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December 2002
Viral mouthwash may curb
precancerous mouth lesions
A mouthwash that contains a
modified respiratory virus known as ONYX-015 may help prevent
precancerous mouth lesions from becoming cancerous.
Approximately 30% to 40% of precancerous mouth lesions contain
defects in p53, a common tumor suppressor. Although
surgery--the conventional therapy--eradicates individual
lesions in a patient's mouth it has no effect on new cases of
cancer. ONYX-015 is an adenovirus that has been modified to
selectively kill p53-deficient cancers and precancerous cells.
The virus is being developed as a therapeutic by Onyx
Pharmaceuticals of Richmond, California.
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HRT Toothpaste, Taste of
Things to Come? Women
seeking to counter the effects of the menopause may soon be
able to do it simply by brushing their teeth: American
scientists have developed a toothpaste that provides hormone
replacement therapy (HRT). The toothpaste, which also works
perfectly for dental hygiene, will offer an easily remembered
alternative for women suffering the hot flushes, flagging
libido and sleeplessness that often accompany the menopause.
Research at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston
has shown that controlled, long-lasting doses of the female
hormone oestrogen can be administered effectively in this way.
Although further trials are still required, the HRT toothpaste
could reach the market within five years. British
Dental Association Dec 02
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Reducing tobacco use doesn't
compare to quitting in risk reduction: Heavy
smokers hoping to stave off respiratory illness or death by
cutting down on the number of cigarettes they smoke may want
to rethink their choice and quit altogether, according to new
study findings from Denmark. Significantly reducing the
number of cigarettes smoked did not appear to have any
long-term benefit in terms of death risk compared to not
cutting down at all, according to the report published in
the December issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. In
the current study, Dr. Nina S. Godtfredsen of Copenhagen
University Hospital and colleagues assessed the cause of death
for nearly 20,000 people over a 15-year period. The
investigators compared heavy smokers (15 or more cigarettes a
day) who reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked by at
least half during the study but didn't quit, with smokers who
did quit, as well as people who continued to be heavy smokers.
The researchers also looked at consistent light smokers, who
smoked 14 cigarettes or less daily. Heavy smokers who cut
their cigarette intake by half saw no reduction in deaths from
any cause during the study period. Quitters, on the other
hand, had a 35 percent lower risk of death from all causes
than those who continued to smoke heavily, while light
smokers' death risk was 25 percent lower. And quitters cut
their risk of death from tobacco-related cancer by 64 percent,
while there was no significant difference in mortality from
such cancers for those who reduced their tobacco intake. The
researchers also found no difference in respiratory disease or
mortality from cardiovascular disease between people who
reduced their smoking and those who continued to smoke
heavily. The authors note that the study is the first, to
their knowledge, to investigate from a prospective point of
view the question of whether reducing cigarette smoking can
cut mortality risk. SOURCE: American Journal
Epidemiology 2002;156:994-1001. Up
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Additive-free cigarettes no
safer for smokers: Additive-free
cigarettes such as the "American Spirit" brand are no
safer to smoke than conventional filtered cigarettes,
researchers from the University of Maryland have found. Noting
that both the American Spirit cigarettes and bidis contain
carcinogenic compounds, the investigators point out that
such non-conventional cigarettes pose a substantial health
risk to smokers. And they emphasize that adolescents appear to
be particularly vulnerable to becoming dependant on such brands.
Sanders from the American Spirit company states "American
Spirit cigarettes are not marketed as a safer alternative
to conventional cigarettes but rather as a tastier option." We
make no representation — expressed or implied — that these
cigarettes are any less hazardous than any other
cigarettes." A.D.A.
Dec. 2002
Up
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A
Question of Digestion
 |
| If
you're having trouble digesting your holiday
leftovers, try chewing on some gum after your
meal.
Chewing gum may help to
alleviate symptoms of heartburn by stimulating
saliva production. Saliva helps protect the
lining of your esophagus by reducing the amount
of time that stomach acid comes into contact
with it. Choose non-mint gum because mint
flavoring may exacerbate heartburn.
RealAge.com
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|
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November 2002
Simply White
Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s Simply
White, clear whitening gel, sells for about $15.
The American Dental Association says the product is safe; the
range of whitening power it has, though, is usually just a
shade or two.
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Elderly Nutrition: It's Not The Dentures,
But How They Fit
Although many older people
don't get the nutrients they need, the risk of having a
poor diet is higher in people who are missing teeth or have
ill-fitting dentures, according to a recent study. It
shocked researchers to learn that it didn't matter if people
had dentures or not — it was how the dentures were
maintained.
Nutrition is important at
all ages, but is especially important in older people, who
often have other medical conditions or complications. For
example, protein and zinc deficiencies can weaken the body's
immune system, and decreased vitamin C intake can increase the
risk of periodontal disease and
peripheral artery disease.
