Teeth

Dental Health in Children

It is important for dental care to be a priority in children’s healthcare dating from the time that the first tooth appears through the gums. Taking proper care of teeth is essential to prevent conditions such as tooth decay in children, which is very common in children and affects approximately 1 in 5 of children in the United States.

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Latest Teeth News and Research

People with both cavities and gum disease may face higher ischemic stroke risk

People with both cavities and gum disease may face a higher risk of ischemic stroke, according to a study published on October 22, 2025, in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Oct 2025

New technology enables fast and durable 3D-printed dental crowns

University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed a technology that enables same-day, 3D-printed dental restorations made of zirconia, the gold-standard material for permanent dental work.

16 Oct 2025

Ancient lead exposure may have shaped human evolution and language

A groundbreaking international study changes the view that exposure to the toxic metal lead is largely a post-industrial phenomenon.

15 Oct 2025

Shame prevents people from seeking dental treatment and worsens oral health inequalities

Shame can lead people to avoid getting treatment for dental issues, potentially worsening oral health inequalities, a new study warns.

9 Oct 2025

Tanzania turns to mass dog vaccination and smarter surveillance against rabies spread

Salama Issa watched in helpless shock as her seven-year-old son was set upon by a stray dog in Mmongo village, in the Lindi region of Tanzania.

7 Oct 2025

George Mason University advances long-term study on child health

Scientists, nurses, and researchers in George Mason University's College of Public Health (CPH) have successfully progressed to the third phase of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program studying a broad range of early life exposures on child health.

23 Sep 2025

Patented antibacterial polymer technology prevents secondary cavities

The Basic to Breakthrough series chronicles how investments from the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science at our National Laboratories have led to new technologies that are changing our world.

22 Sep 2025

Do tongue piercings harm your oral health? Evidence points to yes

Researchers reviewed 19 studies on tongue piercings and found they carry significant oral health risks, including fractures, gum recession, infections, and rare systemic complications. The evidence base is limited but highlights the need for clinician vigilance and patient awareness.

21 Sep 2025

Local abaloparatide injection promotes alveolar bone augmentation in orthodontic models

Alveolar bone, the specialized tissue within the jawbone, plays an important role in periodontal health.

19 Sep 2025

CHOP researchers unveil framework for boosting children's oral health

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) demonstrated how a multifaceted intervention approach significantly improved the rate of dental varnish applications to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay.

19 Sep 2025

Oral microbiome linked to threefold higher pancreatic cancer risk

Twenty-seven species of bacteria and fungi among the hundreds that live in people's mouths have been collectively tied to a 3.5 times greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer, a study led by NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center shows.

18 Sep 2025

Light-activated coating kills bacteria and viruses

Light on – bacteria dead. Disinfecting surfaces could be as simple as that. To turn this idea into a weapon against antibiotic-resistant germs, Empa researchers are developing a coating whose germicidal effect can be activated by infrared light.

18 Sep 2025

Mediterranean diet may protect gums by reducing severe periodontitis

This study reveals that the Mediterranean diet may protect against periodontitis, highlighting its benefits for oral health and inflammation reduction.

18 Sep 2025

Uneven tooth color matters more than whiteness for young adults

White teeth are highly valued by young adults. But an even tooth color is considered to be of even higher importance.

17 Sep 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Countdown to government shutdown

Oct. 1 is the start of the next fiscal year, and unless Congress reaches agreement on continued spending, big parts of the government could shut down that day.

11 Sep 2025

Unlocking the secrets of oral bacteria to fight tooth decay

If Wenjun Zhang has her way, no one will ever have to brush or floss again.

5 Sep 2025

Apple juice has temporary effects on saliva but no lasting damage

A new study led by the University of Portsmouth suggests our saliva is stronger than we thought.

3 Sep 2025

Investigation raises concerns over tooth stem cell banking claims

Parents are spending thousands of pounds to bank stem cells from their children's milk teeth – but the recipient companies' claims about their future medical value are unproven and potentially misleading, reveals an investigation by The BMJ, published today.

21 Aug 2025

Arginine dentifrices reduce dental caries in children with active caries

The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) have announced the publication of a new study in JDR Clinical & Translational Research that demonstrates that arginine dentifrices reduce dental caries in children with active caries as much as, or more than, a sodium fluoride dentifrice, depending on the arginine concentration.

13 Aug 2025

Personality predicts who stays happy with a smile after teeth whitening

The impact of tooth whitening on satisfaction varies by personality, suggesting that psychological factors are crucial for optimizing dental aesthetic outcomes.

12 Aug 2025