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

Researchers identify the key habits that help adults eat more slowly

Eating slowly and chewing well in Japanese adults were strongly associated with savoring food and avoiding eating with a full mouth, with oral health playing an important supporting role. These behaviours varied across age and gender groups, highlighting cultural eating practices and dental factors that shape how people eat across adulthood.

20 Nov 2025

Evidence links severe gum disease to erectile dysfunction and broader men’s health risks

A healthy mouth is also key to a healthy body, as gum disease has been linked to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's.

20 Nov 2025

Prenatal stress hormones may shape when a baby’s teeth erupt

A study links maternal stress hormones in late pregnancy to the timing of baby teeth eruption, highlighting prenatal factors in early childhood development.

20 Nov 2025

New human-cell bone marrow model offers alternative to animal experiments

Our body's "blood factory" consists of specialized tissue made up of bone cells, blood vessels, nerves and other cell types.

18 Nov 2025

Maternal stress linked to earlier baby teeth

Children have 20 milk teeth, 10 in each jaw. This set of teeth is important for chewing and speaking, and helps to keep space open for the subsequent set of 32 permanent teeth.

18 Nov 2025

Successful root canal treatment benefits metabolic and heart health

Successful root canal treatment could reduce inflammation linked to heart disease and improve levels of blood sugar and cholesterol.

18 Nov 2025

New insights into periodontitis reveal gender-specific inflammatory mechanisms

A study out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has unveiled new insights into the inflammatory processes behind periodontitis, a common and debilitating gum disease. Research conducted by UNC Adams School of Dentistry's Julie Marchesan, DDS, PhD, and UNC School of Medicine's Jenny Y. Ting, PhD, found that a part of the immune system called the inflammasome plays a key role in disease development, and that blocking this system prevents bone resorption only in males.

14 Nov 2025

Children's oral health remain very poor despite improvements from government interventions

Children's access to NHS dentists and rates of tooth decay remain very poor despite improvements from national government interventions, oral health experts say.

10 Nov 2025

Over-the-counter pain relievers outperform opioids after wisdom tooth extraction

Over-the-counter pain medications work as well or better than opioids after wisdom tooth extraction for both men and women, according to a Rutgers Health-led follow-up to a landmark paper on comparative pain relief.

6 Nov 2025

Ancient DNA uncovers paratyphoid and relapsing fever among Napoleonic troops

Scientists from the Institut Pasteur have genetically analyzed the remains of former soldiers who retreated from Russia in 1812.

24 Oct 2025

Discovering the role of lingual and buccal cells in tooth development

A novel study on the natural coordination of tooth development in time and space, led by Dr. Han-Sung Jung at the Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Korea, has discovered that "lingual" cells on the side of the tongue form the tooth, whereas those toward the cheek, called "buccal cells," form the bones and gums, guided by signaling molecules like WNT and BMP.

24 Oct 2025

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