The immune system does essential work in keeping us alive and healthy, but when it malfunctions it can cause problems – and there’s new evidence that one of those problems could be dental cavities. Researchers have found that tooth decay is potentially partly caused by bacteria enlisting the unwitting help of immune cells known as neutrophils, with cavities and damage … Read more
Almost any schoolchild can tell you: We prevent cavities by brushing our teeth, because that’s how you remove the sticky film containing millions of decay-causing germs. But this notion is more of an advertising-created myth than fact, according to Philippe Hujoel, a University of Washington School of Dentistry researcher, in an article published in the journal Gerodontology. Almost as … Read more
A new research study has determined that vaping sweet e-cigarettes can increase the risk of dental cavities. The study investigated changes in cariogenic potential when tooth surfaces were exposed to certain e-cigarette aerosols in a controlled environment. The combination of the viscosity of e-cigarette liquids and some classes of chemicals in sweet flavors contribute to … Read more
A team of scientists from The Forsyth Institute, a global leader in oral health research, in collaboration with the NIH-funded Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS), has published the results of a new study indicating that differences in the mouth bacteria of youth born with HIV may increase their risk of cavities. The researchers found that … Read more
The rising number of local oral healthcare issues including cavities has prompted the Windsor-Essex Health Unit board to unanimously approve a four-point plan that includes reintroducing fluoride into Windsor’s drinking water. The city opted to remove fluoride from its drinking water in 2013 with the proviso of revisiting the issue after five years. The decision … Read more
The percentage of young people with dental cavities in the United States dropped from 50% in 2012 to just over 43% in 2016, according to a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the overall trend is a positive one, young members of minority communities continue to have the highest number of … Read more
Researchers at the University of Washington have designed a convenient and natural product that uses proteins to rebuild tooth enamel and treat dental cavities. The research finding was first published in ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering. “Remineralization guided by peptides is a healthy alternative to current dental health care,” said lead author Mehmet Sarikaya, professor of … Read more
Protein drugs, which derive from biological sources, represent some of the most important and effective biopharmaceuticals on the market. Some, like insulin, have been used for decades, while many more based on cloned genes are coming to market and are valued for their precise and powerful functions. Yet the field of dental medicine has very … Read more