scheme</strong></p> <p>Medicare is widely embraced as the central pillar of Australia’s health system. There is no logical reason why this coverage should not be extended to oral health.</p> <p>But we should learn from the Medicare experience. The expansion of dental access should be based on a <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/health">new, better model</a>. Here’s how this can be done.</p> <p><strong>Like Medicare, a universal dental scheme should be based on a mix of public and private services</strong></p> <p>State public dental services are struggling valiantly to meet demand, with <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2018/health/primary-and-community-health">waiting times of more than a year in most states</a>.</p> <p>Investing money into these schemes – as the Commonwealth has done for the past few years – has made almost no dent in the waiting lists. And the risk remains that extra investment will be discontinued with changes of government, as has happened in the past.</p> <p>Even if Commonwealth funding increased to adequate levels, it’s unlikely the state schemes could be expanded sufficiently to provide the amount of care needed.</p> <p>Nor would a monolithic public-only scheme, with no choice of provider, be consistent with the way the rest of health care is provided.</p> <p>A mixed public-private scheme could harness the existing investments by private dental practices, as has been done in the existing <a href="https://www.dhsv.org.au/public-dental-services/childdental">Commonwealth Child Dental Benefits Scheme</a>.</p> <p><strong>A universal scheme should be ‘opt-in’: it should be based on dental practices agreeing to be part of the scheme</strong></p> <p>Practices would be allowed to participate only if they agreed to certain conditions, most notably that they will bulk-bill all patients – thereby removing the financial barriers to dental care.</p> <p>Participating practices would also be required to provide information on the results of their care, and to participate in approved programs to improve the quality of their care.</p> <p><strong>Quality care should be rewarded</strong></p> <p>Although the universal scheme would initially make fee-for-service payments to participating practices, in a similar way to Medicare paying GP clinics when you visit a doctor, the payment system should become more sophisticated over time.</p> <p>This could include rewarding dentists and practices that get the best results for their patients, by supplementing fee-for-service payments with <a href="http://www.acffglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Towards-paying-for-health-in-Dentistry-Policy-Lab-Report.pdf/">performance-related payments</a>based on following evidence-based practice and achieving better dental <a href="https://www.ichom.org/portfolio/oral-health/">outcomes</a>.</p> <p><strong>Not all aspects of oral health care should be covered under the universal scheme</strong></p> <p>The priority should be to ensure the scheme funds primary dental care and treatments that are aimed at preventing problems and disease from developing. This includes check ups, treatment for tooth decay – <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30107377">which now may not involve drilling</a> – and dentures.</p> <p><strong>The funding arrangements for the universal scheme should be designed to encourage reform and expansion of the dental workforce.</strong></p> <p>A universal dental scheme will require a bigger dental workforce. All oral health professionals should be encouraged to work to the top of their expertise and qualifications.</p> <p>Under the new scheme, for example, oral health therapists would be able to perform many of the services now performed by dentists.</p> <p><strong>How much will it cost?</strong></p> <p>A universal dental scheme would cost about an extra A$5.6 billion a year. That sort of money could not be found overnight. Nor could the number of professionals required to staff such a scheme.</p> <p>Instead, the federal government should announce that Australia will move to a universal dental scheme over the next decade – and it should produce a roadmap to get there.</p> <p>The first step should be for the Commonwealth government to assume funding responsibility for oral health care for pensioners and health care card-holders – the group covered by existing state public dental schemes.</p> <p>The Commonwealth funding should be on the basis of the mixed public-private model described above.</p> <p>This initiative would cost an extra A$1 billion a year. That is a more affordable price tag – and sufficient dental professionals are already available to meet the anticipated extra demand.</p> <p>Offsets against this extra funding could come from savings elsewhere in the health system. Previous Grattan Institute reports have identified opportunities in both <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/home/health/hospitals/">hospitals</a> and <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/home/health/pharmaceuticals/">pharmaceuticals</a>, or from the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks, as recommended in <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/a-sugary-drinks-tax-recovering-the-community-costs/">another Grattan report</a>.</p> <p>An A$1 billion a year investment in expanding access to dental care for pensioners and health care card-holders would eliminate the waiting lists for existing public dental services, address a key inequity in health care, and set the stage for the big reform: <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/home/health/">a universal dental scheme for Australia</a>.</p> <p><em>Written by Stephen Duckett. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/two-million-aussies-delay-or-dont-go-to-the-dentist-heres-how-we-can-fix-that-113376"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>.</em></p>

