The Health Blog
Stay Healthy, the Natural Way

Reviewed By Ray SpottsProof that the dental profession is undergoing demographic changes - especially in gender distribution – appeared in a new study.  The Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) in collaboration with the American Dental Association, evaluated differences in dental practice characteristics and service delivery by gender to anticipate changes that might affect the availability of dental services for underserved populations in the future. In 2016, nearly 30 percent of all dentists in the U.S. were female, versus 24 percent in 2010, which suggests that more women are entering the field.

Reviewed By Ray Spotts Genetic makeup does not predispose people to tooth decay, however research does find that children with overweight mothers are more likely to have cavities. A new study - published in Pediatrics - estimates that one in three Australian children have tooth decay by the time they start school.

Reviewed by Ray SpottsA new study says antibiotics prescribed by dentists as a preemptive strike against infection are unnecessary 81 percent of the time. Antibiotics prescribed when not warranted expose patients to the risk of side effects unnecessarily and also contribute to the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Written By Emily Bartels / Reviewed By Ray Spotts There are plenty of reasons to lose weight, like staying fit and looking good. However, here is one more reason that most people don’t know. According to a new study on oral diseases, overweight people have poor oral health as compared to fit people. The study also shows that obese people are at a six times higher risk to suffer from gum diseases.

Reviewed By Ray SpottsAlthough in most cases bad breath is simply an annoyance, it can sometimes be a symptom of more serious medical and dental problems.  Researchers - reporting in ACS' journal Analytical Chemistry - have developed a sensor that detects tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas - the compound responsible for bad breath - in human exhalations.

The final tooth evolution in the lineage of powerful predators took 12 million years, a study shows.

. Researchers recently discovered epigenetic markers that are distinctly different in oral cancer tissues compared to the adjacent healthy tissues in patients.    

Reviewed By Ray Spotts A new pre-clinical study – co-lead by UCLA researchers - could prevent patients treated for cancer or osteoporosis from experiencing jawbone damage as a result of oral surgery. Bisphosphonates are currently used to treat patients who have bone cancer or osteoporosis. These drugs bind to the skeleton and prevent a loss in bone density and remain bound to bones for months or even years after initial treatment.

Reviewed By Ray Spotts Older adults are at risk for both impaired oral health and malnutrition, says a new study by Rutgers University researchers. The study, published in the Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice, analyzed the health records of 107 community-dwelling senior citizens treated at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine clinic between 2015 and 2016. The results showed that more than 25 percent of the patients had malnutrition or were at risk for malnutrition.

As a natural sweetener, xylitol has been used in chewing gum and mints for years upon years. Recent studies from the University of Washington have shown more positive benefits to the sugar compound than previously imagined.

Reviewed by Ray Spotts Dual discoveries at USC propose a promising method to regrow nonliving hard tissue, lessening or even eliminating pain associated with tooth decay, which the National Institutes of Health calls the most prevalent chronic disease.