Having a bottom denture
that fits correctly is more important to nutrient intake than
having a well-fitting top denture. Tooth loss causes
underlying bone loss in the jaw, which can alter the fit of
dentures gradually until they no longer fit properly.
"Maintain your
health and your teeth and keep them as long as you can."
The research appears in the
October 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Dental
Association.
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Hide
your toothbrush behind closed doors in the medicine cabinet to
dry, or put down the toilet lid before you flush the toilet.
Experiments on toothbrush
disinfectant reveal E.coli
grows on wet toothbrushes left out on the bathroom
counters in toothbrush holders or cups as a result of
contaminated aerosols released into the air after flushing the
toilet -these tiny droplets contaminated with E.coli and
other enteric organisms settle on wet toothbrushes and the
bugs multiply and then infect the oral cavity. The idea that
E.coli comes from contaminated toothbrushes in bathrooms
explains (partially) why some people grow E.coli when we do
cultures of saliva samples (the other reason is, of course. is
'honeymoon syndrome' - oral sex. It also explains why you can
get serious pneumonia infections when your immune system is
compromised (e.g. while in the hospital). Then there are the
kids in the family who let their pet dog lick them on the
mouth. If the dog doesn't pick up enteric organisms from
licking itself you- know-where, it could easily pick up human
enteric organisms from drinking toilet water. Written
by Harvey from genR8TNext@yahoogroups.com
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The Relationship Between Periodontal
Disease Attributes and Helicobacter pylori Infection Among
Adults in the United States
We investigated the
relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and
abnormal periodontal conditions. Methods. A total of
4504 participants aged 20 to 59 years who completed a
periodontal examination and tested positive for H. pylori
antibodies that cause stomach ulcers were examined. Results. Periodontal
pockets with a depth of 5 mm or more were associated with
increased odds of H. pylori seropositivity Poor
periodontal health, characterized by advanced periodontal
pockets, may be associated with H. pylori infection in adults,
independent of poverty status.
Bruce A. Dye, DDS, MPH, Deanna
Kruszon-Moran, MS and Geraldine McQuillan, PhD The authors are
with the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Bruce
Dye, DDS, MPH, CDC/NCHS, 6525 Belcrest Rd, Room 900,
Hyattsville, MD 20782 (e-mail: bfd1@cdc.gov).
Up
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Harvard Medical School researchers studied longevity
and found one of the most important contributing factors was
daily flossing. Because it removes bacteria from the
teeth and gums, flossing helps to prevent periodontal
disease and gingivitis. Another study found that men with
periodontitis had a whopping 72% greater risk of developing
coronary disease. Gingivitis was associated with a
42% increased risk for men.
Up
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According to
Research!America, Americans spent nearly $2.025 billion on Halloween
candy this year. That would fund the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research for almost six years.
Up
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October 2002 is National
Dental Hygiene Month
Telephone Tooth. You
can listen but you can not talk back. A prototype of the
telephone tooth-an implant that allows recipients to
discreetly receive phone calls, listen to music, and connect
to verbal sites on the internet was recently unveiled at the
Science Museum in London. The reception of the sounds
would be totally discreet, enabling the user to receive
information anywhere, at any time, without detection, but you
can only listen; it cannot allow you to talk back to callers
or make outgoing phone calls. You would also be required
a have a small device outside your body to both power and
program the implant.
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Doctors Grow Living Pig
Teeth Pig's teeth
were grown in rat's abdomens from dental stem cells in 30
weeks. This is an effort to move toward biological replacement
tooth therapy. It was predicted that you will be able to grow
your own replacement tooth in about 10 years.
Up
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Trends in Caries among
Adults 18 to 45 Years Old
Caries improvements have occurred
with a 50% decrease in cavities in this age group. Young
adults 18 to 25 years old in NHANES I grew up before
widespread fluoridation, while people the same age in NHANES
III grew up when fluoridation and preventive dentistry were
more widely available. The impact is a decline in the
need for restorative
dentistry. [Trends in Caries among Adults 18 to 45
Years Old JADA September 2002 Brown L.J.,Wall T.P.,Lazar V.]
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Phantom' Tooth
Pain
— Phantom limb pain after an amputation
isn't the only type of mysterious pain that puzzles doctors
and worries patients. Dental patients who have a tooth
extracted can have pain at the site of the extraction for
months afterwards. It's the toothache that won't go away,
but there's no tooth there. It's not common, it affects
perhaps less than one percent of dental patients. But phantom
tooth pain can last for months, and can also spread
beyond the extraction site to other areas of the mouth.