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Dentist reveals the “scary” impact of one gin and tonic

<p>A Sydney dentist has revealed the terrifying impact just one sugary beverage can have on teeth.</p> <p>Dr Lewis Ehrlich shared confronting before and after images, with the dentist saying carbonated drinks leave teeth with “more holes than Swiss cheese”.</p> <p>“You only get one set of adult teeth,” he said.</p> <p>“If these drinks can dissolve the hardest part of your body it’s scary to think what they would be doing elsewhere.”</p> <p>First, Dr Ehrlich shared a magnified photo of a healthy tooth with a “smooth” intact surface, after being exposed to still drinking water.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:269.140625px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820273/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6ef92d32990c42eb8ebe66c707c50760" /></p> <p>He explained that when sugary and acidic beverages are consumed, it can damage tooth enamel and leave holes.</p> <p>He then shared an image of tooth enamel after drinking just one sweetened “sugar free Vodka cruiser”.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:269.140625px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820274/2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9b4e77c818a24aedbcc820b3e5e3305f" /></p> <p>“There are more holes than Swiss cheese,” Dr Ehrlich said of the impact of this pH 3.2 beverage.</p> <p>Finally, the dentist showed how tooth enamel is impacted after drinking a very acidic pH 2.2 Gin and Tonic.</p> <p>“The enamel has seen better days after a late night,” he said.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height:269.140625px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820275/3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/78d4847f126a48ff8763cd59581d37a1" /></p> <p>Dr Ehrlich encouraged people to avoid “carbonated and sweetened drinks where possible” but gave some advice to those who couldn’t.</p> <p>“If you’re going to have them, drink them through <span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit !important;">a (biodegradable) straw</span> and chase them with a water,” he said.</p> <p>“Wait at least 30 mins before brushing your teeth, and it’s not a bad idea to have some healthy food around to help stimulate saliva and protect those chompers.”</p>

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10,000 Aussie dental patients urged to get blood tests for HIV and hepatitis

<p>Health experts have urged up to 10,000 dental patients in Sydney to get tested for serious blood-borne diseases, including HIV, after a dentist was found to be breaching hygiene standards.</p> <p>NSW Health has warned patients of dentist Dr James Pok-Yan Ng, who worked in Ramsay St, Haberfield, to visit a GP for blood tests.</p> <p>Any patients who have ever visited the Haberfield dentist in the past 35 years, even if they saw a different dentist, have also been encouraged to get screened.</p> <p>The Dental Council suspects up to 10,000 patients may be affected by the hygiene breach.</p> <p>In July, an investigation found evidence of filthy dental equipment and a poor practice environment.</p> <p>Acting director of Sydney Local Health District’s Public Health Unit, Dr Zaina Najjar, said so far, no patients had acquired a blood-borne virus because of the dental clinic.</p> <p>“Precautionary testing for hepatitis B, C, and HIV is recommended for anyone who attended the clinic over the past 35 years, especially those who had invasive procedures,” Dr Najjar said.</p> <p>“This would have involved a needle or other instrument piercing the skin, gums or tooth root, or where bleeding may have occurred, but we recommend any patient of this practice sees their GP.”</p> <p>“The council carries out inspections of dental practices when a complaint is made which raises a possible concern about compliance with our infection control guidelines,” said Dental Council of NSW president Dr Shane Fryer.</p> <p>“Overwhelmingly, the majority of dental practitioners comply with infection control guidelines, procedures and obligations but if anyone has concerns, we urge you to contact the HCCC or the Dental Council.”</p> <p>Dr Pok-Yan Ng has since had his registration suspended and has been barred from practicing as a dentist in Australia. </p>

Caring

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Aussies' filthy oral hygiene habit – are you guilty of this?

