We all know how hard it is to talk when there’s dental equipment in our mouths. In spite of that, dentists still try to talk to you during procedures. Why is that? Nobody knows. But according to one recent study: better communication between you and your dentist may be the secret key to good dental…
When you ask people why they brush their teeth, they’ll typically say things like, “I don’t want bad breath” or “I want healthy teeth.” We all know that poor dental hygiene leads to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. But tooth decay has been linked to a surprising range of other health conditions. Alzheimer’s…
New research shows that tooth loss is linked to mental and physical decline in seniors. As a result, doctors are starting to use tooth loss as a potential early marker of decline in older age. The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and was led by a team from University…
Coconut oil has taken the health world by storm over the past few years. But recent research from Ireland has revealed that coconut oil could do more than just moisturize the skin: it could also prevent cavities. Researchers from Ireland’s Athlone Institute of Technology discovered that enzyme-treated coconut oil prevented the growth of cavity causing…
Modern technology has given us so much. And now, thanks to modern technology, kids can grow up with healthy teeth. At least, that’s the idea behind Virtual Dental Home (VDH). VDH is a California-based program which works like a mobile dental office: a specially-trained hygienist packages a chair and dental equipment into a car and…
Dental anxiety may be the most common form of anxiety in the world today. Most people don’t like going to the dentist. That’s why sedation dentistry is more popular today than it’s ever been before. Sedation dentistry suppresses the brain’s responses to pain and stress while still allowing patients to remain conscious. When used in…
Could your saliva contain early warning signs for diseases like cancer and diabetes? A new study from UCLA suggests that a simple saliva test is capable of diagnosing diabetes, cancer, and other diseases at an early stage. The study showed that saliva contains many of the same disease-revealing molecules that are contained in our blood.…
The American Dental Association is ready to take a stand against tobacco use. The ADA recently joined eight other major medical and public health organizations in urging Major League Baseball to ban the use of tobacco at ballparks across the nation. Along with the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and American Medical Association, the…
When buying drinks for your family, it’s not just the sugar content you have to worry about: it’s the acidity. Dental researchers in Adelaide, Australia, recently published a report linking the high acidity in drinks to dental erosion. The researchers demonstrated that lifelong damage could occur to teeth within just 30 seconds of drinking an…
As we get older, our teeth tend to develop more and more problems. Fortunately, Americans are keeping their teeth longer today than they ever have before. We’re developing fewer dental problems as we age and holding on to our teeth far longer than our grandparents. But it’s not all happy smiles: those over 50 are…