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.

Good oral health habits begin even before the first baby teeth appear

For many parents, thoughts of their children's dental health often comes long after the first baby teeth appear. Yet a lifetime of good oral health habits begins even with toothless infants, says Dr. Louis Amendola, D.D.S., Chief Dental Director at Western Dental Services, Inc.

2 Mar 2011

Bottle-feeding may lead to severe tooth decay in babies: Experts

Dental experts have urged parents to stop bottle-feeding their babies because of rising rates of severe tooth decay in infants as young as 12 months. In the warning from Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, experts say that prolonged feeding with bottles of breast milk and infant formula are linked to the problem, especially at night, when children suck on bottles in their cots for extended periods.

7 Feb 2011

Sugary snacks and lax dental hygiene put kids at risk for tooth decay

While the most prevalent focus of February is on Valentine's sweethearts, parents are well advised to also focus on the proverbial sweet tooth - particularly when it comes to their children. That's because February is National Children's Dental Health Month, an ideal time - according to Health Net, Inc. - for moms and dads to make sure that sugary snacks, as well as lax dental hygiene - aren't putting their kids at risk for tooth decay.

7 Feb 2011

Henry Schein, supplier partners, ADA to sponsor 'Give Kids A Smile Day' event

Henry Schein, the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and veterinary practitioners, and its supplier partners have joined with the American Dental Association, Colgate-Palmolive and DEXIS to sponsor the ninth annual ADA "Give Kids A Smile Day."

5 Feb 2011

Oragenics to commence second phase 1 clinical trial for SMaRT Replacement Therapy

Florida-based biopharmaceutical company Oragenics, today announced its intention to commence a second phase 1 clinical trial of SMaRT Replacement Therapy.

31 Jan 2011

Eliminating sugary drinks from diet can reduce tooth decay in American Indian children

A study conducted in four American Indian communities in the Pacific Northwest presents an effective strategy to convince mothers to switch young children from drinking sweetened soda to water and shows that eliminating these sugary drinks from the diets of the youngest members of the tribe significantly decreased tooth decay.

24 Jan 2011

NYC Council Member introduces legislation to prohibit fluoridation of water supply

On January 18, 2011, NYC Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. introduced legislation (Int 0463-2011) "prohibiting the addition of fluoride to the water supply

21 Jan 2011

HHS and EPA make new announcements on fluoride based on up to date scientific data

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today are announcing important steps to ensure that standards and guidelines on fluoride in drinking water continue to provide the maximum protection to the American people to support good dental health, especially in children.

10 Jan 2011

ADA commends HHS for reaffirming safety, efficacy of optimal community water fluoridation

The American Dental Association (ADA) today commended the Federal agencies responsible for public health and safety for recalibrating the ratio of fluoride to water that they consider optimal based on scientific evaluation and the full appreciation of fluoride received from all sources.

7 Jan 2011

Star Scientific plans to submit new, moist-snuff product for FDA evaluation

Star Scientific Inc.'s plan to submit a new, moist-snuff product for evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration as a "modified risk" tobacco product shows the vital importance of the new law giving the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products and any health claims used to market them.

5 Jan 2011

24th study finds stronger association between fluoride in water and lower IQ in children

Exposure to fluoride may lower children's intelligence says a study pre-published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (online December 17, 2010).

22 Dec 2010

Study reports protective shield fluoride on teeth is 100 times thinner

In a study that the authors describe as lending credence to the idiom, "by the skin of your teeth," scientists are reporting that the protective shield fluoride forms on teeth is up to 100 times thinner than previously believed.

16 Dec 2010

Researchers decipher mechanism responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth

The Groningen professors Bauke Dijkstra and Lubbert Dijkhuizen have deciphered the structure and functional mechanism of the glucansucrase enzyme that is responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth. This knowledge will stimulate the identification of substances that inhibit the enzyme. Just add that substance to toothpaste, or even sweets, and caries will be a thing of the past. The results of the research have been published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

4 Dec 2010

Plackers recommends simple steps to maintain healthy teeth, gums during stressful holiday season

Three-quarters of American adults report moderate to high stress levels in their everyday lives, and that number increases during the holiday season, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.

30 Nov 2010

Immunity-enhancing probiotics may be the best line of defense for good health

Good bacteria, bad bacteria, billions of bacteria—sounds downright germy. But the truth is that research in gut health is germinating more insight into the role bacteria, also known as "probiotics," play in our overall health and wellness.

25 Nov 2010

On Thanksgiving Day never mind conflict with the in-laws; it's cake vs. cranberry, pie vs. wine

If you're lucky, it will all be kisses and hugs around the Thanksgiving dinner table, with friends and family near and dear gathered about, and puppies gathered around your feet waiting for table scraps.

24 Nov 2010

New initiative to help improve oral health for North Carolina children

The North Carolina Head Start-State Collaboration Office and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), today announced the launch of the Head Start Dental Home Initiative to improve oral health for North Carolina children.

20 Nov 2010

Oragenics awarded $733,437 Federal Grant under PPACA Act

Florida-based biopharmaceutical company Oragenics, Inc. announced that it will receive a $733,437 Federal Grant as part of Congress's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

8 Nov 2010

New program at Dental Horizon guides generation to healthy smiles

One local Longmont dentist is going head-to-head with the cavity bugs and redefining the phrase "put your money where your mouth is." This Halloween, little ghosts and goblins can trade in their excess candy for cash, and help support our overseas troops.

30 Oct 2010

Dental health affects control of diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects every part of the body, and for people with unstable blood glucose levels there is a higher risk than normal for developing serious complications from poor oral hygiene. In a study by dLife, the world's largest diabetes community, and SoundView Research, Inc., 66 percent of active diabetes managers had not changed their oral care habits since being diagnosed and over half have not been advised by their dentist to take extra care to brush, floss, or rinse daily.

29 Oct 2010