Such phantom tooth pain may be related to changes in a
person's pain threshold. Phantom tooth pain is caused
by changes in surrounding nerves that can occur after some
extractions. No one knows what causes these changes.
Patients who suspect they may have phantom tooth pain should
consult a specialist in orofacial pain to obtain a
diagnosis. Often, when the pain spreads, dentists who don't
think about the possibility of phantom tooth pain will suggest
more procedures, such as extracting another tooth. "Don't
keep having procedures done," he advised, until a
diagnosis of phantom tooth pain is ruled out. Aug.
27, 2002 Post-extraction 'phantom' tooth can haunt patients By
Kathleen Doheny San Diego (Reuters Health) 2002 Reuters
Limited.
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GREEN TEA: Fighting
Bad Breath
The "polyphenols" in
green tea (GTP) induced cell death in certain types of
tumor cells, including oral
carcinoma cells. Therefore, drinking green tea is a
safe way to prevent the growth of certain cancers without
harming normal cells. The investigative team at the University
of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) compared the effects
of foods such as green tea products, mint, a parsley oil
product, and chewing gum on the bacteria that cause bad
breath. The green tea dramatically reduced the
concentrations of methyl mercaptan in the subjects' mouths.
Also, there was a significantly higher deodorant effect from
the tea than from the other products. The team thus concluded
that green tea is a promising approach to the gentle treatment
of bad breath. American Association
for Dental Research GREEN TEA: Preventing Cancer AND Fighting
Bad Breath San Diego, CA
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September 2002
Researchers Grow Teeth in
Mass. Lab
-A team of scientists
grew accurate versions of natural teeth in a laboratory,
raising the possibility of an eventual replacement for manmade
implants such as dentures, bridges and crowns. The scientists,
based at Forsyth Institute, were reportedly the first to grow
such a complex tooth structure from a collection of individual
cells.
Researchers said it would be at least a decade before the
technique could be used to help patients. The results appear
in the The Forsyth scientists manipulated pigs' dental
stem cells - primordial cells that differentiate into the
various tooth structures - to make enamel, which gives teeth
their distinctive, hard exterior. The
Associated Press BOSTON (AP)
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Sensitive Stuff
|
| Are you thinking of
brightening your smile at home with a
tooth-whitening product? Make sure your teeth
are healthy first.
Studies show that
some at-home whitening systems may cause a
temporary increase in tooth sensitivity,
especially in people with receding gums due to
gingivitis. Stay up-to-date on your dental
checkups and make sure that your teeth and gums
are healthy before you expose them to the active
ingredients used in whitening kits.
Realage.com
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|
Up
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Government's first annual report on the Health
Status of Women
Women Health USA 2002 reports trends
that show a disproportionate impact on women
of certain health conditions such as
asthma, diabetes, lupus and
osteoporosis. Women are living longer than men
and are more likely to have health insurance. Information on
dental care in this report indicates that
62.7 percent of women visited a dentist in the
last year but that approximately one-third of
American women had not visited a
dentist for a year or more. Hispanic
and black women were more likely than white women
to have gone without dental care for
a year or more. Less than 1 percent of
women had never seen or talked to a
dentist. To view the site: www.mchb.hrsa.gov/data/women.htm
Up
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Nursing
Home Oral Health Care questions to ask before
placing a loved in a nursing home.
Up
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August 2002
|
Falls Cause The Most Dental Injuries
In Children
|
Falls are the most common cause of
dental emergencies in children, and boys are injured
three times more often than girls, according to a
one-year study.
Nearly 60 percent of dental
trauma seen during the study was caused by falls
during play. The least common cause of injury to
the mouth or teeth was motor vehicle accidents, which
accounted for less than 2 percent. The children ranged
in age from 15 months to 14 years, and males
accounted for 75 percent of the visits.
Injuries tended to occur at home in
the middle of the day. On average, the visit to the
emergency room occurred five months after the fall or
trauma.
In most cases, at least one tooth
was fractured. The permanent upper front teeth
were affected 80 percent of the time. About 40
percent of the children needed some form of endodontic
(root-canal) treatment. Five percent had to have missing
teeth replaced.
Dental Traumatology; August 2002; Nancy Volkers;
InteliHealth News Service
|
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Dental problems can boost
pneumonia risk Dental problems can boost pneumonia risk in
elderly.
Better dental care among the
elderly — especially in nursing homes — could reduce cases
of a particular type of pneumonia, according to
researchers from the University of Michigan and Veterans
Administration. Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that
occurs after bits of food or stomach contents are inhaled into
the lungs. Investigators found patients were at higher risk
for this type of pneumonia if they had dental plaque or
certain types of mouth bacteria. Overall, patients who had
a stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or
needed help eating were at risk for the ailment. "We
know, as a result of previous studies, that it's just an area
that tends to be overlooked in nursing homes It's often left
to the residents to clean their mouth, and they just ignore
it.People with dementia or other conditions that impair
their mental status, or those who can't easily move their
hands, are especially likely to have dental problems. In
the meantime, nursing homes should assign and educate specific
staff members, preferably nurse's aides, to do some actual
tooth brushing for people who can't brush their own teeth.
