7 months ago
Mouth turning dry? Blame multiple medications
Washington, July 10 - More than 90 percent of dentists are of the view that patients complaining of dry mouth take multiple medications, says a nationwide survey conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry -. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is caused by a decrease in salivary function. It affects approximately one in four Americans, placing more than 25 percent of people at risk for tooth decay. ' ... read more

11 months ago
Chicken pox in childhood could affect oral health later
Washington, Feb 19 - Chicken pox, that itchy red rash caused by varicella zoster virus, infected nearly four million people every year until a vaccine in 1995 slashed its incidence by 83 percent. If you had chicken pox, the varicella zoster virus may still be present in your body and could lead to serious and irreversible oral health problems such as herpes-type lesions and severe bone damage to ... read more

2 years ago
Human Papilloma Virus vaccines may decrease chances of oral cancer
The Centers for Disease Control report that nearly 25 million women are infected with some form of the Human Papilloma Virus -. Of those, more than three million are thought to have one of the four strains known to cause cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.HPV is linked to oropharyngeal cancer and may be linked to oral cancers as well, and vaccines that have been developed to treat HPV mig ... read more

2 years ago
Down in the mouth?
A woman’s mouth has a lot to say, even when it’s not talking. Things that alter the female body, such as prescription medications to help prevent diseases such as osteoporosis or depression, diabetes, or a vitamin deficiency, can affect a woman’s oral health, according to John Svirsky, DDS, MED, who will lead a discussion titled “Drugs I Have Known and Loved for Diseases That We Catch” during the ... read more

Fruit | 2 years ago
Improper consumption of acidic foods could lead to destroyed enamel
Fruit, yogurt, citric and soft drinks, may seem like harmless snacks and beverages, but improper consumption and overuse may lead to devastating and permanent damage to teeth. It’s known as tooth erosion, the break down of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth that leads to decay. According to David Bartlett, BDS, PhD, who will lead a discussion at the Academy of General Dentis ... read more

2 years ago
New saliva test may help dentists test for breast cancer
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. In 2006, the American Cancer Society estimated that there would be 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and in that year, 40,970 women would die from it. Many womens lives could be saved if this cancer was diagnosed earlier, and early diagnosis could be achieved if there were more and easier opportunitie ... read more

3 years ago
Swishing once a day with mouthrinse poses no harm to dental work
People have been paying more attention to the effects certain liquids like coffee, citrus-containing drinks, and even toothbrushes have on teeth. Mouthrinses are no exception. Mouthrinses contain essential oils, which include eucalyptol, menthol, thymol, alcohol, sorbitol, and others. People use mouthrinses for many reasons, ranging from whiter teeth, better breath, or cavity protection. But a ... read more

3 years ago
Pacifier use assists in reducing the incidence of SIDS
Pacifier use often attracts negative attention for potentially harming children's oral health. There are positive effects of pacifier use, however. In addition to calming the infant, pacifier use can also assist in reducing the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, according to a report/study that appeared in the January/February 2007 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of Gene ... read more

3 years ago
Cyclic vomiting syndrome: Recurring and unexplained episodes destroy teeth
Health risks are everywhere and as many as people know about, there are still many of which people are unaware. Parents face even more concerns when it comes to protecting children. Some diseases and problems are more prevalent in children--like cyclic vomiting syndrome -.CVS mainly affects children, and is something of which parents should be aware. According to a recent report in the November/De ... read more

3 years ago
Tongue scrapers only slightly reduce bad breath
Bad breath is a common problem for many people, given the wide variety of substances traveling through our mouths daily. Some people avoid offensive foods and drinks, chew gum, use mouth rinses, or eat mints to mask unpleasant odor. Others cannot escape bad breath quite so easily. At least 40 million Americans suffer from halitosis. Unfortunately, there is no standard treatment for it.According to ... read more