Most mothers have told their children not to gobble down their food and eat it more slowly. As it turns out, this piece of advice is as wise as almost every other bit of guidance that mothers give their children. Chewing food completely (try ten times per bite) not only helps with digestion and nutrient
read moreDenture wearers primarily rely on their “alveolar ridges” (the bony crests in upper and lower jaws that contain the tooth sockets) to hold their lower dentures in place. In some cases, however, due to bone “resorption,” the alveolar ridge may shrink to the point where their lower dentures “float” and move while chewing. Increasingly, dental
read moreRegular dental checkups and conscientious oral care at home can pay big overall health dividends. The latest evidence of these benefits comes from a study’s finding that “acute coronary syndrome” (sudden blockage in the blood supply to the heart) is 2.7 times more likely among those with infections at the tip of a tooth root,
read morePostmenopausal women may find that they are more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth loss as a consequence of falling estrogen levels during menopause. As declining hormone levels increase (post)menopausal women’s risk of developing the bone-thinning disease known as “osteoporosis,” decreasing bone density in the jaw bones gives rise to a higher likelihood of tooth
read moreWhen chewing or tapping on a tooth causes it to feel tender, it may be a sign of “apical periodontitis,” inflammation at the root’s tip that is most often caused by tooth decay. To relieve the pain and treat the underlying infection, patients undergo “root canal” (or “endodontic”) treatment, during which the inflamed or infected
read moreThe future of dental implants may include those with a built-in reservoir that contains slow-release drugs, which will eliminate “bacterial biofilms” that may lead to infection. These implants, which are currently in the research phase, are made of porous composite material through which the drugs can gradually diffuse from the reservoir to the outside of
read moreA number of studies link tooth loss with dementia. According to one of these studies involving people 75-98 years old, those with few teeth (zero to nine) had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth. This finding may best be explained by the possibility
read moreReceding gums, known as “gingival recession,” is a common condition that occurs when the gum tissue that normally surrounds the tooth pulls back and exposes the tooth root. If the recession goes untreated and becomes severe, there is increased risk that the exposed tooth root will become decayed and/or infected. If gum recession is caused
read moreA team of researchers recently discovered that an Alzheimer’s drug has the ability to stimulate the renewal of living stem cells in tooth pulp, thereby paving the way for natural tooth repair. “Dentin,” the primary component of teeth, is the bone-like substance that surrounds the tooth pulp and provides support for the overlying layer of
read moreWhile dentures are not subject to decay, they do accumulate plaque, tartar, and stains. With this in mind, it is important to care for dentures much the same way natural teeth are cared for (except dentures are cleaned outside the mouth). This entails brushing dentures with a non-abrasive cleanser at least once a day. They
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