Additionally, they should encourage the use of a mouthwash,
such as chlorhexidine, which can kill some harmful organisms
in the mouth. "
By Meg Bryant Washington (Reuters
Health)
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To Top
|
Dentists Reassure Patients Confused
About Dental Filling Safety
|
CHICAGO (American Dental Association)
-- A new survey indicates one in four people have
heard that silver-colored fillings (amalgam) are
"bad for you" or could cause health
problems, despite assurances from major U.S. health
agencies that this is not the case. According to the
findings, patients who ask about the safety of amalgam
during their dental visits are more likely to choose
the silver-colored filling than those who do not ask.
Dr. Donovan asserted that there's a
wealth of scientific studies, which show there is no
relationship between amalgam fillings and adverse
health problems, except for a tiny percentage of
people who may be allergic to one of the filling's
components.
"Let your common sense be your
guide," Dr. Donovan stressed. "Dentists
work with amalgam nearly
every day, and research shows they are no more prone
to serious health problems than the general
population."
Dr. Donovan urges people to talk
to their dentist about any concerns they
may have with their oral health. "We want to help
patients make informed choices about their oral health
treatments based on the best available science and
their individual case history."
|
Up
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|
Boys Develop Extra Teeth More Often
Than Girls
|
Boys are more than twice as likely
as girls to develop extra teeth, according to a
study of more than 150 children.
About three-fourths of the children
had only one extra tooth, 18 percent had two, and 5
percent had three or more. The children ranged in age
from 5 to 15.
Ninety percent of the extra teeth
were in the top front of the mouth. Only about
one-fourth of the extra teeth had erupted into the
mouth.
Other research also has shown that
extra teeth, also called supernumerary teeth, are more
common in males than in females.
About two in every 100 people
have at least one extra tooth. Some are of normal
shape and size, but many are underdeveloped.
The top front of the mouth is the most common place
for extra teeth to appear. They can interfere with
the eruption of other teeth or can cause crowding.
Often, the extra teeth have to be extracted.
July, International Journal of
Paediatric Dentistry; Nancy Volkers InteliHealth News
Service
|
Up
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Smoking is so harmful to gums that even
smokers with good oral-hygiene habits are more likely to
develop gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss.
Researchers looked at the conditions of
lower molars (back teeth) in 60 smokers and 60 people who had
never smoked. The people in the study ranged in age from 31 to
60 years, and all had good oral-hygiene habits.
Smokers had more signs of periodontal
disease, including receding gums, pockets between the
teeth and gums, loss of gum attachment to the teeth, and loose
teeth. Seventy-three percent of smokers, but only 20 percent
of nonsmokers, showed a loss of gum attachment down to where
the tooth splits into more than one root.
The researchers conclude that smoking is a
major risk factor for periodontal problems, even in people
with good dental care habits.
July issue of the Journal of Periodontology;
Nancy Volkers InteliHealth News Service
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Warning
denture-wearers to keep their mouths shut during
high-adrenaline sports? Carl Root, of Daytona Beach, let
out a whoop as he jumped from a skydiving plane and lost
his dentures, reports The Daytona Beach News Journal. Mr
Root, 34, said, 'It's a very expensive learning lesson,' and
added that he would never jump wearing his dentures again. The
stunt was being filmed, and the dentures can clearly be seen
on tape, falling 9,000 ft. Root said they could be anywhere in
a 770 square-mile area, so has given up hope of finding them,
but Root says their loss did not ruin his day. He loves
skydiving and will be jumping again in October – without his
dentures
Up
To Top
|
Tooth Decay Decreasing In Younger
Adults, But Not For Those Over Age 45
|
Tooth decay has become much less common
in young and middle-aged adults since the 1970s, but older
adults still have as much tooth decay as they did
then.
Overall, tooth decay dropped 27
percent from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. However,
all the decrease was among adults aged 18 to 45.
Decay rates remained the same among older adults --
those aged 46 to 65..
In both the 1970s and 1990s, the
youngest group of adults had less than half the decay
rate of the oldest group, which the researchers
attribute to childhood access to widespread water
fluoridation and better preventive dentistry.
Data from both surveys showed
that women had more decay than men, whites had
more than African-Americans, and people above the
federal poverty level had more decay than those at or
below it. People living at or below the poverty
level were more likely than people living above
poverty level to have untreated tooth decay.
