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…
Dental clinics aren’t known for being cheap. But one dental clinic in Longmont, Colorado is trying to change that perception: Longmont’s Dental Aid clinic is currently offering dental services for free. Dental Aid partnered with an American Dental Association program called Give Kids a Smile, which aims to provide dental care to underprivileged children across…
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…
Free sugars make up a large part of our diet. For years, doctors and dentists have warned us about the devastating effects of sugar on the diet. Today, some of those effects are starting to emerge: A new report from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine indicates that sugars…
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…