<p>New data has revealed that Australians are failing to listen to the advice of dentists and are struggling to maintain dental hygiene.</p> <p>According to Australia’s Oral Health Tracker released earlier this week, more than 90 per cent of adults have experienced decay in their permanent teeth.</p> <p>Surprisingly, only half of adults are brushing their teeth twice a day as recommended.</p> <p>The Oral Health Tracker found that factors such as risky alcohol consumption and smoking are contributing to the poor oral health among adults.</p> <p>The data also discovered alarming levels of tooth decay among children, with three out of four consuming too much sugar.</p> <p>“The evidence shows that one-third of Australia’s five- to six-year-olds have had decay in their baby teeth. This is an unacceptably high rate and puts these children at risk of poor oral health in their development and adult years,” Dr Hugo Sachs, president of the Australian Dental Association, told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/national-study-reveals-only-half-of-australians-brush-their-teeth-twice-a-day/news-story/d149925bf73fe4dc9c32a5623493a780" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">news.com.au.</span></strong></a></p> <p>Australia’s Oral Health Tracker was created by dental academics/researchers, clinicians, policy and public health experts, and was released by the ADA.</p> <p>The Tracker sets targets for improving the oral health of children and adults by 2025, to achieve the World Health Organisation’s targets for global prevention and reduction in chronic diseases.</p> <p>Earlier this month, the Royal Children’s Hospital poll found that by early primary school one in four children need a tooth filling. One in 10 needed a tooth pulled out because of decay and one in 20 required a hospital visit to treat a decayed tooth.</p> <p>Dr Sachs explained that poor oral health links to a range of diseases in adulthood, so it is important to ensure the young have good dental hygiene.</p> <p>Sydney dentist Dr Steven Lin has also said that Australians need to focus on nutrition to look after their teeth.</p> <p>Dr Lin told news.com.au that “most adults, and almost no kids, brush and floss properly”.</p> <p>“While it’s a fine way to polish teeth, brushing is like taking a car with a broken engine to the car wash,” he said.</p> <p>“It cleans but it doesn’t address the problem.”</p> <p>Dr Lin highlighted that we need to maintain a diet that contains fats, vitamins D, A and K2 to maintain healthy mouths.</p> <p>“Harmful foods that we eat are what fuels disease in the mouth. Vegetable oils and white flour are refined carbs, so anything with white flour has a very similar metabolic effect to sugar by creating cavities.</p> <p>“Over time, we have stripped out foods that promote healthy teeth — like butter, meats, yolks and full-fat dairy. If you don’t include these types of fats in your diet, you lose the ability to absorb those vitamins.”</p> <p>How do you take care of your teeth? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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The reason behind your sensitive teeth

<p>If you are someone who experiences teeth sensitivity when enjoying a coffee or ice cream, you might be feeling quite frustrated. Sensitivity can stop you from enjoying your meals, as you are so worried about the pain that could come at any moment. </p> <p>But working out the cause of your sensitive teeth can play a major role in helping you to get rid of it.</p> <p><strong>Have you got gum disease?</strong></p> <p>When you have this, your gums start to recede, causing exposure to sensitive tissue underneath. You will also feel sensitivity if you have a tooth that is damaged and left untreated. Avoid this by ensuring good dental hygiene, brushing and flossing regularly, and having annual check ups at the dentist.</p> <p><strong>Are you a bit heavy handed when brushing and using the wrong products?</strong></p> <p>Use a soft bristled toothbrush and avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth when you brush as this affects your gums.  When it comes to mouthwash and toothpaste, avoid those with whitening agents if you already have sensitivity, as the alcohol content will make it worse.  Go for a sensitive toothpaste as these contain potassium nitrate, which will provide some relief.</p> <p><strong>Do you have enamel damage?</strong></p> <p>Things like teeth grinding, or using your teeth to open bottles (yikes!) can cause damage to the enamel on your teeth. You should also avoid bleaching your teeth if you already have issues with sensitivity.</p> <p><strong>Have you just had a procedure (or do you need one)?</strong></p> <p>If you’ve just had a trip to the dentist you can feel sensitive for weeks afterwards. This is perfectly normal but always ask your dentist if you feel it has been going on for some time.  If you know you need an extraction or crown, it’s very common to feel sensitivity in the lead up to the procedure.</p> <p><strong>Have you got any tips for dealing with teeth sensitivity that you’d like to share?</strong></p> <p><strong>RELATED LINKS:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/pains-you-should-never-ignore/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>6 Pains you should never ignore</strong></em></span></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2016/06/rules-for-denture-care/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span>7 top tips for keeping your dentures like new</span></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2017/01/calcium-and-maintaining-your-bone-health/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>What you need to know about calcium and good bone health</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Dog dental assistant helps calm patients

