Taste Buds Don’t Necessarily Make People More Likely to Have Sweet Tooth

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 27 December 2011 10:50



There’s no link between what one perceives as sweetness and what the person actually eats. In other words, it’s plausible that the more aware a person is to sweet tastes that the less sweet food he or she may eat.

The information was reported by a research team at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.

The goal of the study was to determine the level of sweets a person consumes based on how sensitive he or she is to sweets.

To gather the data, the research team studied 85 people and asked them the level of sweetness of a sucrose solution. The researchers then studied the dietary intake over several days.

The research team specifically looked at the amount of sugary foods the people ate compared to the number of fruits and vegetables, in addition to carbohydrates, protein and fat.

One issue with this study was that many people fit the same demographic. In future research on this subject, there will be a wider variety of people based on age, ethnicity, BMI, etc.

A person would need to find a way to get sweet foods out of his or her mind to successfully avoid eating such foods. It could be helpful to consistently eat healthier foods as a way of getting sweet foods completely of your mind.

More research is necessary involving the cause of the sweet tooth since this research showed that there’s no correlation between one’s awareness level of sweet foods and the amount of sweet foods the person consumed.

Plasma Brush Makes Impact on Dentistry

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 28 December 2011 09:21



The plasma brush is capable of doing things never seen before.

This brush uses chemical reactions to disinfect and then clean fillings. The entire process takes less than 30 seconds.

The flame from the brush forms a unique bond for the cavity fillings with strength that may be unmatched. The chemical reactions from the brush alter the surface of the tooth for the better.

As of now, there have been no side effects from treatment with the plasma brush. There will be more trials to determine whether or not that stays true.

According to some figures, Americans spend about $50 million each year on tooth restorations. This new brush would lower those costs, according to Hao Li, the associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the University of Missouri College of Engineering.

Teeth can also become 60 percent stronger with the plasma brush and wouldn’t have to be pulled after only 2 or 3 fillings. If this brush actually is capable doing everything it has done in studies, this type of technology will benefit everyone.

Massachusetts Looks for Varnish to Become More Widespread

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 29 December 2011 09:48



Massachusetts officials want fluoride varnish to become more readily available. To do that, the requirements for who can apply for the cavity-protecting varnish can’t be as strict as they are now.

There is currently a small number of low-income children in Massachusetts who have access to this important fluoride varnish.

The new regulations would make it permissible for nonlicensed people who work under the supervision of a licensed dentist to apply the fluoride to someone’s teeth. The proposed rules were outlined at a meeting of the state’s Public Health Council, which is a committee that comprises doctors, professors and consumer advocates.

Despite the fact that a license won’t be required to perform these procedures, mandatory training would still be required.

There are roughly 500,000 low-income people under age 21 in Massachusetts eligible for this type of treatment. Less than 3,000, however, received the treatment last year.

According to the state’s statistics, low-income children are more inclined to visit a doctor than a dentist. That’s why if doctors or other healthcare professionals could perform these procedures, it would be extremely beneficial to low-income individuals.

There are 35 percent of people in Massachusetts that don’t live in a community where fluoride is added to the water.

This problem is more widespread than just impacting children, though. Approximately three out of five senior citizens living in nursing homes have some form of tooth decay that has gone untreated.

This fluoride varnish decreases tooth decay by about 30 percent.

The council will hold a public hearing soon to discuss the situation before voting on the issue.

Protein Could Raise Risk of Blood-Vessel Constriction Involved in Gum Disease

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 23 April 2012 15:07



A protein associated with gum disease may increase the risk of plaque-containing blood vessels that result in inflammatory gum disease, according to the American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2012 Scientific Sessions. The event was held in Chicago.

CD36 is located in blood cells and various other cells. According to research, this protein worsens the effects of bad cholesterol, known as low-density lipoprotein.

During testing, the group of researchers eliminated the gene that causes C36 production and later created plaque in blood vessels by giving mice a diet high in fat. Some of the animals were infected with bacteria involved with gum disease.

As a result, there was a buildup of fatty plaque that occurred in the blood vessels of animals that had developed gum disease. Animals that had no signs of CD36 didn’t possess plaque even after oral inflammation had set in.

This research could be extremely helpful in dentistry.

CDA Advises People to Receive Oral Cancer Screenings

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 23 April 2012 15:39



It’s essential for people to visit the dentist to receive an oral cancer screening. It’s even more important this month, since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month.

There are more than 40,000 Americans who will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute. The two most common methods by which people develop the disease are through tobacco/alcohol use and through the human papilloma virus.

Regular visits to the dentist is one of the best ways to prevent cancer from spreading and becoming a major problem. If it’s diagnosed early enough, people can have about an 80 to 90 percent chance of surviving.

Oral cancer may impact any area of the mouth, including gums, lips, cheek lining, tongue and the soft or hard palate. It generally begins as a small white or red spot that remains inconspicuous until it eventually spreads.

That’s why dentists play a large role in the early stages of oral cancer. Before it reaches other parts of the body and possibly becomes fatal, a dentist can treat the person and enable that person to heal and live a normal life.

Correlation Exists Between Junk Food, Poor Teeth

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 24 April 2012 14:36



Children may adapt their eating habits to their oral health.

A group of researchers at the University of Queensland Children’s Nutrition Research Centre and School of Dentistry are conducting a study analyzing this issue. There have been studies regarding this phenomenon in the past, but the possibility of people adapting their eating habits to their oral health was only looked at for adults.

According to a study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one’s diet is impacted by dental problems.

The goal of this particular study is to find out if indeed children with some form of decay or other dental problem change their appetite accordingly. The study will also focus on the impact these changes have on the child’s body and if they become more susceptible to long-term illnesses later in life.

If these findings appear to be true, screening tests and prevention programs could be created for children vulnerable to these issues.

Children on Medicaid Don’t Receive Necessary Dental Care

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 11 June 2012 15:25



Only one out of three children on Medicaid receive dental care each year. The location also factors into how often they visit a dentist.

The information comes from a new study that will appear in the July issue ofPediatrics.

The number of dental visits was anywhere from 12 percent in Nevada to 49 percent in Vermont in 2007, according to the study. There wasn’t one state in which more than half of the children on Medicaid visited the dentist in the last year.

Still, these numbers indicate a 16 percent increase when compared to the information from 2002. These numbers, however, show that much work needs to be done to ensure dental treatment for children covered by Medicaid.

The problem is that since Medicaid varies by state, eligibility rules and the amount of money available is different in each state. Medicaid programs generally include regular checkups and some necessary procedures.

According to Medicaid records, the amount of visits was low for infants and toddlers in every state but three. The dental visits reached their highest point after the children started school.

Children who were in the Primary Care Case Management part of the Medicaid generally had the highest number of dental visits.

Dental care programs in schools, as well as having a regular dentist, were two of the biggest reasons for improved dental care.

The problem is that with more people on Medicaid, some states have eliminated the dental coverage and dental education that used to exist in schools. There’s also the issue that Medicaid reimbursement payments for dentists are often low.