Study: Gum Bacteria Imbalance Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker

Dentistry Today reports researchers at the New York University College of Dentistry and Weill Cornell Medicine have found that “older adults with more harmful than healthy bacteria in their gums are more likely to have evidence for amyloid beta, which is a key biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, in their cerebrospinal …

Lead Apron Use During Imaging Exams May Be Unnecessary, Some Radiologists Say

Kaiser Health News (1/15, Jaklevic) discusses the use of lead aprons to cover “reproductive organs and fetuses during imaging exams,” stating that “new thinking among radiologists and medical physicists is upending the decades-old practice.” The article says the aprons have been used based on the idea that they shield patients …

Early antibiotics linked to risk of childhood health conditions

A study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that early antibiotic exposure was linked to an increased risk of childhood-onset asthma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obesity, overweight, celiac disease, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis, with the number, type and timing of antibiotic exposure influencing the associations. The findings are based on data involving …

Evidence Does Not Support Classifying Fluoride As Cognitive Neurodevelopmental Hazard, Review Finds

The ADA News reports, “The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced March 5 that it does not find that the National Toxicology Program adequately supported its conclusion that fluoride is ‘presumed’ to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans.” The academies’ review of the National Toxicology Program’s draft …

Anecdotal Reports Raise Questions About COVID-19’s Oral Health Effects

Some dentists indicate anecdotal reports of tooth loss have surfaced among so-called long-haulers, or people who are still recovering months after having had COVID-19. The problems range from gum sensitivity to tooth discoloration or chipping and even tooth loss. It is unclear at this point whether these issues represent an …

Treating Periodontitis In Patients With Diabetes May Reduce Tooth Loss, Microvascular Diseases

HealthDay reported a new study found that “providing nonsurgical periodontal treatment to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and periodontitis may significantly reduce tooth loss and diabetes-related microvascular diseases via improved glycemic control.” In the study, researchers “built a microsimulation model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of expanding periodontal treatment coverage …