Category Archive

Do you know what’s lurking on your toothbrush? Your toothbrush is loaded with germs, say researchers at England’s University of Manchester. They’ve found that one uncovered toothbrush can harbor more than 100 million bacteria, including E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, and staphylococci (“Staph”) bacteria that cause skin infections. But don’t panic. Your mouth wasn’t exactly sterile to begin …

An interesting article by Pamela Babcock. To make your teeth last a lifetime, don’t do these things.   Teeth are tough — their enamel is the hardest part of the body — but they’re no match for neglect, misuse, or abuse. Here are some surefire ways to find out how vulnerable your teeth are — trust us, you don’t want …

  HUMAN PAPILLOMA  VIRUS  CELL I came across an interesting article by Laura Landro in the Wall Street Journal. A sharp rise in a type of throat cancer among men is increasingly being linked to HPV, the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer in women.  A new study from the National Cancer Institute warns that if recent …

An interesting article by Courtney Hutchison,  ABC News Medical Unit June 2, 2011  The American obsession with dental hygiene has taken an ironic turn over the past decade. In an attempt to have the bright, white, healthy-looking smile of the stars, many consumers are bleaching their teeth into oblivion.  Dentists call this addiction to whitening “bleachorexia,” calling the overbleachers “bleach …

It is known that women are more susceptible to gum disease and associated periodontal problems.  The primary reason for this finding is related to both normal and abnormal hormonal changes that women experience throughout their life.  A few are listed below. Puberty During puberty, an increased level of sex hormones, such as progesterone and possibly estrogen, causes increased blood circulation …

Nurses who care for elderly patients with dementia now have a tailored approach to dental hygiene for these special patients, thanks to a pilot study by a team of nurses.  “Poor oral health can lead to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease as well as periodontal disease,” said Rita A. Jablonski.  According to Jablonski, assistant professor of nursing, Penn State, persons with …

Reports Suggest Overuse of Fixodent and Older Version of Poligrip May Cause Nerve Damage: By Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD   Feb. 15, 2011 — Many cases of mysterious nerve damage turn out to be caused by overuse of popular denture products, an increasing number of reports suggests. The culprit: zinc in Fixodent, from Procter & Gamble, and …

Postmenopausal women have a new health message to hear. Two annual dental checkups aren’t enough. Older women need more, according to research findings from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic.  That message comes from a comparison study of women on and off bone-strengthening bisphosphonate therapies for osteoporosis.  Leena Palomo, assistant professor of periodontics …

Using a bone-creating protein to augment the maxillary sinus could improve dental implant success, according to Georgia Health Sciences University researchers.  Dental implants, screws that anchor permanent prosthetic teeth, won’t work if the bone in which they are anchored is too thin. Bone-thinning is a common cause and consequence following tooth loss. The current favored solution is to supplement the …

I came across a very interesting study the other day which has important implications for the dental profession.  Forteo, a drug marketed to grow bone in osteoporosis patients, also works to heal bone wounds in gum disease patients, a University of Michigan study suggests.  “This new approach for the treatment of periodontal disease could allow us to rebuild some of …