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.

New report sheds light on older adults’ oral health

A new report by the Center for Oral Health found that a significant number of older Californians are plagued by oral health problems despite the fact that dental disease is largely preventable.

30 Mar 2018

50% of Australians do not brush teeth twice a day

Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes is a basic hygiene rule. According to a new survey from the Australia’s Oral Health Tracker, only half of the Australian adults brush twice a day regularly. Australia’s Oral Health Tracker includes experts such as dental researchers, clinicians as well as policy and public health experts. This report comes on World Oral Health Day and is released by the ADA

19 Mar 2018

Poor awareness among parents may hinder a child's early dental care

A new survey has found that one in six parents are likely to postpone their children’s dental care visits until the age of 4 or older.

19 Feb 2018

Researchers propose novel solution to minimize recurrent caries

When patients go to the dentist to fill a cavity, they're trying to solve a problem -- not create a new one. But many dental patients get some bad news: bacteria can dig under their tooth-colored fillings and cause new cavities, called recurrent caries.

30 Jan 2018

Researchers report impact of fluoride overdose on children’s teeth

Children are fluoride overdosed, from all sources, at levels once thought to protect against dental fluorosis (discolored teeth), researchers report in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry, (December 2017), reports the Fluoride Action Network.

24 Jan 2018

Evidence-based approach to preventing or treating caries could transform dental care

A scientifically based approach that includes a tooth-decay risk assessment, aggressive preventive measures and conservative restorations can dramatically reduce decay in community dental practices, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco.

22 Jan 2018

EPF raises awareness campaign to improve oral health

In order to call attention to the growing burden of tooth decay and severe gum disease, and to the simple and cost-effective preventive interventions available to address these conditions, the European Federation of Periodontology is launching the Perio and Caries awareness campaign today.

11 Jan 2018

Poor oral health contributes to frailty in older adults

Oral health issues are common among older adults. These issues include tooth loss, gum disease, tooth decay, and dry mouth.

4 Jan 2018

Sugary-drink warning labels may help decrease obesity and overweight prevalence

Labels that warn people about the risks of drinking soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages can lower obesity and overweight prevalence suggests a new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study.

14 Dec 2017

Lithium in drinking water can slow Alzheimer's disease mortality rates, study finds

Rates of diabetes and obesity, which are important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, also decrease if there is a particular amount of lithium in the water, says the study, published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

6 Dec 2017

Penn study: New dental material kills bacteria and resists biofilm growth

Dentists rely on composite materials to perform restorative procedures, such as filling cavities. Yet these materials, like tooth enamel, can be vulnerable to the growth of plaque, the sticky biofilm that leads to tooth decay.

5 Dec 2017

Children, adolescents who do not drink tap water more likely to have tooth decay

American children and adolescents who do not drink tap water, which is typically fluoridated, are much more likely to have tooth decay, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. However, the study confirms that those who drink tap water are more likely to have elevated levels of lead in their blood.

27 Nov 2017

Sugar harm deliberately from general public for decades

The argument that excessive sugar and fat consumption is harmful for the heart began in the 1960’s. This was followed up by several studies that looked at how sugar could damage the vital organs of the body with time.

23 Nov 2017

Simple color-changing test to detect fluoride in drinking water could prevent skeletal fluorosis

A simple colour-changing test to detect fluoride in drinking water, devised by researchers at the University of Bath, could in the future prevent the crippling bone disease, skeletal fluorosis, in developing countries such as India and Tanzania.

14 Nov 2017

Anesthesiologists call for more research into pediatric deaths caused by dental anesthesia

Anesthesiologists call for more research into child deaths caused by dental anesthesia in an article published online by the journal Pediatrics.

9 Nov 2017

The “Great Dental Divide” between north and south England

According to a latest report published by the Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation, the percentages of people with good dental health varies vastly between northern and southern England.

2 Nov 2017

New device holds potential for early detection of cavities

Imagine if dentists could find clear signs of tooth decay long before dental lesions turn into cavities and without using X-rays. A new device cleared for commercialization this month by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a potential tool for dentists to do just that.

30 Oct 2017

Prescribed medications linked to dry mouth symptoms in older adults

For older adults, dry mouth can be a common side effect of prescribed medications. Having dry mouth means you don't have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. The condition can lead to problems chewing, eating, swallowing, and even talking. What's more, dry mouth puts you at higher risk for tooth decay and oral infections.

27 Oct 2017

The sale of “super-size” chocolate bars to be banned in England hospitals

NHS England has said it will be banning the sale of “super-sized” chocolate bars in hospital shops, canteens and vending machines.

16 Oct 2017

NAU establishes new research center to address health disparities across Southwest

A region of vast expanses and unparalleled natural beauty, the southwestern United States is a land of harsh socioeconomic realities for many, especially for underserved Native American and Hispanic populations.

13 Oct 2017