Programs Focus On Dental Care As Part Of Effort To Keep Seniors Out Of Nursing Homes

The New York Times reported that private companies are taking advantage of “a little-known Medicare program,” known as PACE, or the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, “that will pay to keep older and disabled Americans out of nursing homes.” Through the program, Medicare and Medicaid pay PACE providers on average “$76,728 a person a year, about $5,500 less than the average cost of a nursing home.” The flat payment structure encourages “organizations to invest in maintaining a patient’s health and safety to avoid big hospital bills,” and given this, “dentistry — excluded from traditional Medicare coverage — is a crucial focus.” According to the article, “Programs invest heavily to fix broken teeth and dentures to avoid costly infections or poor nutrition that can cause cascading health problems.”

Many Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Dental Care

Fox Business (8/20) carried a Motley Fool article that explains some of the differences between the “original” Medicare package of Part A and Part B and the “Medicare Advantage plan, sometimes referred to as Part C.” The article noted that “while original Medicare doesn’t cover hearing, vision and/or dental care, many Medicare Advantage plans do.”

ADA Joins Surgeon General Campaign To Increase Opioid Abuse Awareness

The ADA News reports the Association is asking dentists “to take an online pledge to help curb the widespread abuse of opioid pain medications.” The clinician pledge is in support of US Surgeon Gen. Vivek H. Murthy’s national Turn the Tide campaign “to increase professional awareness about opioids abuse and mobilize health care professionals to improve their prescribing practices.” ADA President Carol Gomez Summerhays wrote in an Aug. 25 email to members, “Today, the ADA is asking dentists everywhere to take that pledge, regardless of whether you prescribe opioid pain medications or not.” Dr. Summerhays added, “The Turn the Tide pledge is another small way to show how we, as a profession, are committed stemming the tide of opioid abuse that has been devastating our families and communities.”

Brushing Teeth, Flossing Among Recommended Daily Habits

Business Insider includes brushing teeth and flossing among “17 quick and easy daily habits” that readers recommend to become a healthier person. The article notes that the ADA recommends brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Not following this guidance could increase the risk for developing other health issues, the article adds.

        In an article in the Free Press (ME) the Maine Dental Association noted that “the American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth once a day with floss or another interdental cleaner, and visiting a dentist regularly.”

        In the Harvard University (MA) “Harvard Health Blog,” Robert Shmerling, MD, an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, discusses recent news questioning the benefits of dental flossing, citing a lack of research. Dr. Shmerling states, “These headlines...miss the mark on this flossing kerfuffle,” and he adds that “unproven is unproven, not disproven.” The “obvious next step,” says Dr. Shmerling, is for researchers to have “a well-funded, well-designed study” to examine the health impact of flossing. In the meantime, “I’m not going to wait for the research; I’m going to keep flossing,” he states.

        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.

Researchers Chart Microbial Ecology Of Gingivitis Progression To Periodontitis

Science Daily carried an American Society for Microbiology release announcing that “an international team of researchers and clinicians” charted “the microbial ecology of the mouth at all stages” during the progression of gingivitis to periodontitis “in nearly 1,000 women in Malawi.” According to the release, the research, which is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, is “laying a foundation of knowledge that could lead to better oral health.” First author Liam Shaw, a PhD student at University College London, United Kingdom, said, “We’re not the first to do this sort of research into periodontal disease, but our study is the largest to be done in such a setting.”

Cheat Sheet Identifies “Essential Tools” For Oral Healthcare

Cheat Sheet states that Business Insider reported that neglecting oral health may lead to other health issues, noting that in the article the American Dental Association says, “The mouth is a gateway into your body’s overall health.” With this in mind, the article identifies “essential tools” for oral health. The article includes toothpaste and floss in its list, recommending people select “a toothpaste that contains fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay.” The article also includes flossing daily to remove food debris trapped between teeth in its list. The article adds that some people may benefit from using an electric toothbrush. ADA spokesperson Dr. Kimberly Harms “says electric powered toothbrushes can help people who have trouble physically moving their brushes around their mouth to clean all the surfaces of your teeth.”

Caring For Oral Health Considered Among “Natural Ways” To Look Younger

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution includes taking care of oral health in a list of “10 natural ways to defy your age.” The article states “the health of your mouth can also affect the health of your body,” adding that “nothing can make you look older than yellow, stained or missing teeth.” Given this, the article recommends brushing teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly.