SonicBrite a washing machien for dental appliances
Remember the time before you knew SonicBrite existed?
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> Believe it or not there are still people out there that are wearing
> dirty dental appliances!
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> We need YOUR HELP to show them what it is like to have a confident
> smile!
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> We have been entered into a contest where we can get on the shelf at
> retail stores and reach out to these people! Everyone should enjoy a
> clean and white smile!
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> As one of our advocates you can vote for us ONCE A DAY! Please click
> here to vote:
> http://sonicbrite.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=ae1b1e4e8786a9840
> 100d8697&id=f5b5663a08&e=6e603e847b
> Help us make sure everyone can live with a CONFIDENT SMILE!
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> We appreciate your help!
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> The SonicBrite Sisters!
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> P.S. Be sure to like us on Facebook to help spread the news.
Was George Washington killed by his Dentures?
Today we know that bacteria in dentures can cause, among other things, upper respiratory infections, cardio endocarditis, intestinal infections, and open wound infections. But, what if you didn’t even know that bacteria existed?
It wasn’t until 1867 that Joseph Lister introduced the idea that micro-organisms lead to infection and that antiseptics needed to be used for surgical procedures. Washington died 68 years before this discovery. Even in this day and age, the idea that germs and bacteria on denture material can lead to systemic illnesses is only beginning to become part of our consciousness.
On Thursday, December 12, 1799, Washington spent the day outside in the snow, and freezing rain inspecting Mt. Vernon. He ate his dinner that night in his wet clothing. The next morning he complained of a severe sore throat. Accounts now attributed the cause to Quinsy, Acute Epiglottis or possibly Thrush. Quinsy is a bacterial infection causing severe inflammation of the tonsil area, often leading to the formation of an abscess that may require surgery in the tonsil area. Acute Epiglottis is a bacterial infection around the epiglottis, which can cause severe air blockage. Thrush is a yeast infection that can develop in the mouth or throat.
Washington’s condition worsened, throughout the day, until around 3 am on Saturday morning when he awoke his wife, Martha, telling her that he felt ill. Common medical practice at the time was to bleed the patient, and that is exactly what the doctors did. Although several physicians were summoned to his bed side, Washington died at 10 pm on Saturday, December 14, 1799.
Where did these infections come from? Michelle Keib, Partner at SonicBrite™, a cleaning system for dental appliances, has done research linking bacterial infections that colonize on the porous
Again, George Washington was known to be a hearty and strong individual. He had great physical strength that amazed younger men. While the story of him throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac River is untrue, he did throw a rock to the top of the 215 feet-tall Natural Bridge. If a throat infection of this kind could kill a man of his constitution, what could become of a more fragile population? Nursing Home residents who wear dentures? Youngsters who wear retainers and sports guards?
What we can learn from George Washington’s experience? We should pay closer attention to not only treating recurring Tonsillitis and Strep Throat with antibiotics, but be more watchful for where these infections are lurking. We have modern day examples of contaminated sports guards and dentures, reinfecting individuals as soon as they go back to putting them back in their mouths. These dental appliances must be cleaned of all tarter build up and disinfected on a regular basis.
Could SonicBrite have saved George Washington?
George Washington's Life in Dentures
Was the throat infection that took George Washington’s life caused by colonies of bacteria that grew in his world famous dentures?
By all reports Washington was a very athletic, strapping man who was taller, (at 6’ 2 ½”,) larger, and stronger than the average countryman of his time. So how is it that, at the age of 67, he became ill and died in only 3 days? Let’s take a look at that question.
George Washington’s suffered from both dental problems and various illnesses in his younger life. He lost his first adult tooth at the young age of 22. By the time he became President, in 1789, at age 57, he had only one tooth remaining, despite daily brushing, use of dentifrice, and mouthwash. At his inauguration, Washington was wearing a full set of dentures which were attached to his final tooth.
Modern historians suggest that mercury oxide, which he was given to treat illnesses such as smallpox and malaria, probably contributed to his tooth loss. He suffered from headache, fever, and severe muscle and joint pain. Over the ensuing years there were attacks of malaria, flu, and rheumatic complaints. Combined with what were most likely genetically poor teeth, and the stress of being Commander of the Continental Army caused constant unrelieved toothaches. In some instances, one cannot help but wonder if his teeth might have been the source of the chronic infections he suffered. His dental and health problems were intertwined. Were there abscessed partial roots still present? His diaries contain multiple references to dental pain.