Journal of the American Dental Association., July
2002
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July 2002
Respiratory infections The
oral cavity has long been considered a potential reservoir for
respiratory pathogens. The mechanisms of infection could
be:
 |
aspiration into the lung of
oral pathogens capable of causing pneumonia |
|
colonization of dental
plaque by respiratory pathogens followed by aspiration |
|
facilitation by periodontal
pathogens of colonization of the upper airway by pulmonary
pathogens. |
Several anaerobic bacteria
from the periodontal pocket have been isolated from infected
lungs. In elderly
patients living in chronic care facilities, the
colonization of dental plaque by pulmonary pathogens is
frequent. Notably, the overreaction of the inflammatory
process that leads to destruction of connective tissue is
present in both periodontal disease and emphysema. This
overreaction may explain the association between
periodontal disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. These
findings underline the necessity for improving oral hygiene
among patients who are at risk and those living in long-term
institutions.
[Mojon P Oral Health and Respiratory Infection JCDA
2002;68(6):340-5]
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Tooth surface loss: does
recreational drug use contribute? This study showed
that there was severity of occlusal (biting surface) tooth
wear of the lower first molar teeth
was significantly greater in the drug user group than
in the control group Conclusion. Regular use of
amphetamine-like drugs could be associated with increased
posterior (back) tooth wear.
Tooth surface loss: does recreational
drug use contribute? Peter J. Nixon, , Callum C. Youngson and
Angela Beese Clin Oral Invest (2002) 6: 128-130
Up
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July 5 is Dental Awareness
Day, Call SmileLine for Free Advice On July 5, 2002,
dubbed "Dental Awareness Day". Anyone with questions
or concerns about their oral health can call the SmileLine,
toll-free, at 1-800-SMILE-33 (1-800-764-5333) from 11:00 a.m.
to 11:00 p.m. EDT.
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Tooth decay in outer space
"Japanese researchers say
the bacteria that cause cavities seem to grow 40 to 50
times faster in zero gravity. The reason is unknown, but a
micro-gravity environment can affect the body's ability to
produce saliva. This means that bacteria aren't washed off the
teeth quickly. Also, because of the shortage of water on space
missions, astronauts don't usually spit after brushing, in
which case, even the bacteria that are dislodged by brushing
might stick on the teeth again. The Japanese research team is
now working on an "outer space toothbrush" its
bristles will ooze toothpaste and reabsorb the foam as an
astronaut brushes." [ Science News,
2002 April 2 EXN.ca cited Communique 2002;May/June:10
Up
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June 2002
Swimmers
Risk Stained Smiles, Chipped Teeth Competitive
swimmers may be at risk for developing yellowish-brown or
dark-brown stains on their teeth. Athlete swimmers, who often
swim laps more than six hours a week, expose their teeth to
large amounts of chemically-treated water. Pool water contains
chemical additives like antimicrobials, which gives the water
a higher pH than saliva, causing salivary proteins to break
down quickly and form organic deposits on swimmer's teeth. The
result is swimmer's calculus hard, brown tartar deposits
that appear predominantly on the front teeth. "It's a
common cosmetic condition among swimmers. Swimmers who
notice the stains should talk to their dentist and perhaps
increase their dental visits to three or four times a year.
During the summer, swimming pool accidents are the number one
cause of dental emergencies. "Swimming underwater and
quickly coming to the surface causes some children to hit the
hard ledge, loosening the front tooth,". Also, running on
slippery, slick cement and ceramic pool surfaces sends many
children headfirst into the ground, often causing chipped or
displaced (loose) teeth. "Diving into shallow waters and
hitting the bottom pushes the tooth up and can fracture the
whole bone,".
Academy of General Dentistry June 2002
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Avoid Diver's Mouth Syndrome
And "Tooth Squeeze"
Before you go scuba diving, see
your dentist because this sport can lead:
|
to jaw joint pain |
|
gum tissue problems |
|
"tooth
squeeze"--pain in the center of the tooth caused by
the changing pressure. |
All of these symptoms add up to
"diver's mouth syndrome," a condition of the mouth
that is caused by the mouthpiece and by the air pressure
change involved in scuba diving.
"Diver's mouth
syndrome" is also called barodontalgia. Most standard
scuba diving rubber mouthpieces are usually too small for most
divers. Divers have to drag a bulky air regulator through the
water with their teeth. They may bite too hard into the
mouthpiece, which could lead to jaw joint pain and gum
lacerations. At first, divers may not notice the
discomfort in their mouth caused by an ill-fitting mouthpiece
because they are so distracted. But when they conclude their
dive and pull off their mouthpiece, they may notice the jaw
joint pain caused by clenching too hard onto the mouthpiece or
gum lacerations. If the jaw joint pain persists longer than
a few days, the diver should consider visiting a dentist to
evaluate for possible temporomandibular joint syndrome.
