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
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are leading a study to help dentists recognize signs of domestic violence and learn how to respond. “At the end of the process, we want to create something that is approachable and will be disseminated on socials and online platforms,” Dr. Liran Levin, a periodontist and researcher at the … Read more
UB team traces saliva’s evolution back to primates, linking diet to salivary proteins and opening doors to personalized oral-health diagnostics.
Adults with type 2 diabetes who clean between their teeth at least three times a week may have more stable 24-hour blood glucose levels, new research shows. A clinical study, published in advance in the American Diabetes Association’s journal Diabetes Spectrum, found that adults who flossed or used interdental brushes three or more times weekly … Read more
The gel acts as a scaffold, drawing calcium and phosphate ions from saliva to rebuild the enamel through a process called epitaxial mineralization.
Canadians missing five or more natural teeth face roughly a 76 per cent higher risk of being hospitalized for any cause and a 120 per cent higher risk of being hospitalized for circulatory-system diseases, according to a new Statistics Canada cohort study. In line with previous global research on the mouth-body connection, the study suggests … Read more
A new U.S. study of death records from 1979 through 2018 found that both male and female dentists had higher suicide mortality than the general population, and that the risk has trended upward since the mid-1990s. The study, published online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Dental Association in October 2025, set … Read more
A new study published by the American Academy of Neurology suggests that having both gum disease and cavities may nearly double a person’s risk of ischemic stroke compared with having a healthy mouth. The study found that participants who had both conditions were 86 per cent more likely to experience a stroke compared to those … Read more
A naturally occurring compound found in fruits such as apples, guava and figs could help prevent and treat gum disease, according to new research from São Paulo State University (UNESP). Scientists at the university’s Araraquara School of Dentistry (FOAr-UNESP) and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCFAr-UNESP) identified morin, a plant-derived flavonoid concentrated in fruit peels … Read more