Both oral health and cognitive ability are issues that present problems to the older population. They have drawn the interest of researchers who want to find any linkages.

Key takeaways:

• Conditions such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes will aggravate oral health problems since they lower the body immunity and ability to fight off infection.
• Oral health measures include number of teeth, presence of cavities and/or dementia.
• Factors that cause poor oral health (poor nutrition and diabetes) are associated with poor cognitive function.

Read the full story here

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308520.php

A young scientist has carried out a study to find out which soda -- Morning Dew or Coca Cola -- dissolves teeth faster.

Key takeaways:

• Morning Dew contains a pH 3.1 whereas Coca-Cola has a pH 2.5. Coca-Cola is therefore six times more acidic than Mountain Dew.
• Two molars were soaked in each soda for duration of 2 weeks and 5 days and observed for any changes.
• The tooth soaked in Mountain Dew lost 14 percent of its mass while the Coca-Cola tooth lost 7 percent of its mass.

Read the full story here

http://www.cnet.com/news/mountain-dew-vs-coca-cola-which-soda-is-worse-for-your-teeth/

Studio Dental is a portable dental office that offers people an option to visiting the traditional dental office.

Key takeaways:

• Studio Dental is the first dental office on wheels aimed at visiting patients at their workplaces such as at Airbnb and Google.
• A wide array of services can be offered right from the parking lot ranging from teeth cleaning to tooth extraction. The idea not only appeals to techies but also to other people.
• Patients are able to book appointments online, receive receipts after their visit via email, and view digital x-rays and impressions on the Studio Dental website.

Read the full story here

http://www.businessinsider.com/dentist-on-wheels-2016-8

The fact that little or no evidence supports some oral health practices doesn?t mean that they should be abandoned. It might be that the benefits are simply unproven but the practices could still protect against potential harm.

Key takeaways:

• Evidence supporting daily flossing has been scanty even though flossing is still important for overall oral health.
• There?s scanty information supporting routine dental x-rays that are performed annually.
• Preventive dental visits are linked to better oral health and fewer restorative dental care visits in the future.
• It is absolutely important for people to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste to prevent plaque formation, cavities and gingivitis.

Read the full story here

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/30/upshot/surprisingly-little-evidence-for-the-usual-wisdom-about-teeth.html

You can predict future health outcomes and reduce the risk of these outcomes by analyzing information stored in baby teeth.

Key takeaways:

• Baby teeth have been described as biological hard drives.
• The teeth form rings of growth on a daily basis; each ring encodes information about exposures occurring that day.
• Baby teeth can reveal all the things that an individual has been exposed to such as stress hormones and environmental toxins such as lead and pesticides.

Read the full story here

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/what-toxins-have-you-been-exposed-to-your-baby-teeth-may-hold-the-answer/2016/07/11/9cf1d740-1d18-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html

X-ray radiation should be minimized and where possible avoided, says an article in the New York Times. Children should only have dental x-rays for suspected problems that cannot be diagnosed through any other way, according to the American Dental Association.

Key takeaways:

• Dentists should perform dental x-rays every 6-12 months for high-risk preschoolers who have had cavities in their baby teeth.
• Dental x-rays should be considered only every 12-24 months for younger children who have never had a tooth cavity.
• Dentists can recommend cone beam CT scans to get 3-D x-ray images of the teeth and their roots as well as the jaw and the skull.

Read the full story here

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/19/do-kids-need-dental-x-rays/

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You can improve your teeth brushing technique through the simple action of taking selfies and video recording on your smart phone. Indeed, you can get extra drive and motivation to get the technique right.

Key takeaways:

• Changing tooth brushing techniques and behaviors often takes guidance.
• An increment of 8 percent was noted in tooth-brushing skill characterized by improved accuracy of brush strokes.
• Effective brushing technique will help prevent problems such as tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Read the full story here

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/312283.php

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Approximately one in every five children dreads the visit to the dentist. Research findings reveal that watching cartoons during dental treatments can help lower anxiety levels and other disruptive behaviors.

Key takeaways:

• Children provided with audiovisual distraction during dental treatment exhibit cooperative behavior and have reduced anxiety levels.
• The best and most effective dental treatment is only possible for calm and cooperative children.
• Even though the children did not report any differences, indirect measures of anxiety such pulse rate and blood pressure readings indicated lower anxiety levels.
• Further research is required to fully understand the usefulness of the audiovisual distraction tools in reducing disruptive behavior and lessening anxiety.

Read the full story here

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/312199.php

Fruit juices are presenting a number of health problems owing to the high amounts of sugar. The lack of fiber is identified as the biggest problem. Juicing will remove the insoluble fiber and will release the sugars in the fruit.

The insoluble fiber in fruits helps to slow down the absorption of fructose, the most common sugar in fruits. Health experts say that fruit juices are worse than fizzy drinks and can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Blending rather than juicing is recommended since it preserves both the skin and pulp of the fruit. Fats from nuts such as walnuts can be added to slow down the absorption of sugar.

Read the full story here

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/should-i-still-drink-fruit-juice

The commencement of a new school year is associated with mad morning dashes. Dental health should not be neglected in the midst of the morning rush. To keep the teeth healthy, children should brush their teeth before breakfast to make sure they do not forget. Brushing should be given preference over other activities such as fixing hair.

Read more here

http://news.health.com/2015/08/23/back-to-school-tips-for-healthy-teeth/