The dentist may construct a custom-fitted mouthpiece for scuba
divers to avoid such problems.
"Tooth squeeze is if
there's a big cavity, a filling that's broken, gum disease,
periodontal abscess or incomplete root canal therapy, the changing
pressure of scuba diving can become extremely painful.
Be sure you're in good
dental health before you go scuba diving.
Be wary of scuba diving if you've just had a tooth extracted
that caused an open space in your gums, or if you have only
temporary fillings. Be very cautious if you have dentures or
partial dentures -- they can be inadvertently swallowed during
a dive.
Academy of General Dentistry, June 2002.
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From Wallet to Waistline
A report titled "From
Wallet to Waistline" that compares the
price, calories, and saturated fat in differently sized
foods from f ast-food chains,
convenience stores, ice cream parlors, coffee shops, and
movie theaters. Click
here for more on this report......here is a shocking
example: Moving from a small to a
medium bag of movie theater popcorn costs about 71
cents—and 500 calories. A 23% increase in price provides
125% more calories and two days’ worth of saturated fat.
(And that’s unbuttered popcorn!)
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A new study of 3,873 children,
shows that children whose parents smoke are more likely to
develop cavities. The children had dental examinations and
a blood test measuring their cotinine levels, which is a
quantitative marker for tobacco-smoke exposure.
The researchers found that 47 percent of the children in the
study had cavities in their deciduous (baby) teeth and 26
percent had cavities in permanent teeth. The researchers
determined that secondhand smoke was most associated with
cavities in deciduous teeth.
This study should serve as a sobering wake-up call to parents
who still don't see the danger in smoking around their
children that secondhand smoke accounts for a significant
proportion of cavities in children.
"If a child has a cavity, the dentist should explain to
parents that smoking may be the cause. New research
shows that secondhand smoke
may cause cavities. Maybe that's another reason you should try
to quit.'"
The study's findings were presented at the Pediatric
Academic Societies', from the University of Rochester
Medical Center.
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There's
Nothing Dangerous About 'Silver'
Fillings
Mercury Ban Promotes Lawsuits,
Not Health
Migraines: Prevent them with
a dental appliance
A dental appliance called the NTI
recently won FDA approval as a remedy for migraine and
tension headaches. In studies, 82% of migraine sufferers had
77% fewer headaches when they wore the NTI. The NTI can be
made in a dentist's office in 15 to 20 minutes and costs $600
to $800. More than 28 million Americans suffer from migraines.
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May 2002
It is generally recommended that
toothbrushes should be replaced after three-months' use in
order to maintain efficacy. This study showed that
both the new and the worn toothbrushes significantly reduce
plaque. The new brush was, however, significantly more
effective than the worn brush. New toothbrushes had
13.4%, 11.0%, and 17.0% greater plaque reduction. It is
concluded that a worn toothbrush is less effective than a
new toothbrush for plaque removal and control of gingivitis.
J Clin Dent 2002;13(3):119-24; A
clinical investigation into the effect of toothbrush wear on
efficacy. Warren PR, Jacobs D, Low MA, Chater BV, King DW.
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Poor Dental Hygiene in Elderly May
Increase Risk of Type of Pneumonia
A study of patients aged
57 years to 98 years found an increased risk for
aspiration pneumonia in individuals with dental plaque
or certain types of mouth bacteria. Aspiration
pneumonia is an infection that is caused by bits of food or
stomach contents being inhaled into the lungs. The study
reviewed records of 408 patients and found those who had a
stroke; had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including
emphysema and chronic bronchitis; or needed help eating,
were at risk for the infection. They
suggested that nursing homes encourage the use of
mouthwash and that they assign and educate specific staff
members to perform tooth brushing for those patients who
cannot do it for themselves.
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FDA warning: Nicotine
lollipops, lip balm illegal
Smokers who've used nicotine-containing lollipops or lip balm
as a smoking cessation aid or a quick fix in a non-smoking
environment may be surprised to learn that some such products
could be illegal.
The FDA says that compounded nicotine medications produced
with a
compound not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
and
produced without a prescription are illegal. The FDA
issued warning
letters to three pharmacies nationwide that have been selling
nicotine lollipops and/or nicotine lip balm on the Internet.
The pharmacies involved are located in Mississippi,
Massachusetts and Illinois .The candy-like lollipops may
also present a risk to children who mistake them for candy.
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Early AM Dental Appointments. May Reduce
Stress
To reduce stress and possibly the risk of a
heart attack, people with a history
of heart disease should
schedule short, early in the day dental appointments
according to a new study in JADA.
Patients with severe heart disease
whose blood pressure fails to adapt
well to stress are at a high risk of
experience heart failure during dental procedures.