<p>A dental surgery in the US has employed a special helper to comfort those who experience anxiety during visits to the dentist – a 6-year-old golden retriever named JoJo!</p> <p>JoJo, a trained comfort dog, was a first responder to survivors of the horrific Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. Today, she works every week at the Paediatric Dentistry of Northbrook in Illinois, calming children during their dental appointments.</p> <p>According to her handler, Lynne Ryan, “JoJo had to be trained to get used to all the different noises in a dental office, like the sound of the drill and the suction,” she explains. “But now, she gets up on the chair and reclines on children’s laps.”</p> <p>Clearly the beloved pooch has made a big difference to anxious children. Staff member Veronica Renteria says JoJo helps the children take their minds off the situation and makes the appointment run faster and more effectively. “When Jo Jo comes in with them and sits in the chair, they’re comforted. They can just sit and pet her as they’re getting their teeth cleaned. She’s does a great job with them,” she told <a href="https://www.thedodo.com/dentist-office-hires-comfort-dog-1700145805.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Dodo</span></strong></a>. “She loves coming in. She’s very well trained and knows what she’s doing. We all benefit from her so much.”</p> <p><em>Image: Paediatric Dentistry of Northbrook / Facebook</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/04/blind-dog-has-sight-restored/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blind dog has his sight restored</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/04/dancing-dog-shows-off-his-moves/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dancing dog shows off his moves</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/grandpa-and-dog-go-viral/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">90-year-old grandpa’s photos with new dog will warm your heart</span></strong></em></a></p>

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4 habits that are surprisingly bad for your teeth

<p>While we’d never go weeks without taking a shower or eating, why is it that so many of us are guilty at neglecting our teeth every day? Just as much as taking care of your teeth is about keeping them clean and your breath fresh, it’s also about preventative maintenance. How many of these bad oral health habits are you guilty of? Tips on how to nix these behaviours included</p><p><strong>Not visiting the dentist enough</strong></p><p>Even if you think you go above and beyond when looking after your oral health – think brushing, flossing, and even use a special set of dental tools remove plaque – that still doesn’t mean you can skip your yearly cleaning at the dentist’s office. Make sure to schedule an appointment at least once a year.</p><p><strong>Brushing from side to side</strong></p><p>If you clean your teeth twice a day you deserve a pat on the back, right? Simply sticking a toothbrush in your mouth and moving it around is not enough. Good tooth brushing requires a certain technique. This does not involve any side-to-side action. Rather you’ll want to go in small circles. Forceful side-to-side brushing combined with an abrasive toothpaste can actually damage the teeth. You also need to ensure you brush along the gum line and the back of your teeth&nbsp;to loosen bacteria. Another big brushing mistake? Not doing it for long enough. While most people would’ve heard that the ideal length of time is two minutes, this is an arbitrary number, rather you should brush until you completely get all sides of every single tooth.</p><p><strong>Using a non-fluoride toothpaste</strong></p><p>Not all toothpastes are created equal! Some toothpastes, especially natural ones, brand themselves as fluoride-free, even though you need fluoride to achieve the healthiest mouth possible. Fluoride is essential because unless you remove absolutely every bit of plaque each day, fluoride can help replace the minerals worn away by bacteria-produced acid.</p><p><strong>Chewing on ice</strong></p><p>While chewing ice can be very refreshing, given that teeth don’t have great fracture resistance, it’s not a good habit to get in. Furthermore, as ice will take your mouth from warm to cold – and this tends to make things expand and contract very slightly – it can be enough to put little micro-cracks in your enamel. You can get away with it for a while, but the little cracks in your teeth can build up and one day, a piece might just break off.</p>

