Parents Need To Focus On Children’s Oral Care Early On To Prevent Cavities

Slate reported on the importance for parents to brush their toddler’s teeth and visit a pediatric dentist early in the child’s life. Slate claims 60 percent of five-year-olds have had at least one cavity, with many having up to 10 cavities, while the number of overall cavities has been declining. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry president Jade Miller says, “Dental decay is preventable,” and the AAPD “recommends that parents bring their children to the dentist when they get their first tooth or by the time they turn 1, at the latest.” Pediatric dentists can also stifle cavities by applying a fluoride varnish to children’s teeth, “which causes fluoride to be released when the pH of a tooth drops as a result of acid” released from bacteria in response to consumed sugary products. Pediatric dentist visits can also detect more significant dental or jaw problems, as well as “educuate parents on what to expect during teething and how best to care for kids’ teeth.”

Preventative Oral Care Has Helped Seniors Keep More Teeth

The Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal reported that preventative measures, such as brushing with fluoride, the increased importance of calcium, and abstaining from tobacco, have helped 75 percent of people over the age of 65 keep some or all of their natural teeth, according to the American Dental Association. The article also says the source of calcium intake is important, according to the ADA, because adults who “got their calcium almost exclusively from supplements were found to be almost twice as likely to suffer heart attacks as those who took no calcium supplements.” The ADA recommends 1,000 mg of calcium daily from food sources such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. Health officials say more must be done to promote senior oral care, because the CDC “reports 23 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have sever gum disease.”

Coverage Continues: Research Suggests Mothers May Not Be The Only Source Of Tooth Decay-Causing Bacteria

Science Daily carries a release from the University of Alabama at Birmingham stating that ongoing research at its Department of Biology and School of Dentistry shows “more evidence that children may receive oral microbes from other, nonrelative children.” While literature has previously identified mothers as the source of microbes that cause tooth decay in children, researchers have found “72 percent of children harbored at least one strain of the cavity-causing Streptococcus mutans not found in any cohabiting family members.” The findings were presented at the American Society for Microbiology MICROBE 2016 Meeting in Boston.

More Flossing Study Updates!

ADA, Federal Agencies: Flossing Still “Essential.”

After an AP story questioned the benefits of dental flossing due to lacking research, the American Dental Association, federal agencies, dentists, and others have come out in support of continuing the practice. The ADA News(8/2, Manchir) reported the ADA released a statement emphasizing the federal government and the ADA stand behind the recommendation to clean between teeth with an interdental cleaner once a day. The ADA stated, “The bottom line for dentists and patients is that a lack of strong evidence doesn’t equate to a lack of effectiveness. As doctors of oral health, dentists are in the best position to advise their patients on oral hygiene practices because they know their patient’s oral health status and health history.”

        Business Insider (8/2, Brodwin) stated that the AP report “comes in sharp contrast to recommendations from basically every major dental hygiene organization, including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology.”

        Wired (8/3, Simon) noted there are challenges with conducting “a real-world, longitudinal study” that is necessary to prove the efficacy of flossing, including the costs involved and the reliance on people to floss properly. Dr. Marcelo W.B. Araujo, vice president of the ADA Science Institute, said the news coverage is likely “to trigger good conversation between the public and their dentists. And that’s what we really want.”

        The Huffington Post (8/3, Williams) stated that “a lack of good research doesn’t prove something is ineffective ― just that it hasn’t been a priority for research funding.” ADA spokesperson Dr. Matthew Messina still maintains that flossing is effective. “We need to remove bacteria from the teeth, from the gums, and from in between the teeth.”

        New York Magazine (8/2, Rinkunas) added, “This very intense investigation doesn’t mean flossing isn’t beneficial,” noting that a dentist for the National Institutes of Health encourages people to continue to floss, stating that “it’s low risk, low cost.”

        The NPR (8/2, Bichell) “Shots” blog reported that although flossing is not included in this year’s national dietary guidelines, a spokesperson with the US Department of Health and Human Services said, “They were not implying that this is not an important oral hygiene practice…although dental floss was mentioned in past editions of the guidelines, it was most likely identified as a supporting recommendation along with brushing teeth, with the primary emphasis being on the nutrition-based recommendation to reduce added sugars.”

        Fox News (8/3) spoke with ADA Member and Texas Congressman Dr. Brian Babin who noted, “As a practicing dentist for 38 years, I have literally seen with my own eyes and experienced in my own oral hygiene the benefits of flossing. It prevents interproximal tooth decay in between the teeth…every dentist believes it is beneficial to oral health and therefore overall health.”

        In addition, sources are reporting on dentists within the United States and around the world calling on patients to continue flossing their teeth, including the Boston Globe (8/3, Rao, Sitrin), WHNS-TV Greenville, SC (8/3), WDBJ-TV Roanoke, VA (8/3), WSYM-TVLansing, MI (8/3), KEZI-TV Eugene, OR (8/3), WBZ-TV Boston (8/3), WTVT-TV Tampa, FL (8/2), the Telegraph (UK) (8/3, Knapton),Dental Republic (UK) (8/3), the Irish Times (8/3), and the South China Morning Post (8/3).

        The ADA has released a statement on the benefits of using interdental cleaners and a Science in the News article titled, “The Medical Benefit of Daily Flossing Called Into Question,” discusses evidence about the impact of flossing on oral health.

        MouthHealthy.org also provides resources for patients on flossing, including the correct flossing technique.

New Study Emphasizes Importance Of Oral Health In Children With Disabilities

Cerebral Palsy News Today reported that children with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome “may need particular attention to their dental care,” according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Experimental Dentistry. The researchers, led by Montserrat Dieguez-Perez of the School of Dentistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain, found that “in general, children with cerebral palsy were more likely to have cavities than children without a disability,” while “children with Down syndrome did not have a higher rate of cavities, but they did have worse gum health and poor dental habits (such as tooth grinding) compared to non-disabled kids.”

Researchers Use Nanoparticles To Reduce Plaque, Prevent Dental Decay

Science Daily carries a University of Pennsylvania release stating “the bacteria that live in dental plaque and contribute to tooth decay often resist traditional antimicrobial treatment, as they can ‘hide’ within a sticky biofilm matrix, a glue-like polymer scaffold.” University of Pennsylvania researchers have conceived a new strategy that uses “iron-containing nanoparticles to catalyze the activity of hydrogen peroxide,” finding it effectively “reduced the onset and severity of cavities” in an animal model. The findings were published in the journal Biomaterials.

Statement from the American Dental Association about Interdental Cleaners

CHICAGO, IL - Recent news reports question whether existing scientific research support oral health benefits associated with flossing.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), interdental cleaners such as floss are an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. Cleaning between teeth removes plaque that can lead to cavities or gum disease from the areas where a toothbrush can’t reach. Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque buildup.

More than 500 bacterial species can be found in plaque; some are good and some are bad for your mouth. Together with food debris, water and other components, the plaque buildup around the teeth and on the gum line will contribute to disease in teeth and gums.

Whether you use floss or another interdental cleaner is a personal preference, but it’s very important to understand the proper technique for each tool so that it is effective. Patients should talk to their dentists about how to use interdental cleaners to ensure efficacy.

To maintain good oral health, the American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth once a day with an interdental cleaner and regular dental visits advised by your dentist.