(April JADA)
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In-dental-office screening
for diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is undiagnosed
in approximately half of the patients actually suffering from
the disease. In addition, the prevalence of DM is more than
twice as high in patients with periodontitis. Thus, a
high number of patients with periodontitis may have
undiagnosed DM.During routine periodontal examination bleeding gums is a sign
of periodontitis. This
blood may be used for diabetes
mellitus screening
in a dental office setting.
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April 2002
California defeats amalgam
bill
April 24, the
state assembly's Health Committee voted 9-4 to table a
bill that would have phased out the use of dental amalgam.
"Part of the junk science testimony was
that amalgam is a 19th century medical practice —and that,
in itself, is a reason to not use it,Yet, four out of the
five committee members who agreed with that analogy were
wearing eyeglasses—another health apparatus used in the
19th century."
"This bill, on and after Jan. 1, 2007,
would have prohibit a dentist from providing a patient with
a dental filling that contains mercury," .Furthermore,
from now until the total ban takes effect, the bill would
have required dentists who place amalgam fillings to provide
patients with a written disclosure.
Such proposed warnings conflict with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration's guidance on labeling dental
amalgam and FDA conclusion that "no valid scientific
evidence has ever shown that amalgams cause harm to patients
with dental restorations."
Taken from ADA News 4/26/02
Bad News For Apple Fans
Dentists are warning that fruit should no
longer be eaten as a snack between meals because of its
high level of sugar and acidity, which erode teeth,
Part of the problem is the fact that the
sugar content in apples has risen by up to 50 per cent in the
last decade. New research found that the typical modern apple
now has a sugar content of up to 15 per cent, meaning that it
contains
the equivalent of 4 teaspoons of sugar. Also, the acid
content in apples can strip away tooth enamel.
The British Dental Association (BDA) are
advising people to:
| Choose a wiser snack between meals of
cheese because it neutralizes the acidity that can attack
tooth enamel. |
| Brushing the teeth after eating an apple
as a snack. |
| Eat apples only at mealtimes and then
rinse the mouth with water to minimize tooth damage. |
The Sunday Times and the Daily Mail.
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Giving Your Eye Teeth
A woman who has been blind for 10 years
can see again after an
operation in which a tooth was implanted into her eye socket.
The tooth was first fitted with an optic
lens and inserted in the other eye, so that soft tissue and
blood vessels could develop around it.
Kalpna Shah, 39, is only the 20th person to
undergo the pioneering surgery, called, osteo-odonto
keratoprothesis, since it was first performed in 1996, says
the newspaper. The operation was carried out at the Sussex Eye
Hospital in Brighton - the only unit in the UK where the
surgery is carried out.
The procedure involves the surface of the
eye being reconstructed using tissue taken from the inside of
the cheek. Then, a tooth is selected and removed and a hole
drilled, into which an optical cylinder is placed. The tooth
is then inserted in the opposite eyelid, so that tissue can
form around it and blood vessels grow into the graft.
A second operation is then performed up to 4
months later where the tooth is removed and replaced into the
white of the other eye. As a result, vision gradually
improves.
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March 2002
Coffee May Help Prevent
Decay Coffee
made from roasted coffee beans has antibacterial activities
against certain microorganisms, including Streptococcus mutans
(S. mutans), a major cause of dental caries“. All coffee
solutions have high antiadhesive properties due to both
naturally occurring and roasting-induced molecules. It
was found that caffeine is not involved in the antiadhesive
properties of coffee solutions. The data from the study also
suggest that trigonelline, a water-soluble compound in coffee
that contributes to the aroma and flavor of the beverage, may
have the major responsibility for coffee’s anti-adhesive
activity. So coffee might be effective in preventing S.
mutans-induced tooth decay.”
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry;
Gabriella Gazzani, Ph.D., of the University of Pavia 3/02
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The Dental Health Status of
Dialysis Patients is poor and requires greater attention.
Judith T. Klassen, BSc, DDS Brenda M.
Krasko, DMD; JCDA 2/02
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Popular Medications
Increase Risk of Cavities
The medications with the above mentioned
effects include asthma medications,
allergy drugs, medications with a calming effect and stomach
medications.
More than 70% of those who use the drugs
have said that they experience a dry mouth and many of these
are elderly and/or women.
The dryness increases the risk of both cavities and
inflammations in the oral cavity
M2 Communications Ltd
March is National
Nutrition Month.
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February 2002
One-off spray to end tooth decay
A MOUTHWASH containing genetically
engineered bacteria could soon
offer a permanent solution to tooth decay. The
spray, which is based on a new strain of the mouth microbes
that cause cavities, would be squirted into the mouth in a
one-off treatment lasting five minutes. It would offer
lifelong protection. A research team led by Jeffrey Hillman,
Professor of Dentistry at the University of Florida, has
created a genetically modified strain of
S. mutans, which does not produce lactic acid, so cannot cause
decay.
