According to a Brazilian study with included 160 Children ages 3 – 15, children with asthma had higher levels of S. mutans. Those with a longer history of asthma tended to have higher levels of these bacteria. The study did not find that levels of S. mutans were linked with asthma drugs or other treatments. Researchers also did not find a link between higher levels of S. mutans and more tooth decay.

A recent study suggest that no enough dentist are using dental sealants to help protect back teeth. Temple University’s dental school researchers who did the study, surveyed 595 general dentists and 176 pediatric dentists. The dentist were asked about whether they would use sealants on teeth with different signs of early decay. They also were asked how they felt about using sealants in different groups of people.

In 2008 the ADA endorsed the use of sealants n teeth with the earliest stages of decay. In these stages, a molar or premolar is discolored on its chewing surface, but there is no cavity in the tooth yet. Research has shown that sealing teeth like this can prevent cavities.

However the new survey found that many dentist do not either know about the ADA panel’s advise or the dentist that do know do not agree with it. It also show that Pediatric dentist were more likely to follow the recommendations then general dentist. This study appears in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Two more small studies have strengthens the evidence that links periodontal disease with other health conditions. One Study focused on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The researchers took samples of diseased arteries from 53 people. They also took samples of healthy arteries from 21 other people. They tested the arteries for bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

The study found that 53% of the diseased arteries had periodontal bacteria in them and only 24% of the healthy ones did. The other study focused on people with type 2 diabetes which included 60 people. Twenty had periodontal disease and diabetes. Another 20 had periodontal disease, but not diabetes. The last 20 had diabetes, but not periodontal disease. People with diabetes and periodontal disease had higher blood sugar levels and poorer blood-sugar control than people who had diabetes only.

The people with both conditions also had more of a protein called C-reactive protein. Higher levels reflect more inflammation in the body. This group also had the lowest levels of HDL. The study is in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

According to Japanese researchers, older adults with more gum inflammation are at risk for kidney problems. The study was done on 317 people who where all 75 years old. At the start of the study each person had an oral exam. The researchers calculated how much of each person’s gum tissue was inflamed. The people were followed for 2 years. During that time, 45 of them developed kidney problems.

Those with the most inflammation were more than twice as likely to develop kidney problems as the rest of the people in the study. Other studies have suggested a link between periodontal disease and kidney disease. A 2010 study focused on people with both conditions. It found that by having periodontal treatment also improved kidney disease symptoms This study appears in the October 14th issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Long term study done suggest that Dry mouth is common in those over the age of fifty particularly in older women. In the Swedish study, started in 1992 researchers sent questionnaires to every 50-year-old in 2 Swedish counties. Fifteen years later, they sent the same questions to every 65-year-old in those counties.

They also sent them to a sample of 75-year-olds. The study showed that in every age group, dry mouth was more common in women than in men. The authors speculate that the higher prevalence of dry mouth in women may be the result of decreased saliva production in the mouth following menopause. Dry mouth occurred more often as people got older, and more at night than during the day.

Sugar Substitute that helps to prevent cavities may also help prevent ear infections. According to the scientists from the University of Toronto who reviewed published research. The scientists reviewed the last 61 years of studies on xylitol and ear infections. They found four studies that included a total of about 3,000 children up to the age of 12. Three of the studies included healthy children. Those who consumed xylitol gum, candies or syrup had 25% fewer ear infections.

Fine artist Steven Heward is the pioneer of tooth art called “Tattooth”. He started designing on false teeth in a mini lab and has inked around 500 teeth since then. The images can range from animals,logos, letters and pretty much any other art form that you may want. The Heward Dental Lab known world wide for their quality crown and bridge work are now also training tooth artists to apply custom hand painted tattoos on a porcelain crown for your tooth.

A person can choose whether they want to have a permanent or temporary Tattooth. A permanent type is done by etching the design on the false tooth, which is then sealed with the help of a glaze. Later, the dentist simply incorporates it on a set of teeth. The temporary Tattooth (which is very much in vogue now) is similar to nail art that can be just stuck on the tooth and removed at will.

Did you know that your diet can play a large role in the health of your teeth and gums. Here are some tips suggested by the American Dental Associations (ADA) in maintaining teeth and gums health. Try to limit the amount of sodas and fruit drinks sweetened with sugar. Limited your consumption of cookies, candies, cakes and other desserts with added sugar. Eat nutritious snacks that are low in sugar. Brush and floss daily and drinking water often throughout the day.

It is important to keep your dentures clean in order to help maintain a healthy mouth. The ADA suggestions on how to properly take care of dentures. Dentures are fragile, so make sure while cleaning them you hold them over something soft such as a towel. You want to make sure you thoroughly brush your dentures daily using a denture brush or soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food particles and plaque. Clean your dentures with a gentle hand soap or mild dish detergent. Never with bleach or an abrasive powdered cleaners. Store your dentures in water or a dental cleansing solution in a safe place, and out of reach of kids and pets

Dental fear is a large issue that prevent many people from getting and receiving the necessary dental care needed for good oral health care. A new innovative device which helps to cancel out the noise of the dental drill could help end some people anxiety and fears about going to the dentist. The prototype of the device works in a similar way to noise-canceling headphones but is designed to deal with the very high pitch of the dental drill.

