Tooth Decay News and Research

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Also termed caries, tooth decay refers to the destruction of the hard white enamel on the surface of teeth that protects the inner pulp and nerves inside from the elements. This causes exposure of the inner nerves to hot and cold food or drink which leads to pain.

Pew Center on the States report finds Colorado on track in addressing dental health needs of children

Colorado is on track when it comes to addressing the dental health needs of its children, according to a report released by the Pew Center on the States. The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children, released with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the DentaQuest Foundation, grades each state's policy responses to the urgent challenges in dental health among America's children.

23 Feb 2010

Free dental services to children at the Cunningham Elementary School campus

February is National Children's Dental Health Month and Communities In Schools of Nevada is proud to recognize their partnership with Future Smiles to provide free dental services to children at their on-site clinic located at the Cunningham Elementary School campus. With fewer and fewer resources, community based programs that are convenient and accessible for families, such as Communities In Schools of Nevada's clinics, are many times the only option for dental and medical care for these students.

23 Feb 2010

PDA emphasizes the importance of developing healthy teeth and gums at early age

It's National Children's Dental Health Month, an oral health campaign designed to educate children about the importance of good oral health. The Pennsylvania Dental Association emphasizes developing good habits at an early age to help children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

18 Feb 2010

GKAS volunteers provide free dental care for children

With an economy that might cause some parents to postpone regular dental visits for their children and tooth decay being the most prevalent chronic disease in America's children, the American Dental Association (ADA) is mobilizing dental professionals for the eighth consecutive year in a national campaign to extend necessary care to children and adolescents from low-income families.

4 Feb 2010

Kool Smiles takes initiative to support children's oral care in Massachusetts

Kool Smiles is offering free toothbrushes and educational support to day care centers affected by the recent state mandate that will require day care providers to help children brush their teeth after a meal.

2 Feb 2010

Kool Smiles of Waterbury opened to offer quality dental care

It's all smiles in Waterbury thanks to the new Kool Smiles office, which opened at 728 Wolcott Street, Waterbury, CT in the Fair Oaks Shopping Center. Kool Smiles of Waterbury opened its doors on January 22nd, 2010 in a mission to expand access to quality dental care to families in the community of Waterbury.

2 Feb 2010

Study analyzes relationship between parents' and children’s' dental visits

Whether or not children receive regular dental care is strongly associated with their parents' history of seeking dental care. A new report to appear in the journal Pediatrics, which has been released online, is the first to analyze the relationship between parents' and childrens' dental visits in a nationally represntative sample.

1 Feb 2010

New review highlights risks and benefits of fluoride toothpaste in young children

Everyone who has ever seen a toothpaste commercial knows that fluoride is the ingredient that helps fight tooth decay, but a new review has determined exactly how much fluoride is best in toothpastes for children.

21 Jan 2010

Parents advised to use fluoridated toothpaste to prevent tooth decay in their children

Parents should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million to prevent tooth decay in their children, says a new report. Preventing tooth decay can help reduce the need for extensive and costly dental treatments, including extractions.

20 Jan 2010

Advantages of dental implants

Dental implants, rather than a fixed bridge or removable dentures, are an increasingly popular method of replacing teeth lost to an accident, gum diseases or tooth decay.

18 Jan 2010

Inadequate saliva and fluoride can contribute to tooth decay

Tooth enamel is tough, harder even than skeletal bone. But even with good dental hygiene, the enamel protecting teeth may show signs of decay in older adults. The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers what to look out for and what to do to promote an enamel-friendly setting in the mouth. According to the newsletter, two significant contributors to tooth decay are too little saliva and inadequate fluoride.

18 Jan 2010

ABCs for good health

While the common underlying theme of most New Year's resolutions is health-related, many tend to forget about the basics of maintaining good health through regular visits to the doctor. Even more so, we forgo the regular visits to the dentist.

29 Dec 2009

Researchers unveil complete genetic make-up of cavity-causing bacterium

Researchers have uncovered the complete genetic make-up of the cavity-causing bacterium Bifidobacterium dentium Bd1, revealing the genetic adaptations that allow this microorganism to live and cause decay in the human oral cavity.

24 Dec 2009

Tips for healthy living for the year ahead

Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, carnivore or pescetarian, vegetables should be a central part of your diet. Often referred to as a "protective food," dark green foods provide essential vitamins and nutrients to your body that protect you from many of life's worst diseases.

17 Dec 2009

Report highlights the state of oral health for children and adults in the United States

Oral disease, primarily dental caries, is the most common pediatric disease and can lead to physical and psychological disabilities as well as significant morbidity in adulthood.

9 Dec 2009

Root canal treatment: Pennsylvania Dental Association answers patients' questions

You're visiting the dentist for what you think is a routine checkup and cleaning when he or she says you need a root canal. Though it's a term you've probably heard before, now that you're the one in the chair, you may have several questions and feel apprehensive about your upcoming procedure.

13 Nov 2009

Colgate-Palmolive reaches ‘100 Million Smiles’ goal with its oral health education program

Colgate-Palmolive Company, the world leader in oral care, announced this week that it has reached 100 million children in the United States, providing free dental screenings, oral health education and treatment referrals as part of its ongoing national education program Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®.

31 Oct 2009

Oral health-care tips for Halloween

It's that time of year again when kids look forward to indulging in candy and sweets - and parents begin to fret about the damage all that sugar does to their children's teeth. But the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) says that with a few simple oral health-care tips and practices, kids and parents alike can enjoy Halloween.

29 Oct 2009

Fluoride content in infant formulas can cause tooth discoloration

All infant formulas, whether ready-to-feed, concentrated or organic, contain fluoride at levels which can discolor developing teeth, reports the October 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA)(1).

22 Oct 2009

MetLife unveils its enhanced web-based resource for oral health care

Understanding how to maintain or improve oral health just got easier. MetLife, the largest commercial dental carrier, which administers dental benefits for over 21 million people, today unveiled its enhanced consumer resource, the MetLife Oral Health Library.

24 Sep 2009