The GM strain is much stronger than the naturally occurring
one and
rapidly drives harmful bacteria from the mouth.
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Most Common Bleeding Disorder Goes Undiagnosed With
Sometimes Tragic Consequences
Von Willebrand Disease
It’s the most common
bleeding disorder in the world, one hundred times more common
than better-known Hemophilia, but chances are you’ve never
heard of it—nor have many doctors. Von Willebrand
(WILL-E-BRAND) disease affects an estimated 3 million American
men and women, most of whom are undiagnosed. The bleeding
disorder can cause a number of problems ranging from
life-altering to life-threatening, especially in women where
heavy menstrual periods can rule their lives and lead to
unnecessary hysterectomies. The
first step towards treatment begins with a visit to your
family doctor.
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Smile Deemed A Valuable Asset
81 percent of women and 66 percent of men
between the ages of 18-65 years believe a smile is very
important to a person's appearance, according to a
survey by the ADA/and ORAL B. In addition, 47% of women and
27% of men said a smile was what they noticed first about
other people. Nearly 100 percent felt healthy teeth and gums
were important.
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January
2002
Bad Oral Health Plagues
Americans: to see more click
here.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and
Periodontal Disease May Be Associated
An Australia study found that
prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis was 3.95% in the periodontal
treatment groups versus 0.66% in the general dental treatment
group. In addition, 62.5% of periodontal
patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffered from ADVANCED
DISEASE.
The periodontal group also
reported a higher prevalence of cardiovascular
disease and diabetes
mellitus. Patients with more advanced
periodontal disease were at higher risk of having
rheumatoid arthritis and vice versa. This study
concluded there are some pathogenetic similarities between the
two chronic inflammatory disease.
Year Book of Dentistry 2001, Dentistry Today, pg 38 Jan 2002
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Smart Fillings Speed Healing
Amorphous calcium phosphate is
showing great promise in dental restorative work. It has a
tendency to convert to the stable dental mineral
hydroxyapatite, which is the main inorganic component of
teeth. It re-deposits the hydroxyapatite in areas of the tooth
damaged by decay helping the tooth structure to repair
itself. It could be used for cavity liners or bases;
however it cannot replace conventional
filling materials at this time
http://www.ada.org/prof/pubs/daily/0201/0104fill.html
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Estrogen Receptor Variations
Related to Tooth Loss
Estrogen receptor genotypes may be connected to tooth
loss in elderly women. The type of estrogen receptor
gene a woman carries could
signal her risk of experiencing tooth loss.
http://www.ada.org/prof/pubs/daily/0201/0104est.html
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Gene variation tied to periodontitis
A variation in the gene that expresses fibrinogen,
a protein that aids coagulation and accumulates in the blood
stream in response to infection, may help to explain why some
people develop severe gum disease while others do not.
The findings were announced by the American
Association for Dental Research, based on studies by oral
biologists from the University at Buffalo School of
Dental Medicine. The study reported that adults with severe
gum disease were more likely than healthy control group
members to exhibit a genotype (Ernesto De Nardin, PhD, AGD IMPACT -
News briefs
A.D.A. New Ad Campaign
against oral cancer:
To learn more about oral cancer
visit: Oral Cancer Index
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Legacy of Discontinued Ingredients in
Patients' Mouths
Dentists see legacy of discontinued
ingredients in patients' mouths in the form of potentially
precancerous lesions. Sanguinarine,
a natural anti-bacterial agent, was once a key ingredient in
the Viadent line of toothpastes and mouth rinses.
Researchers suspect that sanguinarine causes the formation
of white
lesions, called oral leukoplakia.
The current study suggests that users of the
former Viadent formulation were eight to 11 times more likely
to develop leukoplakia.
Patients who used the old
formulation of Viadent develop lesions two, three, four, even
five years after they stopped using the product.
Patients who had used Viadent products
were 9.7 times more likely to
have developed the white lesions. Risk
was highest in patients who had used both toothpaste and mouth
rinse. Patients with leukoplakia should
be alert for oral cancer.
Patients with oral leukoplakia should get a thorough oral examination
at least every six months. While Colgate has since replaced
sanguinarine in its Viadent products with another
anti-bacterial agent,
people need to watch out for the ingredient in other brands of
dental products.
***The research was supported by a grant from the American
Cancer
Society. Epidemiology
Check out the latest dental news for 2001 at: Dental
News 2001
Check out the latest dental news for 2000
at: Dental News 2000
Return to dental news for 2003 at: Dental
News 2003
September 14, 2007
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