Could tartar one day help detect diabetes? A new BMC Oral Health study found elevated potassium levels in dental calculus from patients with diabetes, raising questions about whether routine scaling could support earlier screening—pending larger studies.
A natural antioxidant called lycopene, found in red and pink fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelon and grapefruit, has been associated with a reduced risk of severe periodontitis in older adults, according to a new observational study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory gum disease that … Read more
Researchers testing a naturally occurring amino acid found in saliva say it could help make dental plaque less damaging — and potentially reduce the risk of cavities before they start. In a small human clinical trial, scientists from Aarhus University found that arginine, an amino acid already present in the mouth, can alter dental plaque … Read more
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that the Atlantic wolffish’s teeth contain a rare internal material that contracts in every direction when compressed — a mechanical behaviour almost never seen in natural mineralized tissues. The study, led by Prof. Ron Shahar of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at Hebrew University, found that … Read more
Nine U.S. universities are collaborating on a five-year, $17-million research initiative aimed at improving the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), following a major grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The multi-institution project, funded through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), brings together researchers across dentistry, medicine, neuroscience, … Read more
A study published in Archives of Oral Biology suggests that tooth loss — rather than reduced protein intake — plays a central role in driving cognitive decline in aging male mice, underscoring a growing link between oral function and brain health. Low protein intake has long been linked to frailty, muscle loss and cognitive impairment … Read more
A Hiroshima University study has found that higher levels of the periodontal bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum in the mouth were associated with greater disability in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), though the researchers caution the findings do not establish cause and effect. The cross-sectional observational study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed tongue-coating samples collected from … Read more
The year 2025 may be remembered as the moment oral health moved beyond the mouth — and into the centre of systemic disease prevention. As Dr. Thomas Van Dyke noted at SmileCon in October, dentistry and medicine have historically evolved on parallel tracks. But in 2025, a growing body of research brought those worlds closer … Read more
Dentistry’s role in sleep health is expanding — not just clinically, but biologically — as emerging research links sleep duration to oral microbiome diversity and evidence grows around sleep’s impact on periodontal health. Experts also are calling on dentists to take a larger role in sleep disorder care. At the American Dental Association’s Sleep and … Read more
Dental researchers are exploring how bacterial “conversations” in the mouth shape the ecology of dental plaque — and how interrupting those signals could favour a healthier microbial balance without harming beneficial species. A team from the College of Biological Sciences and the School of Dentistry at the University of Minnesota has detailed how bacterial communication … Read more
Move over bones — dental calculus is emerging as a new frontier in uncovering hidden elements of ancient diets. Using an advanced analytical method, researchers examining calcified dental plaque from medieval human remains at the Ostriv archaeological site in central Ukraine identified direct molecular evidence of millet consumption in people once thought unlikely to have … Read more
Australian researchers report that a wireless intraoral scanner resembling an enlarged electric toothbrush, paired with AI-assisted software, can identify early childhood tooth decay as accurately as standard visual exams. The study, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne, evaluated 216 five-year-olds from the Melbourne Infant Study: BCG for Allergy … Read more
Garlic’s pungent smell may not make it an obvious candidate for a mouthwash, but a new review suggests the bulb’s extract could offer a promising antimicrobial alternative to chlorhexidine. The findings, published this month in the Journal of Herbal Medicine, highlight growing interest in plant-based formulations as concerns mount over side-effects and long-term antimicrobial resistance … Read more
A new study in the International Dental Journal suggests patients who undergo bariatric surgery (BaS) face a significantly increased risk of periodontal and dental disease — prompting calls for integrated medical–dental aftercare. Although bariatric surgery is often hailed for dramatic weight loss and metabolic benefits, the authors note mounting evidence of unintended consequences for oral … Read more
A new prospective study of more than 4,100 mother–child pairs suggests that maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may play a significant role in shaping children’s early-life dental health — with low vitamin D linked to notably higher odds of early childhood caries (ECC). Researchers from Zhejiang University followed 4,109 pregnant women (enrolled between 2011 … Read more
U.S. children exposed to fluoride concentrations typical of community water systems show “modestly better” cognitive performance in secondary school, according to a new national study. Published Nov. 19 in Science Advances, the study—“Childhood fluoride exposure and cognition across the life course”—examined data from the nationally representative High School and Beyond cohort, which followed 26,820 students … Read more
Severe gum disease may significantly increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, adding to growing evidence that oral health is closely linked to overall wellbeing, according to new analyses highlighted by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP). Periodontitis — an advanced form of gum disease — has long been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis … Read more
A new U.S. study suggests the hormonal environment of late pregnancy may influence when babies cut their first teeth — a finding researchers say could help explain why eruption timelines vary so widely in early childhood. The prospective cohort study, published in Frontiers in Oral Health, followed 142 mother–child pairs from late pregnancy through the … Read more
Yet another clinical study is adding to growing evidence that oral infections can affect the whole body. Researchers from King’s College London report that patients with chronic root canal infections who received successful endodontic treatment showed improved blood sugar control, better lipid profiles and reduced systemic inflammation over two years. “Long-standing root canal infections can … Read more
Researchers at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry have secured three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants totalling US$6 million to improve oral cancer therapies, prevent treatment-related complications and develop better pain-relief strategies. Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for more than 95 per cent of oral cancer cases and carries a five-year survival … Read more