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Sugary drinks to blame for high number of toddler with rotting teeth

<p>Toddlers as young as 18 months are having rotting teeth pulled out, dentists say.</p><p>Sophie Beaumont, a dentist at Victoria's public dental hospital, said children were coming in with blackened teeth and pus-filled gums, believed to be caused by sugar drinks and high sugar diets.</p><p>Some children’s mouths were so bad that they needed to have all their baby teeth removed in major operations.</p><p>"It is very sad because you can imagine the impact on that child when they have to go to school with no teeth and try to function without them. It is quite upsetting," Beaumont said.</p><p>"It is not uncommon to be taking out 12 or 14 baby teeth in one go. We would do that quite frequently."</p><p>More than 1000 children throughout Victoria needed to be put under general anaesthetic at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne last year, with most of the operations related to getting decayed teeth removed. Of these, 178 were three or under.</p><p>Beaumont said that soft drinks and other drinks high in sugar such as cordials or fruit juices were the main culprit for the rotting teeth.&nbsp;</p><p><img width="428" height="240" src="http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2015/10/14/6927768/Article%20Lead%20-%20wide1001448293gipay5image.related.articleLeadwide.729x410.gk8ig5.png1444778395149.jpg-620x349.jpg" alt="A three-year-old had 11 teeth extracted, and (right) a two-year-old was often given soft drink, which had dissolved the teeth down to the gum, exposing the nerve. " style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p><p><em>A three-year-old had 11 teeth extracted, and a two-year-old was often given soft drink, which had dissolved the teeth down to the gum.</em></p><p><strong>Related links:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/read-fairy-tales-to-grandchildren/">Why you should always read fairy tales to grandkids</a></em></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/the-joy-a-new-grandchild-can-bring/">The joy grandchildren bring explained</a></em></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/08/new-favourite-childhood-book-covers/">Your favourite childhood books now look different</a></em></strong></span></p>

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Sugary drinks to blame for high number of toddler with rotting teeth

<p>Toddlers as young as 18 months are having rotting teeth pulled out, dentists say.</p><p>Sophie Beaumont, a dentist at Victoria's public dental hospital, said children were coming in with blackened teeth and pus-filled gums, believed to be caused by sugar drinks and high sugar diets.</p><p>Some children’s mouths were so bad that they needed to have all their baby teeth removed in major operations.</p><p>"It is very sad because you can imagine the impact on that child when they have to go to school with no teeth and try to function without them. It is quite upsetting," Beaumont said.</p><p>"It is not uncommon to be taking out 12 or 14 baby teeth in one go. We would do that quite frequently."</p><p>More than 1000 children throughout Victoria needed to be put under general anaesthetic at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne last year, with most of the operations related to getting decayed teeth removed. Of these, 178 were three or under.</p><p>Beaumont said that soft drinks and other drinks high in sugar such as cordials or fruit juices were the main culprit for the rotting teeth.&nbsp;</p><p><img width="428" height="240" src="http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2015/10/14/6927768/Article%20Lead%20-%20wide1001448293gipay5image.related.articleLeadwide.729x410.gk8ig5.png1444778395149.jpg-620x349.jpg" alt="A three-year-old had 11 teeth extracted, and (right) a two-year-old was often given soft drink, which had dissolved the teeth down to the gum, exposing the nerve. " style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p><p><em>A three-year-old had 11 teeth extracted, and a two-year-old was often given soft drink, which had dissolved the teeth down to the gum.</em></p><p><strong>Related links:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/read-fairy-tales-to-grandchildren/">Why you should always read fairy tales to grandkids</a></em></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/09/the-joy-a-new-grandchild-can-bring/">The joy grandchildren bring explained</a></em></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family/2015/08/new-favourite-childhood-book-covers/">Your favourite childhood books now look different</a></em></strong></span></p>

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