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.

A large US study found no overall link between fluoride in pregnancy and children’s behavior

A US cohort study of 5,520 children found no overall association between prenatal exposure to fluoride in public drinking water and internalizing or externalizing behavioral problems across the primary analyses. Exploratory analyses identified some associations with externalizing problems at higher fluoride concentrations and in certain subgroups, but the researchers said these findings require further investigation.

13 Sep 2026

Healthy checkout ordinance linked to lower soda and candy sales

A new study found that a healthy checkout ordinance implemented in Berkeley, Calif. supermarkets, drug stores, and mass-market retailers in 2021 was linked to notable decreases in soda sales overall and small-package candy in supermarkets, but greater enforcement of such policies is essential for sustained and meaningful public health benefit.

10 Sep 2026

Sugar tax could prevent millions of cases of tooth decay in Australia

Millions of cases of tooth decay could be prevented if Australia introduced a 20 per cent tax on sugar, new Griffith University research has found.

25 Aug 2026

Prenatal exposure to higher water fluoride levels associated with lower child cognition

Pregnant mothers who lived in neighborhoods where public drinking water fluoride levels were near or above the current U.S. recommended levels tended to have children who scored lower on tests of fluid reasoning as fluoride levels increased, according to a new study supported by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

18 Aug 2026

Prenatal appointment scheduling increases dental care during pregnancy

Prenatal visits might include bloodwork, discussions of due dates and vitamins, and ultrasounds. What if these visits could also improve oral health care among pregnant patients?

13 Aug 2026

Large US trial supports silver diamine fluoride for severe early childhood caries

A phase 3 randomized trial of 830 young children with severe early childhood caries found that 38% silver diamine fluoride arrested 54.0% of eligible cavitated dentin lesions at six months, compared with 22.5% after placebo. The noninvasive treatment showed clinically meaningful efficacy, but about half of the lesions remained active, supporting close monitoring and additional preventive care.

3 Aug 2026

Good oral health could improve athletic performance

Millions of fans around the world will be glued to screens in the coming weeks to watch remarkable displays of speed, precision and endurance in the world's most important football competition.

25 Jun 2026

New miniature dental robot could automatically prepare teeth for crowns

Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a miniature dental robot that could one day automatically prepare teeth for crowns.

23 Jun 2026

New poll reveals political divide over public water fluoridation

As the debate over the value of adding fluoride to public drinking water percolates in communities across the nation, a new nationally representative survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania finds Americans sharply divided over the use of fluoride in public drinking water.

12 Jun 2026

Study finds gap in school-based dental care participation

Children who don't go to the dentist are less likely to participate in school-based cavity prevention programs, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.

9 Apr 2026

Pediatric experts say plain yogurt is safe from 6 months and belongs in a baby’s diet

An expert panel review says plain, whole yogurt with no added sugar or sweeteners can be introduced from 6 months as part of complementary feeding, provided it does not replace breast milk or infant formula as the main source of nutrition. It also explains that yogurt provides live microorganisms and key nutrients, is generally well tolerated, and helps address common myths about inflammation, mucus, acne, sugar, and safety.

2 Apr 2026

Snus linked to gum damage but tooth decay risk unclear

Snus is clearly linked to damage to the gums. The connection to tooth decay, however, remains unclear, according to a systematic review. When it comes to white snus, more studies are needed.

23 Mar 2026

More kids are in ERs for tooth pain. Trump cuts and RFK Jr.’s anti-fluoride fight aren’t helping.

Eight-year-old Jonah woke up one May morning with a swollen face and a toothache. He refused the pain medication that his mom, Geneva Reynolds, tried to give him. He didn't sleep or eat and cried constantly.

10 Mar 2026

Study shows biosynthetic method to make low-calorie sugar substitute

From saccharin in the 19th century to stevia and monk fruit in the 21st, researchers and the food industry have long sought a sweetener that delivers the taste of sugar without its drawbacks-excess calories, tooth decay, and heightened risk for obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

12 Jan 2026

Arginine can modify plaque formation on teeth and protect against dental caries

New human clinical trial proves arginine, an amino acid, can modify plaque formation on teeth, thereby protecting against dental caries.

8 Jan 2026

Doctors warn about cardiovascular dangers from excessive energy drink use

Downing several strong energy drinks every day may pose a serious stroke risk, doctors have warned in the journal BMJ Case Reports, after treating an otherwise fit and healthy man in his 50s with a daily 8-can habit and exceedingly high blood pressure.

9 Dec 2025