By simply plunging the device into an MP3 player or mobile phone, and then plug the headphones into the device,it allows a person to listen to their own music while completely blocking out the unpleasant sound of the drill and suction equipment. The patient will still be able to hear the dentist and other members of the dental team speaking to them but other unwanted sounds are filtered out by the device.

In a study done by Joanna Bisgaier, MSW, from the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Dentists in the USA are much more likely to offer an appointment to children with private health insurance than those in the combined Medicaid/CHIP. Out of 170 paired calls to 85 dental practices, 41 of them participating in the Medicaid program some of the results showed: 36.5% of Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries got an appointment 95.4% of privately insured Blue Cross children got an appointment Of the dental practices that were enrolled in the Medicaid program, Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries were 18.2 times more likely to be turned down for an appointment compared to the Blue Cross children

Dentists warn consumers about the safety of tooth whitening, now being offered at many beauty salons and clinics. The risk of teeth whitening procedure is manifold when it is performed by unqualified staff. The BDA and the General Dental Council have both reiterated that tooth whitening should be carried out only by registered dental practitioners.

A study done by Faculty of Dentistry at Malmö University that followed a cohort of dentists throughout their adult lives, show that our jaws decreases with age. The study showed that over forty years there was less and less room for teeth in the jaw. This crowdedness comes from shrinkage of the jaw, primarily the lower jaw, both in length and width. While this is only a matter of a few millimeters, but it is enough to crowd the front teeth.

Studies show a lack of regular dental care increases their risk of chronic diseases and a reduced quality of life. Poor oral health can contribute to many serious medical conditions as well as affect a person’s ability to chew and digest food properly. With dental services not covered under the universal health-insurance program and many older adults not visiting dentists regularly, the study findings suggest that there should be more thought given into services provided to seniors in order to keep them healthy as they age.

The unexpected findings could pave the way for the development of preventative measures in tackling gum, by manipulating the normal bacteria in the same way that probiotic yoghurt works to protect the intestine. Researchers at Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute, including Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellow Mark Payne, worked with scientists in the US; they published their findings in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

It has been established in a study from the Faculty of Odontology at Malms University in Sweden that the size of teeth in premature children is smaller. Our knowledge about premature children, and their physical and mental development as they grow up, is constantly expanding. In recent years several studies of children’s dental health have been published by researchers at the Faculty of Odontology in Malma. Liselotte Paulsson-Bjarnsson, a specialist in orthodontics, has studied 80 children born before week 33 of pregnancy

Researchers show that anti-caries DNA vaccines, including pGJA-P/VAX, are good for preventing dental caries. In the report titled “Prospects in Caries Vaccine Development, it states that DNA vaccine approaches for dental caries have had a history of success in animal models. Dental caries vaccines, directed to key components of S. mutans colonization and enhanced by safe and effective adjuvants and optimal delivery vehicles, are likely to be forthcoming.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology are developing a new method for determining exactly how to optimally prepare a tooth to place a crown on it. The method will be able to improved quality and reliability of the crown replacements as well as result in significantly cheaper and faster dental treatment. Dentists will soon be able to benefit from a computer program being produced by a group of researchers at Chalmers, the researchers are now planning to run clinical tests. The software is based on advanced mathematical models and on state-of-the-art visualization technology

Many people may not be brushing their teeth correctly and can be causing teeth damage because of that. Abrasion is damage done to teeth by incorrect brushing habits. First do not use hard bristle toothbrush since they are one of the biggest contributing factors to tooth abrasion. Use a soft bristle brush place the brush at a 45 degree angle toward the junction of the gum and tooth and move the brush in a gentle circular motion. Also stay away from abrasive toothpaste.

Putting aside dental worries of gum disease and tooth decay there are other dental problems that many people are unaware of. Here are three major way how tooth can wear down. Bruxism or teeth grinding also refer to as attrition: Bruxism can be brought on by stress. You can also grind or clench teeth while you sleep, one way of preventing damage to your teeth is by wearing a night guard. Tooth Erosion: Dental erosion is caused by acid. There can be many food and drinks that are highly acidic and can cause the tooth enamel and dentine to brake down or erode.

There are also health issues that can use acid such as acid reflux. To try and prevent tooth erosion you will want to do your best to limit your exposure to acidic foods and drinks. Chewing sugar-free gum can help to dilute acidity by increasing saliva flow. Tooth Abrasion: Tooth abrasion can be cause by hard bristle tooth brush but even soft bristled brush can be harmful and cause tooth abrasion. Brushing correctly is recommended in order to reduce tooth abrasion. Though dental can repare tooth abrasion damage by dental bonding