The American Association for Dental Research and International Association for Dental Research have long been collaborating to disseminate ways of preventing tooth decay. They educate people of how proper oral hygiene methods of brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, regular dental checkup, sealant treatment, flossing, eating nutritious meals, and limiting in-between meals will always be indispensable.

Dental researchers have recently discovered how bacteria which attack teeth, stick themselves to enamel. This new information could bring significant benefits to increase public's knowledge on eliminating harmful effects of tooth decay-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans). Aside from this, they are also in process of developing vaccines against tooth decay and discovering other new methods on targeting and killing decay-causing bacteria.

Other tooth decay treatments, i.e., dental implants, Healozone gas blast (blast that triggers saliva to fix teeth naturally), and squirting genetically modified bacteria that will not produce decay acid, are also being developed. The use of fiber optics and fluorescence methodologies is also being considered to possibly detect tooth decay much sooner than x-rays and visual inspections can.

These advancements in treating dental cavities are evidences of increasing attention to oral care. But relying mainly on these discoveries does not guarantee complete disappearance of tooth decay from list of most common global health problems. Further improvements on tooth decay treatment entails expanded dental care education, early interception of poor oral hygiene habits, greater parental involvement in children's dental health and appreciating how priceless a confident smile is.

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1. Sit comfortably with your back straight. Place your hands on a table or desk in front of you.

2. From this position inhale until you feel you are full of air. As you do this I want you to imagine you are pulling a white pure light into your abdomen.

3. On completion of inhalation hold this white light for a second (at most) in your abdomen then exhale.

4. Repeat five times slowly. This is first step.

5. Now lets advance this! Do same as above and have white light in your abdomen area.

6. This time though do not simply exhale. Instead, as you exhale, imagine this white light spreading from your abdomen throughout your entire body. As it spreads into your legs, feet, chest and head allow it to soothe and relax your major body parts.

7. Do this at least five times slowly. This requires a slow exhale to allow time for you to visualise this pure, relaxing, white light time to spread throughout your whole being. Feel your muscles (and mind) loose any unnecessary tension.

Try this right now.

Give yourself five minutes to experience how just your controlled breath can really make a difference. At end of each day perform this for five to ten minutes. Not only will it help tension to melt from your mind it will also benefit your health through your deep focused breathing gently massaging your internal organs.

Have at it!

© Tim Webb 2005