The Health Blog
Stay Healthy, the Natural Way

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray SpottsResearchers with King's College London Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences recently pinpointed why mice don't have replacement teeth by comparing gene expression in the dental lamina, the area that forms the teeth, of the mouse and the minipig, which has two sets of teeth.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray SpottsResearchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that Streptococcus mutans, a major bacterial species responsible for tooth decay, is encased in a protective multilayered community of other bacteria and polymers forming a unique spatial organization associated with the location of the disease onset.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray SpottsChildren’s negative experiences at the dentist are linked to income, ethnicity and language, according to a study from the University of California, Irvine.  The study - published in Academic Pediatrics - found that families with lower incomes or from ethnic or linguistic minority groups were more likely to report negative incidents, such as the child being physically restrained, separated from a caregiver or sedated without consent.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts For dentists to plan a dental implant operation, the implant size and position, dentists must know the exact location of the mandibular canal - a canal located in both sides of the lower jaw that contains the alveolar nerve. Since the lower jaw is an anatomically complex structure and medical experts use X-ray and computer tomography (CT) models to detect and diagnose such structures, dentists and radiologists typically define the location of the mandibular canals manually from the X-ray or CT scans.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray SpottsPlaque HD is the first toothpaste that identifies plaque so that it can be removed with directed brushing, and the product’s proprietary formulation contains unique combinations and concentrations of cleaning agents that weaken the core of the plaque structure to help the subject visualize and more effectively remove the plaque.  

Researchers report a bioactive peptide that coats tooth surfaces, helping prevent new cavities and heals existing ones in lab experiments. Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts A study explains how researchers in Japan have developed a removable dental appliance that can reduce tics in both children and adults with Tourette syndrome - a neurological disorder characterized by vocal and motor tics, which can contribute to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. This ability could positively impact the everyday lives of individuals with Tourette syndrome.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts While most of us are aware that sweets and other sugary foods and drinks increase the risk of dental cavities. Research from Aarhus University in Denmark concludes that sweet soft drinks and lots of sugar increase the risk of both dental cavities and inflammation of the gums - known as periodontal diseases - and that healthy eating habits should be prioritized even more.

A study shows the effect of obesity on non-surgical periodontal care and evaluates potential pathways that may illustrate the connection between the two conditions. Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts Fluoride may lead to a reduction in kidney and liver function among adolescents, according to a recent study. The findings showed that exposure to fluoride may contribute to complex changes in kidney and liver function among youth in the United States, where 74 percent of public water systems add fluoride.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a little-known, yet relatively common, inherited neurological condition that affects an estimated 150,000 people in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health. It typically causes weakness, numbness, muscle cramps and movement problems in legs and arms. The CMT type 2A form of the disease also may cause wasting of the optic nerve, spinal cord damage leading to difficulty walking, hearing loss, developmental delay and changes in vital tissues of the brain known as white matter.

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts Brushing teeth frequently is linked with lower risks of atrial fibrillation and heart failure, says a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology. It examined the connection between oral hygiene and occurrence of these two conditions.