Washington had frequent dental problems during his tenure as commanding general of the Continental Army. A famous painting of Washington in 1779 shows a scar on his left cheek, believed to be the result of a badly abscessed tooth. One correspondence from Washington to a dentist in 1783 was a request for material to take an impression of his mouth. He would then send the impression back to the dentist for a denture to be made. Washington was treated by no fewer than eight prominent dentists who practiced in colonial America, but his favorite was Dr. John Greenwood.
Dr. Greenwood’s dentures had a base of hippopotamus ivory carved to fit the gums. The upper denture had ivory teeth and the lower plate consisted of eight human teeth fastened by gold pivots that screwed into the base. The set was secured in his mouth by spiral springs. The upper and lower gold plates were connected by springs which pushed the upper and lower plates against the upper and lower ridges of his mouth to hold them in place. Washington actually had to actively close his jaws tightly to make his teeth bite together.
Washington complained to Greenwood about discoloring of his dentures. Dr. Greenwood suggested that Washington refrain from soak his dentures in Port wine and minimize his drinking of wine entirely while wearing his dentures. Had there been a product like SonicBrite in the late 1700’s, the President certainly wouldn’t have had to remove his dentures to enjoy his favorite wine.
His final dentures were made in 1798, the year before he died. This set had a swaged gold plate with individual backing for each tooth and was fastened together by rivets. Today, the lower denture is on display in the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, and another the set was donated to the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, the oldest dental college in the world.
Do you remember when coffee used to be just – coffee? Me too, and I never want to go back there again! If you told me then, that I would be paying $5 for a caramel macchiato, on a regular basis, I would have called you crazy. But I do, gladly.
SonicBrite is to Pumpkin Spice Latte what effervescent tablets are to a diner cup-a-Joe. The cleaning experience is entirely new now. The introduction of machinery to the process is entirely new now. The results are entirely new now.
New can be scary. We are afraid that we won’t like the new experience. A $.50 cup of hours-old, viscous, coffee is what we all knew and had resigned ourselves to. But then, little by little, hot deliciousness made its way from Seattle to where you live.
McDonalds, Tim Horton’s, Dunkin Donuts, and the local gas station have totally retooled and rebranded themselves to surf the epic coffee wave. Likewise, someday, all denture and retainer cleaning will be done in a sonic bath. We will look back at our decision to spend $39.95, for this new experience, and wonder why we hesitated. Hit this wave and enjoy!
SonicBrite is like a Pumpkin Spice Latte
SonicBrite is a family business. Our two partners, Cindy Cooper, and I, are sisters. First, let’s talk about the overall picture of family business, and then I want to share with you a much more personal insight into our family business. So, the facts:
- 80% of the world’s businesses are family owned
- Family-run businesses account for more than half of the nation’s gross domestic product
- Nearly 35% of family-owned businesses are Fortune 500 and other large companies including Ford, Koch Industries, Cargill, Wal-Mart, Weyerhaeuser, Loews and Ikea
- Approximately 60% of all public companies in the US are family controlled
- Family-owned business account for 60% of total US employment, 78% of all new jobs, and 65% of all wages paid
- More than 25% of family firms expect the next CEO to be a woman
- More than 30% of all family owned businesses survived into the second generation
*Based on KSU Coles College of Business report
But, when I picture a family business I picture SonicBrite. We recently had to prepare to fill a large retail order. We decided that a new quality control check was in order before we let that many units go out the door all at one time. But, what to do? Paying our fulfillment house was not in the budget that had been quoted, so this had to be accomplished without any additional cost to the job. So, who can you ask to work without pay? Your family! Over four days, we processed 2,000 quality checks on sonic units with the help of our brother, our mother, her boyfriend, 3 nephews, 1 niece and each other. The checks were performed at Cindy’s dining room table, under her beautiful chandelier and over much bonding and storytelling. The kids seemed to gather a whole new respect for the amount of work, detail and tenaciousness it takes to get SonicBrite out into the world. Instead of it being a mysterious process that happens somewhere by someone, it was right there for them to see, on the dining room table!
Those units have all been returned to the fulfillment house to go out on their way to their new customers and their new homes, but we will always have the memory of those four days. Family stories, political views, fond remembrances, laughter and gossip made the time and the work go by very quickly. The hours the family spent working together, toward a common goal, will be remembered f
orever. Now, that’s the definition of a family business!
Michelle Keib
